This page lists several spells and rituals that I, personally, have used; lots of them have been created by from various authors. It credits those authors at the bottom of the page. The links at the top are to various bits of information necessary to performing any magickal working.
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Preferred on January 1, the Seven Deities of Luck were honored in Japan on this day, as was the goddess Fortuna in Rome. This spell works best on a Full Moon.Candles needed: an astral candle to represent yourself
An orange candle for change
Silver or light gray to represent neutralization of bad luck
Black to represent bad luck itself
Magenta to hurry the luck changing process.Anoint the candles with a good purification or blessing oil, such as lotus, and set them in holders on a safe surface. Anoint the black candle from the end to the wick; by this action you are moving the bad luck away from you. Anoint the others from the wick to the end; this brings in what you desire. The candles will be allowed to burn completely out, so be sure that you can leave them safely.
Begin:
Light the astral candle representing yourself, and say:
This is me, everything that represents me.
Light the black candle, and say:This is my bad luck. It now leaves me. I shed no tears over the
parting.
Light the gray candle and say:
This will neutralize any remnants of bad luck. They will dissolve into nothingness.
Light the orange candle and say:
This represents the changes for good that are coming into my life. I welcome them with open arms.
Light the magenta candle and say:
This is the astral energy I need to speed up the change.
Now sit for several minutes, repeating to yourself:
I welcome change. I welcome the incoming good.
Leave the candles to burn out completely. Dispose of wax afterward. You may find that certain friends will drop away after this ritual. This merely indicates that the friendship was not to your good. Be prepared to release whatever moves out of your life.**************************************************************
Everyone has a protector, individual and family collective. If you think you don't get help from yours, perhaps you need to give them a little more attention and praise. Use statues, bowls of stones, or other focal objects as a habitation for the family protectors.This ritual is best during the waxing moon. Gather the following objects on your altar. Choose incense that reminds you of herbs, forests, and green growing things. Put a green candle in a holder and lay your wand beside it.
Decorate the immediate area around your symbol with pine cones, small statues of deer or other forest animals, ivy, holly, or something similar. Clean the guardian symbol so it hasn't any dust or dirt on it. If the symbol is small enough set it on the altar or next to it.
Light the incense and candle. Stand before your altar and say:
Guardian spirits, I invite you to join me here at this altar.
You are my friends, ,and I wish to thank you.
Take the incense and circle the guardian symbol three times, moving clockwise.I thank you for the atmosphere you help to keep clean and pleasant in this home.
Move the candle clockwise around the symbol three times.
I thank you for the light you send to purify and dispel the darkness.
With the wand in your power hand, encircle the symbol three times clockwise.
I ask for your continued help and protection for me, my family, my pets, and my property. I ask that you drive away trouble-makers, thieves, and other, physical and non-physical, who are bent on evil disruptive purposes. I thank you for your friendship and love.
Stand with your arms raised and say:
Lovely Goddess, Lord of the Greenwood, I present to you the guardian of this house, the special spirit I have invited into my home. I honor this guardian in this symbol of its being. Bless this guardian. And to your blessings, I add my thanks for its protection and friendship.
If you have more than one guardian, change all the its to their and so on. Spend a few moments lovingly caressing the symbol, mentally expressing that the guardian is important to you. If you have provided food and drink, invite your guardian friends to party with you. Talk with them, being sensitive to feathery caresses and mental whispers. When you are finished, thank them for their presence at your ritual.**************************************************************
OF BATTERED WOMEN & CHILDREN
On the Full Moon, there is a festival for Ch’ang-O, ruled over the bedchamber and protector of Children. Offerings of crescent moon cakes called Yue-Ping were left for her. When you go to your altar, have a special desire in mind, one that really means something to you. Remember, no concern or emotion, no results. An example listed below is shelter for battered women.
Set up your altar with a central white candle; sandalwood incense; a round mirror; a white bowl with some salt; a glass or goblet with a little water; a wand or willow twig; a white bowl containing, white cookies; a glass of a pale beverage. Place four white candles in holders around your ritual area, one marking each cardinal direction. Be sure to leave ample room to move around without running the risk of setting your robe on fire!
Stand before your altar and breathe deeply, centering your mind on the reason for this ritual. Visualize the Full Moon above you; breathe its white light down inside your body. Feel its tingling energy spreading out from your lungs into your blood, your bones, your flesh. When you feel ready, say:
The Moon arises! The Goddess draws near!
Her powerful presence is with me!
Hold your power hand over the salt:
Blessed by this salt.
Move your hand over the glass of water:
Blessed be this water.
Add a pinch of salt to the water and swirl the glass three times clockwise. Hold the glass up toward the visualized Moon.
Cold fire of the Moon, purify this altar with your power.
Sprinkle a few drops at each corner of the altar. Then, moving clockwise, sprinkle around the edges of your ritual area. Replace the glass on the altar. Then light the white candle, saying:
Beloved Moon, lamp of the night, let his be a symbol of your light.
Using the altar candle and beginning in the east, light each perimeter candle, saying:
Behold, the Lady's light appears to guide her children.
Replace the candle on the altar, and take up the round mirror. Begin in the east and move clockwise around the area. Hold the mirror at heart level, reflecting the surface pointing outward.
Lands and people of the East; heed my desire.
Let there be freedom for your women!
Move to the South:Lands and people of the South, hear my words.
Give your women respect!
Move to the West:Lands and people of the West, listen to my warning.
Grant your women equality!
Stand facing the North:Land and people of the North, be aware.
Protect your women and give them safety!
Return to the altar and turn the mirror so you see your own face reflected in it. Look deeply into your own eyes. Feel the indignity deep within you that demands that this problem be solved.
I am a daughter (son) of the Moon Goddess. She who sees all. My heart weeps with Her over the injustices we do to each other, especially to women and children. I call upon the Goddess of the Moon to aid these women and little ones. Shelter them with Your Hands, Lady. Guide them with Your wisdom. Lead them out of terror and pain and darkness into Your light!
Lay aside the mirror. Close your eyes and reach skyward. Let your body be a pipeline for the healing, balancing energy of the Moon Goddess. Let this energy flow down through you into the earth. Feel it soak through your feet, right down through the floor and into the ground.When you feel the timing is right, open your eyes and look about your lighted ritual area. If you can, without having nosy neighbors calling the police, shout:
Freedom! Protection! Equality! Respect! Safety!
Put all your feelings into these words. Shout them as long as you need to release your emotions.When you feel pleasantly exhausted, the intense emotions gone, do something that makes you happy about what you have done: laugh, sing, dance, whatever. Then eat your Moon cookies and drink your Moon beverage. This is a good time to quietly commune with the Moon and the Goddess on a more personal level.
When you wish to close your ritual, go to the perimeter candles, beginning with the east and moving clockwise. As you extinguish each candle, say:
Carry my message to all people.
Let the Moons light open their eyes to truth and justice.
Stand once more before the altar and raise your arms skyward.
Lovely Lady of the Moon, bless and purify me with your light.
Thank you for empowering me this night.
Throw a kiss up to the Moon. Extinguish the altar candle.**************************************************************
In Rome, they celebrate the Day of Tacita, the silent goddess who averted harmful gossip. This what you will need to petition her protection and to ask her to help you avoid causing such harm to others.You will need three candles (black, magenta, and green) and holders for your altar. Burn a success incense, such as wisteria or heliotrope. Have ready a little patchouli, mint and rose oils.
If you are dealing with a specific gossiping person, carve his or her name in the black candle with your knife. If you don't know whom the gossip is, carve “all gossip”. Anoint the black candle from the end to the wick with patchouli oil. While anointing it, concentrate on the removal of all damaging gossip from your life. Donut specify how this is to be done, but trust in the Goddess and the God for the correct solution. Place the black candle in the holder in the center of the altar.
Anoint the magenta and green candles from the wick to the end with mint and/or rose oil. While anointing them, concentrate on positive energies coming into your life. Place these candles on your altar, the magenta to the left of the black candle, the green to the right.
Never spell or ask for removal of anything in your life without spelling or asking also for a replacement by something positive. Nature abhors a vacuum and will fill it. Better you should have it filled with positives than for the negatives to return, usually stronger than before.
Spend a few moments breathing in white light and expelling darkness with each breath. Hold the palms of your hands toward the candles and chant:
Gossip does not harm or bind me.
Evil words come not near me.
I am light. I am truth. I am love.
Repeat these words, three, five, seven or nine times. Feel their positive meaning sink into your subconscious mind. Know that you are building a shield of protection around you, a shield built out of positive energy so strong that negatives can't get through. Leave the candles in a safe place to burn out. Dispose of the wax.**************************************************************
Everyone has land boundaries, whether a house with lands or an apartment. These boundaries need to be respected and protected. By blessing them, you can strengthen your protection against intruders of all kinds; unwanted and unwelcome visitors, stalkers, burglars, noisy neighbors, intruding religious peddlers, and sales people!If you can, or feel brave enough to walk the boundaries of your property great, if you live in an apartment and you feel your ritual may be noticed, walk through every room of your house.
OUTSIDE:
If you can walk the boundaries outside, take a bowl of white cornmeal. Hold it up to the Sun or Moon and ask the Gods/Goddess to bless it for you. Beginning to the left of your entrance move clockwise, lightly sprinkling the cornmeal as you go. Chant:
Blessings and honor to all who guard my boundaries
Blessings and thanks for your help and protection.
May my property and dwelling be safe under your care.
I offer you friendship and blessings.
When you come to the starting point, sprinkle some across the entrance path to your home, that will act as a double barrier.It is helpful to build a shrine or home for your guardians by the door. It can be anything from a potted plant, a shrub, a collection of stones it encourages the guardians to stay in full view of your home. Just make sure you attend to their home, never let it get cluttered with leaves and such, for you could offend them by your forgetfulness.
INSIDE:
Bless the cornmeal just the same, and then from the doorway of your apartment, begin with each room to the left if possible, if not, trace each room beginning from the left of each door. Some just do the outer perimeters of the apartment (if yours is that big), Go to each room repeating the chant as above and when you come back to the main entrance, sprinkle some of the cornmeal on the threshold of the door. Inside the door, keep a potted plant or a gathering of rocks on a table or ledge so they will have a place to reside.
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One green taper candle, mint or honeysuckle oil, and some play money. Choosing the largest denomination of play money you can get.
Two days before the Full Moon, take the green candle to your altar. Carve several dollar signs or the money rune into the candle, thinking of a more prosperous life as you do so. Anoint the candle with the essential oil by rubbing it from the wick down to the end. Set it in the middle of your altar and light it.
Spread out the “money” in front of the burning candle. Sort it out by denominations, or in piles of each bill or purchase you would like to take care of. Spend at least five to ten minutes thinking about how you would responsibly use this money. Then extinguish the candle.
The next night light the candle again and shuffle through the “money”. After ten or fifteen minutes, extinguish the candle. The third night, the night of the Full Moon, go through the ritual another time, but this time let the candle burn completely out after you have finished sorting the “money”.
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I have actually performed a simplified version of this when in an emotional pinch. Just take a green candle, invoke the spirit of the guardians to hear and guide you. Ask for the Lady to hear you, she will be there for you. Express your distress, everything you have in you if money is that bad, weep if necessary, get it out of your system. The stress you keep inside you will only act as a hindrance towards any mobility the spirit might have to correct it.
Once you have released your tension, tell the candle your worries/sorrows in the lack of money, express why this has distressed you so. Light the candle, let it burn itself out. See with the falling wax your worries and problems falling away. In the smoke comes the imagination and insight necessary to fix this.Then ask the Lady for assistance/or specifically money to be given to you in a way that will harm none, such as a donation or a gift. (Be careful how you phrase this, you don't want your Uncle Joe to pass away suddenly so you may have an inheritance prematurely!) See the assistance or money being put to that stressful purpose, (e.g. bills, car repairs, home repairs, food, etc.) See yourself with all this relieved but you still have a little left over to squirrel away so you may avoid this tension later!
