'I hear you pivoting': CNN host battles MAGA schools chief accusing her of 'gaslighting'

CNN host Brianna Keilar (L) and Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters (R) on March 20, 2025 (Image: Screengrab via CNN / YouTube)

Carl Gibson

March 20, 2025
ALTERNET

Editor's note: This headline has been updated.

An exchange between CNN host Brianna Keilar and Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters got heated when the latter was confronted over his management of federal funds.

During the Thursday segment, Keilar hosted Walters to discuss how President Donald Trump's executive order intended to shut down the Department of Education in his state would impact public school students in the Sooner State. The two soon began cutting each other off, with Walters railing against Oklahoma's "radical left-wing teachers' union" and "woke administrators," while Keilar repeatedly steered the conversation back to Walters' widely criticized management of Oklahoma's public schools.

"I took on the worst, one of the worst education systems in the country and have embrace these reforms. so we have continued to see the improvement—"

"But overall you've had issues, sir," Keilar responded.

"No I haven't," Walters said, insisting that the only people complaining about his leadership were his political opponents.

Keilar reminded Walters that "Republican lawmakers as well as superintendents of schools who do not seem ideologically opposed to you" have been some of his most prominent critics. As the Oklahoma Voice reported last fall, Republican state representative Tammy West suggested that Walters' office was not providing appropriate "transparency, accountability and communication" when it came to how taxpayer dollars were spent.

"Superintendent, for instance, this whole business in the spring of not getting proper estimates to schools so that they could figure out how to plan for their federal funds that they were getting. You had them running right up into August," Keilar said. "Obviously, you know, in spring, you need to know, 'can I hire new teachers with Title I funds especially?' You're talking about impoverished students. Let's talk about them. That was something that you had Republicans in your state, superintendents in your state, very frustrated with because they were not able to plan. It seems like a miscarriage of just basic duties of how you handle funds."

Walters grew visibly frustrated, and pushed back on Keilar and the network itself, saying: "I know you're trying to railroad me here and gaslight here on CNN ... So what you continue to see is CNN here fighting for a status quo, instead of saying our education system has to get better, we should all agree on that ... No amount of gaslighting is going to change that."

Keilar reminded Walters that the Department of Education gave Walters' office a failing grade on 32 out of 52 indicators for how the state managed federal funding. She also pointed out that those failing marks were specifically about "how you are meeting the needs of students who are low income, the most at risk students in your state."

"The same department within a week also told us we had to allow boys in girls' sports and boys in girls' bathrooms, or they would take all of our funding away from us," Walters said. "The Biden administration Department of Education was constantly attacking conservative reforms, attacking school choice, sending the FBI and the DOJ to investigate parents —"

"What about you, superintendent, and your management here?" Keiler responded. "I hear you pivoting to talk about bathrooms, but your management of these funds — because what we're talking about now, Joe Biden's not president — but you're talking about getting this money in block grants. so let's talk about you and how you manage those funds because you're asking for it with fewer restrictions. That's what a block grant is. And there are serious questions about how you handle that."

Watch the segment below, or by clicking this link.

OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS BEING FORCED TO HAVE BIBLES, 1O COMMANDMENTS AND BIBLE STUDY

'We’re against it': Fox host says the quiet part out loud in segment about disabled kids

"The Five" panelists Jessica Tarlov (L) and Greg Gutfeld (R) on March 20, 2025

 (Image: Screengrab via Fox News / Bluesky / @nikkimcr.bsky.social)

Carl Gibson

March 21, 2025

ALTERNET

One primetime host on Fox News recently uttered a remark about public education and disabled students that visibly shocked one of his co-panelists.

On Thursday, Rolling Stone reporter Nikki McCann Ramirez posted a video clip to Bluesky of a segment from Fox News' "The Five." In the segment, liberal panelist Jessica Tarlov was commenting on President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at shuttering the Department of Education, and her fears that it would negatively impact the quality of education that disabled children receive.

"When I hear Republicans out there talking about their plan for education in America, I don't hear them talking about making sure disabled kids have access to a public education," Tarlov said. "I don't hear them talking about empowering—"


"—Because we're against it," Gutfeld said matter-of-factly.

"I know you are! And thank you for admitting it in such a public forum," Tarlov responded. "They want to end up privatizing [education], they want to end up with a voucher system which means kids who can't get to those schools, don't have enough money to or frankly don't want to go to public schools don't have access."

"They want to make [schools] private, they want to make them religious institutions, and that goes against what you're supposed to do in America," she added.

Historian Kevin Kruse responded to the clip, opining that "the contempt [Republicans] have for disabled children is rooted in a mistaken belief that there aren't too may of them," and added that anywhere from one in eight to one in five students suffer from some form of learning disability.

That assessment isn't too far off: As the National Center for Education Statistics found in May of 2024, roughly 15% of all public school students in the United States benefited from special education services made possible by the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. And among those students, 32% identified a specific learning disability.

"There are an awful lot of SPED [special education] families out here, and we will *fight* this s---," Kruse wrote.

In a subsequent skeet (the term used for Bluesky posts), Kruse wrote that parents of special education students are "acutely aware of their children's rights and the gov't role securing them" and are "fiercely protective" of their kids. And he added that parents can be "deceptively polite when they're dealing with local officials."

"But if *national* leaders mess with their kids? The gloves will come off and they will destroy them," the historian wrote.

Watch the clip below, or by clicking this link.

'Brink of recession': This 'ominous' MAGA proposal could 'devastate the country’s economy'

President Donald Trump with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on February 21, 2025 (Wikimedia Commons)

Alex Henderson

March 20, 2025
ALTERNET

Liberal economists Paul Krugman and Robert Reich and other critics of President Donald Trump are warning that a variety of his policies — including steep new tariffs, mass deportations and deep cuts to the federal workforce — could push the United States into a full-fledged recession.

One MAGA proposal that isn't being talked about as much is repealing or gutting the Inflation Reduction Act. But according to The New Republic's Malcolm Ferguson, that is yet another thing that could help tank the economy.

"Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act — something President Trump is currently trying very hard to do — could result in a $160 billion hit to the gross domestic product, according to Semafor," Ferguson explains. "A complete IRA repeal would devastate the country's economy. It could lead to 790,000 lost job losses by 2030, while household energy bills would reach $370 per year, on average, by 2035."

Ferguson adds, "This is ominous news for an economy already on the brink of recession."

Ferguson warns that economic damage from tariffs and economic damage from a repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act could be a painful combination.

"That recession is being driven by Trump's ongoing trade war with America's closest allies — 25 percent levies are currently being placed on many imports from Mexico and Canada — which Fed Chair Jerome Powell just admitted was making inflation worse," Ferguson notes. "Cuts to the IRA would have a massive negative impact on American manufacturing, delivering a devastating blow to a sector that those tariffs are theoretically intended to boost. Slashing the IRA would also particularly harm red states, which have received a whopping 77 percent of clean energy manufacturing and deployment investment since the third quarter of 2022."

Ferguson continues, "A full repeal of the IRA is not expected, of course, but Speaker Mike Johnson did describe his vision for the cuts as 'somewhere between a scalpel and a sledgehammer.' Even if the bill is not repealed — or curtailed — by Congress, agency cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have likely already affected its implementation."

READ MORE: Busted: Report exposes Musk operatives who infiltrated Social Security Agency

According to Semafor's Mizy Clifton, red states and swing states could suffer the most damage from a repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Clifton, in an article also published on March 20, reports, "With the exception of California, Republican-controlled states — Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Pennsylvania — stand out as the biggest losers, according to projections by think tank Energy Innovation: Annual household energy bills in Texas, for example, could increase $370 per year on average in 2035 as reduced investment in renewables drives up the share of electricity coming from fossil fuels and utilities pass on their higher costs to consumers, according to Energy Innovation projections."

Read The New Republic's full article at this link and Semafor's reporting here.

Inside Trump's economic plan: A massive transfer of wealth

Robert Reich

March 20, 2025
ALTERNET

Donald Trump believes his tariffs will bring so much money to the U.S. treasury that the U.S. will be able to afford another giant Trump tax cut.

But Trump’s tariffs — and the retaliatory tariffs already being imposed on American exports by the nation’s trading partners — will be paid largely by the American working class and poor.

And the people who will benefit most from another giant Trump tax cut are America’s wealthy.

It will be a giant upward transfer of wealth.

Trump has made astronomical estimates about how much money tariffs can raise.

“We will take in trillions and trillions of dollars and create jobs like we have never seen before,” he said during his recent joint address to Congress. “Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again.”

Last Sunday on Air Force One, Trump was even more ebullient. “We’re going to become so rich, you’re not going to know where to spend all that money,” he said.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that if Trump’s already-announced tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada went into effect, they’d bring about $120 billion a year into the U.S. treasury, and $1.3 trillion over the course of 10 years.
by Taboola

Among Trump’s first actions at the outset of his second term was to order the treasury to establish an “External Revenue Service” to collect tariff revenue that would enable the U.S. to pay down its debt and reduce taxes.

Howard Lutnick, Trump’s secretary of commerce, said on Fox News in late February that the goal of the External Revenue Service “is very simple: to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and let all the outsiders pay.”

In other words: The U.S. will raise so much money from Trump’s tariffs that Americans will no longer need to pay income taxes.

The first problem with this is mathematical. America raises about $3 trillion each year from income taxes. The nation also imports about $3 trillion worth of goods each year.

So to replace income taxes, tariffs would have to be at least 100 percent on all imported goods. Also, Americans would have to continue to import $3 trillion worth of goods every year. Neither of these is remotely plausible.

The second problem is who pays.

Trump keeps saying other countries pay for tariffs. That’s not how they work.


Tariffs are effectively taxes on imported products. They’re paid by Americans.

