When you have fulfilled the requirements, and meditated on the matter, you may decide to perform the following Self-Initiation. It is best performed on a Sabbat, Imbolg being traditional. If this is not possible, then on the waxing or full moon. This ritual is to be inserted just before the Cakes and Wine section. Prior to the initiation, it is appropriate to spend some time in seclusion, taking time to meditate on the step you are about to take. Unless medically unable, you should observe a fast consisting only of whole-grain breads, honey and herbal teas (for at least 24 hours, but not more than three days), and you should refrain from sexual activities for the same period. In the case of coven initiation, it is often customary to hold a large feast afterward, consisting of the initiate's favorite foods. You may wish to do the same. The step that you are about to take is a serious one. This is a commitment to the gods for your lifetime. Although this is a religion of freedom and you may leave Wicca at any time, you will be promising to remain "ever true to the gods". Meditate on what this means to you. Just prior to the ritual, take a ritual bath. Charge the water with a handful of sea salt, sending white light into the water as you stir it in. During the bath, you should mentally clean yourself. This can be done by performing a cleansing meditation, and employing the water. SELF INITIATION -YOU WILL NEED ONE NINE-FOOT WHITE CORD, A LENGTH OF RED YARN OR THREAD, ANOINTING OIL, A NECKLACE AND A BLACK SHROUD OR SCARF. -IF YOU ARE NORMALLY ROBED, DISROBE AT THIS TIME. YOU SHOULD BE WEARING NO JEWELRY, PERFUME, MAKEUP, DEODERANT, ETC. -RECITE, ALOUD, THE CHARGE OF THE GODDESS: "LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THE GREAT MOTHER; SHE WHO OF OLD WAS ALSO CALLED AMONG MEN ARTEMIS, ASTARTE, ATHENE, DIONE, MELUSINE, APHRODITE, CERRIDWEN, DANA, ARIANRHOD, ISIS, BRIDE, AND BY MANY OTHER NAMES." "WHENEVER YE HAVE NEED OF ANYTHING, ONCE IN THE MONTH, AND BETTER IT BE WHEN THE MOON IS FULL, THEN SHALL YE ASSEMBLE IN SOME SECRET PLACE AND ADORE THE SPIRIT OF SHE, WHO IS QUEEN OF ALL WITCHES. THERE SHALL YE ASSEMBLE, YE WHO ARE FAIN TO LEARN ALL SORCERY, YET HAVE NOT WON ITS DEEPEST SECRETS; TO THESE WILL SHE TEACH THINGS THAT ARE YET UNKNOWN. AND YE SHALL BE FREE FROM SLAVERY; AND AS A SIGN THAT YE BE REALLY FREE, YE SHALL BE NAKED IN YOUR RITES; AND YE SHALL DANCE, SING MAKE MUSIC AND LOVE, ALL IN HER PRAISE. FOR HERS IS THE ECSTASY OF THE SPIRIT, AND HERS IS ALSO JOY ON EARTH; FOR HER LAW IS LOVE UNTO ALL BEINGS. KEEP PURE YOUR HIGHEST IDEAL; STRIVE EVER TOWARDS IT; LET NAUGHT STOP YOU OR TURN YOU ASIDE. FOR HERS IS THE SECRET DOOR WHICH OPENS UPON THE LAND OF YOUTH, AND HERS IS THE CUP OF THE WINE OF LIFE, AND THE CAULDRON OF CERRIDWEN, WHICH IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF IMMORTALITY. SHE IS THE GRACIOUS GODDESS, WHO GIVES THE GIFT OF JOY UNTO THE HEART OF MAN. UPON EARTH, SHE GIVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SPIRIT ETERNAL; AND BEYOND DEATH, SHE GIVES PEACE, AND FREEDOM, AND REUNION WITH THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE. NOR DOES SHE DEMAND SACRIFICE; FOR BEHOLD, SHE IS THE MOTHER OF ALL LIVING, AND HER LOVE IS POURED OUT UPON THE EARTH." "HEAR YE THE WORDS OF THE STAR GODDESS; SHE IN THE DUST OF WHOSE FEET ARE THE HOSTS OF HEAVEN, AND WHOSE BODY ENCIRCLES THE UNIVERSE." "SHE WHO IS THE BEAUTY OF THE GREEN EARTH, AND THE WHITE MOON AMONG THE STARS, AND THE MYSTERY OF THE WATERS, AND THE DESIRE OF THE HEART OF MAN, CALLS UNTO THY SOUL. ARISE, AND COME UNTO HER. FOR SHE IS THE SOUL OF NATURE, WHO GIVES LIFE TO THE UNIVERSE. FROM HER ALL THINGS PROCEED, AND UNTO HER ALL THINGS MUST RETURN; AND BEFORE HER FACE, BELOVED OF GODS AND OF MEN, LET