by Raven and Bruyn

Theme: Thanksgiving, regeneration, emphasis on the safety and warmth of the womb.

The altar is decorated with fall fruits, flowers, grains, appropriate incense (sage, pine…), etc., a cauldron, sheath of wheat, dried corn, basket of dried leaves of various types and colors.

Coveners should bring a gift of thanks (grains, sprouts, cloth, etc.).

Tools: God and Goddess candles, quarter candles, candles in appropriate seasonal colors; athame, water, salt, chalice.

INVOCATIONS

East
In this sacred Circle we invoke the element of Air in the East. Bring us the fresh breath of Fall. Refresh us after the long Summer. May your winds clear our minds. Prepare us for the birth of a new season. So mote it be!

South
In this sacred Circle we invoke the element of Fire in the South. Bring us the brilliant colors of Fall. Warm our hearths and our hearts. Prepare us for the birth of a new season. So mote it be!

West
In this sacred Circle we invoke the element of Water in the West. Bring us the cool rains of Fall. Wash away the old to prepare our Spirits for the new. Prepare us for the birth of a new season. So mote it be!

North
In this sacred Circle we invoke the element of Earth in the North. Bring us the harvest of your soil. Build our Circle in your strength and goodness. Prepare us for the birth of a new season. So mote it be!

Invoke God
Holy and protective Father God, we join in these rites to honor You in this time of thanksgiving. We invite Your presence with open minds and hopeful hearts.

Invoke Goddess
Holy and nurturing Mother Goddess, we join in these rites to honor You in this time of thanksgiving. We invite Your presence with open minds and hopeful hearts.

Raise the basket of leaves before the altar and scatter them within the circle, saying:
Leaves fall, the days grow cold. The Goddess pulls her mantle of earth around her as You, O great Sun God, sail to the west, to the land of eternal enchantment wrapped in the coolness of night. Fruits ripen and seeds drop. The hours of day and night are balanced as chill winds blow in from the north. Oh, blessed Goddess, we know that life continues in this seeming end of nature’s powers. For Spring is impossible without the second harvest, as surely as life is impossible without death. Blessings upon you O fallen God, as you journey into the lands of winter and into the Goddess’ loving arms.

Place basket down.

O gracious Goddess of fertility, we have sown and reaped the fruits of our actions both good and not. Send us the courage to plant seeds of joy and love in the coming year, O luminous One of the night.

Light cauldron
The cauldron is the womb of the Mother: protective, warm, containing all Life. May we all be led by the light and bathed in Her glow.

Salt water
Hold the athame over chalice of water, saying: Great Mother, bless this creature of Water to your service. May we always remember the cauldron waters of rebirth.

Hold the athame over the salt, saying
Great Mother, bless this creature of Earth to your service. May we always remember the blessed Earth in it’s many forms and beings.

Sprinkle a little salt into the water and hold the chalice up high, saying
Great Mother, I give You honor!

Beginning in the east and moving doesil, sprinkle the salt water around the edge of the circle and return it to the altar.

Incense
Hold the athame over the burning incense, saying
Great Father, bless this creature of Fire to Your service. May we always remember the sacred Fire that dances within the form of every creature. Bless this creature of Air to Your service. May we always listen to the spirit winds that bring us the voices of the Ancient Ones.

Raise the censor high, saying
Great Father, I give You honor!

Beginning in the East and moving doesil, carry the censor around the circle and return it to the altar.

CASTING THE CIRCLE

Coveners are standing around the altar. First one looks to the left, takes the right hand of the next covener, and says: Hand in hand I cast this circle. Each one repeats the process until we have gone completely around once, back to the beginning. First covener continues:

Circle is cast. In this time that is not a time, this place that is not a place, this day that is not a day, we stand at the threshold between the worlds.

Close your eyes. Visualize the faces in this circle. As you inhale, draw the energy up from the earth. Hold the breath for a count of three and let the energy fill your heart. Feel it opening as the energy flows into it from the earth. Imagine your heart is a red rose, and as you inhale, feel its petals opening one by one.

Now, as you exhale, send the energy that you are feeling down your left arm and through the palm of your hand into the right hand of the one to your left. This time as you inhale, draw the energy that is coming to you from the one on your right through the palm of your right hand and up your arm into your heart.

Let it fill your heart until you feel it opening and expanding, then send this gift of energy to the one on your left as you exhale.

Continue breathing deeply and fully, using the movement of your breath to send the energy around. Give and receive. Feel the energy moving around and around our circle. In your mind’s eye, see the spinning circle of color and light…

(Pause)

Gently release each other’s hands. Now ground the energy. Place your palms upon the earth. Let the power drain back into Mother Earth for Her to use as She sees fit…feel it flowing downward…exhale and let the energy return to the earth…give thanks…rest.

MABON CELEBRATION

After everyone has grounded, continue:

This is the time of harvest, of thanksgiving and joy.
Now day and night are equal, in perfect balance, and we give thought to the balance and flow in our own lives.
The Sun King has become the Lord of Shadows. He sleeps in the womb of the Goddess.
We meet to give thanks for that which we have reaped and gathered.

One covener holds the sheath of wheat and says
Autumn’s grain is Spring’s seed.

Tossing it into the fire, say:
Blessed be the Mother of all Life.
Blessed be the life that comes from Her and returns to Her.

All:
We have sown. We have tended.
We have grown. We have gathered.
We have reaped a good harvest.
Goddess, we thank You for Your gifts.
God, we thank You for Your bounty.

Each, in turn:
I thank You for _______________.
Each tosses offering into the fire after naming at least one thing for which s/he is thankful.

FEAST

All life is Your own,
All fruits of the Earth.
God and Goddess, we thank You
For blessings and abundance.
Join us, Feast with us, Enjoy with us. Blessed Be!

OPENING THE CIRCLE

Thank Goddess
Holy Mother, Goddess of the Harvest, we thank you for Your light and love in our circle. We rest in the security of your ever-watchful presence.

Thank God
Holy Father, God of the Harvest, we thank You for Your protection and love in our circle. We rest in the security of Your ever-watchful presence.

Dismiss North
Watchtower of the North, element of Earth, we thank you for joining or circle and bringing your strength to our hearts. Go if you must, stay if you will.

Dismiss West
Watchtower of the West, element of Water, we thank you for joining our circle and bringing your healing waters. Go if you must, stay if you will.

Dismiss South
Watchtower of the South, element of Fire, we thank you for joining our circle and bringing the renewing Fires of Fall. Go if you must, stay if you will.

Dismiss East
Watchtower of the East, element of Air, we thank you for joining our circle and bringing your cooling Winds. Go if you must, stay if you will.

Our Circle is open but never broken. Merry meet, merry part, and merry shall we meet again. Go in peace and love, return in peace and love. Let us keep with us the lessons of life, death, rebirth, and thanksgiving. So mote it be!