Within a couple of days you should receive your break, whether it be money from a friend, or a credit from a bill, or your insurance will suddenly pay for that car repair, so mote it be!
Once received (and mine kept coming for 5 days!), be sure to return back to the candle, the spirits, and the Lady who assisted you and thank them, be generous with your offering to them for they have been generous to you. Remember that in order to receive, one must first give.
If you do not see results within 5 days, try again. My results happened the very next day and continued in various means to solve my very big dilemma for 5 days.
Thank the Lady for her generosity!!!**************************************************************
The Liberalia in Rome was a women's festival of freedom. This dates back from a matriarchal society, for Roman women, although freer than the women of Greece, still were not free according to today's definitions.Today it is a festival for freedom and control over their lives and destinies. In many countries women are still bought and sold like cattle, their bodies mutilated for some “higher” beliefs, are forced to bear children even though it is medically unsound for them to do so and are beaten or put to death for refusing their husbands.
This festival covers all people terrorized and abused by dictators, falsely imprisoned, locked by economics into poor living conditions; any circumstance where people simply cannot do much to avoid or change the feeling of being without freedom.
Wait until the Dark Moon, you will need a black candle, a fireproof bowl, a pair of scissors, a pen or pencil, two small pieces of paper and a small piece of string.
Light the black candle. Write your name on a small piece of paper and the other will consist of the person, place or thing which you feel is trapping your situation for freedom. Tie the two papers together with a length of string.
Picture yourself and how this other entity has been effecting your life. After you have that in your mind, picture what your life would be like without that entity in it. See the life that you would make it to be, if only you could________, you would be free.
Now, imagine that entity leaving your life, if it is a person, see them occupied with something else so as not to harm them. You need to stress this point for you do not want to wish ill against someone or thing just make it think that they would be happier without you in their lives. Then both receive a positive outcome.
When you have this thought in your head, set the pages you've bound aflame from the candle and place them in the bowl.
Once the papers have disintegrated, picture yourself filled with the freedom, the chance to do what it is you need to do to accomplish this. See the possibilities as a reality and do them.
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This can be done at any time, there is so much civil strife and uneasiness that people must remember to ask for peace.Burn jasmine incense and light a blue candle. Chant:
We strive toward Spirit again and again,
With faltering steps, unsure of the way.
Open the gates of enlightenment.
Make for us a new day
Of karmic purpose and goal,
A path to a new Earth soul.
Sit quietly visualizing a blue cloud of healing and peace slowly covering the Earth. If you have a specific area, work on mentally permeating that area with the blue cloud. Send out vibrations of love, understanding, cooperation, and peace. Donut visualize how this is to be done, just that it will. Follow the blue cloud of peace with a pink fog of universal love. Say:
Let there be peace among all lands.
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Let there be harmony among all peoples.
Cosmic love enters every heart and mind.
All strife is replaced by peace.
By the powers of the Supreme Creator within me,
It is so!
Often times, we as witches/pagans find ourselves defending our rights as a pagan. We are continuously hit by vicious slander from conservative Christian groups that chose not to educate themselves before condemning another human being.Some of us have received hate mail, threatening phone calls, isolation from the social circles of our communities down to problems with your own friends and families.
The first step to relieve this is to banish all negative vibrations that have been sent to you, as well as build a wall of protection around you and all things yours (i.e.: family, friends, pets, home, etc.) Plus, in the real world we must be conscience of the violence that has taken over on our planet, be smart, protect your physical self, notify the authorities and insist they uphold the law. Freedom of religion is a constitutional right.
The second step is to ask the Gods/Goddesses for their assistance in helping the world recognize and accept religious freedom as humane.
Burn jasmine incense and light a blue candle. Saying:
Problems have come, not all of my making.
Enemies gather to bring my downfall.
Great Ones, protect me. Grant me courage.
Build up a powerful wall.
Teach me self-discipline. Help me clean out my life.
Rid me of negatives, problems, and strife.
Sit quietly and visualize yourself clothed in an impenetrable blue armor. From this armor radiates a pink glow that touches the hearts and minds of prejudiced people, making them realize that you have a right to your spiritual path. Keep moving the pink glow out farther and farther until in encircles the world. Saying:
Every person is different. Their needs are unique.
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Each spiritual pathway meets a need of a soul.
Each one travels alone to seek for their God.
Merging with One is the ultimate goal.
Send spiritual freedom for all.
Great Ones, answer my call.
The Norse god Thorr, known as the Thunderer and the High Thunderer, was considered to be a champion of the gods and an enemy of the Giants and Trolls. His symbols of his magick hammer Mjollnir are still worn today. He ruled over strength, law and order, defense, oaks, goats, thunder, lightning, storms, weather, crops, trading voyages, water, courage, trust, revenge, protection, and battle. Legends say that he struck the clouds to release the rains needed for crops.If you have a Thorr’s hammer pendant wear it for this ritual. Have a sword or a spear at hand; if you don't have these, use your ritual dagger. Give yourself plenty of room if you do this inside. If you want, you can go outside. However, don't go outdoors carrying any metal tools during a thunderstorm. Lightning is attracted by metal! Take with you a bucket or pitcher of water.
Decide upon the center point of your working area. Move to the East, with your sword in hand, the pitcher of water in the other. Stab towards the sky with your sword. You have to put a lot of emotion into this ritual.
Thorr of the Mighty Hammer, send the moisture laden winds over this land (pour out a little water) Release their waters gently.
Move to the South and stab with the sword.
Thorr of the Battle Chariot, withhold the celestial fire. (Pour out a little water) Keep back the lightning from the dry and parched Earth.
Go to the West and stab with a sword
Thorr, whose beard is the red of the evening sunset,
Awaken the Water Elementals (Pour out a little water) Ride before them in your goat drawn chariot.
Finally, go to the North and stab with the sword
Mighty Thorr, friend of all humans,
Stand again in the center of your working area. Lay aside the sword and begin slowly turning clockwise. At the same time, throw handfuls of the remaining water out of the pitcher and into the air. Pour the last drops onto the ground. Set aside the pitcher, and jump or dance around the area, singing, “Thorr and rain, come again!” Imagine yourself dancing in the rain. When you feel pleasantly exhausted, give thanks to Thorr and the Water Elementals for hearing you.
Crack the storm clouds with your hammer.
(Pour out a little water) Let the rumbling thunder open the water filled clouds.
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a lover's blessing...
Moon phase: New moon
Materials:- altar candles (gold and silver for deities)
- quarter candles and sigils
- statues representing the three phases of the Triple Goddess
- statue representing the Horned Consort (Pan)
- bell
- incense of musk
- a vial of Sandalwood oil (to be charged in ritual)
- a mirror
- a pink candle (for young love)
- two white candles
- Athame
- chalice of wine
During this ritual, the only two present are the lovers; both are skyclad (nude). As this was performed at my own residence, a place where many rituals have been performed, I deemed it unnecessary for any cleansing of the location and of ourselves (both already bathed prior).I bless your mind, for your thoughts of loveINVOCATIONS OF THE QUARTERS
O mighty Sylves, guardians of the East and powers of Air, in the name of the old ones do I call forth your presence and your guidance. The gate of the East is open. I bid you hail and welcome!
O mighty Salamanders, guardians of the South and powers of Fire, in the name of the old ones do I call forth your presence and your guidance. The gate of the South is open. I bid you hail and welcome!
O mighty Undines, guardians of the West and powers of Water, in the name of the old ones do I call forth your presence and your guidance. The gate of the West is open. I bid you hail and welcome!
O mighty Gnomes, guardians of the North and powers of Earth, in the name of the old ones do I call forth your presence and your guidance. The gate of the North is open. I bid you hail and welcome!
The circle is complete...we are in a time that is not a time and a place that is not a place. Blessed be!
INVOCATIONS OF THE LADY IN HER THREE FOLD ASPECT
She who is the maiden, the girl on the brink of womanhood, I call you Bridget. I ask for your presence as Maid on this new beginning.
*ring bell*She who is the mother of us all, the giver of life, I call you Aradia. I ask for your presence as Mother to guide my steps.
*ring bell*She who is the crone, the woman of wisdom, I call you Hecate. I ask for your presence as Crone to give me the knowledge for all that I do.
*ring bell*Hail and Welcome!
INVOCATION TO THE LORD
He who is the Lord of the Forest, the Consort of the Lady, the Sacrifice, the son, I call you Pan and ask for your presence and guidance.
*ring bell*Hail and Welcome!
STATEMENT OF INTENT
On this night I will be offering several gifts to my lover - as a sign of my love. May the Lord and Lady guide my secret works this evening.
...My first gift to you is to have you seen as I see you.
A REFLECTION OF YOU
As one of the gifts that I offer to you - I would like you to look into this mirror, and tell me what you see, then tell me what you think I see in you. This is a gift I offer, for I think each of us has a harsh image of themselves. When I say "You are beautiful", I want you to know what that means, and why I say it. I don't want the words to make you frown in disagreement over the complexes you may have of yourself and for myself as well.
When I hold up the mirror to you, I want you to tell me what you see and how you see yourself in your own eyes - and then from my eyes.
When done - I will do the same.
Each person will then say what they see, good or bad without feeling like what they say is wrong or untrue. Let them say exactly what they feel.
...My second gift is my blessing of you in the form of anointing you with oil.
CHARGING OF THE OIL.
On the altar, I have a vial of Sandalwood oil that I will charge. This will be done with "Om-ing" and a release of the energy into the vial.
ANOINTING OF YOUR LOVER
Have your lover stand before you
(skyclad is preferred since it is the body and soul that you are anointing with oil as a sign of your love.)As you say each line - anoint the area with oil from your fingertips.
I bless your eyes for seeing me as I am
I bless your lips for your words of love and the softness of your kiss
I bless your shoulders for bearing the weight of love
I bless your heart for feeling love for me
I bless your breasts for the comfort they offer to me
I bless your arms for holding me in love
I bless your hands for the pleasure and comfort they give to me
I bless your womb and yoni (penis for male) for the secrets of pleasure
& wonder they contain
I bless your legs for the weight and responsibilities of love
I bless your feet for bringing you on the path to me.
...My third gift to my lover, a single flame to signify our union in love.LIGHTING OF OUR UNION
From the flames of the altar candles, signifying the Lord and Lady - we each light a single white candle of our own and from our two flames we lit a single pink candle together as a sign of our young love - newly begun.
A TOAST TO OUR UNION
We then drank from the chalice of wine each holding the chalice together and drinking from the same spot on the chalice. So our lips drank as one. We drank to new beginnings.
THANKS AND FAREWELL TO THE LADY
Bridget, Aradia, Hecate - Goddess in her triple form - each their own and each one, We thank you for your presence, guidance and blessing on our promise made here this evening. Go if you must ...stay if you will, we bid you Hail and Farewell!
THANKS AND FAREWELL TO THE LORD
Pan, Lord of the Forest, lover to the Goddess, We thank you for your presence, guidance and blessing on our promise made here this evening. Go if you must...stay if you will, we bid you Hail and Farewell!
CLOSING OF THE QUARTERS
O mighty Sylves, Guardians of the East and powers of Air.
