Many fruits, vegetables, and other natural foods are to be placed about the alter, as are wine and glasses for all present. The alter itself is set up as usual, though scattered with autumn leaves. An elder woman should be choosen to act as the priestess, for this is the season of the crone.
To begin, the priestess lkights the three candles upon the alter as the rest gather about. She says:
In the name of the Goddess
And under Her protection
Is this rite now begun.
The priestess and the priest face each other from opposite sides of the alter. The priest says:
The crane flies south
And winter must come.
The green seasons are past
And winds shall be cold...
Priestess:
So now we must prepare
Without and within,
For the hard seasons
Which lie before us.
Priest:
As we shall store up food for the body,
So also must we put in store
Strength for the spirit,
Until the spring is born again.
The priestess spreads wide her arms and invokes:
We do ask, O Goddess wise,
That your blessings may surround us.
And we thank you for this plentiful food
Which you have given us.
Cast your blessing upon this bounty,
That it may especially strengthen us
And lead us in your hidden ways.
Blessed Be!
All:
Blessed Be!
The priest opens the wine and pours for all. As all do hold forth their glasses he announces:
Priest:
Friends, I proclaim a toast.
To the good seasons which have gone,
And the good ones yet to come.
All:
Blessed Be!
Priest:
Friends, I proclaim a toast.
To the Goddess!
May she bring peace back to the world!
All:
Blessed Be!
Meditation exercises may be done, and the rite may at this time be opened to any group who wishes to add to the above. Singing and the playing of musical instruments are also appropriate.
To close the ritual the priestess puts out the candles and proclaims that the rite is done.
After the rite some of the foodstuffs which have been blessed during the ceremony should be prepared and cured, preserved, or canned by those who took part in the rite. These foods may be used in later seasonal rituals.
Taken from "A Book Of Pagan Rituals"
