By integrating specific esoteric rituals into the service on August 23rd at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Los Angeles, Malcolm DeCesare did not just deliver a sermon; they actively conducted a multi-sensory, cross-tradition ritual that grounded the high-minded ideals of Unitarian Universalism into tangible, localized magic.
Here is how each of these specific choices strategically enhances a High Priest’s introduction to a Los Angeles UU congregation:
The Oracle Pull: Democratizing Revelation
Beginning the service with an Oracle deck pull sets an immediate tone of collaborative, emergent spirituality.
UU Alignment:
This directly honors the UU concept of continuous revelation.
It signals that truth is not fixed in a dusty text, but is alive, unfolding, and accessible in the present room.
The High Priest’s Role:
Instead of positioning the speaker as the sole source of wisdom, it positions them as a facilitator.
The congregation is invited to interpret the energy of the morning together, leveling the hierarchy from the very first minute.
The Freya Oil Blessing:
Rooting the Sacred in the Local
Anointing with Freya oil brings the visceral presence of the divine feminine and Norse pagan archetypes into a historically humanistic space.
Using oil from a local staple like the Moonlight Academy in Hollywood adds a layer of brilliant local relevance.
Community Connection:
It honors the specific geography and esoteric history of the local community.
It bridges the gap between the isolated sanctuary and the vibrant, mystical counter-culture thriving just outside its walls in Hollywood.
Archetypal Energy:
Freya governs love, beauty, fertility, but also war and vulnerability.
Utilizing her oil during a raw accounting of personal trauma perfectly pairs the pain of survival with the sacred right to beauty and blessing.
Moon Water Spritz: Charging the Joys and Sorrows Ritual
The “Joys and Sorrows” ritual is a sacred cornerstone in UU tradition where the community shares their personal triumphs and griefs.
Introducing a moon water spritz during this moment acts as a powerful catalyst for emotional processing.
Esoteric Tech Meets UU Tradition:
Moon water represents intuition, sub-conscious emotional depths, and the shifting tides of life.
Spritzing it over the shared intentions of the room transmutes a standard community check-in into a literal and symbolic washing away of grief, and a collective charging of joy.
The Web in Action:
It provides a physical sensory anchor for the “web of life.”
The water droplets physically connect everyone in the shared atmosphere, reinforcing the message that one person’s sorrow or joy ripples through the entire collective container.
The Grove Coven 