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The Branding
The Master secures the slave in the branding rack (shaped rather like an X-shaped table,
with either snap-bracelets (manacles) for her wrists and ankles at the ends of the X, or metal rings set into the wood so
her wrists and ankles might be secured with binding fiber. A removable vise-like clamp fitted with spinning twist handles
to adjust the tension can be attached to the left leg platform, to hold the slave's left thigh motionless during the actual
branding). The Master holds up the heated branding iron, white hot, for the slave to see and says, "You will soon be branded,
girl." When the brand is ready, he holds it above here left thigh and says, "You are now to be branded, slave girl." He then
brands the slave, pressing it firmly into her skin for five full Ihn (seconds), then swiftly and cleanly removing it. He examines
the mark closely, hoping that it was clean and deep enough to create an excellent brand. It is common Gorean practice to allow
the slave the luxury of screaming, since it is in effect her final act as free person. Sometimes assistants are standing by
with small vials of oil and salve, which they then dab onto the brand to reduce chance of infection and promote faster healing.
The Master then frees the slave from the rack.
The Kolaring
Master: "Assume the posture of female submission."
kajira: kneels,
leaning back on her heels, her arms extended, wrists crossed, her head between them, down.
Master: "Repeat after me. "I,
once (her name) of (her home city or town, or of Earth)..."
kajira: repeats this.
Master "..herewith submit myself,
completely and totally, in all things..." kajira: repeats this.
Master: "...to him who is known as (his name) of (his
city)..."
kajira: repeats this.
Master: "...his girl, his slave, an article of his property, his to do with as he
pleases."
kajira: repeats this.
Master: produces the collar. If it is engraved with his name or an inscription, he
reads it to her, making sure that she understands what it says and means. He places it about her neck and snaps it shut with
a click.
Master: "I am yours, Master."
kajira: "I am yours, Master."
At this point, any freepersons in attendance
will typically congratulate the Master on his new slave. When this is done, the new Master will usually ask the slave the
following three questions:
Master: "Who were you?"
kajira: tells him her former name.
Master: "What are you?"
kajira:
"I am your slave, Master."
Master: "What is your name?"
kajira: "Whatever Master wishes."
The Master will then, if
it pleases him, give the girl her new slave-name, which can be taken from her or changed at any time,according to his whim.
Master:
"You are (new slave-name)."
kajira: "Yes, Master. I am (new slave-name)."
The ceremony is now over.
Holding Grass and Earth
In Gorean, the words for stranger and enemy
are the same. Amongst the Wagon People , however, there is a ceremony of brotherhood by which a stranger can be given the
status almost of one born to the Wagons. It is called "the holding of grass and earth." The bond thus made between two men
can never be broken.
"Suddenly the Tuchuk bent to the soil and picked up a handful of dirt and grass, the land
on which the bosk graze, the land which is the land of the Tuchuks, and this dirt and this grass he thrust in my hands and
I held it. The warrior grinned and put his hands over mine so that our hands, together held the dirt and grass, and were together
clasped upon it. 'Yes,' said the warrior, 'come in peace to the Land of the Wagon Peoples.' From Nomads of Gor, p.26
'And' and 'Anda' Ceremony
"One who has shed Your blood, or whose blood You
have shed, becomes Your Sword Brother, unless You formally repudiate the blood on Your weapons. It is a part of the kinship
of Gorean Warriors regardless of what city it is to which they owe their allegiance. It is a matter of caste, an expression
of respect for those who share their station and profession, having nothing to do with cities or Homestones." Tarnsman
of Gor
This is a simple ceremony and usually original by Those doing it. Usually sharing earth, sky, blood, etc and
then Thier life to the other. Then ending it They will usually grip hands and say to the other My 'And' or My 'Anda'.
Blood Reading Ritual
After slaying an enemy or beast the victorious one will drink from the blood of the slain
and look into the liquid that lies within His hands, as if reading it. It is said if the Person sees a vision of Himself cloaked
in the darkness of black then, the Person will perish from disease. If He sees Himself colored crimson and torn then, the
Person shall die during battle. If the vision bears the Person's figure as aged then, He will live long and pass on in peace
from old age, leaving behind children.
Disownment Ceremony
This is used to banish someone from a family or caste. A parent, being of the Caste of
Warriors, will place His hand on the hilt of His sword. The opposite hand is set upon the Homestone or the symbol of the city.
Then the parent will speak to declare the person in question to be disowned and no longer a member of the family or caste.
The one that is disowned is left without caste or family at this point.
Friendship Ceremony
To perform this,
two Men will clasp hands and shake. After greeting each other as "Friend" They will taste the salt from backs of each others
hands.
