Monday 26 September 2011

Post No. 320 - New Moon in Libra

There is a Dark Moon tomorrow night, so the night or two after that would be a good time to do a New moon ritual. If you're close to the Dark Moon (the Dark Moon is, I think only just inside Libra, so you would have a couple of days before the Moon moves out of Libra), you might like to try this ritual.

The core is:

Invoke (by chanting their names with increasing vigour) the runes Jera (cycles, harvest and balance), Nauthiz (needs), Eihwaz (balance), Dagaz (also balance, in this ritual) and Ansuz (inspiration, in this ritual).

The essence of Libra is balance, so this New Moon provides an opportunity to achieve a New Balance in some way. Begin by meditating on the various imbalances and balances in your life, aspects of your life that have perhaps opposing polarities or perhaps rely on a dynamic equilibrium. In what ways can you find a new way to balance anything that needs to be balanced, or improve something that you thought adequately balanced? let the energy of the Moon, as she comes back, seep throughout all levels of your being, inspiring you with new perspectives.
When you have a resolution, chant something along the lines of:
As the Moon takes her full strength
In the sign of balance and harmony,
Let harmony and balance pervade.
Devoke (by chanting their names with decreasing vigour) the runes Jera, Nauthiz, Eihwaz, Dagaz and Ansuz.

The ritual in full is:

All rituals consists of 5 major parts, which you will notice below are segmented into the five elements. Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit, but not in that order. Each Elemental correspondence has its own unique role within the ritual.
In most cases they are broken down as follows:
· East – Air – Athame – Opening – This is the basis of preparation, introduction of the ceremony.
· North – Fire – Wand - Invocations – This is the basis of invocations, prayers of the ceremony.
· Spirit – Centre – the ritual itself.
· West – Water – Chalice - Offerings – This is the time of offerings, libations, and honour
· South – Earth – Pentacle – Closing – This is the time of devocation and opening of the circle.
THE RITUAL
Phase
Actions
Words (if wish to provide guide or use particular words)
People

Overall direction of ritual:

Ritual leader

Collate items required:
· Cauldron and match
· salt, water
· athame
· copy of order of ritual / running sheet / speaking notes



Ask for and brief volunteers


Air – East - Athame OPENING
Cleanse salt, water, incense and fire.
Charge salt, water, incense and fire.
Cleanse and charge area.
Participants waiting outside to Ground and Release, and make sure watches are removed and mobile phones are turned off.
- hand over water, visualise yellow-white light from hand into water, 3 Clockwise, to the south, circles while say
“Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Water, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within!”
- hand over water, visualise blue-white light filling water, 3 Sunwise (to the north, anticlockwise) circles while say
“And I do bless and consecrate you to this work!”
- hand over salt, visualise yellow-white light from hand into water to force out negativity, 3 Clockwise, to the south, circles while say
“Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Earth, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within!”
- hand over salt, visualise blue-white light filling water, 3 Sunwise (to the north, anticlockwise) circles while say
“And I do bless and consecrate you to this work!”
- add three pinches salt to water (to make Holy Water) and say
“Behold, the salt is pure! Behold, the water is pure! Purity into purity then, and purity be blessed!”
Walk Sunwise (to the north, anticlockwise) and asperge (sprinkle with Holy Water) while visualise filled with yellow-white light.
“Behold I cleanse and purify this space.”
Turn to face inside of circle, visualise blue-white light and say.
“I bless and consecrate this space.”

Cast circle
“Behold I do cut apart a space between the realms of humankind and of the Might Ones – a Circle of Art, to focus and contain the power raised herein!”

Invite participants into circle and smudge


Fire – North - Wand
INVOCATIONS
Invoke the Four Quarters


East (air)
Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, power of Air and intellect. We pray that You will be with us this night in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to this our undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”

North (fire)
Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the North, power of Fire and manifestation. We pray that You will be with us this night in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to this our undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!

