THE VISION

Born of H.P. Lovecraft's mythos, R'lyeh is the ancient civilization of the Old Ones--entities possessing enormous intelligence and power who once ruled the stars and planets from obscene towers covered with slime. In time, this great civilization fell into the sea. The Old Ones retreated beyond the angles to hibernate for a later aeon when they would awaken, and reemerge to reclaim their hold on the universe. The sleeper must awaken. The vision of the R'lyeh Lodge is the formation of a Setian civilization in the San Francisco Bay Area.. More than just a community, the Knights of the R'lyeh Lodge seek to transform the physical and cultural geography of this region--a change on an order of magnitude such that its accomplishments and contributions eclipse those of Alexandria and Athens. In this manner, shall we turn Lovecraft into a prophet. R'lyeh and The Old Ones are not a myth of ancient history, but a primordial foreshadowing of our ascension. Indeed, the Old Ones do lay dreaming in R'lyeh -- for we are they, and the time and place is here and now. The sleepers shall awaken.

THE RING

The structure and function of the R'lyeh Lodge in the Order of the Trapezoid is that of an egregore -- a construct of common experience shared by a group of Black Magicians who, through their individual and collective endeavors, contribute to its increase, and who increase themselves by gaining even more in return. Thus, the relationship between the Knight or Dame and the egregore is a contract of profitable exchange which favors the former party in return for the latter's existence. The egregore can be envisioned as a ring, wherein the knights and dames come together for a brief but intense moment to partake of a powerful common experience. This common construct is formed from the substance of the totems, or churingae, of the Lodge: a set of sacred symbols which represent the vision and principles of this magical vehicle.

THE SUMBEL

The Sumbel is the central rite of the Lodge. It serves the members of the Lodge by providing a ritual structure for their interaction within the Ring - partaking of the sweet and sometimes bitter fruits of each other's Initiatory experiences, and providing inspiration and impetus for future deeds which contribute to the building of R'lyeh, and the accelerated transformation of its Warrior Initiates.

CORE PRINCIPLES

The core principle of the R'lyeh Lodge is Honor linked with Accelerated Transformation. Here, Honor is defined as a commitment to truth in four major forms: Truth to your Self Truth to your Quest Truth to the other Knights and Dames of the Lodge, and of the Order, and Truth to the Vision of the Lodge. The Knight or Dame of the R'lyeh Lodge is challenged not only to carry these principles forward, but to exemplify them. The Initiate demonstrates Warriorship when he or she accepts this challenge, and Heroism when he or she expresses the core principle through deed. Warrior Initiates of the Lodge are challenged not just to follow the path of the True Will, but to do so with all their might.