Mabon Autumnal Equinox Circle of the Dark Moon Coven

Transcription

Mabon Autumnal Equinox Circle of the Dark Moon Coven
Mabon Autumnal Equinox
Mabon Autumnal Equinox
Sep. 22, 2012
Circle of the Dark Moon Coven
Circle of the Dark Moon Coven
2012 - Mabon-Autumnal Equinox.docx, Created on 9/22/2012 9:42:00
You will need these items:
 The usual tools, candles, paraphernalia for ritual
Items needed specific to working:
 Indian Corn
 A napkin or other such cover for the corn.
Preparation:
Cleansing Sacred Space

Sweep the area with besom then smudge with violet-sage.
Consecration of Water and Salt & Elements
Charge at the Pentacle
(HPS and HP with athames over their hearts and the other hand on the pentacle, bend in silence
for a moment. During this time, they silently ask the Lord and Lady for strength and guidance .)
Blessing the Salt
HPS : ( places dish of salt upon the pentacle)
I consecrate thee O creature of salt, fruit of the Earth,
magickal aid, and seasoning for Cerredwen’s cauldron on the hearth.
I cast from thee all hindrance and malignity, so that in my works of magick you may well
serve me.
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All:
So mote it be .
(HPS removes the dish of salt from the pentacle and then places the dish of water upon
the pentacle. Then she takes the salt and using her athame drops into the water three
measures of salt . She stirs the water three times with the tip of her athame . HPS sets
the salt aside.)
Blessing the Water
HPS : I consecrate thee O creature of water the Lady’s sacred element; life giving, whether
swiftly flowing like salmon swimming upstream or falling from the firmament .
I cast from thee all hindrance and malignity, so that in my works of magick you may well
serve me.
All:
So mote it be .
Blessing the Air
(HP places the censer containing incense upon the pentacle)
HP:
I consecrate thee O creature of Air, bringer of cool autumnal nights rare. Like the
seasons all things change and at the end, the Lord of the wild will be there.
I cast from thee all hindrance and malignity, so that in my works of magick you may well
serve me.
All :
So mote it be .
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Blessing the Fire
(HP lights the incense)
HP:
I consecrate thee O creature of Fire, signifier of the Sun. Burn brightly this Fall night so
that we might chant by the balefire s light.
I cast from thee all hindrance and malignity, so that in my works of magick you may well
serve me .
All :
So mote it be .
(HP sets the censer aside.)
Circle Casting
(by Earth)
(HP and HPS take their athames and trace the sacred circle. If desired, they may leave a
doorway in the northeastern quadrant. They walk together with the HP’s hand upon the HPS’
shoulder.)
HPS : I conjure thee, O Circle of Power, to be a meeting place of love, joy and truth, a
boundary between the worlds of men and the Realms the Mighty Ones .
A rampart and Protection against all wickedness that shall both contain and entertain
the powers raised within wherefore do I consecrate thee in the name of The Lord of the
Sun and the Lady of the Moon.
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Strengthening the Circle
(by Water)
(Witch 1 : Sprinkles the salt and water mixture around the circle)
Witch 1 :
Rain of water and salt sprinkled upon the ground,
This blessed water sprinkled round and round .
Protect us from wickedness and make our magick sound .
(Witch 1 : When their circuit is completed, they replace the water upon the altar.)
(by Air)
(Witch 2 : takes the censer and walks about the circle)
Witch 2 :
Into the night sky, incense smoke, roil, rise, and writhe,
This smoke takes our intentions to the skies,
Sunder us from the mundane like a scythe.
(Witch 2 : When their circuit is completed, they replace the censer upon the altar.)
(by Fire)
(Witch 3 : takes a candle and walks about the circle)
Witch 3 :
Fire, shine true and bright,
Aid, grant clarity of sight,
Mayest the Gods be with us this night .
(Witch 3 : When their circuit is completed, they replace the water upon the altar.)
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Calling the Quarters
East:
O, guardians of the Airs: Sylphs from the East,
Come, teach us and sanctify our feast.
At dawn of day your winds blow free,
Hail and welcome; blessed be.
(Draw the invoking pentagram of Air)
All : Hail and welcome; blessed be .
South: O, guardians of Fire, salamanders from the South,
Bring your heat of desire, will to act within and without.
