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Rituals Introduction
"The Crystal Well" was out of print last I heard, but if you can find a copy in a used book store, snap it up! It has lots of really good stuff in it, although some find it a little too "flowery" for their taste.
When everyone has circled around and are ready:
GRYPH:
Seekers of the ancient ways, think upon
The coming again of the warm seasons.
Of the return of life.
And of the ways in which our distant ancestors
Once honored the Old Gods
And gave blessings to field and forest
In times far past.
There shall be a pause for silent meditation of not less than twenty-five heartbeats.
GRYPH:
We now celebrate the awakening of the Earth
And the return of beauty and of fruitfulness.
Life has quickened forest, meadow, and field.
Let us celebrate the return of the gentle times
With spell and chant and song.
Let the far kingdoms he hailed!
EAST:
Soft and whispering winds from afar,
Greetings be unto thee
In the Names of the Old Gods.
Blow clear and fresh and free.
In magical presence here.
Blessed Be!
All: BLESSED BE!
SOUTH:
Warming and quickening light from afar,
Greetings be unto thee
In the Names of the Old Gods.
Grant the warmth that brings forth life.
In magical presence here.
Blessed Be!
All: BLESSED BE!
WEST:
Cool waters of lake and of stream,
Greetings be unto thee
In the Names of the old Gods.
Flow clear and pure and swift.
In Magical presence here.
Blessed Be!
All: BLESSED BE!
NORTH:
Far lands and wild places,
Greetings be unto thee.
In the Names of the Old Gods.
Awaken from your sleep
To bring forth bounty.
In magical presence here.
Blessed Be!
All: BLESSED BE!
CENTER:
Dark and fearsome circle of mystery
Greetings be unto thee.
In the names of the Old Gods,
Turning the wheel in the sky,
Set this time and space aside
In magical presence here.
Blessed be.
BRYDIE:
We give you greetings
O laughing Lord of the Greenwood,
Guardian of the wild things,
Friend and protector of those who
Seek the wilderness.
Grant here your joyous, potent, and enlivening presence.
Enjoy our rite as do we,
And grant us of your lust
For beauty and for life.
Blessed Be!
All: BLESSED BE!
DICK:
We give you greetings,
O loving and gracious Lady of the Earth,
Patroness of the field and of meadow,
Queen of forest and of stream,
Giving love, passion, and beauty.
Grant here your gentle, laughing
And magical presence.
Enjoy our rite as do we,
And grant us of your power to enchant
And to create.
Blessed Be!
All: BLESSED BE!
BRYDIE:
At this time and in this place
We now call forth and give honor
To the seasons of life and of fresh beginnings.
It is a time for all which is good,
For all beings which are new and small,
And of promise for the future.
DICK:
At this time and in this place
Do we salute our noble Goddess
As the Sacred Maiden
Now returned from cold and from darkness
To spread forth Her blessings
Upon the reborn lands.
DICK:
Let us now call upon
The life returning everywhere anew.
Call now as we do call!
As the following is happening, GRYPH starts passing around the Dream Candle and everyone there holds it, thinking of what they wish to continue or nurture in their lives. BRYDIE and DICK get it last, empower it, then give it to GRYPH.
BRYDIE and DICK, switching back and forth:
(this can be free form, D & B substituting what they want and making the call and response last until the candle has made its way back to GRYPH)
COME FORTH, 0 LIVING WATERS!
COME FORTH, 0 LIFE-GIVING EARTH!
COME FORTH, 0 SOFT RAINS!
COME FORTH, 0 GENTLE WINDS!
COME FORTH, 0 WARMTH OF THE SUN!
BLESSED BE FIELDS!
BLESSED BE FORESTS!
BLESSED BE THE LAKES AND THE STREAMS!
BLESSED BE THE GREAT POWERS OF LIFE!
BLESSED BE THE NOBLE GODDESS!
BLESSED BE THE LAUGHING GOD!
DICK:
Let us repeat the ancient chant
As we build and send forth
The Power of the natural world.
All chant and use the movements shown in the teaching. All shall repeat the following chant:
The Earth is a woman and she shall rise
The Earth is a woman and she shall rise
And we will dance with her
And we will dance with her!
The dance and the chant shall continue for as long as DICK deems necessary. Then DICK will take the wish candle from the candle holder, rejoin the group and begin a spiral dance. When he decides it is time, he will form a knot, with the candle raised high in the center.
DICK will light the candle.
GRYPH: (before the people unknot!)
Direct the Power we have built
Into the candle!
The candle that represents our wishes, our desires
Granting us strength, health, fortune
So the Power will go forth
So that the land be fertile
And all creatures prosper.
In the Name of the most excellent Goddess
And Her sturdy Consort.
So mote it be!
All: SO MOTE IT BE!
BRYDIE and DICK bless cakes and ale. Quarters help pass it around.
GRYPH (after a time):
Friends, at this time
We end this ritual of spring.
We have given the proper salutation
And become close to the seasonal Forces
And close to the old ways of magic.
Callers of the Far Kingdoms,
Give now our farewells.
NORTH:
Far lands and wild places,
We thank you, and ask for your blessings as you go
To thy far realms.
Blessed Be!
All: BLESSED BE!
WEST:
Cool waters of lake and of stream,
We thank you, and ask for your blessings as you go
To thy far realms.
Blessed Be!
All: BLESSED BE!
SOUTH:
Warming and quickening light from afar,
We thank you, and ask for your blessings as you go
To thy far realms.
Blessed Be!
All: BLESSED BE!
EAST:
Soft and whispering winds from afar,
We thank you, and ask for your blessings as you go
To thy far realms.
Blessed Be!
All: BLESSED BE!
CENTER:
Dark and fearsome circle of mystery
We thank you for this time and space,
And ask for your continued blessings as you go.
Blessed be.
BRYDIE:
O laughing Lord of the Greenwood,
We thank thee for thy powerful presence here.
We have been honored to have your spirit
Here among us.
Hail, farewell, and blessed be!
All: HAIL, FAREWELL, AND BLESSED BE!
DICK:
O loving and gracious Lady of the Earth,
We thank thee for thy enchanting presence here.
We have been honored to have your spirit
Here among us.
Hail, farewell, and blessed be!
All: HAIL, FAREWELL, AND BLESSED BE!
GRYPH:
The Goddess and the God
And the Earth itself
Have been honored.
This rite of spring is done.
This circle is open,
But unbroken.
May the peace of the Lord and Lady
Go in our hearts.
We merry meet and
Merry part and
MERRY MEET AGAIN!
Blessed be!