Say there’s a 60 percent tariff on Chinese imports. When Walmart imports “Mr. Coffee” machines from China (where they’re made), China doesn’t pay the 60 percent tariff to the U.S. government. Walmart does.

If Walmart had bought the coffee machine for $20 before the tariff, the 60 percent tariff requires Walmart to pay an extra $12 — bringing the total cost of each coffee machine to $32.

Walmart doesn’t want that extra $12 to cut into its profit margin, so it will try not to absorb that cost. Instead, it will pass the extra $12 on to its customers.


Walmart’s CEO has already said it expects to raise prices in response to Trump’s tariffs in order to protect its profits.

Targeted tariffscan be used to protect industries critical to national security.

This is what the Biden administration did when it levied tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, solar panels, computer chips, and batteries after making massive domestic investments in these technologies.

But Trump has proposed across-the-board tariffs on almost all imports — particularly from America’s largest trading partners.


While Americans will pay more for imported goods due to tariffs, countries that export the products to America are also harmed. American consumers presumably will buy fewer of their products, since they cost more. These countries are retaliating by raising tariffs on American exports.

On Monday, China began imposing tariffs on a range of American farm products, including a 15 percent levy on chicken, wheat, and corn.

These retaliatory tariffs will hurt America’s Farm Belt — mostly Republican states and Trump voters.

On Wednesday, after Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on all aluminum and steel imports coming into the United States from the rest of the world, the European Union announced retaliatory tariffs on about $28 billion worth of American exports, including beef and whiskey.

Not incidentally, Europe’s retaliatory tariffs are on goods mostly produced by Republican states (think Kentucky bourbon). Europe is also slapping tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, made in America’s Rust Belt.

On Thursday, in response to Europe’s tariffs, Trump threatened a 200 percent tariff on all alcoholic products from European Union member states. If he follows through, Trump voters will be paying more for much of the alcohol they consume.

Canada also announced new tariffs on about $21 billion worth of U.S. products.

This is called a trade war. There are no winners in such a war.

One of the biggest global trade wars started with the Smoot-Hawley Tariff in 1930. After the 1929 stock market crash, President Herbert Hoover and Republicans thought sweeping tariffs would help the economy.

They didn’t. Import prices surged, and exports plummeted because of other nations’ retaliatory tariffs. Global trade fell by 66 percent, worsening the Great Depression.

Smoot-Hawley seemed to prove that across-the-board tariffs don’t work. Then came Trump’s first term and his sweeping tariffs, largely on China.

Higher prices from Trump’s first-term tariffs on thousands of Chinese imports are estimated to have cost American families close to $80 billion.

This cost took a larger chunk out of the incomes of poorer families than richer ones.

If you make $50,000 a year, the cost of a coffee maker that rises due to tariffs affects you more than it does someone making $1 million a year who can better afford the price increase.

To put it another way, tariffs are a highly regressive tax.

Following Trump’s first-term tariffs on China, China retaliated with its own tariffs on American exports. This led China to import less from America.

In the U.S. agriculture industry alone, the result was a $27 billion loss in exports from mid-2018 to the end of 2019. Even though the government increased aid to affected farmers, farm bankruptcies shot up 20 percent.

Another consequence of Trump’s first-term trade war was that American manufacturing shrank, as demand for exports slumped and raw materials used in manufacturing became more expensive.

One study estimates that Trump’s first-term trade war cost nearly 300,000 American jobs.

Instead of learning a lesson from this fiasco, Trump is now promising even bigger tariffs — more tariff hikes on China and, starting on April 2, 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.

These new tariffs would cost the typical American household an additional $1,200 this year. If Trump makes good on previous pledges to slap more tariffs on imports from around the world in addition to aluminum and steel, American families can expect to spend as much as $4,000 more.

Trump says he’ll use the revenue from tariffs to “offset” more of his big pending tax cut.

That tax cut will disproportionately benefit wealthy Americans and big corporations, as did Trump’s first-term tax cut. But revenue raised from such tariffs will be coming disproportionately from average working people and the poor.

Hence, it will be a massive transfer of wealth from most Americans to the super wealthy and giant corporations.

Will most Americans know that the higher prices they’ll pay for groceries, gas, housing, and all sorts of other things will be going into the pockets of the wealthy? Will they know whom to blame?

Trump was able to fool most Americans during his first term into believing he had created a marvelous economy for them and that they benefited from his tariffs and tax cuts.

It was a lie, of course. But he tells lots of lies that many Americans believe. Will he be able to do it again, on a much larger scale?

Robert Reich is a professor of public policy at Berkeley and former secretary of labor. His writings can be found at https://robertreich.substack.com/

'Disappointing and devastating': US Steel manufacturer fires workers and blames Trump tariffs

A worker welds a steel tube at HCC, a company that uses parts to make combines, at the factory in Mendota, Illinois, U.S., February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Vincent Alban

Carl Gibson

March 20, 2025

ALTERNET

One steel manufacturer in the Midwest has announced it will be laying off hundreds of workers as a result of President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported Thursday that 630 steelworkers in Minnesota are about to lose their jobs. Steel manufacturer Cleveland-Cliffs, which is based in Ohio, announced that the layoffs will be at the company's operations in the Minnesota towns of Hibbing and Virginia. Those facilities specialize in steel pellets used in auto manufacturing, and Cleveland-Cliffs said they will be subjected to "temporary idles" in order to "rebalance working capital needs and consume excess pellet inventory produced in 2024."

Earlier this month, Trump announced he would be imposing new 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The Star-Tribune reported that while steelmakers like Cleveland-Cliffs expect a boost to their business as a result of the higher prices on their foreign competitors, the auto industry is still largely unprepared to shift production to the United States with new tariffs on imports from Canada, China and Mexico fast approaching in April.

Larry Cuffe Jr., who is the mayor of Virginia, Minnesota, told the Star-Tribune that the news of the layoffs was "disappointing and devastating." He added that he was unable to get a direct answer on when Cleveland-Cliiffs would resume operations at the idled facilities beyond "when the steel prices get better."

The layoffs have prompted a strong response from Minnesota lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. State senator Grant Hauschild, who is a member of the Democratic-Farm Labor Party (Minnesota's version of the Democratic Party) said that while he believes "strategic, smart tariffs on critical industries" like steel can protect American jobs, Trump's approach is too broad.

“My fear is that, while I do support tariffs on targeted areas, perhaps what we are doing is having reverberations that go far beyond what we were thinking," Hauschild said.

Republican state representative Cal Warwas promised that the laid-off workers would have a safety net, saying he was "working on a bill for extended unemployment." Warwas added that he would "do everything in my power to mitigate the pain of this situation and work toward any solution that gets people back to work."

Trump is ignoring the power of nationalism at his own peril: expert

Justin Tang/The Canadian Press/AP

The Conversation

March 20, 2025

US President Donald Trump has exploited American nationalism as effectively as anyone in living memory. What sets him apart is his use of national humiliation as a political emotion. Any presidential candidate can talk their country up, but Trump knows how to talk his country down.

Trump’s consistent message has been that American problems – trade deficits, job losses, illegal immigration, crime and even drug addiction – are the result of deliberate acts by other countries. The really humiliating part is that American politicians let it happen.

Many Americans have welcomed Trump’s message that their country’s problems can be solved by reestablishing international dominance. They see this nationalist approach as an overdue corrective to the “globalist” foreign policies of the post-second world war era.

But people in other countries also have feelings of national pride and aspire to be free from foreign domination. This should be obvious, but so far Trump is ignoring the power of nationalism in other countries even as he harnesses it in his own. This makes his foreign policy job a lot harder.

How Canadians have rallied against Trump

Take the example of Canada.

When Trump was elected to his second term in November 2024, it seemed certain there would soon be a Canadian prime minister who was more aligned with him than Justin Trudeau. Trudeau’s unpopularity had dragged the Liberal Party down, and the populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre looked set to win the this year’s election.

As he prepared for a trade war with Canada, Trump could have concentrated his fire on his enemies in the doomed Liberal government. Instead, he spent months insulting Canada’s national identity. He repeatedly said Canada should be the “51st state of the US”, calling Trudeau “governor”.Trump says ‘Canada was meant to be our 51st state’ in a Fox News interview.

Americans can dismiss Trump’s talk of annexing Canada as a joke, but Canadians can’t. Regardless of whether Trump would ever follow through with attempting an annexation, his language is an attack on Canadian sovereignty. No one with any sense of national pride would tolerate it.

An Angus Reid poll found the number of people saying they had a “deep emotional attachment” to Canada rose from 49% to 59% from December 2024 to February 2025. That emotional attachment is visible in everything from “buy Canadian” campaigns to Canadians booing the US national anthem at hockey games.

The Liberals, under new leader Mark Carney, are also experiencing a remarkable bounce-back in the polls.

Another Angus Reid poll shows that voting intention for the Liberals has surged from 16% in December to 42% now. They are now leading the Conservatives, who have 37% support. Some are now anticipating a snap election could be called in days.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has sometimes been likened to Trump, has also led a ferocious pro-Canadian resistance to American tariffs, getting his own re-election boost.

Trump’s defenders often claim his chaotic bluster is simply a negotiating tactic, a way of spooking others into accepting terms more favourable to him. If so, this tactic is backfiring in Canada.

Trade wars require sacrifices. Citizens must pay more for the sake of protecting their countries’ industries. Canadians seem a lot more willing to make that sacrifice than Americans, who are mostly confused that their friendly neighbour has suddenly been recast as an enemy.

The importance of national identity

Other countries have shown they will not cave easily, either, as Trump puts their national identity at stake.

Demanding to buy another country’s territory, as Trump keeps doing with Greenland, a self-governing territory under Danish control, may be even more insulting than threatening to take it, as he keeps doing with Panama. Each time Greenlanders, Danes and Panamanians refuse Trump, his credibility erodes further.