"'Friend', he had said. 'Friend,' I had said. We had then tasted salt, each from the back of the wrist of the
other."
Marauders of Gor, p. 70
Funeral Ceremony
The common ceremony of a Warrior is one where a pyre
is built by his friends and caste members of ka-la-na wood, which are trimmed and squared. The pyre takes the form of a structured,
tiered, truncated pyramid. Free women then carry jars of perfumed oils and sprinkle it on the pyre. The body of the Warrior
is borne on the shoulders of 4 Warriors, on crossed spears, lashed together. The body is wrapped in scarlet leather. The funeral
procession follows, they do not chant, or sing, or carry the boughs of ka-la-na nor play a musical instrument. At such times
Goreans do not sing or speak, they are silent, for at such times words mean nothing, and would demean or insult. For Goreans
there is only silence, memory and fire. A family member or one who was close to the person lights the pyre. Descriptions are
found in both Dancer of Gor (p. 426) and Assassin of Gor (p. 2).
Swearing of Oaths(Coming of Age)
"When coming of age young Men and Women participate in a ceremony which involves
the swearing of oaths, sharing of bread, fire and salt. The Homestone is held of each young Person and is kissed. Only then
are the laurel wreaths and the mantle of Citizenship conferred. They must also pass certain examinations. In most cities the
young must be vouched for by the Citizens of the city which are not blood related to Them and be questioned before a committee
of Citizens. The intent is to determine worthiness or lack o,f to take the HoneStone of the city as their Own."
Slave
Girl of Gor, p. 394
Bazi Tea Ceremony
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First Step: Go to the hearth and check to make sure there is enough water
then go to the servery, and place a copper teapot, three tiny cups, bowls of yellow and white sugars with spoons and the speciality
tin of Bazi Tea leaves upon a silver tray.
Second Step: Return to the hearth, fill the teapot with the boiling water. allowing the
water to fulling warm the pot then swirl the water around and pour it out, then refill the teapot again with boiling water.
Third Step: Carry the tray to the Master/Mistress being served, kneel before Them to prepare
the tea placing the traying to your side.
Fourth Step: Place three pinches of Bazi Tea leaves into each cup, pour hot water into
each and swirl it around. Then in the first cup, add four spoons of the white sugar, stirring it... then six spoons of yellow
sugar in the second cup, stirring it... and the same of each sugar to the third cup and stir it. (the sugar may be added to
each cup all at once..or inbetween the offering and drinking of one cup to the next)
Fifth Step: Kiss the side of each cup, lifting each cup, bowed head arms extending in
offering, telling what each cup represents... The first cup signifies the bitter first fruits of life... The second cup signifies
the contentment of adulthood... The third signifies the enlightenment that comes with experience and old age... wait for the
Master/Mistress to drink each before moving on to the next
Serving Bazi Tea by the Books
"She carried a tray, on which were various spoons and sugars. She knelt, placing
her tray upon the table. With a tiny spoon, its tip no more than a tenth of a hort in diameter, she placed four measures of
white sugar, and six of yellow, in the cup; with two stirring spoons, one for the white sugar, another for the yellow, she
stirred the beverage after each measure." Tribesmen of Gor - page 89
"'Make me tea,' I said. Lifting her skirt the
girl went to the tent, to make tea. . . 'I feared, when first I saw you,' said the girl, measuring the tea, from a tiny tin
box, 'that you had come to carry me off. . . ' 'Perhaps not,' I said. Her hands shook, slightly, on the metal box of tea.
. . 'You, yourself,' she said, 'have made me make your tea.' 'Is it ready?', I asked. I looked at the tiny copper kettle on
the small stand. . . A small, heavy, curved glass was nearby, on a flat box, which would hold some two ounces of the tea.
Bazi tea is drunk in tiny glasses, usually three at a time, carefully measured. . . I set the tea down on the sand, between
two mats, beside me. I did not think it would spill. . . 'Serve us tea,' he said. Trembling she measured him a tiny glass
of tea. 'The tea is excellent,' I said." Tribesman of Gor - page 139
"Tea is extremely important to the nomads. It
is served hot and heavily sugared. It gives them strength then, in virtue of the sugar, and cools them, by making them sweat
as well as stimulating them. It is drunk three small cups at a time, carefully measured." Tribesman of Gor -- page 38
"There
was a cup and a pitcher of Bazi tea on the counter. Bazi tea is a common beverage on Gor. Many Goreans are fond of it." Kajira
of Gor -- page 332
Bazi Tea is mentioned in the books, the ceremony however is
mainly an onlinism
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