| THE GREAT RITE |
| Continued |
| As the athame is to the male, so the cup is to the female; and conjoined, they become one in truth. |
| The woman lays down her athame on the altar and kisses the man who remains kneeling and she accepts the chalice from him. She sips the wine, kisses him again and he sips, rises, and gives it to another woman with a kiss. The chalice is passed around the Coven, man to woman, with a kiss each time, until the entire Coven has sipped the wine. The chalice can be refilled and any one can drink from it without repeating the ritual once the chalice has gone around once. To consecrate the cakes, the woman picks up her athame, and the man, kneeling before her, holds up the dish. The woman holds her athame point down and lowers the athame into the cake while the man says: |
| O Queen most secret, bless this food into our bodies; bestowing health, wealth, strength, joy and peace, and that fulfillment of love that is perfect happiness. |
| The woman lays down her athame and takes the cakes from the man with a kiss and eats a piece. The man takes the cake back with a kiss and eats a piece. The cake is passed around the Coven the same way the wine was. Closing: Rising together the High Priest and High Priestess hold hands and say: High Priest/High Priestess: |
| Know then and remember In this and in all lives to come That I, thy God/Goddess, hast known thee and loved thee And hast taken thee for mine own Drink and eat now and remember And with this wine and cake salute my name . . . |
| The High Priestess spreads her legs and arms in the pentagram position. The High Priest bending over her body kisses the High Priestess on the lips, and continues: |
| Here where Lance and Grail unite, And feet, and knees, and breast, and lips. |
| The High Priest lays down and enters the High Priestess. If the High Priest is not yet erect he may massage his lingham with his anointed right hand while gazing at the High Priestess until he is fully erect. They have intercourse in the missionary position. The union should be consecrated until the High Priest ejaculates. Upon his ejaculation the Coven says aloud "Blessed be!" If birth control is wished to be practiced, the High Priest should rise before ejaculation and the High Priestess places his lingham in her mouth and swallows his ejaculate. Consecration: The High Priest calls a woman by name, to bring his athame from the altar. The woman does so and stands with the athame in her hands to the West of the High Priestess's hips and facing her. The High Priest calls a male by name, to bring the chalice of wine from the altar. He does so and stands with the chalice in his hands to the East of the High Priestess's hips and facing her. The male kneels in front of the living altar before the female. He holds up the chalice of wine and she holds her athame point down and lowers the athame into the wine. The woman says: |