Candlemas/Imbolc ritual-to-go!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Jan 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

MeeWah	19 Jan 2002
[fyi--for the benefit of participants & guests.] The altar is set in the center of what will be defined as our sacred circle, which is lit in 4 corners for light. The altar contains the following: An athame (magickal & ceremonial knife). A wand. A lit red candle, representing the element Fire. A bowl of melted snow, for Water. A bowl of salt, representing Earth. Incense, for Air. Orange candles for each participant. The incense is lit. [meewah touches the point of the athame to the water] "I bless & cleanse this water that it be purified to dwell within this sacred Circle. In the name of Mother Goddess & Father God, I bless this water." [touching the athame's point to the salt] "I bless & cleanse this salt that it be purified to dwell within this sacred Circle. In the name of Mother Goddess & Father God, I bless this salt." [facing north, at the edge of the circle, meewah walks clockwise around the perimeter, holding the athame point end out at waist high. the circle is created & charged by the words, energy & visualization of power emanating from the athame] 'Here is the boundary of the Circle. Naught but Love shall enter in, Naught but Love shall emerge from within. Charge this by Thy Powers, Old Ones!" [back at north, the athame is returned to the altar.] [the salt is poured into the water & stirred with the athame. beginning in the north & moving clockwise back to the north, the salted water is sprinkled around the circle, beginning & ending in north] "I bless & seal this Circle, that it be a place of Light, Love & Peace; a haven against all chaos; between the world of Man & the Old Ones. We thank thee, Old Ones, for the power ye giveth our rites this night!" The Calling of the Quarters begins. [next person invokes north or east.]

arizonagirl	21 Jan 2002
Facing North, holding Wand aloft in right hand, with left hand signing for North (see note): "Oh Spirit of the North, Oh Spirit of the Earth, attend this circle and bless the ritual with your energies." Note: Per Scott Cunningham, signs for directions as follows: N - waist level, flat hand, fingers together, palm down; E - hand beside head, fingers open; S - arm straight up, hand is fist; W - arm at chest level, hand out, palm up, making cup of fingers. East is next.

MeeWah	21 Jan 2002
[facing east, bowing once to acknowledge east, holds wand aloft to trace the air-invoking pentagram*] O Spirit of the East, Ancient One of Air, We call Ye to attend this Circle. Charge this by Thy Powers & bless our efforts this night! [south is next.] *Alternative to hand signal for East mentioned by ArizonaGirl.

purplelady	22 Jan 2002
Walking to the south holding up a lit red candle O Spirits of the South,Blessed guardian spirits of fire, passion , summer, noonday, Be here now to witness and protect this circle. Places candle on the ground at the south point.

Kiama	23 Jan 2002
*Kiama holds up a blue candle* Spirits of the West, Guardians of wisdom, mid-life, emotion, and the flow, We ask you to protect and watch over out circle and workings. *Kiama bows her head slightly in reverence t the West, and plaes the candle in the West.*

MeeWah	23 Jan 2002
The Blessing Chant: May the powers of the One Spirit, the Most High, the Source of all creation & of Life Eternal; may the Goddess, Earth Mother & Lady of the Moon; & the God, Father Sky & Lord of the Sun; may the powers of the Old Ones: Uriel, Raphael, Michael & Gabriel, rulers of the elemental realms; may the powers of the stars above & the Earth below, bless this Circle & this time & we who are with You! [the invocation of the goddess is next.]

arizonagirl	24 Jan 2002
Standing with feet apart, arms upraised, holding the wand in right hand, Oh Lady of the Moon and Earth, Lady of Life and Birth Lady of things unseen, Lady of intuition keen Bless this circle with your presence. (Invocation of the God is next.)

purplelady	25 Jan 2002
(facing north in front of the altar) "Horned one, all father, by the bone , the antler and claw, by the dark forest, by wildness , fierce joy and passion . By all that is untamed and free, be here as the leap of life , undeniable, that I may serve life , being at one with it. "

MeeWah	26 Jan 2002
[statement of purpose] This is the time of the Feast of Lights, when we welcome the rebirth of the God & the awakening of the Goddess from the mantle of Winter. We gather to celebrate new life beginnings: the quickening of Spirit within us that we may work the magick for our individual purification, healing & growth in the days ahead. Within this Circle of Protection & Power, in the presence of Mother Goddess & Father God, in the presence of the Old Ones, we proclaim our purpose now! [meewah lights an orange candle from the altar's red candle. bearing the candle & gazing into its flame, the circle is walked clockwise back to the altar.] Be now with me; Hear my prayers to Thee. Guide Ye my sight Both day & night That I may follow true The path before me, anew. I give thanks for growth Beginnings & endings both. [next participant.]

