Great Rite 1 Some Eminent Atlanteans Village Life Elsewhere on the Playa
1- Moonbull altar
Every night after the Dance Vortex initiation, a limited number of couples took part in a stirring second ritual in the first floor of the pyramid.
Moonbulls and Sunsnakes each had altars. Each had a vat of colored dye used to make a mark on the forearm signifying commitment to perform in the Great Rite.
2- Ground floor of the pyramid
Moonbull priests preparing for the nightly initiation.
3- Alien House Band, left
Live music was provided every night by the Alien House Band, decorated with mystic symbols in Day-Glo yellow.
Maestro Eric von Oberthaler, Linton, Alison.
Tarqunia, Mark, Marla
Audio: A capella version of the Atlantean
Folk Song, celebrating the Atlantean virtues of High Desire, Pure Love,
Flow and Transparency.Sung several times during the pyramid initiations,
and frequently in camp by groups of Atlanteans throughout the day.
4- Alien House Band, right
More members of the band, whose membership shifted a little each night.
Linton, Alison, [], Hadley, Mark, Rault.
Audio: Sakaliti, sung during a quiet, tender spot in the ceremony. Tirza first had the Moonbulls to lie down in a circle, then asked the Sunsnakes to place their hands on the belly of the nearest Moonbull. Afterwards the ceremony repeated, with Sunsnakes lying in a circle and Moonbulls kneeling next to them.
Vocalists: Alison and Linton.
No i sa ti
Il i i sa
Pa li ti
Sa ka li ti.
5- Sunsnake High Priestesses Tirza, Jehanne, and Sarah
Before the altar of the Sunsnakes.
Early in the ceremony ("Division! Division!") men and women were sent to different sides of the chamber.
During the time they were apart, the ritual of each group celebrated solidarity, sensuality, empowerment...something beyond words, for most of us.
Near the end of the pyramid rituals, the Moonbulls are seated in the middle. Around them circle the Sunsnakes, chanting the Atlantean word for "heat:"
Chi chaaa ti sa!
6- Moonbull High Priests Paradox, Papa Wu, and Pablo
Before the altar of the Moonbulls.
The pyramid initiation rituals evolved from night to night, and were the work of many Priests and Priestesses. A major guiding force was Papa Wu.
7- High Priestess Jehanne in the front window of the pyramid
Sometimes Priests, Priestesses and Thar-Taur characters made appearances in this spot during the Dance Vortexes.
8- Sunsnake and Moonbull couple before the Sunsnake altar
After the Great Rite, one young couple returned to the pyramid to perform their own version of the Dance of Cosmic Union before the two altars.
9- Priests and Priestesses in the second floor window
Whatever was going on up there, it sure looks like fun.
10- Paradox being Paradoxical
Sometimes things just seemed to spill out into the Playa.
Great Rite 1 Some Eminent Atlanteans Village Life Elsewhere on the Playa
