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Imbolc Ritual
First set up your altar, facing the north. Take a consecrated besom (a straw broom) and place it before the altar. Next make a crown of thirteen candles and place it in the center of the altar. On both sides of the crown, place a candle of the appropriate Sabbat color. To the left, place a censer of the appropriate incense and a sprig of evergreen. To the right, place a chalice of water, a small dish of sand, and a consecrated athame. The cauldron is placed in the center of the circle, with an unlit candle in it. If outside, and conditions permit, a bonfire can be made.
Cast a circle, and then say:
With salt and sacred sword
I consecrate and invoke thee
O Sabbat Circle of magick and light.
In the sacred name of brigit
And under her protection
Is this sabbat rite now begun.
Place the ceremonial sword on the altar before the crown of candles. Light the two altar candles and say:
O fire goddess of spring
I offer to thee
This symbol of fire
So mote it be.
Light the incense and say:
O fire goddess of spring
I offer to thee this symbol of air
So mote it be.
Take the athame in your right hand and with the tip of the blade draw a pentacle in the dirt or sand and say:
O fire goddess of spring
I offer to thee
This symbol of earth
So mote it be.
Dip the blade of the athame into the chalice of water and say:
O fire goddess of spring
I offer to thee
This symbol of water
So mote it be.
Return the athame to the altar. Light the sprig of evergreen and visualise the darkness of Winter burning away, being replaced by the warmth of Spring. Place the burning sprig in the censer and say:
As this symbol of winter
Is consumed by the fire
So is the darkness
Consumed by the light.
So mote it be.
Light the crown of candles and place it on top of your head. Use caution. No witch burnings here please. (When this Sabbat ritual is performed by a coven, it is customary for the High Priest to light the candles and place the crown upon the head of the High Priestess.) Now take the athame in your right hand and hold it over your heart as you say:
Like sweet Cybele, I wear a crown
Of fire around my head.
Blessed goddess wise
I light the candles red
To shine a light upon my prayer
For peace on earth and love.
O hear me spirits of the air.
Be Thou a bright flame before us,
Be Thou a guiding star above us,
Be Thou a smooth path beneath us;
Spirits below and spirits above us.
So mote it be!
Return the athame to the altar. Now sweep the circle in a counter-clockwise direction with the besom to uncast the circle and to symbolise the "sweeping out" of the old. Extinguish the candles and return the crown to the altar.
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