Imbolc Ritual
Adapted from Aoumiel's Green Witchcraft
Preparing the altar:
· Alter candles should be white
· Incense may be benzoin or vanilla
· Circle candles remain the usual colors for the elements (green, yellow, red, and blue)
· Lay your besom upon the alter
· Have a white votive candle in the cauldron
· Have rosemary and bay to burn
· Have extra wine
Instructions for the ceremony:
Sweep circle area, lay out altar items, bathe and robe, light alter incense and candles.
Ring the bell three times and say:
The circle is about to be cast and I freely stand within to greet my Lady and my Lord.
Take center candle from altar and light each candle of the circle moving deosil.
(N) I call upon light and Earth at the North to illuminate and strengthen the circle.
(E) I call upon light and Air at the East to illuminate and enliven the circle.
(S) I call upon light and Fire at the South to illuminate and warm the circle.
(W) I call upon light and water at the West to illuminate and cleanse the circle.
Take athame in hand upraised, begin circle at North and move deosil and say:
I draw this circle in the presence of the Goddess and the God, where they may come and bless their children.
Lower the athame at the North and as you walk around the circle, envision a blue light shooting out from the point and forming the circle boundary, and say:
This is the boundary of the circle. Only love shall enter and leave.
Return to the altar and ring bell three times. Place point of athame in the salt and say:
Salt is life and purifying. I bless this creature of salt to be used in this sacred circle in the names of the Goddess and the God.
Pick up salt bowl and use tip of athame to drop three portions of salt into the water bowl and set salt bowl back in it's place. Stir three times with the athame and say:
Let the blessed salt purify this creature of water that it may be blessed to use in this sacred circle. In the names of the Goddess and the God I consecrate and cleanse this water.
Take the salted water bowl in hand and sprinkle water from it as you move deosil around the circle and say:
I consecrate this circle in the names of the Goddess and the God. The circle is conjured a circle of power that is purified and sealed.
So Mote It Be!
Return the water bowl to the altar and pick up the censor; take it around the circle to cense it; return censor to altar. Take anointing oil and make a solar cross, ringed by a circle on your forehead and say:
I, (name), am consecrated in the names of the Goddess and the God, in this their circle.
Each person is anointed and welcomed to the circle.
Take the sword and hold it aloft with both arms open and upraised at the North of the circle and say:
I call upon you, Element of Earth, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have body and strength, we are kith and kin!
Lower sword and move to the East, raise up the sword and say:
I call upon you, Element of Air, to attend this rite and guard this circle. For as I breathe and think, we are kith and kin!
Lower sword and move to the South, raise up sword and say:
I call upon you Element of Fire, to attend and guard this circle. For as I consume life to live, we are kith and kin!
Lower sword and move to the West, raise up sword and say:
I call upon you, Element of Water, to attend and guard this circle. For as I feel and my heart beats, we are kith and kin!
Return to the altar. Use sword to draw the symbol of infinity in the air above the altar, the sign of working between the worlds. Raise up sword in both hands overhead, and say:
Hail to the Elements at the four quarters!
Welcome Lady and Lord to this rite!
I stand between the worlds with love and power all around!
Set down the sword and pick up a goblet of wine. Pour a little into the libation bowl. Ring bell three times and say:
This is the midwinter Feast of Lights. The spring lies within sight and the seed is prepared for sewing.
Ring bell five times and say:
With my besom in my hand I will sweep out that which is no longer needed so as to purify my surroundings and prepare for new growth.
Take up your besom and say:
Clear out the old and let the new enter. Life starts anew at this time of cleansing.
Sweep the circle with outward motions as you walk deosil around the circle, starting and ending at the North. Return besom to the altar. Light cauldrons candle, drop the rosemary and bay into the flame, and say:
I call upon the power of these herbs that their scent released in this cauldron's fire purify me, my surroundings, and the tools of my Craft. With this rite I am reaffirmed in my Craft and made ready for the renewal of life in the coming of Spring.
Wave the end of the besom over the cauldron and say:
May this besom be cleansed that nothing cast out of the circle return with it or cling to it.
So Mote It be!
Set aside besom and say:
As I have purified all within this circle, I am now ready to re-dedicate myself to my Lady and my Lord.