I thank you for your presence and magic this evening,
Go if you must ... stay if you will,
The gate of the East is closed...I bid you Hail and FarewellO mighty Salamanders, Guardians of the South and powers of Fire
I thank you for your presence and magic this evening,
Go if you must...stay if you will,
The gate of the South is closed...I bid you Hail and FarewellO mighty Undines, Guardians of the West and powers of Water
I thank you for your presence and magic this evening,
Go if you must...stay if you will,
The gate of the West is closed...I bid you Hail and FarewellO mighty Gnomes, Guardians of the North and powers of Earth
I thank you for your presence and magic this evening,
Go if you must...stay if you will,
The gate of the North is closed...I bid you Hail and Farewell
THE CIRCLE IS OPEN BUT UNBROKEN
MERRY MEET, MERRY PART, AND MERRY MEET AGAIN.Please note that this ritual was reformatted, there is an option to consummate your union with your lover in sacred space.
~ ritual created by Chrionna Paistin Ni Graham
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Strengthening Family
~a ritual for childrenThis ritual was created by my eight year old sons for Family Strength.
Moon phase: Full Moon in Pisces (creativity)
Materials:
- for each person: 3 sticks of equal measure & one large rectangular piece of paper to wrap around the sticks as a cone
- crayons, markers, or paint
- scotch tape
- scrap pieces of paper
- cauldron
- matches (please supervise your children during this ritual!)
- altar decorations for a full moon
- a pencil
- athame or wand
- a lit candle (once again, supervision is necessary!)
INVOCATIONS OF THE QUARTERS
O mighty Sylves, guardians of the East and powers of Air, in the name of the old ones do I call forth your presence and your guidance. The gate of the East is open. I bid you hail and welcome!
O mighty Salamanders, guardians of the South and powers of Fire, in the name of the old ones do I call forth your presence and your guidance. The gate of the South is open. I bid you hail and welcome!
O mighty Undines, guardians of the West and powers of Water, in the name of the old ones do I call forth your presence and your guidance. The gate of the West is open. I bid you hail and welcome!
O mighty Gnomes, guardians of the North and powers of Earth, in the name of the old ones do I call forth your presence and your guidance. The gate of the North is open. I bid you hail and welcome!
The circle is complete...we are in a time that is not a time and a place that is not a place. Blessed be!
INVOCATION OF THE MOTHER GODDESS
Mother Elihoni, Indian Goddess of Earth. She who created the animals and beings with her breath, the waters and oceans with her tears. She who is the land and carries all beings upon her back. We call to you dear Mother and ask that you bless us, watch and guide us tonight as we endeavor to strengthen our family and in doing so, strengthen our bonds with you. Be welcome in our circle tonight. Blessed be!
INVOCATION TO THE LORD OF THE FOREST
Mighty Cernnunos, Father and spirit of the woods and all creatures who abide within. Lord of the animal spirit that reigns within each of us. We call to you Father and ask that you bless us, watch and guide us tonight as we look to strengthen and protect our family and in doing so, connect with the animal spirit of Bear within us. Be welcome in our circle tonight. Blessed be!
STATEMENT OF INTENT
My sons and I decided to perform a full moon Esbat to celebrate our family. Being that the moon was in Pisces (creativity), we opted to make a symbol of our home and charge it to strengthen our family. My sons decided we could make tee-pees out of sticks from our backyard for the frame, and paper for the walls of the tent. We would then decorate this tee-pee with symbols that represented each of the members of our family.
But, being as this was for children, they also wanted something for themselves as well. So, I opted to have a piece of paper that we may inscribe a wish and "om" to charge it with the tee-pee, then breathe on the paper and burn it in the cauldron to release the wish. The wish was of course with the "harm none" clause stated prior to writing it down.
MAGICKAL WORKING
After having all of your supplies within the circle and have begun, ask each person to draw on the large paper symbols of your family members and what you think is the best thing about your family.
Once done, take the three sticks and form a tripod with them, fastening them together with the tape. You will need alot of tape to wrap around them and bind them together so they remain standing on their own.
Now, take the drawing and wrap it around itself to form a cone that is open at the top a smidge as well. Tape the paper in this position well.
Place the paper cone on top of the tripod sticks and you now have a tee-pee!
For the wish, remembering that your wish will harm none in will or intent or completion of said wish, have each person write their wish on the small piece of paper with the pencil. And fold the paper in half when done.
Placing the tee-pees and papers on the altar, begin a round "om" until you feel the energy has charged the air around you. (help your children with this visualization - like a cloud of blue static above their heads, it feels like a tickle in your nose when you do it right)
Release the energy into the tee-pees and paper on the altar by thrusting your arms out, palms down and facing these items. Exhale sharply until all of the energy pent up is released and you feel it leave you.
Take the wish paper and then exhale on it to mark it with your essence, once done, carefully burn the paper in your candle (we used our Brigit's candle) to release the wish to the Fates.
Now ground - to help your children, picture yourself a tree. A tall tree. Place your feet apart and picture them the roots of the tree. Put your arms up to the sky and picture them as the branches of the tree. Now, sway with the breeze and picture birds swooping down and plucking things from your branches - that would be the extra energy. Image any other extra energy you don't need sliding down inside you through the truck of the tree and down to the roots. Feel it leave through the roots and back to Mother Earth to be used again at another time. Continue this visualization until all of the extra energy has been released.
THANKS AND FAREWELL TO THE LADY
Mother Elihoni, thank you for your guidance and presence here this evening. May your magick here keep our family strong. Go if you must...stay if you will, we bid ou Hail and Farewell!
THANKS AND FAREWELL TO THE LORD
Cernnunos, Father of the forest, Lord of the animal spirit Bear. We thank you for your presence and strength here this evening. Go if you must...stay if you will, we bid you Hail and Farewell!
CLOSING OF THE QUARTERS
O mighty Sylves, Guardians of the East and powers of Air.
I thank you for your presence and magic this evening,
Go if you must ... stay if you will,
The gate of the East is closed...I bid you Hail and FarewellO mighty Salamanders, Guardians of the South and powers of Fire
I thank you for your presence and magic this evening,
Go if you must...stay if you will,
The gate of the South is closed...I bid you Hail and FarewellO mighty Undines, Guardians of the West and powers of Water
I thank you for your presence and magic this evening,
Go if you must...stay if you will,
The gate of the West is closed...I bid you Hail and FarewellO mighty Gnomes, Guardians of the North and powers of Earth
I thank you for your presence and magic this evening,
Go if you must...stay if you will,
The gate of the North is closed...I bid you Hail and Farewell
THE CIRCLE IS OPEN BUT UNBROKEN
MERRY MEET, MERRY PART, AND MERRY MEET AGAIN.~created by Brendan, Malcolm and Chrionna Paistin Ni Graham
**************************************************************
A Pagan Carmina Gadelica
by Mike NicholsNote: The original Carmina Gadelica was a collection of Celtic folk prayers, charms, rituals, and omens. They were collected in the late 1800's in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by folklorist Alexander Carmichael and published in a six-volume set. Carmichael himself admits that many of these are Pagan in origin with only a thin Christian overlay. I have merely tried to restore them to something akin to their original charm, mystery and beauty.
Part I: Invocations
Part II: Seasons
RUNE BEFORE A RITUAL (1)
Part I: Achaine (Invocations)
RUNE BEFORE A RITUAL (1)
THE LADY WITH ME LYING DOWN (2)
INVOCATION OF THE CHARMS (3)
A GENERAL INVOCATION (4)
LADY BE WITH US (5)
LADY, THOU GATE OF LIFE (6)
SILVER LADY OF THE SKY (7)
A RUNE (8)
RUNE OF THE 'MUTHAIRN' (9)
BLESS, O MISTRESS OF MAGIC (10)
THE SILVER LIGHT OF FAERIE (11)
A SPELL FOR GRACE (12)
SPELL FOR PROTECTION (13)
DANU WHO OUGHT TO BE PRAISED (14)
THE CIRCLE OF CIRCLES (15)
THE LIGHTENER OF THE STARS (16)
THE PENTACLE OF THE GOD AND THE GODDESS (17)
THE SPIRIT GUIDE (18)
DESIRES (19)
LUSTRATION FOR JUSTICE (20-23)
BATHING SPELL (24)
SPELL FOR GUIDANCE (25)
SLEEP BLESSING (26)
COME I THIS DAY (27)
THE SPIRIT PLAINT (28)
SLEEPING SPELL (29)
THE GIFTS OF THE THREE (30)
SLEEP PRAYER (31)
RESTING BLESSING (32)
SLEEP CONSECRATION (33)
BED BLESSING (34)
THE SLEEP BLESSING (35)
SLEEP CONSECRATION (36-37)
THE SPIRIT SHRINE (38)
SPIRIT-SHRINE (39)
I LIE IN MY BED (40)
MORNING RUNE (41)
THE DEDICATION (42)
RESTING RUNE (43)
COVEN PROTECTING (44)
BLESSING OF HOUSE (45)
TO WHOM SHALL I OFFER OBLATION (46)
HAIL, BRIGIT (47)
HAIL TO THEE, DANU (48)
THE BATTLE TO COME (49)
THE SEINING BLESSING (50)
THE DEATH BLESSING (51-53)
THE NEW MOON (54)I am bowing my head
In the eye of the Mother who gave me birth,
In the eye of the Maiden who loves me,
In the eye of the Crone who guides me in wisdom,In friendship and affection.
Through thy gift of nature, O Goddess,
Bestow upon us fullness in our need.Love towards the Lady,
The affection of the Lady,
The laughter of the Lady,
The wisdom of the Lady,
The passion of the Lady,
The blessing of the Lady,
And the magic of the LadyTo do in the world of Abred,
As the Ageless Ones do in Gwynfyd;Each shade and light,
Each day and night,
Each moment in kindness,
Grant us Thy Sight.
THE LADY WITH ME LYING DOWN (2)
The Lady with me lying down,
The Lady with me rising up,
The Lady with me in each ray of light,
Nor I a ray of joy without Her.Nor one ray without Her.
The Goddess with me sleeping,
The Goddess with me waking,
The Goddess with me watching,
Every day and night,Each day and night.
The Mother with me protecting,
The Crone with me directing,
The Maiden with me perfecting,
For this time and for all times,So mote it be!
Goddess of Love,So mote it be!
INVOCATION OF THE CHARMS (3)
[to a Bride on her Handfasting]I bathe thy palms
In showers of wine,
In the lustral fire,
In the five elements,
In the juice of the rasps,
In the milk of honey,
And I place the nine pure charms
In thy fair fond face,The charm of form,
The charm of voice,
The charm of fortune,
The charm of goodness,
The charm of wisdom,
The charm of generosity,
The charm of choice maidenliness,
The charm of beauty,
The charm of fair speech.Dark is yonder city,
Dark are those therein,
Thou art the brown swan,
Going in among them.
Their hearts are under thy control,
Their tongues are beneath thy sole,
Nor will they ever utter a wordTo give thee offence.
A shade art thou in the heat,
A shelter art thou in the cold,
Eyes art thou to the blind,
A staff art thou to the pilgrim,
An island art thou at sea,
A fortress art thou on land,
A well art thou in the desert,Health art thou to the ailing.
Thine is the skill of the Fairy Women,
Thine is the virtue of Brigit the calm,
Thine is the faith of Danu the mild,
Thine is the tact of the women of Kildare,
Thine is the beauty of Emir the fair,
Thine is the tenderness of Deirdre delightful,
Thine is the courage of Maebh the strong,Thine is the charm of Binne-bheul.
Thou art the joy of all joyous things,
Thou art the light of the beam of the moon,
Thou art the door of hospitality,
Thou art the surpassing star of guidance,
Thou art the step of the deer on the hill,
Thou art the step of the mare on the plain,
Thou art the grace of the swan swimming,Thou art the loveliness of all lovely desires.
