Imbolc |
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Candlemas First stirrings of Mother Earth, Spring cleaning, time of cleansing and purification, preparation for growth and renewal.
Cast the circle with the sword and say: Here may they manifest and bless their children. Move back to the altar, facing north. Raise your dagger in greeting and say: In a place that is not a place, On a day that is not a day. I stand at the threshold between the worlds before the Gates of Asgard May the Ancient Ones help and protect me On my magical journey Set the water chalice on the pentacle. Hold your dagger over it and say: Bless this creature of Water to your service. May we always remember the cauldron waters of rebirth Hold your dagger over the salt and say: Bless this creature of Earth to your service. May we always honor the blessed Earth, Its many forms and beings Sprinkle a little sale into the water, then hold the chalice up high and say: Beginning in the east and moving clockwise, sprinkle the water-salt mixture lightly around the edges of your circle. Replace the chalice on the alter. Hold your dagger over the lighted incense burner saying: Bless this creature of Fire to your service. May we always remember the sacred Fire That dances within the form of every creation. Hold your dagger over the incense saying: Bless this creature of Air to your service. May we always listen to the spirit winds That bring us the voices of the Ancient Ones. Put a little incense on the lighted charcoal in the burner. Don’t put too much incense in the burner as a little goes a long way in the enclosed room. Touch the burner briefly to the pentacle then raise the burner high saying: Carry the burner around the circle clockwise, beginning in the east. Return it to the altar. Go to the eastern quarter of the circle and light the yellow candle. Hold up your dagger in greeting. Salute the Element saying: Ruler of the East and the Powers of Air I call upon you, To witness this rite and to guard this circle. Move to the south, light the red candle and hold your dagger up in greeting: Ruler of the South and the Powers of Fire I call upon you To witness this rite and to guard this circle. In the western quarter you light the blue candle and greet the Element Ruler of the West and the Powers of Water I call upon you To witness this rite and to guard this circle. End by going to the north, light the green candle and greet the Element Ruler of the North and the Power of Earth I call upon you To witness this rite and to guard this circle. Move back to your central altar and stand facing north. Raise your arms in greeting: With power all around Within it I stand With protection at hand Add a little more incense to the burner, then say: As you awaken from your long slimber. I join with my distant ancestors In giving honor to the Ancient Ones. Prepare the fields and forests, All creatures who inhabit your realms For the coming of spring. Tap the altar three times with your wand, dagger or sword (whichever you feel more comfortable with) It is a time of initiation, of purification, A renewed promise of the Lady And her Lord for the future. At this time and in this place I prepare my thought-seeds for the future. This is a time of silence while you ask the Lord and Lady for inspiration and guidance for the future. When you are ready, tap the altar again gently three times For only with your guidance, And help may I see these Dream-seeds grow into reality. Light the white candle in the cauldron: Do I salute the noble Goddess As the sacred Maiden, Now returned from the darkness. Preparation for new life begins As she spreads her blessings Upon all the land and her children. Light the red candle on the left of the cauldron From her realm in the marsh-halls, Freya smiles upon the Earth And all things begin regeneration. As there is renewal within the plants and animals So should there be renewal in my own life. Great Goddess Freya, I ask for insight, good health Prosperity and magical power. Light the green candle on the right of the cauldron Beckoning her back into fertility with his power and thought. The year wheel turns again towards spring. Mighty glorious Frey, Inspire me to new goals Make my life fertile with insight, good health Prosperity and magical power. Place the wine chalice on the pentacle for a few moments, then lift it high saying: Merry Meet, Merry Part And Merry Meet Again. Drink the wine, saving some back to be put outside for the nature spirits Now is the time for divination, meditation or spellwork. If any spellwork is done, finish with: I bind all power within this circle Into this spell. So Mote It Be! When you are ready to end the ritual, go to the east and extinguish the yellow candle and say: With your Powers of Air My thanks and blessings. Go to the south and extinguish the red candle and say: With your Powers of Fire My thanks and blessings. Go to the west and extinguish the blue candle saying: With you Powers of Water My thanks and blessings. Finish by going to the north and extinguish the green candle and say With you Powers of Earth My thanks and blessings. Return to the center to stand before the altar. Raise your arms and say: Depart in Peace. May there always be harmony between us. My thanks and blessings Cut the circle with a backwards motion of your dagger to release all remaining vestiges of power for manifestation and say: Yet ever it remains a circle. Around and through Me Always flows its magical power. Be sure to put out your offering for the nature spirits. Tie the cookies and pieces of apple to tree limbs for the birds and animals. |
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