Post by KittyLane on Sept 11, 2007 6:40:10 GMT -5
The High Priest and High Priestess or Maiden set up the altar in the North of the Circle. The Cauldron is in the center of the Circle. The entrance to the circle will be in the Northeast. None will enter or leave the circle except by the northeast gateway. The four watchtower candles will be placed at the perimeter of the Circle, E, S, W, N.
During the Spring and Summer the High Priestess will cast the circle; during the Autumn and Winter the High Priest. Both are Inside the Circle as they cast it. The High Priest/ess casts the circle with the Rod, beginning in the East and proceeding Deosil thrice around the Circle. The High Priest/ess then places the Rod at the foot of the Altar and The Circle is then consecrated (purified).
The High Priest/ess takes the salt from the Altar and proceeds Deosil three times around the Circle saying:
"Creature of Salt where thou art cast,
no spell or adverse purpose last.
not in complete accord with me,
as I do will, so mote it be."
no spell or adverse purpose last.
not in complete accord with me,
as I do will, so mote it be."
The High Priest/ess takes the south candle from the Altar and proceeds Deosil three times around the Circle saying:
"Creature of Fire this charge I lay,
no evil in thy presence stay,
Not in complete accord with me,
as I do will, so mote it be."
no evil in thy presence stay,
Not in complete accord with me,
as I do will, so mote it be."
The High Priest/ess takes the water from the Altar and proceeds Deosil three times around the Circle saying:
"Creature of Water where thou art cast,
no spell or adverse purpose last,
not in complete accord with me,
as I do will, so mote it be."
no spell or adverse purpose last,
not in complete accord with me,
as I do will, so mote it be."
The High Priest/ess takes the incense from the Altar and proceeds Deosil three times around the Circle saying:
"Creature of Air this charge I lay,
no evil in thy presence stay,
not in complete accord with me,
as I do will so mote it be."
no evil in thy presence stay,
not in complete accord with me,
as I do will so mote it be."
The High Priest/ess then lights the God and Goddess candles, Left to Right, saying:
"Oh gracious Cerridwen, goddess of all things, provider of Love and Happiness, be with us here as we celebrate your season.
Oh great Cernunnos, god of nature and the hunt, powerful god of Light, be with us here as we celebrate your season."
Oh great Cernunnos, god of nature and the hunt, powerful god of Light, be with us here as we celebrate your season."
and then the maiden candle is lit.
The High Priest and High Priestess walk to the northeastern gateway and welcome the Maiden and Candlebearer into the circle, Challenging them with:
H.P./s: "Halt, who goes there?"
Seeker: "It is I, (Name), a seeker."
H.P./s: "What are the passwords, (Name)?"
Seeker: Gives Passwords (If second Level or higher, the seeker whispers the password)
The High Priest/ess then makes the sign of admittance on the forehead of the seeker and says: "I have a third password for you" (whispers reply)
The seeker is then kissed on each cheek or the mouth if appropriate. All others are then admitted in like manner. The members assemble, facing East, with the High Priest and High Priestess standing in the East of the Circle. The Maiden then rings the Bell three times. The High Priest hits the ground three times with the Rod.
The High Priest raises his arms toward the Eastern Watchtower, makes the sign of the invoking Pentagram with his Athame and says:
"All hail to thee, Amaetheon! O Great guardian who stands at the East of the world. Thou art lord within the realm of Lugh..Golden bright and wise as the Owl. We, the children of light, bid thee come forth to join us at this holy Sabbat in the sacred grove of the wise."
The High Priest lights the East watchtower candle and then hits the ground three times with the Rod.
All say:"So mote it be!"
The High Priest walks to the South watchtower. He makes the sign of the invoking Pentagram with his Athame and says:
"All hail to thee Govannon! O great guardian who stands at the South of the World. Thou art lord within the realm of the serpent, fiery bright and quick as the cat. We, the children of light bid thee come forth to join us at this holy Sabbat in the sacred grove of the wise."
The High Priest lights the South watchtower candle and then hits the ground three times with the Rod.
All say:"So mote it be!"
The High Priest walks to the West watchtower. He makes the sign of the invoking Pentagram with his Athame and says:
"All hail to thee Dylan! O Great guardian who stands at the West of the world. Thou art lord within the realm of the Lady, silvery bright and triple starred. We, the children of light, bid thee come forth to join us at this holy Sabbat in the sacred grove of the wise."