The lovely likeness of the Lady
Is in thy fair face,
The loveliest likeness that
Ever was in the Three Worlds.The best hour of the day be thine,
The best day of the month be thine,
The best month of the year be thine,
The best year of a lifetime be thine.Ogma has come and Midir has come,
Lir has come and Manannan has come,
Morigan and Tailtiu have come,
The Dagda, all-beneficent has come,
Angus the beauteousness of youth has come,
Find the seer of the Tuatha Dé has come,
Lugh the prince of the valiant has come,
And Nuada the chief of the hosts has come,And the Goddess of all has come,
And her spirit of guidance has come,
And her consort, the Horned One, has come,
To bestow on thee their affection and their love,To bestow on thee their affection and their
love.
O Gentle Goddess, listen to my rune,
Bend to me Thine ear,
Let my incantations and my charms
Be heard. Come unto me,
O Mighty Mother of us all,
To protect me, your child,
O Great Queen of Life,
Together with the aid of
The Lord of the Wildwood,
Thy son and thy lover,
To protect me with power,
O Gentle Goddess
Of purest fairest beauty.
Lady be with us on this, Thy day,
Lady be with us on this, Thy night.
To us and with us on this, Thy day,
To us and with us on this, Thy night.
It is clear to be seen of us,
Since we are born into the world,
That we have recieved Thy blessing,So mote it be!
Thy most precious blessing,
O Mother of us all,So mote it be!
Grant us thy bounty,
Grant us thy continued bounty,So mote it be!
Anything that is delightful to us,
Or that may be helpful to us,
Where we shall longest be,
Illume it to us,
Make it clear to us,
Bring it forth to us,
Bring to us our heart's desire,
For this time and for all times,So mote it be!
Lady, thou gate of life,
Attend to us,So mote it be!
Lady, thou gate of death,
Bring peace to us,So mote it be!
Oh, with us and for us
Where we shall longest be,So mote it be!
Be about the morning of our day,
Be about the closing of our life,So mote it be!
Be at the dawning of our life,
And at the dark'ning of our day,So mote it be!
Be for us and with us,
Beautiful Goddess of all,So mote it be!
Consecrate us
Life and love,
Thou Queen of the Gods,
Thou Mother of all,So mote it be!
Consecrate us
Rites and spells,
Thou Mistress of Magic,
Thou Lady of Mysteries,So mote it be!
Consecrate us
Heart and body,
Thou Cauldron of Life,
Thou Womb of Nature,So mote it be!
Each heart and body,
Each day to Thyself,
Each night accordingly,
Thou Mother of Stars,
Thou Lady of Night,So mote it be!
Thanks be to thee, silver Lady of the Sky,
Mother kind, ever-renewing, ever-fulfilling,
For thy fertility, abundance and blessing
That thou bestows upon us continually.
Whatever good fortune befalls us as thy children,
In our portion, in our lot, in our path,
Give to us with it the rich gifts of thy guidance,
And the joyous blessing of thy wisdom.We are thy children, dear Goddess,
In spirit, in heart, and in flesh,
In thought, in speech, and in deeds,
We are blessed in thy sight.
Put forth to us the magic of thy love.
Bring us to the starlight realm and
Bathe us in the Cauldron of Immortality,
Like the fire on the mountain, like the mystery on the lake.In the spiral enchanted path of our calling,
Be it easy or uneasy to our spirit,
Be it bright or dark for us to follow,
Thine own star of guidance be upon us.
Be thou a shield to us from the wiles of deceivers,
From all our enemies with doubts pursuing us,
And in each secret thought our minds do weave,
Be thou the hand upon the loom and the shuttle.Though the Hounds of Annwn reive us from this world,
Be Thou the mistress to the Master of the Hunt.
Whatever matter or cause or propensity,
That would bring to us grief, or pains, or wounds,
Or that would bear witness against us at the gorsedd,
On the other side of the door to the fairy mound,
Oh! do Thou obscure it from our eyes,
And from our hearts drive it for ever.Now to the Mother who gave birth to each creature,
Now to the Maiden who taught her people well,
Now to the Crone, who comforts us in strength:
Shield and sain us from every evil working;
Be about the beginning and end of our days,
Be giving us to sing the mysteries,
In peace, in rest, in the Land of Youth,
Where no tear shall be shed, where death comes no more.Where no tear shall be shed, where death comes no more.
O Goddess,
In my deeds,
In my words,
In my wishes,
In my reason,
And in the fulfilling of my desires,
In my sleep,
In my dreams,
In my repose,
In my thoughts,
In my heart and spirit always,
May the blessed Maiden
And the Silver Bough of Faerie dwell,Oh, in my heart and spirit always,
May the loving Maiden
And the tinkling Silver Bough of Faerie dwell.
Thou Queen of the moon,
Thou Queen of the waters,
Thou Queen of the flowers,
Thou Queen of the stars,
Thou Queen of the earth,
Thou Queen of the night,
Oh! lovely Thy countenance,
Thou silvery Radiance.Two loops of silk
Down by thy limbs,
Smooth-skinned;
Yellow jewels
And a handful
Out of every stock of them.
BLESS, O MISTRESS OF MAGIC (10)
Bless, O Mistress of Magic,
Myself and everything anear me,
Bless me in all my makings,
And keep me safe for ever,Keep me safe forever.
From every unclean spirit and sending,
From every evil wish and cursing,
From every wicked spell and glamour,
From every star that frowns upon me,
Save me till the end of my day.Save me till the end of my day.
Let every nymph and faerie be my sister,
Let every troll and brownie be my brother,
Let every fairy-mouse and will-o-the-wisp befriend me,
That they may keep me safe forever.That they may keep me safe forever.
THE SILVER LIGHT OF FAERIE (11)
Gracious Goddess, who brought me from the dream of last night
Unto the light of a new day,
Be Thou bringing me from the light of this day
Unto the silver light of dream and Faerie,Oh! from the light of this day
Unto the silver light of Faerie.
I am bowing my head
In the eye of the Mother who gave me birth,
In the eye of the Maiden who loves me,
In the eye of the Crone who guides me in wisdom,In love and desire.
Shower down upon us in Abred
The rich blessings of Thy abundance;
Thou Queen of Caer Emrys,Be Thou always close to us.
Grant to us, Thou Mother of the Universe,
The laughter of the Lady, the love of the Lady,
And the passion of the Lady to do in Abred at all times
As the Ever-Young do in Gwynfyd;
Each day and night give us thy peace.Each day and night give us thy peace.
My Lord Manawyddan, thou whom
The Triads name as one of the Three Tribe-Herdsmen,
Tend Thou us to the cot and the fold,
Sain us beneath Thine own glorious mantle;Thou Shield of Dyved, guard us for ever.
Be thou a hard triumphant glave
To shield us securely from every wicked spell,
From unclean spirits and from unfriendly stars,And from the lurid smoke of the cities.
My Lord Manawyddan, Thou Third Landless Prince,
Be Thou at the helm of the boat of my spirit.
DANU WHO OUGHT TO BE PRAISED (14)
It is as easy for Danu
To inspire the Aged
As to give birth to the Young
As it is Her will to do so.Danu! Danu! Danu!
Meet it is to praise you!There is no plant in the ground
But is full of your virtue,
There is no form in the strand
But is full of your blessing.Danu! Danu! Danu!
Meet it is to praise you!There is no life in the sea,
There is no creature in the river,
There is naught in the firmament,
But proclaims your abundance.Danu! Danu! Danu!
Meet it is to praise you!There is no bird on the wing,
There is no star in the sky,
There is nothing beneath the moon,
But proclaims your beauty.Danu! Danu! Danu!
Meet it is to praise you!
Within the Circle of Circles,
The peace of Pwyll and Llew,
Of Manawyddan and Math the Ancient,
And of the two perfect words,The two perfect words.
The peace of the Mother of Love,
The peace of the Maiden of Beauty,
The peace of the Crone of Wisdom,
To ourselves and to our children,Our children and our children's children.
THE LIGHTENER OF THE STARS (16)
Behold the Lightener of the stars,
On the crests of the clouds,
And the silver singers of the skyLauding him.
Coming down with acclaim
From the palaces above,
Harp and lyre of songSounding to him.
O Idris, bearer of my hope,
Why should I not raise thy fame!
Faeries and elves melodiousSinging to thee.
Thou son of the Goddess of Night
Of exceeding white purity of beauty,
Joy were it to me to play in the fieldsOf thy tiny lanterns.
O Idris, my hope,
O Idris of the celestial houses,
At the dawn of eventide,I will praise thee.
THE PENTACLE OF THE GOD AND THE GODDESS (17)
The Pentacle of the God and the Goddess with me
From the top of my face to the edge of my feet.O Tegid mild, O Ceridwen wise,
O radiant Taliesyn, chief god of bards,
Preserve ye me in the middle world,
The three preserve me on the old straight path.Three preserve me with the Ancient Harmonies.
Preserve ye me in the Spiral Castle,
Preserve ye me in the Four-Cornered Castle,
Preserve ye me in the Isle of the Strong Door,
The preservation of the three upon me tonight.The three to shield me tonight.
Thou Spirit of Wisdom who guides me,
From out of the Shining World to attend me,
The shepherding kind of the fold of faerie kin
To make round about me this night;Drive from me every ill-will and danger,
Surround me on the sea of the unholy,
And in the narrows, crooks, and straits,
Keep thou my coracle, keep it always.Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path beneath me,
Be thou a kindly wind behind me,
Today, tonight, and for ever.And when I grow weary and I become
A stranger in this land,
Lead me to the Land of Promise;
For it is time for me to go home
To the court of Don, to the Land of Heart's Desire.
May I speak each day with thy eloquence,
Each day may I show thy counsel, O Gwydion;
May I speak each day according to thy wisdom,
Each day and night may I be at peace with my words.Each day may I count thy blessings, O Gwydion,
May I each day give heed to the Ancient Harmonies;
Each day may I compose with thee a song,
Each day may I raise my harp to sing thanks.May I each day give love to thee, Lady Don,
Each night may I do the same;
Each day and night, dark and light,
May I laud thy son and his guidance to me.
LUSTRATION FOR JUSTICE (20-23)
[for success in court, go by moonlight to a place where three streams
meet, fill hands with water and dip face, saying charm]I am bathing my face
In the nine rays of moonlight,
As Rhiannon bathed her SonIn the rich fermented milk.
Strength be in my heart,
Sense be in my head,
Dew of honey on my tongue,My breath as the incense.
Black is yonder house,
Blacker those therein;
I am the white swan,Rising above them.
All-seeing, all-hearing, all-knowing may the magic be,
To satisfy and to strengthen me;
Blind, deaf, and dumb, ever, ever beThose who condemn and mock me.
The tongue of Gwydion in my head,
The eloquence of Mabon in my speech;
The composure of Rhiannon falsely-accusedBe mine in the presence of the multitude.
I will travel in the name of the Goddess,
In likeness of bull, in likeness of lion,
In likeness of eagle, in likeness of spirit:More victorious am I than all persons.
A palmful for thine age,
A palmful for thy growth,
A palmful for thy throat,
A flood for thy speech.
For thy share of the dainty,
Crowdie and kail;
For thy share of the taking,
Honey and warm milk.
For thy share of the supping,
Whisked whey and cheese;
For thy share of the spoil,
With bow and with spear.
For thy share of the preparation,
The yellow eggs of Eostre;
For thy share of the treat,
The orange gourds of Samhain.
For thy share of the feast
With gifts and with tribute;
For thy share of the treasure,
With magic and with love.
For thy share of the chase,
Up the face of Bryn Aryen;
For thy share of the hunting
And the mustering of the hosts.
