8.2. Script⁑
Note
Where indicated by “NN.”, use either one’s own name or the name of someone in particular to be addressed as contextually appropriate. Where indicated by “NN1.” and “NN2.”, use the names of someone in particular to be addressed and oneself as contextually appropriate.
8.2.1. Prior to the Retreat⁑
Before the retreat begins, the participants of the retreat need to confer with each other and establish:
The requirements for participating in the retreat
Who is participating in the retreat
The retreat facilitator, and a secondary facilitator if need be
The start date, end date, and duration of the retreat
The location of the retreat
Routines, schedules, and dates and times for specific ceremonies to be held
Scripts and assignments for all ceremonial and non-ceremonial tasks
The day before the retreat, all resources, supplies, tools, and funding should be prepared as necessary for transport or use for the opening day of the retreat.
8.2.2. On the Opening Day⁑
On the opening day of the retreat, all participants are to gather at the appropriate place and time. After entering, checking into, or otherwise registering with the location and inspecting it to ensure that everything is in order, everyone is to gather in a circle with their hormos at hand but not yet worn, and each person is to announce who they are to everyone else by name with the formula: “My name is NN., and I am here; may you live in wholeness and health!”, to which everyone else is to then respond “May you live in wholeness and health!”.
After everyone has been accounted for, announced themselves, and greeted each other but before anything else is done, the establishment of the retreat may begin. Everyone (A) is to recite the establishment in unison.
8.2.2.1. Declaration of Intent⁑
A: We gather here today on this <date> to begin a Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis, joining each other as a hormos of <duration>, taking shelter and refuge at this limēn so that we may further ourselves on the Way of Hermēs together. To do so, we undertake to hold ourselves and each other to the Arkhai, the Entolai for synormistai, and the Entolai for the hormos of the Hermetic Synaxis with one voice.
8.2.2.2. Undertaking the Principles⁑
A: For the sake of this Synormisis, we now undertake to hold ourselves and each other to the Arkhai of the Hermetic Synaxis, the bedrock of our practice and the guideposts of our journey.A: We will show devotion to divinity and cherish heaven.A: We will join reverence and knowledge together.A: We will learn the works of the Divine and the workings of Nature.A: We will discover and apply the skillful arts of everything that is good.A: We will do works of charity and justice for our society and the world.A: We will end ignorance, abandon error, and cease evil.A: We will go forth to the Life, Light, and Goodness of God.
8.2.2.3. Undertaking the Rules for Participants⁑
A: For the sake of this Synormisis, we now undertake to hold ourselves and each other to the Entolai for synormistai, rules of conduct which support our work in our hormos.A: We will maintain our honesty and integrity in the hormos.A: We will be respectful towards others in the hormos and the hormos as a whole.A: We will support others in the hormos and the hormos as a whole.A: We will keep the trust, faith, and secrecy of others in the hormos.A: We will communicate clearly with the hormos, especially for coordination and collaboration.A: We will focus on the work of the hormos.A: We will attend all events of the hormos for fellowship and community as much as spirituality and communion.
8.2.2.4. Undertaking the Rules for Gatherings⁑
A: For the sake of this Synormisis, we now undertake to hold ourselves and each other to the Entolai for the hormos, rules of conduct which support our work in the Hermetic Synaxis.A: We will maintain the Kanones of abstinence, hygiene, and clothing.A: We will wear the hormos constantly as a reminder of our Synormisis.A: We will keep to our schedule and calendar for and events, and keep to practices prescribed by the Hermetic Synaxis.A: We will do everything in this hormos oriented towards and for the sake of the Way of Hermēs.A: We will pray together, study together, work together, and live together for the duration of our Synormisis.A: We will uphold and encourage the spiritual development of synormistai equally and fairly.A: We will support our broader community with charity and justice as reasonable.
8.2.2.5. Establishment of the Retreat⁑
A: We have undertaken to hold ourselves and each other to the Arkhai, the Entolai for synormistai, and the Entolai for the hormos of the Hermetic Synaxis in the company of each other and as witnesses for each other. In such company and being so witnessed, we declare ourselves to be synormistai as a hormos of <duration> for this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis that we have begun on this <date>.
Everyone lifts up their hormos in front of them, and then puts on their hormos as one.
A: May we live in wholeness and health, and may we walk in reverence and knowledge on the Way of Hermēs!
