INTRODUCTION
In the tropics
- well, the tropics are an interesting situation, one that I have personal
experience of. You see, between the Tropic of Capricorn
and the Antarctic
Circle, and between the Tropic of Cancer and
the Arctic Circle, the
sun comes closer, then further away, once each year, with two days when night
and day are of equal length (i.e., the aforementioned equinoxes). But in the
tropics, the sun is overhead TWICE in each year, so it gets closer, is
overhead, goes further away, then comes back, is overhead, then goes further
away - all in the space of one year! ... Maybe the solution is to find what
seasons the indigenous people in that zone divided the year up into, and work
rituals to suit that - as I am trying to do for Melbourne (see here
and here).
Typically, each hemisphere does its own thing, which has a certain
amount of sense to it, given that will be celebrating a different season.
However, when I was helping to run a global on-line Wiccan group, we tried to
come up with rituals that could be used by everyone. I've decided to start
having a go at those again, and here is one for the March equinox.
ESSENCE
Chant:
Southern
Hemisphere:
From light to dark and dark to
light,
Onwards turns the wheel,
Both parts equal, light and dark,
We celebrate the peak
of this time of harvest,
and reap the results
of seeds sown.
From dark to light and light to
dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
We share the joy
of the Northern harvest,
growing Southern warmth and light,
and this time of balance.
From light to dark and dark to
light,
Onwards turns the wheel,
Both parts equal, light and dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
as Earth’s outward life,
migrates from North to South,
opening for the inward time
opening for the inward time
to pass from South to North,
Mother, be thou well!
Northern
Hemisphere:
From dark to light and light to
dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
Both parts equal, light and dark,
We celebrate the peak
of this time of growth,
and plant the seeds
for future reap.
From dark to light and light to
dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
We share the joy
of growing Southern warmth and light,
the Northern harvest,
and this time of balance.
From dark to light and light to
dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
Both parts equal, light and dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
as Earth’s outward life,
migrates from North to South,
opening for the inward time
to pass from South to North,
Mother, be thou well!
The ritual in full follows:
THE
RITUAL
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.
Phase
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Actions
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Words (if wish to provide guide or use particular words)
|
|
Overall
direction of ritual:
|
|
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Collate
items required:
·
Cauldron and match
·
salt, water
·
athame
·
copy of order of ritual / running
sheet / speaking notes
|
|
|
Ask
for and brief volunteers
|
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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, in the
Southern Hemisphere) 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
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“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
|
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Fire – North – Wand
INVOCATIONS
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Invoke the Four Quarters
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|
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!”
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South (earth)
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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!”
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Invoke the Goddess
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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!”
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Spirit – Centre
RITUAL
|
|
Southern Hemisphere:
From light
to dark and dark to light,
Onwards turns the wheel,
Both parts equal, light and dark,
We celebrate the peak
of this time of harvest,
and reap the results
of seeds sown.
From dark
to light and light to dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
We share the joy
of the Northern harvest,
growing Southern warmth and light,
and this time of balance.
From
light to dark and dark to light,
Onwards turns the wheel,
Both parts equal, light and dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
as Earth’s outward life,
migrates from North to South,
opening for the inward time
opening for the inward time
to pass from South to North,
Mother, be thou well!
Northern Hemisphere:
From dark
to light and light to dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
Both parts equal, light and dark,
We celebrate the peak
of this time of growth,
and plant the seeds
for future reap.
From dark
to light and light to dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
We share the joy
of growing Southern warmth and light,
the Northern harvest,
and this time of balance.
From dark
to light and light to dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
Both parts equal, light and dark,
Onwards turns the wheel,
as Earth’s outward life,
migrates from North to South,
opening for the inward time
to pass from South to North,
Mother, be thou well!
|
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.)
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Earth - South - Pentacle
CLOSING
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It
is now time to give thanks, and close the ritual
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Devoke the Four Quarters
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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!”
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Take
down the Circle itself.
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Example only: “As Above, So Below. As the Universe, so the Soul. As
within, so without. Merry meet. Merry part. And merry meet again.”
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Ground and release all excess energy.
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