by Elkin Vanaeon
Needs:
Altar
Altar Cloth
2 Altar Candles (God
and Goddess
Water Bowl and Water
Salt Dish and Salt
Pentacle
Censer with Charcoal and Incense
Athame and Sword (optional,
4 Candles
(Quarter Colors
Presence Lamp
Candle Snuffer (optional
Priest/ess - Let all be fit to enter into the presence of the Gods.
Lighting of The Presence Lamp
Priest/ess:
I light this Candle
in
the name of that ancient presence,
which is,
was,
and ever shall
be
male,
female,
all-knowing,
all-powerful and present everywhere,
And in the names of the four Mighty Ones,
the rulers of the elements,
may power and blessing
descend
in this hour
upon this place
and those gathered here.
Light the two altar candles, the charcoal (for Incense, and the four quarter candles from the Presence Lamp.
Consecrating the Holy Water - Kneel before the altar and places the Water Bowl upon the Pentacle and purify the water by plunging the tip of your Athame into the water, saying:
I exorcise thee,
O Creature
of Water,
let all uncleanliness and hindrance be cast forth from thee,
Wherefore do I bless and consecrate thee,
and let only good enter within.
In the names of God and Goddess.
Consecration and Blessing the Salt - Set the Water Bowl aside and in its place set the Salt Dish upon the Pentacle, touch the salt with tip of Athame, saying:
Blessings be upon thee,
O Creature of Salt;
let all malignancy and hindrance be cast forth from
thee,
and let all good enter within.
That thou mayest aid me.
In
the names of God and Goddess.
Using the tip of the Athame, takes three measures of salt and put it into the water, then stirs deosil three times with the Athame, saying:
But ever mind that as water
and salt purifies the body,
so the God and Goddess purifies the soul.
So mote it be!
Cast a circle, continuous from north deosil unto north with the Sword (or Athame, saying:
I conjure thee, O Circle of
Power,
that thou be a boundary
between the world of
men
and the realms of the Mighty Ones;
a meeting place
of love and joy and truth;
a shield against all wickedness and evil;
a rampart and protection that shall preserve and contain
the power that we raise within thee.
Wherefore do I bless thee,
and consecrate thee,
in the names of God and Goddess.
(If others are without, a gate is opened, and they are now brought into the Circle with the Watch Words of the Circle, anointed and blessed with a kiss, then the Circle is resealed.
Consecration of the Circle of the Four Elements
Priest/ess takes up the consecrated water and asperges the Circle with his/her fingertips, from north deosil unto north; and then touches each person within with the water, being touched in turn by his/her working partner (or another of the opposite sex to Priest\ess, if available.
Water Bowl is returned to altar.
Priest/ess then takes up the censer, and likewise censes the Circle from north unto north. Lastly the Priest/ess takes around the Presence Lamp from north unto north.
All stand and salute the East.
Priest\ess stands in front of group facing East.
With Athame, Priest\ess salutes and then with an invoking earth pentagram, saying - Ye Watchtowers of the East, Ye Devas of Air; I, ....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!
All turn and face South:
With Athame, Priest\ess and then an invoking earth pentagram, saying - Ye Watchtowers of the South, Ye Devas of Fire; I, N....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!
And in West:
With Athame, Priest\ess salutes and then with an invoking earth pentagram, saying - Ye Watchtowers of the West, Ye Devas of Water; Devas of Death and Initiation; I, ....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!
And in North:
With Athame, Priest\ess salutes and then with an invoking earth pentagram, saying - Ye Watchtowers of the North, Ye Devas of Earth; Boreas, thou Guardian of the Northern Portals; I, ....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!
Priest/ess turn to Center and calling high and lo saying:
I\we call upon the Old Ones
from long ago,
those known yet forgotten through the mists of time,
loving
and nurturing to their people.
Powerful God,
Gentle Goddess,
We
invite you to our Circle
(pause
O thou Loving Goddess, O thou
Mighty God,
We gather (I stand before you to ...." (state intent)
This Circle is now Cast and Spell-Cast!