Breakdown of the Mystery - Part II

What follows, is a Summary from the transcriptions found in Breakdown of the Mystery which is a good breakdown delivered by Dr Hillman.

DISCLAIMER: We don't condone this mystery, nor do we aim to recreate it. Many parts of this ancient mystery are not allowed in today's world for good reasons. You've been warned. This is not a cult. This is history. This document reflects ancient source texts and those contains content that explores explicit themes and subject matter intended solely for scholarly academic and educational purposes. Readers are advised that the material will include topics that are challenging and uncomfortable, and will not align with personal beliefs or moral perspectives. The intent is to provide comprehensive understanding within the scope of scholarly study, in order to better understand antiquity and the dynamics of that ancient age. Viewer discretion is advised.

For those interested in "the mystery", there are many ancient and modern methods that are much simpler, much safer, and less morally reprehensible.

WORK IN PROGRESS

Breakdown of the Mystery - Part II

Selection of Participants

Priestess (Pharmakis):
- A woman selected as a parthenos—a term in antiquity meaning fertile, but has not borne children.
- She is prepared via her own drug regimen, including the use of venom absorbed transdermally through medicated linen bandages placed on self-inflicted incisions.
- She is made to lactate via viper venom, which is said to act as a prolactin inducer, producing a medicinal milk antidote to the venoms (galanē).
Initiate (Mystēs):
- Can be anyone, including youths (in antiquity, often underage) (notetaker: is this true????)
- Must undergo preparation with psychotropic drugs before the rite.
- Is the recipient of drugs produced by the parthenos, and the ritual.

Pre-Induction Phase: Drug Preparation

The initiate is preloaded with psychosis-inducing drugs:
- These include satyrion (a compound containing scopolamine, atropine, hyoscyamine, possibly other components)
- Effects: hallucinations, delirium, sexual arousal (satyriasis), and unrelenting erection.
Purpose: To destabilize ego, induce psychotic detachment, and sensitize the initiate to the threshold of death.

Application of the Death-Inducing Drug (Thōnasimon) to the Initiate

The main death-inducing drug is derived from the “burning purple”:
- A dye and substance extracted from Mediterranean mollusks (likely Murex).
- Administered rectally, often using a medicated dildo.
  - Delivery device is often inserted via vagina or anus, sometimes with aid of ointment/salve/unguent from an alabastron (ointment vessel), which is why Mary Magdalene is iconographically associated with one.
The priestess applies this drug, using an alabastron.

Induction of the Death State in the Initiate

Initiate is bound, both for restraint (to protect them and others) and experiential containment (a feeling of immobilization).
Initiate is brought into a trance-like, death-adjacent state, where:
- Respiratory rate slows.
- Consciousness fades (e.g. void-like emptiness), or at least internalizes.
- Orgasm is induced at the peak moment of psychosis and near-death.
During this, the priestess:
- Stimulates the initiate sexually (manual or via phallic tool).
- Sings a ritual song, said to be crucial in guiding the initiate into and back out of the underworld experience.

Administration of the Antidote (Resurrection Drug) to the Initiate

After the induced death state:
- The priestess feeds the initiate her breast milk.
  - This milk is non-white, and described by Galen as coming from budding breasts (i.e. early-developed, hormonally manipulated).
  - This milk is called galanē, “the calm after the storm.”
  - It is thought to carry antibodies, immunological factors, and pharmacologically active compounds derived from the venoms in her bloodstream.
The milk is administered orally, possibly directly from breast to mouth. (notetaker: do we know?)

Some logistics of antivenom administration

Protection mechanisms must be in place for oral delivery to work, such as:
- Encapsulation in acid-resistant coatings (not known in antiquity).
- Delivery as smaller, acid-stable molecules or peptides that survive digestion.
Alternatively, non-oral routes are preferred for venom antidotes:
- Parenteral (injection)
- Sublingual (under the tongue, bypassing stomach)
- Rectal or vaginal administration (mucosal absorption, less acidic)
- Transdermal (through skin, e.g. medicated bandages)

In the Mystery Rite Context

The priestess’ breast milk antidote is given orally.
This suggests that either:
- The active components in the milk are acid-resistant, or
- The milk contains immunoglobulins and bioactive compounds stable enough to survive digestion.
- Milk itself can act as a mild buffer, slightly protecting proteins.

Resurrection (Ἐγείρω - egeírō) of the Initiate

After a period of apparent death (no movement, shallow or absent breathing), the initiate is revived.
Resurrection is accomplished via:
- Continued song or incantation.
- Physiological recovery triggered by the antidote-laced milk.

Aftermath: Enlightenment and Transformation of the Initiate

Initiate returns to consciousness with a transformed mind:
- Ego dissolved and rebuilt.
- Claims of cosmic vision (perceiving the aion, the eternal realm, outside the time stream).
- Experiences of being “born again”, often described as:
  - “Coming out of the pit.”
  - “Eyes opened.”
  - Gaining the ears to hear.

Substances and Delivery Summary

Substance	Produced By / Derived From	Delivered To	Method of Delivery
Viper Venom	Applied by priestess on herself	Priestess (self-use)	Transdermal via bandaged wounds
Satyrion Scopolamine + Atropine	Plant A compound drug: orchid root, mandrake, etc	Initiate	Oral or topical; prior to rite
Burning Purple	Mollusk dye preparation (e.g. Murex)	Initiate	Rectal/vaginal insertion via medicated dildo
Thōnasimon	Class of death-inducing drugs (includes above)	Initiate	Likely systemic + rectal application
Priestess’ Breast Milk	Produced via venom-induced lactation	Initiate	Oral (suckling or ingestion from vessel)
Other bodily fluids	Possibly priestess’ ejaculate-like secretion (described as brothel smell)	Initiate	unclear

Roles Summary

Role	Action
Priestess	- Produces venom-transformed breast milk (galene - antidote to the venom)
	- Applies psychotropic and sexual stimulant drugs, to self
	- Guides the initiate through sexual arousal, trance, and song
	- Resurrects the initiate using galanē milk
Initiate	- Receives all drugs (including burning purple, satyrion, thōnasimon, galene)
	- Undergoes death-orgasm trance
	- Ingests priestess’s breast milk (galene)
	- Experiences rebirth and cosmic insight