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Beltane:
BELTANE CHANT ONE
Here we come a piping,
In Springtime and in May;
Green fruit
aripening,
And Winter fled away.
The Queen she sits upon the strand,
Fair as lily, white as
wand;
Seven billows on the sea,
Horses riding fast and free,
And bells beyond the sand.
Valiente, Doreen;
"Witchcraft for Tomorrow"; Phoenix Publishing 1985
BELTANE CHANT TWO
The High Priestess and High Priest lead a ring dance
around the bonfire. Start out with "A Tree Song" from Rudyard Kipling's "Weland's Sword" story in "Puck of Pook's Hill".
"Oh, do not tell the Priest of our Art,
Or he would call it sin;
But we shall be out in the woods all night,
A conjuring summer in!
And we bring you news by word of
mouth
For women, cattle and corn
Now is the dun come up from the South
With Oak, and Ash and
Thorn!"
Farrar, Janet and
Stewart; "Eight Sabbats For Witches"; Robert Hale 1983
STAG CALL also MAYCHANT THREE
The men gather around the fire, next to their partners, and they say in unison:
"I am the stag of seven tines;
I am a wide flood on the plain;
I am a wind on the deep waters;
I am a shining tear of the sun;
I am a hawk on a cliff;
I
am fair among flowers;
I am a god who sets the head afire with smoke."
Beltane Ritual
Basic Requirements
Altar/Altar Cloth/Altar Candles: The altar should be in the center of the circle
area, facing the Eastern quarter. The altar cloth should always be yellow for the High Earth Rite of Balemas. (This is only
if you are using a regular rectangular altar.) The two main altar candles should be yellow.
Other Candles: The four quarter candles should be blue in the West, red in the
South, yellow (or gold) in the East, and green in the North. All other secondary candles used for extra lighting in the ritual
area should be of various shades of forest green or suited to personal taste.
Special Items: A small wreath of flowers will be needed to serve as a crown for
the May Queen. These can be easily made. Another optional item is the May pole and its ribbon streamers. A large candle will
be needed for the cauldron as a symbol for the balefire unless the rite is held outdoors, in which case kindling in preparation
for a small balefire will be needed in the area of the Southern quarter.
Circle Area/Casting the Circle/Assemblance of the Quarters
Prepare the circle with decorations of cut flowers or greenery, as appropriate.
(The author recommends hawthorne blossoms.) The circle should be cast according to you or your coven's preference and the
Quarters will be called in accordance with the coven's or your personal needs (the author reminds us that East has preeminence
for Balemas).
Invocation of the Goddess
Priestess:
Hallowed Lady of the Hawthorn,
Godddess of the greenwood groves,
we call
upon Thee in the season of Thy Sensuality,
as Thy blossom opens to the amorous advances of our Lord, Thy Lover.
In Thy
union is the fertility of Spring,
and the beckoning whisper of young desire.
Touch us with the breath of Thy passion,
that we might seek for the ectasy of
life!
Inflame us with the fever of Thine inmost longings
that we not be satisfied until our oneness
with the God
is consummated!
Capture us with the fragrances of Thine allurement,
that we may be overwhelmed
with an obsession for Thy presence!
Bright Maiden of May, be here among us as we celebrate
the Beltane blessings of
Thy bridal-bed!
Blessed Be!
Invocation of the Satyr Lord
Priest:
Horned God of power and play,
we hear the music of Thy melodious pipes
enchanting
our ears upon the evening wind!
Beneath the fullness of the May-night Moon
Thy silhouette plays hide-and-seek
among
the shadows of silver-tipped trees;
Thy hooves striking sparks like shooting stars
as they step in spritely patterns
to
the rhythm of the Ways of the Wild.
Holy Pan of the shepherds' shrine,
Goat-footed God, Faunus of the forest glades,
we
beseech Thee to be here among us
as we revel in Beltane abandon
beneath the swirling streamers of Thy phallic staff,
dancing
by the light of the balefire's glow!
Sovereign Satyr Lord, be pleased within this Circle to remain,
as we celebrate
Spring and the beginning of Thy reign!
Blessed Be!
Kindling of the Balefire
The preistess and the priest will go to the kindling prepared for the fire (if
the rite is held outdoors) located near the Southern quarter of the circle. Otherwise, a candle within the cauldron is substituted.
The priest will light the balefire as the following incantation is recited by the priestess:
Priestess:
Strike the fire and let it rise,
Beltane flames 'neath Spring-night skies!
Ancient
customs we now renew,
'Tween dusky dark and evening dew!
Fire with warmth of Summer shine,
Invoking Gods from Older
Times
For fertile crops with Sun-fed rays,
Gardens of plenty and golden days!
Crowning of the May Queen OR Floral Offering to The Goddess
At this point, the priest (or acting Satyr Lord) shall go to the altar and take
up the garland-crown of flowers. He will then stand facing the priestess (or acting Maiden), lifting the crown above her head
as he speaks the words of her coronation as the May Queen.
The Satyr Lord:
I give priase to Thee,
vibrant Goddess of youth and sensuality;
Lady of Spring,
exuberant Earth maiden,
dancing in joyous abandon across hillside and field
in vivacious hues of brightness,
exuding
the wondrous essence of waving wildflowers.
Wherefore I offer unto Thee
this floral crown of Thy creation,
laid now upon
Thy daughter's head
as the woven splendor of Nature's art;
the many-colored Crown of May,
scented with the mystery
and majesty
that is the Maiden!
All Hail, Lady Fair,
with flowered garlands for Thy hair!
All:
All Hail, Lady Fair,
with flowered garlands for Thy hair!
A solitary alternative is the Floral Offering to the Goddess. The garland of
flowers will be initially placed in the Eastern quarter of the circle. At this time, the solitary celebrant will pick the
the flower-crown, and standing or kneeling before the altar, will begin this prayer:
Solitary:
We give praise to Thee,
vibrant Goddess of youth and sensuality;
Lady of
Spring, exuberant Earth Maiden,
dancing in joyous abandon with the goat-footed God
across hillside and field in vivacious
hues of brightness,
exuding the wondrous essence of waving wildflowers.
Wherefore we offer unto Thee
this floral crown of Thy Creation,
laid now
upon Thine altar as the woven splendor of Nature's art;
the many-colored Crown of May,
scented with the mystery and
majesty
that is the Maiden!
All Hail, Lady Fair,
with flowered garlands for Thy hair!
The crown of flowers is then laid upon the altar as an offering to the Goddess.
The Great Rite
If this is a custom practiced within your coven, please follow your traditions.
Parting Prayers
Priestess:
Maiden Lady, Queen of May,
bestow upon us in overflowing measure
Thy youthful
passsion for love and life
as we rejoice in the sensual stirrings of the season.
All Hail, Farewell, and Blessed Be!
Priest:
Sovereign Satyr Lord, Pan of the Pagan Ways,
at this Sabbat of Springtime's
warmth,
bestow upon us the heated breath of Thy lust for living
as we depart this sacred space with the joyous blessings
of
Thy Beltane benediction.
All Hail, Farewell, and Blessed Be!
Dismissal of the Quarter-Regents/Releasing the Circle
At this time the quarters can be dismissed and the circle released, per your tradition.
It's time for the the Beltane festivities to begin! The priestess may close with this benediction.
Priestess:
This rite of Balemas is ended!
May the love of the Maiden and the Satyr Lord
go
with us as we venture onward
into the warming fullness of Summer's promise!
Merry Meet and Merry Part!
Ritual for One Beltane
Preparation
Prior to this rite you should have made ready a wooden wand. This should be a
branch from an Oak or Hazel tree. Remember, do not take the wood from a living tree!
The wood can be cut into the rough shape of a phallus in which case it should
be of the appropriate size and shape. On the other hand, a simple branch, peeled of its bark, and about 13 inches long and
half an inch thick is also acceptable. Place the wand upon your alter within the Circle.
Prepare a dish of earth and place it upon the alter beside the wand.
The Rite
Cast the Circle and invoke the Lady and the Lord. After the invocation, dance
and chant to raise power for magical activities and then earth the power into an unlit candle, placed inside the cauldron,
at the center of the circle. Chant the following (or make up your own!):
Beltane!
I dance with delight
on Beltane's night.
All senses freeing,
I
dance for being.
The flower and the flame
of love's own rite
shall blossom. Sun
embrace Earth, bright.
Light the candle to the Sun. This is the Beltane fire, our modern substitute
for the hilltop bonfires of our ancestors. The Bel fire is an invocation to the Sun God to bring blessing and protection for
the coming year. This is sacred fire with healing and purifying properties. As you light the candle, be aware of its power
and significance. Say:
I light this candle to the Sun.
Now take up a dish of earth. Bless it in the name of the Goddess.
Lay your hands upon it and say:
I bless, consecrate, and set apart this earth,
in the name of the Triple Goddess.
May this
be sacred earth, set apart for magic. For
earth is of the Goddess, being her sacred body.
Remember that the Goddess is not only of the Moon, but of the Earth and of
the farthest stars. She is the Triple Goddess of the Circle of Rebirth, the Mother of All Life. Decorate the dish of earth
with flowers.
Now, take a wooden wand and oil it with vegetable oil. Bless it in the name of
the Lord of the Day, the youthful, ardent one, the Lord of Life, the God of the greenwood. Pass it swiftly through the candle
flame, the Bel fire, so that it becomes magically imbued, 'charged', with power. Place the wand upon the dish of earth, saying
as you hold it there:
As the wand is to the earth,
so the male is to the female
and the Sun to
our blossoming world.
Joined, they bring happiness.
May the God of Life give ___ {something you want, for example, peace
on Earth}
May the Goddess bring it forth!
Sit quietly for a while, and picture the blossoming of what you have desired
in life. The spells and invocations of all of us, all working on themes like these, must eventually bear fruit, because life
is on the side of peace. Leave the earth and wand upon the alter.
Walk deosil three times around the circle, then spiral into the center. Go evenly,
with grace, meditatively. Sit beside the candle flame, allowing yourself to feel peaceful. Gaze into the flame.
The next part is different depending on whether you are man or woman.