THINE INNERMOST DIVINE SELF BE ENFOLDED IN THE RAPTURE OF THE INFINITE. LET HER WORSHIP BE WITHIN THE HEART THAT REJOICES; FOR BEHOLD, ALL ACTS OF LOVE AND PLEASURE ARE HER RITUALS. AND THEREFORE LET THERE BE BEAUTY AND STRENGTH, POWER AND COMPASSION, HONOR AND HUMILITY, MIRTH AND REVERENCE WITHIN YOU. AND THOU WHO THINKEST TO SEEK FOR HER, KNOW THY SEEKING AND YEARNING SHALL AVAIL THEE NOT UNLESS THOU KNOWEST THE MYSTERY; THAT IF THAT WHICH THOU SEEKEST THOU FINDEST NOT WITHIN THEE, THOU WILT NEVER FIND IT WITHOUT THEE. FOR BEHOLD, SHE HAS BEEN WITH THEE FROM THE BEGINNING; AND SHE IS THAT WHICH IS ATTAINED AT THE END OF DESIRE." -GO TO EACH QUARTER IN TURN, BEGINNING WITH THE EAST, RAISING YOUR WAND AT EACH QUARTER AND SAYING: "GUARDIANS OF THE EAST "SOUTH, WEST, NORTH", I, __________ (YOUR NAME), PRESENT MYSELF FOR INITIATION." -STAND BEFORE THE ALTAR AND SAY: "LORD AND LADY, I COME BEFORE THEE, HUMBLE BUT WITHOUT FEAR. I HAVE STUDIED THY WAYS AND SOUGHT LONG AFTER THEE. PLEASE, AID ME AND BLESS ME ON THIS QUEST." -PERFORM THE FIVEFOLD BLESSING. ANOINT SELF WITH CONSECRATED WATER AT EACH POINT: FEET "BLESSED BE MY FEET, WHICH SHALL TRED THE HIDDEN PATH." KNEES "BLESSED BE MY KNEES, WHICH SHALL KNEEL AT THE SACRED ALTAR." WOMB/PHALLUS "BLESSED BE MY WOMB (PHALLUS), THE SEAT OF MY POWER." BREASTS "BLESSED BE MY BREAST, ERECT IN BEAUTY AND STRENGTH." LIPS "BLESSED BE MY LIPS, WHICH SHALL UTTER THE SACRED NAMES." -KNEEL AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH THE SHROUD/SCARF SO THAT YOU CANNOT SEE. SPEND THIS TIME IN MEDITATION. IT IS AT THIS TIME THAT YOU MAY BE GIVEN A SIGN, OR YOU MAY RECEIVE A VISION OR MESSAGE. -WHEN YOU ARE READY, REMOVE THE SHROUD/SCARF AND STAND -GO TO EACH OF THE QUARTERS IN TURN (BEGINNING IN THE EAST), TO MEDITATE AND RECEIVE A MESSAGE. (IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO DO THIS FREE-FORM, FEEL FREE TO FOLLOW THE ELEMENTAL MEDITATIONS.) -AS YOU HAVE RECEIVED EACH MESSAGE, GO ON TO THE NEXT QUARTER, UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN TO EACH. -TAKE THE RED THREAD AND TAKE YOUR MEASURE (PUT THE END OF THE THREAD UNDER YOUR TOE AND MEASURE TO THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD. CUT THE THREAD. MEASURE AROUND YOUR HEAD, CHEST AND GENITALS, EACH TIME MAKING A KNOT. THEN, COIL THE THREAD UP.) -HOLD THE THREAD UP ABOVE THE ALTAR, SAYING: "LORD AND LADY, I PRESENT MY MEASURE, A SYMBOL OF ALL THAT I AM, IN TOKEN OF MY DEDICATION. IN PERFECT LOVE AND PERFECT TRUST." -PLACE THE THREAD ON THE PENTACLE AND YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER THE THREAD, TAKING THE OATH: "I, ________ (WICCAN NAME), SWEAR EVER TO CHERISH AND NEVER REVEAL THE SECRETS WHICH THE GODS MAY REVEAL TO ME, EXCEPT IT BE TO A WORTHY PERSON IN THE CENTER OF A CONSECRATED CIRCLE, SUCH AS I AM NOW IN. AND I WILL EVER REMAIN TRUE TO THE GODS AND TO THE ART, AND I SHALL HELP MY TRUE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE ART. THIS IS MY SOLEMN VOW. SO MOTE IT BE!" -SAY: "NOW I TAKE THE WITCH'S MARK." -ANOINT SELF WITH OIL (SUCH AS OLIVE) IN THE SIGN OF A CIRCLED CROSS ON THE FOREHEAD, THEN THE HEART, AND THEN THE GENITALS: "LORD AND LADY, I CONSECRATE MYSELF UNTO THEE AS THY WITCH AND TRUE PRIEST/ESS." -TAKE THE WHITE CORD, DOUBLE IT IF NECESSARY AND TIE AROUND YOUR WAIST. THIS IS A SYMBOL OF YOUR OATH. -YOU MAY NOW WISH TO CONSECRATE YOUR NECKLACE AND WEAR IT. -AFTERWARD, GO TO EACH QATER IN TURN, RAISE THE WAND TO EACH DIRECTION, SAYING: "GUARDIANS OF THE EAST (SOUTH, WEST, NORTH), BEHOLD, I AM _______ (WICCAN NAME), A WITCH AND TRUE PRIEST/ESS OF THE LORD AND LADY." -KEEP MEASURE IN A SAFE/SPECIAL PLACE. YOU MAY WISH TO KEEP IT IN A SPECIAL POUCH. (SOME WITCHES BURN THEIR MEASURE, IN TOKEN OF GIVING IT TO THE GODS.)