submitted by Carolynn Zoll
(The circle is cleansed and purified in the manner of the Tradition using cornmeal to mark the edges of the circle. As the participants enter the circle they will be asked what skills they bring to the circle this night. All should answer with statements such as "I am a poet" or "I am dancer" etc.)
East Watchtower:
(light torch)
I stir the watchtower of the Air
with his soft whispering winds
to come to us and guard this rite,
for in the East is Spring,
intellect and perception
where all that is begins first and again.
We ask you to bring forth the spirit of wisdom!
We bid you hail and welcome!
All:
Hail and welcome!
South Watchtower:
(light torch)
I stir the watchtower of the Fire
with his warm and quickening light
to come to us and guard this rite,
for in the South is Summer,
fire and inspiration
where all things grow and are mature.
We ask you to warm our hearts!
We bid you hail and welcome!
All:
Hail and welcome!
West Watchtower:
(light torch)
I stir the watchtower of the Water
with her cool waters of sea and stream
to come to us and guard this rite,
for in the West is Fall
and emotions where all things become full
and are harvested.
We ask you to temper our emotions
with love and compassion!
We bid you hail and welcome!
All:
Hail and welcome!
North Watchtower:
(light torch)
I stir the watchtower of the Earth
with her fields and forests
to come to us and guard this rite,
for in the North is Winter,
groundedness and abundance
where all is at rest
and waiting to be reborn in the East.
We ask you to bring forth in us the spirit of patience!
We bid you hail and welcome!
All:
Hail and welcome!
HPS:
The wheel of the year turns on and on,
bringing us to and from each season
and from and to another.
What will be is.
What was will be again.
All time is here and now inside this sacred space.
We pause briefly to watch the wheel turn and we gather on this blessed eve so that we might celebrate this season of Lughnassadh--the first harvest.
In this moment between time, we come to praise the bountiful Goddess and the benevolent God.
We wish to give thanks for the bounty of the fertile Earth and to feel ourselves a part of the cycle of life, death and rebirth.
HPS:
(Lighting God candle)
O' Horned one,
O' Ancient one.
God of Sun,
Bringer of Light.
Who comes from beyond
the gates of Death and Birth,
Come who gives life to all on Earth,
Come my Lord of wild delights.
Come and join our magick rites.
Come my Lord of fire and flame.
Come as we call your name,
Cernunnos!
Cernunnos!
Cernunnos!
Tonight is Lughnassadh.
Blessed be the Horned God!
We bid you hail and welcome!!
All:
Hail and welcome!
HPS:
Thou who whispers gentle yet strong,
thou for whom my soul doth long,
by most men you are seldom seen,
yet ever you reign as Virgin, Mother, Queen.
Thou who knows,
thou who conceals,
thou who gives birth,
thou who feels,
Dancer of eternal bliss,
bestow on us thy wondrous kiss.
Through the veil you pass with pride
as we beckon thee now to be at our side,
Cerridwen,
Cerridwen,
Cerridwen!!
Tonight is Lughnassadh.
Blessed be the Fertile Goddess!
We bid you hail and welcome!!
All:
Hail and welcome!
(Brief Lugh story)
HPS:
(Lighting Gold candle)
LUGH!!
Shining One!!
Lord of the Sun,
the Hunt and Fire!
Hear us!
Be with us now before the time of your departure.
Come and honor our circle on this the night of your festival! Come before the time of your departure and bless this Rite! We bid you Hail and Welcome!
ALL:
Hail and Welcome!
(Changing of the Maiden)
(play game of LUGH----everyone sit down. two men dance one inside the circle of people-widdershins and one outside--sunwise they clap hands every time they pass each other and all shout LUGH. on the 6th clap the outside man falls and sits on the ground and the inside man jumps over the seated circle and runs the outside course to meet again and embrace and other games as attendance allows.)
HPS:
Let the old wane that the young may wax anew.
Ever turns the wheel.
Blessed be!
ALL:
Blessed be!
HPS:
The wheel of the year turns on and on
bringing us to and from each season.
What will be is.
What was will be.
All time is here and now inside this sacred space.
Let us feel ourselves a part of the turning wheel.
(spiral dance)
HPS:
(picks up the 2 containers of wine and faces the altar and pours the wines into the chalice, combining them and saying:)
I pour the red and the white, that they shall mix.
As life and death, joy and sorrow, peace and humility, and impart their essence and wisdom unto all.
For I am the Father,
Lover and Brother unto all,
the bringer of life,
the giver of death,
before whom all time is ashamed.
Let my spirit breathe upon you
and awaken the fires of inspiration within your soul.
(Placing the containers of wine on the altar and picking up the athame in the right hand and the chalice in the left...lowers the athame into the chalice touching the wine)
For as this athame represents the male and the God,
So this chalice represents the female and the Goddess.
And they are conjoined,
to become one,
in truth,
power and wisdom.
So mote it be!
HPS:
(places the athame on the altar and takes a sip of the wine and hands the chalice to the next person)
May the Father bless you and may you never thirst.
ALL:
(pass chalice taking sips and saying )
May you never thirst.
HPS:
(over cakes)
Mother, let this symbol of your bounty
which sustains all creation and life
link us to the never-ending chain of life.
(Takes small bit and passes plate to the next person)
May the mother bless you and you never find hunger.
(Plate should be passed around the circle members so each may partake while saying,)
May you never hunger.
HPS:
Lugh!!
See how we shine?!!
We thank you for your gifts and your sacrifice!
Now, leave if you must,
but stay and feast with us if you will.
Hail and farewell!!
ALL:
Hail and farewell!!
HPS:
Blessed be our Lady,
Mother of all,
thou who was before mankind,
thou art our inspiration and hope
for thou hast been with us from the beginning
and shall be with us at the end of time,
we ask your blessings this day.
Be with us now and forever.
So shall it be!
(Putting out Goddess candle.)
Our Lady of life and light,
we bid thee hail and farewell this night.
ALL:
Hail and Farewell!
HPS:
(Putting out God candle.)
Our Lord of power and might,
we bid thee hail and farewell this night.
All:
Hail and farewell
HPS:
Our Gods have been with us from the beginning.
Our Lord and Lady teach us that what so-ever we shall seek and not find within we shall never find it without.
For you are God and you are Goddess.
This Rite is ended.
May the Gods be with you and bless you.
So Mote it be!
North Watchtower:
Watchtower of the Earth,
Winter in the North.
We thank you for guarding our rite.
May abundance and bounty
be with each of us his night.
We bid you Hail and Farewell!
All:
Hail and Farewell!
West Watchtower:
Watchtower of Water,
Fall in the West.
We thank you for guarding our rite.
May love and compassion
be with each of us his night
We bid you Hail and Farewell!
All:
Hail and Farewell!
South Watchtower:
Watchtower of Fire,
Summer in the South. .
We thank you for guarding our rite.
May the fire of inspiration and strength
be with each of us his night.
We bid you Hail and Farewell!
All:
Hail and Farewell!
East Watchtower:
Watchtower of Air,
Spring in the East.
We thank you for guarding our rite.
May the spirit of wisdom
be with each of us his night.
We bid you Hail and Farewell!
All:
Hail and Farewell!
HPS:
(sweeping holes in the cornmeal)
This circle is open yet ever it remains a circle.