Ritual in Theory and Practice

Page 12

FIRE

 

The Quarters are now called, beginning in the East:

 

The Priestess first asperges the Quarter with the Salt and Water, visualizing the area suffused with yellow-white light. She says something like:

 

PRIESTESS

“By the powers of Earth and Water, I do cleanse and purify the Quarter of the East.”

 

The Priest then censes the Quarter with the burning Incense, visualizing the area suffused with blue-white light. He says:

 

PRIEST

“By the powers of Fire and Air do I charge the Quarter of the East.”

 

The Quarter is now invoked. If you have many people, each Quarter may be done by a different person. Here we will give the Eastern and Southern Quarters to the Priest, the Western and Northern Quarters to the Priestess.

 

The Priest raises his Wand, Sacred Tool of Fire, or he may use his arm if he prefers. As he raises his Wand, he imagines a column of pure white light arising in the East, at the border of the Circle. He should say something like:

 

PRIEST

“Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the East, Powers of Air and Inspiration! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our minds and our eyes and strengthen our thoughts as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

The process is repeated for each Quarter, asperging, censing, and using the Wand to draw up the pillar of light. At each Quarter the invocation varies to acknowledge the specific Guardians of that Quarter.

 

South:

 

PRIEST

“Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the South, Powers of Fire and Manifestation! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our courage and passion and strengthen our resolve as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

West:

 

PRIEST

“Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the West, Powers of Water and Compassion! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our hearts and our emotions and strengthen our sensitivity as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

North:

 

PRIEST

“Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the North, Powers of Earth and Integration! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our souls and our Higher Selves and strengthen our understanding as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

Now it is time to invoke Deity. Since Esbats are Lunar ceremonies, the Goddess is invoked first. In this case we shall invoke the Goddess not in any particular personal form, but in Her Archetype as Mother –though you could use whatever personal form you choose.

 

The Priestess raises her arms to call upon the Goddess:

 

PRIEST

“Divine Mother Goddess, All-Bountiful, All-Beautiful, Source and Sustenance of Existence: we do invoke You now in the time of the Full Moon, when the radiant symbol of Your love shines above us in the heavens –Holy Mother, even as Your Moon lights the darkness of the Earth below, may Your Divine Love be as a light within our hearts, now and always! Light our path, guide and strengthen us, enfold us in Your love, Divine Mother –we thus pray! Holy One, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

The Priestess (and everyone else) should visualize the Mother Goddess entering the Circle in a way which makes sense to her –perhaps by imagining the Goddess in human form, or as a shower of glittering light, or as a ball or tower of light appearing in the Circle. As you gain facility you will no longer have to visualize the Deity but will perceive Its energy either as a vision or as a feeling.

 

Since the Full Moon is a Lunar ceremony, you may or may not wish to invoke the God. As stated in Lesson 2:1, some people do prefer to invoke the God in Esbat rites, some do not –the choice belongs to the celebrants. Here we will invoke the God in His archetype of Lover.

 

The Priest raises his arms to call upon the God:

 

PRIEST

“Holy Father God –Son, Brother, and Consort of Our Lady- we do invoke You now in the time of Her glory. Born of Her body, You dance the dance of Life and Death with Her, following Her steps as we follow Yours, eternally reborn and renewed. As She spins the Thread of Life, You turn the Wheel: What She gives birth to, You give form to, O Lord of Time and Space. Be with us now we pray –we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

Now if you choose you may invoke the Ancestors. Here we invoke the Ancestors of the Correllian tradition, though you might invoke your personal Ancestors:

 

PRIESTESS

“O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, we invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us –lend us Your inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray. Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”