Book of Shadows BlessingPreparation At the time of the Full Moon, take your Book of Shadows (one that hasn't been written in yet) and some incense (pennyroyal, anise or rue) outside.
Ritual Under the light of the Full Moon, draw a pentagram on the first page and under this write the following information: date, time, place, your magickal name (and sigil if you have one), the moon's phase and any other info you feel is important. Hold the book up to the Moon and say...
Here as the Full Moon shines upon me, Bless this Book I've made tonight. I humbly ask this of thee, Underneath your most sacred light.
House Blessing
by Pirate Jenny (c)
Reproduced here with the kind permission of Spirit Online
Assemble: Salt & Water Incense (fire and air) Milk & Honey Oil (for anointing) Wine (for offering) Bells, Pots, Pans, Whistles, etc.
Cast a circle in the main room (livingroom) and after casting, visualize the circle expanding to include the entire house. Call upon the spirits and energies living in the house (or apartment). Invite those who will be harmonious with the new household and its energies to remain. Invite/ask those who will be happier elsewhere to depart. Release all "energies" not compatible with the new household. (This may be expressed as a "release" in order to unbind anything that may be stuck.) Then call upon, greet, and invite ancestors, patron deities, and all harmonious spirits and energies to dwell in the house as they please. Gather up the pots, pans, and all the noise-makers. Go to each door and window, not forgetting the fire-place and dog-door, making as much racket as humanly possible-to shoo out anything unwanted. (This is hysterical fun, and also raises lots of energy for the next important step.) Go again throughout the house and at each portal (door, window, etc.) sprinkle salt-water and cense, saying: "By the Elements I purify and charge this portal." Then anoint the portal with milk and honey, saying: "By Milk and Honey I ensure prosperity and peace within this place." Finally, anoint the portal with oil, saying: "With Oil I seal this portal and protect all within." At the front door a special prayer is said, asking the guardian deities (God & Goddess) to freely grant entry to all friends and loved ones, and to prevent passage (turn aside) to any who would do harm." Then, if it's a house-pour wine across the width of the threshold; if it's an apartment anoint the threshold with light touches of wine. The house-holders then each take a sip of wine, leaving some as an offering to the Gods, and the Circle should be closed. The remaining wine, milk, and honey should be offered to the Gods. (In our case to the fruit tree and the oak tree in our yard.) Addenda: This is very effective if done as part of a house-warming party, followed by much feasting. It has also been done very effectively by two people. It only takes about 30 minutes to do a large house. You can take the time. Do make certain to "ground" afterward, by closing the circle and by eating. This ritual can "stir" up everybody and make the house feel full of "buzzy" energy.
House Blessing Notes In the spirit of house blessings, and because I'm basically a kitchen witch at heart, and like little projects over serious ritual, I offer some selections gleaned from Cunningham's The Magical Household. I'm typing these without permission but with the hope that they'll inspire you to pick up the Cunningham book, because it's wonderful stuff... For the doorway: Suspend over the door a fresh sprig of dill, tied with a blue cord (or red, if you prefer), to prevent those who mean you harm from entering Cross two needles, and stick into or tie onto a corner of your doormat, to prevent evil from entering. Grind Dragon's Blood herb into a powder and sprinkle it on door and window sills, to protect your house from harm.
A home blessing meditation for charging a room
Sit Straight with palms on lap, take deep breaths, relax, and move into a mental space where you activate your intuitive senses, Imagine a cord of energy from your spine connecting you to the Earth, and channel energy from the Earth through it, Silently ask for divine protection, guidance, and blessing, Direct your psychic sensing outward, and feel lines of force coming out of your aura, Note where the strongest energy is (check out the floor,ceiling, directions, etc), Note spots that feel empty or dead, note places that feel full alive, focus on where you are sitting and how you feel at that particular spot, Imagine a sphere of light and love energy at your heart, feel it pulsing outward with every breath. Feel the radiance increase with every breath, feel your self as a star, continue to breathe deeply and send out the energy, letting it pulsate in the room, When ready, start making power sounds representing the love and light you are channeling; use it to amplify the light you are weaving; and fill the room with the energy, Then shift focus to sending a probe out into the room, and note the differences in the quality of energy and how you feel about it, Repeat if necessary, When done, feel the completeness of the work.