For a Woman: visualize a red rosebud in your womb. Always your womb is the source
of your creative power, whether you are pregnant with a child, an idea, a work of art or an intention. Close your eyes and
picture the light from the candle streaming into your womb so that the rosebud blooms, unfolds. Hold the image for a while,
feeling the silkiness, smelling the scent, the freshness, seeing the color of the fully open rose within you. Feel the strength
and power of your own fully blossomed capabilities. Say:
I am woman,
strong to conceive and to create,
to give birth and to tend.
As
I am daughter of the Goddess,
and blessed by the God, may I ___
{here name what you wish to bring forth in life. For example bring healing to
others or write my book whatever matters to you}
Feel the strength and creative force within your womb, the center of your being.
See the power being channeled, flowing into the desire you have just voiced. Open your eyes. Always, the rose is within you.
For a Man: Visualize a bright flame. This burns within your sexual center, a
point at the base of the stomach, just above the pubic hairline. It is your own male strength and energy which may rise through
your body to be released as giving, fertilizing power, in any form, or may be the potency which impregnates, creating a physical
child. It is the force which blesses and bestows, a healing and creative energy, like the shining Sun. Visualize also that
you are sitting in a garden and that a rose tree is in front of you, the roses in bud. Say:
I am man,
and in my passion is beauty,
in my warmth is life.
As I am
son of the Goddess,
and blessed by the God,
I offer my strength and vitality to ____
{name the area of life, the place, activity, or committment you choose}
Visualize the light streaming from you to a rose upon the tree causing it to
unfold, to blossom. Your flame is lowered by this effort. Much has gone out of you, the flame sinks down. Wait and watch,
until a pink light streams from the rose towards your body. At its touch, just above the pubic hairline the flame resurges.
It burns highter and stronger than before. Open your eyes. The flame is always within you
Samhain:
Place upon the altar apples, pomegranates, pumpkins, squashes and other late autumn
fruits. Autumn flowers such as marigolds and chrysanthemums are fine too. Write on a piece of paper an aspect of your life
which you wish to be free of: anger, a baneful habit, misplaced feelings, disease. The cauldron or some similar tool must
be present before the altar as well, on a trivet or some other heat-proof surface (if the legs aren’t long enough).
A small, flat dish marked with an eight-spoked wheel symbol should also be there.
Prior to the ritual, sit quietly and think of friends and loved ones who have passed
away. Do not despair. Know that they have gone on to greater things. Keep firmly in mind that the physical isn’t the
absolute reality, and that souls never die.
Arrange the altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Lift one of the pomegranates and, with your freshly-washed white-handled knife,
pierce the skin of the fruit. Remove several seeds and place them on the wheel-marked dish. Raise your wand, face the altar
and say:
On this night of Samhain I mark your passing,
O Sun King, through the sunset
into the Land of the Young.
I mark also the passing of all who have gone before,
and all who will go after. O Gracious
Goddess,
Eternal Mother, You who gives birth to the fallen,
teach me to know that in the time of the greatest
darkness
there is the greatest light.
Taste the pomegranate seeds; burst them with your teeth and savour their, bittersweet
flavour. Look down at the eight-spooked symbol on the plate; the wheel of the year, the cycle of the seasons, the end and
beginning of all creation.
Light a fire within the cauldron (a candle is fine). Sit before it holding the
piece of paper, gazing at its flames. Say:
Wise One of the Waning Moon,
Goddess of the starry night,
I create this fire
within your cauldron
to transform that which is plaguing me.
May the energies be reversed:
From darkness, light!
From
bane, good!
From death, birth!
Light the paper in the cauldron’s flame and drop it inside. As it burns,
know that your ill diminishes, lessens and finally leaves you as it is consumed within the universal fires.
If you wish, you may attempt scrying or some other form of divination, for this
is a perfect time to look into the past or future. Try to recall past lives too, if you will. But leave the dead in peace.
Honour them with your memories but do not call them to you. Release any pain and sense of loos you may feel into the cauldron’s
flames.
Works of magic, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.
Samhain Lore
It is traditional on Samhain night to leave a plate of food outside the home of
the souls of the dead. A candle placed in the window guides them to the lands of eternal summer, and burying apples in the
hard-packed earth "feeds" the passed ones on their journey.
For food, beets, turnips, apples, corn, nuts, gingerbread, cider, mulled wines
and pumpkin dishes are appropriate, as are meat dishes.
Samhain Ritual for Group or
Solitaire
After a ritual bath in salt water to cleanse your body and soul of any impurities
and negative energy, put on a long, black ceremonial robe (unless you prefer to work skyclad, as many Witches do), wear a
handcrafted necklace of acorns around your neck, and place a crown of oak leaves around your head.
Begin by casting a circle about nine feet in diameter, using white chalk or
paint. Place thirteen black and orange candles around the circle, and as you light each one say:
In the center of the circle, erect an altar facing north. On the center of the
altar, place three candles (white, red and black) to represent each phase of the Triple Goddess. To the left (west) of the
candles, place a chalice filled with apple cider and a dish containing sea salt. To theright (east) of the candles, place
a censer of herb incense and a small bowl of water. Before the candles (south), place a brass altar bell, a consecrated athame,
and a red apple.
Ring the altar bell thrice and say:
Sprinkle a bit of salt and water at each compass point around the circle to
cleanse the space of any negativity or evil influences.
Take the athame in your right hand, and say:
"Harken well ye elements
Air, fire, water, earth
By bell and blade I summon
thee
On this sacred night of mirth."
Dip the blade of the athame into the chalice of apple cider and say:
"I offer to Thee, O Goddess
This nectar of the season."
Return the athame to the altar. Light the incense and the three altar candles,
and say:
"Three candles I do light
in honor of Thee, O Goddess:
White for the Maiden,
Red
for the Mother,
Black for the Crone.
O Goddess of all things wild and free,
Strong and loving, fair and just,
This
sacred temple I raise to Thee
In Perfect Love,
In Perfect Trust."
Pick up the chalice with both hands and pour a few drops of the cider onto the
apple and say:
"To the Womb of the Mother Goddess
The Horned God now returns
Until the day
when he is reborn again.
The great solar wheel
Once again turns.
The cycle of the seasons never ends.
Blessed
be the souls of those
who have journeyed beyond
To the dark world of the dead.
I pour this nectar
in honor of
their memory.
May the Goddess bless them
With Light, Beauty and Joy. Blessed Be!
Blessed Be!"
Drink the remaining cider, and then return the chalice to its place on the altar.
Ring the bell thrice, and then uncast the circle by extinguishing the orange and black candles, starting at the east and moving
in a couterclockwise direction.
Take the apple from the altar and bury it outsid in the earth to nourish the souls
of those who have died in the past year.
The Samhain ritual is now complete and should be followed by meditation, divination
by crystal ball, the reciting of mystical Goddess-inspired poetry, and a Witches' prayer for the souls of all family members
andfriends who have passed on to the Spirtual Plane.
Imbolc:
Imbolc Ritual
Cleanse and cast the circle. Then call the elements in the manner with which you
are most comfortable. We used the corner callings from Spiral Dance, by Starhawk.
The high priestess takes the chalice from the alter and holds it up to the sky.
HPS: Blessed Lady Goddess, we humbly ask your presence at our circle tonight as
we honor you at this season.
Coveners: Blessed be the Lady.
The high priest takes the athame from the altar and holds it up to the sky.
HP: Blessed Lord God, we humbly ask your presence at our circle tonight as we honor
you at this season.
Coveners: Blessed be the Lord.
The Virgin Goddess leaves the circle. She comes to the edge of the circle with
her candle wheel in her hands. She should stand at the West quarter (the doorway to the Land of the Dead). The high priestess
will cut a doorway in the circle and allow the Goddess to enter. Everyone should greet her in their own way (verbal, motion,
etc). The Goddess should walk three times clockwise around the inside of the circle, and come to a stop before the alter and
kneel before it, facing North.
The coveners should walk in single file to the altar starting with the person to
the altar's right. This will make the procession head clockwise. When everyone is back in their places holding their lighted
candles, the ritual can continue.
HP: Behold the light. The God has returned for his bride.
Coveners:
Blessed be the light which warms. Blessed be the God.
Blessed be the Wheel
which turns. Blessed be the Goddess.
The child God steps out from among the rest and stands before the bride, who is
still kneeling. The God bows to the goddess and she to him. Then they do a few flowing dance steps around the circle without
touching each other, but conveying the idea of awakening sexuality. When they are finished, they lift the besom from its resting
place on the altar. The Goddess should hold the straw part and the God the stick. They should make sure they do not physically
come in contact with each other while they do this. The high priestess stands in front of the besom and takes it from them
by grasping it firmly with both hands. The Goddess and God step back to take their places with the rest of the coven.
HPS: With Imbolc we sweep away the last vestiges of winter.
The Coveners turn and face outward from the circle. The Priestess moves counterclockwise
around the circle behind the covenors, sweeping from the center outward. As the High Priestess passes each covenor he or she
should voice either aloud or silently all the things that he or she wishes to have swept from their lives. When this is finished,
the Virgin Goddess and the child God step forward again and take the besom fromt he High Priestess in the same manner in which
it was given. Then the High Priestess steps back and the Virgin Goddess and child God place the besom back onto the altar,
and again take their positions among the covenors around the circle.
HPS: The God has claimed the Goddess bride and the Wheel of the Year turns on.
Who is Goddess?
All women: I am Goddess.
HP: Who is God?
All men: I am God.
HP and HPS: Who is Goddess and God?
Coveners: All living beings are Goddess and God.
HP and HPS: And who are we?
Coveners: We are the children of deity. And we are deity. We are part of the creative
life forces which move the universe. we are microcosm and macrocosm. We are part of all that is.
Cakes and Ale
HPS: Though we are apart, we are ever together - for we are one in the spirit of
our goddess and God. Merry meet. Merry part.
Coveners: And merry meet again.
All: Blessed be!
Ground, take down the circle.
Imbolc Ritual
Gather a white candle and your Imbolc candle purification oil and a
representation of the season such as a cut out of a snowflake, or if you have it, real snow. Place these items on the table
that you plan to use as the altar. With a sharp object, scratch you’re your wishes for the new season into the candle
wax. Anoint the candle with three drops of the oil by massaging them into the writing on the candle and recite these words:
“This is the time of the feast of torches,
when every lamp blazes
and shines
to welcome the rebirth of the God.
I celebrate the Goddess,
I celebrate the God;
all Earth celebrates
Beneath its mantle of sleep.”
Light the candle and recite these words:
”All the land is wrapped in winter.