For thy share of palaces,
In the courts of kings;
For thy share of the Summerland,
In the courts of the Gods.
The part of thee that does not grow at dawn,
May it grow at eventide;
The part of thee that does not grow at night,
May it grow at ridge of mid-day.
The three palmfuls
Of the three Queens,
To preserve thee
From every envy,
Evil eye and death;
The palmful of the Mother of Love,
The palmful of the Maiden of Beauty,
The palmful of the Crone of Wisdom,Triad
Of Magic.
Math, guide me with thy wisdom,
Pwyll, guide me with thy strength,
Lleu, guide me with thy inspiration,
Manawyddan, guide me with thy justice.Rhiannon, fill me with thy fullness,
Govannon, shield me with thy shade,
Gwydion, fill me with thy grace,
For the sake of the Three Worlds and their kings.For the One who was stolen on Beltane's Eve,
For the One who hides himself in the woods,
For the One who stood on the rim of the Cauldron,
For the sake of the Three that are One,And that One who is lover to the Three.
So mote it be!
Be thy soft breast, O Branwen, under my head,
Be thy light, O Arianrhod, over me shining.
And be the pentagram of the five elements over me down,
From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet,From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet.
O Llew without offence, betrayed cruelly,
Under bans of geis Thou wert slain,
With one foot on the rim of day,
And the other on the beast of night,Only then does the spear of twilight free Thee.
O Thou King of the Summer Sunlight,
Who now can say in what season
The Lion, betrayed by the Virgin, on the point of Balance,
Is transformed into the Eagle?I journey with Thee into the Land of Darkness.
Be the runes of Gwydion and Math over me tonight,
Be my spirit soaring on the wings of an eagle,
Be my spirit shielded within your pinions, Brightness of the
mountain.
Valiant Llew, carry my spirit safelyTo the light of a new dawn.
So mote it be.
Come I this day to the Mother,
Come I this day to the Maiden,
Come I to the Crone of Wisdom;
Come I this day with the Goddess,
Come I this day with the God,
Come I with the Spirit of Nature.Gods and Spirits and Elements,
From the crown of my head
To the soles of my feet;
Come I with my vision,
Come I with my magic,
Come I to thee, my Lady--Mother, shelter me.
O Rhiannon! tonight
Thou Queen of three worlds,
Thou guiltless Mother
Who didst suffer full sore,
By curse of the wicked,
And wast dishonoured.Save me from evil,
Save me from harm,
Save Thou my body,
Consecrate me tonight,
O Rhiannon! tonight,
Nor leave me.Endow me with magic,
Thou Queen out of Faery,
Guide me aright,
Guide me in thy wisdom,
O Rhiannon! in thy love
Shelter me.
I am placing my spirit and my body
In thy circle this night, O Mother,
In thy circle, O blessed Maiden,
In thy circle, O Crone of perfect wisdom,The Three who would defend my cause,
Nor turn their backs upon me.Thou, Mother, who art bountiful and generous,
Thou, Maiden, who didst return from Annwn,
Thou, Grandmother of power,
Be keeping me this night from harm;The Three who would consecrate me
Keeping me this night and always.
Grandmother, give me of thy wisdom,
Mother, give me of thine abundance,
Maiden, give me in my need,Beneath the shield of the Horned One.
I lie down tonight,
With the Triad of Strength,
With the Mother, with the Maiden,And with the Crone of Night.
O Arawn of the Hunt,
Lord of Annwn,
Who wert sorely oppressed
Under ban of the ardent,
Shield Thou me this nightFrom Hafgan.
My spirit in Thine own realm, O Lord,
Thou the King of the Country of Youth,
And Thine in my own realm
To guard my body as it lies sleeping in Abred.
Thou it was who exchanged thy shape, O King,With Pwyll, Lord of Dyfed.
Protect Thou me because of my fealty,
For the sake of Pwyll, my Lord; and Rhiannon, my Lady; and I
their child.
And take me in safety tonightNear to the Land of Promise,
And bring me in safety again
Back to the world of Abred.
In the name of the Lady,
And of the Awen of Inspiration,
In the name of the Lord of the Wildwood,I lay me down to rest.
If there be evil threat or quirk,
Or covert act intent on me,
Then free me and encircle me,And drive from me mine enemy.
In the the name of the Mother darksome,
And of the four Guardian Spirits,
In the name of the Lord of the Hunt,I lay me down to rest.
* * * * * * * * *
Please aid me and encircle me,
From this hour till the hour of my passing.
I lie down tonight
With fair Modron and with her Son,
With pure-white Mabon,
And with Branwen beneath her mantle.I lie down with Magic,
And Magic will lie down with me,
I will not lie down with Cythraul,
Nor shall Cythraul lie down with me.O God of the Mound,
Shield me this night,
Open the secret door
To thy treasure-house.For the many deeds
I have done for thee.
For the many songs
I have sung of thee.Thou King under the Hills,
Invite me into thy dwelling-place,
While setting wards around my bed,
And encompass me in thy hosting.So mote it be.
I am lying down tonite as beseems
In the company of the Maiden of ringlets,
In the company of the Mother of plenty,
In the company of the Crone of powerful aid.I am lying down tonight with the Goddess,
And the Goddess tonight will lie down with me,
I will not lie down tonight with evil, nor shall
Evil nor evil's shadow lie down with me.I am lying down tonight with Magic,
And Magic this night will lie down with me,
I will lie down this night with the Triad of my love,
And the Triad of my love will lie down with me.
I am now going into the sleep,
Be it that I in health shall waken;
If passing be to me in the death-sleep,
Be it that with thy Wild Ride,
O God of the Hunt, I in gladdness shall waken,Be it with thy hosting,
O Gwyn ap Nudd, that I in mirth shall waken.Be my spirit as a circle of stars
Around your white neck, O Queen of Heaven;
Thou it was who gavest me the gift of life,
Thou it was who brought me from the Cauldron.Encircle me this night, O Goddess,
That no harm, no evil shall befall.Whilst my body is dwelling in the sleep,
My spirit is soaring in the shadow of Annwn,
Be the red-white Hounds meeting my spirit,
Early and late, night and day,Early and late, night and day.
So mote it be.
I am lying down tonight,
With Mother, with Maiden,
With the Crone of Wisdom,
Who shield me from harm.I will not lie down with Cythraul,
Nor shall Cythraul lie down with me,
But I will lie down with the Goddess,
And the Goddess will lie down with me.Lady and Maiden and Sacred Crone,
Within the Circle of the nine sacred flowers,
Be protecting me as Three and as One,
From the brow of my face to the soles of my feet.I charge Pwyll, I charge Arawn,
I charge Modron, I charge Mabon,
I charge the trustful Hounds of Annwn,
To preserve me from hurt and harm;O from dying tonight!
From dying tonight!Thou Queen of the moon and of mystery,
Thou Maiden, daughter of the Goddess fair,
Thou Crone, mother of the ancient gods,
Keep thou us from the house of grief and doom,Keep us from the land of sorrow,
From the house of grief and doom.
Goddess, give charge to the blessed Sidhe,
To keep guard around this stead tonight,
A circle sacred, strong, and steadfast,
That will preserve and contain this spirit-shrine.
Safeguard, dear Goddess, this household tonight,
Ourselves and our means and our fame,
Deliver us from death, from distress, from harm,
From the fruits of envy and of enmity.
Give thou to us, O Goddess of Love,
Reverence toward all thy children,
To live in harmony in the Middle World,
And to enjoy thy love in the Bright World.
Thou Spirit of Light who hast charge of me,
From the fragrant Mother of all Nature,
The gentle encompassing of thy Silver Circle
To make round my spirit-shrine this night,Oh, round my spirit-shrine this night.
Ward from me every distress and danger,
Encircle my course over the ocean of life,
I charge thee, place thy silver light before me,
O bright beauteous Spirit on this very night,Bright beauteous Spirit on this very night.
Be Thyself the guiding star above me,
Illume Thou to me every reef and shoal,
Pilot my coracle on the crest of the wave,
To the restful harbour of the waveless sea,Oh, the restful harbour of the waveless sea.
I lie in my bed
As I would lie in the faery mound,
Thine arm beneath my neck,Thou Lady (Lord) of the Sidhe.
Shining Ones shall watch me
And I lying in slumber,
And Bright Ones shall guard meIn the sleep of the mound.
Pwyll shall be at my back,
Llew shall be at my feet,
Manawyddan shall be before me,And Math shall be at my head.
The Lady shall be with my spirit,
The bright cauldron of my love!
And Amaethon the Physician
Shall put the glamour to my eye,The Physician of the Bright Ones
Shall put the glamour in my eyes.
Thanks be to thee, my Lady, for
Bringing me from the beauty of night
To the gladsome light of this day,
To win love and knowledge and power,
Through understanding your deepest secrets.Praise be to thee, gracious Goddess,
For the blessings thou didst bestow on me--
My thoughts, my speech, my works, my desires.* * * * * * * * * * * *
And I charge thee
To shield me from harm,
To ward me from hurt,
To sain me from evil,
To teach me thy mysteries,
O Goddess of all mysteries!
Grant me thy wisdom along with thy magic.May the Shining Ones claim me,
And protect me on sea and on land,
And lead me on from step to step,
To the counsels of the Four Cities,The magic of the Four Cities!
Thanks be to thee, my Lady, for
Bringing me from the beauty of night
To the joyous light of this day,
Courage, generosity, and beauty
To earn for my spirit
With good intent.
And for every gift of faery
Thou bestowest on me,
My thoughts, my words,
My deeds, my desires
I consecrate to Thee.
I honour Thee,
I ask of Thee
To keep me from ill fortune,
And to shield me tonight,
For the sake of my devotion,
With thy teaching of mysteries.
O Powerful Goddess,
Ward the house, the fire, the animals,
And everyone who dwells herein tonight.
Shield myself and my beloved Coven,
Preserve us from violence and from harm;
Preserve us from foes and evil intent,
For the sake of She who stands at the crossroads
And He who hides himself in the hilltop fire,
In this place, and in every place wherein they dwell tonight,On this night and every night.
Goddess, bless the world and all that is in it.
Goddess, bless my bed-mate(s) and my children,
Goddess, bless the eye that is in my head,
And bless, O Goddess, the handling of my art;
What time I rise in the morning,
What time I lie down at night,Bless my rising in the morning,
And my lying down at night.Goddess, protect the Coven, and the Covenstead,
Goddess, consecrate the Children of the Mother,
Goddess, encircle the flocks and the young;
Be thou after them and tending them,
What time the flocks ascend hill and wold,
What time I lie down to sleep,What time the flocks ascend hill and wold,
What time I lie down in peace to sleep.
Goddess, bless the house,
From site to stay,
From beam to wall,
From end to end,
From ridge to basement,
From balk to roof-tree,
From found to summit,Found and summit.
TO WHOM SHALL I OFFER OBLATION (46)
To whom shall I offer oblation
In name of the Leanan Sidhe?
I will give some of my means
To the forsaken illustrious Ones.Because of all that I have seen,
Of thy magic and of thy mystery,
Call my spirit unto thee, O Daughter of Manannan,
Nor leave me ever.Remember me in great Belgata,
Within thy cloak encircle thou me;
Sweetheart of the Fair Ones, do not forsake me.
My wish it were ever to be near thee.Give to me the handfasting garment,
Be Fair Folk conversing with me in every need,
Be the holy Watchers protecting me,
The fair Danu and thou, Aine of grace,The fair Danu and thou, Aine of grace.
Hail, Brigit! hail, Brigit!
Queen of healing, Mother of poetry,
Hail, Brigit, forge of our vision,
Fount of our knowledge, source of our joy.