A room blessing involving elemental quarter invocations
Taught by Selena Fox at Esotericon V, in January 1988.
Face each direction (with arms out in appropriate elemental invoking gesture), and say, while channeling and visualizing elemental power: "Powers of (say direction), Powers of (say corresponding element), We greeat you, we honor you, we welcome you here! - Watch over and bless and protect this place." After each invocation, shape the energy into columns of light by sweeping ones arms together until they are parallel and sweeping them up and down while channeling and shaping the energy, When the energy is properly shaped, say so "mote it be." After you have done all four quarters, channel in spirit energy. To return the energy to a more mellow state while energizing yourself, put your hands out and take in a bit of the energy into your self from each direction, going widdershins, hold hands to your heart and take in the energy (techniques also exist for bringing it into a stone and retrieving it when needed).
Blessing of a traveller
Herbert, Frank; "Dune"; Berkley 1985
Starhawk; "The Spiral Dance: Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Goddess"; HarperRow 1979
Valiente, Doreen; "Witchcraft for Tomorrow"; Phoenix Publishing 1985
Farrar, Janet and Stewart; "Eight Sabbats For Witches"; Robert Hale 1983
Seastrider
Preparation: The chalice should be filled with wine, anointing oil is needed. The person being blessed stands in front of the altar with their back to it. They cross their wrists while holding them close to their breast. The Priest(ess) stands in front of them and says...
"Artemis, queen of night In all your beauty bright, Shine on us here, And with your silver beam Unlock the gates of dream; Rise bright and clear. On Earth and sky and sea, Your magic mystery Its spell shall cast, Wherever leaf may grow, Wherever tide may flow, Till all be past. O secret queen of power, At this enchanted hour We ask your boon. May fortune's favor fall Upon true witches all, O Lady Moon!
The Priest(ess) kneels before her and gives her the Five Fold Kiss; that is, s/he kisses her on both feet, both knees, womb or phallus, both breasts, and the lips, starting with the right of each pair. S/He says, as s/he does this...
"Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways. Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar. Blessed be thy sex, without which we would not be. Blessed be thy breasts, formed in strength and in beauty. Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names."
For the kiss on the lips, they embrace, lengthtolength, with their feet touching each others. When the priest(ess) reaches the womb, the recipient spreads her arms wide, and the same after the kiss on the lips. Then the Priest(ess) touches her with his right forefinger on her right breast, left breast, and womb, repeats the set and finally the right breast. The Priest(ess) steps backwards. The Priest(ess) then makes an X mark on the initiates forehead, breast and genitals while saying...
"May your mind be free. May your heart be free. May your body be free."
The Priest(ess) holds the chalice close to their heart and feeds power into the wine. When they can feel it glow, it is ready. S/He says...
"All life is your own, All fruits of the Earth Are fruits of your womb, Your union, your dance. Lady and Lord, We thank you for blessings and abundance. Join with us, Feast with us, Enjoy with us! Blessed Be."
The Priest(ess) and the person share the wine. The priest(ess)says...
"Artemis, protector of youths, Look down upon this person, Protect them and help them. Athena, grey eyed goddess of wisdom, Give this person the understanding to chose the right course. Manannan and Poseidon, keepers and watchers of deep waters, Grant fair winds, and following seas as they travel through your domains. Mercury, god of travellers, Protect this person from those who would beset them."
The Priest(ess) says...
"When you are frightened, remember this chant: "I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see it's path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." "Blessed Be"
Final kiss on forehead.
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