The Bohemian Grove: Cremation of Care Ceremony Exposed

The Bohemian Grove: Cremation of Care ceremony is the most spectacular event of the midsummer retreat that members and guests of San Francisco's Bohemian Club have taken part in every year since 1878.

Imagine yourself seated comfortably in a beautiful open-air dining hall, surrounded by the majestic California redwoods that span 2,700 acres (1093 hectares). It's early evening, and the warm July air is perfect as dusk settles in. You’ve just finished a delicious meal and are now enjoying a drink and a cigar. Nostalgic speeches fill the air, and the flickering gaslights cast gentle shadows over the hundreds of outdoor banquet tables.

You're part of a prestigious gathering that has met in this redwood grove, 65 miles (105 kms) north of San Francisco, for nearly a century. This isn’t just any group; you could be a captain of industry, a famous TV star, a banker, an artist, or even a member of the government. Alongside 1,500 other influential men, you're here for the annual Bohemian Grove encampment. Tonight, you’ll witness a unique ceremony that has been a tradition since 1880: the Cremation of Care.

From the shadows of a nearby hillside, the somber notes of a funeral dirge drift towards you. Men in red hoods and robes, some playing music and others carrying torches, slowly emerge. They carry a large wooden box, which upon closer inspection, reveals an effigy in a coffin—symbolizing "Care," the worries these influential men carry. The procession moves past the dining area, and everyone follows behind, heading towards a picturesque lake.

After a short walk, the procession reaches a large altar shaped like a giant Owl, referred to a Moloch, covered in green moss . The followers find seats across the lake, observing the priests transfer the effigy onto the "Ferry of Care." The ferry sets off to the altar, accompanied by music and the flickering light of the Lamp of Fellowship at the Owl’s base.

Suddenly, the voices of an offstage chorus begin singing as a spotlight reveals a tree spirit, or hamadryad, emerging from a nearby redwood. It sings about the peace and beauty of the Grove, urging everyone to cast away their sorrows and embrace the serenity of the trees. The spirit then retreats, the chorus falls silent, and the only light left comes from the moon and stars.

The high priest and his assistants gather before the Owl. He calls for reverence and recites the club’s motto, urging members to leave their worldly concerns behind and focus on the arts and pleasures. He delivers a poetic speech about nature, followed by other priests who remember departed friends of the Grove. The ceremony continues with a proclamation: "Our funeral pyre awaits the corpse of Care!" A horn sounds, and the Ferry of Care approaches the shrine.

The high priest condemns Dull Care, the enemy of beauty, and orders the torchbearers to ignite the pyre. Just as the coffin is about to be burned, a thunderous voice from a lit tree above the lake mocks the gathering, declaring that Care cannot be destroyed. The high priest acknowledges this but insists that for now, their fellowship can banish Care. He prays to the Owl, which responds that only the Lamp of Fellowship can defeat Care.

The high priest lights a torch from the Lamp of Fellowship and sets the pyre ablaze. The music swells, the chorus sings, and fireworks light up the sky. The ritual ends with a celebratory song, and the men begin to cheer, sing, and dance, feeling liberated.

As the ceremony concludes, the men return to their camps for a night of storytelling and camaraderie, free from the burdens of their influential roles. They revel in the carefree spirit of Bohemian Grove, far removed from their daily responsibilities.

A young YouTuber by the handle of "dancer1" managed to infiltrate the secret, highly secured grove. What he managed to capture on video is remarkable, intriguing & a bit unsettling all at the same time.

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