THIRD DEGREE INITIATION
                                             


The altar is set up as usual.

The circle is drawn. Go around three times (once each with air, fire and water) 
and recite:

Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and gray,
Harken to the rune I say.
Four points of the Circle, wave the spell,
East, South, West, North, your tale tell.
East is for the break of day,
South is white for the noontide hour,
In the West is twilight gray,
And North is black, for the place of power.
Three times round the Circle's cast,
Great Ones, spirits from the past,
Witness it and guard it fast.


The elements are called:

Eurus, great spirit of the Air, we call upon you to join us and witness the 
raising of a witch to 3rd degree. Come, we pray you, to guard our circle and 
attend our rites.

Notus, great spirit of Fire, we call upon you to join us and witness the raising 
of a witch to 3rd degree. Come, we pray you, to guard our circle and attend our 
rites.

Zephyrus, great spirit of Water, we call upon you to join us and witness the 
raising of a witch to 3rd degree. Come, we pray you, to guard our circle and 
attend our rites.

Boreus, great spirit of the Earth, we call upon you to join us and witness the 
raising of a witch to 3rd degree. Come, we pray you, to guard our circle and 
attend our rites.

Coveners are now purified.

High Priestess calls upon the Lady:

     Earth Mother, Birth Mother, Birch Mother,
     Sea Mother, Stone Mother, Star Mother,
     Queen of night and death and birth,
     Womb of deep and fertile earth,
     Dame of heaven's silver wheel,
     Lady of the greening field,
     Keeper of the apple grove,
     Mistress of the arts of love,
     Shine out in the fearsome dark,
     Teach us how to strike the spark,
     People, we can feel Her near,
     She is coming! She is here!



High Priest calls upon the Lord:

     Sky's Father, Wise Father, Wine Father,
     Sun Father, Sap Father, Song Father,
     Lord of the forest, field and beast
     Lord of harvest, hunt and feast,
     King of heaven's golden fire,
     Dancer of the soul's desire,
     Master of the drum and flute,
     Keeper of the vineyard's fruit,
     Shine on us and warm our souls,
     Teach us how to make us whole,
     People, we can feel Him near,
     He is coming! He is here!


The story of entry into Olympus starts now. Tiresias begins....



Tiresias: "We have been called forth from the edges of Time and Space by one who 
seeks entry to the Halls of Olympus. I am Tiresias, Prophet of Thebes, who, 
though blind, shall be her guide. Seeker, come forth!"

Seeker approaches Tiresias.

Tiresias: "Who seeks entry to Olympus?"

Seeker: "I, Selene."

Tiresias: "Before you enter, gaze upon one who sought what was not rightfully 
hers. Do you still desire entry?"

Seeker envisions a pillar of stone, then replies: "Yes."

Tiresias: "Then enter and ask passage of the Guardians of the Gods."

Tiresias and Seeker travel to the North.

Tiresias: "Hail, Mighty Hephaestus, Craftsman of the Gods. With me is one who 
seeks entry to Olympus."

Hephaestus: "How are you known, Seeker?"

Seeker: "I am called Selene."

Hephaestus: "By what right seek you passage through the North?"

Seeker: "I have endured a year of the path of Earth and learned of my own 
mortality."

Hephaestus: "Pass with the Blessings of the Earth."

They travel to the East.

Tiresias: "Hail, Vigilant Artemis, Virgin Goddess. With me is one who seeks 
entry to Olympus.

Artemis: "How are you known, Seeker?"

Seeker: "I am called Selene."

Artemis: "By what right do you seek passage through the East?"

Seeker: "I have endured a year of the path or Airand and have learned the need 
for focus of will."

Artemis: "Pass with the Blessings of the Air."

They travel to the South.

Tiresias: "Hail, Bright Apollo, Lord of the Sun. With me is one who seeks entry 
to Olympus."

Apollo: "How are you known, Seeker?"

Seeker: "I am called Selene."

Apollo: "By what right do you seek passage through the South?"

Seeker has no answer.

Apollo: "You have not yet earned the right to pass through the South. To win 
this right, you must seek Fire from he who first gave it to Mankind, Prometheus. 
Tiresias, guard her upon her path of Fire that she learn what she needs to face 
the Titan."

They travel to the North.

Tiresias: "I come with Selene, who now seeks Prometheus that she may gain the 
right to Fire. What can you teach her that will ease her path?"

Hephaestus: "Know that I am Hephaestus, Craftsman and Smith of the Gods. In my 
labors, I use Fire as a purifying agent, separating the metal from the stone, 
and for the actual forging of my Art. But remember that creativity requires 
forethought. Daedalus was a Master of my Craft, yet rarely considered the 
implementations of his creations. He created the Labyrinth of Minos, 
who then imprisoned him within it's intricacies. He crafted wing that he and his 
son might escape, yet in their flight Icarus died. Always consider the 
consequences of that which you create.

