Naked,
but sandals (not shoes) may be worn. For initiation, tie hands
behind back, pull up to small of back and tie ends in front of throat,
leaving a cable-tow to lead by, hanging down in front. (Arms thus form
a triangle at back.) When initiate is kneeling at altar, the cable-tow
is tied to a ring in the altar. A short cord is tied like a garter
round the initiate's left leg above the knee, with ends tucked in.
Another is tied round right ankle and ends tucked in so as to be out of
the way while moving about. These cords are used to tie feet together
while initiate is kneeling at the altar and must be long enough to do
this firmly. Knees must also be firmly tied. This must be carefully
done. If the aspirant complains of pain the bonds must be loosened
slightly; always remember the object being to retard the blood flow
enough to induce a trance state. This involves slight discomfort; but
great discomfort prevents the trance state, so it is best to spend some
little time loosening and tightening the bonds until they are just
right. The aspirant alone can tell you when this is so. This, of
course, does not apply to the initiation, as then no trance is desired;
but for the purpose of ritual it is good that the initiates be bound
firmly enough to feel they are absolutely helpless but without
discomfort.
The Measure (in the First Degree) is taken thus:
Height, round neck, across the heart and across the genitals. The
old custom is, if anyone were guilty of betraying the secrets, their
measure was buried at midnight in a boggy place, with curses that "as
the measure rots, so they will rot."