8.2.2.6. Undertaking of the Facilitator⁑
The facilitator announces:
According to the will and assent of this hormos of <duration> of the Hermetic Synaxis and in the company of you all who are my witnesses, I, NN., undertake the office of limenophylaks for this Synormisis on this <date> at this limēn. To the best of my ability as limenophylaks, I shall facilitate and manage the affairs of our Synormisis.May I uphold the faith and counsel of you all in my role as limenophylaks, avoiding all misconduct and striving for proper conduct, for the good of our hormos and for the Hermetic Synaxis.
The facilitator announces:
We now undertake this Synormisis.
8.2.2.7. Beginning the Retreat⁑
Starting from the undertaking of the retreat until the end of the retreat, all participants are to continually maintain the Kanones of lax abstinence (strict abstinence only being required before events requiring it), hygiene (full bathing once a day, if at all possible), and clothing (wearing white clean modest clothes as much as and whenever possible, as well as the hormos at all times when not sleeping or bathing).
After formally undertaking the Synormisis, the participants may then spend the rest of the opening day unpacking, getting themselves situated, spending time meeting and getting to know each other, familiarizing themselves with the location of the retreat, deciding where certain activities are to be held in the location, physically cleaning and spiritually cleansing the location, and the like. Priority is to be given as a responsibility of the facilitator to setting up the communal bōmos and, as soon as possible, lighting a lykhnon for the bōmos with the usual invocation; once the lykhnon is lit, it is the responsibility of the facilitator to ensure that the flame is always lit or that there is always a lykhnon active on the bōmos.
At some point on the opening day after undertaking the retreat and before retiring to bed, the gathering as a whole is to review and confirm the following:
The general daily schedule
Any major rituals, offerings, and events to be done during the retreat, along with scripts for them
Any event-based responsibilities being delegated to individual participants or the manner of rotating such responsibilities
Any logistical considerations of supplies, organization, or other maintenance-based responsibilities
Frequency of all-participant retreat meetings for administrative and other concerns
So long as it is not too late after all the above, the gathering should do evening prayers and share a meal together before retiring to bed, with other time spent in camaraderie, gentle recreation, and continuing to get situated for the retreat. If desired and time permitting before the scheduled time for retiring, participants may do other prayers, meditation, study, or ceremonial work as desired, whether independently or as a group.
8.2.3. On the Full Days⁑
For each full day of the retreat, all activities are to be performed according to the schedule, both the general daily activities as well as any other ceremonial activities for particular times or events. All participants are expected to be prepared and arrive promptly for all activities as scheduled; if necessary, any participant may remind those who are late, forgetful, or otherwise negligent.
8.2.3.1. Leaving Early⁑
If a participant needs to leave the retreat early, then once they know they must leave, they are to notify the facilitator as soon as they can, and afterwards take a reasonable opportunity where everyone is gathered together to announce their departure, e.g. after a communal meal. If they need to leave urgently, they may gather everyone together regardless of the time.
The participant who leaves (L) announces to everyone else who remains (A), who reply in response:
L: In the company of you all of this hormos who are my witnesses, I, NN, declare that I leave this hormos of <duration> and end my participation in this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis on this <date> to continue on my Way. May you live in wholeness and health, and may you walk in reverence and knowledge on the Way of Hermēs!A: May you live in wholeness and health, and may you walk in reverence and knowledge on the Way of Hermēs!
Upon this announcement, the participant who leaves then removes their hormos, and is then to pack up their belongings and clean up after themselves as necessary, and then leaves the retreat no later than sunset that same day. In the time between them making their announcement to leave and leaving, they may continue to participate in other scheduled activities of the retreat if they have time and willingness for doing so.
8.2.3.2. Expulsion of a Participant⁑
If, after discussion and voting by the gathering, the gathering chooses to expel a participant, the facilitator is to gather everyone together regardless of the time. The gathering as a whole announce to the expelled member:
In the company of each other and as witnesses for each other, we declare that we expel you, NN., from our hormos of <duration> from participating in this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis for <reasons of expulsion> on this <date>, and so declare you no longer our synormistēs. We denounce and condemn you, NN., for your actions that cast down truth and order. Begone.
Upon this announcement, the expelled participant is to remove their hormos, and is then to pack up their belongings and clean up after themselves as necessary, and then leaves the retreat immediately.
