by Eilís Moonbrook

GROUND AND PURIFY

Ground and center. Leader #1 blesses salt and a cup of water, then adds three mounds of the salt from the athame to the chalice, stirring it three times widdershins. Then she blesses the salt water, saying:

Leader #1: "Salt and water,
Inner and outer,
Soul and body,
Be cleansed!
Cast out all that is harmful!
Take in all that is good and healing!
By the powers of life, death, and rebirth
So mote it be!" 

Then the cup is passed around the group, so that each person may do a personal purification. You may hold the cup and visualize all your worries, problems, and distractions flowing out into the water in a muddy stream, being purified and cleansed by the water until it glows. Or you may do your own purification by sprinking yourself in blessing, or whatever you prefer. 


ELEMENTAL CIRCLE CASTING 

Begin in the North, and move deosil around the circle. As each element is invoked, feel its presence within you and around you. Visualize their essences, their colors, blending together like a rainbow around you to form the circle.

North: "Earth my bone, my body,
Mountain my breast
Green grass and leafy tree
My trailing hair,
Rich dark dust, oozing mud
Seed sending white root deep,
Carpet of molding leaves,
Be our bed!
By the earth that is Her body,
Powers of the North send forth your strength."

East: "Air, my breath, breeze of morning,
Stallion of the dawn star,
Whirlwind, bearing all that soars in flight,
Bee and bird,
Sweet fragrance,
Wailing storm's voce,
Carry us!
By the air that is Her breath,
Powers of the East send forth your strength."

South: "Fire my heart, burn bright!
My spirit is a flame,
My eye misses nothing.
A blaze leaps from nerve to nerve
Spark of the solar fire!
An answering heat rises, unbearable delight!
The flames sing, consume us!
By the fire that is Her spirit,
Powers of the South send forth your flame."

West: "Water my womb, my blood,
Wash over us, cool us.
Waves sweep ashore on white wings,
The rush, hiss, the rumble of stones
As the tide recedes,
That rhythm, my pulse,
Flood, quickening fountain,
We pour ourselves out,
Sweep us away!
By the living waters of Her womb,
Powers of the West, send forth your flow."

Take a few moments to visualize the circle fully. Leader #2 should make sure it is complete, tracing it with an athame if necessary, then say: 

Leader #2: "The circle is cast.
We are between the worlds,
Beyond the bounds of time,
Where night and day,
Birth and death,
Joy and sorrow,
Meet as one."

Light the cauldron from the fire candle on the altar.

Lighter: "The fire is lit,
The ritual is begun."

Beginning in the North, each of us should take the hand of the person to our left, until we're physically joined as a circle. Then all of us should say:

All: "In perfect love and perfect trust." 

Gently drop your hands.


THE INVITATION

Beginning in the North, go around the circle deosil, each person reading a section.

1: "At this time of Light and Life
Do we celebrate the Summer Solstice,

2: For all life has blossomed forth
And Nature flourishes around us.

3: Great indeed is our joy this day
As our Lord and Lady bless us with
Their abundance.

4: Our Lord provides strength and passion
And our Lady love and understanding.

5: They allow us to progress and grow
As they free us from past restrictions.
Great indeed are their blessings." 

Invocations to the Queen and God of Summer

After each invocation, light the deity's candle.

"Queen of Summer
Queen Bee
Sweet-smelling
Flowering One
Honey Nectar
Overflowing fountain
Full-blown rose
Intoxicating dancer
Whispering wind
Singer
Spell-binder
Blossom and thorn
Rhiannon
Arianrhod
Ishtar
Cybele
Come into us
Carry us off!" 

"Lord of the colors of day
Untamed Awakener of Hearts
Comforter of sorrows
The namer
Clear-sighted dancer
Morning's son
Vine-ripened Seed
Many-jeweled one
Hunter Wild Beast
Guide
Come to us!
You are dry Drink of us!
We are the dew-filled flowers
That open To your golden shaft" 


MIDSUMMER BLESSING

Leader #1:
"This is the time of the rose, blossom and thorn, fragrance and blood. Now on this longest day, light triumphs, and yet begins the decline into dark. The Sun King grown embraces the Queen of Summer in the love that is the beginning of death because it is so complete that all dissolves into the single song of ecstasy that moves the worlds. So the Lord of light will soon die to himself, and will set sail across the dark seas of time, searching for the isle of light that is rebirth. We turn the Wheel and share his fate, for we have planted the seeds of our own changes, and to grow we must accept even the passing of the sun." 