The air is chilled and frost
envelops the Earth.
But Lord of the Sun,
Horned One of animals and wild places,
unseen you have been reborn of
the gracious Mother Goddess,
Lady of all fertility.
Hail Great God!
Hail and welcome!
Stand before the altar, holding aloft the candle. Gaze at its flame. Visualize
your life blossoming with creativity, with renewed energy and strength. Your ritual is now complete. Celebrate with a simple
feast with friends and family.
Found on: ---spellspot.com---
Simple Imbolc Rite for Solitaire
You will need a corn maiden and a priapic wand. A lit candle in cauldron in south
and some twigs of evergreen besides the cauldron.
Prepare Brigid´s Bed
This is done by dressing the corn doll in a white cloth and any other ornements.
Then place it in a basket or on a mat. Then lay the priapic wand across the doll and place two altar candles, one on either
side, beside the basket. Say:
Bride is come. Bride is Welcome.
(three times)
Take the besom and ritually sweep the circle doesil, then return the besom beside
the altar.
Kneel before the cauldron. Pick up the twigs and set fire to each in turn. Then
blow out each flame and place in cauldron beside the candle. Say:
Now I banish winter. Now I welcome spring:
Say farewell to what is dead and
greet each living thing.
Now I banish winter. Now I welcome spring.
Lughnasadh:
Yule:
Yule Log Charge
It is best that every owner charge his or her own Yule Log. It is through
your own energies that the results you desire will be achieved. Do you truly believe in the power of your log? If the answer
is yes, then the answers and gifts you request from it will be honored. Here is a simple Charging Ritual to help you get the
most from your log.
Gather your supplies:
Chalice (or glass) of water
A white candle in a holder
A small amount
of salt
A table
A white cloth
Incense of any kind in a holder
A quiet place to perform the ritual
Ritual :
Lay white cloth over the table
Place candle, water and incense
in the center of the cloth.
Light the candle and the incense.
Darken the room.
Close your eyes and meditate on the
log and what you want it to achieve until you have fully cleared your mind of all other influences and are focused on the
desired result.
Take a pinch of salt between your thumb and forefinger and sprinkle it into the water while saying:
“Earth
and Water bond this log to me,
May it protect me/us throughout the year
And channel my desires,
Blessed Be”
Sprinkle
this "empowered" water onto your log.
Pass the incense and candle over the log to purify it while again saying:
“Fire
bond this log to me,
May it protect me/us throughout the year
And channel my desires,
Blessed Be”
Place your hand on the log.
Close your eyes
Meditate to feel
the powerful, protective internal energy of your body flowing down your arm and into your hand.
Envision yourself burning
the log and its strength protecting you as you go about your life. Invoke the god or goddess you feel most personally attuned
with by saying:
“(God/Goddess Name) bond this log to me,
May it protect me/us from harm
And channel my desires,
Blessed Be”
Feel the log begin to surge with your power and envision a white or yellow light glowing about you.
Sit
like this until you feel the energy winding down, you will know when the charging it complete.
Place the log in your fireplace
or pit. If it was charged with certain people in mind, make sure they are there as you burn the log and meditate and enjoy
their company!
Welcome Yule Ceremony
To form Circle, each person takes the left hand of the person to the left with
the right hand and greets her/him:
I welcome you to the Solstice Eve Circle.
Opening
From the Revels:
And so the shortest day came
And the year died
And everywhere
down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing
To drive the dark away
Let's all proclaim
together--Welcome Yule, WELCOME YULE!!!
Calling Directions
East
Spirit of the East, Power of Air!
With your gifts of light and clarity
We
hail you and invite you
To join our Circle
This Solstice Eve.
By the Air that is Her breath
Send forth your light
And
bless us with your Presence!
South
Spirit of the South, Power of Fire!
With your gifts of passion and love
We
hail you and invite you
To join our Circle
This Solstice Eve.
By the fire that is Her spirit
Send forth your
flame
And bless us with your Presence!
West
Spirit of the West, Power of Water!
With your gifts of depth and feeling
We
hail you and invite you
To join our Circle
This Solstice Eve.
By the waters of Her living womb
Send forth your
flow
And bless us with your Presence!
North
Spirit of the North, Power of Earth!
With your gifts of substance and life
We
hail you and invite you
To join our Circle
This Solstice Eve.
By the earth that is Her body
Send forth your strength
And
bless us with your Presence!
Invocation of the Goddess
We invoke you, Great Mother, to be with us this night.
We ask you to guard
and to bless our Solstice circle.
We ask, too, for your guidance in helping us keep our hearts
open and joyful, to
those in our community,
to people all over the world, to all of creation.
We ask this in a good way.
Blessed Be.
SING: (Sung to) Silent Night
Holy night, longest night
We have gathered to the light.
We have called for
the Goddess near
To bless this circle we hold so dear.
We're children of the Earth
The Season for rebirth
Holy night, longest night
We have watched the Sun's waning light.
These inward
days soon will pass
And bring the bright New Year at last
We're children of the Earth
The Season for rebirth
Holy night, longest night
We will keep the fires bright
And Mother Goddess
will bear the new Sun (son)
The fruit from the seeds we have sown will come
We're children of the Earth
The Season
for rebirth
Reading 1: (Two readers)
Rdr 1: The Winter Solstice is the time of people's rebirth from darkness.
Rdr 2: The old old sun dies and the Goddess rebirths the new sun with the new year.
Rdr 1: Persephone leaves Hecate in the underworld and is reborn to Demeter.
Rdr 2: Yemaya creates the world anew again from her fertile womb.
Rdr 1: Light comes from darkness, growth comes from barrenness.
Rdr 2: Spring comes from the depths of Winter.
All: We are here to bring light to the world.
Reading 2
birthwatch night of sun
from darkness light
west becomes the east
freezing
becomes fire
Goddess Mother Moon
she births the sun
she births the earth
she labors for
the sea and sky
death
is granted life
so mote it be.
Reading 3
circle closes
circle opens
and the oak fire strikes
bright the earth and
sun
bright the newborn sea
bright the infant stars
her glowing earth
winter set aside
with new year naming
everything
she touches changes
as above us so below.
SING
Light is Returning
Light is returning,
Even tho' this is the darkest hour
No
one can hold
Back the dawn.
Let's keep it burning
Let's keep the light of hope alive
Make safe our journey
Through the storm
One planet turning
Circle on her path around the sun
Earth Mother is calling
Her
children home.
Responsive Reading
What is this night?
(All)It is the eve of the Winter Solstice-the first night
of Yule.
What is the shape of this night?
A. It is the longest night of the year.
Where is the sun on this night?
A. The sun is at the lowest and most southern
point in the sky.
What is the element that rules this night?
A. Tonight the darkness reaches
the limit of its power over light.
After this night of power, what is the element that will wane?
A. From this
night forward, the darkness will wane and the light will grow.
What is the meaning of this night?
A. This night and the twelve nights which
follow fall in the space between one year and another, the border where the worlds overlap. All that happens is mightier than
at any other time of the year.
What do we do over these thirteen nights of Yule?
A. The world holds its
breath waiting for the infant sun to be born.
How do we bring back the light?
A. The fires and lights of Yule call the
sun back from its southern journey.
When will we see this light?
A. Thirteen nights from now at the New Year
we will see the waning of the dark.
How have we prepared for the new light?
A. We have spent the dark months
looking inward and being quiet. We have felt the Great Goddess, in her Crone aspect.
What shall we do now?
A. We shall let go of those things which do not affirm
life and love and send them with the old sun to the womb of the Earth to be born again as positive energies for us in the
New Year.
On what does our faith rest in this cold winter season when the earth's bounty
seems frozen?
A. We survive, we endure, and we prosper because we depend on each other. We to share in the careful stores
from all our harvests, which gives us physical, emotional, and spiritual sustenance. We keep the fires burning and to affirm
our support and love for one another.
Do we depend only on each other?
A. No, we are interdependent with all of
creation. We admire the animals and plants who thrive in winter. We honor them and give them rest. We remember to feed the
wild creatures of the forest.
SING Lord of the Dance (tune aka Simple Gifts)
I danced in the morning when the world was begun
I danced with the moon and
the stars and the sun
I was called from the darkness by the song of the earth
I joined in the singing and She gave me
birth
Chorus:
Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance said
He
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He
I sleep in the kernel and I dance on the rain
I dance in the sun and through
the waving grain
And when you cut me down do not think I am gone
For I am the dance and I still go on. (Chorus)
We dance ever slower as the leaves fall and spin
And the sound of the horn is
the wailing of the wind
And the call of the hunter as he rides cross the plain
While the whole earth sleeps til the
spring comes again.
Repeat Chorus
The sun is in the southlands but the days lengthen fast
And soon we will sing
for the winter that is past
I'll live in you if you live in me
I am the Lord of the Dance said He
Consecration of Symbols
The symbols we use in this season afffirm our connection and dependence on Mother
Earth and the inherent connection to Spirit it brings us.
The ivy honors the Winter King and Queen, whose sacred tree is the Holly. The Druids
have given us mistletoe for decorative and magical purposes; mistletoe grows atop the sacred oak -- the point nearest the
sun. We welcome the spirit of Mistletoe and of Holly and Ivy to our altar tonight.
Various traditions revere trees--evergreens, especially -- for their ability to
stay green in the winter. We decorate them with all manner of lights and creatures to ensure the light's return and to celebrate
the bounty of the year that is passing. The Yule tree is the center of the holy feast, the means of making the offering to
the goddesses, gods, and ghosts as well as itself being a mighty spirit to whom offerings may be given. We welcome the spirit
of this Tree to our circle tonight.
Many fire-customs are important at Yule-time. The best-known of these is, of course,
the Yule-log, which must burn the whole night through with someone keeping Yule-watch over it. Pieces of the Yule-log are
then kept through the year and thought to bring good luck; one year's Yule-log should be kindled with a piece of the last.
This fire in the darkest night embodies the ever-living fire of the clan and the soul, the ever-springing hope of the worlds.
We welcome the spirit of this Yule log to our altar tonight.
