A RITUAL OF ALCHEMY


Alchemy is a philosophical as well as a practical method of transformation of 
base matter into "Gold". Tonight we ill begin an Alchemical Work of Transform-
ation which will transform dead materials to provide life. The following is a 
formal ritual that may or may not be a part of another ritual.

Materials needed:
Jar (or other container)
Dirt (Earth)
Dried Rose Petals (Air)
Nitre (Saltpeter) (Fire)
Water (Water)
Dead matter (dried leaves, grass, etc.)

Process Step One:

Place dirt in the cauldron or pot saying:
	I place this dirt into the cauldron as a bed for the seeds we will plant 
in spring. Gracious Goddess and God, bless and consecrate this EARTH that it 
bring forth abundance.

Place the Dried Rose Petals into the cauldron saying:

	I place dried petal into the cauldron that the smell will remind us of the 
changing winds that stir up life. Gracious Goddess and God, bless and consecrate 
this AIR that it bring about change for growth.

Put some Nitre into the cauldron saying:
	I place nirte into the cauldron to fire up the energy lying dormant in the 
seeds this spring. Gracious Goddess and God, bless and consecrate this FIRE that 
it may release stored energy.

Pour some water in the mixture (just to dampen the materials) saying:
	I pour water into the cauldron to dissolve and transmute the materials 
within, ever remembering that water is life and is the life blood of the Mother.       
Gracious Goddess and God, bless and consecrate this WATER that may truly be the 
Universal Solvent.

Stir the cauldron saying:
	I stir this cauldron that the elements within be mixed, that they may 
combine and exchange essences in order that our work be done. Gracious Goddess 
and God, bless our work tonight. And as the elements transmute to another form, 
grant that we also be transmuted into a greater form.

Process Step Two:

Dip out the mixture and place it in a jar (fill to aobut ‡ to 2/3 full).

Write an action or condition to be transmuted by Ostara on a slip of paper. 
Consecrate and charge the paper and place it into the jar with the mixture. It 
is to stay in the jar.

Process Step Three:

Other items that may be added to the mixture at a later date are:
	Hair, nail clippings, menstrual blood, semen or other items personally 
from the individual. Ashes from ceremonial fires, especially from the Yule log, 
a small amount of candle wax, incense, or other items found at special times 
and/or special places. Food (sparingly). A small crumbled piece of Sabbat Cake, 
a bit of the wine, small pieces of egg shell, tea, 'grounds', etc.

Process Step Four:

In the spring, the jar should contain transmuted matter to be used to bless 
seeds planted on Ostara.

Comments:

It is fitting that this rite be done in the Mabon, since this is a harvest 
festival leading into the death of the year which will come alive again in 
Spring. This is also the eve of the New Moon, the time for beginnings. Another 
point is that Mabon occurs when the Sun enters the sign of Libra, The Scales. 
Libra is balance, and to be successful in your workings, balance must be 
observed. Too much moisture and the mixture will smell. Not enough and it will 
dry out. The blood, semen, hair and nail clippings are all high in protein which 
is nitrogen rich. The dirt contains microbes which aid in the transformation. 
The microbes need the right conditions. Blood and semen are the quintessence of 
life and their addition to this mixture adds the spark to transmute the mixture.

The container needs to be carefully tumbled one revolution per day. Except when 
tumbling, keep the lid ajar to allow the mixture to breathe.