A Mithraic self initiation ritual

General Preparations for the Ascent:

Before endeavoring to ascend the ladder of the mysteries, thou must prepare thyself and thy chosen space. This chamber, though it may not be a subterranean spelaeum carved from living rock, must be consecrated by thy intent, clean and set apart from the mundane world. An altar, bearing a representation of the Tauroctony or, at the least, an image of Sol Invictus Mithras, should be its focal point. Water for purification, a censer for incense, bread and a cup for libation (be it water or wine) should be at hand.

The Solemn Oath of the Mysteries (Sacramentum):

Let the aspirant, standing before the altar, with hand outstretched, declare this vow, its essence drawn from the ancient papyri that yet speak to us:   

"In the name of the God, who did divide the earth from the heavens, light from darkness, the day from the night, the world from chaos, life from death, and creation from destruction; by the unshakeable verity of this division and in earnest good faith, I do swear. The secrets that shall be unveiled unto me, grade by grade, shall I observe with utmost secrecy. To the venerable spirit of the Father, though unseen, and to the essence of the Herald, whose task it is to proclaim, and to all my fellow initiates across time, most beloved Brethren, I bind myself. By this oath, may prosperity attend my path if I am true; yet may all things contrary befall me, should I ever divulge these sacred trusts."    

Symbolic Purification and Trials:

The path of Mithras is one of trial and purity. For this self-initiation, let thy trials be of the spirit. Before each grade, undertake a period of fasting, as thy capacity allows, and engage in profound meditation upon the virtues and challenges of the grade thou approachest. Let the ordeals of heat and cold be represented by enduring moments of discomfort with unwavering focus, or by symbolic ablutions – water touched by ice for cold, the warmth of a flame (safely regarded) for heat.   

The Ascent Through the Seven Grades

Undertake each grade in sequence, allowing time for reflection and integration before proceeding to the next.

I. Corax (The Raven)

The Raven, fleet messenger betwixt the spheres, under the tutelage of Mercury, doth symbolize the element of Air, and the swift conveyance of divine commands.    

• Preparation: Fashion for thyself a simple mask, suggestive of the Raven. Place upon thy altar a representation of the caduceus (a staff with intertwined serpents, if obtainable, or a depiction thereof) and a simple cup.   
• Ritual Action: Don the mask. Hold the cup. Meditate upon the vastness of the air, the unseen currents that carry whispers and portents.
• Spoken Formula: "O Mercury, swift-footed Herald of Olympus, whose charge extends to those winged messengers that cleave the firmament! I, who now embrace the form of Corax, thy servant, seek thy favor. May my perceptions be as keen as the Raven's eye, my understanding as swift as its flight. Let me be a worthy conduit for wisdom, even as the Raven bore Sol's decree unto Mithras for the sacred slaying."    
• Greeting: "Nama Coracibus, tutela Mercurii!" (Hail to the Ravens, under the protection of Mercury!)    

II. Nymphus (The Bride / The Cryfius - The Hidden One)

The Nymphus, veiled in mystic expectation, stands under the aegis of Venus, awaiting a sacred union with the divine. This grade speaks of new light, and perchance the purifying essence of Water.  

• Preparation: Procure a simple veil, a lamp or torch, and a representation of a diadem.  
• Ritual Action: Light the lamp, symbolizing the advent of new light. Place the veil over thy head. Contemplate the mysteries of union, purity, and the dawning of inner illumination.  
• Spoken Formula: "Venus, from whose celestial grace flows all that is comely and concordant, who dost preside o’er the sacred bonds that knit soul to soul! Behold, I, as Nymphus, veiled and expectant, approach the threshold of divine espousal. May the lamp of inner knowing be kindled within me, revealing splendors heretofore unseen, a neon phos to guide my steps towards the embrace of the Begetter of Light."  
• Greeting: "Nama Nymphis, tutela Veneris!" (Hail to the Bridegrooms, under the protection of Venus!)  

III. Miles (The Soldier)

The Soldier of Mithras, ever invictus, stands under the martial gaze of Mars, his life a testament to discipline and the unyielding fight for Good. The Earthly domain is his proving ground.  

• Preparation: Fashion a simple soldier's kitbag or satchel, and representations of a lance and helmet. Have ready a simple wreath.   
• Ritual Action: (Symbolic Branding) With ash or consecrated oil, lightly mark thy forehead, acknowledging the sign of the Soldier. Don the satchel. Hold the lance. Acknowledge the helmet. (The Rejection of the Wreath) Imagine another (the Mystagogus, or Mithras Himself) offering thee the wreath upon the point of a symbolic sword (the lance). With thy hand, gently push it from thy head (or from before thee if not placed on the head), and declare: "Mithras alone is my wreath; my wreath rests in my God." Lay the wreath upon thy shoulder or the altar.  
• Spoken Formula: "Mars Gradivus, Lord of Battle, from whose sinews strength doth flow to those who strive with valor! I, now enrolled as Miles in the cohort of the Unconquered, pledge my fealty. May my spirit be fortified, my resolve as unbending as the tempered steel of the legionary’s blade. Against the forces of darkness shall I contend, bearing my trials with fortitude, my eye fixed upon the eternal victory of Light."
• Greeting: "Nama Militibus, tutela Martis!" (Hail to the Soldiers, under the protection of Mars!)  

