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This celebration is written so that any number of people can participate. In general it is a group ceremony, but one person can easily perform each part, making this a solitary ceremony. Each part is labelled only as "covener" so that the activities can be divided up in whatever way works best.
Supplies:
Container of salt
Dish of water
Incense and something to burn it in
Lighter
1 candle for each Element
1 candle for the God
1 candle for the Goddess
Circle Casting:
The circle is cast deosil.
All: “I conjure thee O circle of power that thou beest a boundary between the world of men and the realm of the Mighty Ones, a guardian and a protection
to preserve and contain the power that we shall raise within. Therefore do we bless and consecrate thee.
So mote it be!”
(This is a traditional Gardnerian circle casting, but any number of other poems are also good. It is not necessary to speak a circle call at all if you do not wish to.)
Covener: Trace a banishing pentagram onto the salt. “Salt from the deep earth, grounding element of Earth, be thou clean.”
Covener: Trace a banishing pentagram onto the water. “Water from the mighty seas, unifying element of Water, be thou clean.”
Covener: Mix three portions of salt into the water. “Water is life’s beginning and salt is life’s end, and together they are rebirth.”
Coverner: Asperge the circle with the water, beginning and ending in the northwest. All the while repeat, “By Water and Earth, this circle is purified and blessed.”
Covener: Lift the salted water up above the altar. Say, “We have purified this circle with the power of Water and Earth and have made it sacred.”
The bell is rung three times.
Coverener: Trace a banishing pentagram over the incense, saying, “Herbs that will become air, the element of intelligence and freedom, be thou clean.”
Coverner: Trace a banishing pentagram over the incense charcoal, or over the cherry of the incense if it is not loose. Say, “Flame that we have sparked, creative and destructive element of Fire, be thou clean.”
Covener: Cense the circle, beginning and ending in the southeast. All the while say, “By Fire and Air this circle is purified and blessed.”
Covener: Lift the salted water up above the altar. Say, “We have purified this circle with the power of Fire and Air and have made it sacred.”
The bell is rung three times.
Calling the Archangels:
Covener: “Let all angels of goodness and light be welcome here in our circle. We invite by name RAPHAEL, MICHAEL, GABRIEL, and URIEL. Angels, we invite you to join us in celebration of Midsummer and life. We beseech you to protect us, guide us, and to aid in our magick. Angels, be welcome!”
(If you wish, light a candle to honor the angels. Additionally, you might light one candle for each specific angel that is called. It is considered good form to light a candle to honor every individual being that is invited into the circle. These candles should never be used afterward for a different purpose.)
The bell is rung three times.
Calling the Elements:
Covener: “Let us call in the Elements.”
Covener: Trace a white invoking pentagram, then the green symbol of Earth in its center. Say: “Earth beneath my feet
Ground of Being
Fertile soil nurturing life
Cold stone that with warmth supports the world
Element of Earth, please come.
We light this candle in your honor.”
The bell is rung three times.
Covener: Trace a white invoking pentagram, then the yellow symbol of Air in its center. Say:
“Air within our lungs
Breath of Life
Carrying sound and thought
Bringing freedom and intelligence
Element of Air, please come.
We light this candle in your honor.”
The bell is rung three times.
Covener: Trace a white invoking pentagram, then the red symbol of Fire in its center. Say:
“Fire burning bright
Spark of Life
Soothing warmth and bright Light
Spirit of passion that transforms all you touch
Element of Fire, please come.
We light this candle in your honor.”
The bell is rung three times.
Covener: Trace a white invoking pentagram, then the blue symbol of Water in its center. Say:
“Water that fills us
Source of all Life
Primordial Union from which we come
Spiritual harmony that binds us together
Element of Water, please come.
We light this candle in your honor.”
The bell is rung three times.
Covener: Trace a white invoking pentagram, then the white symbol of Spirit in its center. Say:
“Spirit,
Thou which are all Life and goodness
All pervasive and eternal
The basis and the epitome of existence
Element of Spirit, please come.
We light this candle in your honor.”
The bell is rung three times.
Calling the Goddess and God:
Covener: “Lord and Lady
Creator and Creatrix of All,
We invite you to join us in our circle, in our lives, and in our
hearts.
