Events – Archived

It’s madness I tell you! Pure and utter madness! Or just a wicked good time. Perhaps the closest you’ll come to attending bacchanalia, but with a modern sensibility. This ritual, wildly popular, and back by popular demand will invoke The God Who Comes. Dance, revel, drink flowing wine, and cry the names of Dionysos as you destroy the things which prevent success, happiness, and freedom within your life, and as we alchemically transform the bonds which enslave the spirit into the true symbol of freedom. If you’ve ever considered exploring dramatic ritual, this is a truly intense opportunity, if you’ve participated in rituals before, we’re sure you’ll find this one worth your time. Through dance, chanting, wine, and a bit of antinomian blasphemy we’ll breach the bounds of ecstasis. Wine and cakes will be served after the ritual. Your contributions of other treats are welcome!

Please arrive no earlier than 8:00pm and no later than 8:20pm
$20 admission; $5 for dues-current members; $5 additional discount for potluck contributions.

For several years William Blake Lodge has celebrated Redeeming the Redeemer, the first of three rituals in our Thelemic Rite of Dionysos. Several people have been yearning for further ways to connect to the God Who Comes, and so, like he does, we shall provide. For those interested in undergoing an initiation as a Flamen Dionyios here is your opportunity. Candidates will need to have a thin white robe which will be destroyed, and bring a large bottle of wine. Candidates will have to drink wine (grape juice can be available for those who can not have alcohol), eat fruit, and will be nude for part of the ritual. Please notify us if you are interested in participating as a candidate. Members and their guests who have been to previous Dionysos rituals are encouraged to attend even if they are not candidates for initiation; this is an initiation which occurs in front of and utilizes the Dionysian community.

Please arrive no earlier than 5:30pm and no later than 5:50pm.
Candidates: $15 admission; $5 for dues-current WBL members
Attendees: $5 admission; free for dues-current WBL members

William Blake Lodge will have a table set up at the Baltimore Pride Festival at Druid Hill, offering readings, stickers, photos with Rainbow Crowley, and more. Please save the date and plan to join the festivities!

Learn more about Baltimore Pride:

• Festival Map
• Festival Schedule

Over the time since the William Blake Lodge 25th Anniversary at which we conjured the Demon Doolas from the Book of the Offices of Spirits to provide our lodge with a familiar, we have worked well with Tobias, the demon familiar who was provided to us by Doolas. Tobias has been credited with helping us rebuild our environment and draw in truly excellent people. Tobias’s efforts are compensated with alcohol, incense, and a spirit home. For this ritual we will celebrate Tobias by bringing him into the temple and engaging him in a more freeform spirit ritual inspired by those supposed of the “other magicians” who practiced wilder more direct spirit magic than that of the learned conjurers. Join us for chanting, drinking, drumming and celebration. Bring alcohol to offer to Tobias or to share with your lodgemates.

Please arrive no earlier than 7:00pm and no later than 7:20pm.
$10 admission; free for dues-current WBL members.

June 2 is the 27th anniversary of WBL’s charter as a Camp, so we will be celebrating this special occasion with a rehearsal of the Gnostic Mass, followed by cake, drinks, and other refreshments.

There is no admission fee for the rehearsal, but we will happily accept contributions to the potluck table.

1:00pm
Please arrive no earlier than 12:30pm and no later than 12:55pm

Sib. Ayin will lead an O.T.O. Degree Discussion Group on the Second Degree, closed to initiates of this Degree or higher. Discussion will include a review of recommended study materials, symbolic analysis, Q&A, and practice upon request.

3:00pm
Please arrive no earlier than 2:30pm and no later than 2:55pm.
Please RSVP to attend by emailing: secretary@williamblakeoto.org

Reiki Master/Instructor Richard A. Davis will lead a Reiki Share and give free Reiki Level 1 (Shoden 初伝 – “First Teaching”) Attunements (Reiju 霊授) to attendees. Anyone is welcome to come and receive a Reiki treatment, or practice giving Reiki to those who are willing to receive it.

Richard began studying Reiki in Florida in 2007, studied under and received attunements from Reiki Masters in Tokyo and Kyoto from 2008-2010, has visited several sacred sites of Reiki, Shinto, and Shingon Buddhism such as Mt. Kurama, Mt. Fuji, and Mt. Koya, and has taught and attuned hundreds of students to Reiki since 2010 in Tokyo, Texas, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and DC. We will also study Reiki’s compatibility with such practices as Yoga, Asana, as Pranayama as they relate to one’s spiritual development. Our group’s study of Reiki will examine the influences of Mount Kurama, Esoteric Buddhism, and Japanese language and culture on the Reiki system, in addition to teaching techniques from both the Eastern and Western lineages that have been the most effective for Reiki treatments.