IV. Leo (The Lion)

The Lion, imbued with an arid and fiery nature, roars under the dominion of Jupiter. This grade embodies purification by Fire, courage, and the offering of incense.  

• Preparation: A scarlet cloth or cloak, a fire-shovel (or symbolic equivalent), a censer with incense, and a small vessel of honey.  
• Ritual Action: Don the scarlet cloak. Light the incense using the fire-shovel (or by other means, then place upon it). (Purification with Honey) Pour a small amount of honey upon thy hands, rubbing them together, meditating on cleansing from all negativity. If desired, touch a morsel of honey to thy tongue, to purify speech.  
• Spoken Formula: "Jupiter Optimus Maximus, whose thunderbolt doth quell the insurgent Titans, and whose reign encompasses the fiery stars! I, assuming the regal bearing of Leo, seek thy majestic inspiration. Let the fires of purification consume all dross within me, even as incense rises in fragrant offering. May my heart be as bold as the Lion that attends Mithras in the hunt, my spirit refined in the crucible of divine conflagration, that I too may be counted among those Lions through whom we ourselves are consumed and reborn."  
• Greeting: "Nama Leonibus, tutela Jovis!" (Hail to the Lions, under the protection of Jupiter!)  

V. Perses (The Persian)

The Persian, garbed in sober grey, operates under the gentle influence of the Moon, guardian of fruits and the preservative power of honey.  

• Preparation: A grey cloth, representations of a sickle (falx) and scythe, and a few grains of corn or a piece of fruit. A small vessel of honey.  
• Ritual Action: Don the grey cloth. Hold the sickle and scythe. (Preservation with Honey) Anoint the fruit or grain lightly with honey, contemplating its role as a preservative, and the Moon’s nurturing influence upon the earth's bounty.  
• Spoken Formula: "Luna Noctiluca, whose argent beams do govern the tides of growth and the ripening of the Earth’s increase! As Perses, thy devoted keeper of fruits, I stand in reverence. Grant that I may embody the virtue of preservation, safeguarding that which is wholesome and life-sustaining, even as honey wards off decay. May I, like Mithras the divine reaper, gather the harvest that springs from eternal sacrifice."  
• Greeting: "Nama Persis, tutela Lunae!" (Hail to the Persians, under the protection of the Moon!)  

VI. Heliodromus (The Courier of the Sun)

The Heliodromus, swift emissary of Sol, mirrors the Sun-God himself in his radiant passage. He bears the symbols of solar majesty and swift communication.  

• Preparation: Representations of a whip, a radiate halo, and a globe.  
• Ritual Action: Hold the globe as if it were the celestial orb. Place the radiate halo representation above or behind thy head. Hold the whip. Envision thyself traversing the heavens in the Sun's chariot.
• Spoken Formula: "Sol Invictus, sublime Charioteer whose daily course bestows life upon the cosmos! I, as Heliodromus, thy terrestrial echo and faithful courier, aspire to reflect thy glory. Invest me with thy speed, thy unwavering trajectory through the zodiac of existence. May I carry the divine effulgence into the shadowed corners of being, even as thou didst make pact with Mithras and share the sacred feast before thine ascent."  
• Greeting: "Nama Heliodromis, tutela Solis!" (Hail to the Runners of the Sun, under the protection of the Sun!)  

VII. Pater (The Father)

The Pater, apex of the seven grades, stands as the earthly depty of Mithras, robed in wisdom and authority, under the grave protection of Saturn. He is the teacher, the shepherd, the guardian of the sacred mysteries.    

• Preparation: A red robe (if possible, or a significant red cloth), representations of a Phrygian cap, a staff, and a ring.   
• Ritual Action: Don the robe and the Phrygian cap. Hold the staff in one hand and wear the ring. Meditate upon the weight of responsibility, the depth of wisdom, and the paternal care required for a sacred community. (Symbolic Dexiosis) Extend thy right hand towrds the image of Mithras, as if clasping the hand of the God Himself, or of the lineage of Fathers before thee.   
• Spoken Formula: "Saturnus, ancient Sire of Gods, whose sickle doth govern the cycles of time and whose wisdom underpins the firmament! As Pater, striving to embody the virtues of the divine Mithras, I come under thy profound aegis. Grant unto me the sagacity to discern truth, the fortitude to uphold the sacred law, the compassion to guide those who seek the Light. May I be a worthy shepherd, a true Magus, reflecting even a fragment of the divine authority and paternal love of Mithras, our Lord and Father."    
• Greeting: "Nama Patribus, ab Oriente ad Occidentem, tutela Saturni!" (Hail to the Fathers, from East to West, under the protection of Saturn!)    

Conclusion of the Ascent:

Having traversed the sevenfold path, thou standest now as an intiate in full, bound by oath and transformed by the symbolic assumption of each sacred grade. Let the mysteries continue to unfold within thy heart and actions. Maintain the sanctity of thy personal Mithraeum, and frequently honor the Unconquered Sun God Mithras, the Begetter of Light, who through His eternal sacrifice, hath shown us the path to salvation.