WOLF MOON: January 2001
by Wolfwings

Materials Needed:
(Though typically we have these things, I thought I'd just add this anyhow.)

-8 Candles: 4 for the elements, 2 for spirit, and 2 for God and Goddess.
-bowl/chalice of water
-bowl, chalice of salt
-cakes and ale (or milk and cookies)
-symbols for the wolf. (Wolf Song Cards are great)
-incense, sage or aromatherapy oils.
-matches or lighter
-paper and pens
-optional: wolf howling sound effects.



Foxglove-- lights the candle of art and says: �the candle is lit, the ritual has begun.�

The coven gathers, grounds and center and performs a group breath.

Declaration of Intent

Wolfwings-- "Tonight we celebrate the wolf moon, the moon of changes. The wolf symbolizes change and as this is the first moon of the (American) New Year we honor it with our brother the wolf. Since the beginning of human evolution the wolf has grown with us. And so tonight we embrace the spirit of the wolf to guide us through the coming changes: from changes in relationships, career or school, and spirituality to seasonal changes and mood swings."

Casting the Circle:

Blackwood-- Salt-water purification.
Take up the chalice of water and say,
"Blessed be thou creature of water."
Then, take up the bowl of salt and say,
"Blessed be thou creature of Earth."
Using your athame, mix the salt and water together in the chalice.
Take the salt-water mix and sprinkle it around the circle deosil (clockwise) starting in the north, saying,
"With this salt and water, I purify the North."
Then walk to the east and say,
"With this salt and water, I purify the East."
Continue for south and west.

Dedicant-- Charging with fire and air.
Take up the incense burner, sprinkling fresh incense on the charcoal, saying,
"Blessed be thou creatures of fire and air."
Take in around the circle, starting in the north, saying,
"With fire and air, I charge the North."
Walk, swing the censer, to the east, then pause and say,
"With fire and air, I charge the east."
Continue for the south and west.

Foxglove-- Casting the circle.
Walking deosil (clockwise) around the circle, saying these or similar words:
"I do hereby cast this sacred circle on the night of the wolf moon. We are now between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow, meet as one."

Invoking the Quarters

Wolfwings- Invoking the North
"Hail, Guardians and Spirits of the North,
Powers of Earth,
Timber Wolf,
Positive changes,
Beginnings and endings,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Hail and Welcome!�

Coven echoes: �Hail and Welcome!�

Blackwood- Invoking the East
"Hail, Guardians and the Spirits of the East,
Powers of Air,
Gray Wolf,
Necessary change,
Thoughts and understanding,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Hail and Welcome!�

Coven echoes: �Hail and Welcome!�

Foxglove- Invoking the South
"Hail, Guardians and the Spirits of the South,
Powers of Fire,
Red Wolf,
Unexpected Change,
Passion and energy,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Hail and Welcome!�

Coven echoes: �Hail and Welcome!�

Dedicant- Invoking the West
"Hail, Guardians and the Spirits of the West,
Powers of Water,
Arctic Wolf,
Resistance to Change,
Intuition and emotion,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Hail and Welcome!�

Coven echoes: �Hail and Welcome!�

Blackwood- Invoking the Akashic
�Hail, Guardians and the Spirits from beyond the Veil,
Powers of Spirit!
Above and Below,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Hail and Welcome!�

Coven echoes: �Hail and Welcome!�

Invocation of the God and Goddess

Foxglove-- Invoking the Goddess
"Hail Isis, Mother goddess of Egypt.
We call upon you to attend this esbat,
and be with us on this sacred night!
Hail and Welcome!"
Light the Goddess candle.

Coven echoes: �Hail and Welcome!�

Dedicant-- Invoking the God
�Hail Lupercus, Roman God of Wolves.
We call upon you to attend this esbat,
and be with us on this sacred night!
Hail and Welcome!"
Light the God candle.

Coven echoes: �Hail and Welcome!�

Creative/Symbolic Activity
materials: spirit candle, paper, pens, & wolf sound effect

Wolfwings-- picks up the spirit candle and says,
�The wax is to our spirit�
light the spirit candle,
�as the flame is to change.�
relight the candle and pass it deosil to the next person.

We blow out the candle to signify the changes we�ve overcome, a period of adjustment and rest. Then we relight the candle to recognize the changes that will come.

