A DIY NEWYEAR'SRITUAL - Grackle
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A D I Y N E W Y E A R ’S R I T U A L
FUCK OFF 2020: A DIY NEW YEAR’S RITUAL
A ritual of burning and renewal that harnesses the power of ancient rites to extinguish
the dumpster fire of 2020 and make way for a better year ahead.
ANOTHER EXPERIENCE BYT he end of 2020 is finally here! And to say “Fuck Off” to the year that fundamentally broke the bonds of humanity on a global scale, we welcome you to: Fuck Off 2020: A DIY New Year’s Ritual. This ritual harnesses the powers of ancient rites to ceremoniously extinguish the dumpster fire of 2020 while renewing social and cosmic energies for a 2021 worthy of last year’s pain. All of the rites contained herein are based off of actual rituals from ancient cultures. The rituals selected all have come from practices surrounding the marking of a new year. These can be found in almost every culture. And though traditional dates vary widely depending on climate, geography, agriculture, location, etc, the one thing they do share is a central purpose of enacting order for a prosperous future. Performing these rites puts you in close kinship with a shared, global ancestry whose wisdom comes from centuries of experience. These thousands of years of collective human practice, along with you, might just be able to help us finally shed this fetid year and begin the process of renewal we’re all hungry for. Don’t let us down! 2021 is on you. Note: This is a truncated version of a much longer ritual. Click here for the full, unabridged version. Participants: 1+regular folks. For crazy folks, we recommend the . Length: 1 hrs. (Approximate length; varies based on number of participants.) Date: Between 12/26 and 12/31. (The most auspicious day would be New Year’s Eve.) Hour: After dusk. (Most cultures have an idea of a “witching hour” where the veil between the material and spiritual world becomes most thin. While different cultures believe this hour occurs at different times, most everyone agrees that the period between sunset and sunrise is rife with magical potential.)
THE RITUAL PREPARATION Gathering objects and selecting the ritual space. ENTERING THE RITUAL Uniting as one, we take the first collective step into the world of ritual. REFLECTION Pondering the long days of 2020. CHAOS, DISSOLUTION, AND DESTRUCTION Calling forth the bad and eliminating it. CLEANING, RENEWAL, AND OFFERINGS Sowing the seeds for a bountiful new year. NEW YEAR 2021 Creating the world we want in 2021 by imprinting symbols and performing actions.
R I T U A L O B J E C T S The objects needed to perform the ritual. [#] = Quantity [EP] = Every participant needs one ENTERING THE RITUAL [EP] Ritual rites - this document, available via device or printout [2] Rolls of toilet paper - of any ply count [1] Ritual Space - a table or floor with plenty of space [1] Candle - ideally in a candlestick, scent unnecessary [1] Matches - any type will do REFLECTIONS [1] Cluster of grapes - still on the vine [1] Plate - to hold and display the grapes CHAOS, DISSOLUTION, AND DESTRUCTION [EP] Noise makers - instrument, pots & pans, mouth, etc. [EP] Small slips of paper - approximately 2” x 4” in size [EP] Pens - any color, uniformity not required [1] Burning bowl - large bowl suitable for housing a flame [1] Earth - backyard, potted plant, park, etc. [1] Bottle of hand sanitizer - at least half full NEW YEAR 2021 [EP] Food, drink, and intoxicants - to fuel celebration [1] Bowl - large enough to hold 1 cup of beans [1] Coin - any denomination [1 Cup] Black-eyed peas - dry, placed in bowl
I PREPARAT ION Gathering objects and selecting a space for a successful ritual.
GATHER THE CEREMONIAL SELECT THE RITUAL SPACE
OBJECTS Performance of the ritual will take place in several
Before you can begin, you need to gather the necessary locations, but a main ritual space needs to be
supplies. This ritual doesn’t require rare objects like exotic selected and cleared. A large table-top or smooth
plants, sacrificial animals, or ancient talismans, but there are floor works best. You need enough space to house all
some objects you need to grab and prepare in advance. of the ritual objects, a surface to work on, and space
for moving around. Low lighting works best.
RITE
Review the ceremonial objects list thoroughly RITE
and ensure you have everything you need.
Select a ritual space and clear away any
The objects list is divided into the different
obstructions or distractions.
phases of the ritual.
