OCC

Order of Chocolate Contemplatives

INTRODUCTION:

Once again the high holy days of the Order of Chocolate Contemplatives (O.C.C.) are at hand. Just in time to prevent you from sinking into a post-Yule lump of slush and despair.

The O.C.C was founded in 1993 and its purpose is to find enlightenment through chocolate, a task that its foundress pursues with diligence. All the sensual and psychoactive properties of this profound substance
are explored.

If you wish to join the O.C.C., post to alt.magick about the history of chocolate, its psycho-active properties, its relationship to Candlemas or Yule, favorite recipes, which signs should be the WATER and FIRE sign(s) for chocolate and why, or your own experiences exploring chocolate's exquisite pleasures. These articles will be collected in the Chocolate Chronicles and posted to alt.magick. This is also a time for renewal when previous members are encouraged to proclaim their love of chocolate in the same way described above.

The high holy days of the O.C.C. go on for 29 days, culminating on the 14th of February, a day long associated with love and chocolate, (and coincidentally, the birthdate of the foundress).

The holy days are divided into 4 separate weeks, with each day of each week being devoted to a particular property of chocolate. Why? So that initiates can align themselves with with the chocolate-day's property, its deity, element and virtue. Each day is like a rung on a ladder. Follow the prescribed practice for the day and climb the ladder, rung by rung, until on the 14th of February you reach enlightenment (or at least more enlightenment than you had when you started).

Self-elevation and self-evaluation are followed by a day of celebrating, and -- if you prepared well -- revelation. But being worthy of revelation requires character improvement first, so don't expect anything more than what you put in. On the final day, St. Valentine's day, chocolate is celebrated in a special way the entire day long -- in thoughts, word, deed and ingestion. Many opt for a sensual finale, some for a more meditative and sublime chocolate experience, but however you prefer will work best -- provided you celebrate chocolate with chocolate.

SPECIFICS:

First, if you start late, go ahead and do several days at a time mentally in order to catch up, but only eat the prescribed 1 piece of chocolate per day, until the 14th, otherwise you could blow-out your chakras and digestive system. Lectures aside, this is not a time for gluttony. Chocolate can really knock your socks off and should be treated with care.

Purchase *good* chocolate. If your idea of good is something from a vending machine, well, better than nothing. But this is a time to raise your chocolate awareness. I suggest you try quality chocolate. (I like the locally made and sold chocolate, from Parkside Candies.)

This is a new system of enlightenment, and still under construction. Feel free to make suggestions for additions and improvements in your posts to alt.magick.

Feel free to circulate this, in its entirety, whereever you wish.

Enjoy!

- Peggy -

Foundress of the O.C.C.

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WHAT TO DO and THINK:

WEEK #1:

DIRECTION: North
ANIMAL: Horse
ELEMENT: Earth
SIGN: Taurus
POWER: Law
ARCHANGEL: Uriel/Ariel

CHOCOLATE TYPE: Nuts and carmel and/or other ingredients mixed in.

Mine for the surprises. Brownies with chocolate bits and nuts are good for new initiates. Nothing too risky. Chocolate is strong enough, as is.

MEDITATION: Life is good. Life is a beautiful, sensual experience.

The two main secrets to life are put before you:

Life is what happens when you think of something else.
Sometimes the only (or easiest) thing to change about a situation is your perception of it.

These are laws. Thinking about them will give you insights to make your life more enjoyable. Use these laws to make your life as happy, and pleasurable as possible.

Day #    Diety         Virtue
1            Bmilges       limits his words
2            Barnafa       is content with his lot in life
3            Benpagi       knows his place
4            Belmara       uncomplaining acceptance of suffering
5            Balceor        trust in the sages
6            Blisdon         good naturedness
7            Bynepor       patience

WEEK #2:

DIRECTION: West
ANIMAL: Fish
ELEMENT: Water
SIGN: still being decided....
POWER: emotion
ARCHANGEL: Gabriel

CHOCOLATE TYPE: Chocolate dissolved in a liquid.