Trump talks about the territory of other countries in terms of “real estate”, even suggesting the United States should “redevelop” Gaza after evicting the Palestinians.

But sovereign land is not real estate. In a world of nation-states defined by territory, even sparsely inhabited territory has “sacred value”. This is particularly true for peoples seeking statehood on their land.

“Sacred values” are things people see as non-negotiable because they are linked to their sense of identity and moral order in the world. Researchers warn that offering money in exchange for sacred values is deeply offensive, and likely to harm, rather than help, negotiations.

There is a reason why governments hardly ever sell their territory to other countries anymore. Empires may have done in this in the past, but not nations. They view their lands, and the people who live on them, as inalienable from the nation.

Trump clearly doesn’t understand this concept. He has shown no empathy for Ukraine, a country whose territory actually has been invaded. He accused Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy of wanting to prolong the war so he could “keep the gravy train going”, as if harvesting US aid dollars was the real reason Ukrainians were fighting for their country’s existence.

Trump’s contempt for Ukraine, Canada, Greenland, Gaza, Denmark and Panama has reverberations far beyond these places. It signals that his brand of American nationalism has no place for anyone else’s national aspirations or sovereignty.

This will not promote the deal-making Trump wants because no one trusts an unstable, imperial power to stick to its agreements. It would be painful for many countries to reduce their dependence on the United States, but it would be more painful to give away their national dignity.

David Smith, Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Indian researcher detained in US over alleged Hamas ties

Politico reported that Suri’s wife is a US citizen of Palestinian descent, and that the couple believes they are being targeted because the government suspects they oppose US policy on Israel.

By AFP
March 20, 2025


A researcher at Georgetown University in Washington has been arrested and threatened with expulsion - Copyright AFP/File Robyn BECK

An Indian researcher at a top university in the United States with a valid visa has been arrested and is under threat of expulsion, according to his employer and US authorities, who accuse him of ties to Hamas.

The arrest of Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University in the US capital, comes as fears mount in the scientific world that freedom of research is being challenged two months into US President Donald Trump’s new term.

On Wednesday, the French government condemned the expulsion of a French space scientist meant to attend a conference in Houston, after officials searched his smartphone and found what they called “hateful” messages against US policy.

“Dr Khan Suri is an Indian national who was duly granted a visa to enter the United States to continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Georgetown University said in a statement.

“We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity, and we have not received a reason for his detention.”

Suri — a fellow at Georgetown’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, according to the university website — was arrested Monday at his home in Arlington, Virginia, according to Politico, which first reported on the story.

His lawyer told Politico he had demanded his release, but did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said on X that Suri was “a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism on social media.”

McLaughlin accused him of having “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas.”

The State Department decided the researcher was subject to deportation under a provision of immigration law that allows for expulsion if the visa holder’s presence in the United States is determined to threaten US foreign policy, she added.

Hamas is a US-designated terror organization.

Georgetown University said it backs its “community members’ rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial or objectionable.”

Citing a petition filed by Suri’s lawyer, Politico reported that Suri’s wife is a US citizen of Palestinian descent, and that the couple believes they are being targeted because the government suspects they oppose US policy on Israel.

Trump can't deport Georgetown scholar rounded up in crackdown on 'terrorist sympathizers'

Daniel Hampton
March 20, 2025

RAW STORY

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wears an ICE vest during a briefing with law enforcement agents ahead of immigration raids in New York City, U.S., January 28, 2025 in this image obtained from social media. X/@Sec_Noem via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY/File Photo

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration cannot deport a Georgetown University scholar who is living in the country legally but was seized by federal agents as the administration targets "terrorist sympathizers."

Masked agents arrested Badar Khan Suri outside his home in Rosslyn, Virginia, on Monday night. Khan Suri is an Indian national and postdoctoral fellow who was studying and teaching on a student visa. He was informed by agents with the Department of Homeland Security that his visa was being revoked.

Tricia McLaughlin said in a Wednesday post on X that Khan Suri was “actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. Khan Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas.”

But on Thursday afternoon, U.S District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles said the administration cannot deport him unless she rules otherwise while she reviews Khan Suri’s petition challenging his detention.

Khan Suri is married with children, according to the report.

Suri’s petition for release said he was placed in deportation proceedings under a rarely used immigration law enforcement mechanism that allows the head of the State Department to deport noncitizens if they're deemed a threat to U.S. foreign policy.

Suri’s lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, has said his client was targeted because his wife is of Palestinian heritage and is not a U.S. citizen. Authorities believe he and his wife oppose the United States' support of Israel, said Ahmad.

“We’re trying to speak with him. That hasn’t happened yet,” Ahmad told Politico on Wednesday. “This is just another example of our government abducting people the same way they abducted Khalil.”

Trump has explicitly said his administration is targeting people he refers to as "terrorist sympathizers." In multiple public statements, including on his social media platform, Trump vowed to "find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again."

His rhetoric has been tied to recent actions, including the arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent U.S. resident who played a major role in protests that rocked Columbia University last year.

Georgetown Academic 'Abducted by Masked DHS Agents' at Risk of Deportation

One of Badar Khan Suri's lawyers called the case "emblematic of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to suppress voices—citizens and noncitizens alike—who dare to speak out."


An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent monitors hundreds of asylum seekers being processed upon entering the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on June 6, 2023 in New York City.
(Photo: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Eloise Goldsmith
Mar 20, 2025
COMMON DREAMS

The Trump administration was accused of "abducting" a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, following reporting thatBadar Khan Suri, who was studying and teaching at the school on a student visa, was arrested by masked immigration authorities on Monday night.

Following his arrest, a spokesperson with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had determined that Suri's "activities and presence" in the United States "had rendered him deportable."

Agents who identified themselves as being with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) arrested Suri, an Indian national, outside his home in Virginia, per Politico, which was first to report on Suri's arrest. The immigration officials told Suri that his student visa had been revoked, the outlet reported, citing court papers.

The news comes days after immigration agents arrested green-card holder Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University until this past December who was involved in pro-Palestine demonstrations on the school's campus last year. U.S. President Donald Trump said that Khalil's arrest would be the "first of many."

"Another student who's legally in the U.S. was arrested for deportation, without a crime—allegedly for opposing U.S. foreign policy," said Nancy Okail, the head of the Center for International Policy. "If this absurdity continues, it won't be limited to specific groups. Any form of opposition will be punished and criminalized."




Nermeen Arastu, a member of Suri's legal team and an associate professor of law at the City University of New York similarly told the outlet Drop Site, "Mr. Suri's case is emblematic of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to suppress voices—citizens and noncitizens alike—who dare to speak out against governmental policies."

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS, wrote on X on Wednesday evening that Suri was "rendered deportable" under section of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

That is the same provision of immigration law that the Trump administration has invoked in its effort to Mahmoud Khalil.

"Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media," McLaughlin also said. In the post, she did not add anything to bolster this claim. McLaughlin also wrote that Suri has connections to a "known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior adviser to Hamas."

Suri has not been charged with a crime, per his lawyer's petition for a writ of "habeas corpus," or an order demanding that he be brought to court to determine if he is lawfully detained,according Politico.

Suri's petition, filed on Tuesday in federal court by his lawyer Hassan Ahmed, argues that his arrest violates his First and Fifth Amendment rights, according to Drop Site, and also "challenges the legality of his detention under U.S. immigration law."

Politico reported that "Suri is being punished because of the Palestinian heritage of his wife—who is a U.S. citizen—and because the government suspects that he and his wife oppose U.S. foreign policy toward Israel," citing the petition.

Drop Site reported that Suri is currently being held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Louisiana, though it is reportedly not the same facility as where Mahmoud Khalil is currently located.

Suri's wife, Mapheze Saleh, is a Georgetown graduate student in the Walsh School of Foreign Service's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies.

Her father, Ahmed Yousef, is a former adviser to the Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated last year by Israeli security forces, according to The New York Times. Yousef told the Times that he departed his position as part of the Hamas-led government in Gaza over 10 years ago, and that his son-in-law is not involved in any "political activism." Yousef has also criticized Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, per the Times.

Drop Site reported that Suri's arrest came after pro-Israel groups targeted Saleh with an "exceptionally public media campaign." The petition notes that Saleh and Suri have been targeted online due to their support for Palestinian rights, per Politico.

In February, the group CAMERA on Campus—which according to its X account helps students share "accurate education" and "correct misinformation" about Israel on campus—called Saleh a "Hamas affiliate" and alleged she "glorifie[d]" Hamas on social media. Also in February, the outlet Jewish News Syndicate published an opinion piece alleging that Suri "repeatedly endorsed Hamas terror and actively spreads its propaganda."

On Wednesday night, a Georgetown University spokesperson issued the following statement: "Dr. Khan Suri is an Indian national who was duly granted a visa to enter the United States to continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity, and we have not received a reason for his detention."

"We support our community members' rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial or objectionable. We expect the legal system to adjudicate this case fairly," the spokesperson wrote.

US denies entry to French scientist over ‘hateful’ messages


By AFP
March 20, 2025


The French scientist was stopped at the US border - Copyright AFP/File Robyn BECK

France has expressed concern after US border agents read the contents of a visiting French space scientist’s smartphone and deported him after accusing him of “hateful” messages against US policy.

Since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, his government has cut federal research funding and sought to dismiss hundreds of federal workers pursuing health and climate research.

“I learned with concern that a French researcher who was heading to a conference near Houston was forbidden from entering US territory before being expelled,” Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste told AFP on Wednesday.

“This measure was taken by the US authorities because the researcher’s phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed his political opinion on the policies of the Trump administration on research,” he said.

A diplomatic source said a space scientist was stopped at the US border on March 9, with officials combing through the contents of his work laptop and phone during a “random” security check.