To thee we, night and day,
Hidden children of the Goddess,
Lift our voices in reverence,
In mirth and gaity and laughter.
Bestow upon us, thou candle of gladness,
Since thou art the flame of knowledgable crafts,
The healing art of Dian Cecht, the poetic art of Ogma,
And the art of making of Goibhniu.
Vouchsafe to us, thou silver branch,
An island in the realm of peace,
Safe from the waves of peril and stress,
Beneath the shade of thy scented apple trees.
Hail to thee, Danu, Mother!
Thou ancestress of Gods,
The Old One of the Mound was thy Consort,
Blessed be thy feet that have brought thee in these ways,
Blessed be thy womb without which we could not be,
Blessed be thy paps formed in beauty,
Blessed be thou, Queen of the Earth,
Thou blessed Danu, mother of the Gods,
Remember me, your child of love and laughter,
On this day and on all days of the seasons,All the days of the seasons.
Morrigan, thou Crow of Battle, I call on thy name,
And on the name of Badb, and the name of Macha,
And on the names of all the spirits in the red domain,
To shield me in the battle to come,To shield me in the battle to come.
When the mouth shall be closed,
When the eye shall be shut,
When the breath shall cease to stir,
When the heart shall cease to beat,When the heart shall cease to beat.
When I put my foot into the barque
That shall take me to that distant shore,
O Morgan, priestess of Avalon, shield thou my spirit,
O Elaine the fair, pillow my head in your lap.O Nimue, wisdom's daughter, guide my spirit craft!
The Three Queens to accompany my departure!
THE SEINING BLESSING (50)
[three drops of water are placed on the infant's forehead, to guard it
from ill omen and mischievous sprites]Thou Beings who inhabit the earth,
Imprint thy blessings betimes,
Remember the child of my body,
In the name of the Mother of blessings;
When the druid of the King
On her (him) puts the water of meaning,
Grant her (him) the blessing of the ThreeWho are One.
The blessing of the One
Who is Three.
Sprinkle down upon her (him) thy gifts,
Give thou to her (him) beauty and strength,
Give thou to her (him) power and compassion,
Give thou to her (him) honor and humility,
Give thou to her (him) mirth and reverence,
Sense and reason void of guile,
Faery wisdom in her (his) day,
That she (he) may stand without reproachIn the world of the Bright Ones.
She (he) may stand without reproach
In the world of the Bright Ones.
THE DEATH BLESSING (51-53)
[the one who chants the blessing is called the 'soul-friend', and is
held is special affection by the friends of the dying person ever after]Goddess, initiate this woman (man) into thy Grand Coven,
remember
The many blessings which she (he) in the body cast,
That we cannot this night enumerate.The many blessings that she (he) in the body cast,
That we cannot this night enumerate.Be this spirit to thy hand, O Lady,
Thou Queen of the realm of Faery,So mote it be.
Since thou it was, O Lady, who did birth this spirit,
Be its peace in thine own keeping.So mote it be.
And be the strong Nuada, high king of the Tuatha,
Preparing the path before this spirit, O Goddess.So mote it be.
And be the strong Lugh coming to meet the spirit,
And leading it home, to the Land of the Ever-Living Ones.So mote it be.
THE NEW MOON (54)
[this charm is said upon first seeing the new moon, while making a bow
or curtsey; it is also customary to turn a silver coin in your pocket
or the rings on your fingers while making a wish]Oh! in the name of the triple Goddess who shields us in every
need,
If well thou hast found us tonight,
Nine times better mayest thou leave us without harm,Thou bright white Moon of the seasons.
Bright white Moon of the seasons.May thy laving lustre leave us
Nine times still more blest.
O moon so fair,
May it be so,
As seasons come,
And seasons go.
YULE CHANT (55 & 57)
Part II: Aimsire (Seasons)
YULE CHANT (55 & 57)
YULE CAROL (56)
HEY THE GIFT (58)
HEY THE GIFT, HO THE GIFT (59)
THE GIFT OF POWER (60)
THE MAIDEN AND THE CHILD (61)
NIGHT OF THE DRAGON STAR (62)
HOGMANAY CAROL (63-66)
THE BLESSING OF THE NEW YEAR (LADY DAY) (67)
BRIGHT MAYPOLE ABOVE US (68)
DAY OF THE LADY (69)
GENEALOGY OF BRIGIT (70)
BRIGIT THE AID-WOMAN (71)
DAGDA OF MY LOVE (72)
THE BELTANE BLESSING (73)
THE BELTANE BLESSING (74)
RUNE OF THE PROCESSION (75)
LUGHNASADH (76)
NUADA, THE VICTORIOUS (77)
THE BLESSING OF THE STRUAN (78)
THE RUNE OF LADY DAY (79)
RUNE OF THE WILD MAGIC (80)
THE CASKET OF ANCIENT SPELLS (81)
LIGHTING OF THE COEL COETH (82)Hail the sun! Hail the sun!
Blessed is he! Blessed is he!
Hail the sun! Hail the sun!
Blessed is he! Blessed is he!Prosperity be upon this dwelling,
On all that we have heard and seen,
On the bare bright floor flags,
On the shapely standing stone staves,Hail the sun! Hail the sun!
Blessed is he! Blessed is he!Bless this house and all that it contains,
From rafter to stone to beam;
Shielded by the Goddess from pall to cover,
Be the healing of all herein,Hail the sun! Hail the sun!
Blessed is he! Blessed is he!May we be in lasting possession of the house,
May we be healthy about the hearth,
Many be the ties and stakes in the homestead,
Fair Ones dwelling on this foundation,Hail the sun! Hail the sun!
Blessed is he! Blessed is he!Offer to the Sun King from found to cover,
Every stave and stone and beam;
Offer again both rods and cloth,
Be health to all who dwell herein,Every generation for aye!
Hail the sun! Hail the sun!
Blessed is he! Blessed is he!
Hail the sun! Hail the sun!
Blessed is he! Blessed is he!
Hail the sun! Hail the sun!
Blessed is he! Blessed is he!All hail! Let there be joy!
This night is the eve of the great Nativity,
Reborn is the son of the Great Mother,
The rays of his face will touch the earth,
Again he will shine down from on high,
Earth and sky will glow to him,All hail! Let there be joy!
The peace of the earth to him, the joy of the sky to him,
Behold him each day as his strength increases,
The homage of a King be his, the welcome of an eagle be his,
Sun-King victorious, eagle all glorious,
Earth and ocean illumined by him,All hail! Let there be joy!
The mountains will glow with him, the plains will glow with
him,
The voice of the waves with the song of the strand,
Announcing to us the sun is reborn,
Son of the Great Mother of the Land of Brightness,
Given birth on the long night of darkness,All hail! Let ther be joy!
Bright to him the earth and sphere together,
His brightness reflected in the light of the Moon,
Son of the Great Mother, hasten thou to our land,
Thou Lord of Warmth, thou Lord of Light,
Golden Sun of hill and mountain,All hail! Let there be joy!
Hey the Gift, ho the Gift,
Hey the Gift on the living.The fair young Mother stood in the moonlight,
It was the child Sun-King who was on her breast.The flight of the eagle, the cast of the spear,
The spark is struck upon the stone.To tell us the sun is reborn,
The Shining Child of the Land of Promise.I see the hills, I see the strand,
I see the eagle mounting the sky.I see faery hosts a-ridling,
Coming with speech and friendship to us.
HEY THE GIFT, HO THE GIFT (59)
Hey the Gift, ho the Gift,
Hey the Gift, on the living.Sun of the dawn, Sun of the clouds,
Sun of the planet, Sun of the star,Hey the Gift, etc.
Sun of the rain, Sun of the dew,
Sun of the welkin, Sun of the sky,Hey the Gift, etc.
Sun of the flame, Sun of the light,
Sun of the sphere, Sun of the globe,Hey the Gift, etc.
Sun of the elements, Sun of the heavens,
Sun of the moon, Sun of the stars,Hey the Gift, etc.
Son of the Great Goddess of Nature,
And the Sun of joyous tidings,Hey the Gift, etc.
I am the warmth, I am the light,
I am the Child of this night.I am the Son of the Great Mother,
Greeting you on hilltops facing east.Noble and fair is the Maiden Mother Goddess,
Noble am I upon her young breast.Sun of the Moon, Sun of the Stars,
I peep from the unhewn dolmen arch.A pentagram upon each forehead,
I am in the door and in the window.I shine upon the hills, I shine upon the strand,
I shine from deepest, blackest space.I peep through a roofbox to light an altar stone,
Deep within the heart of an ancient tomb.I dance upon the heelstone, to announce my return.
I shine along the holy roads of ancient power.I am the eagle, soaring free,
Climbing into the vault of the noonday sky.
Behold the Maiden Goddess approaching,
The Sun-King so young on her breast.O Gentle Goddess, and O Baby Sun!
Bless ye this house and all herein.Bless ye the food, bless ye the board,
Bless ye the corn, the flock and the store.What time to us the quarter was scarce,
It is thou thyself, Goddess, who wast mother to us.Thou art fairer, Lady, than the waxing moon,
Rising over the mountains.Thou art fairer, Lord, than the summer sun,
Under his fullness of joy.Since the bard must not tarry,
Place ye pine boughs about the Circle.Servant am I of the Great Mother, on the threshold,
For the sake of the infant Sun, arise thyself and open to him.
The night of the dragon star
Was born the Il-danach,
Of the Maiden of the hundred charms,The Great Mother.
The Three eternal by her side,
Upon the hillside cold and steep.
Come and be gifted by the GodOf all Arts and Crafts.
The foam-white breastling beloved,
Welcome in every house in the world,
The wise and skillful Child riding forth,All-talented.
Ye three faces of the Goddess,
Come ye, come ye forth,
To the Gift-bearer of mortalsGive ye salutation.
Kiss ye his lips,
Encircle ye his body
With the hair of your heads;
And O! thou Culture-giving God,
And ye, Maiden, Mother, Crone,Be with us always.
HOGMANAY CAROL (63-66)
[carolers circle the house deosil, the leader wearing a horned mask]I am now come to your country,
To renew to you the Hogmanay,
I need not tell you of it,
It was in the time of our Mothers.I ascend by the door lintel,
I descend by the doorstep,
I will sing my song becomingly,
Mannerly, slowly, mindfully.The Hogmanay skin is in my pocket,
Great will be the smoke from it presently.
No one who shall inhale its odour,
But shall be for ever from it healthy.The Priest will get it in his hand,
He will place its nose in the fire;
He will go deosil round the Coven,
And for seven verities round the Maiden.The Priestess will get it, she who deserves it,
The hand to distribute the Hogmanay,
The hand to bestow the cheese and butter,
Much I wish it with the bread.Give it to us if it be possible,
If you may not, do not detain us;
I am the servant of Love at the door,
Arise thyself and open to me.[if the carolers be inhospitably treated, they leave the house and
circle it widdershins, and raise a cairn at or near the door, intoning
the following]Malevolence of the Mother be upon you,
Malevolence of the Hogmanay be upon you,
The scaith of the hawk, the raven, the bear,
And the scaith of the sneaking fox.The scaith of the dog and the cat be upon you,
Of the boar, of the badger, of the wolf,
Of the bull, of the lion, of the eagle,
And the scaith of the spirit be upon you.
THE BLESSING OF THE NEW YEAR (LADY DAY) (67)
[recited upon arising]Goddess, bless to me the new day,
Never vouchsafed to me before;
It is to celebrate thy blessings
Thou hast given me this time, Lady.Bless thou to me mine eye,
May mine eye bless all it sees;
I will bless my neighbor,
May my neighbor bless me.Goddess, grant me a light heart,
Keep me in the sight of thine eye;
Bless to me my work and my play,
Upon this return of the Ram's day.
