Ritual

Table of Contents:

Ostara

Litha

Lammas

Ostara Ritual

By Keegan

Pre Ritual:

The space is cleansed and made sacred.  All appropriate magical barriers are set.

The Temple is built.  The Maiden lays in the four corners colors and tools to correspond to the directions.

North: Brown Candle, Salt Bowl, Pentacle, Food offering -Halved hard-boiled eggs salted from the salt bowl.

East: Light Blue Candle, Incense burner, Sword, and Wand

South: Red Candle, Ash from last coven meetings Incense for ritual, Athame

West: Dark Blue Candle, Chalice filled with wine, Bowl of blessed water.

Ritual:

The Coven Assembles and circles the temple all surrounding the altar.

The High priest casts the circle by respectfully taking the wand from the east and starting from there circling clockwise around three times at each revolution he chants “Shell, Membrane, White, and Yolk as Earth, Air, Water, and Fire.”

The quarters are called…

The pentacle of Air is invoked and the portal is opened. “Powers of the East, Awake in Me. (The candle is lit) Bring the winds of change to this sacred space.  Let your protective breezes guide and steer use as they wrap around this circle bearing witness to the heart’s promise. So mote it be.”

The pentacle of Fire is invoked and the portal is opened. “Powers of the South, Burn in me. (The candle is lit) Bring the embers of magic to this sacred space.  Let your protective fires guide me and clarify my path as  they envelop the circle bearing witness to the heart’s promise. So Mote it be.”

The pentacle of Water is invoked and the portal is opened.  “Powers of the West, flow through me. (The candle is lit) Bring the waters of inspiration to this sacred space.  Let your protective waves motivate me as they surround this circle, bearing witness to the heart’s promise. So Mote it be.”

The pentacle of Earth is invoked and the portal is opened.  “Powers of the North, root in me. (The candle is lit) Bring the soil of growth to this sacred space.  Let your protective earth guide and nurture me as it grows around this circle, bearing witness to the heart’s promise.  So mote it be.”

The Goddess and God are invited…

The Goddess and God are called down, or this is said by the High Priestess, “Ancient Ones, Goddess and God, join us in the sacred space beyond all space and time.  (The candles are lit.) Provide for us your unity and balance as you witness this rite.  Keep us true to the path, as we embark on this journey. So Mote it be.”

Ritual Work:

HP – (in a soft tone) “shhh, still yourself and listen to what is within.”

A light drumming is started.

HPS – “Close your eyes and concentrate on the rhythm of your breathing and the sound of my voice.”

(Pause)

HPS – “Sink into the velvety blackness of your mind.  Hold out and cup your hands.  Now imagine in them an egg.” Go on describing the egg in as many details as possible.

“Now imagine those ideas which you planted during imbolc starting to grow inside of your egg starting very small and then getting bigger.”  Describe this process with imagination.

Stop now and listen to the words of Aristophanes.- the drumming gets a little heavier

(‘The Birds’ : Aristophanes)

(Extract revealing ‘The Birth of Eros’)

‘There was Chaos at first, and Darkness, and Night,
And Tartarus vasty and dismal;
But the Earth was not there, nor the Sky, nor the Air,
Till at length in the bosom abysmal
Of Darkness an egg, from the whirlwind conceived,
Was laid by the sable plumed Night.
And out of that egg, as the seasons revolved,
Sprang Love, the entrancing, the bright,
Love brilliant and bold, with his pinions of gold,
Like a whirlwind, refulgent and sparkling.’

“Go back to the egg in your hand.  Oh my do you see it, a tiny crack has started in the exact center and travels around the middle of your egg…  As it hatches you release the energy that was inside the egg into the circle.”

The drumming stops.  The HPS gathers this and concentrates it out

“So Mote it BE!”

Refreshments are dispensed.  During which a blessing of balance is given.

The God and Goddess are thanked; the quarters are thanked and closed.

The Circle is closed and the feasting begins!

Post Ritual:

Food

Litha

By Keegan

Pre Ritual:

The space is cleansed and made sacred.  All appropriate magical barriers are set.

The Temple is built.  The Maiden lays in the four corners colors and tools to correspond to the directions.

North: Brown Candle, Salt Bowl, Pentacle, Food offering –Fresh Cherry Tomatoes

East: Light Blue Candle, Incense burner, Sword, and Wand

South: Red Candle, Ash from last coven meetings incense for ritual, Athame

West: Dark Blue Candle, Chalice filled with wine (Or Sun Tea), Bowl of blessed water.

Ritual:

The Coven Assembles and circles the temple all surrounding the altar.

The High priest casts the circle by respectfully taking the athame from the south and starting in the east he walks clockwise around three times at each revolution he chants, “Life giving Light of Sun, Protect us till this circles done.”

The quarters are called…

The pentacle of Air is invoked and the portal is opened. “Powers of the East, Awake in Me. (The candle is lit) Bring the winds of hope to this sacred space.  Let your protective breezes guide and steer use as they wrap around this circle. So mote it be.”

The pentacle of Fire is invoked and the portal is opened. “Powers of the South, Burn in me. (The candle is lit) Bring the embers of passion to this sacred space.  Let your protective fires guide me and clarify my path as they envelop the circle.  So Mote it be.”

