Just sharing a picture

This was taken at the Ostera Ritual 2013. My sister and I are the keepers of the Portal. It was such a beautiful day. We had quite the turn-out and everybody went through the portal.
We are members of The Liquid Moon CUUPS in Monte Vista, CA, USA.

Ceremony of Initiation

Author's note:

Some of this ritual is a compilation of Gardnerian, Fairy and traditional Wiccan sources and is intended to be used as an initiation for graduates of my training course in Basic Technologies of Witchcraft. While the ritual is powerful enough as it stands, I strongly recommend that it be reserved for people who have been prepared through training at least equivalent to that which I give, or much of the impact may be lost.

Blessed be! 

Guided Meditation

(The following will be read to all participants in the form of a guided meditation, prior to the processional. It helps if the first paragraph is read by a male voice and the second paragraph by a female voice. NOTE: All are nude; the initiate is also blindfolded.)

Hear the words of the Threefold Goddess, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Diana, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Isis, Arianrhod, Brigid, Aradia and many other names:

I speak for the Goddess:

"Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me who is Queen of all the Wise. She who would learn all sorcery yet has not won its deepest secrets, them I will teach her, in truth, all things as yet unknown. And you shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love in My presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth. For My law is love unto all beings. Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the earth."

Processional

The Initiate is left to meditate as the others rise and follow the High Priest/ess into the Circle area and three times around, chanting:

"We all come from the Goddess,
And to her we shall return
Like a drop of rain,
Flowing to the ocean." (repeat)

Raising of the Circle

HIGH PRIEST/ESS takes the Sword from the altar and traces a circle around the coveners. When he/she returns to the north, he/she kneels and salutes saying:

"Hail and welcome, frosty Spirits of the North. Lend to  us your power and protection this night that <Initiate's born name> may be given a true initiation to justly wield the power of Earth. So mote it be!"

ALL (envisioning a wall of dark green light springing up from the circle): "So mote it be!"

HIGH PRIEST/ESS advances to the east, kneels and salutes saying:

"Hail and welcome, bright Spirits of the East. Lend to us your power and protection that <Initiate's born name> may be given a true initiation to justly wield the power of Air. So mote it be!"

ALL (envisioning a wall of lemon yellow light springing up from the circle, within the wall of green): "So mote it be!"

HIGH PRIEST/ESS advances to the south, kneels and salutes saying: "Hail and welcome, fiery Spirits of the South. Lend to us your power and protection that <Initiate's born name> may be given a true initiation to justly wield the power of Fire. So mote it be!"

ALL (envisioning a wall of crimson light springing up from the circle, within the walls of green and yellow): "So mote it be!"

HIGH PRIEST/ESS advances to the west, kneels and salutes saying:

"Hail and welcome, tireless Spirits of the West. Lend to us your power and protection that <Initiate's born name> may be given a true initiation to justly wield the power of Water. So mote it be!"

ALL (envisioning a wall of dark blue light springing up from the circle, within the walls of green, yellow and red): "So mote it be!"

Statement of Purpose

HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "I call upon the Horned God; I call upon the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone; I call upon the Spirits of Earth, Air, Fire and Water; I call upon the Hosts of the Mighty Dead; and I call every true Witch within this circle to witness that we are here to consecrate <Initiate's name> as a Witch. The circle is cast!"

ALL (envisioning the walls of the circle bending together overhead and flowing together under the floor to form a hemisphere of bright white light): "So mote it be!"

The Warning

HIGH PRIEST/ESS cuts a gate in the circle and roughly leads the Initiate to kneel at the edge before the gate, then balances the sword-point over the Initiate's heart (the Initiate raises hir hands to support the point).
"You stand at the edge of a place that is between the worlds, in the presence of the Gods and under the watchful eye of the Mighty Dead. If you go any further, you embark on a path that cannot be safely turned aside before your death. Feel the sharpness of the blade at your breast, and know this in your heart that it would be better for you to throw yourself forward and spill out your life than to enter this circle with fear or falseness in your heart."

INITIATE: "I come with perfect love and perfect trust."

HIGH PRIEST/ESS lays down the sword, lifts the Initiate to his or her feet and kisses him or her. "Thus are all first brought into the Circle.", then leads the Initiate to the altar and taking up the sword, re-draws the circle over the gateway.