The be-ribboned Maypole above us,
Ordained of the God of the Wood,Bright Maypole above us!
Tonight, the night of the pole of ecstasy,
The pole of rapture beloved of the Goddess,Bright Maypole above us!
Noble the staff! Noble the wand!
Noble the Man of this night.Bright Maypole above us!
It was Bride the fair who went on her knee,
It was the antlered King who received her kiss.Bright Maypole above us!
I hear the hills, I hear the seas,
I hear the standing stones of earth,Bright Maypole above us!
Noble the spear! Noble the broom!
Noble the cock horse on which we ride!Bright Maypole above us!
I hear Deirdre of the shapely, rounded limbs,
Coming softly in friendship to him.Bright Maypole above us!
Great the assemblage upon this knoll,
Without the envy of man to another.Bright Maypole above us!
I am the servant of the Cerne Abbas Giant,
Oh! arise thou thyself, and dance about me!Bright Maypole above us!
Day of the Lady benign,
Day to send sheep on prosperity,
Day to send cow on calf,
Day to put the web in the warp.Day to put coracle on the brine,
Day to place the staff to the flag,
Day to bear, day to die,
Day to hunt the heights.Day to put horses in harness,
Day to send herds to pasture,
Day to make charms efficacious,
Day of my beloved Lady,Day of my beloved Lady.
MISC
When the Wednesday is Samhain
Restless are the folk of the universe;
But woe the mother of the foolish,
When Thursday is the Beltane.[At sunset, as day merges from Wednesday to Thursday, a man walks to
the waist into the sea and pours out whatever offering has been
prepared, chanting the following]O God of the sea,
Put weed in the drawing wave
To enrich the ground,
To shower on us food.[the following are common sayings heard on Brigit's Day]
Feast of the Bride, feast of the maiden.
The day of Bride, the birthday of Spring.
Melodious Bride of the fair palms.
Thou Bride fair charming,
Pleasant to me the breath of thy mouth,
When I would go among strangers,
Thou thyself wert the hearer of my tale.Early on Bride's morn
The serpent shall come from the hole,
I will not molest the serpent,
Nor will the serpent molest me.[when a woman is in labour, the midwife or the woman next her in
importance goes to the door of the house, and standing on the doorstep,
with her hands on the jambs, softly beseeches Bride to come]Bride! Bride! come in,
Thy welcome is truly made,
Give thou relief to the woman,
And give the child all charms.
The genealogy of the holy maiden Brigit,
Radiant arrow of flame, noble foster-mother of gods,
Brigit the daughter of the Dagda,
Dagda the Good God, the son of Ethlinn,
Ethlinn the daughter of Balor,
Balor the king of the Fomoire.Every day and every night
That I say the genealogy of Brigit,
I shall not be killed, I shall not be injured,
I shall not be enchanted, I shall not be cursed,
Neither shall my power leave me.No earth, no sod, no turf shall cover me,
No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me,
No water, no lake, no sea shall drown me,
No air, no wind, no vapour shall sicken me,
No glamour out of Faery shall o'ertake me,
And I under the protection of the holy maiden,
My gentle foster-mother, my beloved Brigit.
There came to me assistance,
Danu fair and Brigit;
As Danu bore the Dagda,
As Dagda's wife bore Brigit,
As Brigit bore Ruadan
Without flaw in him,
Aid thou me in mine unbearing,Aid me, O Brigit!
As Lugh was conceived of Ethlinn
Full perfect on every hand,
Assist thou me, foster-mother,
The conception to bring from the bone;
And as thou didst aid the Mother of the Gods,
Without gold, without corn, without kine,
Aid thou me, great is my sickness,Aid me, O Brigit!
O Dagda of my love,
Thou it is who woulds't us guide,
Thou fragrant body of grace,I invoke you!
Hear us, thou All-Father,
Who didst encircle and protect thy people,
Succour thou us in time of need,I implore you!
Lift our flocks to the hills,
Quell the wolf and the fox,
Ward from us evil spectre and furyAnd enchantment.
Encircle Coven and Covenstead,
Encircle family and pets,
Keep from them the dark star,And the night-mare.
Sprinkle dew from your cauldron upon us
Give growth to grass, and corn, and sap to plants,
Watercress, deer's-grass, 'ceis', burdock,And daisy.
O Ruad-rofhessa,
On the barque of the gods,
On the crests of the waves,
On the sea, on the land,Aid and preserve us.
Bless, O Threefold Goddess,
Myself, my Coven, and my family,
My pets, my plants, and all children of the Great Mother.
On the fragrant plain, on the gay mountain sheiling,On the fragrant plain, on the gay mountain sheiling.
Everything within my dwelling or in my possession,
From Beltane Eve to Samhain Eve,
From Samhain Eve to Beltane Eve,
With goodly progress and gentle blessing,
From sea to sea, and every river mouth,From wave to wave, and base of waterfall.
Be thy Three Faces taking possession of all to me belonging,
Be the Watchtowers four protecting me in truth;
Oh! satisfy my spirit with the warmth of Belinos,
And shield my loved ones between the Beltane fires,Shield my loved ones between the Beltane fires.
Bless everything and every one,
Of this little household by my side;
Place the pentagram of the Lady upon us
Till we see the Land of Promise.Till we see the Land of Promise.
What time the kine shall forsake the stalls,
What time the sheep shall forsake the folds,
What time the goats shall ascend the mount of mist,
May the tending of the Triad follow them,May the tending of the Triad follow them.
Thou being who didst give me birth,
Listen and attend to me as I bow my head,
Evening and morning as is becoming in me,
In thine own Circle, O Goddess of Love.In thine own Circle, O Goddess of Love.
Danu, thou mother of the gods,
Bless our flocks and bearing kine;
Hate nor scathe let not come near us,
Drive from us the ways of the wicked.Keep thine eye every Day of the Moon
On the bearing kine and the pairing queys;
On the Day of Mars, accompany us from hill to sea,
Gather thyself the sheep and their progeny.On the Day of Mercury be with them,
Be thy gracious hand always about them;
On Jupiter's Day, tend the cows to their stalls,
Tend the sheep down to their folds.On the Day of Venus be thou at their head,
Lead the sheep from the face of the bens,
With their innocent little lambs following them.
Encircle them with the Circle of the Goddess.On Saturn's Day be likewise with them,
Bring the goats in with their young,
And from the rock of Aegir on high,
Bring every kid to the sea side on the Day of the Sun.The strength of the Triad be our shield in distress,
The strength of Lugh, beginning his reign of peace,
The strength of Diancecht, physician of health,
And of the good Dagda, King of the Sidhe.
And of every other spirit who succeeded them
And earned the repose of the Kingdom under the Hills.Bless ourselves and our children,
Bless every wish that comes from our loins,
Bless him whose name we whisper,
Bless her from whose womb came totality.Every enchantment, blessing and power,
Be yielded to us every time and every hour,
In the name of the sacred Triad within,
Maiden, Mother, and Crone forever.Be the earth to shield us upward,
Be the sky to shield us downward,
Be the Watchtowers to shield us roundward,
Accepting our Beltane blessing from us,Accepting our Beltane blessing from us.
Valiant Nuada of the white sword,
Who subdued the Firbolg of blood,
For love of the Tribe, for pains of Danu's children,
Hold thy shield over us, protect us all,Hold thy shield over us, protect us all.
Danu beloved! Mother of the Shining Ones,
Shield, oh shield us, Lady of nobleness,
And Brigit the beauteous, shepherdess of the flocks.
Safeguard thou our animals, encircle us together,Safeguard thou our animals, encircle us together.
And Ellen, beneficent, benign,
Governess of the trackways of power,
Invoke the star of power upon the path,
Guide well thou ourselves, shield our procession,Guide well thou ourselves, shield our procession.
O Mother! O Maiden! O Crone of Wisdom!
Be the Triad with us day and night,
On the machair plain or on the mountain ridge,
Be the Triad with us and her cloak around us,Be the Triad with us and her cloak around us.
On the feast day of Tailtiu the bountiful,
Foster-mother of Lugh of the fields,
I cut me a handful of the new corn,
I dried it gently in the sun,
I rubbed it sharply from the huskWith mine own palms.
I ground it in a quern on Friday,
I baked it on a fan of sheepskin,
I toasted it to a fire of rowan,
And I shared it round my people.I went deosil round my dwelling,
Calling upon the Great Mother,
Who promised abundance in my need,
In peace, in honour,
In lightness of heart,
In labour, in love,
In wisdom, in passion,
In mirth, in reverence,
For the sake of thy love.
Thou Mother of blessings,
Who will ever be about me,
Who will ever be within me,Until the end of desire.
So mote it be.
Thou Nuada the victorious,
I make my circuit under thy shield,
Thou Nuada of the white steed,
And of the bright brilliant blade,
Conqueror of the dragon,
Be thou at my back,
Thou rider of the storms,
Thou warrior of the Tuatha,O Nuada the victorious,
My pride and my guide,
O Nuada silver-handed,
The glory of mine eye.I make my circuit
In the fellowship of my hero,
On the machair, on the meadow,
On the cold heathery hill;
Though I should travel ocean
And the hard globe of the world
No harm can ever befall me
'Neath the shelter of thy shield;O Nuada the victorious,
Jewel of my heart,
O Nuada Argetlamh,
Danu's champion thou art.Be the sacred Triad of Magic
Aye at peace with me,
With my horses, with my cattle,
With my woolly sheep in flocks.
With the crops growing in the field
Or ripening in the sheaf,
On the machair, on the moor,
In cole, in heap, or stack.Every thing on high or low,
Every furnishing and flock,
Belong to the holy Triad of magic,
And to Nuada the victorious.
THE BLESSING OF THE STRUAN (78)
Each meal beneath my roof,
They will all be prepared together,
In name of the Goddess of plenty,Who gave them growth.
Milk, and eggs, and butter,
The good produce of our own flock,
There shall be no dearth in our land,Nor in our dwelling.
In name of Manannan of my love,
Who bequeathed to us enchantment,
With the blessing of Mongan,And of Fand, his mother.
Strengthen us at thy sailing,
Be thine own ship beneath us,
Ward from us evil spectre and glamour,And preserve us.
Consecrate the produce of our land,
Bestow prosperity and peace,
In name of our Mother, the Great Queen,And of the three birds who escort Her.
Dandelion, smooth garlic,
Foxglove, woad, and butterwort,
The three carle-doddies,And marigold.
Gray 'cailpeach' plucked,
The seven-pronged seven times,
The mountain yew, ruddy heath,And madder.
I will put water on them all,
By the power of the maiden Goddess,
In name of Danu the generous,And of the Crone.
When we shall sit down
To take our food,
I will sprinkle in the name of the GoddessOn the children.
The rune of Lady Day, O bright Goddess,
Truth above the strength of arms always.On Lady Day Lugh was conceived,
Sun Child of golden yellow hair,
On Lady Day Lugh was conceivedAs a blessing to the world.
Lady Day, the fourth feast day,
The Goddess ordained to make merry,
To create life everlasting,
Without making use of work or travail,
Or of any chore but that which is desired,
Without spinning thread of silk or of satin,
Without sewing, without embroidery either,
Without sowing, without harrowing, without reaping,
Without rowing, without snaring, without fishing,
Without going out to the hunting hill,
Without trimming arrows on Lady Day,
Without cleaning byre, without threshing corn,
Without kiln, without mill on Lady Day.If you would keep Lady Day,
Even would it be to you and lasting,
From setting of sun on Lady Day Eve
Till rising of sun on Lady Day's morrow.
