This is a short but lovely and meaningful Coven ritual that I found from
Kate West's book The Real Witches' Coven.
One of the most fun, if
rather messy, ways of enacting the Lammas Ritual is to make a Corn King to
be sacrificed. This can be as
small or as large as you wish, although do note that the larger the King the
more corn you will subsequently have to clear away.
Corn can often be obtained through garden centers or larger florists.
Otherwise try to find a farm and ask the farmer’s permission to take
some. Don’t just help yourself
as this is neither socially nor magically acceptable. Make your King by dividing the corn into 4 mini-sheaves.
As shown opposite two should be tied into one bundle from the top to
half way down for the head and body, and from there they should be tied
separately to make the legs.
One of the others is tied and placed across the body to make the arms.
The last mini sheaf is then folded and added to the head to make is
rounder, and tied in place. The
corn tops should stand up at the top of the head, like hair.
Get as many Coveners as possible to help make the Corn King, as this
emphasizes the sacrifice of their energies.
It’s best to make your Corn King outside, and sufficiently in advance
for you to have more than one go, if it’s your first time!
If you wish you can thread seasonal flowers around his head for a
crown and to make his features.
Find a cloth to cover your King.
On the Altar, and perhaps around the Circle, you can have some
seasonal flowers and fruits.
Instead of cakes, for the Rite of Wine and Cakes, you might like to have a
loaf shaped as a wheat sheaf.
After the Sabbat Explanation everyone stands in Circle, with the Corn
King being kept under his cloth behind the Altar.
The High Priestess stands before the Altar, facing the group, and
says: “This is Lammas, the first of the Harvest, now we see all around us
the signs of the bounty of the Great Mother.
Let us all voice our hopes for the coming season.” She then steps forward to the middle of the area, turns and faces the
Altar and says: “Let the land be fruitful, let the needs of all be met.
Blessed Be." Then each person in turn steps forward and asks for three things; one
personal, one for someone they know, and one for the Land in general.
For example, to complete a personal project, for success for a
friend’s new course of study, for the safety of the habitat of an endangered
species. After each person
states their hopes the High Priestess and everyone else say together: “Let the land be fruitful, let the needs of all be met.
Blessed be.” When everyone has taken their turn the High Priestess says: “We give thanks to the land and to the Mother Goddess and the Father
God, whose bounty sustains us.
But to truly give thanks we must sacrifice, not just of our time and our
thoughts but also to repay the earth." The High Priest steps behind the Altar and brings out the Corn King,
removing his covering cloth.
The High Priest says: “Here is the Corn King, symbol of the coming harvest.
The King that sacrifices his life for the land and for the good of
all. All Hail the Corn King,
Lord of the Harvest.”
“Hail to the Corn King.” Once everyone has greeted him the High Priestess steps forward and
says: “Before we take we must learn to give.
The first of the harvest is the time of sacrifice and therefore we
must give to the earth before we reap of her bounty. The time of sacrifice is now.” At this point the High Priest lays the King upon the ground, on the
sheet that was used to cover him, and everyone steps forwards and plunges
their athamés into him. Care
should be taken that only the Corn King is stabbed; the idea is that he
should be slain, not that anyone else should be injured!
Some of the Altar wine should also be sprinkled on him, to represent
blood. Once he has been slain
the High Priestess says: “Hoof and horn, hoof and horn,
The Rite of Wine and Cakes is performed, but instead of cakes the
Lammas loaf is consecrated and then broken up.
Each person takes a little of the bread.
all that dies shall be reborn.
Corn and grain, corn and grain,
all that falls shall rise again,”
three or more times.