Administration of the Oaths

ALL (except the High Priest/ess and the Initiate) begin a quiet "Aum" and sustain it throughout the Five-fold Kiss and the Oaths of Initiation.

HIGH PRIEST/ESS, administering the Five-fold Kiss:

"Blessed are your feet, that have brought you to this place. Blessed are your knees, that shall kneel at the altars of the Gods. Blessed is your sex, without which we could not be. Blessed is your breast, formed in strength and beauty. Blessed are your lips which shall speak the Words of Truth. Are you prepared to take the oath?"

INITIATE: "I am."

HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "Then kneel." (takes the Initiate's measure.) "You who have from birth been called <born name> but now seek to become <Craft name> -- do you willingly pledge yourself to the God and the Goddess?"

INITIATE places his or her left hand on the top of the head and right hand on the soles of the feet. "All between my two hands belongs to the Gods. So mote it be."

ALL others raise the volume of the "Aum" slightly.

HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "And do you swear to keep silent all those things that must be kept silent and to respect that which is taught to you?"

INITIATE: "I willingly swear to keep silent all that must be kept silent and to respect that which is taught to me. So mote it be."

ALL others raise the volume of the "Aum" a little more.

HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "And by what surety do you swear all of these things?"

INITIATE: "All of these things I do swear, by my mother's womb and my hope of future lives, knowing well that my Measure has been taken in the presence of the Mighty Ones. Should I fail utterly in my oaths, may my powers desert me, and may my own tools turn against me. So mote it be. So mote it be. So mote it be!

ALL yell quickly: "SO MOTE IT BE!"

Triggering of the Spell

ALL: chanting the Initiate's new name over and over again, as fast as possible, as they walk around him or her three times quickly around the circle. When they return to the starting point, they set him or her down face-down and press him or her firmly into the ground.

Gradually, the pressure relents to gentle massage. Through all of this they continue chanting the Initiate's new name, falling off in volume and speed as the pressure relaxes.

HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "Know that the hands that have touched you are the hands of love." (removes the Initiate's blindfold and helps her/him up.) "In the Burning Times, when each member of the Coven held the lives of the others in her hand, this would have been kept and used against you should you endanger others. But in these happier times, love and trust prevail, so take this (hands the Measure to the Initiate), keep it or burn it, and be free to go or stay as you please."

Follow-through and Earthing of Power

HIGH PRIEST/ESS hands the sword to the Initiate and leads her/him to the East, where they both kneel. The Initiate salutes and the High Priest/ess announces: "Behold, restless Spirits of Water -- I bring before you <new name>, who has been consecrated as Priest/ess and Witch!" Repeats at the South, West, and finally North.

ALL (including High Priest/ess and Initiate) join hands in the Circle.

HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "Thank you Spirits of the Mighty Dead, Spirits of the Four Elements, and awesome Lord and Lady for hallowing our circle. Go or stay as you will -- our circle is ended."

ALL ground and center, then absorb the power of the Circle and return it to the Earth beneath their feet.

HIGH PRIEST/ESS (after a suitable pause): "Our lovely rite draws to its end. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again. Blessed Be!"

ALL: "BLESSED BE!"






Revised just a little by: A.R. Cox

Handfasting / Wedding

Handfasting items needed:

·         Ribbons in the colors of Red, Green, Blue, White, Yellow (ea. 20 inches long)

·         Gold & Silver cord or ribbon

·         Small broom

·         Rings

·         White candles (as many as you like to go with decorations).
*Put in Bride & Grooms actual name ; in place of Bride and Groom

A Celtic Ceremony

For (name of couple)

Wedding Vows

Official:   (make sure I have rings) Marriage is a sacred covenant of physical, emotional, intellectual, material and spiritual joining. It is the sharing of a couple’s feelings of love and commitment with loved ones. We have come together at this time and to this place, to acknowledge your commitment to share your lives together, You both have chosen this night to begin your new life together as this is the day of the waning moon symbolizing new magical beginnings.

Official: Please bow your heads in a moment of silence to think about the Goddess’s presence.

Official: As male and female love is necessary for the act of creating life and as this love continues year after year in the cycles of life and the mysteries of life and love, so shall you both combine your lives together this day in the embodiment of Groom & Bride…. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones. As time passes remember,,, Like a star should you love be constant, like the earth should your love be firm. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience each with the other, for storms will come, but they will go quickly. Be free in giving of affection and of warmth, Make love often and be sensuous to one another. Have no fear, and let not the ways or words of the unenlightened give you unease. For the Goddess is with you now and always.