You would obtain blessings therefrom,
Produce after the ploughs,
Fish on the pure salt-water stream,
Fish excelling in every river confluence.The water of Lady Day mild as honey,
If you would partake of it as drink
You would obtain health in consequence
From every disease afflicting you.Weeping on Lady Day is out of place,
Doing so is untimely;
Let you weep betimes on Samhain,
But not weep once on Lady Day.The wood of Lady Day is too soon.
In the pool it is pitiful,
Though its head should fall in char,
It would till the morrow be dormant.
About noon on the morrow,
The wood will arise very quickly,
And by the great flood without
Hasten the story of my trouble.
Without any searching for lamb, sheep, kid or goat
That would not belong to the King in the cause.
It is now it ought to be burnt,
Without listening to the clamour of the stranger,
Nor to the blind babbling of the public.To keep corn on a high hillock,
To bring physician to a violent disease,
To send a cow to the potent bull of the herd,
To go with a beast to a cattle-fold,Far or near be the distance,
Every creature needs attention.
To allow a boat under her sail from land,
From land to the country of her unacquaintance.If you would meditate my lay,
And say it every Lady Day,
The luck of faery will be on your head,
And blessed each night you'll take your bed.ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS (Welsh)
Hill river is very palatable,
Ever meandering to the Menai,
Right well it retained its tributeOn Lady Day though great its flood.
No drop, though pure be its water,
Shall run in the channel of the Sinking Lands.The wood of Lady Day now, alas!
In the channel of the Cynvael,
Though the red head should fall offIt would be till the morrow asleep.
Let me not leave aught behind,
To talk of Nature's rebirth.
Give thou thine heart to the wild magic,
To the Lord and the Lady of Nature,
Beyond any consideration of this world.Do not covet large or small,
Do not despise weakling or poor,
Semblance of evil allow not near thee,
Never give nor earn thou shame.The Ancient Harmonies are given thee,
Understand them early and prove,
Be one with the power of the elements,
Put behind thee dishonour and lies.Be loyal to the Lord of the Wild Wood,
Be true to the Lady of the Stars,
Be true to thine own self besides,
True to the magic of Nature above all else.Do not thou curse anyone,
Lest thou threefold cursed shouldst be,
And shouldst thou travel ocean and earth,
Follow the very step of the ancient trackways.
THE CASKET OF ANCIENT SPELLS (81)
On Monday will come the great storm
Which the airy firmament will pour,
We shall be anxious the while,All who will hearken.
On Tuesday will come the other element,
Heart paining, hard piercing,
Wringing from pure pale cheeksBlood, like showers of wine.
On Wednesday will blow the wind,
Sweeping bare strath and plain,
Showering gusts of galling grief,Thunder bursts and rending hills.
On Thursday will pour the shower,
Driving people into blind flight,
Faster than the foliage on the trees,Like the leaves of plants in terror trembling.
On Friday will come the dool cloud of darkness,
The direst dread that ever came over the world,
Leaving multitudes bereft of reason,Grass and fish beneath the same flagstone.
On Saturday will come the great sea,
Rushing like a mighty river;
All will be at their bestHastening to a hill of safety.
On Sunday will arise the pale moon,
In memory of beautiful Arianrhod,
When she opened the Casket of Ancient Spells,And released the waters of the Eye of the Deep.
LIGHTING OF THE COEL COETH (82)
[for use ONLY at the four High Holidays -- all lights in the Covenstead
are extinguished and total silence is maintained -- the High Priest
and/or his designate(s) ascend to a nearby hill and in the dying rays
of the setting sun, they kindle the new fire using these words -- the
fire is then carried in procession back to the Covenstead]I kindle this fire today
In the presence of the Holy Ones,
Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,
Without fear of aught beneath the sun,
But the High Gods.Thee we invoke, Belenos,
O Light of Life;
Be thou a bright flame before us,
Be thou a guiding star above us,
Be thou a smooth path beneath us,
Kindle thou within our hearts
A flame of love for all our neighbours,
To our foes, to our friends, to our kindred all,
To all on the broad earth, O mighty Belenos,
From the lowliest thing that liveth,
To the Name which is highest of all.
By Rev. Cheryl Sulyma-Masson
Many people have asked us about becoming a Witch Questions about what to read or what rituals to do come in constantly. There are many excellent books with suggestions on rituals and self training methods, as well as books to introduce you to various traditions from which to choose. Even Witches who work in specific traditions come into the Craft as individuals. Most of those individuals have felt the need to align with the Old Ways and the Old Gods and Goddesses in some ritual way. Even individuals who will go through coven dedication sometimes feel the need for a more personal and private introduction into the Old Ways. This is a very natural desire since we are a religion of individuals who need no intervention to commune with our Gods and Goddesses.Before any such ritual, whether private, coven, or both, it is important for the individual to take the time that they need to contemplate what this means to them. Personally, I view dedication as a promise to one's self and the God and Goddess to honestly explore the Craft and its way of life as a possible path for one's self. It is a commitment of respect and tolerance for others as well as a commitment of respect and tolerance for self. In a sense one does not become a Witch, but rather commits to a lifetime of becoming a Witch. In the world of the Witch there is no stagnation, only the constant flow to work in harmony with the seen and the unseen worlds around us. Witches understand that they will never know everything, but they are sure that many times will come when they desire to know more. It is a commitment to a lifetime of education. Not education through just books and classes, though that will be a large part of it, but rather education through experiencing that lifetime. In both good times and bad times the lessons will come. Witches know that to change the world, we must first change ourselves, and in order to change ourselves we must know ourselves. Perhaps this is the hardest commitment of all. A Witch must honestly come to know and love themself and must be willing to see the faults and gifts within themself. This will not be easy, but no one ever said becoming a Witch was. True initiation comes from the Goddess. No one can give it to you or take it away from you except the Goddess. Teachers can guide us but they can not travel the path for us, since it is a journey of self. Dedication is the first step on the journey.
What some people do not contemplate is that Witchcraft and a commitment to its way of life is also a commitment to understanding that this way of life is not the right way of life for everyone. It is a commitment to respect all religions and the place and importance they hold in the hearts and lives of others.
With this said, what follows is a basic dedication ritual that can be enhanced and used as desired, if desired.
DEDICATION RITUAL
You will need to decide on a place where you will not be disturbed. It is best to come to this place after a purification bath and a time of silent contemplation. This will release incorrect energies and set up the correct ritual attitude.
When you arrive at your location, you need to purify space. You will use sea salted water and lighted incense to do this. I like to use sandalwood because of its spiritual vibration.
Walk the circle, with the incense and salted water once clockwise. Say:
"I consecrate this place of rite,
by salted water, smoke , and firelight.
So mote it be."Now move back to the center of the circle where your altar space is and replace the incense and salted water. Take a few minutes to vusualize a circle of white light energy surrounding your working space. Once this is done, you need to physically redraw the circle with your athame, wand or right hand. Some traditions walk the circle 3 times for the 3 Celtic worlds, or the Maiden, Mother, and Crone; others simply traverse the circle once. It should be done clockwise in the way that feels right to you. You start in the North or East. Say:
"This Circle is cast
as in days of old
to welcome the Old Ones
and make the Old Ways retold.
So mote it be."Now you have your working space. In my tradition we do not break the circle until we have completed all magickal workings.
Next, annoint a white candle with sandalwood oil from center to top, and center to bottom. Light the candle using wooden matches. Say:
"I do kindle this flame
that known it will be
of my pledge to the Old Ones.
By my will, all to see! So mote it be!"Now you will call the Quarter to witness your rite. Some groups start in the North, the center of the mysteries, while some start in the East, the center of wisdom. Do what feels right for you. You may raise your hands as you call them holding your pentacle symbol.
For all quarters going clockwise:
"Powers of (North, East, South, West)
Please join in my rite
do witness my pledge
and grant me insight.
So mote it be!"Call to the God and Goddess by raising your hands directly up from the center of the circle and say:
"Blessed Lady, Mistress of Old,
May you witness this rite
And hear now my pledge
In your love and your light""Ancient Lord, Protector of all
As this pledge I do make
My you witness this rite
and the oath that I take""By the powers of the Old Ones
and the magick of their ways
I embark on my journey
May they bless all my days
So mote it be."With the God and Goddess, the Elemental Powers and the Old Ones to witness your rite, you are ready to make your pledge. What follows is a general example but it is best when it comes from your heart.
Raise your white working candle and say:
"Before the God and Goddess, I (your name), henceforth to be known as (your craft name), within the circle of the wise to symbolize my rebirth, do pledge to honor the God and the Goddess in all areas of my life. I will strive to understand their great mysteries, and the mystery of myself. I will share this knowledge and this path with all who sincerely seek such enlightenment. I will protect and guard the Old Ways from those who would desire to destroy them. I will defend the God and Goddess. I will work in harmony with the energies of the Earth, and the Kingdoms of Plant, Animal, Spirit, and Man, striving always for unity and balance. I will work in harmony with the elements, to understand them. I pledge myself as protector of this Earth and Keeper of the Sacred Mother. I will honor and respect my brothers and sisters in the Craft even when our paths do not join. I will respect and keep the Old Ways and the Wiccan Rede. So mote it be."
If you have chosen a ritual athame or other working tool, you may now want to consecrate it by purifying it with the elements and speaking your purpose- pass it through the incense, the candle flame, dip it into the salted water, then wipe it clean annoint it with the sandalwood oil and say:
"I charge this tool to serve me as I honor and respect the Old Ones. May it serve me for as long as I work for the good of all. So mote it be"
At this point, you will want to introduce yourself to the elemental powers. Walk to the 4 quarters, starting at the same one you started the circle. Say:
"I (your craft name), who stands between the worlds do place myself before you and enter into the sight, for I have pledged myself to the old ones and old ways. Forever will I work in truth and light.
Sacred powers of the (North, East, South, West)
Blessed realms of Earth, Air, Fire, and Sea,
May we ever share harmony and peace
By my will, so mote it be!"You may now spend time meditating on the changes that your rebirth into the Craft will bring. It is also a good time to start a journal or Book of Shadows. Your first entry can be what you expect to give to the craft and what you expect to take in return. Be honest and begin your journey in truth.
Now it is time to thank the God and Goddess for witnessing this rite. Say:
"Blessed Lady, Ancient Lord
Enjoined as the Sacred One
I thank you for your blessings
By the power of the moon and sun.
Merry Part, Merry Meet Again."You may now release the quarters. Start at West, South, East, then North. (End in whatever quarter you started in, do N, W, S, E if you started in the East) Say:
"Sacred spirits of Old
Powers of the Quarters
Blessings now upon you
From magickal sons and daughters.""I thank you now and forever
for gifting me strength of heart
May you always return when I call you
May your journey be safe when we part.
So mote it be."You may now snuff your working candle with a candle snuffer. Never blow out a magickal candle, your breath can alter the vibration of the purpose charge. Now go on to close the magick circle. Walk once counterclockwise visualizing the energy fading into the earth and say:
"Though this place of rite, is now open
it forever is whole in my heart
Like the love of the God and Goddess
staying with me though we are apart!
So mote it be!"
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Bibliography:- Moon Magick by DJ Conway
- Carmina Gadelica Copyright © 1993, 1997 by Mike Nichols
This document (or selections from it) may be re-published only as long as no information is changed, credit is given to the author, and it is provided or used without cost to others.
NOTE: Liturgical use is encouraged, and the stipulation of crediting the author is waived when the material is spoken in liturgical settings. However, author credit should still appear on any hard copy.
Other uses of this document must be approved in writing by Mike Nichols.
- Self Dedication Ritual - Rev. Cheryl Sulyma-Masson
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