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Re-Dedication Ritual
Arms upraised say:
Lady and Lord, I call out to thee! I hold you in honor and know that I am one with all the things of the Earth and Sky. My kin are the trees and the herbs of the fields, the animals and stones through the seas and the hills. The fresh waters and deserts are built out of thee, and I am of and you are of me.
Lower arms and say:
I call upon you to grant my desire. Let me rejoice in my oneness with all things and let me love the life that emanates from my Lady and my Lord into all things. I know and except the creed: that if I do not have that spark of love within me, I will never find it outside myself, for love is the law and love is the bond! And this do I honor when I give honor to the Lady and Lord.
Kiss your right palm, hold your hand high, and say:
My Lady and my Lord I stand before you both and dedicate myself to your honor. I will defend and protect thy spark within me and seek thy protection and defense of me. You are my life and I am of you. I accept and will ever abide by the principle of harming none, for what is sent returns.
So Mote It Be!
Take up the goblet of wine, slowly pour the remainder of wine into the cauldron, and say:
As this wine drains from the cup, so shall the blood drain from my body should I ever turn away from the Lady and the Lord or harm those in kinship with their love. For to do so would be to break trust, to cast aside the love of the Goddess and the God, and break my own heart. Yet through their continued love I know they would heal my heart and spirit that I might again journey through the cauldron of rebirth to embrace the love they freely give.
So Mote It Be!
Dip forefinger into the anointing oil and again make the sign of the solar cross over the third eye. Then make the sign of the pentagram over your heart, followed by the sacred triangle. Refill the goblet for cakes and wine.
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Cakes and Wine
Ring bell three times. Feet spread and arms upraised, say:
I acknowledge my needs and offer my appreciation to that which sustains me!
May I ever remember the blessings of my Lady and my Lord.
Feet together, take up goblet in left hand and athame in right. Slowly lower the point of the athame into the wine and say:
As male joins female for the benefit of both, let the fruits of their union promote life.
Let the earth be fruitful and let her wealth be spread throughout all lands.
Lay down the athame and drink from the goblet. Replace the goblet on the altar and pick up the athame.
Touch the point of the athame to the cake offering dish and say:
This food is the blessing of the Lady and the Lord given freely to me.
As freely as I have received, may I also give food for the body, mind, and spirit to those who seek such of me.
Eat the food, finish the wine, and say:
As I enjoy these gifts of the Goddess and the God, may I remember that without them I would have nothing.
So mote it be!
When all is finished, hold athame in your power hand level over altar and say:
Lord and Lady, I am blessed by your sharing this time with me,
watching and guarding me, and guiding me here and in all things.
I come in love and depart in love.
Raise up athame in a salute and say:
Love is the law and love is the bond. Merry did I meet, merry do I part, and merry will I meet again.
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!
The circle is now cleared. So mote it be!
Kiss the flat of the blade and set the athame on the altar. Take up the snuffer and go to the north quarter, raised up arms, and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Earth. My blessings take with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing.
Go to the east, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Air. My blessings take with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candles, envision the Elemental Power departing.
Go to the south, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Fire. My blessings go with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing.
Go to the west, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Water. My blessings go with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing.
Return to the altar and set down the snuffer. Raise up arms and say:
Beings and powers of the visible and invisible depart in peace!
You aid in my work, whisper in my mind, and bless me from the Otherworld,
and there is harmony between us. My blessings take with you.
The circle is cleared.
Take up athame, go to the north quarter, point athame down and move widdershins (counter-clockwise)
around circle (N-W-S-E-N). Envision the blue light drawing back into the athame and say:
The circle is open yet the circle remains as its magical power is drawn back into me.
When you return to the north having walked the circle, raise up the athame so the blade touches your forehead and envision the blue light swirling around back into you. Return to altar and say:
The ceremony has ended. Blessings have been given and blessings have been received, may the peace of the Goddess
and the God remain in my heart. So mote it be!
Set down the athame. Put away all magical tools and clear the altar except for candles or any objects that need to burn out or work for a stated time (such as candle magic). The cauldron or libation bowl contents are poured onto the earth (if not in the yard, then into a flowerpot containing soil and perhaps a hardy, leafy green plant).
Or something like that...