arizonagirl	27 Jan 2002
(AzGirl lights an orange candle from the altar candle and carrying the candle around the circle clockwise "Lady and Lord, I hold you in honor and know that I Am one with all things of the earth and the sky. My kin are the trees and the herbs of the fields, The animals and stones of the seas and the hills. The fresh waters and deserts are built out of thee And I am of you and you are of me." (Next participant)

Kiama	28 Jan 2002
*Kiama lights orangecandle and does the same as ArizonaGirland Meewah* Blessed be my feet, that walk in your ways, Blessed be my womb, that creates and destroys and regenerates, Blessed be my heart that lves and beats and breaks, Blessed be my lips that speak your truth and show my love, Blessed be my eyes that see the path ahead clearly, Blessed be my mind that is eternally growing. I give thanks for all the past year has brought, and I let go of all that caused me pain. I give thanks for the coming growth and returning of the light: The Lords of Light be with me, Remove the Darkness from me, And be the strength within me, And all your wisdom guide me. [next participant]

arizonagirl	30 Jan 2002
(As suggested by the Llewellyn 2002 Witches Calendar, AzGirl made a Brigid's cross to hang above the family's hearth. It was brought to the ritual and put upon the pentacle on the altar.) With Athame, AzGirl consecrates Brigid’s cross, stating: “By Mother Goddess and Father God I consecrate this cross, a symbol of the Goddess at her forge, to protect my home. Mother Goddess, Lady of the Hearth, bless this work of my hands. Mother Goddess, Lady of the Fire, bless this work of my heart.” “May the fires of creativity and inspiration of the Goddess at her Forge and the promise of renewal of this season blossom in my life as creativity and renewed energy and strength.” (AzGirl carries the orange candle and the cross around the circle. Returns cross to altar.)

MeeWah	11 Feb 2002
[channeling of power at its peak by all assembled.] In the name of Mother Goddess & Father God, we channel that power we raise by our individual chants & offerings: we envision our goals fulfilled. We walk our true path in Light, Love & Peace. We celebrate our kinship with the Earth & the Sky. Blessed are we in sorrow & in joy.

MeeWah	11 Feb 2002
[earthing excess power is an important part of ritual. with any significant raising of power--such as occurs within a group--there are physical sensations of tingling, vibrations, etc. since not all energy is always channelled perfectly, a residue may remain that can be felt as hyper-sensitivity or restlessness until the personal energy field (aura) balances itself. after one has sent all the energy one is able to the goal/purpose, one channels the excess into the earth. this may be achieved by: placing the hands palm-down on the ground; lying full-length, belly-side down on the ground; or placing the hands on a rock. with practice in sensing one's energy field, it can be determined when this is complete.]

MeeWah	11 Feb 2002
[a simple feast: in the wiccan tradition, ritual work is followed by the sharing of "cakes & wine". the serving of refreshments are in honor of earth's bounty, to provide further grounding & to share one other's company. the traditional foods for imbolc are dairy products (milk & cheese); spicy foods & drinks (mulled wine &/or cider); fruit (oranges, apples, raisins).]

MeeWah	11 Feb 2002
[thanks & farewells; dismissing of the quarters. face the altar & thank mother goddess (or by whatever name she is invoked) for her presence. the same is done for father god; & the spirits of the quarters, in the order of their calling. (i bow to each in recognition as the closing is recited.)] Hail to Thee, Goddess, Earth Mother & Lady of the Moon; Hail to Thee, God, Father Sky & Lord of the Sun-- We thank Thee for thy presence & for thy blessings upon our ritual this night! Hail to thee, Old Ones, Spirits of the North, East, South & West! We thank Thee for thy presence & for lending thy energies to our circle! If go Ye must, then blessed be! [with wand in hand, draw banishing pentagrams for each element.] [release of the circle. meewah walks widdershins (counter-clockwise) around the circle with her athame aimed at the circle line; visualizes the light/energy being absorbed back into the athame.] I release the boundary of the Circle Where naught but Love entered in, & naught but Love shall emerge from within. The Circle is open, but unbroken! Merry meet, merry part; merry meet again! To all who participated: I thank you for your gifts to this ritual! Would have gotten to this sooner but for difficulties accessing this thread.

The Candlemas/Imbolc ritual-to-go! thread was originally posted on 19 Jan 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.