The High Priest lights the West watchtower candle and then hits the ground three times with the Rod.
All say:"So mote it be!"
The High Priest walks to the North watchtower. He makes the sign of the invoking Pentagram with his Athame and says:
"All hail to thee HU! O Great Guardian who stands at the North of the world. Thou art lord within the realm of the Horned One, shining bright and swift as the wind. We, the children of light, bid thee come forth to join us at this holy Sabbat in the sacred grove of the wise."
The High Priest lights the North watchtower candle and then hits the ground three times with the Rod.
All say:"So mote it be!"
The Rod is then laid to the front of the Altar with the silver tip pointing west.
The Maiden then hands the elf fire to the High Priest who lights the Balefire which is laid under the cauldron if outdoors and in the cauldron if indoors. The maiden then replaces the elf fire upon the Altar and resumes her place. As the Balefire flares up, all face toward it in a Circle.
Their hands shall be outstretched with palms down over the fire. The High Priest leads the intonation:
(H.P.): "I O Evo He!"
(All): "I O Evo He!"
(H.P.): "I O Evo He!"
(All): "I O Evo He!"
(H.P.): "I O Evo He!"
(All): "I O Evo He!"
All now face to the West, raise their Thames in the Goddess salute and say:
"Cerridwen - Cerridwen - Cerridwen!
Hail Danu queen of light!
Cerridwen - Cerridwen - Cerridwen!
Hail Danu queen of Night!"
The High Priest and High Priestess will now proceed to the front of the Altar. High Priestess to the West of the High Priest...Both place their Athame blades together on the Pentacle of the Moon. The maiden stands to the East of the High Priest, holding her candle aloft, the Candlebearer stands to the west of the High Priestess holding his candle aloft. The High Priest and High Priestess intone the Moon Invocation:
"Ma-Aum-Ma-Aum-Ma-Aum"
The High Priest then says:
"By the holy Guardians Malcha, Muriel, Barcheil, Hamael, Advechiel, and Zuriel, I do conjure thee O Cain! Thou art imprisoned within the hollow of the moon as was decreed by those mighty ones. Do not detain our lady from us, or seek to imprison her with thy self. Release the spirit of Diana that she may be free to join her daughter and High Priestess, (Name.)"
"Within this sacred grove will our goddess dance with among us. Only when, at last, the spirit of Diana is with her children shall thou be free."
All Say:"So Mote it Be!"
If the Moon Crown is to be worn, it is now consecrated and placed on the head of the High Priestess. The maiden takes the wand and kneels in front of the High Priestess, holding the Wand upright. The High Priest holds the moon crown over the wand and says:
"Lady with the moon upon thy brow, quicken the moon that I wear now."
The High Priest takes the moon crown and places it upon the head of the High Priestess. The maiden arises and touches the moon symbol with the tip of the wand. She then replaces the wand upon the altar.
All assume their former position. The High Priestess faces west (as do all others.) All give the Salute. The High Priestess stands in the pentacle position and gives the charge of the Goddess:
"Cerridwen-Cerridwen-Cerridwen!"
H.P: "Listen to the words of the great mother, who was of old also known among humankind as Diana, Artemis, Astarte, Brigid, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Arianrod, Bride and by many other names."
H.Ps: "At mine Altar, the youths of Lacedemon in Sparta made due sacrifice. Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, then gather ye in some secret place and there adore the spirit of me, who am Queen of all the Witcheries.
"There shall Ye assemble, who are feign to learn all sorceries who have not as yet won my deepest secrets. To these will I teach that which is as yet unknown. And ye shall be free from all slavery and as a sign that ye be really free, ye shall be naked in your rites and ye shall sing, feast, make music and love, all in my presence.
"For mine is the ecstasy of the Spirit and mine is also joy on earth. For my law is love unto all beings. Keep pure your highest ideals, strive ever toward them. Let none stop you or turn you aside. For mine is the secret that opens upon the door of youth and 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 the earth.
"I give the knowledge of the Spirit Eternal, and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before. Nor do I demand aught or sacrifice, for behold I am the Mother of all things, and my love is poured out upon the earth."
H.P: "Hear the words of the Star Goddess. She, in the dust of whose feet are the Hosts of Heaven, whose body encircleth the universe."