By flame, lightning, and burning tree,
Hail and welcome; blessed be.
(Draw the invoking pentagram of Fire)
All :
Hail and welcome; blessed be.
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West: O guardians of the Waters: Undines of the West.
Attend and bring with your daring thus allowing us to be our magickal best.
By rain, river, and lake, deep blue sea,
Hail and welcome; blessed be.
(Draw the invoking pentagram of Water)
All:
Hail and welcome; blessed be .
North: O, guardians of the Earth: Gnomes and Fae of the North.
Come from your silent halls, to teach us your craft of manifesting great worth.
By stone, pick, and iron, and bud, branch, and leaf,
Hail and welcome; blessed be.
(Draw the invoking pentagram of Earth)
All :
Hail and welcome; blessed be .
HPS : O, Spirit and guardians of the quarters all;
Hearken unto our call this first evening of fall .
Protect our circle tonight,
And lend your powers to the rite .
So mote it be .
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(Draw the active invoking pentagram of Spirit)
All :
So mote it be .
Drawing down the Moon
Invocation to the Goddess
(Note: normally the HP would/should perform the fivefold kiss before the Goddess invocation .
However since this is a solar Sabbat the Drawing down of the moon is omitted. (HPS assumes
the blessing position with her back to the coven.)
HPS : I invoke thee and call upon thee,
Mighty Mother of us all, bringer of grain, grasses, and fruited trees.
For, she brings the buds in spring and the flowers .
In summer, she laughs among the leafy bowers .
Come fall, she cuts the cane and gathers the grain .
In winter cold as graveyard stone, she exudes wisdom of the Crone .
By seed, by Hawthorn leaf, by bud and stem, by flower and root and leaf, I call upon
thee, to descend upon thy servant priestess and to show forth your presence and love .
( HPS lights the Goddess candle.)
The Charge of the Goddess
(HPS as the Goddess Herself , the HPS turns to face the coven .)
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HPS:
I am the harmonious tune of the songbird
And the laughter of a gleeful child .
I am the bubbling sound of the running brook
And the scent of the flowers wild .
I am the floating leaf upon the breeze
And the dancing fire in the forest glade .
I am the sweet smell of rains upon the soil
And the rapture of passion when love is made .
I am the germination of see in the Spring And the ripening of wheat in the sun .
I am the peaceful depth of twilight that soothes the soul when day is done.
I am found in the twinkling of an aged eye, And found in the birth of a newborn pup.
Yes, birth and growth and death am I: I am the gracious Earth, on whom you sup.
I am your sister, your mother, the wise one .
I wrap you gently in the warmth of my love.
That which you seek you shall find within Not without, not below, not above.
Remember always, my children, be reverent. Be gentle, loving and kind to each other
And hold sacred the Earth and its creatures For I am the Lady: Creatrix and Mother.
Drawing down the Sun
Invocation to the God
(HP assumes the Osiris position with his back to the coven.)
HP:
You are the stag of seven tines.
You are the Lord of all things wild, and the consort of She whom we adore, and before,
you were her child.
You have many names but those who know your playful side call you Lugh the
Longhand, Loki, Draug, Faunas, Puck or Pan.
Though the holly grows and the oak is becoming wan,
Today you begin to lose some of your might for Autumn is nigh tonight.
You are the stag of seven tines .
In your honor, we light the balefires until the smoke climbs to the stars from a thousand
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sparking spire .
Strike the harp . Gather the flutes, drums, sing, and dance in honor of you and a fruitful
harvest.
You are the stag of seven tines.
Great Father, return to Earth again,
Come at my call and show Yourself to men.
Shepherd of goats, upon the wild hill’s way,
Lead thy flock from night into day.
Forgotten are the ways of sleep and night—
Men seek for them whose eyes have lost the light.
Open the door of dreams, whereby men come to thee.
Shepherd of goats, ruler of wild things,
Descend upon thy servant and priest.
O, answer unto me .
( HP lights the God candle.)
Charge of the God
HP:
Listen to the words of the Horned God,
The Guardian of all things wild and free,
Keeper of the Gates of Death,
Whose Call we all must Heed:
I am the fire within your Heart,
The yearning of your Soul .