Chocolate mousse is especially good. Mugs of hot chocolate are good too (but no instant please). For more advanced members, try chocolate liqueur or chocolate in coffee.

MEDITATION: Consider how to flow through life with as much pleasure and as little pain as possible.

For each action there is an equal and opposite reaction, so take care to do yourself a favor and *not* invoke your nemesis. Consider how to make your life simpler on all planes. Then take the next step and learn to have not just neutral experiences, but positive ones! Every act, idea, interaction, feeling, sensation, can bring you positive energy. Learn to find chocolate everywhere and learn to give it freely. Take the highest and lowest -- turn everything into expressions of love and appreciation and give back the same in return.

Day #    Diety         Virtue
1      Bonefon        moderation in frivolity
2      Bermale        moderation in conversation
3      Bragiop        moderation in sleep
4      Blintom        moderation in pleasure
5      Bazpama        moderation in worldly affairs
6      Bvtmomo        moderation in business affairs
7      Babalel        knowledge of scriptures

WEEK #3:

DIRECTION: South
ANIMAL: Snakes
ELEMENT: Fire
SIGN: to be decided...
POWER: will
ARCHANGEL: Michael

CHOCOLATE TYPE: Milk chocolate. Nothing in it.

MEDITATION: Here we first encounter the scandalous past of our holy substance -- its affiliation with the cruel and hot southern gods.

All you've heard about their cruelty and their relationship with chocolate is true. But fear not! They were practicing the dark side of chocolate. They were mixing chocolate with fire and emotion. Emotion needs to be cooled, in water. Its far more effective to mix chocolate with fire with WILL. Therefore, the key word for this week is WILL. Use the strength you've discovered in chocolate and filter your thoughts and words with purpose. Imbue every act with meaning. Throw things out -- useless ideas and possessions. This is a good time to end any relationships that suck out your vitality. You are not the same as you once were, you are now changed -- stronger and better. Treat people with respect and restraint.

Day #    Diety          Virtue
1            Bnagole        deliberation
2            Brisfli            discussion with students
3            Branglo         debate with colleagues
4            Bernole         attendance on scholars
5            Basmelo        purity
6            Befafes          joy
7            Bobogel        humility

WEEK #4

DIRECTION: East
ANIMAL: Birds
ELEMENT: Air
SIGN: Aquarius
POWER: Inspiration and creativity
ARCHANGEL: Raphael

CHOCOLATE TYPE: Pure dark chocolate.

MEDITATION: This is your final week of ascent.

Focus on the highest intellectual enjoyment you have of chocolate and the chocolate teachings. By now you should be seeing chocolate everywhere and in everything. Look and you shall see. Feel the joy of chocolate in everyone and you (m)eat. You are now approaching the brink of ecstasy. If you have started any projects, now is a fortuitious time to complete them. If you are procrastinating about something, start it now -- you'll feel much better. This is a time to resolve old difficulties, conflicts, feelings and ideas. If you have trouble doing this, visualize all your problems in a pot with chocolate, melting away, then go to bed early and sleep purposefully on the troubles. In the morning you'll see the answer. This is also the time to consider the *opposite* of all you've contemplated in the prior weeks. Think of when and how to use the opposites. Finally, go through the prior 4 weeks of work, contemplating what you learned and invoking the deities of the days and the archangels of the weeks to give you strength and guidance. Sleep on what you've learned.

Day #    Diety          Virtue
1            Basledf         reverence
2            Bmamgal      awe
3            Blumapo      intuitive insight
4            Besgeme      understanding
5            Bapnido       orderly speech
6            Bornogo      attentive listening
7            Baligon        study

The final day: the 14th of February

On the final day, revel in all you've learned. Celebrate in your own style. You are on the brink of enlightenment and ecstasy now. Ask the deities and archangels to give you purity and strength. Do whatever is necessary to push yourself over the edge. Today and today only you can eat as much chocolate, whereever and however you like. :)