ANCIENT SOURCE: NATIVE AMERICAN
The Dakota Indians would begin their Wacipi rituals by
ANCIENT SOURCE: AZTEC
having young boys dance in the area of celebration to
The Aztecs prepared for 40 days in advance of their fire ritual
tamp down the tall grass, creating a smooth space
because they believed the fate of the universe depended on a
for ceremonies.
successful performance.STAGE THE CEREMONIAL DISTRIBUTE THE RITUAL
OBJECTS RITES
The key to a successful ritual is creating not just a sacred This is a communal ritual with no sole officiant, so
space, but also having sacred objects at the ready for the rite at each participant needs their own copy of the ritual
hand. rites (these instructions) to refer to during the ritual.
RITE
Place all of your ceremonial objects in the ritual RITE
space. Lay them out in a semi-circle at the top of
Hand a printed copy to each participant,
the space. Remove any wrappers or hindrances
or email them the link to pull up on
from them to avoid interruptions in the ritual.
their device.
Take a moment to thank each object.
ANCIENT SOURCE:NATIVE AMERICAN
For the Annishinaabe tribe passing along ritualistic
ANCIENT SOURCE: DAMN NEAR EVERYONE
songs between members was a sacred act, often
Shamans, priests, and ritual officiates across cultures and time
involving instruction being passed down from dead
viewed ceremonial objects as having their own souls, and would
ancestors in one’s dreams.
treat them accordingly.II ENTERING THE RITUAL Gathered together, we take the first collective step into the realm of ritual.
01 GATHERING AND 02 FORMING THE 2020
of of
13 INVOCATION TO THE 13 EFFIGY
SPIRITS OF 2020 An effigy, representing the dumpster of 2020, is
formed from the valuable manna of toilet paper.
To begin, an invocation is given to the scamp spirits of 2020,
This serves as a sacrifice and an offering to the
officially inviting them into the ritual.
spirits. But more importantly, it provides a vessel for
the shit spirits of this fucked-up year.
RITE
Ritual rites in hand, sit or stand in a semi-
RITE
circle at the bottom of the ritual space, facing
the ceremonial objects, completing the ritual Each participant takes one square of toilet
circle. Starting with the youngest and moving paper and folds it into a dumpster shape
clockwise, each participant recites the invocation: using the instructions below. OR: just wad
it up, symbolizing the chaos of the year
equally as well. Then spread your effigies
“Hooky, hooky / The time has come / And I (full
out in the ritual space.
name) / Conqueror / Invoke you 2020 / I call
you into this space / Into this circle / Into this
Paper dumpster instructions here.
quarantine / Into this ritual.”
ANCIENT SOURCE: BABYLONIAN
ANCIENT SOURCE: NATIVE AMERICAN Ancient Babylonians celebrated Akitu, a ceremony
The spirit that resides in everything is critical during renewal closely tied to religion and mythology, held annually
festivals. The Salish and Tinneh tribes would gather in a circle following the first vernal equinox. It heralded the start
to invoke the spirits of their harvested fruits. of a new year, the rebirth of the natural world, and
included the creation of effigies.03 LIGHTING THE SYMBOLIC of 13 FIRE The lighting of a fire symbolizes the flames of the dumpster we call 2020. The drip of wax, our personal pain. RITE The youngest participant takes up the matches (with adult supervision, if needed) and lights the ceremonial candle. Then, they hold the candle in their right hand and state a grievance from 2020 while dripping a spot of wax into their left palm, before passing it to the participant next to them, clockwise. The palm should remain open until all participants have completed the rite. Collectively, the palms are closed. Then the candle is placed in the ritual space near the 2020 effigies. ANCIENT SOURCE: AZTEC & PURÉPECHA The Aztecs and indigenous Purépecha people of Mexico both practiced an ancient, pre-Hispanic era fire ritual for the new year. The crux of this ritual was lighting a fresh fire in the hollowed chest of a corpse. This flame was then transferred to every household where families would flicker their own blood into its flames. This rite was thought to renew the sun and keep knife-wielding beasties from emerging from the night.
III REFLECTION Pondering the long days of 2020.
04 PLUCKING RIPE FRUIT FROM of 13 A VINE AND REFLECTING ON THE BOUNTY OF 2020 Plucking ripe fruit from the vine symbolically represents all of the good you found in this challenging year. Each pluck is accompanied by a mindful recitation, paying thanks to the bounty and offering remembrance and celebration of all those we’ve lost this year, personally and socially. RITE The grapes with their plate are taken up by the participant on the far-right. Each participant should recite the harvest prayer, then pluck one ripe fruit from the vine, before passing the plate to the next participant (clockwise) to do the same. Together, raise the fruit in front of you, Then eat the fruit. “Hooky, hooky, we have shorn / And we have bound / And we have brought harvest / Home to town. / Hooky, hooky, here together / Harvest rich in troubled weather / Missing those from sickness spread / And missing those from social tether / Though we do not see them here today / Their spirits are present to hear us say / Hooky, hooky, we have shorn / And we have bound / And we have brought harvest /Home to town.” ANCIENT SOURCE: DAMN NEAR EVERYONE Though year-end harvest festivals date back beyond written history, there is a latinized record of an early European harvest festival prayer captured in a play published in 1600 where the phrase “Hooky, Hooky” appears as an evocation to the gods.
