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Ritual Preparation:
A symbol of the season. White flowers, or perhaps some snow
can be placed on the altar.
Select Four candles for the Altar:
Altar with White Cloth with Pentacle, Incense and holder, and Chalice and Milk, Sword and Athame!
Select four additional candles for the Elemental Quarters:
Choose your favorite ceremonial broom to Symbolically sweep out the Old and cleanse the way for the New.
Set aside ceremonial cakes (Cinnamon or Spice Cakes) and Milk on the serving trays for the Wine and Loaf Blessing!
Sage for Cleansing!
Anointing Oil pre-prepared and Blessed!
Extra white candles for spiritual energy!
God and Goddess Symbols!
Ritual Space:
Clean the area, not just energy wise but dust and vacuum your space.
If your space is outside, you might clean any fallen branches, weeds or even
clear any animal indications that may have been deposited in the area.
Setting up the Circle:
The Priest\ess should find compass north, the ritual will begin with
calling in the quarters starting with the East. Set your circle according to
those directions. You might chose to use a rope or even flour (if outdoors)
to outline your ceremonial circle, and set your Quarter Candles to mark the
location of the quarters so everyone will know where to stand when the circle
is drawn.
Cleansing and Blessing:
The Ritual Broom can be used as well as burning Sage to clear and cleanse
the space. Priest and Priestess Shall Cleanse and Anoint each other, then set
burning sage at The Gateway to cleanse the way for those who enter.
Cast the Circle:
The Priestess and Priest using Wand or Sword shall walk Deosil starting
and finishing East, leaving room and space for everyone, directing their will
and energy from within to Cast and SpellCast the Circle saying;
"I hereby do create sacred space,
In time that is not time;
a place not a place,
Today is a day that is not a day,
All malice and
worry, now away,
So all within here is right and just,
This is a place
of magic,
love and trust!"
Consecration of Alter:
Facing
North, the High Priest and Priestess kneel in front of the altar with him to
her right. She puts the bowl of water on the altar, places the point of her
Athame in it and says, "I exorcise thee, O Creature of Water, that thou
cast out from thee all impurities and uncleanliness of this world as well as
the Realm of the Onine: in the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwyn!"
She then puts down her Athame and holds up the bowl of water in both hands. The High Priest puts the bowl of salt on the altar, puts his Athame in the salt and says: "Blessings be upon this Creature of Salt; let all malignity and hindrance be cast forth hence from, and let all good enter herein; wherefore so I bless thee, that thou mayest aid me, in the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwyn."
He then puts down his Athame and puts a pinch of salt into the bowl of water the High Priestess is holding, together they anoint and cleanse each other!
Challenge:
The Celebrants wishing
to enter the Circle shall be challenged at the Gate between Worlds for the "Sacred
Passwords - In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust" before entering, and
be Blessed and Anointed by "Priest, if a Womyn" or "Priestess,
if a Man," The Celebrants should then walk through the Gate deosil around
the Circle to where they will stand!
Introductions:
The Priest\ess will introduce themselves and ask each within to introduce themselves
and say where they're from!
Calling the Quarters:
The
1st Quarter Caller faces East and Calls:
To the Watchtowers of the
East and the Elements of Air, we call upon your wisdom and summon your energy
to help us achieve those desires new and some to be reborn!
- Light
the Eastern candle!
The 2nd Quarter Caller faces South and Calls:
To the Watchtowers
of the South and the Elements of Fire, we call upon your illumination and warmth,
We ask for your divine protection over all things that we bring forth for rebirth!
-Light the Southern candle!
The 3rd Quarter Caller faces West and calls:
To the Watchtowers
of the West and the Elements of Water, we call upon your nurturing aspects to
nurse new life and for joy of all new to this year!
- Light the Western
candle!
The 4th Quarter Caller Faces North and Calls:
To the Watchtowers
of the North and the elements of Earth, we call upon the depths of your strength
to nurture and allow what is planted to take firm root and grow healthy and
strong!
- Light the Northern candle!
Invoke
the Goddess and God:
Priestess saying such words as the following,
Priestess - Lights the Goddess Candle!
Priest:
Light the Orange Candle from the Blue candle on the altar
(or at the Southern point of the circle). Slowly begins walking the circle deosil,
bearing with him the Orange Candle saying:
Stop before the altar and placing the Orange Candle back upon it, light the Green Candle and hold it aloft saying, "All join hands together (pause while all comply) and say with me!"
Pause for a period while all concentrate - then place the Green Candle
back on the altar while saying: "We thank all for joining in this blessing,
please continue holding hands while we (Priest and Priestess) Recite the Blessing
Chant!"
Priest and Priestess Recite the Blessing Chant facing each other!
Singing:
Healing:
Works of Healing,
if necessary, may follow.
Wine and Loaf Blessing:
Standard
W&L Blessing with the exception of milk instead of wine.
Passing the Cakes and Ale:
Priestess-Hold
the Chalice up to your neighbor and say:
Priest will-Hold the plate of cakes up to your neighbor and say:
Then pass deosil to each person in the circle allowing each to drink
from the Chalice and to take a cake from the tray, after the first pass around
the Circle Some Wine and Cake will be saved as the Libation to the Lord and
The Lady!
Libation to the God/dess:
The
Priest/ess shall then pour the leftover wine onto the ground, making a circle
and Pentagram with the liquid. The leftover cakes are then crumbled carefully
over the pentagram to nurture the earth in honor of the Lord and the Lady. If
there are any cakes left over from the ritual, set them outside for the animals
and spirit folk.
Thanking and Releasing Watchtowers & Spirits:
We spent a good deal of time asking for their assistance, calling the quarters,
Our personal spirit guides and the deities, so let us be polite and spend time
thanking them as well. Priest and Priestess stand facing the alter, Salute,
Assume the God/dess Stance then call:
Each Quarter caller starting with the North going widdershins
call and releasing their Quarter ending with "Divine Spirits and the
Watchtowers of the __________ Thank you for watching over and being with us
- go if you must stay if you will, - So Mote It Be!"
Close the Circle:
Snuff out the candles (don't blow
them out). The Priest/ess physically close the circle by having all join Hands
singing Merry Meet, Merry Part Song!
Time for Feasting:
Foods appropriate
to eat on this day include those from the dairy, since Imbolg marks the festival
of calving. Sour cream dishes are fine. Spicy and full-bodied foods in honor
of the Sun are equally attuned. Curries and all dishes made with peppers, onions,
leeks, shallots, garlic or chives are appropriate. Spiced wines and dishes containing
raisins - all foods symbolic of the Sun are also traditional.
Learn
from and about each other - Rejoice in the presence of others, be free to share
stories, experiences, remember be yourselves but do not disgrace the God/dess
and each find a way to help clean up or wash dishes!
It is traditional upon Imbolg, at sunset or just after ritual, to light every lamp in the house - if only for a few moments. Or, or light candles in each room in honor of the Sun's rebirth, if snow lies on the ground outside, walk in it for a moment, recalling the warmth of summer. With your projective hand, trace an image of the Sun on the snow.