They travel around to the East.

Tiresias: "I come with Selene, who now seeks Prometheus that she may gain the 
right to Fire. What can you teach her that will ease her path?"

Artemis: "Know that I am Artemis, Virgin Huntress. Through my will, no man has 
ever known me. Yet will must be tempered by intelligence. Remember Otus and 
Ephialtes, twin giants who were arrogant enough to think themselves better than          
the Gods. They continued their ill-wrought plans, even after Poseidon warned 
them. Through supposed desire, they chose to pursue me. They separated in 
pursuit of what they saw as a white hind, and, with simultaneous throws, slew 
each other. Thus blind will cause the death of all they truly loved."

They travel to the South.

Tiresias: "I come with Selene, who now seeks Prometheus that she may gain the 
right to Fire. What can you teach her that will ease her path?"

Apollo: "Know that I am Apollo, God of the Sun and Keeper of  Knowledge. 
Knowledge of Fire has allowed Man to forge a civilization, but seeking to 
advance without can lead to catastrophe. Witness Phaethon, who attempted to 
drive the Sun Chariot without proper knowledge, nearly causing the incineration 
of the Earth. Action without knowledge will often lead to ruin."

They travel to the West.

Tiresieas: "I come with Selene, who now seeks Prometheus that she may gain the 
right to Fire. What can you teach her that will ease her path?"

Hestia: "Know that I am Hestia, Goddess of Heart and Home. The warm glow of 
emotion in balance is vital for proper growth and life. But when emotions are 
allowed to rule above all else, tragedy is soon to follow. Consider Paris, who 
upon seeing Helen, bowed to an all-consuming desire for her, kidnapping her 
without thought of the consequences. Thus began the Trojan War. Do not bury your 
emotions, but neither should you elevate them to the level of Ruler."

They travel to the South. Tiresias goes alone to the altar and faces the Seeker.

Tiresias: "Seeker, are you prepared to face Prometheus himself  with your 
request?"

Seeker: "I am."

Tiresias: "Then come forward and call him forth."

Seeker goes to altar, facing North.

Seeker: "From the depths of Time, I call you forth. Arise Prometheus, Light 
Bringer."

Prometheus rises and goes to North side of altar.

Prometheus: "Why have you brought me here from the depths of  Time?"

Seeker: "I seek the Gift of Fire."

Prometheus: "And by what right do you ask it?"

Seeker: "By the right of perfect love and perfect trust."

Prometheus: "Then know that you are wellmet. I will grant you Fire and its path 
from here forward that you might learn it's lessons. The most important lesson 
it can teach you is the need for thought before action of any kind. You must 
always consider the consequences of all that you do or say. At the end of your 
time on this path, you will be judged on your fitness to continue your search."

Seeker and Prometheus now perform the Great Right.

Prometheus: "With my service done, I bid you farewell."

Prometheus leaves.

Tiresias: "Well done, most noble Seeker. You have traveled the road well. Come 
into Olympus and join the others who have come before you. Our work is 
completed. Let us rejoice and enjoy this company, remembering that though           
we may go our separate ways, we are always united as one. Merry meet, merry 
part, and merry meet again."

The new High Priestess is now presented with the Red Cord and anointed with oil 
on the forehead with the 3rd degree symbol.

High Priest then re-introduces her to the quarters as High Priestess.

Blessing of the wine:

Spirits of nature, of the trees and rocks, of the animals and Earth, give us 
your favor and your companionship. Share with us the bond of spirit and of life 
on Earth. Remember us and speak to us in our hearts. Give us your teachings and 
laughter, become one among us here tonight. Consecrate these waters. Behold the 
Waters of Life!

Ancestors of Long ago, be with us. Give us your favor and your wisdom. Share 
with us the bond of kinship and of life upon Earth. Remember us and speak to us 
in our hearts. Give us your knowledge and your blessing. Become one with us here 
tonight. Consecrate these waters. Behold the Waters of Life!

Gods and Goddesses, be with us. Give us your favor and blessings. Share with us 
the bonding essence and our existence upon your sphere of life. Remember us and 
speak to us in our hearts. Give us your strength and your peace. Become one 
among us here tonight. Consecrate these waters. Behold the Waters of Life.

Blessing the food:

P: Mine is the ripening sun.
HP: Mine is the nurturing soil.
P: Mine is the fruit of the vine.
HP: Mine is the chalice of life.
P: Mine is the planted seed.
HP: Mine is the fertile earth.
P: Mine is the mower's blade.
HP: Mine is the oven of making.
BOTH: We are the blessing of bread. And the bread blesses us.

Open circle as usual.