I, the Hunter of Knowledge, Seeker of the Holy Quest I, who stand in the darkness, am
He whom you call Death. I, the Consort and Mate of Her whom we adore, Beckoned
forth to Thee,
To learn the secrets of Death and Peace,
Come thou unto me.
I am corn at harvest and fruit on the trees.
I am He who leads you home.
With Scourge and Flame, Blade and Blood,
These are mine own gifts to thee.
Call unto me in the forest wild and hilltop bare, And seek me in the Darkest Night.
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I, who have been called, Lugh, Pan, Hades, Hermes, Puck, Loki, and Osiris Bright. Speak
to thee in thy search, Come to dance and sing; Come live and love; behold this is
worshiping.
I am thy Father; you are my children. On swift night wings, it is I who lay you at the
Mother’s feet; to be reborn and to return again to seek.
Know me, I am the untamed wind, the fury of storm.
Seek me with pride and humility, and passion in your Soul.
Statement of Purpose
HP:
Welcome everyone. Tonight we celebrate the Autumnal equinox once again day and
night are equal in length but now the days grow colder and shorter.
Power Raising
Sir John Barleycorn’s Rune
All :
There were three women came out of the West,
Their fortunes for to scry,
And these three women made a solemn vow,
That John Barleycorn should die .
They plowed and sowed, they harrowed him in,
They threw clods upon his head.
And, these three women made a solemn vow
That John Barleycorn was dead.
They let him lie for a very long time,
‘till the rains from heaven did fall.
Then, little Sir John sprung up his head,
Soon amazing them all.
They let him stand ‘till Midsummer’s Day
‘till he looked both pale and wan.
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And, little Sir John grew a long, long, beard,
Thus becoming a man.
They rolled him and tied him by the waist, serving him most barbarously.
They hired men with sharp pitchforks,
Who pricked him to the heart .
And the loader he served him worse than that, For he bound him to a cart.
They wheeled him round and round the field, ‘’till they came to a barn.
And there they made a solemn vow, on poor old John Barleycorn.
They hired men with crab tree sticks, to cut him skin from bone.
And the miller he served him worse than that, For he ground him between two stones.
So, here’s little Sir John in a nut brown bowl, and he’s brandy in a glass;
And little Sir John in the nut brown bowl Proved the stronger man at last.
For the huntsman, he can’t hunt the fox, nor so loudly blow his horn,
And the tinker he can’t mend kettles or pots, Without a little John Barleycorn.
Main Working
HPS:
Now is the time of balance, when Day and Night face each other as equals. Yet at this
season, the Night is waxing and the Day is waning. For, nothing ever remains without
change in the tides of Earth and Sky, Fire and Water, know and remember, that
whatsoever rises must fall, and whatsoever falls does so only to rise again . In toke of
which, let us dance the Dance of Going and Returning.
HPS:
(Leads coveners in a Widdershins procession about the circle. If room permits, the
procession should spiral in close to but not at the center. When she is ready the HPS :
raises the dish for all to see and declaims .)
HPS:
Behold the mystery : in silence is the seed of wisdom gained .
HPS:
(uncovers the dish . She then instructs all to meditate a moment.)
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(When they are ready, the HPS goes to the eastern candle and the HP goes to the
western candle.)
HPS:
The harvest is fully reaped; the God gives of Himself
And journeys to the Higher Planes and the Sky grows dark.
Chilled winds blow in from the North as the plants turn brown and whither.
But, in the face of seeming extinction,
The Goddess sends forth Her Power, and by it we are sustained.
And thus, in the dark days of Winter we are comforted
By the knowledge that all is a cycle; Birth and Death, Spring and Winter, the end of all
things and rebirth of all things.
Blessings and honor to the Great Goddess.
Blessings an honor to the Fallen God who journeys to the Summerland and Underworld.
Blessings and honor Goddess who as Persephone descends into the Underworld to love
and bring forth to us the Sun God when Winter’s dark days are done.
HPS:
Farewell, O Sun, ever returning light,
The hidden God, whoever yet remains,
Who now departs to the land of Youth
Through the Gates of Death to dwell enthroned,
The Judge of Gods and man.
The Horned Leader of the hosts of Air
Yet, even as he stands unseen about the circle,
So dwelleth he within the secret seed .
All :
The seed of newly ripened grain the seed of flesh;
Hidden in earth, the marvelous seed of the stars .