While the candle is passed around, Coveners chant in a whisper,

�Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall,
eternal cycles change us all.
These are things great and small,
that we live with one and all.�
Repeat until candle is placed on altar.

Once the candle is passed to you, meditate briefly on the changes in your past and the changes to come, then blow out the candle, relight it again and pass it to the next person.

Wolfwings-- blows & relights the candle out once more, to represent the worldly changes (i.e. new presidents, changing environment, etc.), and places it in the center of the altar.

Coveners take time to reflect on the changes in their lives. Each covener states one negative change and one positive change aloud. Then each covener takes a piece of paper and pen and writes down major changes they predict will occur over the coming months. Coveners may share what they wrote aloud if they wish.

CLOSING:

Wolfwings-- �We thank Wolf for guiding us through the years and changes. We ask Wolf to continue to guide us through the changes in the coming years. Tonight we honor the Wolf, we honor change, and we honor ourselves. May Wolf continue to guide us, may the changes improve us, and may we continue to be whole. So mote it be!�

Cakes and Ale

Dedicant takes up the cup, and Foxglove takes her athame and places it in the cup, saying,
�As the athame is to the male,
so the cup is to the female.
Conjoined, they bring blessings.�

Blackwood takes her athame and blesses the cake saying these words or those she chooses,
�Bless this food of the earth,
may it nourish our souls and our bodies
on this night of the Wolf Moon.�

Cakes and Ale are shared by all.

Farewell to the Goddess and God.

Dedicant-- Farewell to God
Takes the God candle in hands, she may raise it in the air if possible, and says,
�Lupercus, Roman God of Wolves, we thank you for attending our ritual this esbat. We ask that you continue to give us your guidance so that we may accept the changes in our lives. Stay if you will, go if you must. Hail and Farewell.�

Coven echoes: �Hail and Farewell!�

Foxglove-- Farewell to Goddess
Takes the Goddess candle in hands, she may raise it in the air if possible, and says,
� Isis, mother Goddess of Egypt, we thank you for attending our ritual this esbat. We ask that you continue to watch over us so that we may have comfort during the changes in our lives. Stay if you will, go if you must. Hail and Farewell!�

Coven echoes: �Hail and Farewell!�

Farewell to the Four Quarters.

Blackwood- Farewell to the Akashic Realms
Stands at the altar, raises her arms and says,
�Thank you, Guardians and the Spirits from beyond the Veil, Powers of Spirit, for giving us your power and guidance. Stay if you will, go if you must. Hail and Farewell!�
Blows out the candle.

Coven echoes: �Hail and Farewell!�

Dedicant- Farewell to the West
Walks widdershins (counterclockwise) to the West Candle, raises her arms and says,
"Thank you, Guardians and the Spirits of the West, Powers of Water, and the Arctic Wolf. Thank you for giving us your power and guidance. Stay if you will go if you must. Hail and Farewell!�
Blows out the candle.

Coven echoes: �Hail and Farewell!�

Foxglove- Farewell to the South
Walks widdershins (counterclockwise) to the South Candle, raises her arms and says,
"Thank you, Guardians and the Spirits of the South, Powers of Fire, and the Red Wolf. Thank you for giving us your power and guidance. Stay if you will go if you must. Hail and Farewell!�
Blows out the candle.

Coven echoes: �Hail and Farewell!�

Blackwood- Farewell to the East
Walks widdershins (counterclockwise) to the East Candle, raises her arms and says,
"Thank you, Guardians and the Spirits of the East, Powers of Air, and the Gray Wolf. Thank you for giving us your power and guidance. Stay if you will go if you must. Hail and Farewell!�
Blows out the candle.

Coven echoes: �Hail and Farewell!�

Wolfwings- Farewell to the North
Walks widdershins (counterclockwise) to the North Candle, raises her arms and says,
"Thank you, Guardians and Spirits of the North, Powers of Earth, and the Timber Wolf. Thank you for giving us your power and guidance. Stay if you will go if you must. Hail and Farewell!�
Blows out the candle.

Coven echoes: �Hail and Farewell!�

Opening the Circle

Foxglove-- Opening the circle.
Walking widdershins (counterclockwise) around the circle, saying these or similar words:
"I hereby open this sacred circle on the night of the wolf moon, closing the veil between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, and return this space to the present time and place."