Yule Consecration
Of all the high feasts of our forebears, Yule is by far the highest, the holiest,
and the most fraught with might. During the thirteen nights of Yule, all the worlds meet in the Middle: the godesses, gods,
and the dead walk freely, trolls and elfs come into the homes of humans, and those folk who are closest to the Otherworld
may leave their human selves altogether to become the riders of the Wild Hunt, or werewolves, or the embodiments of various
of the wights that wander the earth at Yule-tide. Modern society has tamed the symbols; however the holiness and strength
of this season prevails.
Tonight on the Eve of the Winter Solstice, the Sun King has reached the end of
his reign and bids us farewell. The sun of the old year sinks now into darkness and to rest. We are not frightened of this
dark for it is necessary for the Wheel of the Year to turn to Winter and then to Spring. Those things which we have finished
in this cycle, be it emotions, habits, or workings, we give up now to the Sun King who will take them to the Summerland, there
to be returned to the cauldron of rebirth.
(Light log in fireplace)
Now let flame of Yule flare forth this night
through death and darkness deep.
To all far-farers and folk of earth,
As a beacon -- its brightness burns,
As a blessing -- it blazes forth.
If you wish, please take your bark and put in it that which is over for you or
that which you wish transformed and come to throw it on the Yule fire as you wish during our chant.
The Sun King will be reborn this night through the Goddess. Let us aid his passage
through her and back to the light by chanting together:
The night is dark, the sun is gone,
Yet we know the wheel turns on.
Through
midnight's hour, solid dark,
Within our hearts remains a spark.
Queen of Heaven, Mother of all,
Hear us as our voices call.
Send your fire
back to Earth
As we will the Sun's rebirth.
The night is dark, the sun is gone,
Yet we know the wheel turns on.
Through
midnight's hour, solid dark,
Within our hearts remains a spark.
Who will light the sacred fire,
Bringing back our heart's desire?
Sacred
fire, kindled bright,
Leads us back into the light.
The night is dark, the sun is gone,
Yet we know the wheel turns on.
Through
midnight's hour, solid dark,
Within our hearts remains a spark.
As the flames around us glow,
So may love within us grow.
Waken Sun King,
be reborn!
Bring us light this Yuletide morn!
Lighting Candles of Blessing
We have rid ourselves of the burdens and obstacles which hold us back and weigh
us down. Let us now light our candles in the world and speak our blessings, reflections, words of wisdom we wish to share
with this Solstice circle.
(Go around circle lighting the votives-each person stepping to center, picking
a candle, lighting it, holding it while s/he speaks and then setting it down again)
Thanks and Devocations
Thanking of Goddess
Great Goddess, Mother Earth. Your presence had held us, protected us, guided us,
and blessed us this night in our celebration of the Sun's return.
We thank for your many blessings, for your grace
and goodness,
for your beauty and wisdom.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Blessed Be.
Thanking of Directions
North
Spirit of the North, Power of Earth!
Your presence with us this night has anchored
and strengthened us.
We thank you for your many blessings.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Blessed Be.
West
Spirit of the West, Power of Water!
Your presence this night has soothed and
cradled us
and connected us to our first home--the sea.
We thank you for your many blessings.
Stay if you will,
go if you must.
Blessed Be.
South
Spirit of the South, Power of Fire!
Your presence this night has opened our
hearts to life and to love
We thank you for your many blessings.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Blessed Be.
East
Spirit of the East, Power of Air!
Your presence this night has brought the first
stirrings of the new sun.
We thank you for your many blessings.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Blessed Be.
Benediction (All say)
May the spirit of Yule
Remain with us all
For the whole next year.
May
our obstacles and snares vanish
May our seeds take root and flourish
May we be blessed by spirit
Each and every one
The circle is open, but not unbroken.
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet
again.
Blessed Be!
SING: Deck the Halls (while snake dancing through the house)
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
fa la la la la la la la la
'Tis the season
to be jolly
Don we now our gay apparel
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol
See the blazing yule before us
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Follow
me in merry measure
While I tell of Yuletide treasure
Fast away the old year passes
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses
Sing we joyous
all together
Heedless of the wind and weather
The Yule Wish Tree
Often, the items we truly need cannot ride home with us in a bag from the mall
during the holiday season countdown. The day before Thanksgiving, take a trip to the tree nursery and find a small, potted
evergreen. On your way home, purchase a few yards of red, green, and white ribbon. During the Thanksgiving supper,introduce
the tree to the family and the tribe to the tree. Each member of your clan should tie a ribbon on the tree to represent an
intangible blessing they would like for the upcoming Yule season. Wishes could be for peace, enough rest, health, etc.
Bless
the tree and set it where it will have enough light.
When family and friends visit, explain the purpose of the wish tree
to them and give them a ribbon to tie on the tree, too. The tree is for everyone. If you plan to use the tree in ritual,have
everyone participating make a small ornament, empowered for strengths like self-esteem, goal planning, security, etc. and
hang it on the tree while connecting with the divinity of their choice.
On the first day of February, remove all the ornaments
and ribbons. Burn the ribbons and cast the ashes to the winds. Pack the ornaments away. Next year, when you open the box,
you can de-magick the ornaments and return them to their owners, or hang them on your
big tree in memory of last year's
prosperity. Continue to take good care of the tree over the remaining winter months. Don't forget to give it water and plenty
of love. In the spring, you can plant the tree outside on your property or on the property of a friend.
Ostara:
Croning and Crowning Ritual
by Amethyst TygerMoon
This Croning was performed at Ostara
2004 AFTER our Ostara ritual. We use people to portray Maiden and Mother and Rowann (who was to be Croned) played the part
of the Crone. We also had people to represent each quarter and a Mistress of ceremonies to lead the ritual.
Cleansing & Consecration
of Salt & Water: (Crone uses Athame to take out some drops of water, representing removing the negativity from water)
Crone: Creatures of water,
I cast from thee, Doubt, hesitation, fear & distrust. I cast into you, Strong will, Hope, Warmth & Friendship
(Crone uses Athame to charge the
water with positive energy. Then the Crone uses Athame to take out some grains of salt, representing removing the negativity
from salt)
Creatures of salt, I cast from
thee, Doubt, hesitation, fear & distrust I cast into you, Strong will, Hope, Warmth & Friendship
(Crone uses Athame to charge the
water with positive energy. And then adds 3parts of salt to the water using the Athame)
Salt joins with water, As lover,
joins with beloved, As we, all join with the universe.
Cleansing the Circle: (Maiden
moves around outside of the circle with singing bowl. Mother follows with salt water that she sprinkles on the ground, and
the Crone follows with lighted smudge stick)
Maiden: We clear away what
blocks our life Mother: We clear away all stress & strife
Crone: Replace the void
with happiness Maiden, Mother, Crone: And prepare the way for new success.
Casting the Circle: (The
Mother casts the circle with the Spear/Athame/Wand…) Mother: I conjure thee O’ Great circle of power So that you
may seal the boundaries of this garden Between the realms of mankind and the realms of the mighty spirits A meeting place
of perfect love and perfect trust To contain all the power we raise within thee. Maiden, Mother, Crone: As above, so below,
the circle is cast, so mote it be.
Calling the Quarters: (Facing
each quarter as it is called, we will stand with our arms raised and outstretched forming a human cross. We will visualise
light and dark flowing from each of our arms and filling our bodies in the centre with light and dark – creating a balance
of energy. Once each quarter has been called we will centre ourselves by rising up our arms and creating a tree formation
(Explanation by Maiden))
East: Powers of the East
and Air; sentient and non-sentient, All whom wish us well. I seek your presence here at this circle. In a place that is all
places and no place. In a time that is all time and no time. I ask your blessings and assistance here during this rite. Welcome,
benevolent powers and spirits. Blessed Be.
South: Powers of the South
and Fire; sentient and non-sentient, All whom wish us well. I seek your presence here at this circle. In a place that is all
places and no place. In a time that is all time and no time. I ask your blessings and assistance here during this rite. Welcome,
benevolent powers and spirits. Blessed Be.
West: Powers of the West
and Water; sentient and non-sentient, All whom wish us well. I seek your presence here at this circle. In a place that is
all places and no place. In a time that is all time and no time. I ask your blessings and assistance here during this rite.
Welcome, benevolent powers and spirits. Blessed Be.
North: Powers of the North
and Earth; sentient and non-sentient, All whom wish us well. I seek your presence here at this circle. In a place that is
all places and no place. In a time that is all time and no time. I ask your blessings and assistance here during this rite.
Welcome, benevolent powers and spirits. Blessed Be.
(As we create the shape of a tree
we will visualise our roots reaching far down into mother earth and our branches outspread reaching up to father sky. You
are the centre of the universe. (Explanation by Maiden)) The visualisation is then sealed with a chant:
All: Above, below, I connect
like a tree. A perfect centre here meets in me. South and East, North and West All I am, balanced at its best. Mother: We
call upon the Ancestors to ask for assistance with our tasks. Be they ever present in our work and life. We are grateful for
those blessings we have already been given. And we are open and ready to receive those, which are waiting to come. Welcome
Benevolent Ancestors and blessed be.
(This will then be followed by
a Spiral Dance led by the Crone – winding our way to the Croning Altar. As we follow the dance we will chant...)
All: We are a circle within
a circle, with no beginning never ending (This is to be chanted till we end up at the Croning Altar)
Amethyst TygerMoon: We have
journeyed to this place that is all places and all time. But still we reside in our circle, secure on every side. Rowann Cerridwen,
friend to all. Came to us when she heard our call. We celebrate with her on this Ostara day. As we honour her as Crone in
her special way. (Rowann is then led to stand by a chair in the centre of the Circle)
(Facing each quarter as it is called
we will honour the quarters in our new circle.)
Air: Ancient Mother I hear your
Calling.
Earth: Ancient Mother I hear your
Song
Fire: Ancient mother I share your
Laughter
Water: Ancient Mother I dry your
Tears.
Amethyst TygerMoon: The
word Crone is derived from the word “Cronus” [time] and it means the wisdom gained through life long experiences.
The Germanic “Krone” also means crown. To become the Crowned Crone then, acknowledges that you are a wise woman
who has gathered up the fruits of her experience into profound and sovereign understanding. The Wise Crone becomes the resource
of wisdom for her community and a source of inspiration for her circle of “Cronies”. Maiden, Mother and Now crone,
you have experienced the full range of the Goddess, her strength, her compassion and her fury. You have lived you life under
the Lord and Lady’s gaze, tell us and them now, of your life…
Rowann: (personal statement)
Amethyst TygerMoon: See the aspects
of the triple Goddess before you and within you… (Three Invocations will then be read to celebrate the three phases
of the crone.)
