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Olbrechts] the swimmer MANUSCRIPT 195
This is to Take People to the Water With
FREE TRANSLATION
Sharply! Ha, now the white thread has come down. The soul has
been examined; such-and-such are his names. The soul of the small
human being has been examined, where it is growing. Either pres-
ently, or at noon, or right away thou willst come and be bom to
her.^^ He will be born to lier.^^ He has been examined.
Sharply! from above thou hast caused the wliite threads to come
down. The soul has become examined. Such-and-such are his names.
His soul has become examined, (a) In the first upper (world)
the white seats have been let down, and the white cloth has come to
rest on them. The soul has come to rest upon the white thread.
The soul has been lifted up as far as the first upper world, the place
to where it has been raised.
(b) In the second upper (world) the white seats have been let
down, (and) the white cloth has come to rest on them. The soul has
come to rest upon the white thread. The soul has become examined.
The soul has been lifted up as far as the second upper (world).
(c) In the third upper (world) . . .
(d) In the fourth upper (world) . . .
(e) In the fifth upper (world) . . .
(f) In the sixth upper (world) . . .
(g) In the seventh upper (world) the white seats have been let
down and the white cloth has come to rest upon them. The soul
has come to rest upon the white thread. At the seventh upper
(world), finally the soul will appear in all splendor. Sharply.
explanation
This formul-a for "taking them to the water with" is practically
the same as the one given in No. 83, page 289, with an additional
preliminary paragraph, which is recited when the ceremony is perfonned
for thelDenefit of a pregnant woman. (See p. 119.) A part
of this paragraph is addressed to the child, the "Httle human being"
itself. B}'- lea^ang off this introductory paragraph the formula may
be used for any of the purposes served by ordinary formulas of this
kind. (See p. 150.)
The ceremony may be conducted by the petitioner himself, for
obtaining long life, etc., by changing the expressions to the first
person where necessary.
The white threads are mentioned in a number of formulas, especially
those relating to love, but the connection here is not obvious.
^« The mother-to-be.