Share with us your boundless love and wisdom
And help us to live it and to share it.
Lord and Lady,
Be with us!
We light these candles in your honor.”
Celebration:
Covener: “Now is the time of the noon of the sun.
The northern hemisphere is bathed in the height of solar power,
While the southern hemisphere rests.
The sun stands still in the height of heaven,
All things must pass away.”
The days of summer stretch ahead,
All things must pass away.
Welcome the days of flowers and fruit,
All things must pass away.
Now is the wedding of Earth and heaven,
All things must pass away.” (adapted from The Illustrated
Guide to Wicca)
(Alternately, the above poem might be read by more than one person. Coverners can alternate lines or pairs of lines. The same might be done with the following.)
Covener: “Sunlight burnishes the land,
unhindered by winter’s sleep.
Sunlight spills upon the land,
unhindered by hail and sleet.
Sunlight blesses the land,
unhindered by drifts of snow.
Sunlight refreshes the land,
unhindered by chilling winds.” (adapted from Scott
Cunningham)
Covener: “We hail the birth of Summer!
Prevail, oh warmth of summer!
Unfailing light of summer!
You sail, oh Sun of Summer
Across the gleaming sky!
How green is the Earth!
Bursting with life and fertility!
Nurtured by the Goddess and God.
The sunlight blesses all below.” (adapted from Scott Cunningham)
(While saying the above, all should be visualizing that the bright strength of the sun and the nurturing power of the Earth and skies are mixing together. Reach out with your own power, so that all of these powers work in harmony. As you say the chant, you are not only celebrating the summer, but you are using your magick to will that the summer be a good one. A good summer is one that brings about the highest good of all and causes no harm.)
All take hands and chant three times: We are the soul; we are the light Divine; we are love; we are will; we are fixed design.”
(The point of this chant is to awaken the inner power, which is used to accomplish the magick above. It is also a powerful affirmation of our own spiritual nature.)
Simple Feast:
Covener:
“We call on all Gods to give their blessings on this nourishment.
Blessed be this food, by which we live.
Blessed be the fertile Earth and the skies,
Blessed be the warm Sun and the Moon,
Which have given of their bounty.
Blessed be those who have given of their bodies
So that we might eat.
Receive all blessings in abundance, and receive our thanks.
Blessed Be!”
All: “Blessed Be!”
The food is shared. The goblet is passed around, and as each covener receives it, s/he raises the goblet and hails a God, Goddess, or other being or life force, and the other coveners shout out the hail in response. Alternately, each covener may have their own goblet, and all take turns giving hails.
Thanking the Goddess and God:
Covener: “Lord and Lady, we thank you for joining us, now and throughout our lives, and we ask to be in your guidance and care always. Blessed be!”
All: “Blessed be!”
Thanking the Elements:
Covener: “Let us now give thanks to the Elements and the beings of the Elements.”
The Elements are thanked and dismissed in turn, saying,
“Blessed be the Element of _____, and all beings hailing from the Realm of _____
Thank you for your presence and for all your many blessings.
Go in peace to your realms, harming none.
Hail and Farewell.”
All: “Hail and Farewell.”
The bell is rung once after each Element. When all five Elements have been thanked and sent home, the bell is rung three times.
Thanking the Archangels:
Covener: “ Let us now thank the angels.”
Covener: “Uriel, Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, and all angels here, we thank you for coming, and we thank you for all your blessings and aid. Stay if you will and go if you will, and if you go, then we say ‘hail and farewell.’ Blessed be!”
All: “Blessed be!”
The bell is rung three times.
Earthing the Circle:
One member walks the circle counterclockwise while drawing the energy of the circle into him/herself, or all members draw in the energy in their location. The energy may be given to the Earth as healing and protective energy, given to a person or persons, transmitted toward a goal, or imbued into an object(s).
Snuff or pinch out all candles. Do not blow out candles used in ceremony.
The bell is rung four times to signal the end of the ritual.
Covener: “The circle is open but never broken. Merry did we meet, and merry do we part. Merry will we meet again!”
Now is a time for feasting and merriment.