8.2.3.3. Changing of the Facilitator⁑
If for any reason the facilitator steps down, whether they themselves need to leave early or at the renewal of a retreat where they will leave while others stay or simply wish to continue as a non-facilitator participant, an election is to be called among all participants to elect a new facilitator for the retreat. Upon doing so, the new facilitator is to announce:
According to the will and assent of this hormos of <duration> of the Hermetic Synaxis and in the company of you all who are my witnesses, I, NN., undertake the office of limenophylaks for the remainder of this Synormisis on this <date> at this limēn. To the best of my ability as limenophylaks, heeding those who came before me and guiding those who come after me, I shall facilitate and manage the affairs of our Synormisis.May I uphold the faith and counsel of you all in my role as limenophylaks, avoiding all misconduct and striving for proper conduct, for the good of our hormos and for the Hermetic Synaxis.
8.2.4. On the Closing Day⁑
On the day that the retreat is planned to close, all participants are to following their schedule as normal from rousing through performing morning worship and breakfast as they would all other days. After breakfast, following discussion of who wishes to leave or stay at the retreat, whether new participants are to be admitted if the retreat will be renewed, logistics and confirming all options regarding ending or renewing the retreat as well as the election of a new facilitator (if needed), all participants are to gather in a circle. Any new participants joining the retreat are to be present, standing together outside the circle; a reasonable amount of time should be given to wait on any, especially if advance notice was given of being late, though all new participants should arrive as early as they can that day to join.
The facilitator announces:
We have gathered here today on this <date> for our Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis, having formed a hormos for <duration>, having taken shelter and refuge at this limēn so that we may further ourselves on the Way of Hermēs together. Will you leave or stay?
Proceeding in a circle and ending with the facilitator themselves, all those who choose to end the retreat are to say “I will leave”, and all those who choose to renew the retreat are to say “I will stay”.
8.2.4.1. If All Participants Leave and End the Retreat⁑
The facilitator announces:
All synormistai here will leave. Thus concludes this Synormisis.
Everyone announces in unison:
In the company of each other and as witnesses for each other, we declare that we leave this hormos of <duration> and end this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis on this <date> to continue on our Way. May we live in wholeness and health, and may we walk in reverence and knowledge on the Way of Hermēs!
All participants remove their hormos, the facilitator extinguishes the lykhnon with the usual invocation, and all participants then begin the process of cleaning up the retreat, packing up belongings, breaking down ceremonial spaces, sanitizing cooking and hygienic areas, and the like. If there is an agreed-upon checkout time for the location, everything should be done and all supplies, tools, and other belongings of the participants removed and all participants vacated from the location by that time; if not, by sunset that day. Any remaining food may be shared among the participants, and any remaining supplies or funding may be done so likewise or returned in whatever amounts left to any groups that contributed them.
8.2.4.2. If All Participants Stay and Renew the Retreat⁑
The facilitator announces:
All synormistai here will stay. Thus continues this Synormisis.
If there are new participants joining the retreat, the facilitator also announces:
This Synormisis will be joined by new synormistai.
All renewing participants announce in unison:
We continue to hold ourselves and each other to the Arkhai, the Entolai for synormistai, and the Entolai for the hormos of the Hermetic Synaxis in the company of each other and as witnesses for each other. In such company and being so witnessed, we declare that we renew this hormos of <duration> for <new duration> to continue this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis on this <date>. May we live in wholeness and health, and may we walk in reverence and knowledge on the Way of Hermēs!
If there are any new participants joining the retreat, they are to be inducted now.
Although the schedule should be followed for the day as best as possible, time should be given to reviewing, confirming, and if necessary altering any schedules, processes, ceremonial dates and times, or other logistics for the renewed retreat. If there are new participants, they should be introduced to the rest of the gathering, given an orientation, and given time to settle in, joining in with all activities no later than evening prayers that same day.
8.2.4.3. If Some Participants Leave but Others Stay⁑
The facilitator announces:
Some synormistai here will leave and others will stay. Thus continues this Synormisis.
If there are new participants joining the retreat, the facilitator also announces:
This Synormisis will be joined by new synormistai.