Maiden: Beautiful Maiden of the
forests, Huntress of the soul I call upon you to be here with me now. I need your help and guidance as I strive for spiritual
knowledge and growth. Help me to face all that is put before me on my life’s journey. I wish with all my heart to accomplish
these desires in a positive way. If these are not to my good, reveal to me the direction to take, and the goals to which I
should aspire. I await your guidance and direction. Mother: I call upon you to be here with me now. I need your help and guidance
as I strive for spiritual knowledge and growth. Help me also to learn from the lessons I have endured on my life’s journey.
I wish with all my heart to accomplish these desires in a positive way. If these are not to my good, reveal to me the direction
to take, and the goals to which I should aspire. I await your guidance and direction.
Crone: Dark mother, guardian of
knowledge, Keeper of the great Cauldron of life I call upon you to be here with me now. I need your help and guidance as I
strive for spiritual knowledge and growth. Help me to find the wisdom and strength to pass on my knowledge. I wish with all
my heart to accomplish these desires in a positive way. If these are not to my good, reveal to me the direction to take, and
the goals to which I should aspire. I await your guidance and direction. (The crown is placed on Rowanne’s head)
Amethyst TygerMoon: The circle
of the crown is a symbol of the sun and of the earth and the universe. A circle for love that never ends, a circle for arms
that embrace. A symbol of friendship, for friendship breaks down all boundaries and has by its very nature to be a circular
flow of giving and receiving. The circle is a symbol of unity into which your life is joined in an unbroken circle to those
whom you choose to love and befriend, so wherever you go in life, your love will constantly be returning to them. (Rowanne
sits in the centre and we dance around her, Maiden, Mother and Mistress of ceremonies (Amethyst) each hold lengths of cord
in White, Red and Black creating a triangle around her, other participants hold on to the cords where they can)
ALL: Be understanding, Be wise.
Have patience. Laugh (when we have raised a good cone of power Amethyst will say “NOW!” we will all “fold
in” on Rowanne, like petals of a lotus flower and channel the energy into her. Then after a count of 10 we will slowly
unfold and the cords will be presented)
Amethyst TygerMoon: Wear these
cords as a symbol of your status as Crone and Wise Woman. Age can be a wonderful time to develop the art of inner harvesting.
What does inner harvesting mean? Inner harvesting means that you actually begin to sift the fruits of your experience. You
begin to group, select and integrate them. One of the places where inner harvesting is most vital in the abandoned areas within
your life. Areas of inner neglect and abandonment cry out to you. They are urgent for harvest. Then they can come in out of
the false exile of neglect and enter into the temple of belonging, and into your soul However painful the past, you have learnt
much wisdom from it; however much you have had to struggle, there have been rich days like today. However daunting or hopeful
the future, your experiences, expectations, learnt knowledge and feelings have shaped and will carry on shaping and developing
your own unique wisdom. All here present offer to you, Rowanne, our blessings for your future happiness. We offer to you our
love and support as we too remember and celebrate with you the friendship, love and wisdom on which the world is founded We
will then Wassail Rowanne with a toast
– Each person making a toast
to Rowanne, (some may have prepared short speeches but all should say something in praise of her)
(Maiden presents Rowanne with the
“empty” chalice)
Maiden: Take this chalice filled
with our love and respect for you, may it be ever full!
(Rowanne is presented with the
wands)
Mother: Take these wands as a symbol
of your craft, use them wisely and they will not fail you!
(Rowanne is presented with the
tree)
Amethyst TygerMoon: Take this tree,
as it grows so you will grow, in wisdom, in love and in yourself! Maiden no more. Mother no more. Crone do we name you. Wear
the crown of your years with grace and wisdom. All Hail the Crone, Rowanne Cerridwen!
(Hugs & Cheering are more than
appropriate here)
Facing each Quarter we will close
our celebrational space of our Croning Circle.
Air: Air moves us.
Fire: Fire transforms us
Water: Water shapes us
Earth: Earth heals us
All: And the balance of the wheel
goes round and round And the balance of the wheel goes round
(This will then be followed by
a reversed version of the Spiral Dance led by the Crone – winding our way back to our Ostara Altar. As we follow the
dance we will chant...)
All: We are a circle, within a
circle, with no beginning never ending (This is to be chanted till we end up at the Ostara Altar)
Maiden: I want you to raise up
your arms and visualise your self as a tree. As we create the shape of a tree we will visualise our roots reaching far down
into mother earth and our branches outspread reaching up to father sky. You are the centre of the universe. Then taking all
of our excess energy visualise it going down through our roots and into the earth. This energy is filled with our love and
healing. You are now grounded.
All: Above, below, I connect like
a tree. A perfect centre here meets in me. South and East, North and West All I am, balanced at its best.
Farewell to the Quarters (All turn
to face each quarter as it is relieved...)
North: Spirits of the Land, We
thank you for your fruitful energy. Carry peace and renewal from this place, through the roots of trees and on the breath
of beasts.
West: Spirits of Water, We thank
you for your flowing energy. Carry peace and renewal from this place in every drop of rain and on every wave that caresses
the shores.
South: Spirits of the Fire, We
thank you for your motivating energy. Carry peace and renewal from this place in every ray of sunshine that touches the earth.
East: Spirits of Air. We thank
you for your billowing energy. Carry peace and renewal from this place in every wind and every breeze, in the sound of bells
and on the wings of birds.
Farewell to the Ancestors Mother:
Guardians and Ancestors, we thank you for your billowing energy. Carry renewal from this place with every star wished upon.
Release in us our inner child, loose any bondage, and grant our spirits the wings of peace. Blessed be.
Closing the Circle (Crone, Mother
and Maiden then walks the reverse perimeter of the circle using the Spear/Athame/Wand to “draw in” the circle...)
Crone: Great Circle we thank you…
All laughter contains magick and all magick should contain laughter! The circle is open but never broken. We are the people,
We are the power, We are the change. Blessed be!
-- by Amethyst TygerMoon --
Litha:
Midsummer Ritual
Circle is set up with posts at each quarter, basket of flowers by each post. Censing
and asperging will be done as people enter the circle, as at Beltane. No altar: tool users will carry their own tools. Holly
is invoked privately before the ritual begins and conceals herself North of the circle, along with Crows.
Sweep:
Black spirits and white, red spirits and gray,
Come ye, come ye, come ye as
may.
Around and around, throughout and about,
The good come in, the ill keep out.
Cast Circle (Sun Court Leader):
A ring of pure and endless light
Bounds this meetingplace of souls
Our
energy and love unite
Will serve to make this circle whole.
Our presence sanctifies this place:
Time is not the
master here.
We invite joy and love to abide
And forbid unwanted spirits appear.
East:
Hail winged ones of the East, bringers of dawn:
Bring us thoughts that soar
among the birds,
Skies swept clean by the winds of insight.
South:
Hail bright ones of the South, lords of noonday:
Dance the fires of your passion
within us,
Set us ablaze with the summer's heat.
West:
Hail laughing ones of the West, sunset waters:
Bring sweet delight to those
who thirst,
Cleanse our spirits, wash our cares away.
North:
Hail ancient ones of the North, trees deep-rooted:
Bring forth beast and bird,
forest and field,
Let the sweet earth turn beneath us as we dance.
Invoke Oak (Sun Court Leader):
Hail Lady of the rising year, spring-born and summer-crowned:
Queen of Oak
and Mother of Flowers,
Stir the abundance of life within us,
Dance with us at Summer's utmost height.
[crowns
Oak with circlet of leaves and flowers]
Oak:
[poem about rejoicing in the Solstice]
[leads circle dance from the center]
All:
We are one in the infinite sun
For ever and ever and ever.
Dance is stopped by entry of Crows, signalled by drumming. Crows should have some
black on (it's probably too hot to dress in black), and carry black-feathered wands. Crows circle Oak, cawing, and then begin
their lines.
Crow 1: Winter will come
Crow 2: The corn will dry
Crow 3: The leaves will fall
Crow 1: The storms will fly
Crow 2 And you must fail
Crow 3: And fall
Crow 1: And die
Repeat three times, the third in unison sing-song mocking voices.
Sun Court Leader [to Crows]:
Over my dead body! Who do you think you are? [to people]
Will you stand by
and let this happen?
No! Rally round and shield our lady
from the mockery of winter!
Sun Court Leader rallies people around Oak in center of circle. Crows approach
people one at a time and touch them with their wands, asking "Why? Why?" People will give a reason for the summer to continue
forever: Crows will respond with a reason why it cannot, and take the person out to the edge of the circle. Sun Court Leader
is the last taken out. Heavy drumbeats throughout this process.
Oak:
It is so:
If I love the Spring
I must embrace the Fall,
and for the
Sun's sweet sake
go into darkness.
In Spring and in Summer I was given this power
and now I lay it down.
Oak casts down her flowering rod of office and kneels, head bowed. Four Quarters
surround Oak, carrying baskets of flowers, and Sun Court Leader leads the circle in a deosil procession to lay flowers on
the wand.
All:
Aye ai aye ai aye ai aye ai
Aye oh aye oh aye oh aye oh
Near the end of the procession Holly enters the circle: crows and Holly join the
very end of the procession. Holly makes a grand dramatic gesture of going to the center (waiting till everyone else has returned
to the circle), then kneels to lay an evergreen spring by Oak.
Holly:
Bright sister, do not grieve. I will guard and guide the turning world in your
place, until at the depth of Winter we shall meet again, and you will rise to take your place once more. [takes up flowering
rod] But now, at the very balance point of the year, let us dance together, you and I.
[Holly raises Oak up, and Oak takes her place in the circle.]
Holly [to all]:
In winter and in darkness I will reign
And lead the dance till spring shall
come again.
Holly leads Spiral Dance. She should break the line next to Oak so that she is
the head of the line and Oak is the tail.
All:
Hoof and horn, hoof and horn,
All that dies must be reborn.
Vine and grain,
vine and grain,
All that falls shall rise again.
Holly:
What is shoot shall become flower
What is flower shall become fruit
What
is fruit shall become seed
What is seed shall become shoot
Ever and forever, as the Wheel turns.
Crow 1:
Farewell, Lady of the waning year.
Go in peace to your realms of autumn,
To
watch over harvest and make ready for the dark.