H.Ps: "I who am the beauty of the Green Earth, and the White Moon amongst the stars and the mystery of the Waters, and the desire of the heart of man, I call unto thy soul to arise and come to me. For I am the Soul of Nature who giveth life to the Universe; from me all things proceed and unto me all things must return.
"Beloved of the Gods and men, whose innermost divine self shall be enfolded in the raptures of the Infinite, let my worship be in your heart. Rejoiceth, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals; therefore, let there be beauty and strength - power and compassion - honor and humility, mirth and reverence - within you. And thou who thinkest to seek me, know that thy seeking and yearning avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery, that if that which thou seekest thou findeth not within thyself, thou wilt never find it without thee.
For behold - I have been with thee from the beginning, and I have been with thee from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."
All say: "I O Evo He! Blessed Be! I O Evo He!"
All now face the cauldron as the High Priest will now kneel before the cauldron facing north on his left knee. His arms are crossed upon his chest, left arm over right arm. The High Priestess will stand behind the High Priest, holding the horn helmet to his head, and he will cast glowing charcoal into the cauldron, the handful of magical catalyst. The High Priestess will say:
"Out of the north wind, oh mighty of days, kneel in front of the cauldron blaze, Join the goddess, thy lady above, join the children of laughter and love."
The High Priestess places the helmet upon his head. He crosses his hands in the god position, holding the Athame in one hand and the wand in the other.
The grove says:
"I O Evo He!
I O Evo He!
I O Evo He!"
He now stands, faces north and says:
"Answer us, oh ancient horned one,
provender and power are thine.
Hear and answer gracious goddess,
grant us laughter, wit and wine.
Descend on us, oh thou, of blessings,
come among us, make us glad.
Thou are chief of all creation,
why, oh why should we be sad?
Beam on us, on joyous Bacchus,
banish heavy-hearted hate.
Accept our craft, oh Greatest Mother,
let cheerful brightness be our fate.
So mote it be."
The High Priest/ess steps in front of the altar and raises the water and wine, facing north. All say:
"Here we bring new water, here we bring old wine,
For to worship great Cerridwen, as the moon doth shine.
Sing reign of a fair maid with gold upon her toe,
Open ye the moon gate and let the west wind blow.
Sing reign of a fair maid with gold upon her chin,
Open ye the north gate and let Cerridwen in.
Sing levez dew, levez dew, ye water and ye wine,
Hail to fair Cerridwen, whose crescent moon doth shine."
The High Priest/ess raises the Meal and Salt. All say:
"Here the dish of meal we bring,
here the salt of earth,
Blessed meal of laboring,
Blessed salt of worth.
Fairy queen steals through the night,
silver wings aglow with dew,
Dance ye wee folk, in delight
drwy y nos canu,
drwy y nos canu."
Following the consecration of salt and meal offer a few grains of each to the four watchtowers. The High Priest/ess raises the plate of cakes and all say:
"Here the Sabbat cakes of corn
baked upon the hearth
blessed be Cerridwen's feast
Dance in joy and mirth."
The High Priest/ess raises the bowl of honey, and all say:
"Here we bring honey sweet,
gathered from the sacred grove.
Dawnsio, Dawnsio little bees!
Keep to your hive and do not roam."
Following consecration of the honey, the High Priest will perform the blessings of the four watchtowers. All will stand and face East at a signal from the High Priest/ess. The Watchtower Guardians are now released. The maiden will extinguish each watchtower candle as the release is given by the High Priest/ess. Facing East, the High Priest/ess will make the sign of the banishing Pentagram in the air with the Athame and say:
"We thank thee O Guardian of the watchtower of the East. Thou hast blest the Sabbat of Cerridwen/ Cernunnos (depending on the season) May we depart in peace, love and harmony until we meet again."
Grove says:"So mote it be!"
This is repeated South, West and North. All will then leave the circle by the northeast gateway and wait respectfully outside while the High Priest/ess proceeds to close the circle. The altar candles will be extinguished left to right. Take the maiden candle and walk deosil once around the circle saying:
"By the holy flame,
this circle disappears
and can be found no more.
All things are as they were
from the beginning of time,
except the Magick worked herein
by ritual and rhyme."
Following the circle, some members of the Grove should immediately scatter the meal and salt and crumble any remaining cakes for the birds. Water from the circle is poured out upon the earth in the East. Food or drink may now be served as a coven/grove feast or Magick may now be worked. All must help in the cleaning up of the circle in the name of the lord and lady.