IV CHAOS, DISSOLUTION, AND DESTRUCTION Calling forth the bad and eliminating it.
05 ELECTION OF A 06 DRIVING NEGATIVE SPIRITS
of of
13 TEMPORARY FALSE KING 13 INTO THE FALSE KING
Coronate a false king (or 45th president) to carry the AND 2020 EFFIGIES WITH
burden of responsibility for 2020. FEARFUL NOISE
Now that the false king and 2020 effigies are complete, it’s
RITE time to run all the shit spirits into them so they can finally
be destroyed.
Construct one false king out of toilet paper,
however you feel is best. Once completed,
RITE
chant the following together as one person
places the false king next to the 2020 effigy Everyone take-up a noise-maker. Spread out
in the ritual space. along the perimeter of the ritual space. Make a
boisterous noise and dance a wild and seductive
“Invictus - Invictus - Invictus. / Own our dance! Close in slowly toward the effigies while
chaos and pain / So together you may be you do, pushing all the 2020 spirits into them.
slain / Enjoy your rule for this while / But Close in tight. Continue making noise and
know your chaos is just a trial” dancing until you’re sure all the 2020 spirits are
entombed in the effigies. Pro-tip: the crazier you
appear, the more efficacious the rite!
ANCIENT SOURCE: MESOPOTAMIA
If an eclipse corresponded with the new year, the
ancient Mesopotamians would elect a mock king to ANCIENT SOURCE: CHINESE
absorb all cosmic evils for 12 days during their Zagmuk The use of fireworks in the Lunar New Year started as a device
festival. Afterwards, this stand-in would be sacrificed. with which to drive away evil spirits with fearsome noise.07 BURNING OUR SHACKLES 08 EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES
of of
13 AND THE FALSE KING 13 WITH LAUGHTER
Restore order by destroying the false king, along with the All has turned to ash, and now it’s time to extinguish the
shackles that will prevent you from flourishing in 2021. flames of 2020.
RITE RITE
Place the burning bowl at the center of the Laugh at the fire of 2020, taking turns to lean
ritual space. Kneel in a semi-circle around it. in with forceful breaths on the candle until the
Everyone take a slip of paper and a pen and flame is extinguished.
write down one personal shackle that will
prevent you from flourishing in 2021. Fold up “Ha! Ha! Ha!”
the slip of paper and do not show it to anyone.
Once everyone is done, place all personal ANCIENT SOURCE: SHINTO
The 800- year-old Shinto Waraiko and Owarai-shinji rituals
shackles in the burning bowl one-at-a-time.
involve groups as large as 3,000 participants laughing in unison
for 20 minutes to laugh off the troubles and misfortunes of the
Next, the person in the center position takes up last year.
the false king effigy. They raise it above their
head and then toss it forcefully down into the
burning bowl. Next, with their left hand, they
take up the hand sanitizer and pass it to the
participant closest to their heart.
The new participant holds up the hand sanitizer
above the burning bowl for all to see. They then
give the hand sanitizer two pumps to coat the
false king and the personal shackles, killing
their cursed germs. Next, with their left hand,
they take up the matches and pass them to the
participant closest to their heart.
Everyone slowly sits back. The new participant
must, using their left hand, light a match with
the flame of the 2020 dumpster fire. Once lit,
they throw it atop the items in the burning
bowl. Now together watch as the false king and
personal shackles burn in the flames and turn to
ash. Repeat as necessary until only ash remains
in the burning bowl.
ANCIENT SOURCE: DAMN NEAR EVERYONE
For centuries shamans across cultures have used fire to
transfer real-world objects to a sacred plane.09 DROWNING OF 2020
of
13 EFFIGIES
The final act of chaos, dissolution, and destruction is
to drown the 2020 effigies, along with the negative
spirits and energies imbued in their form, in a river
of holy water.
RITE
Take the 2020 effigies into the most spacious
restroom. In order from oldest to youngest,
each participant drops their effigy into the
toilet while the other participants look on
with laughter. After saying a silent prayer,
flush it and rejoin the group to laugh as
the next participant drowns their effigy.