             

Official: as the man, you are the essence of all men. You are the maker of life, the lover, the father, the wise old man, and the warrior. Will you promise to be the man, the adventurous young son, the father of your children, the lover of your woman, her advisor, supporter and protector when need be? If you come to this union with open eyes and open heart, of your own free will, say “I will”.

Groom:  I will.

Official: Bride, as the woman, you are the essence of all women. You are the giver of life, the lover, the mother and the wise old crone. Will you promise to be the woman, the curious young girl, the mother of your children, the lover of your man, his adviser, his supporter and his lawgiver when need be: If you come to this union with open eyes and open heart, of your own free will, say “I will”.

Bride:  I Will.

Official: SHOW RIBBONS – ( hold ribbons up for all to see)  Let these promises hold you fast when life is rough and rocky; let these ribbons bind your hearts, hands and lives together.

Official:  (present the Green ribbon to the Bride & Groom to tie on each others wrist). The color Green symbolizes earth, representing the physical and material. As you tie the green ribbon onto the others wrist, please repeat together after me:

            “With this Green ribbon I promise to live with you always, to share all in the material world I have with you. We are partners in life and love, and we will always work together for the rest of our lives .”

Official:  (present Yellow ribbon to the Bride & Groom to tie on each others wrists). The color Yellow symbolizes air, representing all that is intellectual and mental. As you tie the Yellow ribbon onto the other’s wrist, please repeat together after me:

            With this Yellow ribbon I promise to communicate as clearly as I am able to share my thoughts with you, to share my hopes and dreams, as well as my fears and insecurities. I promise to be open to hear you whether the word be good news or bad. I promise to always look for the good in your words”.

Official:  (present Red ribbon to the Bride & Groom to tie on each others wrist). The color Red symbolizes fire, representing the power and passion in your relationship. As you tie the red ribbon onto the other’s wrist, please repeat together after me:

            “With this Red ribbon I promise to always feed the fire of our physical passion, to never take you for granted and to always remember who you are, to treat you as my lover, to always be open to your expression of your love, and to share myself totally with you”.

Official: (present Blue ribbon to the Bride & Groom to tie on each others wrist). The Blue ribbon symbolizes water, representing the emotional and love. As you tie the Blue ribbon onto the others wrist, please repeat together after me:

            “With this Blue ribbon I promise my heart will always be open to you, to love and respect you, to always put you first in my life, to always consider your feelings when making decisions and to put our relationship as the first priority before all else.

Official:  (present White ribbon to the Bride & Groom to tie on each others wrist). The White ribbon symbolizes Spirit, representing the spiritual and philosophical in life. As you tie the White ribbon onto the others wrist, please repeat together after me.

            “As everything in life is a circle, so is our love. There is no beginning and no end. We have been here before, and someday we will return. We are two, and we are the same. Today and forever, with this White ribbon I promise this will never change”.

EXCHANGE OF WEDDING RINGS

Official:  (hold rings up toward the sky) These rings symbolize all the circles we dance in through our lives. These rings will be given and received as a symbol of the promises made and the union created here today/tonight. Blessed be these rings, may they ever inspire your lives, passions and dedication to one another. May you wear them gladly to represent your promises and vows to one another, and may the union that they exemplify always yield the ultimate in joy, serenity, love and passion.

Official:  Groom, take this ring and place it on Bride’s finger and repeat after me: “With these hands I give you my heart and crown it with my love. You are my love for the rest of my life. Please wear this ring as a loving reminder of this sacred commitment we are making to one another today. I, Groom, take Bride to be my lawful wedded partner.

Official: Bride, take this ring and place it on Groom’s finger and repeat after me: “With these hands I give you my heart and crown it with my love. You are my love for the rest of my life. Please wear this ring as a loving reminder of this sacred commitment we are making to one another today. I Bride, take Groom to be my lawful wedded partner.

Official: (Place large silver rope in figure 8 around Groom & Bride’s wrist , then tell the Bride & Groom to turn and face the broom).

Official: This Silver rope represents a silver chain that bonds your love together forever. And now, by the power of the Goddess, I now pronounce you partners for life. You may jump the broom and kiss the bride. may the Goddess bless you always. So Mote it Be!