Summer Solstice
Form circle. Invoke, Purify. Cauldron is placed before altar filled with water, wreathed with summer flowers. The people, men and women alternately, stand round circle. High Priestess stands in north, before Cauldron, holding raised wand, which should be Phallic or tipped with a pinecone (anciently the thyrsus) or a riding pole or a broomstick, invokes the sun.
"Great One of Heaven, Power of the Sun, we invoke thee in thine ancient names, Michael, Balin, Arthur, Lugh, Herne. Come again, as of old, into this thy land. Lift up thy shining spear of light to protect us. Put to flight the powers of darkness, give us fair woodlands and green fields, blossoming orchards and r ipening corn. Bring us to stand upon thy hill of vision, and show us the path to the lovely realms of the gods."
High Priestess draws invoking pentacle on Magus with wand.
Magus comes forward sunwise and takes wand with kiss, plunges wand into Cauldron and holds it upright, saying, "The spear to the Cauldron, the lance to the Grail, spirit to flesh, man to woman, sun to earth." He salutes High Priestess over Cauldron, then rejoins people, still bearing wand.
High Priestess takes aspergillum, stands by Cauldron, says, "Dance ye about the Cauldron of Cerridwen the Goddess, and be ye blessed with the touch of this consecrated water, even as the sun, the lord of light, arriveth in his strength in the sign of the waters of life."
The people dance sunwise about the altar and Cauldron, led by Magus bearing wand. High Priestess sprinkles them lightly as they pass her.
Ritual of cakes and wine.
Any other dances, rites, or games as the Priestess and people wish.
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Next: The Sabbat Rituals: Autumn Equinox
addYULE (Winter Solstice) Celebrated around Dec. 22nd; this is the longest night of the year. The Winter Solstice is considered as the return of the sun and of the gift of warmth it brings to Earth.
IMBOLC ( February 2nd) This is considered as the rebirth of the Earth; a time of the year associated with beginning growth, both physical and spiritual.
OSTARA (Spring Equinox) Celebrated on or about March 21, the first day of Spring. Trees and flowers are in bloom and there is much activity. Energy increases as the days become warmer.
BELTAINE (May 1st) The land is now ripe and fertile. This is a time of joyous reveling as the first produce of Summer is gathered.
LITHA (Summer Solstice) Celebrated on or about June 21. This time of the longest days is celebrated as a fire festival. June is also the traditional month for handfastings (Wiccan weddings).
LUGHNASADH ( August 1st) This is the First Harvest. Plants are setting their seed already for the next year as the cycle of nature continues. The sun still burns brightly, but Autumn is well on its way.
MABON (Autumn Equinox) Celebrated on or about September 21; this is the Second or Continuing Harvest. Now, as at Ostara, the days and nights are equal once again.
SAMHAIN (October 31) This is the Last Harvest. It is the time to honor those who have gone on before us, and a time of divination. This is the time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest.
Many fruits, vegetables and other natural foods are to be placed about the altar, as are wine and glasses for all present. The altar itself is set up as usual, though scattered with autum leaves. An elder woman should be chosen to act as priestess, for this is the season of the Crone.
To begin, the priestess lights the three candles upon the altar as the rest gather about she says:
In the name of the Goddess and under her protection is this rite now begun.
The priestess and the priest face each other from opposite site sides of the altar. The priest says:
The crane flies south and winter must come. The green seasons are past and winter shall be cold...
Priestess:
So now we must prepare without and within, for the hard seasons which lie before us.
Priest:
As we shall store up food for the body, so also must we put in store strength for the spirit, until the spring is born again
The priestess spreads wide her arms and invokes:
We do ask, O Goddess wise, that your blessings may surround us. And we thank you for this plentiful food which you have given us. Cast your blessing upon this bounty, that it msy especially strengthen us and lead us in your hidden ways. Blessed Be!
All:
Blessed Be!
The priest opens the wine and pours for all. As all do hold forth their glasses he announces:
Priest:
Friends I do proclaim a toast. To the good seasons which have gone, and the good ones yet to come.
All:
Blessed Be!
Priest:
Friends I do proclaim a toast. To the beauty of autum and to the good friends we treasure.
All:
Blessed Be!
Priest:
Friends I do proclaim a toast. To the Goddess, may she bring peace back to the world.
