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The altar is set up with: Censer, God/Goddess candles, red working candle, bowl of water, bowl of salt, cauldron, chalice of wine, empty chalice, wand, pentacle, white-handle knife, athame, bell, cord, veil (or blindfold)
There need to be quarter guardians (and they need to know what is expected of them)
Set things aburnin'
The Initiate stands just east of the north quarter guardian
HPs takes athame and places tip into water in bowl, "I consecrate and cleanse this water that it may be purified and fit to dwell within this sacred circle. In the name of Brigid and Lugh, I consecrate this water."
HP takes athame and places tip into salt in bowl, "I bless this salt, aspect of earth, that it may be fit to dwell within this sacred circle. In the name of Brigid and Lugh, I bless this salt."
HP takes athame and cuts circle (starting at east)
HPs says "Here is the boundary of our circle, nothing but love shall enter, nothing but love shall leave. Lord and Lady, we ask that you charge this by your power."
HPs takes censer and athame and traces circle, leaving both with the east guardian with finished.
HP says "This is our boundary, charged with air. Nothing but love may blow thru."
HP takes working candle and wand, traces circle leaving both with south guardian when finished
HPs says "This is our boundary, charged with fire. Nothing but love may burn thru."
HPs takes water bowl and pours into chalice, then takes chalice and traces/sprinkles circle leaving with west guardian when finished.
HP says "This is our boundary, charged with water. Nothing but love may flow thru."
HP takes pentacle and bowl of salt, traces/sprinkles circle leaving with north guardian when finished.
HPs says "This is our boundary charged with earth. Nothing but love may grow thru."
All face east quarter, East guardian holds athame aloft.
HP says "Ancient ones of air, Spirits of the Eastern Winds, We call upon you to attend this circle."
All face south quarter, South guardian holds wand aloft.
HPs says "Ancient ones of fire, Spirits of the Southern Flames, We call upon you to attend this circle."
All face west quarter, West guardian holds chalice aloft.
HP says "Ancient ones of water, Spirits of the Western Oceans, We call upon you to attend this circle."
All face north quarter, North guardian holds pentacle aloft.
HP says "Ancient ones of earth, Spirits of the Northern Stones, We call upon you to attend this circle."
HPs stands in goddess position "Oh Goddes Brigid, blessed lady of Britain, Goddes of Fertility, Fire and the Hearth, poetess fo the gods. I call upon you to attend this circle.
HP stands in god position "Oh God Lugh, the Shining One. God of the Sun, War and Heroes. Poet of the gods. I call upon you to attend this circle."
HP and HPs say "This circle is now bound with power all around."
HP says "As we stand in this place that is not a place, there is one who desires to take the next step in the journey of learning. Let that person step forward now."
Initiate steps forward and Guide moves to stand just behind him/her to the left or right.
HPs says "By what name shall we know you?"
Initiate says "I am {craft name}"
Who speaks for {craft name}'s intent?"
Guide (coven member of opposite sex than initiate) says "I do."
HPs says "{craft name} are you ready to pass the ordeal and be purified?"
Initiate says "I am."
Guide veils (blindfolds) and ties Initiates
[The tying can be as formal as Gardenarian or simbolic like we did it: a short length tied around right wrist and another around right ankle.]
HP says "Before you begin your journey, we will first take your measure."
Guide and HP(s) [same sex as guide] takes measure of Initiate. From ground to crown of head, cutting cord with white-handle knife. Measure around forehead tying knot. Measure around heart (starting at same side) tying knot. Measure (starting at same side) around groin tying knot. Coil Measure and place on alter.
HP begins ringing bell and Guide starts ordeal.
[Our's consisted of "tumbling" the initate widdershins around the circle, kinda like what you do to someone before pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey or a pinata.]
Guide leads Initiate to East
HP says "Where have you been?"
Initiate says "I have been to the North, the place of death and rebirth"
HP "Where are you going?"
Initiate "To the East to be reborn."
HP "What are the words to bide we must?"
Initiate "Perfect love and Perfect trust."
HP "So mote it be
Deosil go by the waxing moon, Chanting out the Witch's Rune.
Widdershins go by the wanning moon, Chanting out the banefule rune.
When the wind blows East, Expect the new and set the feast.
[pause]Who guides thru the light?"
Guide says "I do."
HP "Who are you?"
Guide "The guider of souls."
HP "Guider of souls lend us your wisdom."
Guide takes athame and censer, passing athame thru the smoke and passes athame to HP.
HP then draws a banishing air pentagram on Initiate. "This is to banish the old air." Then returns athame to Guide and Guide returns athame and censer to East Guardian.