Whether you are a beginner or already attuned to the Master/Teaching level of Reiki, all paths and all practitioners are welcome to join our Baltimore Reiki Share and learn more about the Japanese view of Reiki, the cultural influences on the Sacred Symbols, and how these concepts are understood in the Japanese language. Attendees will also examine the connections Reiki has to the mythos and deities of Mount Kurama, and come to appreciate the full meaning of the Reiki Principles written by Usui Mikao through an in-depth study of their Japanese/English translation. Our primary aim is to cultivate a holistic sense of understanding that can be passed on and shared with all practitioners of Reiki.

5:00pm
Please arrive no earlier than 4:30pm and no later than 4:55pm.
Suggested Donation: $10 (No donation necessary to attend.)

When you assume a godform, costume may not be required, but it can help you get into the right headspace. So, too, can transformative makeup. Learn from local drag performer and female impersonator extraordinaire Victoria Bohmore how you can become someone else with the proper use of contouring and color.

White Powder, Pink Powder, Sponges, Eye Lash Glue, make up removal products, and other special treats supplied by instructor. Students should supply most of their own make up for this class. Most of the items needed can be found at any Dollar Tree.

Victoria has noted the best place to purchase an item, below:

1. BB Cream – This should match your skin tone – You can find a cheap version at the Dollar Store but you can also find this at any Wal-Mart or Drug Store. Any brand will do, as long as it matches your skin tone.
2. AirSpun Base Powder/Coating Powder. This can be found at most WalMarts and should match your skin tone. I Recommend AirSpun Brand but any brand of coating or setting powder will do.
3. A Generic Contour Palette. I have had good luck finding mine at Burlington Coat Factory and Five Below. Make sure that it has a dark brown, light brown in it. If you can find one with a rouge in it, that’s even better! Most, if you go to Five Below or Burlington Coat Factory are under $5.00. LA Colors is the most inexpensive and probably cheapest brand.
4. NYX White Bucket – Cream White – This can be found at Walgreens or CVS, you can also find this anywhere NYX Cosmetics is Sold.
5. Black Eye Liner Pencil – Any Brand – Not Gel or Liquid – Just Generic Black (Thick and/or Thin)
6. Mascara for your Lashes & Fake Lashes if you are going to be wearing them. YOU STILL NEED MASCARA EVEN IF YOU ARE WEARING LASHES. I Suggest Size 301 Lashes which you can order anywhere online or you can also find size 199 lashes as any hair store.
7. Eye Color Palette. – I recommend an LA Colors Palette or an Elf Palette. Make sure to have a dark color you would like to use for your eyes, and if the Palette has a black in it, even better.
8. Brush Set – Make sure to have at least two thin to small brushes, two medium sized contour brushes (preferably one will be a flat brush and the other one rounded) and then a blending brush. Most Brushes can be found in a set at somewhere like WalMart or at the dollar store.
9. Lip Stick – Choose your own color.
10. An old towel and a personal mirror. Mirror doesn’t need to be anything special, a standard small mirror from the dollar store should work. Towel should be old and able to be stained.

One question to ask yourself is how you would like to do your eyebrows. Will you be shaving them off and drawing them on? Will you be coloring them in with your natural color? Will you be covering them and then drawing new ones on?

• If you are using your natural color, make sure to have your color you would like to use to accent them/your natural color in a thin pencil
• If you plan to cover them and draw them on, make sure to have a thin pencil of the color of your choice. If you are covering them, I recommend Elmer’s Brand Glue, Glue Stick. (Washable – Purple is best)

The Gnostic Mass (Liber XV) is a ritual celebrating the union of the divine male and female through the pageantry of the lance and the cup. The ceremony culminates in a sacrament of a cake and wine consumed by the participants in the congregation. The ritual is graceful, joyful and a high dramatic ritual rich in esoteric and ecclesiastical overtones. The ritual officers consist of a priestess, priest, deacon and two “children” representing the positive and negative polarities. The Gnostic Mass is the central ritual of Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O., or the Order of Oriental Templars) and was written in 1913 by Aleister Crowley. Water is available for those who choose not to drink alcohol. Please notify us in advance if bringing anyone under 18 to this ceremony (but they are certainly welcome).

The ceremony begins at 3:30pm. Please arrive no earlier than 3:00pm and no later than 3:20pm. Once the ritual begins there will be no further access to the temple.

Baptism and/or confirmation available today by advance request. Please email contact@williamblakeoto.org to request either sacrament.

$10 admission; free for dues-current WBL members.
Note: admission fee waived for first-time visitors. If this is your first time at a Gnostic Mass, it’s a good idea to read the ritual ahead of time, so you’ll have some idea of what to expect. You can also watch a video 93 Impressions of a Gnostic Mass, or a video of the full Gnostic Mass.

Join us in making plans for future Lodge activities! Please bring a lunch dish or snacks to share. 

1:00pm
Please arrive no earlier than 12:30pm and no later than 12:55pm.