All leaving participants (LL) announce in unison, with those who stay replying (A) (changing personal pronouns if needed):
LL: In the company of you all of this hormos who are my witnesses, we declare that we leave this hormos of <duration> and end our participation in this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis on this <date> to continue on our Way. May you live in wholeness and health, and may you walk in reverence and knowledge on the Way of Hermēs!A: May you live in wholeness and health, and may you walk in reverence and knowledge on the Way of Hermēs!
All leaving participants then remove their hormos, then step out of the circle and stand aside, bearing witness silently to the rest of the proceedings.
All renewing participants announce in unison (changing personal pronouns if needed):
A: We who stay continue to hold ourselves and each other to the Arkhai, the Entolai for synormistai, and the Entolai for the hormos of the Hermetic Synaxis in the company of each other and as witnesses for each other. In such company and being so witnessed, we declare that we renew this hormos of <duration> for <new duration> to continue this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis on this <date>. May we live in wholeness and health, and may we walk in reverence and knowledge on the Way of Hermēs!
If there are any new participants joining the retreat, they are to be inducted now.
Although the schedule should be followed for the day as best as possible, time should be given to reviewing, confirming, and if necessary altering any schedules, processes, ceremonial dates and times, or other logistics for the renewed retreat. Leaving participants pack up their belongings and clean up after themselves as necessary, and then leave the retreat as they are able to, no later than sunset that same day; in the time between them making their announcement to leave and leaving, they may continue to participate in other scheduled activities of the retreat if they have time and willingness for doing so. If there are new participants, they should be introduced to the rest of the gathering, given an orientation, and given time to settle in, joining in with all activities no later than evening prayers that same day.
8.2.4.4. Inducting New Participants⁑
If new participants are to be inducted at the renewal of the retreat, then at the appropriate point in the renewal, they are to step forward in a row. Each new participant is to announce who they are to everyone else by name with the formula: “My name is NN., and I am here; may you live in wholeness and health!”, to which everyone else present (renewing participants, leaving participants, and other new participants) is to then respond “May you live in wholeness and health!”.
The facilitator (F) is to administer the induction to new participants (PP) (changing personal pronouns if needed):
F: You have petitioned to join our hormos of <duration> to participate in this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis that we continue on this <date>. After our deliberation, none among our number hold any objections to your joining us, and so we accept your petition and extend our invitation to you to join us in our Synormisis. First, however, we must ensure that you will hold yourself to our Arkhai, our Entolai for synormistai, and our Entolai for the hormos as we do ourselves. As your limenophylaks, answer me honestly to what I ask.
If there are more than one new participant, the induction is to administered to them all simultaneously, and they are to all reply in unison.
8.2.4.4.1. Administering the Principles⁑
F: For the sake of this Synormisis, we of this hormos of the Hermetic Synaxis hold ourselves and each other to our Arkhai, the bedrock of our practice and the guideposts of our journey. I will ask you of our Arkhai: you shall tell me if you will hold yourself to them as we do ourselves.F: Will you show devotion to divinity and cherish heaven?PP: I will show devotion to divinity and cherish heaven.F: Will you join reverence and knowledge together?PP: I will join reverence and knowledge together.F: Will you learn the works of the Divine and the workings of Nature?PP: I will learn the works of the Divine and the workings of Nature.F: Will you discover and apply the skillful arts of everything that is good?PP: I will discover and apply the skillful arts of everything that is good.F: Will you do works of charity and justice for your society and the world?PP: I will do works of charity and justice for my society and the world.F: Will you end ignorance, abandon error, and cease evil?PP: I will end ignorance, abandon error, and cease evil.F: Will you go forth to the Life, Light, and Goodness of God?PP: I will go forth to the Life, Light, and Goodness of God.F: You have told me that you hold yourself to our Arkhai as we do ourselves; this is good.
8.2.4.4.2. Administering the Rules for Participants⁑
F: For the sake of this Synormisis, we of this hormos of the Hermetic Synaxis hold ourselves and each other to the Entolai for synormistai, rules of conduct which support our work in our hormos. I will ask you of our Entolai: you shall tell me if you will hold yourself to them as we do ourselves.F: Will you maintain your honesty and integrity in the hormos?PP: I will maintain my honesty and integrity in the hormos.F: Will you be respectful towards others in the hormos and the hormos as a whole?PP: I will be respectful towards others in the hormos and the hormos as a whole.F: Will you support others in the hormos and the hormos as a whole?PP: I will support others in the hormos and the hormos as a whole.F: Will you keep the trust, faith, and secrecy of others in the hormos?PP: I will keep the trust, faith, and secrecy of others in the hormos.F: Will you communicate clearly with the hormos, especially for coordination and collaboration?PP: I will communicate clearly with the hormos, especially for coordination and collaboration.F: Will you focus on the work of the hormos?PP: I will focus on the work of the hormos.F: Will you attend all events of the hormos for fellowship and community as much as spirituality and communion?PP: I will attend all events of the hormos for fellowship and community as much as spirituality and communion.F: You have told me that you hold yourself to our Entolai for synormistai as we do ourselves; this is good.