Blessings on your presence.
Hail and farewell.
Sun Court Leader:
Farewell, Lady of the waxing year.
Go in peace to your realms of spring,
To
cherish new life and make ready for the day.
Blessings on your presence.
Hail and farewell.
North:
Farewell, powers of the North!
Go in peace to your mountain realms.
Hail
and farewell.
West:
Farewell, powers of the West!
Go in peace to your ocean realms.
Hail and
farewell.
South:
Farewell, powers of the South!
Go in peace to your fiery realms.
Hail and
farewell.
East:
Farewell, powers of the East!
Go in peace to your high realms.
Hail and
farwell.
Sun Leader:
All spirits whom this circle has drawn
We thank you and ask that you now be
gone.
The Witches' Law has always been
You must go out where you enter in.
With points drawn down we make the
slash
Each to their own--sham ham phorash.
All:
The circle is open, but never broken.
Merry meet, and merry part, and merry
meet again!
Mabon:
For this ritual you will need an apple and a chalice of wine or juice. Grape or
apple juices are excellent choices if you cannot drink alcohol. If it is at all possible, this ritual should take place in
a secluded cemetery. If this isn't possible, you should try to visit a cemetery where your loved ones are buried and leave
apples to wish them a quick rebirth.
When you are ready to begin, cast your circle, and invite your deities.
Say:
Blessed be this season of Mabon, time of the second harvest, the harvest of fruit
and wine.
Tonight all things are in balance: Goddess and God, Life and Death, Light and Dark.
Tonight the darkness
will conquer the light, leading us deeper into the waning year.
If you are not at the cemetery of your loved ones, visualize if you can their resting
places. Take the apple and hold it in front of you at heart level.
Say:
Ancient symbol of life, death and rebirth, take away my mourning.
Help me to
be assured that death is not a permanent parting,
but a new and joyful beginning.
If you are in the cemetery place the apple in front of the grave of a loved one.
The apple symbolizes reincarnation. If you aren't at the cemetery, you should save the apple to bury in the Earth later to
symbolize your hope for rebirth to all life. With the somber part of the ritual over now, you should turn yourself to gladness
and honor the God of wine and the aging Crone Goddess. Take the chalice of wine and hold it upward.
Say:
Blessed Crone, thank you for bringing me safely to this season.
God of wine,
thank you for your gift of the grape.
Now you can make a toast to whomever or what ever you like. Make as many as you
toasts as you want and make them as silly as you want!!
When you are finished, say:
Blessed be Mabon, season of bounty.
Now spend some time in your circle meditating or communing with the spirits that
may surround you. Then close the circle however you wish.
Various Rituals
Handfasting
PAGAN & Wiccan MARRIAGE CEREMONY
The following wedding ceremony was written to provide for Pagans & Wiccans
[PRIEST/SS] We have come together here in celebration of the joining together
of ____bride______ and ____groom______. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together
of two souls, has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained
and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to
leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of
life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life,
posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this.
Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and
reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding
of this, Groom and Bride have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. Others would ask, at this time, who gives the
bride in marriage, but, as a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes of her
own will and if she has her family's blessing.
Bride, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?
[BRIDE] Yes, it is true.
[PRIEST/SS] With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you.
[FATHER] She comes with me, her father, and is accompanied by all of her family's
blessings.
[PRIEST/SS] Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I
am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember...
Like a stone should your love be firm like a star should your love be constant.
Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together,
let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not
too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will
pass quickly.
Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of
the unenlightened give you unease, for the lord and Lady are with you always.
Groom, I have not the right to bind thee to Bride, only you have this right.
If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand.
[GROOM] It is my wish.
[PRIEST/SS] Bride, if it be your wish for Groom to be bound to you, place the
ring on his finger. (places ring on Groom's left ring finger) Bride I have not the right to bind thee to Groom only you have
this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand.
[BRIDE] It is my wish.
[PRIEST/SS] Groom, if it be your wish for Bride to be bound to you, place the
ring on her finger.(places ring on Bride's left ring finger) (to Groom) Repeat after me:
I, (grooms full name), in the name of the spirit of Lord and lady that resides
within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take thee (bride's full
name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and
be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee
wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we
shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people,
and thy ways as I respect myself.
(to Bride)
I (bride's full name), in the name of the spirit of Lord and Lady that resides
within us all, by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart, take thee, (Groom's full
name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed
by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely
without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember,
and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as
I respect myself.
[PRIEST/SS]
(hands chalice to the groom, saying:) May you drink your fill from the cup
of love.
(Groom holds chalice to bride while she sips then bride takes chalice and holds
it to groom while he sips. The chalice is then handed back to the Priest who sets it on the table. Next the Priest takes the
plate of bread, giving it to the groom. Same procedure repeated with bread, groom feeding bride and bride feeding groom.)
By the power vested in me by Lord and L ady and the State, I now pronounce you
husband and wife. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you.
As the priest/ess is saying these last words,wind the cord around your hands
Intertwine them the Priest/ess than ties a knot in the cords.(leaving enough
space for the couples hands to slip thru untied)
Deathbed Ritual
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Formal Ritual
Priestess: (Takes the hand of the dying person gently, and looks into their
eyes, or into their face if the eyes are closed. )
"You are dying. None should ever die alone. I am here to share your death and
to journey with you. There is only love, the greatest Mystery. I reach behind my fear. I open my heart and my eyes in the
light of this love. I will go as far on this journey with you as I can. I will not abandon you."
She should breath deeply and centre herself and enter a state of light trance.
And she should follow the spirit of the dying person as deeply as she can.
"The Goddess is taking you back now, the Great Mother. She will be with the people
left behind, providing strength and comfort. You are not abandoning them. You will leave behind your work. You will give up
all of your ties to your family. You will give up sex, and even gender. You cannot be a woman or a man and enter the other
world. You will leave behind your body. None who have bodies can pass into the other world. You will become nothing. You will
float on the endless waves of the Goddess' womb. You will drift in the warm emptiness at the centre. Nothing will be left
but the Will to be reborn."
If possible the Priestess will remain with the dying person until she is
dead. At the moment of her death say the following:
"Journey on now, sister. We will follow when we can. May you be born again at
the same time and in the same place as those you knew and loved in this life. May you know them again and love them again."
And now the Priestess' task must be to comfort the living.
Full Moon Scrying Ritual
The upcoming summer months are the perfect time for Full Moon Scrying and I'd
like to pass on an old, time honored scrying ritual originally written by D.J. Conway that I have used many times during the
long summer nights:
Items Needed:
1 bright, shiny silver coin
1 small, black cauldron or scrying
bowl filled with water
Perform this ritual outside where the rays of the Moon can fall directly onto
the water in the cauldron. If you cannot go outside, stay in a darkened room near a window that the Moon shines through. Place
the coin in the water and take the cauldron in both hands. Gaze up at the Moon and say:
"Lovely Lady of the night,
Mysteries old and futures bright,
Give me a
glimpse of that to be
And as I will so mote it be."
Look down at the coin shimmering in the cauldrons water. With your eyes half
closed, adjust your vision as if you were looking into and through the coin. Don't try to analuze anything you might see or
that might come into your mind. Just accept it. Some people, rathar than seeing actual pictures within the cauldron, will
have mental impressions, feelings or pictures. When you have finished, bow to the Moon and say thank you. Pour the water out
on the ground. You're done!
Pet Death/Euthanasia ritual:
(Dorothy Morrison)
Needed
Sandalwood incense
while candle
red candle
a flower ( your choice
)
a piece of rose quartz
some vinager
some honey
Light Sandalwood incense, a white candle and a red candle, and greet the Lord
and Lady by saying:
"I come to you now to release
This pain and all emotional beasts
That
plague my heart so heavily -
Take them from me - set me free!"
Take a flower and name it for your pet. Holding it in your hand, stroke the
petals and speak to your pet with love and honesty. If euthanasia was a factor, explain your reasons for terminating his/her
life cycle. If not, this is a good time to talk to your pet about the loneliness you feel without him/her. Place the flower
on the altar and lay the rose quartz on top of it. Tell you pet that the stone will always represent him/her to you, and explain
that she or he is free to go to the Summerland for re-birthing. Say:
"You're free to go now, little one,
Rejoice and play - the time has come
For your spirit to be on its way.
Have fun, be happy - your love will stay!"
Meditate on the spirit of your pet moving on, then place a drop of vinegar
on your tongue to represent the sourness we feel when death takes a loved one. Take some time to grieve for what might have
been. Scream, cry, yell, whatever you need to do, to get it out of your system. When you can cry no more, taste some some
honey. Rejoice and celebrate the relationship you had with your pet. Remember all the good times you had, the love you shared,
and the special spot the pet filled in your life. Extinguish the candles and thanks the Lord and Lady for their comforting
presence. Release the flower into a body of water, such as a river or stream. Wish it a fond farewell as it floats away. Keep
the stone close to you or put it in a safe place.
Wolf Moon Communication Ritual
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While sitting in your Circle, imagine an image of you and a family member
with whom your are having difficulties with, embracing and happy. Then imagine this picture as a puzzle, only the bottom right
quarter of the puzzle is missing. Next imagine the missing piece is in your right hand. As you lift your hand and replace
the missing piece say the following:
For too long this rift hath ruled
Now with joy and love retooled
Anger
and hurt be at an end
With this piece forever mend
Chaste Moon Wish Ritual
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a pen
several strips of paper
Take a trip to a nearby stream or any body of running water (careful in areas
prone to flooding). When you arrive, take a minute to write down some of your most pressing needs (help with finances or family
issues, inspiration, the ability to solve a specific problem, etc.) then toss them into the water while you say something
like the following:
Blessed Water, to you I invest
My deepest wishes, needs and requests
On
your waves to the stars above
My dreams are carried with strength and love
Lunar rituals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the night of Sept 16th, there will be a lunar eclipse. This combines the power
of the full and new moon all at once. Any spell performed this night needs to be done carefully as you will be invoking the
Triple Goddess in each of her forms. Consider carefully what you wish and write it out before hand.
I would strongly writing your ritual on parchment in sacred ink using a "pen
of art" or sacred writing utensil.
Remember, use only consecrated tools as this is a time not only of the full moon,
but of the new.
Once you have your spell written (mine will be for happiness and wealth never
being detrimental, but only to their and my benifit) and your candles ready (for happiness I have chosen yellow and pink.