In him is Life, and life is the Light of man,
that which was never born and never dies.
Therefore the wise weep not but rejoice!
HPS:
Let us prepare for the coming of winter. Mabon is upon us.
The harvest is done; time to bid farewell to Horned God and the waning
sun.
Do not to despair, for even after the harshest winter follows a springtime fair. The
wheel of life is ever turning, blessed be!
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All:
Although the season of plenty draws to a close, the Gods are ever with us.
The Lord and Lady watch over us.
We give thanks to the Gods for this joyful harvest!
(The HPS raises her arms in a blessing and the HP responds in kind. They resume their normal
places and then the HPS leads the coven in an outward spiral deosil procession. When she is
ready, the HPS sends everyone back to his or her place.)
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Elemental Balancing Ritual (optional)
(This ritual is ideally suited for five participants . It is conducted in a ‘Round Robin’ style, with
participants moving around the circle to experience each element, with one person at each of
the Quarter points and one in the center.
The ritual moves in an anti-clockwise direction—widdershins (Southern Hemisphere Deosil).
The purpose of the ritual is to balance the elements within each participant as well as to gain an
understanding of each element from both a personal and an outside perspective. It also requires
participants to work with both receptive and projective energies, visualisation and sensing.
Before the circle cast, each participant chooses an element as their starting position, usually
whomever is leading the ritual will take the Spirit position. Elements can also be assigned by the
leader or drawn from a cauldron randomly. It really depends upon the group’s preference. )
HP/HPS:
Before me is Air
Behind me is Water
At my left is Fire
To my right is Earth
Above me the Zenith
Below me the Nadir
And all around me shines the Six-Rayed Star.
(When all of the connections are established, each Quarter person turns to face the center. They
then direct their perception and experience of their element along the beam to Person A in Spirit.
The HP/HPS receives a message of understanding of each element. This is the receptive part for
the person in the center. Each person that stands at a Quarter is projecting.
The HP/HPS absorbs the understanding and energy of each element and then moves to speak
privately with each person at the Quarters - starting with Person A at Air, then moving around to
Person B at Fire etc. The HP/HPS describes to each Quarter person what they have felt or
understood of that element and the aspect being projected. They gift their n ew perspective to
each person. Depending on how deep the trance, Spirit may have an elemental messa ge for some
of the participants.
Next, the HP/HPS returns to the center.
Everyone then takes a moment to absorb what they have just experienced and then the
next phase - the Round Robin - begins.
Everyone moves one position Deosil around the Circle and the round robins continues. It is the
HP/HPS choice whether they move out into the circle to Air and proceed with visiting each
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elemental quarter. If this is the case the person at the Earth quarter moves into the Spirit
position.
When this exercise is complete returns to their original places. Everyone will have
experienced both the reception and projection aspects of each of the elements and
gained different perspectives by connecting with each element from the Quarter points
and from Spirit.)
Consecration of the Wine and Cakes (Symbolic Great Rite)
Great Rite ( Symbolic)
(HPS takes the chalice and the HP stands before her holding his athame.)
HPS:
You are the spear of Lugh, the Sun.
(HP lowers his athame into the wine)
HP:
And you are the Grail of the Moon.
HPS/HP:
And together we are one.
(HP replaces his athame upon the altar.)
Consecration of the Wine
HPS:
(lays her athame down and places the chalice on the pentacle.)
HPS:
May this offering to the God and Goddess keep us from ever knowing thirst .
Consecration of the Cakes
HPS:
(removes the chalice and replaces it with the plate of cakes before the. She
touches each cake in turn with her athame.)
HPS : May this offering to the God and Goddess keep us from ever knowing hunger .
Simple Feast ( Cakes and Ale)
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HPS:
(When all of the coveners have partaken of the simple feast, the HPS places
some food and drink in the libation bowl. HPS raises the libation plate in salute.)
HPS:
To the Gods.
Coveners:
To the Gods.
Closing the Circle
Release of Deities
Release of the Goddess
HPS:
(faces the altar, assumes the Goddess position or alternatively salutes with
athame and recites)
Queen of the Universe who wears a mantle of stars and moonlight, on autumn’s
first night,
we gathered to bid farewell to your Sun’s warmth and light. We thank you for
your attending and witnessing these rites.
