Coven of the Burning Waters
20 March 2001

by MoonIvy 

(Walk around space three times sprinkling salt.)

(Walk around space three times sprinkling water.)

(Light the incense stick and pass it around the circle. (When you hold the incense say: "your magickal name here blesses this space."

(Pick up the athame and pass it around the circle. (When you hold the athame say: "your magickal name here blesses this space."

(Begin to go to individuals in the circle and purify their bodies with the smudge stick. Ask them: "How do you enter?" Response: "In perfect love and perfect trust."

Prepare yourself for ritual. Close your eyes and travel to that special place within your souls where Gods and Goddesses are flesh, and the Mother and the Father stand with us tonight.

(Say: "I AM" when you are with the Goddess and God.)

We cast this circle in the name of the Goddess and God. (Draw circle with athame while stooping. Visualize drawing it in the dirt.)

Behold Air, we ask thee for gentle breezes that blow our worries away so that we may celebrate, and praise the deities in peace. Air we ask your presence here tonight. (All: So Mote It Be!)

Greetings Fire, masculine element, passionate friend--we ask thee to light the fires in our hearts, so that we might love the Mother and Father completely and wholly. Fire we ask your presence here tonight. (All: So Mote It Be!)

Welcome cleansing waters of birth, mother and ocean. We ask thee to make our inner-selves children so that we might see the world and those in it with new eyes. And like children we will forgive quickly those who do wrong against us, so that we might live and treat others with perfect love and perfect trust. Water we ask your presence here tonight. (All: So Mote It Be!)

Welcome sheltering cave, blanket and home. We ask thee to give us firm ground to stand on, and the nutrients to make our bodies healthy, and whole, so that our bodies might be a vessel to which spirit flows freely. Earth we ask your presence her tonight. (All: So Mote It Be!)

(Light silver Goddess candle). (Hold up the Silver Chalice). Now is time of balance. The earth is fertile-animals, crops, and humans. I drink in the power of the Goddess--let her now live within me and us all. (Pass cup around and sprinkle water onto yourselves.)

(Light gold God candle). (Hold up the Gold Chalice). He is the hunter, the lover, and the friend. He has become a man and takes his place beside the Goddess. I drink in the power of the God--let him now live within me and us all. (Pass cup around and sprinkle water onto yourselves.)

Spring has returned. Darkness and light are in balance.

As is the Goddess and God.

(Clasp hands and walk around in circle.) 

Chant: The wheel of life is turning
Living life is in store.
The wheel of life is turning
Death shall be no more.

Without the female there could be no life. Without the earth--no tree no flower.

Without the male there could be no life. Without the seed--no tree no flower.

Goddess and God say together: But together we make life happen. (Covener portraying God inserts athame into silver chalice held by covener portraying Goddess.)

With balance in mind, we bring soil and seed together. (Coveners plant seeds in cups filled with soil.)

These seeds we have planted will surely grow and one day die, just as we are bound to do. But when seed and earth are joined birth will surely happen, if it is cultivated, and cared for. With this seed plant the life you want to have. Any projects that you start, any changes that you make must be worked at now. With hard work, the promise of Spring will be yours.

(Visualize the changes/new life you wish to have at this time, when you are finished say: I AM.)

Sing:
We all come from the Goddess,
And to her we shall return.
Like a drop of rain,
Flowing to the ocean.
Hoof and horn, hoof and horn,
All that dies shall be reborn.
Corn and grain, corn and grain,
All that dies shall rise again.

We will color yellow eggs to welcome the return of the Sun God, and red eggs to symbolize the fertility of the Goddess and the resurrection of life--what has died--will live again.

(After coloring red and yellow eggs color other eggs different colors writing on them plans you have to make your life have more balance. Feel free to give eggs as gifts, which is a custom. Eggs symbolize the potential life that is to come. Its circular shape represents the pregnant mother; the cycle of the earth makes around the sun thus causing our seasons to change. This is also a time to eat drink and be merry.)

Earth, thank you for joining our circle tonight. Go if you must stay if you will. Blessed Be!

Water, thank you for joining our circle tonight. Go if you must stay if you will. Blessed Be!

Fire, thank you for joining our circle tonight. Go if you must stay if you will. Blessed Be!

Air, thank you for joining our circle tonight. Go if you must stay if you will. Blessed Be!

God, thank you for joining our circle tonight. Go if you must stay if you will. Blessed Be! (Extinguish flame of gold candle).

Goddess, thank you for joining our circle tonight. Go if you must stay if you will. Blessed Be! (Extinguish flame of gold candle).

When I ring this bell three times this circle will be open but never broken. (Ring, ring, ring) Blessed Be!

Eat drink and be merry! Color eggs and enjoy!