US agents found messages about the treatment of scientists under the new US administration that “showed hatred towards Trump and could be qualified as terrorism”, the same source said.

They seized his equipment and sent him back to Europe on March 10, they said.

Another source with knowledge of the case said the scientist was accused of owning “hateful and conspiratorial messages” and was told the FBI would investigate, though they then dropped the case.

Baptiste emphasised the importance of “freedom of opinion, free research and academic freedoms” and said he would defend these as long as they were “within the limits of the law”.

The French foreign ministry said that its consular services had been informed of the incident, and that the United States was “sovereign” in deciding who could enter and remain on its territory. But it said it “deplored the situation”.

The US Embassy in Paris redirected an AFP request for comment to the US customs, but the latter did not immediately reply.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the US government believes its border agents are entitled to examine the contents of people’s electronic devices as part of random security checks.

Rights groups including the ACLU sued the US government in 2017 over the increasing use of warrantless searches of cellphones and computers at the border, saying they were “unconstitutional”.

According to the ACLU, it won the case in an initial federal court ruling but it was later overturned on appeal in 2021, prompting it to ask the US Supreme Court to hear the case.

Baptiste this month urged French research institutions to consider welcoming scientists abandoning the United States because of Trump’s funding cuts.

Top researchers ousted by Trump poised to be poached by Europe: report

Sarah K. Burris
March 19, 2025 

RAW STORY

(Photo: Shutterstock)

President Donald Trump's purge of U.S. government staff could soon pay dividends — for other countries.

According to Politico, a group of countries in the European Union have hatched a plan to poach ousted researchers from the United States.

"Twelve governments said the European Union needs an 'attractivity boom' to bring over talent from abroad 'who might suffer from research interference and ill-motivated and brutal funding cuts,'" Politico quoted from a letter sent to the commission.

The letter doesn't say the U.S. by name, however. The only reference is the sentence: "The current international context reminds us that freedom of science can be put at risk anywhere and at any time."

When he came into office, Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency by executive order. That initiative has been behind the upheaval and dismantling of government agencies. Websites, grants, programs, and employees have been cut or frozen under the promise that Trump will save taxpayers trillions.

Those staffing cuts came from the National Institutes of Health, Center for Disease Control, National Weather Service and other U.S. agencies that once employed top scientists and experts.

Politico listed the countries interested in such a program as France, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Slovenia, Germany, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania.

"It is urgent ... to organize ourselves to welcome talents who would like or need to leave the United States," said French Research Minister Philippe Baptiste in a statement to the site.

The report also noted that several universities in Europe are also trying to recruit U.S. researchers.

"The Free University Brussels (VUB), on Monday announced 12 positions for international researchers 'with a specific focus on American scholars,'" the report cited.

The French Aix-Marseille University launched its own "safe space for the science program," said the report. According to the site, it said "some scientists in the United States may feel threatened or hindered in their research."

Read the full report here.

Understanding the Significance of the Vernal Equinox

Thu 20th Mar, 2025

(THE VERNAL EQUINO0 MAY OCCUR ON MARCH 19, 20, 21, OR 22)

The arrival of the vernal equinox marks a pivotal moment in the annual calendar, signifying the onset of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Occurring this year on March 20, the equinox is a time when the sun is positioned directly above the equator at noon, resulting in nearly equal durations of day and night across the globe.

Throughout history, equinoxes have been celebrated in various cultures worldwide. For instance, Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is intricately tied to the arrival of spring. At the ancient Mayan site of Chichen Itza in Mexico, visitors gather to witness a fascinating optical illusion during the equinox, where shadows cast by the sun create a serpent-like pattern descending the pyramid known as El Castillo.

To understand the significance of the equinox, it is essential to grasp the mechanics behind it. The Earth orbits the sun at a tilt, which causes sunlight to be distributed unevenly throughout the year. However, during the equinox, the Earth's axial tilt is such that both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive an equal amount of sunlight, resulting in this balance of day and night.

The term 'equinox' derives from Latin, combining the words for 'equal' and 'night,' reflecting the phenomenon where day and night are of approximately equal length. Depending on the year, the vernal equinox can occur anywhere from March 19 to March 21, while the autumnal equinox occurs between September 21 and September 24 in the Northern Hemisphere.

In contrast to equinoxes, solstices represent the extreme points of the Earth's axial tilt. The summer solstice, occurring between June 20 and June 22, is when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted most directly toward the sun, resulting in the longest day of the year. Conversely, the winter solstice, which takes place between December 20 and December 23, marks the time when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, leading to the shortest day and longest night.

Additionally, it is important to differentiate between astronomical and meteorological seasons. While astronomical seasons are determined by the position of the Earth in relation to the sun, meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycles and are divided into three-month intervals. By this classification, spring begins on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on September 1, and winter on December 1.

As the spring equinox approaches, many individuals and communities around the world prepare to celebrate the renewal and growth that this season symbolizes. Whether through cultural traditions or personal reflections, the arrival of spring serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the opportunities for new beginnings.

Article collated/edited/curated, or written in-house, by The Munich Eye.

Thursday marks the spring equinox. What does that mean?

Sarah Moore, Lansing State Journal
Thu, March 20, 2025 

Thursday marks the vernal equinox, or the first day of spring, in the northern hemisphere — even if the weather in Michigan doesn't seem particularly "springy" this week.

While meteorological spring began on March 1, Thursday marks the astronomical spring, or the day the Earth's tilt begins to bring the northern hemisphere closer to the sun.

The shift is called the vernal equinox, halfway between the winter and summer solstices when the Earth tilts one hemisphere the farthest from the sun.


Here's what to know about spring.
When does spring start 2025?

Astronomical spring starts at 5:01 a.m. Thursday, March 20.

What is the vernal equinox?

There are only two times of the year when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in a "nearly" equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes, the National Weather Service said.

The word equinox is derived from two Latin words — aequus (equal) and nox (night). At the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on these two equinoxes.

On the equinox and for several days before and after the equinox, the length of day will range from about 12 hours, 6½ minutes at the equator, to 12 hours, 8 minutes at 30 degrees latitude, to 12 hours and 16 minutes at 60 degrees latitude, the NWS said.
What is the difference between meteorological spring and astronomical spring?

Visual of Earth's changing seasons while the vernal (spring) equinox begins soon on March 20.

There are two starts to spring, and here's why, according to NOAA:

Meteorological spring: Meteorological seasons are broken down into groupings of three months in our civil calendar based on the annual temperature cycle. We generally think of winter as the coldest time of the year and summer as the warmest time of the year, with spring and fall being the transition seasons. In the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed where summer occurs when the South Pole is oriented towards the sun, and winter happens when the South Pole faces away.

Astronomical spring: The Earth’s orbit forms the basis for the astronomical calendar in which seasons are defined by two solstices and two equinoxes. The Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees on its axis of rotation, and how the North Pole is oriented toward or away from the sun determines two of these astronomical dates. Exact timing for the astronomical spring and fall seasons are subject to change because the timing is dependent on the Earth's rotation, NOAA said.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Spring equinox is Thursday in Michigan. What to know


Learn How to Harness the Energy of the Upcoming Spring Equinox

5 Spring Equinox Rituals to Recharge Your Energy

Alexandra Nicole Nolan
Updated Thu, March 20, 2025 a



As winter fades and the warmth of spring begins to awaken the earth, the Spring Equinox marks a powerful time for renewal, balance, and growth. This celestial event, occurring around March 19-21, is when day and night are equal in length, symbolizing harmony and the transition into longer, brighter days. Many cultures and spiritual traditions celebrate this time as a period of rebirth, making it an ideal moment to cleanse your energy, set intentions, and realign with nature.
Why Is the Spring Equinox Powerful for Recharging Energy?

The Spring Equinox is significant because it represents a cosmic reset—a time when the earth’s energy is shifting from dormancy to action. Just as plants begin to bloom, we, too, can harness this season of renewal to refresh our minds, bodies, and spirits. The equinox's balance of light and dark is a reminder to bring harmony into our own lives, making it an ideal period for manifestation, spiritual cleansing, and energy work.
5 Powerful Spring Equinox Rituals to Try This Year
Sunrise Meditation & Intention Setting

Spring Equinox is all about new beginnings, and there’s no better way to embrace this energy than by greeting the sunrise. Find a peaceful outdoor space, or sit near a window where you can watch the sun rise. Close your eyes, take deep breaths, and meditate on your intentions for the coming months.

Visualize what you want to manifest.


Write down three goals that align with your personal growth.


Say affirmations like, "I welcome new beginnings with an open heart."

This practice helps attune your energy to the fresh start that spring brings.

Planting Seeds for Growth

Spring is a time of fertility and growth, making planting a ritual a perfect way to honor the season. Whether you plant flowers, herbs, or vegetables, this act symbolizes setting intentions and watching them flourish.

Choose plants that resonate with your goals (e.g., lavender for peace, basil for prosperity).


As you place seeds in the soil, whisper affirmations about what you want to grow in your life.


Water your plants regularly as a reminder to nurture your own dreams and goals.
Spring Cleaning & Space Cleansing

Clearing out physical and energetic clutter is a key ritual for the equinox. Since this is a season of renewal, take time to declutter your home, organize your workspace, and cleanse your living space with sage, palo santo, or essential oils.


Open windows to let fresh air in.


Wipe down surfaces with a mix of lemon and rosemary essential oil (both linked to clarity and purification).


Smudge with sage or burn incense to clear negative energy.

As you clean, visualize releasing stagnant energy and making space for fresh opportunities.

Equinox Balancing Ritual

Since the Spring Equinox represents the balance of light and dark, a balancing ritual can help bring harmony into your life. This can be done through:

Yin-Yang Meditation: Sit in a quiet place and meditate on what areas of your life need more balance.

