(Blackwood would like to emphesize that those named don't have to say EXACTLY what is written in black, but something to that effect in your own words is fine. What is written in red must be read as is, please. *smile* Things in bold type are subheaders, and things in italics are physical actions or other instructions and are not spoken.)

Coveners gather in circle boundries, hold hands and do grounding & centering. (those who don't know what that is should just be mindful of our purpse at hand)

Dedicant lights the Candle/Lamp of Art and says, "The candle is lit; the ritual has begun."

Foxglove--
"This is the Festival of Lammas, or Lughnasaad, the time of the First Harvest. The corn is ripe, and the reaper takes it from the field, cutting down the mature Corn God. It is the wake of Lugh, the Sun God, who nurtures that same corn as it grows in the fields. And it is the first step of the path to autumn, when She Who Gives Life becomes She Who Takes Life; and the Wheel turns..."

Wolfwings--
"It also is a time of waiting; for our work to come to fruition, and for the time to harvest the benefits of that work. It is the time to decide what to discard in our lives, and we need wisdom to discern what is wheat and what is chaffe. May we be worthy of the Wisdom we receive."

Earth-Water Consecration

Blackwood takes salt and places tip of athame/wand/finger into the salt and says: "I exorcise thee, oh creature of Earth, that thou mayest aide me in this sacred rite."

Blackwood takes hand and places it over goblet/bowl of water and says: "I bless thee, oh creature of Water, that thou mayest aide me in this sacred rite."

Blackwood takes salt and puts some into the water, saying: "Salt and water; inner and outer; spirit and flesh. Cast out all that is impure, and take in all that is wholesome and healing! Let the purifying and cleansing properties in this cup be blessed, in the names of The Lady and the Lord."

Blackwood goes about the circle, starting in the North, and aspurges it, saying something like: "With Earth and Water, I cleanse this space; I prepare it for the coming of the gods. It is cleansed and purified, in all space, in all time, with harm to none, and for the good of all. So mote it be."

Coven echoes, "so mote it be."

Fire-Air Consecration

Foxglove takes incense and places tip of athame/wand/finger into it and says: "I exorcise thee, oh creature of Air, that thou mayest aide me in this sacred rite."

Foxglovetakes charcoal (already lit) and places her hand over it, saying: "I bless thee, oh creature of Fire, that thou mayest aide me in this sacred rite."

Foxglove adds a few grains of incense to the 'dish' of the charcoal, and fans the smoke a bit, then hold her hands in the smoke, saying: "Resin and Fire; inner and outer; spirit and flesh. Consecrate the prepared realms, and bless them in the holy names! Let the charging and sanctifying powers in this censor be blessed, in the names of the Lady and Lord."

Foxglove goes about the circle, starting in the North, and aspurges it, saying something like: "With Air and Fire, I charge this space; I prepare it for the coming of the gods. It is santified and consecrated, in all space, in all time, with harm to none, and for the good of all. So mote it be."

Coven echoes, "so mote it be."

Calling the Elements

Blackwood goes to the north quarter, followed behind by Wolfwings carrying the bowl/chalice of salted water, Foxglove carrying the lit incense and the Dedicant with the Lamp of Art.

Blackwood lifts her hands in salutation and intones:
"Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, Powers of Earth!
We summon, stir, and call you up, recalling your many guises.
Stone, mountain, black bull, prosperity, trees...all are your faces.
Come to this ritual of Lughnasaad; bring your light, your powers, and your love."
Wolfwings aspurges the north, saying: "with Earth and Water, I cleanse the north."
Foxglove censes the north, saying: "with Air and Fire, I charge the north."
The Dedicant lights the northern candle, saying: "and a candle to light your way".

Blackwood: "A place is prepared; hail, and welcome!"

Coven echoes, "hail and welcome."

Foxglove goes to the east quarter,followed behind by Wolfwings carrying the bowl/chalice of salted water, Blackwood carrying the lit incense and Wolfwings with the Lamp of Art.

Foxglove lifts her hands in salutation and intones:
"Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, Powers of Air!
We summon, stir, and call you up, recalling your many guises.
Whirlwind, brilliant dawning of the sun, falcon, inspiration, feathers...all are your faces.
Come to this ritual of Lughnasaad; bring your light, your powers, and your love."

Wolfwings aspurges the north, saying: "with Earth and Water, I cleanse the east."
Blackwood censes the north, saying: "with Air and Fire, I charge the east."
The Dedicant lights the northern candle, saying: "and a candle to light your way".

Foxglove: "A place is prepared; hail, and welcome!"

