Ritual in Theory and Practice

WATER

For this ritual we are going to use a group Blessing for the Chalice. For obvious reasons this Blessing is best with a small group.

Fill the Chalice with the desired beverage. Then raise it up and hold it in the center of the Circle. Ask everyone present to place one hand upon the Chalice and join you in Blessing it. You might lead them in the Blessing like this:

“Become aware of your Heart Chakra. Imagine it filled with clear white light, shining and glowing with love and strength. In that light feel the love of Spirit, moving within you.

“Now send energy from your Heart Chakra through your hand and into the Chalice: Energy filled with love, with joy, with creativity. Fill the Chalice with energy. See the Chalice filled with shining light, radiating out in all directions: growing stronger and stronger.

“O Mother Goddess! O Father God! Beloved Ones! Join us we pray in Blessing this holy Chalice! Lend Your energy to ours! Bless this Chalice with love and strength! May it be as a bond between us –a bond of enduring love. A bond between Yourselves and all of us: A bond between ourselves and one another. Behold! May the Blessing Be!”

Now pass the Chalice deosil around the Circle, letting each person drink. You should go last and offer the last bit to Spirit.

Or if you prefer you can pass out paper cups, and fill them from the Chalice, asking everyone to wait and drink together. Make sure to fill one cup for Spirit. If you do this, you may wish to offer an appropriate toast such as:

“To the Lady! To the Lord! To us!”

ALL
“To the Lady! To the Lord! To us!”

EARTH

Now you will close the ceremony and open the Circle.

Begin by giving thanks to the Ancestors and the Deities.

“Beloved Ancestors, You Who have gone before, Your wisdom and Your example guide us. We pray that You will be with us and aid us as we go forward, that we may call upon the strength and knowledge of the past, even as we build the future. We thank You for Your presence and Your aid this night, and always. May You Blessed be in all things. We offer You our love and our respect! We bid You Hail and Farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and farewell!”

PRIEST
“May thanks be given unto You, O Sorcerer, Lord of Midwinter. Though You yet rule, the light shall wax, and days grow longer! May the Blessing Be upon You now and always! We thank You for Your presence and Your aid this night, and always. We offer You our love, and our respect! We bid You Hail and farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and farewell!”

PRIESTESS
“We thank You O Crone, Queen of Winter and of the Spirit realm! Arch Witch, Mistress of Magic and of Visions! We thank You for Your presence and Your aid this night, and always. We offer You our love and our respect! We bid You Hail and farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and farewell!”

Now thank each Quarter. Start in the North.

NORTH
“May thanks be given unto You O Ladies and Lords of the North, Powers of Earth and integration! And may thanks be given unto the powers of Your children: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn! We thank You with love and with respect for Your guidance and Your aid in this our holy ritual! May there be peace between us now and always! We bid You: Hail and Farewell!”

ALL
”Hail and Farewell!”

Using the Wand, pull down the tower of white light which was erected when the North was called.

Now turn to the West.

WEST
” May thanks be given unto You O Ladies and Lords of the West, Powers of Water and emotion! And may thanks be given unto the powers of Your children: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces! We thank You with love and with respect for Your guidance and Your aid in this our holy ritual! May there be peace between us now and always! We bid You: Hail and Farewell!”

ALL
”Hail and Farewell!”

Using the Wand, pull down the tower of white light which was erected when the West was called.

Now turn to the South.

SOUTH
” May thanks be given unto You O Ladies and Lords of the South, Powers of Fire and manifestation! And may thanks be given unto the powers of Your children: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius! We thank You with love and with respect for Your guidance and Your aid in this our holy ritual! May there be peace between us now and always! We bid You: Hail and Farewell!”

ALL
”Hail and Farewell!”

Using the Wand, pull down the tower of white light which was erected when the South was called.

Now turn to the East.

EAST
“May thanks be given unto You O Ladies and Lords East, Powers of Air and thought! And may thanks be given unto the powers of Your children: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius! We thank You with love and with respect for Your guidance and Your aid in this our holy ritual! May there be peace between us now and always! We bid You: Hail and Farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and Farewell!”

Using the Wand, pull down the tower of white light which was erected when the East was called.

Now you must open the Circle. Begin in the East. Take up the Athame and point it toward the Eastern Quarter. Devoke the Circle, walking Tuathal around it, imagining the barrier of light disappearing, returning into the tip of the Athame. Now speak the charm:

“Behold: As Above, So Below! As the Universe, So the Soul! As Within, So Without! May the Circle be Open, but never Broken! Merry Meet –Merry Part –and Merry Meet again!”

Now have everyone cleanse and release all excess energy.