Awakening

The awakening process is a ritual which gives practitioners the ability to see, use, and bargain with spirits and magic. It has been called the first step toward becoming an Other.<ref name="1.3e1" /> Doing so binds a practitioner by the rules and contracts set forth by Suleiman bin Daoud, restricting their use of lies and making them a target for others.

Process

The person being awakened draws 3 concentric circles from chalk around them, each made of smaller circles. Five in the first, six in the second, and seven in the third. In at least one version of the ritual, there are also two smaller circles drawn outside the main circle.<ref name=":0" />

In each of the circles in the inner ring are bowls with crystal, myrrh, oil, spice, and iron ore (or possibly holly; see Trivia below). In the second ring goes a dagger, a hourglass, a dreamcatcher, a skull, a coin, a rose, and something personal. In the outer ring goes food offerings for the witnessing Others - molasses, milk, vegetable ash, honey, meat, and alcohol. Candles are placed around the outside, and incense needs to be lit and metal ore heated.

The person being awakened then strips naked, sits in the center, and reads a certain text. This triggers the awakening.

An alternate version of the ritual exists to awaken multiple people at once, who each stand inside one of the circles alongside the symbolic items.<ref name=":0" />

Trivia

Rose Thorburn Junior used holly instead of iron in her ritual, as instructed by her version of the text, but it didn't work.
A copy of the ritual is found in the book Essentials.<ref name="1.3e1">Read Essentials. It sits on the book stand. A novice’s guide to the most basic things, it outlines the steps to awakening yourself. Be warned, these steps open the door to becoming Other, in a respect.

The oldest of them made agreements in times well beyond us, to

guarantee safety and maintain a kind of peace. Foremost among these agreements is truth. Should you lie, you may well forfeit your power for a time. Break a promise or an oath, and you will

be forsworn, and you will be stripped of every protection afforded to

even the common, ignorant people that decorate this Earth. On finishing

Essentials, awaken yourself. - excerpt from Bonds 1.3 </ref><ref name=":0">Pact Dice: Mile End - Essentials</ref>

References