The pentacle of Water is invoked and the portal is opened.  “Powers of the West, flow through me. (The candle is lit) Bring the waters of compassion to this sacred space.  Let your protective waves motivate me as they surround this circle. So Mote it be.”

The pentacle of Earth is invoked and the portal is opened.  “Powers of the North, root in me. (The candle is lit) Bring the soil of living to this sacred space.  Let your protective earth guide and nurture me as it grows around this circle.  So mote it be.”

The Goddess and God are invited…

The Goddess and God are called down, or this is said by the High Priestess, “Ancient Ones, Goddess and God, join us in the sacred space beyond all space and time.  (The candles are lit.) Provide for us your unity and balance as you witness this rite.  Keep us true to the path, as we embark on this journey. So Mote it be.”

Ritual Work:

On the Altar is placed a cauldron.  In the bottom of the cauldron is places Herbs, flowers, incense, and oak from this season.  In the center of the materials is a long tapered yellow or orange candle.

Each member is given a small card and writing utensil.  They are instructed to think about the things that are going right for them in their life.  Using that as inspiration they should right down on the card something that is happening for them that they like, or something that is going right for them.

After everyone is finished have everyone hold the card in their right hand and crowd around the altar with the Cauldron on it.  Go around the circle and have everyone share what they wrote, if they are willing.  Everyone  then takes their right hand points it into the center of the circle, then they all light the card on fire over the cauldron and drop their card into the bottom to burn.

While everyone’s card is burning the HP/HPS might say something about Like attracting like and that when we all have things in our lives that we appreciate we should take a moment to gather that energy and send it out.  The burning is not a banishment of those things but an offering of thanks and a hope to carry us through the hot summer with continued goodness being brought back to us.

Closing:

The Food and drink offering are dispensed.  Cherry Tomatoes are like little red suns filled with life and energy, the Sun Tea would be awesome just because it tastes so good.

The God and Goddess are thanked; the quarters are thanked and closed.

The Circle is closed and the feasting begins!

Post Ritual:

Food

Lammas

By Keegan

Pre Ritual:

The space is cleansed and made sacred.  All appropriate magical barriers are set.

The Temple is built.  The Maiden lays in the four corners colors and tools to correspond to the directions.

North: Brown Candle, Salt Bowl, Pentacle, Food offering –Berries

East: Light Blue Candle, Incense burner, Sword, and Wand

South: Red Candle, Ash from last coven meetings incense for ritual, Athame

West: Dark Blue Candle, Chalice filled with apple juice, Bowl of blessed water.

Ritual:

The Coven Assembles and circles the temple all surrounding the altar.

The High priest casts the circle by respectfully taking the athame from the south and starting in the east he walks clockwise around three times at each revolution he chants, “Life giving Earth abound, Protect us till this circles done.”

The quarters are called…

The pentacle of Air is invoked and the portal is opened. “Powers of the East, Awake in Me. (The candle is lit) Bring the winds of hope to this sacred space.  Let your protective breezes guide and steer use as they wrap around this circle. So mote it be.”

The pentacle of Fire is invoked and the portal is opened. “Powers of the South, Burn in me. (The candle is lit) Bring the embers of passion to this sacred space.  Let your protective fires guide me and clarify my path as they envelop the circle.  So Mote it be.”

The pentacle of Water is invoked and the portal is opened.  “Powers of the West, flow through me. (The candle is lit) Bring the waters of compassion to this sacred space.  Let your protective waves motivate me as they surround this circle. So Mote it be.”

The pentacle of Earth is invoked and the portal is opened.  “Powers of the North, grow in me. (The candle is lit) Bring the soil of growth and harvest to this sacred space.  Let your protective earth guide and nurture me as it grows around this circle.  So mote it be.”

The Goddess and God are invited…

The Goddess and God are called down, or this is said by the High Priestess, “Ancient Ones, Goddess and God, join us in the sacred space beyond all space and time.  (The candles are lit.) Provide for us your unity and balance as you witness this rite.  Keep us true to the path, as we embark on this journey. So Mote it be.”

Ritual Work:

This is a time in between.  The hard work of the tending our Harvest is not done, yet we come together to enjoy the first of our fruits of labor.  Think hard of what is going well and celebrate it, but also use it.  Use it as fuel to energize you moving forward into the coming months.  There is much work to be done, but enjoy it as a testament to the hard work you have put in as well as a blessing from the Gods.

Everyone should think of a friend, someone who has helped them over the last few months of work.  The magick work for this ritual will take place both outside and inside the circle.  Think of their kind deeds and celebrate them.  Over the next couple of weeks, spend some time to write them a short note thanking them.  It is sometimes difficult to remember to thank those who support us. This is now the beginning of a season of friends, family, and community.  It is a time to bring your friends closer and celebrate the good work done. (Pause a moment for thought.)

Help, we all need it from time to time. Thank the God and Goddess for those kind enough to set themselves aside to lend a hand.

Closing:

The Food and drink offering are dispensed.  The berries are ripe and rich the first sign harvest is upon us, the apple juice is also of this season.

The God and Goddess are thanked; the quarters are thanked and closed.

The Circle is closed and the feasting begins!

Post Ritual:

Food