West (water)
Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the West, power of Water and emotion. We pray that You will be with us this night in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to this our undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”

South (earth)
Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the South, power of Earth and integration. We pray that You will be with us this night in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to this our undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”

Invoke the Goddess
Example only: "Divine Mother Goddess, All-Bountiful, All-Beautiful, Source and Sustenance of Existence: we do invoke You, asking now for your aid and guidance in this our undertaking.– May Your Divine Love be as a light within our hearts, now and always! Light our path, guide and strengthen us, enfold us in Your love, Divine Mother – we thus pray! Holy One, we bid You Hail and Welcome!"

Invoke the God (optional / depending on type of ritual)
Example only: "Holy Father God –Son, Brother, and Consort of Our Lady- we do invoke You asking now for your aid and guidance in this our undertaking.–. May Your Divine Love be as a light within our hearts, now and always! Light our path, guide and strengthen us, enfold us in Your love, Divine Father – we thus pray! Holy One, we bid You Hail and Welcome!"

Invoke your Patron Deity (optional / depending on type of ritual)


Invoke the Ancestors (optional / depending on type of ritual)
Example only: “O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, We invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us –lend us Your inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray. Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

Spirit – Centre
RITUAL
The essence of Virgo is, to me (and I’m not an astrologer), analysis – tending towards self-criticism. The New Moon is about new beginnings, so this combination raises the possibility of a new attitude towards oneself – a new self critique, in a sense. To do that, it often necessary to let go of the old that is inappropriate, strengthen what is old and appropriate, and bring in whatever is new that you wish to strengthen. The key here is knowing what is appropriate, and what is not.
Invoke (by chanting their names with increasing vigour) the runes Jera (cycles, harvest and balance), Nauthiz (needs), Eihwaz (balance), Dagaz (also balance, in this ritual) and Ansuz (inspiration, in this ritual).
The essence of Libra is balance, so this New Moon provides an opportunity to achieve a New Balance in some way. Begin by meditating on the various imbalances and balances in your life, aspects of your life that have perhaps opposing polarities or perhaps rely on a dynamic equilibrium. In what ways can you find a new way to balance anything that needs to be balanced, or improve something that you thought adequately balanced? let the energy of the Moon, as she comes back, seep throughout all levels of your being, inspiring you with new perspectives.
When you have a resolution, chant something along the lines of:
As the Moon takes her full strength
In the sign of balance and harmony,
Let harmony and balance pervade.
Devoke (by chanting their names with decreasing vigour) the runes Jera, Nauthiz, Eihwaz, Dagaz and Ansuz.

Water – West - Chalice
OFFERING
This is traditionally done with a chalice of juice, wine or water passed around the company within the circle AFTER the dedicationary offering has been completed.
Then it is common practice to pour out a small libation, and dedicate that to your Ancestors, physical and spiritual, and to all your friends in Nature, seen and unseen.
Dedicate what remains in the Chalice to the Goddess and the God.
(After the ritual, the libations may be emptied outside, or otherwise respectfully disposed of.)


Earth - South - Pentacle
CLOSING
It is now time to give thanks, and close the ritual


Devoke the Four Quarters


North (fire)
Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the North, power of Fire and manifestation. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”

West (water)
Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the West, power of Water and emotion. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”

South (earth)
Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the South, power of Earth and integration. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”

East (air)
Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, power of Air and intellect. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”

Devoke the Goddess (optional / depending on type of ritual)
Example only: "Divine Mother Goddess, All-Bountiful, All-Beautiful, Source and Sustenance of Existence: we thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!

Devoke the God (optional / depending on type of ritual)
Example only: "Holy Father God –Son, Brother, and Consort of Our Lady, we thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”

Devoke your Patron Deity (optional / depending on type of ritual)


Devoke the Ancestors (optional / depending on type of ritual)
Example only: “O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, we thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”

Take down the Circle itself.
Example only: “As Above, So Below. As the Universe, so the Soul. As within, so without. Merry meet. Merry part. And merry meet again.”

Ground and release all excess energy.




Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
Tags: new moon, rituals, Esbats, Libra,
First published: Manadagr, 26th September, 2011
Last edited: Monday, 26th September, 2011