All:
Blessed Be!
Meditation exercises may be done, and the rite may at this time be opened to any in the group who wishes to add to the above. Singing and the playing of musical instruments are also appropriate.
To close the ritual the priestess puts out the candles and proclaims that the rite is done.
After the rite some foodstuffs which have been blessed during the ceremony should be prepared and and cured, preserved or canned by those who took part in the rite. These foods may then be used in later seasonal rituals.
add text, images, video, widgets, etc...The place of this rite should have sheaves of grain placed at each of the four quarters just outside the ritual area. At the center should be a cauldron large enough for the flame desired, filled mostly with water but with about an inch of vegetable oil added, and a floating wick if necessary. Some perfumed oils may be added for a scent. Thirteen candles are initially placed about the cauldron, to be lit during the ritual. If possible, someone should fashion a small cat, hare or dog from straw, placing it next to the cauldron on the western side.
When all is in rediness the priest shall light each of the thirteen candles, giving one to each person present within the circle, to be placed evenly along the edge of the ritual area, more or less in the form of a circle. The priestess shall then set a flame in the cauldron, and standing before it with her arms outstretched shall say:
O ancient ones of days long past, we do ask your presence here among us. For this is a time that is not a time in a place that is not a place on a day that is not a day between the worlds and beyond...
She raps three times on the cauldron. After a pause of five heartbeats the priest says:
The harvest season draws forth, for this is the height of the year. The bounty of this rich season shall sustain us in seasons to come in spirit, in soul, in body.
A processional spiral is led by the priestess five times around the cauldron. Then music is started and there is informal dancingwhich should move generally clockwise about the cauldron. When it is appropriate all shall rest while the priestess explains some of the significance of this festival. Afterwards, the rite should be opened to any who desire, for singing, for poetry, for scrying, or for teaching. More dancing may follow, if it is desired. To close the rite the priestess orders those in the ceremony to put out the candles which they had placed at the start. She then proclaims the ritual to be ended.
add text, images, video, widgets, etc...If a meal is served on the evening of this rite, it should include pork, apples, and wine. If possible, three small sheaves of corn or grain should be placed around the place of worship.
To begin, incense should be lit. Herb incenses are best at this season, such as nutmeg, dried mint, heliotrope etc. Five candles are placed about an image of the Goddess at the center of the ritual area. Three candles, (white red and black) represent the Goddess, the fourth candle is white to symbolize the hearth and the fith is red to symbolise the season. A plate of bread, one for each person present is placed near the center, as is a small dish of salt. A chalice of wine should be placed near the image. All who are present should be sitting or kneeling in a circle, leaving some space in the center around the image and other items. In this ritual three women are chosen to act as priestesses, the youngest being the maiden priestess, the older the mother priestess and the eldest being the crone priestess.
The crone priestess lights the candles around the image saying:
Three candles we light. For the Goddess.... As Maiden, as Mother as Crone. The candle of the hearth we light. For hearth flames belong to her. Now with the hearth candle we do relight the taper of red.. As we light the winter's fires, In this place sacred to Her.
Then a man who is chosen to be priest sits before the wine chalice, pauses and says:
This is a time that is not a time. In a place that is not a place. On a day that is not a day. Between the worlds, and beyond....
He pauses for the space of thirteen heatbeats, then placing his hand over the wine in an attitude of blessing, he says:
Blessed be this wine, and this bread. With the life of the years and the deep love of the Goddess. Blessed Be!
All:
Blessed Be!
The maiden, mother and crone priestesses take up the salt dish, the bread plate and the wine respectively. Starting within the western part of the circle they offer each person a piece of bread, salt to dip it in and a dedication sip of wine.
The mother offers the bread saying:
May you have sufficiency
The maiden offers the salt saying:
May you have good health
The crone offers the cup of wine saying:
May your spirit be strong
When all have partaken, the priest distributes glasses and wine, and explains some of the significance of the Samhain festival. He then opens the rite for any to participate who so desire. Scrying and diviniation by crystal, tarot and mirros are traditional at this rite.
When all are finished the mother priestess shall put out the candles saying:
Though these flames of the material world be darkened they shall ever burn in the worlds beyond. The rite is ended. Merry meet, merry part!
All:
Merry meet, merry part!
*please note you will need to open and close your circle as normal with any ritual*