This is out of the "Witches' Goddess" by Janet and Stewart Farrar.
The Preparation
The High Priestess, whether skyclad or robed, should be jewelled and made up to personify the Bright Goddess as dramatically as possible. But at the
beginning of the ritual she is entirely shrouded in black over this adornment- preferably by a cloak with hood or veil- so that all her brightness is hidden. She should prepare herself out of sight of the coven,
except for her High Priest; they must not see her until she is cloaked in black.
A throne- say a chair draped in black- is placed in the center of the Circle, facing North.
The chalice of wine, the dish of cakes and the High Priestess's athame are placed, not on the altar but beside her throne.
Preferably a spiral should be marked on the floor, with cord or chalk. It starts at the West candle, curves in widdershins, taking 3 3/4 turns to reach
the center and ending up facing the throne.
The West Witch and the Traveller sit on the ground by the West candle; the South Witch and the east Witch sit by their respective candles; and Boreas sits beside the altar.
The Ritual
The Opening Ritual begins as usual, except that the High Priestess remains merely a dark presence, unmoving and silent in front of the altar; someone
else casts the Circle and summons the Watchtowers. The HP gives all the necessary orders. At the end of Drawing Down the Moon, the 'Hail Aradia' poem
is replaced by the following:
"O Arianrhod of the Silver Wheel,
By all the many names men give to thee-
We, all thy hidden children, humbly kneel
Thy truth to hear, thy countenence to see.
Here in the Circle, cast upon the Earth
Yet open to the stars- unseen, yet real-
Within our hearts give understanding birth,
Our wounds of loss and loneliness to heal.
Isis Unveiled, and Isis Veiled, thou art;
The Earth below our feet, the Moon on high.
In thee, these two shall never be apart-
The magic of the Earth, and of the sky."
The HPS does not speak the usual return blessing but merely makes the Invoking Pentagram of earth towards the HP, in silence. The HP bows to her and steps to one side. The HPS, now Arianrhod, walks in a stately manner to the throne and seats herself upon it, making sure that her cloak still fully covers her. The HP takes his place on the other side of the altar from
Boreas. After a suitable pause, the West Witch rises to her feet and tells the Traveller:
West Witch: "It is time to move on."
Traveller: "I am afraid."
West Witch: "Of what are you afraid?"
Traveller: "Of the dark. Of Death. Of the unknown."
West Witch: "Without these things, there is no Life."
Traveller: "What is your name?"
West Witch: "My name is Psychopompos."
She takes the Traveller's hand and encourages him to rise. Reluctantly he does so and starts to walk widdershins along the spiral path, the West Witch
following him and encouraging him gently whenever he hesitates. As he passes the West candle again after one circuit, South Witch rises and stands in his
path. The Traveller stops.
South Witch: "What is your name?"
Traveller: "I..." (hesitating, surprised.) "I do not know."
S.W.: "You shall have no name, until She reveals it." (Gesturing towards Arianrhod.)
Traveller: "Without a name, I am nothing. But I am afraid of Her."
S.W. "Then you must remain nothing, and nameless."
Traveller: (after a pause) "I would rather face fear than be nameless... What is your name?"
S.W. "I cannot answer, because I am the Question."
The South Witch stands aside and bows, gesturing the Traveller forward. Still with occasional hesitations and with West Witch following and encouraging him, Traveller continues on the spiral path. When he has made another complete circuit and is passing the South candle, the East Witch rises and stands in his path. The Traveller halts.
East Witch: "How are you armed?"
Traveller: "I have no weapons."
E.W. "You shall have none to defend yourself, until She grants them."
Traveller: "Without weapons, I am a victim of the dark, But I am afraid of Her."
E.W. "Then you must remain defenceless."
Traveller: "I would rather challenge the dark with a sword in my hand... What is your name?"
E.W. "My name is Determination. Without me, you are nameless and weaponless."
The East Witch steps aside and bows, gesturing the Traveller forward. The Traveller proceeds as before, with the West Witch following and encouraging him. When he has made another complete circuit and is passing the East candle on his way to the foot of the throne, Boreas rises and stands in his path. The Traveller halts.
Boreas: "What are you seeking?"
Traveller: "I did not choose to seek. I was driven."
Boreas: "You shall have no bride, until She grants you one."(If the traveller is a man, then say bridegroom.)
Traveller: (puzzled) "I seek no bride."
Boreas: "All who approach Caer Arianrhod seek completeness."
Traveller: "And is that to be found here- in darkness, in Death, in the unknown?"
Boreas: (stepping aside) "Enter, and you will see."
Traveller: "I am afraid."
Boreas: "There is no going back."
Traveller: "What is your name?"
Boreas: "I am Boreas, the North Wind, gatekeeper of Caer Arianrhod."
Boreas turns away and goes to stand on the other side of the altar from the HP. The Traveller, now face to face with the throned Arianrhod, tries to back away, but the West Wtich prevents him.
West Witch: "There is no turning back."
Traveller: "I AM AFRAID!"
Arianrhod (speaking for the first time): "Of what are you afraid?"
Traveller: (dropping to his knees) "Of the dark, of Death. Of the unknown."
Arianrhod: "I am all these things, yet I am much more." She extends her right hand. "You must kiss my hand."
The Traveller leans back in terror. But the West Witch, standing behind him, puts her hands on his shoulders and gently but firmly pushes him forward
again.
West Witch: "All who come this far must kiss Her hand. There is no turning back."
Hesitantly the traveller takes Arianrhods hand and kisses it. Arianrhod throws back her cloak and hood or veil and is revealed in her bright splendour.
Arianrhod smiling: "There is naught to fear in the dark for it leads to the light. There is naught to fear in Death, for it leads to Rebirth. There is naught to fear in the unknown, for I am at the heart of it."
The West Witch says the introduction of the Charge. Arianrhod delivers the Charge in full, the West Witch supplying the passage "Hear ye the Words of the Star Goddess..." as usual in the middle of it.
When the Charge is completed, everyone gathers round the throne. Arianrhod and the Traveller bless the wine and cakes together, and they are passed around in the usual way. When all have partaken, everyone but Arianrhod, the Traveller and the West Witch returns to the perimeter.
Arianrhod: "My son, you have known rest and refreshment in Caer Arianrhod. Go now, and return by the spiral path, deosil, to the world of men and women and all my other creatures. And keep this mystery in your memory; that at the heart of the Dark Mother is the Bright Mother, and at the heart of the Bright Mother is the Dark Mother. Know and remember, that I am One."
The Traveller bows to Arianrhod. The West Witch takes the Traveller's hand, and together they retrace the spiral path, deosil this time, with a joyful and confident step.
When they are back at their starting-point by the West candle, all but Arianrhod then join hands and circle to the Witches' Rune, until Arianrhod throws her arms upwards in a gesture of exultant life, and all drop to the floor facing inwards.