For wealth, I have chosen forest green and blue) and your altar set up, relax, and take a nice long bath in something heavy
with Jasmine. Drink a cup of Jasmine tea if possible. I can get dried Jasmine flowers from a local herb shop and so include
them in my bath and on my altar. My altar for the full/new moon is dedicated to the Morrigan and Brighd, two Goddess who I
never chose.
Cast the circle and once cast, light the non-ritual candles. Meditate gently
and allow your mind to go blank then focus on your spell. Now, light the candles related to your spell, using thatever chants
you have chosen. Take the scroll of paper you wrote the spell on and pass it over each element. See the energy of that element
weaving it's own magic into the spell on the paper.
Wave the parchment over each of the spell candles. If you can, light
the spell from each of the spell candles and allow it to burn in a safe place, visualizing the energies trapped in the paper
of the spell being released to do their purpose.
Allow the candles and all Ritual Items to burn themselves out. Do not reuse any
candles, incense, salt or herbs that were used in this ceremony. Take all ashes, salt and whatever else "disposable" you used
and wrap in a piece of cotton or silk. Treat this as you would the ashes of a sacred fire, using them to bless an area or
keeping them as a talisman.
Solitary New Moon Ritual
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Insert after general esbat and before cakes and wine. You can dance around
circle, chanting the names of the Goddess.
Chant:
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
Chant as often as you like. Then kneel before the alter and say:
Dark is the night as we reach this turning point.
Here is a time of death;
yet a time of birth.
Endings and beginnings
Ebbing and flowing
A journey done; a journey yet
to start.
I honor now the crone-mother darksome and divine.
I give of my strength and
in return see rebirth.
Arms raised, say:
BEHOLD, the Lady of Darkness; Mother, Grand mother. Old, yet ever young.
I honor and love you now and always. As the wheel turns we see birth, death and
rebirth. I know from this that every ending is a beginning; every stop a fresh starting point.
Maiden, Mother, Crone... you are all of these and more.
Whenever I have need of anything, I can call upon you and your Lord, for you
abide within me.
Even at the darkest of times, when there seems no single spark to warm me and
the night seems blackest of all, You are here watching over me, in strength and in love.
You are She who is at the beginning and the ending of all time.
Blessed Be
Full Moon Group Ritual
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Esbat takes place on the nights of the New Moon and the nights of the
Full Moon. On these nights, the Coven usually does any kind of magical work and business they need to. It is enacted, hopefully
every Full Moon.
Set up:
Place a candle in each of the four cardinal directions. Lay the rest of the tools
on the altar cloth or near it. The altar can be on the ground, a table, a rock or a stump. The altar should be in the center
or just north of center of the Circle. Light the six candles and the incense, start the music and begin the ritual.
The Ritual
Facing North, the High Priest and Priestess kneel in front of the altar with
him to her right. She puts the bowl of water on the altar, places the point of her athame in it and says:
I exorcise thee, O Creature of Water,
that thou cast out from thee all impurities
and uncleanliness of the world of phantasm;
in the names of Cernunnos and Aradia.
She then puts down her athame and holds up the bowl of water with both hands.
The High Priest puts the bowl of salt on the altar, puts his athame in the salt and says:
Blessings be upon this Creature of Salt;
let all malignity and hindrance
be cast forth henceforth, and let all good enter herein;
wherefore so I bless thee, that thou mayest aid me, in the names
of Cernunnos and Aradia.
He then puts down his athame and pours the salt into the bowl of water the
High Priestess is holding. The High Priest then stands with the rest of the Coven outside the Circle. The High Priestess then
draws the Circle with the sword, leaving a gap in the Northeast section. While drawing the Circle, she should visualize the
power flowing into the Circle from off the end of the sword. She draws the Circle in a East to North or deosil or clockwise
direction. She says:
I conjure thee, O Circle of Power, that thou beest a meeting place of love and
joy and truth;
a shield against all wickedness and evil; a boundary between men and the realms of the Mighty Ones;
a
rampart and protection that shall preserve and contain the power that we shall raise within thee.
Wherefore do I bless
thee and consecrate thee, in the names of Cernunnos and Aradia.
The High Priestess lays down the sword and admits the High Priest with a
kiss while spinning him deosil and whispers Bless Be. He then admits a women the same way. Alternate male female male. Then
the High Priestess finishes closing the Circle with the sword. She then names three witches to help strengthen the Circle.
The first witch carries the bowl of consecrated water from East to East going deosil, sprinkling the perimeter as she/he goes.
They then sprinkle each member in turn. If the witch is male, he sprinkles the High Priestess last who then sprinkles him.
If female she sprinkles the High Priest last, who then sprinkles her. The bowl is replaced on the altar. The second witch
takes the incense burner around the perimeter and the third takes one of the altar candles. While going around the perimeter,
each person says:
Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and grey,
Harken to the rune I say.
Four
points of the Circle, weave the spell,
East, South, West, North, your tale tell.
East is for break of day,
South
is white for the noontide hour,
In the West is twilight grey,
And North is black, for the place of power.
Three times
round the Circle's cast.
Great ones, spirits from the past,
Witness it and guard it fast.
All the Coven pickup their athames and face the East with the High Priest
and Priestess in front, him on her right. The High Priestess says:
Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air;
I do summon, stir,
and call you up to witness our rites and to guard the Circle.
As she speaks she draws the Invoking Pentagram of Earth in the air with her
athame.
The High Priest and the rest of the Coven copy her movements with their athames.
The High Priestess turns and faces the South and repeats the summoning:
Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire;
I do summon,
stir and call you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle.
She does the same pentagram and then faces West and says:
Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water, ye Lords of Death
and Initiation;
I do summon, stir, and call you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle.
She faces North with rest of the Coven and says:
Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth;
Boreas, thou
gentle guardian of the Northern Portals;
thou powerful God and gentle Goddess;
we do summon, stir and call you up,
to witness our rites and to guard the Circle.
The Circle is completed and sealed. If anyone needs to leave, agate must
be made. Using the sword, draw out part of the Circle with a widdershins or counterclockwise stroke. Immediately reseal it
and then repeat the opening and closing when the person returns.
In this part of the ritual, the Goddess becomes incarnate in the High Priestess.
The High Priestess stands in front of the altar with her back to it. She holds the wand in her right hand the scrounge in
her left. She crosses her wrists and crosses the wand and scrounge above them while holding them close to her breast. The
High Priest stands in front of her and says:
Diana, queen of night
In all your beauty bright,
Shine on us here,
And
with your silver beam
Unlock the gates of dream;
Rise bright and clear.
On Earth and sky and sea,
Your magic mystery
Its
spell shall cast,
Wherever leaf may grow,
Wherever tide may flow,
Till all be past.
O secret queen of power,
At
this enchanted hour
We ask your boon.
May fortune's favor fall
Upon true witches all,
O Lady Moon!
The High Priest kneels before the High Priestess and gives her the Five Fold
Kiss; that is, he kisses her on both feet, both knees, womb, both breasts, and the lips, starting with the right of each pair.
He says, as he does this:
Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways.
Blessed be thy
knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar.
Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be.
Blessed be thy breasts,
formed in beauty.
Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names.
For the kiss on the lips, they embrace, length to length, with their feet
touching each other's. When he reaches the womb, she spreads her arms wide, and the same after the kiss on the lips. The High
Priest kneels again and invokes:
I invoke thee and call upon thee, Mighty Mother of us all, bringer of all fruitfulness;
by seed and root, by bud and stem, by leaf and flower and fruit,
by life and love do I invoke thee to descend upon
the body of this thy servant and priestess.
During this invocation he touches her with his right forefinger on her right
breast, left breast, and womb, repeats the set and finally the right breast. Still kneeling, he spreads his arms out and down,
with the palms forward and says:
Hail Aradia! From the Amalthean Horn
Pour forth thy store of love; I lowly
bend
Before thee, I adore thee to the end,
With loving sacrifice thy shrine adore.
Thy foot is to my lip
(he kisses
her right foot)
my prayer up borne
Upon the rising incense smoke; then spend
Thine ancient love, O Mighty One, descend
To
aid me, who without thee am forlorn.
The High Priest stands up and steps backwards. The High Priestess draws the
Invoking Pentagram of Earth in the air with the wand and says as the Goddess:
Of the Mother darksome and divine
Mine the scrounge, and mine the kiss;
The
five point star of love and bliss
Here I charge you in this sign.
The High Priest starts off by saying:
Listen to the words of the Great Mother; she who of old was also called among
man Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianhod, Isis and by many other names.
The High Priestess, who should be in a trance, says as the Goddess:
Whenever you have need of anything, once in a month, and better it be when the
Moon is full, then shall ye assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of me, who am Queen of all witches. There shall
ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I teach things that
are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery; and as a sign that ye be really free, ye shall be naked in your rites;
dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in my praise. For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine also is joy on
earth; for my law is love unto all beings. Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn
you aside. For mine is the cup of the wine of life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of Immortality.
I am the gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man. Upon Earth, I give the knowledge of the spirit
eternal; and beyond death, I give peace and freedom, and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor do I demand sacrifice;
for behold I am the Mother of all living things, and my love is poured out upon the earth. I who am the white Moon among the
stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man, call unto thy soul. Arise, and come unto me. For
I am the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe. From me all things proceed, and unto me all things must return; and
before my face, beloved of Gods and men, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite. Let my
worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And therefore let there
be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And thou who seekest to
seek for me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery; and if that which thou seekest
thou findest not within thee, thou will never find it without thee. For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning;
and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.
The High Priest faces the Priestess and says:
We thank you Our Lady for attending our rites.
We bid you farewell till next
we call you.
Blessed Be.
The Witches' Creed should be said by the entire Coven.
Hear now the words of the witches,
The secrets we hid in the night,
When
dark was our destiny's pathway,
That now we bring forth into the light.
Mysterious Water and Fire,
The Earth and
the wide ranging Air,
By hidden quintessence we know them,
And will keep silent and dare.
The birth and rebirth of
all nature,
The passing of winter and spring,
We share with the life universal,
Rejoice in the magical ring.
Four
times in the year the Great Sabbat
Returns, and the witches are seen
At Lammas and Candlemas dancing,
On May Eve
and old Hallowe'en.
