Now the moment is at hand! The new brood of Neophytes will be salted into the fertile ground inside the Holy Temple. Before that, though, here is a quick back and forth from some of the Holy Custodians of the Temple Rituals.

The Masters asks if they are ready and the Medalist says their souls were purified (a little by Colombe, a little by facing Death) and now they ask to enter the sanctified halls of the Temple, And now the Master asks the Medalist if the Guardian of the Threshold can vouch for their worthiness? The Medalist, who is apparently uncertain, checks with the Herald- who asks the Guardian of the Threshold if they are worthy. The inner Guardian says- finally- yep, these guys are ready.

The Officers all reply: “So Mote It Be!”

With rituals like these, you could spend half your life stepping in from one room to another- but yet these few extra steps probably provide a powerful upgrade in Neophyte self-esteem. So perhaps it is worth it after all.

To make things even better, the eager Neophytes are formally granted permission by the Master as special Music subtly expands the grandeur of the moment as they enter the temple.

Now, the Herald and Inner Guardian happily retreat to their stations where they dutifully stand as they keenly follow the Neophytes’ single file shuffle across the Threshold, led by first, the Torchbearer with a lighted torch and then by the Conductor. As they cross the Threshold, they are asked for the password. Each then intones, MEN-KHEPER-RA. If they forget it, the Inner Guardian reminds them. After all, they have just taken a total bath in purity, supercharged by the sweet, all-consuming goodness of Colombe. What does it matter if they forget a couple of words and let all this wonderful pomp and circumstance dwindle because of a moment of Neophyte forgetfulness?

Now seated, the lucky Neophytes are led by the Conductor to the seats in the Northwest. When finished, he stands facing them. The Torchbearer takes a position to  the West of them followed by Colombe who retreats to her station and Death at his place in the Northwest. Now, the door is closed to the Threshold chamber by the Inner Guardian. The music stops as all officers are seated- with the exception of the Master, the Conductor and Torchbearer.