FIRE
Here follows the portion of the ritual which is identified with Fire: the invocation of the Quarters, Deities, and Ancestors.
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:
PRIESTESS
“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:
PRIESTESS
“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 Maiden.
The Priestess raises her arms to call upon the Goddess:
PRIESTESS
“O Maiden Goddess, we do invoke You at this time of the New Moon, when the waxing light carries our hopes forward! Joyful Maiden, Lady of Laughter, Mistress of All Arts –the Sun and Moon are Your adornments, and the Sky Your mirror. Lady of Creativity, Playful One, bless us we pray, and share with us Your qualities of inspiration, self-expression, and wonder! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”
ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”
The Priestess (and everyone else) should visualize the 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.
You may or may not choose to invoke the God for a New Moon, since it is a Lunar observance. Many people do invoke the God, for balance. Others do not. Here we will invoke the God in His archetype of Hero God.
The Priest raises his arms to call upon the God:
PRIEST
“O Gentle God, Hero and Champion, Friend and Protector, you are the Brother of the Maiden, Her Companion and Her Other Self –Lord of the Sun and Fire. Be with us we pray and share with us Your qualities of courage and passion. Help us to carry our dreams and hopes forward in this time of the New Moon! We bid You Hail and welcome!”
ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”
Now visualize the God entering the Circle.
Finally, you may wish to invoke the Ancestors. These can be your physical Ancestors, or your philosophical Ancestors. Since you are Correllian Clergy, you may also invoke the Ancestors of the Tradition. These include not only the blood Ancestors, such as Caroline High-Correll, Mable High-Correll, and LaVeda Lewis-Highcorrell, but also the Traditions philosophical Ancestors such as Lydia Beckett and Charles Leland. The Correllian Ancestors might be invoked like this:
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!”
You might choose to include a chant here, such as “We are One”:
“We are One with the Lady: We are One with the Lord: We are One with each other: We are One!
“We are One with the Lady: We are One with the Lord: We are One with each other: We are One!
“We are One with the Lady: We are One with the Lord: We are One with each other: We are One!”