Journaling Exercise: Divide a page into two sections—one side for what you need to release, and the other for what you want to embrace.


Physical Balance Practice: Try yoga poses like Tree Pose or Warrior III to physically embody balance.

Spring Equinox Fire Ritual

Fire represents transformation and renewal, making it a powerful element to work with during the equinox. A simple fire ritual can help you release the past and embrace new opportunities.

Write down limiting beliefs or negative patterns on a piece of paper.


Safely burn the paper in a fireproof container or outdoor fire pit.

As the flames consume your words, visualize yourself letting go and stepping into new possibilities.

This ritual helps clear emotional blocks and recharges your energy for the season ahead.

FAQs About the Spring Equinox

What exactly happens during the Spring Equinox?

The Spring Equinox occurs when the sun is directly over the equator, making day and night nearly equal in length. This astronomical event marks the official start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

How does the Spring Equinox affect energy levels?
As daylight increases, many people feel an energy boost, making it an ideal time for goal setting and renewal. The equinox’s balancing energy can also help with emotional and mental clarity.

What spiritual traditions celebrate the Spring Equinox?
Various cultures and spiritual paths honor the equinox, including:

Pagan and Wiccan traditions (Ostara, celebrating fertility and renewal)

Ancient Egyptian and Mayan cultures (aligning temples with the equinox)

Japanese Shunbun no Hi (a day of balance and honoring nature)

How can I prepare for the Spring Equinox?
To prepare, focus on cleansing, reflecting, and setting intentions. Engage in grounding activities like meditation, journaling, or spending time in nature to align yourself with the seasonal shift.

The Spring Equinox is a sacred time to refresh your mind, body, and soul. By incorporating rituals like sunrise meditation, space cleansing, seed planting, balancing practices, and fire ceremonies, you can align with the renewing energy of the season. Whether you’re looking to set new goals, recharge your energy, or simply embrace the beauty of spring, these rituals will help you step into the season with clarity, balance, and positivity.

 Spring Equinox

The Spring Equinox is a moment of cosmic equilibrium, a celestial event observed across cultures, and a liminal gateway in the esoteric traditions.

Posted on March 20, 2025 

Photo by Joel Zar on Pexels.com

It represents the intersection of solar dynamics, mythopoetic constructs, and ritualistic frameworks that have persisted through millennia. The festival of Ostara, often cited in neopagan reconstructions, serves as a focal point for understanding how Indo-European and pre-Christian societies encoded solar and seasonal changes into their cosmologies.

This post will explore:

1. The Astrophysics of the Spring Equinox – A rigorous exploration of orbital mechanics, solar declination, and terrestrial impacts.
2. Mythological and Historical Underpinnings – A comparative analysis of Indo-European equinoctial deities and agrarian rites.
3. Pagan and Modern Rituals – A diachronic study of Ostara’s evolution, including reconstructed and contemporary practices.
4. Esoteric and Occult Traditions – A deep dive into Hermeticism, Thelema, alchemical symbolism, and ritual magick associated with the Equinox.
5. Advanced Ritual and Practice – Practical applications for initiates in Hermetic, Druidic, and magico-ceremonial disciplines.

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I. The Astrophysics of the Spring Equinox

The equinox occurs when the ecliptic—the Sun’s apparent path across the sky—intersects the celestial equator. This results in nearly equal day and night lengths globally. However, a thorough scientific treatment requires an understanding of the Earth-Sun system and the precessional implications of the equinoctial markers.

Orbital Mechanics and Solar Declination

• The Earth orbits the Sun in an elliptical path (eccentricity ~0.0167), with an axial tilt of ~23.44° relative to the plane of the ecliptic.
• At the equinox, the solar declination is 0°, meaning the Sun is directly overhead at the equator. This contrasts with the solstices, where declination reaches ±23.44°.
• Due to atmospheric refraction, actual day and night lengths are not perfectly equal but slightly favour daylight.

The Precessional Factor: The Equinoctial Drift

• Earth’s axial precession (~26,000-year cycle) causes the slow drift of equinoxes, shifting constellations in which they occur.
• In antiquity (~2000 BCE), the Vernal Equinox occurred in Taurus, later shifting to Aries (~500 BCE), and now in Pisces moving towards Aquarius (hence, “Age of Aquarius”).
• Many astrological and esoteric systems attribute cosmic significance to these transitions, correlating them with shifts in human consciousness and societal paradigms.

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II. Mythological and Historical Underpinnings

The Vernal Equinox has been mythologized in diverse Indo-European and non-Indo-European traditions, reflecting its agricultural and cosmological significance.

1. Proto-Indo-European (PIE) Equinoctial Deities

The reconstruction of Proto-Indo-European (PIE) religious concepts suggests a solar deity linked to renewal. Later today, I will write another post about these Deities.

Several linguistic and comparative mythology studies indicate a common archetype:

• Hittite: Telipinu – A god of vegetation who disappears, causing drought, before returning in spring.
• Vedic: Surya/Savitṛ – The solar deity whose passage regulates the cosmic order (ṛta).
• Greek: Persephone-Kore – The abducted goddess who returns to the surface in spring (Eleusinian Mysteries).
• Germanic: Eostre/Ēastre – A debated figure referenced by Bede (De Temporum Ratione), potentially linked to the PIE root aus- (to shine, dawn).

2. Agrarian and Solar Calendrical Systems

Many civilizations anchored their ritual calendars to equinoctial points:

• Mesopotamian Akitu Festival (Babylon) – Marked the renewal of kingship, possibly tied to the myth of Marduk and Tiamat.
• Roman Hilaria (Festival of Cybele and Attis) – Celebrated in March, signifying fertility and solar resurrection.
• Mayan Equinoctial Alignments – At Chichen Itza, the shadow of Kukulkan (Quetzalcoatl) descends the pyramid, symbolizing cyclical renewal.

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III. Pagan and Modern Ostara Rituals

Ostara is primarily associated with modern Wicca and neopaganism today, particularly within Gerald Gardner’s 20th-century synthesis of older European folk traditions.

Despite historical uncertainty regarding the festival’s pre-Christian form, modern practices often draw from agrarian themes.

1. Traditional Elements

• Egg Symbolism – Found in Indo-European fertility rites, linked to cosmogonic myths (e.g., the Orphic Egg).
• Hares and Rabbits – Revered as lunar and fertility symbols across Celtic and Germanic traditions.
• Sacred Fires – Used in Norse and Slavic equinoctial festivals to “call back” the Sun.

2. Contemporary Practices

Modern Wiccan and Neopagan groups celebrate Ostara as one of the Eight Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year:

• Balance Rituals – Aligning personal energies with the cosmic equilibrium.
• Seed Blessing Ceremonies – Enacting fertility magic through gardening and herbalism.
• Sunrise Meditations – Honoring the ascendant solar energy.

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IV. Esoteric and Occult Perspectives

The Spring Equinox holds a crucial place in various Western esoteric traditions, from Hermeticism to ceremonial magic.

1. Alchemical and Hermetic Symbolism

• Solar Rebirth – The Sol Niger (Black Sun) transforms into the Aurum Solis (Golden Sun), analogous to the Magnum Opus.
• Mercury in Aries – Astrologically, the equinox often correlates with Mercury’s dynamic energy, signifying transmutation.
• Correspondences:
  • Tarot: The Emperor (Aries), The Sun (Solar power)
  • Qabalah: Tiphereth (Solar Harmony), linked to divine equilibrium

2. Thelemic and Ritual Magick Practices

• Thelema (Aleister Crowley) – The Equinox of the Gods represents the transition from the Aeon of Osiris (sacrifice) to the Aeon of Horus (self-sovereignty).
• Golden Dawn Practices – The Ritual of the Equinox aligns inner energies with solar rhythms.

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V. Advanced Ritual and Magickal Practice

For initiates in esoteric and high magick traditions, the Equinox provides a potent ritual gateway. Suggested advanced workings include:

1. Solar Invocation of Ra-Hoor-Khuit – A ceremonial call to the conquering sun.
2. Elemental Balancing Ritual – Drawing from Golden Dawn’s Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP) to harmonize Air and Fire.
3. Alchemical Meditation on the Green Lion – A contemplation of the volatile principle of spring growth.
4. Kabbalistic Pathworking – Traversing the Path of Aleph (The Fool) to embrace transformation.

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Final Synthesis

The Spring Equinox, whether approached scientifically, historically, mythologically, or esoterically, remains a threshold moment—a convergence of cosmic, cultural, and spiritual forces. Understanding its significance at multiple levels allows practitioners to engage with the deeper mechanics of existence, aligning themselves with both macrocosmic and microcosmic cycles.

The Rituals of the Elements: Vernal Equinox

Introduction

It is written in Liber AL vel Legis II:36, “There are rituals of the elements and feasts of the times.” Crowley comments, “The entry of the Sun into the cardinal signs of the elements at the Equinoxes and Solstices are suitable for festivals. The difference between ‘rituals’ and ‘feasts’ is this: by the one a particular form of energy is generated, while there is a general discharge of one’s superfluous force in the other. Yet a feast implies periodical nourishment.” This cycle of dramatic rituals are therefore invocations. They are intended to generate energy at the entrance of the Sun into the cardinal signs of elements at the four quarters of the year, i.e. the Equinoxes and Solstices.

The entire cycle of rituals simultaneously show:

1. The macrocosmic cycle of the Sun going through the seasons
2. The microcosmic cycle of Man going through the generations/Incarnation (birth/youth-adulthood-old age-death).
3. The process of Attainment from 0=0 to 8=3 and back again.

The energies of each ritual correspond to each of these planes at once:

Each ritual invokes a particular energy. Each ritual has a particular Word of Power associated therewith and it is intoned in between the scenes. The Word also appears once in each ritual within a particular Scene.