Leader #2:
"But, even though it once again must decline, this is still the season of the Sun and its element, fire. As the Earth flourishes in her mantle of growing green which will soon bear its fruit, our spirits are also nourished by the Sun's firey energy. 'To feel the fire within yourself right now, relax and turn to face the South. Be conscious of the electric spark within each nerve as pulses jump from synapse to synapse. Be aware of the combustion within each cell, as food burns to release energy. Let your own fire become one with candle flame, bonfire, hearth fire, lightning, starlight, and sunlight, one with the bright spirit of the Goddess and the essence of the Sun God.' " 

Leader #1:
"You are all-powerful; you have the energy and ability to accomplish anything you wish. You are strong, forceful, and filled with energy. See yourself doing things. Make things happen through your personal power and energy. You are as the flame--hot and powerful--and you can do what you set out to do. You burn with passion and power and will accomplish your goals. Allow this impression of your ability to achieve to be burned into your consciousness. Slowly feel the warmth begin to cool. Slowly come back to balance while retaining that sense of personal power; that knowledge of your ability to manifest your desires." 

Leader #2:
"All the fire energy that surrounds us at this time of year can energize us and strengthen our will. We feel the need to socialize more and to bring the projects we began earlier in the year to fruit, as well as start working toward new goals. The fire can burn away some of the things which have been binding us in our lives, opening the way for new growth. We should revel in the fire, but we also need to keep a sense of balance or we run the risk of burning out. All the four elements join together to form the universe, our world, and our Selves--and unless all four are working in balance, the fifth element of Spirit, which is the spark of full life, cannot grow."

Leader #1:
"All of us have barriers in the way of living happily and successfully. Some of them are totally based in the outside world, and we don't always have much control over them, though they generally dissolve in their own time. But some of the most persistent and damaging are bindings we have placed on our own lives, invisibly holding our bodies, minds, or spirits prisoner. These ties may be guilt, low self confidence, fears, or any number of damaging things. Once we recognize these bonds, we can successfully work to break them, and Fire can help us." 

A volunteer carries a bundle of black cords, symbolizing our bindings, deosil around the circle. He stops before each member in turn, saying to each:

Volunteer: "What binds you?

Each member should reply--saying, for example, "Guilt binds me." Don't think too much about the reply in advance; just say whatever pops into your mind, because that is probably the most pressing problem. When each member replies, the volunteer should tie a cord lightly around the wrists. When your cord is tied, imagine that it is the thing which is binding your life.

After a pause, the volunteer should ask:

Volunteer: "Where must you go to be free?"

Each of us should reply with one of the four directions, which embodies the elemental qualities we feel we most need to help us break the bond: for example, the East. The volunteer replies:

Volunteer: "Go to the East, and free your mind."
(using South for spirit, West for emotions, and North for the body)

Each of us in turn should go to that direction, stand or sit in front of the candle representing its element, and feel the healing powers of the element soaking into and running through us. When we have gained enough strength, we should remove the cord and take a flower from that direction to remind us of the element's continuing positive influence.

That done, return to the circle. The first person who finishes should bind the volunteer, using the same process as before. When you're sitting back around the circle, hold the cord and meditate on the self-binding it represents--how it has held you back, some of the ways you can act in accordance with your will to banish it in your everyday life, and visualize how your life will be without that hindrance. When everyone has returned to the circle, we should join hands and start a chant, building power:

Kore Chant: "She changes everything She touches
And everything She touches, changes" 

When the time feels right, when the power is at its peak, all of us should light our cords from the cauldron fire and drop them into a heat-proof container to burn. Feel free to make noise, maybe shout something like, "I banish you!". Know that the Fire has helped break our bonds, opening the way for healing and growth.

Now is the time to perform any spells for healing, protection, or love--Midsummer is a wonderful time for them. If you would like help, don't hesitate to speak up.

When the magick is done, we should all stand up and move around the circle together in celebration (and to raise more energy if necessary), and sing if it seems right:

"The river it is flowing, flowing, flowing
The river it is flowing, flowing and growing
Mother won't you carry me, a child I will always be
Mother won't you carry me, down to the sea"


THE FEAST

Another volunteer should bless the food and drink:

Volunteer #2: "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." 

The volunteer should place some of the food and drink on a separate dish, as a libation for the Lord and Lady (to be left outdoors later), then pass the rest around the circle. Now is the time to ground ourselves, relax, talk about the ritual, and just chat.


THANKING THE DEITIES

All: "Goddess and God
We thank you for your presence,
For your circle,
For light and love,
For night and change,
We ask for your blessing
As you depart.
Hail and farewell! Blessed be."


OPENING THE CIRCLE

Moving widdershins from the West, thank each element in turn, extinguishing its candle.

"Guardians of the [Direction], Powers of [Element], we thank you
For joining in our circle
And we ask for your blessing
As you depart.
May there be peace between us
Now and forever. Blessed Be."

As the elements depart, visualize their colors leaving the rainbow circle, so that it is dissipated when the last element is thanked. Leader #2 should go around the circle, drawing any energy which may remain in through the athame. Then she should raise her athame to the sky and touch it to the earth, open her arms, and say:

Leader #2: "The circle is open, but unbroken,
May the peace of the Goddess
Go in our hearts,
Merry meet, and merry part.
And merry meet again. Blessed be."