Guide leads Initiate to South
HPs says "Where have you been?"
Initiate says "I have been to the East, the place of death and rebirth"
HPs "Where are you going?"
Initiate "To the South to be reborn."
HPs "What are the words to bide we must?"
Initiate "Perfect love and Perfect trust."
HPs "So mote it be
Merry meet and merry part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the threefold law you should, three times bad and thee times good.
When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth.
[pause]Who guides thru the light?"
Guide says "I do."
HPs "Who are you?"
Guide "The guider of souls."
HPs "Guider of souls lend us your wisdom."
Guide takes working candle and wand, holding wand over flame and passes wand to HPs.
HPs then draws a banishing fire pentagram on Initiate. "This is to banish the old fire." Then returns wand to Guide and Guide returns wand and candle to South Guardian.
Guide leads Initiate to West
HP says "Where have you been?"
Initiate says "I have been to the South, the place of death and rebirth"
HP "Where are you going?"
Initiate "To the West to be reborn."
HP "What are the words to bide we must?"
Initiate "Perfect love and Perfect trust."
HP "So mote it be
Heed ye flower, bush and tree, By the lady, blessed be.
When ye have a true need, Harken not to other's greed.
When the wind blows from the West, Departed souls will have no rest.
[pause]Who guides thru the light?"
Guide says "I do."
HP "Who are you?"
Guide "The guider of souls."
HP "Guider of souls lend us your wisdom."
Guide takes chalice and passes it to HP.
HP then draws/annoits a banishing water pentagram on Initiate. "This is to banish the old water." Then returns chalice to Guide and Guide returns chalice to West Guardian.
Guide leads Initiate to North
HPs says "Where have you been?"
Initiate says "I have been to the West, the place of death and rebirth"
HPs "Where are you going?"
Initiate "To the North to be reborn."
HPs "What are the words to bide we must?"
Initiate "Perfect love and Perfect trust."
HPs "So mote it be
Live and let live, Fairly take and fairly give.
Soft of eye and light of touch, Speak ye little, listen much.
Heed the North wind's mighty gale, Lock the door and drop the sail.
[pause]Who guides thru the light?"
Guide says "I do."
HPs "Who are you?"
Guide "The guider of souls."
HPs "Guider of souls lend us your wisdom."
Guide takes pentacle and salt passes them to HPs.
HPs then draws/annoits a banishing earth pentagram on Initiate. "This is to banish the old earth." Then returns salt and pentacle to Guide and Guide returns them to North Guardian.
Guide leads Initiate to centre.
HP says "How have you journeyed here?"
Initiate says "I have been thru the path of death and rebirth. I have blown with the wind, burned in the fire, flowed with the waters and grown with the earth."
HP and HPs say "Then you are ready to say after us."
[pause at the end of each line for Initiate to repeat]
[HP says this colour] [HPs says this colour]
I {craft name}
in the presence of the Lord and Lady
the elements and spirits
the Fae and Dragons
of my own free will, do solemnly swear
that I will ever keep secret the way of the Arts
excepting to those properly prepared
and that I will never deny the secrets
to a brother or sister of the Arts.
I do this in perfect love and perfect trust.
in the presence of my measure
So mote it be.
HP says "We now ask that you celebrate the completion of your journey by sharing with us the gifts of the gods."
HP offers wine to Initiate "May you only thirst for knowledge and learning"
Initiate then offers wine back to HP, repeating phrase.
HPs offers wine to Initiate "May you only thirst for knowledge and learning"
Initiate then offers wine back to HPs, repeating phrase.
Initiate then offers wine to Guide, then to rest of coven.
HPs says "{craft name}, priest of the wise. Congratualtions on your rebirth. You have much to learn and much more yet to teach. We welcome you with open arms.
[Huggage and congratulations]
Guide leads Initiate to East.
Guide says "Mighty Ones of the East, I present to you, {craft name}, newly made priest and witch of the Lord and Lady.
Initiate says "Spirits of Air, I thank you for your presence. Stay if you will, go if you must, I will forever remember your contribution."
Initiate takes censer and athame from Guardian and places them on the altar.
[Repeat with South/fire/candle/wand, West/water/chalice and North/earth/pentacle/salt]
All say "As we walk once more upon ordinary ground,
let us remember that what we have done here, is ever a part of us.
We are POWER! We are CHANGE!
Our circle is open, but never broken!
Merry meet, Merry part and Merry meet again!
C 1997 ShadowFyre/Shadow AetherWolf