When day time and night time are equal,
When sun is at greatest and least,
The four lesser Sabbats
are summoned,
Again witches gather in feast.
Thirteen silver moons in a year are,
Thirteen is the Coven's array.
Thirteen
times at Esbat make merry,
For each golden year and a day.
The power was passed down the ages,
Each time between
woman and man,
Each century unto the other,
Ere time and ages began.
When drawn is the magical circle,
By sword
or athame of power,
It's compass between the two worlds lies,
In the land of shades that hour.
This world has no
right to know it,
And the world beyond will tell naught.
The oldest of gods are invoked there,
The Great Work of
Magic is wrought.
For two are the mystical pillars,
That stand at the gate of the shrine,
And two are the powers
of nature,
The forms and the forces of the divine.
The dark and the light in succession,
The opposites each unto
each,
Shown forth as a God and a Goddess:
This did our ancestors teach.
By night he's the wild wind's rider,
The
Horn'd One, the Lord of the Shades.
By day he's the King of the Woodland,
The dweller in green forest glades.
She
is youthful or old as she pleases,
She sails the torn clouds in her barque,
The bright silver lady of midnight,
The
crone who weaves spells in the dark.
The master and mistress of magic,
They dwell in the deeps of the main,
Immortal
and ever renewing,
With power to free or to bind.
So drink the good wine to the Old Gods,
And dance and make love
in their praise,
Till Elphames's fair land shall receive us
In peace at the end of our days.
And Do What Thou Wilt
shall be the challenge,
So be it in love that harms none,
For this is the only commandment,
By magic of old, be it
done!
Eight words the Witches Creed fulfill:
If It Harms None, Do What Thou Will!
The High Priest faces the Coven,
raises his arms wide and says:
Bagabi lacha bachabe
Lamac cahi achababe
Karellyos
Lamac lamac bachalyas
Cabahagy
sabalyos
Baryolos
Lagaz atha cabyolas
Samahac atha famolas
Hurrahya!
The High Priestess and the Coven repeat:
Hurrahya!
The High Priest and High Priestess face the altar. The High Priest continues:
Great God Cernunnos, return to Earth again!
Come to my call and show thy self
to men.
Shepherd of Goats, upon the wild hill's way,
Lead thy lost flocks from darkness unto day.
Forgotten are the
ways of sleep and night
Men seek for them, whose eyes have lost the light.
Open the door of dreams, whereby man come
to thee.
Shepherd of Goats, O answer unto me!
The High Priest and the rest of the Coven then say:
Akhera goittiakhera beitti!
This invocation can be said by anyone or everyone.
Diana of the rounded moon,
The Queen of all enchantments here,
The wind
is crying through the trees,
And we invoke thee to appear.
The cares of day departed are,
The realm of might belongs
to thee;
And we in love and kinship join
With all things wild and free.
As powers of magic round us move,
Now
let time's self dissolve and fade.
Here in the place between the worlds
May we be one with nature made.
Thy consort
is the Horn'd One,
Whose sevenfold pipes make music sweet.
Old Gods of life and love and light,
Be here as merrily
we meet!
For ye the circle's round we tread,
And unto ye the wine we pour;
The sacred Old Ones of this land,
Ye
we invoke by ancient lore
By magic moon and pagan spell,
By all the secrets of the night,
Dreams and desires and
mystery,
Borne on the moonbeams' silver light.
Now may we hear, or may we see,
Or may we know within the heart,
A
token of true magic made,
Ere from this circle we depart.
Pause and wait in silence. There may come a sound, an outward sign or inner
vision. When you feel the time is right, end the period of silence by bowing towards the altar and saying:
O Goddess Queen of Night,
O Horn'd One of might,
In earth and sky and sea
May
peace and blessing be!
Relax. You can also do any other magic craft at this time.
The Coven, except for the High Priestess and High Priest, arrange themselves
around the perimeter of the circle, man and woman alternately as far as possible, facing the center. The High Priestess and
High Priest stand facing each other in the center of the circle, she with her back to the altar, he with his back to the South.
The High Priest kneels before the High Priestess and gives her the Five Fold Kiss; that is, he kisses her on both feet, both
knees, womb, both breasts, and the lips, starting with the right of each pair. He says, as he does this:
Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways.
Blessed be thy
knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar.
Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be.
Blessed be thy breasts,
formed in beauty.
Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names.
For the kiss on the lips, they embrace, length to length, with their feet
touching each others. When he reaches the womb, she spreads her arms wide, and the same after the kiss on the lips. The High
Priestess then lays herself down, face upwards, with her arms and legs outstretched to form the Pentagram.
The High Priest fetches the veil and spreads it over the High Priestess's body,
covering her from breasts to knees. He then kneels facing her, with his knees between her feet. The High Priest calls a woman
witch by name, to bring his athame from the altar. The woman does so and stands with the athame in her hands, about a yard
to the West of the High Priestess's hips and facing her. The High Priest calls a male witch by name, to bring the chalice
of wine from the altar. He does so and stands with the chalice in his hands, about a yard to the East of the High Priestess's
hips and facing her. The High Priest delivers the invocation:
Assist me to erect the ancient altar, at which in days past all worshipped;
The
altar of all things.
For in old time, Woman was the altar.
Thus was the altar made and placed,
And the sacred place
was the point within the center of the Circle.
As we have of old been taught that the point within the center is the origin
of all things,
Therefore should we adore it;
Therefore whom we adore we also invoke.
O Circle of Stars,
Whereof
our father is but the younger brother,
Marvel beyond imagination, soul of infinite space,
Before whom time is ashamed,
the mind bewildered, and the understanding dark,
Not unto thee may we attain unless thine image be love.
Therefore by
seed and stem, root and bud,
And leaf and flower and fruit do we invoke thee,
O Queen of Space, O Jewel of Light,
Continuous
on of the heavens;
Let it be ever thus
That men speak not of thee as One, but as None;
And let them not speak of
thee at all, since thou art continuous.
For thou art the point within the Circle, which we adore;
The point of life,
without which we would not be.
And in this way truly are erected the holy twin pillars;
In beauty and strength were
they erected
To the wonder and glory of all men.
The High Priest removes the veil from the High Priestess's body, and hands
it to the woman witch, from whom he takes his athame. The High Priestess rises and kneels facing the High Priest, and takes
the chalice from the man witch. (Note that both of these handings over are done without the customary ritual kiss. The High
Priest continues the invocation:
Altar of mysteries manifold,
The sacred Circle's secret point
Thus do I
sign thee as of old,
With kisses of my lips anoint.
The High Priest kisses the High Priestess on the lips, and continues:
Open for me the secret way,
The pathway of intelligence,
Beyond the gates
of night and day,
Beyond the bounds of time and sense.
Behold the mystery aright
The five true points of fellowship
The High Priestess holds up the chalice, and the High Priest lowers the point
of his athame into the wine. Both use both of their hands for this. The High Priest continues:
All life is your own,
All fruits of the Earth
Are fruits of your womb,
Your
union, your dance.
Lady and Lord,
We thank you for blessings and abundance.
Join with us, Feast with us, Enjoy with
us!
Blessed Be.
Then, either the High Priestess or one of the other women draws the Invoking
Pentacle of Earth in the air above the plate with the athame. The High Priest hands his athame to the woman witch and then
places both his hands round those of the High Priestess as she holds the chalice. He kisses her, and she sips the wine; she
kisses him, and he sips the wine. Both of them keep their hands round the chalice while they do this.
The High Priest then takes the chalice from the High Priestess, and they both
rise to their feet. The High Priest hands the chalice to a woman witch with a kiss, and she sips. She gives it to a man with
a kiss. The chalice is passed around the Coven, man to woman, with a kiss each time, until the entire Coven has sipped the
wine. The chalice can be refilled and any one can drink from it without repeating the ritual once the chalice has gone around
once.
The woman lays down her athame and passes the cakes to the man with a kiss, he
passes them back with a kiss and they are passed around the Coven the same way the wine was. Be sure to save some of the wine
and some cake for an offering to the Earth and the Little Folk. After the meeting, leave the offering outside of the house
if working indoors, or behind in the woods or field, when you leave if you are working outdoors.
The High Priestess faces East, with her athame in her hand. The High Priest stands
to her right with the rest of the Coven behind them. If any tools have been consecrated, they should be held by the person
furthest to the back. The Maiden stands near to the front to blow out each candle in turn. The Priestess says:
Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air;
we do thank you
for attending our rites;
and ere ye depart to your pleasant and lovely realms,
we bid you hail and farewell Hail and
farewell.
As she speaks, she draws the Banishing Pentagram of Earth in the air in front
of her each time.
The rest of the Coven copy the Pentagram and chorus in on the second hail and
farewell. The Maiden blows out the candle and the Coven faces the south and the High Priestess says:
Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire;
we do thank you
for attending our rites;
and ere ye depart to your pleasant and lovely realms,
we bid you hail and farewell Hail and
farewell.
She turns to the West and says:
Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water;
ye Lords of Death
and Initiation;
we do thank you for attending our rites;
and ere ye depart to your pleasant and lovely realms,
we
bid you hail and farewell Hail and farewell.
She turns to the North and says:
Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth;
Boreas, thou
gentle guardian of the Northern Portals;
thou powerful God, Thou gentle Goddess;
we do thank you for attending our
rites;
and ere ye depart for your pleasant and lovely realms,
we bid you hail and farewell Hail and farewell.
This ends the Circle. Blessed Be.
SEXUAL RITUAL TO HONOR THE GOD & GODDESS
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You will need: Pink, strawberry flavoured condoms for love and fun Massage oil
with ylang ylang and rose gernanium essential oils - pure aphrodisiacs Musk and patchouli incense for lust Red and pink candles
for love and passion Pink tiger lily flowers or other opulent, pink, sweetly scented blooms Vanilla bean icecream for happiness
White soft feathers
Set up your space with candles and incense burning. Place the flowers in vases
and scatter the feathers around so the area is opulent and inviting.
Honour the God/Goddess within your lover by indulging them in sensual pleasures
(all acts of love and pleasure are sacred to the Goddess!) - tickle them with feathers, eat icecream off them, massage the
warm oil into their skin, maybe even drip some of the candle wax on them for extra excitement - and have fun using the condoms!
The whole time be aware that you are worshipping them, celebrating everything that is pure and holy about humanity - our divine
sexuality!
More rituals
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