Coven echoes, "hail and welcome."

Wolfwings goes to the south quarter, followed behind by Foxglove carrying the bowl/chalice of salted water, Blackwood carrying the lit incense and Covener7 with the Lamp of Art.

Wolfwings lifts her hands in salutation and intones:
"Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, Powers of Fire!
We summon, stir, and call you up, recalling your many guises.
Flame, volcano, regal lion, passion, electricity...all are your faces.
Come to this ritual of Lughnasaad; bring your light, your powers, and your love."

Foxglove aspurges the north, saying: "with Earth and Water, I cleanse the south."
Blackwood censes the north, saying: "with Air and Fire, I charge the south."
The Dedicant lights the northern candle, saying: "and a candle to light your way".

Wolfwings: "A place is prepared; hail, and welcome!"

Coven echoes, "hail and welcome." Dedicant goes to the west quarter, followed behind by Foxglove carrying the bowl/chalice of salted water, Blackwood carrying the lit incense and Wolfwings with the Lamp of Art.

Dedicant lifts her hands in salutation and intones:
"Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, Powers of Water!
We summon, stir, and call you up, recalling your many guises.
Stream, tidal wave, dolphin, intiuition, wisdom...all are your faces.
Come to this ritual of Lughnasaad; bring your light, your powers, and your love."

Foxglove aspurges the north, saying: "with Earth and Water, I cleanse the west."
Blackwood censes the north, saying: "with Air and Fire, I charge the west."
Wolfwings lights the northern candle, saying: "and a candle to light your way".

Dedicant: "A place is prepared; hail, and welcome!"

Coven echoes, "hail and welcome."

Blackwood goes to the altar, followed behind by Foxglove carrying the bowl/chalice of salted water, Dedicant carrying the lit incense and Wolfwings with the Lamp of Art.

Blackwood lifts her hands in salutation and intones:
"Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the Akashic Realms, Powers of Spirit!
We summon, stir, and call you up, recalling your many guises.
Mirror, altar, Soul, universe, eternity...all are your faces.
Come to this ritual of Lughnasaad; bring your light, your powers, and your love."

Foxglove aspurges the north, saying: "with Earth and Water, I cleanse the north."
Dedicant censes the north, saying: "with Air and Fire, I charge the north."
Wolfwings lights the northern candle, saying: "and a candle to light your way".

Blackwood: "A place is prepared; hail, and welcome!"

Coven echoes, "hail and welcome."

Inviting the Goddess and God

Foxglove raises her hands and calls to the goddess, saying:
"Mother Anu, we call on you to come to this ritual Lughnasaad.
Come, Lady of Prosperity, who nourishes us through the cold winter months,
as we honor Lugh's sacrifice at this, the Turning of the Wheel of the Year."

Foxglove lights the goddess candle.

Wolfwings raises her hands and calls on to the god, saying:
"Shining One, we call on you to come to this ritual of Lughnasaad, held in your honor.
Come, Lord of the Grain, the Sun Incarnate,
as we honor your sacrifice at this time of the Turning of the Wheel of the Year.

Wolfwings lights the god candle.

Casting the Circle

Foxglove takes the sword and scribes the circle as they wish, starting in the north; coven visualizes the circle being drawn out as they indiviuallly wish. She intones:

"From north to east, from south to west, and back again to north, we create a sacred space, between the worlds, out of time. We are in the Realms of the Gods, and blessed. Protected under their wonderous eyes, we give thanks."

When the circle is erected, coveners take a seat around the alter. A fire is lit in the cauldron.

Foxglove says:
"The sun has traveled far, and has now passed it's zenith. This is the feast of Lughnasaad, or the Comemoration of the Bright One. It is not his death we celebrate, but his life, for he gives of his body at Lughnasaad, that he may nourish us through the dark half of the year. He is the sun, now waning in power. He is the Sacrificed God, that we may not need to sacrifice. And he will be reborn, just as seeds will be sown and will grow for the next year's harvest."

Blackwood holds up the straw figures in the basket and says:
"These straw dollies represent those portions of ourselves that we wish to discard. Dried, brittle, they are only what remains after the useful part has been saved, and they clutter up our lives when we hang on to them. When the wheat is seperated from the chaffe, for what reason do we keep the chaffe? None but our own insecurities and bad habits. Today, at the feast of Lughnasaad, when we reap the first harvest of our endeavors, we will put those hinderences, those insecurities, and those bad habits into the flame!"

The basket of straw figures are passes around, each person taking one; then the paper and pencils are passed around, each covener taking a set.