Each of the four rituals has 3 scenes for a total of 12 scenes for the entire cycle, one for each of the signs of the Zodiac. The middle scene of each ritual is the sign of the Equinox or Solstice – for example, the middle scene in Autumn is Libra. The first scene is therefore Virgo, the sign before Libra, and the last scene is Scorpio, the sign after Libra. In general, the first scene represents events leading up to the Equinox or Solstice, the middle scene represents the actual turning-point, and the last scene represents events leading to the next Equinox or Solstice.

The Basic Characters

• (☉/) Priest/King – the conscious Self. The Child who grows to become King who attains and becomes a Priest and then dies and is reborn as the Child.
• (☽/) Priestess/Queen – the Non-Self (the unconscious self, the “higher self,” etc.). The  Mother of the Child, the Queen/Beloved of the King, the High Priestess of the Priest.
• (+ and -) 2 Children – the duality of the World. Various roles throughout the entire cycle.
• (⊕) The People (participants) – the inhabitants of the World; they identify (at least their conscious selves) with the Priest.

THE VERNAL EQUINOX CEREMONY

Also known as “The Bornless Reborn”

The Word of this ceremony is ‘VIAOV.’ It is repeatedly intoned in between scenes by the People/Congregants. The Incense of this ceremony is Frankincense1 and/or Rose.2 The Talisman of this ceremony are fresh, Spring flowers.3

SCENE I: Pisces.
End of Winter, the Final Lamentations of the Mother

[MUSIC: The last ~2 minutes of Alexander Glazunov’s “Winter” from “The Seasons,” which continues the song that ended the Winter ceremony]

The Queen is the Mother4, lamenting the death of the King at the tomb in the West5. + and – stand in the East in front of the dais as forms of Anubis6, looking to the West at the Queen. The Obelisks are still broken.

[MUSIC: Sounds of wind howling/storm fade in and overpower the music]

MOTHER: Sterility is my name, and desolation.

+: Intolerable is thine ache

–: And incurable thy wound.

MOTHER: I said, Let the darkness cover me; and behold, I am compassed about with the blackness that hath no name.7

+: The sun has become black!

–: The moon has become as blood!8

MOTHER: All that was ordered and stable is shaken!9 The winter storm has plunged our kingdom into darkness.

The Queen pauses and listens to the howling winds.

MOTHER: The mystery, the evil darkness of these incoherent cries, sets my teeth on edge with horror. And yet I cannot give up the hope which thrilled me at the Voice.10 But so keen, so desolate, so deadly is the pain of my spirit that blank darkness overwhelms me altogether.11

+: Yet there was a star in sight…

–: A star of hope arose…

MOTHER: Yet fell back into the darkness of the waters!12 A Star in the West? What folly!13 The King has left no heir and I fear we may wallow in this darkness forever. This discipline is sorrowful…

+: And ploughing is laborious…

–: And age is weariness…14

MOTHER: I sink through waves of blackness… down!

The Queen falls down.

+: Down!

+ falls down.

–: Down!15

– falls down.

MOTHER: In this Kingdom of the Grave, there is no light or knowledge.

+: Nor beauty.

–: Nor stability.

MOTHER: The worm is crowned!

The Queen places her crown on the ground.

MOTHER: All that we have been hath been eaten up! All that we shall be is nothing!16

+: The darkness of the earth is ruddy.

–: The darkness of the air is grey.

MOTHER: The darkness of the soul is utter blackness.17

The Mother laments and, with each wave of sobs and cries of pain18, the thunder of the storm gets louder and longer, an earthquake19 rumbles stronger and stronger.

+: The Queen is sore distressed!20

–: Who is now set to save us?21

+: Is not the egg of spirit a black egg?

–: Is not the snake that devoureth the spirit of man the lust of light?22

+ stands up while saying:

+: Let us beseech the Babe that abides in the egg!

– stands up while saying:

–: Let us invoke the Son of Morning hidden in the Lotus!23

+ and – walk to the West and gather on opposite sides of the Mother. + turns around, and + and – circle the Queen widdershins (counter-clockwise) while vibrating VIAOV three times. During the first vibration, + and – are in the Sign of Isis Mourning; during the second vibration, they are in the Sign of Apophis; during the third vibration, they are in the Sign of Osiris Risen; there are a total of 9 widdershins circumambulations.24

+ & –: VIAOV. VIAOV. VIAOV.

The King is hidden inside the Veil in the East. The Music gets quieter for a moment.

KING: In the thick darkness the seed awaiteth spring.25

END SCENE

[MUSIC: The thunderstorm continues and gets louder.]

Congregants repeatedly intone ‘VIAOV’ in between scenes.

SCENE II: Aries.
The Vernal Re-Birth of the Father in the Child

[MUSIC: The storm continues to rumble with thunder.]

The King is still behind the Veil. The Obelisks are stood upright and in front of the Veil.

The Queen gives + a Dagger and – a Disk.26

KING: Let the Illusion of the World pass over thee, unheeded, as thou goest from the Midnight to the Morning!27

+: It is He! The Bornless Spirit!28

–: It is He that lighteneth and thundereth!29

The Mother rises.

[The sound of the storm begins to fade away]

MOTHER: It is He! The Truth!30 He is risen!31

+: He is exalted!

–: He is great!

+: Glory to God!

–: Thanksgiving to God!32

MOTHER: There is no god but man.33

[MUSIC: Sound of lightning and “OM” intoned]

The Mother gives the Sign of Isis Rejoicing,34 and there is a flash of lightning.35 +, –, and the Mother all kneel in awe as the Child emerges. The King is seen as the Child36 in the East37 in the attitude of Resurrection,38 dressed in Green39 or Rose-pink40 or plant-life with a golden sash around his chest,41 and he carries fresh flowers in both hands. + holds up the Dagger42 and – holds up the Disk43; they then both kneel and adore the Child when he begins his speech.44

KING: “I am that I am, the flame / Hidden in the sacred ark. / I am the unspoken name / I the unbegotten spark. / I am He that ever goeth, / Being in myself the Way; / Known, that yet no mortal knoweth, / Shewn, that yet no mortal sheweth, / I, the child of night and day. / I am never-dying youth. / I am Love, and I am Truth. / I am the creating Word, / I the author of the aeon; / None but I have ever heard / Echo in the empyrean / Plectron of the primal paean! / I am the eternal one / Winged and white, the flowering rod, / I the fountain of the sun, Very God of very God! / I am he that lifteth up / Life, and flingeth it afar; / I have filled the crystal cup; / I have sealed the silver star. / I the wingless God that flieth / Through my firmamental fane, / I am he that daily dieth, / And is daily born again.”45 VIAOV!46

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The King looks to + and – who are kneeling in supplicated adoration.

KING: Fear not; I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, for I have the keys of hell and of death.47 Kneel not in supplication, for I am your fellowservant. You are my brother [he raises + to his feet, takes the Dagger in his right hand, and gives + half of the flowers] and my sister [he raises – to her feet, takes the Disk in his left hand, and gives – the other half of the flowers]. Worship Thyself!”48

The King stands in the Sign of Osiris Risen, holding the Dagger and Disk against his shoulders. + and – go around and give each of the Congregants a flower with the words “Worship Thyself!”

[MUSIC: Part of “Appalachian Spring” by Copland]

When complete, + and – return, place any extra flowers on the High Altar in the East, and take back the Dagger and Disk, respectively. The King then approaches the West to comfort his awe-struck Mother. + and – go with him, flanking him.

KING: Mother, you mourn sincerely, but your sorrow has no cause. The change which ye lament is the life of my rejoicing, and the sorrow that blackeneth your heart is the myriad deaths by which I am renewed.49 Grieve neither for the living nor for the dead. There has never been a time when you and I and all the stars gathered here have not existed, nor will there be a time when we will cease to exist.50 Wipe the tears from your eyes.

+: There is no death!

–: There is no sorrow!

+: There is no crying!

–: Nor is there pain.51

KING: Remember all ye that existence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are but as shadows; they pass & are done; but there is that which remains.52 I am the Eternal Sun, the motionless axle of the cycle of night and day, constant and triumphant throughout the changing seasons. Realize you are That which pervades the universe and is indestructible; no power can affect this unchanging, imperishable reality. Even in the face of death, you should not grieve. Death is inevitable for the living; birth is inevitable for the dead. Since these are unavoidable, you should not sorrow… There is none that shall be cast down or lifted up: all is ever as it was53 … there is no sin, and there is no salvation54… Death means the attainment of heaven, and life means the enjoyment of the earth. Therefore, rise up, Mother, and resolve to rejoice!55

MOTHER: Behold! where are now the darkness and the terror and the lamentation? For we are born into the new Aeon; we shall not suffer death… In the nights we will dance together, and in the morning we will go forth to war; for, as my King liveth that was dead, so do you live now and shall never die!56

END SCENE.

[MUSIC: Alexander Glazunov’s “Spring” from “The Seasons,” fade in starting from ~1:00.]

Congregants repeatedly intone ‘VIAOV’ in between scenes. 

SCENE III: Taurus.
The growth of the Body in Boyhood, the equilibration of the Elements

The future King is a youth, growing into adolescence. He is counseled by the Mother to grow in preparation for the Child to take the throne as King: he is taught to balance the Elements57 in the form of attainment of the 4 Powers of the Sphinx:58 To Know, To Will, To Dare, To Keep Silence. The Mother leads the Child around to each Quarter.59

MOTHER: Ah, my son! You are like a hawk with mighty-sweeping wings of mother-of-emerald. The very earth gladdens into green at your coming. Children of Earth! Rejoice! Rejoice exceedingly, for our salvation is at hand. The end of sorrow is come!60

KING: I am still but a child, innocent and impotent.61 How should I ever become deserving to take my Father’s throne?