With your help, we shall start down the path to wisdom’s light.
For this boon, and glimpse of your magick, and mystery,
we salute and thank Thee.
Alas, our time together now is past.
We bid thee farewell.
Stay if you will and join our repast.
Leave us if you must.
Ere you leave us, know that all who met here
Did so in perfect love and perfect trust.
HPS:
(Extinguishes the Goddess candle)
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Release of the God
HP:
(Assumes the Osiris position)
Thou art the Stag of Seven tines.
He who’s power is wide as the flood on a plain.
Your wisdom stretches like a hawk across the sky.
Who but you with smoke sets our heads afire?
We bid thee farewell as well as the sun and its warming rays, But the harvest
was plentiful and we thank you for this boon to last us through winter s
darkening days.
For this boon, and glimpse of your magick, and mystery,
we salute and thank Thee.
Alas, our time together now is past.
We bid thee farewell.
Stay if you will and join our repast.
Leave us if you must.
Ere you leave us, know that all who met here
Did so in perfect love and perfect trust.
HP:
(Extinguishes the God candle)
Quarter Dismissals
(The HP follows the HPS around the quarters except where noted while the rest of the
coven remain in place around the circle but mimic the HPS’ gestures. At each quarter,
the HPS and HP salute the quarter with their athames. After the dismissal, the HPS, HP,
and coveners, draw the banishing pentagram. The banishing pentagram of Earth shall
be used for all dismissals.)
North: Hail, guardians of the North, Gnomes and Fae of the Earth.
On this first autumn’s night, that marks the decline of the Sun’s might,
We thank you for witnessing and protecting our sacred magickal rite.
Go if you must; stay if you will; but know that we met in perfect love and perfect
trust.
(Draw the banishing pentagram of Earth)
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All:
Hail and farewell Gnomes and Fae of the Earth. Blessed be.
West: Hail, guardians of the West, Undines of the Waters.
On this first autumn’s night, that marks the decline of the Sun’s might,
We thank you for witnessing and protecting our sacred magickal rite.
Go if you must; stay if you will; but know that we met in perfect love and perfect
trust.
(Draw the banishing pentagram of Water)
All: Hail and farewell Undines of the Waters. Blessed be.
South: Hail, guardians of the South, Salamanders of Fire.
On this first autumn’s night, that marks the decline of the Sun’s might,
We thank you for witnessing and protecting our sacred magickal rite.
Go if you must; stay if you will; but know that we met in perfect love and perfect
trust.
(Draw the banishing pentagram of Fire)
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All:
Hail and farewell Salamanders of Fire. Blessed be.
East:
Hail, guardians of the East, Sylphs of the Airs.
On this first autumn’s night, that marks the decline of the Sun’s might,
We thank you for witnessing and protecting our sacred magickal rite.
Go if you must; stay if you will; but know that we met in perfect love and perfect
trust.
(Draw the banishing pentagram of Air)
All :
Hail and farewell Sylphs of the Airs . Blessed be.
HPS:
Hail and farewell, Spirit and guardians of the quarters all;
you hearkened unto our call this first evening of fall.
Thank you for protecting our circle tonight,
and lending your powers to this rite.
So mote it be.
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(Draw the active banishing pentagram of Spirit)
All :
So mote it be .
Opening the Circle
(HPS and HP face the altar together. The Deities have been thanked and the Quarters
dismissed, therefore, the next action is to ‘take down’ the circle. Since the circle was
thrice cast, it should be thrice unwound. Also, because the circle was cast deosil it should
be undone in a widdershins direction.)
HPS:
O Circle of Power, as I have conjured thee I now release your energies into this
blade.
(In your mind’s eye, see the circle dissolve into a wispy energy smoke, which the glowing
blade readily absorbs)
HPS:
Where there once existed a rampart between this world and the Otherworld, the
rampart is no more . Once again, our realms are separate. However, the love and
joy with which we met here tonight remains undiminished.
HPS : (Rejoins the HP at the altar and then together they face the rest of the coven)
Just as the oak must yield to the holly, so must warmer days yield at the
harvest’s end.
Just as the Autumnal equinox signals summer s end, it is time for us to leave this
realm of magick, mystery, and the circle of our ancestors and friends.
The circle is open but remains unbroken.
Blessed be.
Coveners: Blessed be.
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