Blackwood explains that each person should think on what they are grateful for, what they have harvested from their actions this year, and to write down their thoughs if they need to. Also, they should make a list of things, on seperate small pieces of paper, the things wish to discard; mistakes they have (or have not) learned from, feelings or situations holding them back in one way or another, or habits they wish to be rid of.

The coveners then insert the pieces of paper into their straw figures, binding the paper to the figures if they must with red string. Murmmering, chanting, what those things are, they channel, or 'push' the qualities out of themselves and into the straw figures, just like the papers they are written on. When all are done, they will share with each other the positive things they have been blessed with, the fruits of their endeavors that they now harvest.

After this, Blackwood says:
"Now we cast our chaffe into the flame; say what you wish, if anything, of their passing."

Starting with she who sits closest to the north, and going widdershins, the coveners concentrate, and cast the straw figures into the flmaing cauldron, either with words or without; when she is done, she will nod to the next covener to signal her turn.

When all the figures have been cast in, the Dedicant says:
"As we have given these habits and hinderences to the purifying flames, so shall we overcome them, and be purified from their influences. So mote it be."

Coven echoes, "so mote it be."

Cakes and Ale (or, Cakes and Milk)

Wolfwings takes up the cup, and Dedicant takes her athame. Dedicant puts the blade into the cup of milk, and says:
"As the athame is to the male,
so the cup is to the female;
and conjoined, they bring blessings."

Foxglove takes up the wand and Blackwood the cakes as Foxglove says:
"Bless this fruit of the earth and sky,
Mother and Father of All;
May it nourish our souls as well as out bodies
on this Lughnasaad Night."

The food and drink is then shared around the circle, with catting and such until all feel it is time to close down the circle.

Farewell to God and Goddess

Wolfwings raises her arms and addresses the god:
"Lord Lugh, we thank you for attending this ritual in your honor; we beg you to leave us with some of your light in our hearts for the coming dark months ahead, until you once again take your throne at Ostara. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell."

Coveners echo, "hail, and farewell."
Wolfwings extinguishes the god candle.

Foxglove addresses the goddess with raised hands:
"Lady Anu, Mother of All, we give humble thanks for your attendance of our ritual of Lughnasaad. We beg you to leave with us some of your fruitfulness for the coming dark months ahead, until the earth awakens once more. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell."

Coveners echo, "hail and farewell."
Foxglove extinguishes the goddess candle.

Farewell to the Elements

Blackwood stands at the altar, raises her hands and says:
"Thank you, Might Ones of the Akashic Realms, Powers of Spirit, for attending or Lughnasaad ritual, for lending your powers, your light, and you love. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell."

Coveners echo, "hail and farewell."
Blackwood extinguishes the Spirit candle.

Dedicant goes to the west candle, raises her hands and says:
"Thank you, Might Ones of the West, Powers of Water, for attending or Lughnasaad ritual, for lending your powers, your light, and you love. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell."

Coveners echo, "hail and farewell."
Dedicant extinguishes the Water candle.

Wolfwings goes to the south candle, raises her hands and says:
"Thank you, Might Ones of the South, Powers of Fire, for attending or Lughnasaad ritual, for lending your powers, your light, and you love. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell."

Coveners echo, "hail and farewell."
Wolfwings extinguishes the Fire candle.

Foxglove goes to the east candle, raises her hands and says:
"Thank you, Might Ones of the East, Powers of Air, for attending or Lughnasaad ritual, for lending your powers, your light, and you love. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell."

Coveners echo, "hail and farewell."
Foxglove extinguishes the Air candle.

Blackwood goes to the north candle, raises her hands and says:
"Thank you, Might Ones of the North, Powers of Earth, for attending or Lughnasaad ritual, for lending your powers, your light, and you love. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell."

Coveners echo, "hail and farewell."
Blackwood extinguishes the Earth candle.

Taking down the Circle

Foxglove takes the sword and retraces the line of the circle, essentially 'uncasting' it. Coveners are free to visualize it however they like. She uses words like:
"I draw back the energy of this circle, and return it to the earth. The space is once again mundane, once again of the world we know. May we take a piece of the santity of this place with us in hour hearts."

Ending the Ritual

Blackwood says:
"This ritual of Lughnasaad is now over. May each of us harvest the good in our lives, and share that goodness with others not so fortunate. And may that which we seek to discard and overcome teach us what it was intended to before it goes. So mote it be."

Coven echoes, "so mote it be."

Wolfwings steps to the altar and says:
"The flame is extinguished."
She blows out the flame.
"The ritual is done."