MOTHER: You must first become worthy to seize the Sacred Lance of his power.62 The temple must be builded before the God can indwell it.63 Strengthen thyself! Set thy feet firmly upon the earth.64 Tend the garden of your soul!65

KING: Heavy is the labour, but great indeed is the reward.

MOTHER: You shall not see the reward,66 but you must tend the garden. Who can tell upon what day a flower shall bloom?67 In the impure Soul no Vision will arise, therefore cleanse the Soul68: balance the Elements within oneself: You must achieve the Four Powers of the Sphinx, though even adepts hardly attain to one of them!69

The Mother leads the Child-King to the West where + stands as representing the threat of unbalanced introversion. – stands in the East.

+: The wiles of the world are a plague upon the spirit! Build yourself up as a fortress to withstand the poisonous attacks of sense.70

The King looks to the Mother for guidance.

MOTHER: Be strong, o man! lust, enjoy all things of sense and rapture: fear not that any God shall deny thee for this. Exceed! Exceed! Strive ever to more! Love is the law, love under will.71

The Mother gives the Sign of the Enterer,72 and the King turns back to + to give the Sign of the Enterer himself.

MOTHER: My Child, the Power of Daring is in your heart, coiled and ready to leap!

[MUSIC: Fade in “Mars” by Holst during circumambulations and fade out before the next line is spoken]

The Mother leads the Child-King 1¼ deosil/clockwise circumambulations while + moves widdershins-counter-clockwise ¾ circle (– mirrors movements of + on the opposite side of the circle; + ends in the North and – in the South); King and Queen come to the North where + stands as representing external Tyranny. The King faces + with the Mother behind him and to the side, guiding him.

+: Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother! Thou shalt not commit adultery!73

The King looks to the Mother for guidance.

MOTHER: Thou hast no right but to do thy will. Do that, and no other shall say nay.74

The Mother gives the Sign of Silence,75 and the King turns back to + to give the Sign of Silence himself.

MOTHER: My Child, the Power of Knowledge grows within you!

[MUSIC: Fade in “Mars” by Holst during circumambulations and fade out before the next line is spoken]

The Mother leads the Child-King 1½ deosil/clockwise circumambulations; + and – do not move. The King and Queen come to the South where – stands as representing unbalanced extroversion. The King faces – with the Mother behind him and to the side, guiding him.

–: Be not lead into temptation, beware of your prideful sins!76 Love is charity and sacrifice to others.

The King looks to the Mother for guidance.

MOTHER: Ye shall be as ye are, & not other. Therefore the kings of the earth shall be Kings for ever: the slaves shall serve.77

The Mother gives the Sign of Silence,78 and the King turns back to – to give the Sign of Silence himself.

MOTHER: My Child, do not give overly of yourself to others in thought, word, or deed; Knowledge, Will, and Courage are for naught if you do not Keep Silence!

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[MUSIC: Fade in “Mars” by Holst during circumambulations and fade out before the next line is spoken]

The Mother leads the Child-King ¾ deosil/clockwise circumambulations while – moves widdershins-counter-clockwise ¼ circle (+ mirrors movements of – on the opposite side of the circle; – ends in the East and + in the West); King and Queen come to the East where – stands as representing internal Tyranny. The King faces – with the Mother behind him and to the side, guiding him.

–: Who art thou that dost float and fly and dive and soar in the inane? Behold, these many æons have passed; whence camest thou? Whither wilt thou go?79

The King looks to the Mother for guidance.

MOTHER: A curse upon Because and his kin! May Because be accursed for ever! If Will stops and cries Why, invoking Because, then Will stops & does nought. If Power asks why, then is Power weakness.80

The Mother gives the Sign of the Enterer,81 and the King turns back to – to give the Sign of the Enterer himself.

MOTHER: My Child, you have begun to unfold the Power of Will. There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.82

The Mother takes off the King’s green/rose-pink tabard.83 + takes the tabard from the Queen; + and Queen move to the East to join –, and + places the tabard in the East.

The Queen retrieves the Lance from the High Altar. + and – move to the center, The King in the West, the Mother in the East, + in the South, and – in the North so that all four individuals form a circle or diamond in the center, all facing inwards.

+: You have passed through each of the quarters.

–: You have become an adherent, a Man of Earth.84

+ holds the Lance upright in the center. +, –, and the Mother all intone a syllable of “IAO.” The Mother begins with “I,” and while she is still intoning, + begins to vibrate “A,” and – vibrates “O” so that all three are vibrated at once. Finally, the King vibrates “VIAOV” and they all end at the same time.

QUEEN: I!

+ holds the Lance with the Mother while intoning:

+: A!

– holds the Lance with the Mother and + while intoning:

–: O!

The King grabs the Lance and raises it while the Mother, +, and – all let go, all while the King intones:

KING: VIAOV!

+ and – turn to flank the Mother while facing toward the King.

KING: Am I not nearly purged of the iniquity of my forefathers?

MOTHER: Yet a little…85 This is only the first step upon the Path of the Great Work. Our Kingdom is still in danger: the Lower Kingdom threatens us where the Daughter of their King still rules. You must now leave me: win your own adulthood by winning a worthy Queen, and reclaim your rightful place as King.86 Go now, with ecstasy of worship in your heart.

+: With a clear mind.

–: And a passionate body.87

MOTHER: Go now, and may you grow to be a great King!

+: May you wax strong in spirit.

–: May you be filled with wisdom!88

[MUSIC: Fade in “Mars” from “The Planets, op.32” by Gustav Holst, starting from ~3:45]

KING: I shall find the Daughter of the King89 and she will become my bride! The voluptuous Virgin of Night will illumine my soul with arcane delight!90 Our Upper Kingdom will be united with the Lower once more: I shall set her upon the Throne of my Mother91 and the whole earth will rejoice.92

The King raises his Lance and marches to the West and into the Tomb.

END SCENE.

[OUTRO MUSIC: Play out “Mars” for about 2-3 minutes.]

1 In 777, Frankincense is attributed to Tiphareth (the Sun) and to the Element of Fire, which rules the Vernal Equinox because it occurs in the sign of Aries.

2 In 777, Rose is attributed to Tiphareth in the King Scale of Color, and it is also “traditionally been taken as [a] glyph of the circle” which refers in this case to the circle or cycle of the Seasons itself.

3 This represents vegetative Growth, the “Green Man” of Spring, and the general flowering of Beauty after lying fallow during the darkness of Winter.

4 Isis mourning Osiris/Mary mourning Jesus; Isis Mourning (L) of the INRI/LVX/IAO formula

5 The Sun sets in the West and therefore represents Death.

6 Atu XVIII: The Moon.

7 The Vision and the Voice, 14th Aethyr.

8 These lines are adapted from Revelation 6:12.

9 The Vision and the Voice, 16th Aethyr.

10 In terms of these Seasonal rites, “the hope which thrilled me” refers to the Star of the Redeemer appearing at the end of the Winter Solstice ceremony, i.e. in Aquarius, which directly precedes this particular scene.

11 The Heart of the Master.

12 A reference to the Star of the Redeemer that appeared at the end of the Winter Solstice ceremony, i.e. in Aquarius.

13 The Heart of the Master.

14 Adapted from The Vision and the Voice, 28th Aethyr, where it refers to the dispersion of the Abyss.

15 The Vision and the Voice, 16th Aethyr.

16 Adapted from The Vision and the Voice, 14th Aethyr.

17 The Vision and the Voice, 14th Aethyr.

18 These are the pangs of birth.

19 A reference to Revelation 6:12, “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.”

20 An adaptation of Liber LXV, I:38.

21 An adaptation of Liber LXV, I:37.

22 The Vision and the Voice, 14th Aethyr.

23 These two lines are adapted from The Vision and the Voice, 14th Aethyr, “The voice of the Crowned Child, the Speech of the Babe that is hidden in the egg of blue… Rejoice with me, O ye Sons of the Morning; stand with me upon the Throne of Lotus…”

24 The three vibrations of the threefold word “VIAOV” (the V’s are silent) give 9 total syllables that are intoned, symbolic of the 9 months of the Child in the womb. They do not necessarily need to perform 9 circumambulations but it would strengthen the symbolism.

25 The Vision and the Voice, 15th Aethyr.

26 The Mother is the source of the mind (Dagger) and body (Disk) of the Child, which are given to Him in order that he may incarnate or “manifest.”

27 From Crowley’s The Heart of the Master.

28 He is the “Bornless Spirit” because the True Self is never born nor does it ever die, yet it enters into incarnation or manifestation – represented by the four seasons and four Elements – in order to experience Itself.

29 It is seen that the storm is the Child itself, no longer a source of fear but a signal of the divine presence. As it says in the Holy Book of Thelema known as Liber A’ash, “Fear not when I fall in the fury of the storm; for mine acorns are blown afar by the wind; and verily I shall rise again, and my children about me, so that we shall uplift our forest in Eternity. Eternity is the storm that covereth me.”

30 This exchange comes from Liber Samekh, Section Gg. “The Truth” is a name Christ gives to himself and it is also one of the many names of Allah. Mansur al-Hallaj – a Persian Sufi of the 9th and 10th centuries C.E. – attained this identity with Godhead and he was promptly killed for blasphemy when he proclaimed “I am the Truth.”

31 “He is risen” comes from what is called the “Paschal greeting.” On Easter, certain Christians will greet each other by saying “Christ is risen” and the response is “Truly, He is risen!” Easter, i.e. the Resurrection, corresponds to the Vernal Equinox ceremony insofar as the Father is resurrected in the Son in this Season.