8.2.4.4.3. Administering the Rules for Retreats⁑
While the administering of the Principles and Rules for Participants were intended only for the new participants to respond (“I will…”), when responding to the Rules for Retreats, all renewing participants along with new participants present should recite them in unison (“We will…”). The facilitator, however, is to continue addressing the new participants alone.
F: For the sake of this Synormisis, we of this hormos of the Hermetic Synaxis hold ourselves and each other to the Entolai for the hormos, rules of conduct which support our work in the Hermetic Synaxis. I will ask you of our Entolai: you shall tell me if you will hold yourself to them as we do ourselves.F: Will you maintain the Kanones of lax abstinence, hygiene, and clothing?PP/A: We will maintain the Kanones of lax abstinence, hygiene, and clothing.F: Will you wear the hormos constantly as a reminder of our Synormisis?PP/A: We will wear the hormos constantly as a reminder of our Synormisis.F: Will you keep to our schedule and calendar for events, and keep to the practices prescribed by the Hermetic Synaxis?PP/A: We will keep to our schedule and calendar for events, and keep to the practices prescribed by the Hermetic Synaxis.F: Will you do everything in this hormos oriented towards and for the sake of the Way of Hermēs?PP/A: We will do everything in this hormos oriented towards and for the sake of the Way of Hermēs.F: Will you pray together, study together, work together, and live together for the duration of our Synormisis?PP/A: We will pray together, study together, work together, and live together for the duration of our Synormisis?F: Will you uphold and encourage the spiritual development of synormistai equally and fairly?PP/A: We will uphold and encourage the spiritual development of synormistai equally and fairly.F: Will you support our broader community with charity and justice as reasonable?PP/A: We will support our broader community with charity and justice as reasonable.F: You have told me that you hold yourself to our Entolai for the hormos as we do ourselves; this is good.
8.2.4.4.4. Rejecting New Participants⁑
If a new petitioner rejects any of the principles or rules, they are not permitted to join the retreat. The facilitator is to immediately reject them, announcing:
F: If you will not hold yourself to the Arkhai and Entolai of the Hermetic Synaxis as we do ourselves, then you cannot be admitted as a synormistēs of our hormos in this Synormisis. In the company of others of our hormos who are your witnesses, I, NN1., who would be your limenophylaks reject you, NN2., on this <date>, from our hormos of <duration> from participating in this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis. Begone.
The rejected participant is to leave immediately. The facilitator is then to continue with the rest of the induction for the rest of the participants.
8.2.4.4.5. Welcoming New Participants⁑
Note
If only a single participant is being admitted, the facilitator is to declare them “a synormistēs”; if multiple, “synormistai”.
F: You have undertaken our Arkhai, our Entolai for synormistai, and our Entolai for the hormos in the company of others of our hormos who are your witnesses. In such company and being so witnessed, I, NN., as your limenophylaks declare you a synormistēs as part of our hormos of <duration> for this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis that we continue on this <date>.F/A: May you live in wholeness and health, and may you walk in reverence and knowledge on the Way of Hermēs!F: We now undertake this Synormisis.
8.2.4.4.6. Rejecting Late New Participants⁑
If a new participant arrives too late after the renewal and induction of the retreat, the induction for them is to be aborted, even if the new participant arrives later. The facilitator is to inform them:
F: We waited for you to arrive, but you did not do so in a timely manner, and so you cannot be admitted as a synormistēs of our hormos in this Synormisis. In the company of others of our hormos who are your witnesses, I, NN1., who would be your limenophylaks reject you, NN2., on this <date>, from our hormos of <duration> from participating in this Synormisis of the Hermetic Synaxis. Begone.
The rejected participant is to leave immediately and is not permitted to join the retreat, but may attempt to join at a renewal of the retreat.