This story comes straight from the heart and soul of an appreciative and everlastingly grateful human hearer who listened to the Stones themselves telling it in their own strange silent speech. What they had to say makes a message our modern world might do well to heed. Let all judge for themselves its value.
THE ROLLRIGHT RITUAL by William Gordon Gray (Page 5)
Greetings !
On the clear but cool evening of Sunday 22nd March, sprightly members of the Clan of Tubal Cain assembled with the Sangreal Sodality at the Rollright stones in Oxfordshire (1).
The focus of this historic occasion was to conduct The Rollright Ritual in its entirety, which to our knowledge has not been achieved since its formulation in the late 1960’s. This magnificent ritual pattern was formulated by the late W G Gray and was most certainly inspired by magical experiences he absorbed while attending rituals and corresponding with Robert Cochrane and Evan John Jones, Magister’s of Tubal Cain.
In the early 1980’s, Ann and Dave Finnin (current Maid and Magister of Tubal Cain) contacted Bill Gray in an attempt to learn more about the Legacy of Robert Cochrane and were subsequently introduced to their mentor and Magister, Evan John Jones, who passed the entire Lineage to them on 18th June 1987 (2)
Here is a short extract from: The Roebuck Tradition:written by Ann Finnin and David Finnin (online document ROEBTRAD © 1997) explaining the sequence of events:
To make a long story very short, we took a shot in the dark and wrote to a man named Bill Gray who had been famous for his books on Cabala and Ceremonial Magic. It was a long shot. In his books, Bill had been very critical of the Craft, particularly the Gardnerian variety. However, one of his books called The Rollright Ritual (now reprinted under the name By Standing Stone and Elder Tree) seemed more like what we were seeking. It turned out that Bill had not only known Roy but had worked with and corresponded extensively with him on numerous occasions. He gave us copies of letters Roy had written to him and, most important, the name and address of the man who had been in Roy’s group in the 1960s. One thing led to another and we began our apprenticeship with Evan John Jones (author of Witchcraft, a Tradition Renewed). We finally learned the proper ritual technique and were adopted into the Clan of Tubal Cain, which was the name of Roy’s old group (3)
Many esoteric students since the 1970’s have recognised core thematic and symbolic links between Clan of Tubal Cain and Sangreal rites, often commenting that Bill Grays Seasonal Occult Rites are “too Christian for Pagans and too Pagan for Christians”, and likewise have suggested that adherent’s to the Rites and Observances of Tubal Cain are in some way, “closet Christians”.
There are of course elements of truth and illusion in both of these statements and this fascinating subject will be explored more fully in another article at another time on this website.
Somehow, we ought to get away from ideas that a Standing Stone is only an outworn sign of our past, and see it as an upraised Finger of Fate beckoning us ahead toward our future. The Stone is not merely a memorial of bygone beliefs, but a pointer that should raise our highest hopes of finding faith in all the Life that lies ahead of us.
THE ROLLRIGHT RITUAL by William Gordon Gray (Page 160)
The choreography of the Rollright Ritual leads the initiate thorough the solitary ordeal of death and rebirth across the entire Rollright complex, and is a stunning example of how many of the esoteric keys that we seek as practitioners are locked into the old stones and
activated by walking the old green lanes that connect them.
To get full value out of this Ritual, it has to be lived and experienced rather than academically analysed. Here, mind must be made to serve spirit. Man lives far better by love than by logic.
This is a Rite to be savoured appreciatively like the Feast of Faith it really is. Each course has its own flavour, and in order to get the full taste it is necessary to have an appropriate appetite. It is truly said that hunger makes the best sauce, and if this Ritual is to be spiritually satisfying, then there should be a sort of hunger by the human souls participating in it for the Inner sustenance it has to offer.
THE ROLLRIGHT RITUAL
by William Gordon Gray (page 157)
The climax of the Rite brought all of the initiates together within the ancient ring of stone, known as “The Kings Men”, where the sacrement was blessed, transformed and shared amongst the congregation and so by devotion, food, friendship and song, the bonds between our respective orders were celebrated and strengthened.
It was an experience altogether “out of this world” to undergo. No words can possibly express the sense of “Inner reality and sincerity” felt during the Inner encounters with what can only be called the “Spirit of the Stones”.
THE ROLLRIGHT RITUAL by William Gordon Gray (Page 5)
The Rollright Ritualwas undoubtedly a deeply personal, spiritually humbling experience for all involved, resulting in the Sangreal Sodality andClan of Tubal Cain discussing future esoteric projects to further explore the common ground inherant in our respective lineages.
Those who wish to deepen their knowledge of William G Gray’s Sangreal Sodality should take a serious look at the Kabbalah Concepts (4) and the Sangreal Sodality (5) Yahoo sites. These groups are moderated by Jacobus Swart(the spiritual successor of William Gray) and Jacobus can be contacted at this e-mail address: jacobsang@gmail.com
F.F.F.
Blackthorn
Magister of Tubal Cain
Derbyshire / U.K.
References: Quotations taken from: THE ROLLRIGHT RITUAL (by William Gordon Gray)
ISBN. 900448210 Copyright © 1975 William Gordon Gray Published by Helios Book Service
(Publications) Ltd.: 8, The Square, Toddington, Cheltenham, Glos.
1) Notes: The site coordinates are: OS Grid Reference – SP 296 308
The Rollright complex comprises of three sites:
1) Whispering Knights
2) The King’s Men stone circle
3) The King Stone.
2) Lineage Letter: http://ancientkelticchurch.org/CTubalCain/index.html
3) Link: The Roebuck Tradition:written by Ann and Dave Finnin (1997) http://ancientkelticchurch.org/essay.html
4) Kabbalah concepts:This group was created as a formal forum for the teaching and dissemination of the concepts of Kabbalah (Qabalah or Cabala) and related practical workings (such as ritual magic and theurgy). We advance comparative studies between Kabbalah and other mystical approaches (such as Gnosticism and mysticism in general). Since this forum is dedicated to the more serious study of Kabbalistic principles, casual conversation is not advised. Interaction related to the subject matter at hand is encouraged and invited, and so is the offer of good advice and other suggestions members may have: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kabbalahconcepts/
5) The Sangreal Sodality:This is an official site of the Sangreal Sodality, a Western Esoteric Brotherhood founded by William G. Gray, the late occult writer, Kabbalist and Ceremonial Magician. This list is open to members of the Sodality, and to anyone interested in the principles and teachings of this brotherhood: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sangrealsodality/
Note: Further information regarding the Rollright Stones can be found here: http://www.rollrightstones.co.uk/
A remastered recording of original 1970’s Cassette The Rollright Ritual by R.J. Stewart (featuring W.G.Gray)
can be purchased here: http://www.rjstewart.net/tapes.htm
ding our usage of material from Evan John Jones and Robert Cochrane.
So far as I know, the Bronze Age and early Iron Age smiths who, like the poets and physicians, came under the direct patronage of the Muse never embellished their work with meaningless decoration. Every object they made, sword, spear-head, shield, dagger, scabbard, brooch, jug, harness-ring, tankard, bucket, mirror, or what not, had magical properties to which the shape and number of its various decorations testified.