32 This exchange is adapted from The Vision and the Voice, 15th Aethyr. “Exalted” and “great” are qualities or titles of the 5th Sephirah, Geburah, while “glory” and “thanksgiving” (the literal translation of eucharistos) are qualities or titles of the 4th Sephirah, Chesed. Together with Tiphareth, the Sun, they form the descending triangle of Ra-Hoor-Khuit, the Crowned and Conquering Child.

33 This line comes from Liber LXXVII: Liber OZ, and is switched in here for “There is no god but god,” which occurs in the 15th Aethyr. It is thus, in one sense, a development from the Muslim proclamation of faith insofar as the human being is understood to be the true God. It is said here by the Queen almost as a correction to the paeans being made by + and –.

34 The final sign of the NOX series, Mater Triumphans; it signifies the completion of the crossing of the Abyss to be born as Nemo

35 Lightning represents (a) Incarnation or Manifestation, i.e. the Qabalistic Lightning Flash ; (b) the birth of the Zarathustran Overman as in “Where is the lightning to lick you with its tongue? Where is the frenzy with which ye should be inoculated? Lo, I teach you the Superman: he is that lightning, he is that frenzy!-”; it is also therefore the birth of the Child of Attainment, i.e. Nemo in the City of the Pyramids; he is also the birth of the demi-god Savior as in, for example, the stories of Christ or Buddha (c) the Thelemic image of the generative force as in Liber A’ash, “Gnarled Oak of God! In thy branches is the lightning nested! Above thee hangs the Eyeless Hawk” and throughout Liber VII. It is therefore the Incarnation of the Spirit into Man and the birth of the Savior into the World, the Master of the Temple being cast from Binah back down into Malkuth to restart the cycle. The idea also relates to an aphorism from the Chaldean Oracles, “If thou often invokest thou shalt see all things growing dark; and then when no longer is visible unto thee the High-arched Vault of Heaven, when the Stars have lost their Light and the Lamp of the Moon is veiled, the Earth abideth not, and around thee darts the Lightning Flame and all things appear amid thunders.”

36 The Green Man/Pure Fool of Spring and youthful folly; also the Crowned & Conquering Child Horus

37 The East is where the Sun rises and therefore represents Birth.

38 The Sign of Osiris Risen with arms crossed over the chest; it is the sign of Life triumphant over Death.

39 This refers to the re-emergence of plant life after Winter and is reflected in many traditions, e.g. the Green Man, the green color of Osiris’ skin, or Atu 0: The Fool in the Thoth Tarot.

40 Rose-pink is a color of Tiphareth, the Sun, specifically “the rose-pink of dawn, the spring of the day” (777).

41 Revelation 1:13, “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”

42 The Dagger is the weapon of Air and therefore symbolizes the bestowing of a Mind as a weapon to work his Will. It also reflects the Scourge, i.e. of Geburah/Mars that Osiris traditionally holds.

43 The Disk is the weapon of Earth and therefore symbolizes the bestowing of a Body as a weapon of work his Will. It also reflects the Crook, i.e. of Chesed/Jupiter that Osiris traditionally holds.

44 This is Baphomet, the Two-in-One God, who is seen as Christ the Redeemer in Revelation 1, the Alpha & Omega.

45 “The Ship: A Mystery Play” by Crowley

46 VIAOV represents the V passing through the cycle of Incarnation (IAO), triumphant and sustained by the process rather than it being a catastrophe. It represents the triumph of Life/Hadit through apparent death.

47 An adaptation of Revelation 1:17-18.

48 An adaptation of Revelation 22:9, “Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets,and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” The switch from “God” to “Thyself” represents the switch in perspective of the New Aeon of the Crowned and Conquering Child.

49 This particular line comes from The Vision and the Voice, 23rd Aethyr.

50 An adaptation of chapter 2 of Bhagavad Gita

51 Adapted from Revelation 21:4.

52 Liber AL II:9

53 Liber AL II:58.

54 This one line comes from The Vision and the Voice, 26th Aethyr.

55 An adaptation of more of chapter 2 of Bhagavad Gita

56 Adapted from The Vision and the Voice, 22nd Aethyr.

57 The 4 Elements are seen around the edges of Atu V: The Hierophant to which is attributed the sign of Taurus.

58 This arduous work of winning mastery over the Elements is reflected in the hard work of plowing the fields; Taurus, the Bull, is an animal used to help plow fields.

59 The Quarters represent the 4 Elements and the 4 Powers of the Sphinx.

60 Adapted from Liber Tzaddi, lines 1-4.

61 “Innocent and impotent” is a phrase used in Liber Samekh to describe the Pure Fool, the Babe Horus (Aleph – Atu 0: The Fool) that must obtain the Lance and become the Adult Horus (Ayin – Atu XV: The Devil).

62 Crowley writes in Liber Samekh, Point II, line 5, “What then is the formula of the initiation of Horus? It will no longer be that of the Man, through Death. It will be the natural growth of the Child. His experiences will no more be regarded as catastrophic. Their hieroglyph is the Fool: the innocent and impotent Harpocrates Babe becomes the Horus Adult by obtaining the Wand. ‘Der reine Thor’ seizes the Sacred Lance. Bacchus becomes Pan. The Holy Guardian Angel is the Unconscious Creature Self – the Spiritual Phallus. His knowledge and conversation contributes occult puberty.”

63 Liber LXI vel Causae, line 21.

64 The Vision and the Voice, 15th Aethyr.

65 A reference to the garden of the 13th Aethyr where a certain flower may arise as NEMO, the Master of the Temple.

66 A foreshadowing of the King’s death next Winter, and also a more esoteric reference to the fact that Attainment ultimates in the annihilation of the ego so the “you” of the ego shall not see the “reward.”

67 The Vision and the Voice, 13th Aethyr.

68 Adapted from AHA!

69 Adapted from AHA!

70 Basically, + represents the Threat of unbalanced Introversion: + tries to get the Child-King to keep to himself and be concerned only with himself.

71 Liber AL, II:22, 71, 72 and Liber AL, I:57.

72 The Sign of the Enterer, i.e. Silence, i.e. of Ra-Hoor-Khuit, represents a response to or attack against the – imbalance.

73 Two of the 10 Commandments of the Old Aeon. They represent, in general, the “Thou shalt”s and “Thou shalt not”s that are overturned in the New Aeon. In particular, the father and mother are no longer adored for it is the Aeon of the Crowned and Conquering Child. Adultery is no longer sacred, for we no longer pathologize the sexual instinct nor think it sinful, and Babalon is the Great Whore that we adore. Basically, + represents external Tyranny, i.e. religious-social Authority, and + tries to get the Child-King to conform to his ideal of what is right.

74 Liber AL, I:42-43.

75 The Sign of Silence, i.e. of Harpocrates or Hoor-Paar-Kraat, represents a response to or defense against the + imbalance.

76 A reference to the Lord’s prayer as in Luke 11:4, “And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” Basically, – represents the threat of unbalance Extroversion: – tries to get the Child to engage in self-sacrifice, only thinking of others, which is a hallmark of the Old Aeon of Osiris, the Dying God.

77 Liber AL, II:58.

78 The Sign of Silence, i.e. of Harpocrates or Hoor-Paar-Kraat, represents a response to or defense against the + imbalance.

79 This line comes from Liber LXV, II:21 where it is asked by the “little crazy boy” of Reason to the Adept. Basically, – represents Internal Tyranny, i.e. superstition and habit. – tries to get the Child-King to question himself through hyper-rationality.

80 Liber AL, II:28-31.

81 The Sign of the Enterer, i.e. Silence, i.e. of Ra-Hoor-Khuit, represents a response to or attack against the – imbalance.

82 Liber AL, III:60.

83 This represents the end of childhood and the entering into adulthood. There have now been a total of 3.5 deosil circumambulations, symbolic of the Kundalini serpent coiled 3.5 times at the base of the spine. The awakening of the Kundalini represents the awakening to the Creative Life-force of Godhead, which is seen symbolically in puberty in the course of the individual’s life.

84 This represents attaining the “grade” of Man of Earth, corresponding to the Third Order of Golden Dawn (Malkuth, 1=10) which contains the 4 Elements. The next grade is the Lover, which is in Tiphareth (5=6). This grade, as well as that of Geburah (6=5) are attained in the Summer Solstice ceremony. The grade of 7=4 is attained in Autumn when the King becomes a Hermit, which is the final aspect of the grade of Lover. The next grade of Hermit (8=3) is attained in the Winter Solstice when the King gives up his life in an act of supreme Love.

85 The Vision and the Voice, 16th Aethyr.

86 This represents the child leaving the home of the family and becoming an independent adult. It also refers to the Son/Prince of Tetragrammaton (YHVH) uniting with the Daughter/Princess of Tetragrammaton (YHVH), so that she may be set upon the throne of the Mother (YHVH) and the Prince may become King (YHVH).

87 The Vision and the Voice, 16th Aethyr.

88 Luke 2:40.

89 The Vision and the Voice, 9th Aethyr. She is the Daughter or Princess of Tetragrammaton, the Final Heh of YHVH. The King, having attained the Lance, has achieved become the Prince (Vav of YHVH) who weds the Princess (Final Heh of YHVH) so that she may be set upon the Throne of Understanding (Heh of YHVH) and he may assume the Throne of the King (Yod of YHVH).

90 Adapted from AHA!

91 The Vision and the Voice, 9th Aethyr, “This is she that is set upon the Throne of Understanding. Holy, Holy, Holy is her name, not to be spoken among men. For Kor they have called her, and Malkuth, and Betulah, and Persephone.” Also, the 4th Aethyr, “And this is that which is written: Malkuth shall be uplifted and set upon the throne of Binah.”

92 A foreshadowing of the Summer Solstice ritual, which reflects Revelation 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” The King is, of course, the Lamb, the Solar Savior of Light, Life, Love, and Liberty.

The Rituals of the Elements: Vernal Equinox | IAO131