Preparing the Sacred Space

The coven gathers, grounds and centers, and takes a group breath.

“This is the time of harvest, of thanksgiving and meditation. Now the hours of night and day are equal, in perfect balance, and we give thought to the balance and flow within our own lives. Life declines, for the season of barrenness is upon us, yet we give thanks for that which we have reaped and gathered over the past year. We meet to turn the Wheel whose spin is ceaseless through the dark.”

GUEST 1-- Lights the lamp of art, and says “The fire is lit, the ritual has begun.”

GUEST 2-- 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.

Dedicant-- 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.

Blackwood-- 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."

Invocation of the Elements

Dedicant-- 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,
Hail and welcome!”

Coven echoes, “Hail and welcome!”

Light the Northern Quarter Candle

GUEST 1-- Invoke 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,
Hail and welcome!”

Coven echoes, “Hail and welcome!”

Dedicant-- Invoke 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,
Hail and welcome!”

Coven echoes, “Hail and welcome!”

GUEST 1-- Invoke 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,
Hail and welcome!”

Coven echoes, “Hail and welcome!”

Invoking the Gods

Foxglove--Invokes 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 us to Your mystic light,
Waken us to Your silver grace,
Be with us in this sacred rite!”

Blackwood--Invokes 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!”

Sabbat Ritual

GUEST 2-- Stand before the altar, holding aloft the basket of leaves, and slowly walk deosil around the Circle, scattering them so that they cascade to the ground within the circle.

GUEST 1-- Say such words as these:
“Leaves fall, the days grow cold. The Goddess pulls Her mantle of the Earth around Her as You, O Great Sun God, sail toward the West to the lands of Eternal Enchantment, wrapped in the coolness of night.

“Fruits ripen, seeds drop, the hours of day and night are balanced. Chill winds blow in from the North wailing laments.In this seeming extinction of nature's power, O Blessed Goddess,I know that life continues.

“For spring is impossible without the second harvest, as surely as life is impossible without death. Blessings upon You, Oh Fallen God, as You journey into the lands of winter and into the Goddess’ loving arms.”

GUEST 2-- Place the basket down and say:
“O Gracious Goddess of all fertility, We have sown and reaped the fruits of my actions, good and bane. Grant us the courage to plant seeds of joy and love in the coming year, banishing misery and hate. Teach us the secrets of wise existence upon this planet, Oh Luminous One of the Night!”

Blackwood— Spreads her over the altar and says these words:
“The time of change is upon us again - the Equinox comes, the Wheel turns... The Goddess and the God prepare for Their journey to the Otherworld, As the Earth and all of Her children prepare for the time of quiet and Reflection that lies ahead... May we use this Autumnal period to seek for the strength and power within To assist us on our own quests for vision, feeling, and peace... May we see and feel the presence of the Goddess and the God within, Though without, the Earth begins Her slumber...”

Foxglove-- Takes the athame in her power hand and the apple in the other. Say:
“Reveal to us your hidden secrets That I may come to understand your sacred Mysteries.”
Set the apple on the altar pentacle and cut it crosswise to reveal the pentagram in the core. Contemplate this hidden sacred symbol for several moments. Then say:
“In life is death, in death life.
All must follow the sacred dance into the cauldron,
Time after time, to die and be reborn.
Help us to remember that
Every beginning has an ending
And that every ending has a new beginning.”
Take a bite of the apple and then pass it around the Circle.

Cakes and Ale

Blackwood takes up the cup, and GUEST 1 takes her athame. GUEST 1 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.”

GUEST 2 takes up the wand and Dedicant the cakes as GUEST 2 says:
“Gracious God of the Harvest,
we thank You for Your abundance
on this Sabbat of Mabon.”

The food and drink is then shared around the circle.

Farewells

Blackwood: Thanks the God, saying:
"Young Sun King, Horned One,
We offer You thanks,
Honor and Love.
Hail and farewell.”
The God candle is now extinguished.

Foxglove: Thanks the Goddess, saying:
“Maiden of Spring, Mother, Wise One,
We offer You thanks,
Honor and Love.
Hail and farewell.”
The Goddess candle is now extinguished.

GUEST 1 goes to the west candle, raises her hands and says:
“Thank you, Might Ones of the West, Powers of Water, for attending or Mabon 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.”
GUEST 1: extinguishes the Water candle.

Dedicant goes to the south candle, raises her hands and says:
“Thank you, Might Ones of the South, Powers of Fire, for attending or Mabon 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 Fire candle.

GUEST 1: goes to the east candle, raises her hands and says:
"Thank you, Might Ones of the East, Powers of Air, for attending our Mabon 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.”
GUEST 1: extinguishes the Air candle.

Dedicant goes to the north candle, raises her hands and says:
"Thank you, Might Ones of the North, Powers of Earth, for attending our Mabon 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 Earth candle.

Blackwood takes the sword and retraces the line of the circle. 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 sanctity of this place with us in hour hearts.”

GUEST 2: steps to the altar and says:
“The flame is extinguished.”
She blows out the flame.
“The ritual is done.”

All Coveners:
“Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!”