OPENING THE CIRCLE  ONE

The High Priestess faces East,with her athame in her hand. The High Priest stands to her right with the rest of the Covenbehind them. If any tools have been consecrated, they should beheld by the person furthest to the back. The Maiden stands near to the front to blow out each candle in turn. The Priestess says

	"Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air;
	we do thank you for attending our rites; and ere ye depart to your 
        pleasant and lovely realms, we bid you hail and	farewell....Hail and 
        farewell."

As she speaks, she draws the Banishing Pentagram of Earth in the air in front of her thus, each time:           
                          2 7                  
                      4        5               
                                       
                       6 1    3                
The rest of the Coven copy the Pentagram and chorus in on the second hail and farewell. The Maiden blows out the candle and the Coven faces the south and the High Priestess says:

	"Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire;
         we do thank you for attending our rites;
         and ere ye depart to your pleasant and lovely realms,
         we bid you hail and farewell....Hail and farewell." 

She turns to the West and says:

	"Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water;
         ye Lords of Death and Initiation;
         we do thank you for attending our rites;
         and ere ye depart to your pleasant and lovely realms,
         we bid you hail and farewell....Hail and farewell."

She turns to the North and says:   

	"Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of	Earth;
         Boreas, thou gentle guardian of the Northern Portals;
         thou powerful God, Thou gentle Goddess;
         we do thank you for attending our rites;
         and ere ye depart for	your pleasant and lovely realms,
         we bid you hail and farewell....Hail and farewell." 

This ends the Circle.

Farrar, Janet and Stewart; "Eight Sabbats For Witches"; Robert 	Hale 1983

Transcribed to computer file by Seastrider