The Manner of Casting a Ritual Circle

Opening Meditation

All sit in a circle, relax and breathe deeply. High Priestess may lead an optional pathwork.

Anointing With Oil

The Maiden hands the oil to the High Priestess who anoints the third eye of the person to her left by drawing an Earth invoking pentagram on the other's forehead.

As the High Priestess draws the pentagram she says:

Am an ni (Blessed be).

The High Priestess hugs/kisses the person. She passes the oil to that person who repeats the anointing and blessing with the person to the left. This is repeated with each person around the circle.

Lighting of the Candles

The High Priestess lights all but one altar candle and says:

Hail, Tana, Goddess of Fire.

The High Priestess lights the last candle and says:

Blessed be, thou Creature of Art.

Creature of Fire,
This charge I lay:
No evil in our presence stay
In neither night nor day.
Within and without,
Throughout and about,
Light revealed
Now be sealed.

The Purpose of the Ritual

The purpose of the ritual is explained by the High Priestess. This introduction will naturally vary due the season and the phase of the Moon.

Blessing of the Salt Water

The High Priestess raises the salt dish and chalice in her hands and says:

Blessed be, Creature of Water.
Blessed be, Creature of Earth.

The High Priestess replaces them on the altar. She sprinkles some of the salt into the water and says:

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.
So mote it be!

All respond:

So mote it be!

The High Priestess shakes a few drops of salt water over the altar with her athame while saying:

May this athame be purified;
And may the tools on this altar be purified.

The chalice is passed around for each person to drink and sprinkle water on him- or herself for purification.

Charging of the Athame

The High Priestess holds her athame in the incense and says:

May you be charged from the center of all,
Above and below, throughout and about,
Within and without to serve us well
Between the worlds in all the worlds.
So mote it be.

All respond:

So mote it be!

Casting the Circle

Starting in the East, the High Priestess or a covener takes the chalice around the Circle sprinkling salt water.

All chant:

Salt and Sea, of ill be free;
Around and around, the Circle is bound.

Starting in the East, the High Priestess or a covener censes the Circle.

All chant:

Fire and Air, draw all that is fair;
Around and around, the Circle is bound.

The High Priestess conjures her athame in the East saying:

Blade of power, I conjure thee
To ban such things as named by me;
Blade of power, I conjure thee
Attract such things as named by me.

The High Priestess starts drawing the Circle deosil with her athame.

All chant:

Circle of power, I conjure thee
To ban such things as named by me;
Circle of power, I conjure thee
Attract such things as named by me.
Circle of power, I conjure thee
Be cleansed of all impurity;
Circle of power, I conjure thee
A space between the worlds to be.

Returning to the East, the High Priestess raises her athame saying:

By blade and flame now bound ye be,
In will and word, so mote it be!

All respond:

So mote it be!

Calling the Quarters

The High Priestess or a covener will walk to each quarter doesil and draw the invoking pentagram with athame, wand or finger while calling the quarter. Then the Maiden or another covener will light the quarter candle. (When the number of coveners is smal l the candle may be lit by the one calling the quarter.)

East:

Quicksilver messenger
Master of the crossroads
Springtime step lightly
Into my mind
Golden one whisper
Airy ferryman
Sail from the East
On the wings of the wind.

South:

Desert flower,
Flaming will
Crackle with energy
Under my skin
Red lion roaring
Pulses racing
Roaming the South
I am open: come in.

West:

Pearl-gray warrior
Ghostly quest
Prince of Twilight
Sailing West
Intuition, sundown lady
Ancient serpent of the sea
Pearly Queen of twilight waters
Silverfoot come silently.

North:

Mother of mountains,
Mother of trees,
Mother of midnight,
Mother of Earth.
Root and leaf and flower and thorn
Come to us
Come to us
Out of the North.

Sealing the Circle

The High Priestess returns to the altar and sings or says:

The Circle is cast.
We are between the worlds,
Where life and death,
Joy and sorrow,
Day and night,
Meet as one.

Recitation of Poetry

Anyone who desires may recite or read a poem or invocation to the Goddess and God, or something else appropriate to the season or ceremony.

Invocation of the Goddess and God

Invocations are usually bardic. We will sing, chant, drum. dance, recite more poetry, etc. Any appropriate songs, chants, instrumental music, etc., are welcome.

Chanting, singing or drumming continues until we invoke the Goddess and the God into all the participants in the Circle.

Seasonal Ritual or Moon Circle

At this point the particular seasonal ritual or Moon circle ceremony is performed.

Cakes and Wine

This is the time to enjoy the bounty of the Great Mother and share in the fellowship of like minded friends

Farewell to the Quarters

The High Priestess or another covener will walk widdershins to each quarter in turn, using athame, wand or finger to draw the banishing pentagram. Then the Maiden or another covener extinguishes the quarter candle. (When the number of coveners is small t he candle may be extinguished by the one releasing the quarter.)

East:

Guardians of the East,
Powers of Air,
We thank you for joining in our Circle.
We ask for your blessing
As you depart to your lovely realms.
Hail and farewell!

All draw the banishing pentagram and say:

Hail and farewell!

North:

Guardians of the North,
Powers of Earth,
We thank you for joining in our Circle.
We ask for your blessing
As you depart to your lovely realms.
Hail and farewell!

All draw the banishing pentagram and say:

Hail and farewell!

West:

Guardians of the West,
Powers of Water,
We thank you for joining in our Circle.
We ask for your blessing
As you depart to your lovely realms.
Hail and farewell!

All draw the banishing pentagram and say:

Hail and farewell!

South:

Guardians of the South,
Powers of Fire,
We thank you for joining in our Circle.
We ask for your blessing
As you depart to your lovely realms.
Hail and farewell!

All draw the banishing pentagram and say:

Hail and farewell!

Opening the Circle

In the East, the High Priestess raises her athame and walks widdershins around the Circle.

All sing or say:

Where space and time stood at this place,
So all is gone without a trace.
Enchanted Circle is no more,
But we are changed forever more.

Where space and time did meet us here,
So all is vanished, disappeared.
Enchanted Circle is no more,
Nothing's as it was before.

The High Priestess returns to the altar. All joins hands as she says:

We will be torn from one another and ourselves to fall like millefluer branches across the warp and weft of time. . . Though some dim threads of us are twined forever here.

All who remember the words say:

We are the Circle
Within the Circle
Links withing the Circle of Life

Without us, the Gods would not be;
And without the Gods, we would not be.

The Circle is open, but unbroken
May the peace of the Goddess go in your heart.

MERRY MEET AND MERRY PART,
AND MERRY MEET AGAIN!