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A Mithraic Astral Temple

This meditation is an inner working to build an Astral Mithraic temple which may be used to contact Mithras and to participate in Mithraic worship on a spiritual level. Astral Temple work is an aspect of modern occultism that is easily used for Mithraic purposes. This particular meditation and rite was used by a group that practiced together over the Internet in 1995 and 1996 as a means of "breaking ground" toward more active Mithraic practice. All participants did the rite at the same time on Sunday evening, 7PM EST. After the ritual and meditation notes were compared among the participants.

Whether this rite is done in group format or alone, it can be an excellent way to contact Mithraic energies and to help bring forth contact with Mithras as a living deity.

PREPARATION:

Set up a temple space with as many of the aspects of a Mithraeum as possible.
A rectangular space with a central aisle. An altar at one end with candles,
Incense and a Mithraic statue, image or symbol. A chalice of wine and a
plate with bread should be on the altar. At least two chairs facing each
other across the central space. Wear a Roman tunic if you've got one, or a
robe or at least comfortable clothing if you don't. Light or white garments
preferable.

PHYSICAL TEMPLE:
Once you're prepared to begin and in a ritual frame of mind, proceed up the
central aisle to the altar. Light the candles, saying "May the Light of Mithras illuminate my mind and spirit." Light the incense, saying "May this place be purified in the name of Mithras." Carry the incense around the temple as a sign of purification. When you feel you've created a proper working atmosphere, sit in one of the chairs and allow yourself to relax. Take several deep breaths, and close your
eyes. If you have some personal routine of mental preparation for ritual work
do it now.

PATHWORKING:
Say a prayer to Mithras; "Mithras, Lord of Light and Mysteries, guide me safely to your temple within the Realm of Spirit." Now, with your eyes closed,
begin to enter the Inner realms by using a combination of visualization and a
deliberate projection of your own energies/consciousness. Try to see yourself, and feel yourself within this image. Here is the sequence to visualize, and to say out loud
to yourself if possible:

"I am standing in a shadowed place. Before me there is a portal, two double
doors of dark oak banded with iron. The top of the portal has a Classical
lintel with a symbol of the Sun. To either side of the doorway there are
marble pillars.

I make the Sign of Opening, and the doors swing outward. I step through the
Portal and enter the Inner Realms.

I find myself standing in a sun-lit place. I am on a cobblestone Roman road
which stretches straight before and behind me. To my right there is a fig
tree, its branches giving partial shade to the place where I stand. To my
left is a Roman mile marker. All around me there are rolling hills and
cultivated fields, a place of abundance and beauty. It is warm here but not
hot... the sun is shining brightly but there is a cooling breeze that stirs
the grains and grasses in the fields around me. I am wearing a traveler's
tunic, and leather sandals.

I look at the cobblestone road before me, and see that it stretches out to a
long, low hill which has neatly planted groves of fig trees. I begin to walk
along the road. As I walk, I can feel and hear my sandals on the stones of
the road as I step. There is a noonday sun above me, and a few puffy white
clouds in the sky. I can hear the grasses swaying in the slight breeze, and I
welcome the warmth of the sun upon my face.

I continue along the road, and soon come close to the base of the hill. I see
that the road goes up onto the hill and through the groves of trees. I climb
the hill, the way is neither steep or difficult. Soon I crest the top and can
see the way of the road. The road goes straight past a building, which is a
single-storied rectangular temple, built of stone and with a peaked roof. It
is a temple to Mithras, a Mithraeum. It is not very tall... it's foundation
seems to dug into the earth. I proceed along the road and come to the
Mithraeum entrance.

(THE TEMPLE)

The doorway is recessed, and there are seven steps down to reach it. As I go
down the steps the door swings partially open. I make a gesture of respect,
and step inside. I find I am standing in a small anteroom. There is a small
bench, and places for both cloaks to be left and robes of worship to be put
on before entering the Mithraeum itself. The temple door is at the opposite
of the room. There are a couple of small oil lamps burning. I close the door
of the anteroom. I take off my traveling tunic and put on the robes of a
worshipper, and then go to the doorway to the temple itself.

At the temple doorway, I make the sign of opening. The door opens and I step
into the Mithraeum. I am standing at the end of a long central aisle. The
Mithraeum is lit entirely by lamps... there are no windows. The stone walls
are heavy, and the roof is as well - the place has the feeling of a cave.
There are seven pillars along each side of the aisle, and on the other side
of the pillars there are raised benches which face inward toward the central
aisle. The aisle itself is done in mosaic tile... a ladder with seven
sections, each section bearing the symbols of a Mithraic grade.

The walls of the temple are done in light stucco. On the stucco there are
bright paintings of the story of the God Mithras. His birth from the Rock,
dragging the Bull, feasting with Sol Invictus, etc. But beautiful as the
paintings are they are not what draws the eye. At the end of the temple there
is a main altar on a raised dais, in a semicircular alcove. Over the altar
there is the Tauroctony scene, carved in white marble. There are hanging
lamps of gold on either side, giving off a golden light.

I walk down the central aisle, and stop before the altar. I bow in respect and say:
"Hail to thee Mithras! I come to thy abode as a Servant of the Light and as a
Seeker of Wisdom. I beg thee to aid me in my desire to serve."

I now reach toward the altar, take a pinch of incense from a silver dish, and
drop it into the flames as an offering to Mithras. I then turn and walk to one of the side
benches, and take my seat."

At this point a variety of inner workings may be done. If you are working with others,
(possibly over the Internet as has been done before) a pre-decided rite or experience
can be shared. In the original work which followed this format, the first several sessions
consisted simply of attempts to "solidify" the temple through repeated experience.

No matter what is done, there should be a symbolic meal with wine and bread,
which the participant actually gets up and partakes of physically while still holding
the Inner realm images. A person doing this Inner Temple Working alone may
use the experience to speak directly with Mithras, or to gain inner knowledge
about Mithraism as a spiritual path.


(END OF THE WORK)

Once the work is done, pathwork back out by doing all the images in reverse order for
the return trip. Describing the way back to keep the imagery straight is perfectly all right.
The way out always takes less time than going in, and the portal is closed behind. The
physical temple is left up for the moment. The participant should then have a meal...
and then write out their experience in a journal, or even for others over the computer.
In this way the experience is preserved and/or shared among all participants.

Any questions about this astral temple work should be directed to Mithraeum@aol.com.
 

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