Ritual in Theory and Practice

Midsummer, the Summer Solstice, is the pre-eminent Solar festival. Midsummer celebrates the God at the height of His powers.

Golds, yellows, and oranges are very appropriate color schemes for Midsummer. So is white. All manner of flowers are appropriate, especially in solar colors -but red roses are also sometimes used.

Solar images are often used at Midsummer. Sun disks, Solar Wheels (the equal-armed cross in a circle, ancient symbol of the Sun), lion imagery. Phallic symbols are also sometimes used, some blunter than others.

In Scandinavian countries the Pole Dance (May Pole) is strongly associated with Midsummer and enacting a Pole Dance at Midsummer is both appropriate and fairly common practice. The Pole dance is great fun, and even if you just did it for Bealteine you will find that people will usually enjoy doing it again. Also, in cooler climates Midsummer can be a better time for it, if it is being held out-of-doors.

As always, you want to choose what has meaning to you and others present. Adapt ideas in a way that helps you to feel special about the holiday, and which help you to make the magical Shift of Consciousness.

AIR

Begin by clearing and releasing all excess energy, as usual. Release all tensions and anxieties. Just let them flow through and out of your body, like a gentle wave of energy, exiting through the soles of your feet.

Begin by cleansing the Salt: make three tuathal circles above it while visualizing yellow-white light. Imagines the light forcing out all negative or unfocused energy from the Salt. She speaks words to the effect of:

“Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Earth, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within.”

The Salt is then Blessed: make three deosil circles above it, while visualizing blue-white light. Speaks words to the effect of:

“And I do Bless and Charge you to this work!”

Next cleanse the Water, making three tuathal circles above it while visualizing yellow-white light forcing out all negative energy. Speaks words to the effect of:

“Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Water, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within.”

Then bless the Water, making three deosil circles above it and visualizing blue-white light. Speaks words to the effect of:

"And I do Bless and Charge you to this work!”

Address the Salt, saying:

“Behold, the Salt is pure!”

Then address the water, saying:

“Behold, the Water is pure!”

Now takes three pinches of salt and add it to the water, saying something like this:

“Purity into purity then, and purity be blessed!”

Taking the mixed Salt and Water walk deosil around the ritual space, asperging the area while doing so. Visualize yellow-white light filling the area and forcing out all negative or unfocused energy. Say something like:

“I cleanse you…. I cleanse you…I cleanse you…”

When finished asperging, return the Salt and Water to the altar.

We will now cast the Circle. For this ritual we will use a Spiral Casting. Have the people assemble at the East and wait until the ritual space is cleansed. Then lead them in, single file: process deosil in a circle around the edges of the ritual space, marking out the Circle of Art. As you do this, visualize a trail of white light being created behind you. As you come around to the East again, this trail of white light will form a Circle. Process around the Circle three times, imagining the white light becoming clearer and brighter as you go. As you do this you might want to chant. A good chant might be:

“The spiral is a Circle that continues past its start
Ever rising: Weaving: Unfurling! With the magic of the heart!

“We spiral round our Temple: make it holy: make it ours!
And our dancing forms a Circle as mighty as the stars!

“The spiral is a Circle that continues past its start
Ever rising: Weaving: Unfurling! With the magic of the heart!

“We are One within our Circle with the God and the Goddess
Who move through us in the Circle as our Circle we now Bless!”

“The spiral is a Circle that continues past its start
Ever rising: Weaving: Unfurling! With the magic of the heart!

After the third time around, stop and lead the people in a visualization to formalize the Circle. You might do it like this:

“Behold –with our steps we have cast a Circle: created a place between the world of humankind and of the Mighty Ones. Imagine it around us. See it as a wall of light surrounding us. Bright, shining white light. Imagine it clearly, strongly: A Circle of Art to focus and to contain the powers we shall raise herein. Around, around, around about! All good stay in –all ill keep out!”

Now invoke the Quarters.

FIRE

In this ritual we will invoke the Quarters through the forms of the God. This can be particularly good for the Lesser (Solar) Sabbats or other rituals that honor the masculine Polarity.

Begin in the East. Use a Wand, Sacred Tool of Fire, or if you prefer, use your fingers. Raise the Wand, imagining as you do so a column of pure white light arising in the East, at the border of the Circle. See the column as strong and pure and filled with energy. Say something like:

EAST
“I invoke You O God in Your form as Golden Lord of the East: Hero -Champion of the Goddess, Lord of the Dawn and of Spring! Your breath is in the Air and the greening buds of leaves and flowers. May Your wind bring fresh ideas and inspiration to our Circle!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

SOUTH
”I invoke You O God in Your form as Red Lord of the South: Lover –Consort of the Goddess, Lord of Noonday and of Summer! Your spirit is in the Fire and the growing crops of the fields. May Your flames bring passion and vitality to our Circle!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

WEST
”I invoke You O God in Your form as Blue Lord of the East: King –Right hand of the Goddess, Lord of Sunset and of Autumn! Your blood is in the Water, in the harvest which is reaped and in the falling leaves. May Your waves bring empathy and compassion to our Circle!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

NORTH
”I invoke You O God in Your form as Green Lord of the North: Sorcerer –Guardian for the Goddess of the Gates of Life and Death, Lord of Midnight and of Winter! Your flesh is in the Earth, the frosted trees and seeds which wait for rebirth. May Your soil bring wisdom and understanding to our Circle!”

Now it is time to invoke Deity. Since the Lesser Sabbats are Solar ceremonies, the God will be invoked first. In this case we shall invoke the God not in any particular form, but in His Archetype as Lover. You will remember from First Degree studies that some Personal forms of this Archetype include Horus, Tammuz, and Attis.

The Priest raises his arms to call upon the God. He might say something like:

PRIEST
“O mighty God, we invoke You in Your name of Lover! Loving and beloved Consort of the Goddess, Lord of Life and Growth -Your fiery passion and shining heart radiate love throughout the universe. Inspire us with Your spirit of service and devotion! Share with us Your joy in life and living! Be with us O God and guide us we pray in this our sacred ritual! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now imagine the God entering the Circle -imagine it in any way which makes sense to you –perhaps by imagining the God in human form, or as a shower of glittering light, or as a ball or tower of light appearing in the Circle.

Now let us invoke the Goddess in Her archetype as Mother -in this sense the youthful Mother of all growing things. You will remember from First Degree studies that some Personal forms of this Archetype include Isis, Ishtar, and Cybele.

The Priestess raises her arms to call upon the Goddess. She might say something like:

PRIESTESS
“O holy Goddess, we invoke You in Your name as Mother! Creator and sustainer of life, source of all fertility and abundance, You nourish and succor us, Your children. From You all things proceed and from Your loving heart are provided for! Share with us Your all-reaching compassion and providence! Inspire us to embrace love for all life! Be with us O Goddess we pray in this our holy rite! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now visualize the Goddess entering the Circle.

Finally, invoke the Ancestors. You might say something like:

“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!”