Continue until all 2020 effigies are flushed
away to their septic (or municipal) grave.
ANCIENT SOURCE: DAMN NEAR EVERYONE
Drowning evil auspices goes back well beyond the
medieval days of drowning witches to ancient cultures
from around the globe, where sacrifices were often
drowned as a means to commune with holy powers or
placate troublesome spirits.V CLEANING, RENEWAL, AND OFFERINGS Sowing the seeds for a bountiful new year.
10 LIGHTING OF A NEW FLAME 11 SCATTERING THE ASHES
of of
Ash, the carbon fuel of growth and renewal, generated through
13 The old dumpster fires have been extinguished, and we light a
13
new flame. A renewal of warmth and spirit, both individual chaos, dissolution, and destruction, is sown to begin anew.
and collective.
RITE
RITE
Pick up the burning bowl, careful not to spill
Place the unlit candle in the center of the ritual
any spirits on your carpet. Take it to the Earth
space. Gather everyone into a semi-circle around
(backyard, potted houseplant, park, etc.).
it. The participant in the center lights the candle
Spread the ashes over the Earth while reciting
with their right hand while saying the prayer.
the prayer in unison:
“Hooky, hooky! / Fire is born. / Hearth and home “I can see clearly now the rain is gone/ I can
and Nest are warm!”
see all obstacles in my way / Gone are the dark
clouds that had me blind / Oh, yes I can make
ANCIENT SOURCE: AZTEC & PURÉPECHA
it now the pain is gone / All of the bad feelings
The Aztecs and Purépecha people’s new year’s ritual involved
every fire in the community being extinguished, then a new
have disappeared / Here is that rainbow
flame being lit and transferred to each home. I’ve been praying for / It’s gonna be a bright
(bright) / Bright (bright) sunshiny day / It’s
gonna be a bright (bright) / Bright (bright)
sunshiny day.”
ANCIENT SOURCE: ABORIGINAL
Aboriginal Australians regularly used fire and ash to renew
the Earth in preparation of sowing a bountiful harvest.VI NEW YEAR 2021 Creating the world we want in 2021. Imprinting the new year through symbols and actions.
12 AUSPICIOUS OFFERINGS OF 13 DRINKING, DANCING AND
of of
13 COIN AND CURVED BEAN 13 MIRTH ATTRACTS POSITIVE
Coin and curved bean are offered to the spirits of fortune for SPIRITS
wealth in 2021.
This is the last rite. Everything culminates in a celebration to
body forth the joy and togetherness we all want in 2021.
RITE
The bowl of black-eyed peas and the coin are RITE
brought to the door by the shortest participant.
Pop some bottles. Put on some music. Lay
The coin is laid in the center of the bowl, atop the
out a spread of cheese that would make even
black-eyed peas. The bowl is placed next to the
a monger drool. Cheers, dance, and give the
door outside.
heavens offerings of laughter so that it may
return to us a million fold in 2021.
ANCIENT SOURCE: EASTERN ASIAN CULTURES
Leaving an offering of food or coins at the front door is
a popular custom in many Eastern Asian cultures, with a ANCIENT SOURCE: DAMN NEAR EVERYONE
preference for round foods to represent the cyclical nature For centuries, from Native American rain dances to the
of time. ancient holiday of Sukkot, ecstatic, floorshaking celebrations
have been used to attract prosperity.SUGGESTED COCKTAILS FOR MIRTH-MAKING COLA DE MONO A boozy Chilean punch with a bit of caffeine to awaken your spirits. 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 4 Cinnamon sticks 3 whole cloves 1 quart of whole milk 1.5 cups of strong coffee 1.5 cups of pisco, or clear brandy 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract Coffee beans, for garnish Put water and spices in a saucepan and boil for 5 minutes. When cool, transfer to a punch bowl or pitcher. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well. Refrigerate until serving. Can be made a day ahead of time. BEER BUSTER A fortified serving of beer that burns like a newly lit Purépechan flame. 1 cold beer 1.5 oz chilled vodka 4 dashes of hot sauce Mix vodka and hot sauce in a glass, or the skull of a vanquished god. Add beer. Drink.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING
SLAM THE DOOR ON 2020 AND
FOR PUTTING YOUR TRIBE’S
COLLECTIVE ENERGY TOWARDS A
MUCH BETTER 2021.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We want to see your magic. Have some great pics/videos/tips from
the ritual, or any homebrewed innovations? Share them
on social so we can all voyuer your dirty exhibitionism:
#FuckOff2020Ritual
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