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

"This is the time of the rose, blossom and thorn, fragrance and blood. Now on this longest day, light triumphs, and yet begins to decline into dark. The Sun King grown embraces the Queen of Summer in the love that is death because it is so complete that it dissolves into the single song of ecstasy that it moves the worlds. So the Lord of Light dies to Himself, and sets sail across the dark seas of time, searching for the isle of light that is rebirth. We turn the Wheel and share his fate, for we have planted the seeds of our own changes, and to grow we must accept even the passing of the sun."

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.

GUEST--Charging with fire and air. Take up the incense burner, sprinkling fresh incense on the charcoal, saying, "Blessed be thou creature 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 around the circle, the circle is cast with these or similar words: "I do hereby cast this sacred circle on the Sabbat of Litha and the night of the full 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."

Return to the altar, lighting the lamp of art, "The fire is lit, the ritual has begun."

Blackwood- Invoking the Quarters

Invoking the North
"Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North,
Powers of Earth,
Hard-working gnomes,
Black bull of Midnight,
North Star,
Center of the whirling sky,
Stone, mountain, fertile field,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Be here now!�

Invoking the East
�Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East,
Powers of Air,
Free-flying sylphs,
Golden eagle of the dawn,
Star-seeker, whirlwind, rising sun,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Be here now!�

Invoking the South
�Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South,
Powers of Fire,
Flame-leaping salamanders,
Red lion of the noon heat,
Flaming one, summer�s warmth, spark of life,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Be here now!�

Invoking the West
�Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West,
Powers of Water,
Graceful undines,
Serpent of the watery abyss,
Rainmaker, gray-robed twilight, evening star,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Be here now!�

Foxglove--Invoking the Goddess
�Crescent One of starry skies,
Flowered One of fertile fields,
Flowing One of oceans tides,
Blessed One of the gentle rain,
Hear my chant in this sacred place,
Open me to Your mystic light,
Waken me to Your silver grace,
Be with me in this sacred rite!�

Wolfwings--Invoking the God
�Horned One of the wilderness,
Winged One of the shining skies,
Rayed One of the blazing Sun,
Strong One, wild and free,
We pray that You grace us with
Presence this magickal night!�

Foxglove--
�The Coven of the Silver Branch is gathered here tonight to celebrate the Sabbat of Litha, and the full Moon, to honor the Goddess and the God, and to perform such other work as any of us may bring to the circle. Welcome.�

All--Earth arrow spell
We will wrap stones, feathers, flowers, and whatever else we might find around small sticks. The purpose of this spell is to help us attune ourselves with the Earth, its cycles and flow, and to gain a better understanding of what we may do to live in accordance with nature. Any other magickal work that needs to be done may be performed now.

To raise power, we will sing the following, while dancing around the circle (hint-this means, please memorize it!).

�Fireflies and summer sun,
In circles round we become as one.
Turning inward, hand to hand
We dance the earth to heal our land.�

When the power is raised, we will drop to the ground and thrust the earth arrows into the ground, visualizing it as a sort of lighting rods connecting us to the Earth. GUEST--
�All of nature vibrates with the fertile energies of the Goddess and the God. The Earth is bathed with the warmth, and light and life of the Sun. The Wheel of the Year turns again...since Yule the light has been growing ever stronger. At Ostara the light finally became greater than the dark, And the light has kept on growing until today, the middle of the time of light, Litha, Midsummer. From here, the light begins to fade again, until once more, the Wheel will turn to darkness and Yule will return. Today the Sun is high, the Light is bright, the Earth is warm. As the Lord of the Sun blazes above, the Fires of our celebration shall flame below.�

Throw God-figure into the cauldron.

Coveners may want to meditate for a while (while staring into the flames) on the sun, or just let their minds flow.

Foxglove and Wolfwings--Cakes and Ale
Remove the bread from the cauldron and break it in half, saying, �Gracious God of the Harvest, we thank You for Your abundance.�

Lower the athame into the chalice and say, �As the cup is to female, so the athame is to male, and conjoined, they become as one in truth.�

Cakes and Ale are stared by all.

Thanks the Goddess, God, and the Four Quarters.