by Eilís Moonbrook

PREPARING AND CREATING SACRED SPACE

Ground and center. Each of us should have a small cup of salt water in front of us. When you're ready, hold the cup and project all your distractions and hurtful feelings into it. Feel them being transformed by the Gods' healing nature until the water seems to glow with love and health. Say any words that seem appropriate, either aloud or silently—or none at all. Take as long as you need to feel calm, focused, and cleansed; there is no need to hurry. Stand up when you are finished.

When everyone is standing, begin moving sunwise around the circle, sprinkling your water around it. Visualize a circle being formed by our movement and the water's glow. Keep moving until the circle is strong and you can feel the group's energy blending together as part of the circle. Take your time. When you feel it become strong, move to stand by the altar and place your cup on it.

When everyone is at the altar, join hands and slowly move them above our heads. Feel the circle energy move into a dome above us. Then lower hands, still clasped together, to the ground, feeling the dome stretch into a sphere that extends beneath us. Stand straight again and gently drop hands, saying:

1. The circle is cast,
2. built of love and trust,
3. never-beginning
4. and never-ending,
5. inner and outer,
6. betwixt and between.
7. Naught but love shall enter in,
8. naught but love shall come from within.

All: So mote it be!

WELCOMING THE ELEMENTS

Move sunwise to your quarter. As you invoke the element, feel it strongly within yourself and visualize it moving to fill the circle from the direction it calls home. Reach out and truly invite it. All of us should do this, not just the person verbally invoking. When the presence is strong, move on to the next element.

Spirit of the East, powers of Air,
Caressing breeze and roaring gale,
You who clear the intellect
And breathe new life into our souls,
We welcome you!

Spirit of the South, powers of Fire,
Light of the hearth and wild blaze,
You who drive the will
And consume the old to shape our lives,
We welcome you!

Spirit of the West, powers of Water,
Gentle wave and devouring flood,
You who fill our veins with emotion
And immerse us in the worlds' ebb and flow,
We welcome you!

Spirit of the North, powers of Earth,
Fertile soil and lightless cavern,
You who hold us steady
And give of yourself to sustain our bodies,
We welcome you!

WELCOMING THE LORD AND LADY

<We gather again at the altar and light their candles, reaching out in invitation as we chant, repeating the words until we strongly feel their presence.>

Triple Goddess Chant

Holy Maiden Huntress Artemis, Artemis. Maiden, Come To Us
Silver Shining Wheel Of Radiance, Radiance. Mother, Come To Us
Ancient Queen Of Wisdom, Hecate, Hecate. Old One, Come To Us 
(By Peter Soderberg)


Three-Fold God Chant 

Holy Green Oak King, Tower High, Tower High, Horned One Come To Us 
Holy Holly King, The Evergreen, Evergreen, Horned One Come To Us 
Shining Lord Pan Come Dance With Us Dance With Us, Horned One Come To Us 
(By Ivo Dominguez, Jr. to P.S.'s tune)


THE CHARGE OF THE GODDESS (divided)

1. Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arianrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:

"Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me who is Queen of all the Wise. You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth. 

2. "For my law is love unto all beings. Mine is the secret that opens upon the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the Cauldron of Cerridwen that is the holy grail of immortality. I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before. Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice for behold, I am the mother of all things and My love is poured upon the earth."

3. Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, whose body encircles the universe:

"I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return. Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold—all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. 

4. "Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."

SHARING AND WORKING

<sit down around the circle>

1. Tonight we honor the Mother, the Lady of the full fertile moon,
and the Lord in his many forms, without whose gifts we could not fully live.

2. With love and respect, trust and amity,
we bare ourselves before Them and before one another.

3. Now is the time to discuss our blessings, giving thanks,
sharing in the pleasant company of friends and kindred here.

4. It is also the time to discuss our worries and trials, our fears,
to lighten our loads and work together for transformation.

<Talk about whatever is on your mind, and be sure to mention it if there’s something with which you’d like the group’s magickal help. When we’re done, we should run through the short poetic version of the Rede.>

1. Bide the Wiccan laws ye must, 
in perfect love and perfect trust

2. Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An it harm none, do what ye will.

3. And lest in self defense it be,
ever mind the Rule of Three.

4. Follow these words in your mind and heart,
and merry ye meet and merry ye part.


FEASTING

All: All life is your own,
All fruits of the earth
Are fruits of your womb,
Your union, your dance.
Goddess and God
We thank you for blessings and abundance.
Join with us, Feast with us, Enjoy with us!
Blessed be.


CLOSING THE TEMPLE

<Offer these very simple thanks together:>

All: Thank You , Mother Earth. Thank You, Sister Waters
Thank You, For Our Birth. From Your Sons And Daughters 
Thank You, Brother Sun. Thank You, Air-In-Motion
Thank You, Everyone--Earth, Sun, Air, And Ocean!
--adapted from a piece © 1985 Susan Arrow 

<Open the circle>