Ritual for the last quarter of the moon

Ritual for the last quarter of the moon

by Andrew

The singular personal pronoun is used in the feminine because that is the
gender of the majority and it doesn't get used that way enough.

Tools and Materials

  * standard working altar (may vary, essential components are listed below) in
    the North

  * small elemental altars with candles and perhaps another symbol of the
    element in the directions

  * God and Goddess candles

  * source candle

  * sea salt

  * athame

  * chalice

  * broom

  * stick incense

  * fan

  * toothpicks or wooden pick-up sticks

  * apple cider

  * bread and honey

  * thread or embroidery floss to tie the sticks together with

The Ritual

Purifying Space

The space to be used for the circle is swept in an outward spiral going
widdershins, while the sweeper says:

"With this tool of my will, I banish from this space the keepers and bearers of
ill-will and disorder.  Disturb us not in our rite tonight...disturb us
not...disturb us not. .."

Sea salt and water are mixed with the athame stirring deosil as the maker says:

"As the salt of the earth and the water of the ocean mingle in the sea, I
combine them here to create a tool of purification and consecration."

The salt water is sprinkled around the space going widdershins as the sprinkler
says:

"As the rain washes clean and fresh the earth and the ocean sweeps the shore,
may this water consecrate this our sacred space.  So mote it be."

Casting the Circle

The circle is cast in the usual manner going deosil.  When the circle has been
cast, the caster says:

"The circle is cast.  We are between the worlds in a time that is not a time, a
place that is not a place.  May this be a fit meeting place for Gods and men
and a suitable vessel for our workings this night."

Purifying the celebrants

[I'd like to use the elements together with the elemental energies to perform
the purification but I also want people to have purified themselves before they
call the elements.  So we have to call before purifying and thus be "impure"
while calling, or purify before calling and thus not have the benefit of a
solid presence of the elemental energies during the purification.   An obvious
solution is to do a minor purification in the beginning, then call the
elements, and then do the major purification work but that seems excessively
long and tedious.  Let's just do a double purification before the elements are
called.]

Water and Earth

The salt water from purifying the space is sprinkled lightly on the forehead of
each of the celebrants in turn proceeding deosil around the circle starting in
the East with the words, "Be thou pure in being and clear in emotion" spoken to
each celebrant.

Fire and Air

A stick of incense (perhaps sandelwood or something similarly simple and
unobtrusive) is light from the source candle (the only light burning) and
wafted gently towards each practitioner using the fan proceeding deosil around
the circle starting in the East.  Each celebrant is welcomed with the words,
"Be thou pure of thought and intention."

Inviting the God and Goddess

We invite the God and Goddess earlier in the ritual than usual so that they may
be present for our elemental workings.

"Arianrhod, Moon Lady, I call you.  Come be with us in our rite."  Caller
lights the Goddess candle from the source candle.

"God of many names, I call you Hern, the winter hunter.  Come, be with us in
our rite." Caller lights the God candle from the source candle.

Calling the Elements

Each of the celebrants calls her element in turn beginning in the East and
progressing deosil around the circle.  After each element is called into the
circle, its influence is also asked in the handling of the sticks that will be
done later.  The sticks during this time are tied in a bunch.

Centering

There are a few moments for the celebrants to center on themselves and prepare
t hemselves to find focus and order in themselves and the other celebrants.
"May we each contribute to the otheršs focus, So Mote it Be."

Raising Energy

Chant with drumming:
The earth, the air, the fire, the water
Return, return, return, return
(twice)

Ayay, ayay, ayay, ayay ayo, ayo, ayo, ayo (twice)

(repeat)

Stick Working

"May these sticks embody our emotions, our aspirations, our skills, our fears,
our strengths and weaknesses, triumphs and regrets, the part and parcel of
ourselves .  As I cast them, they fall randomly--disorganized and without
focus.  Let us find the order in the chaos, the focus in the jumble.  Let us
move the sticks into the shape of our in tent.  And as we move the sticks may
we also move ourselves."

Here is time for the celebrants to rearrange, stack and realign with the hearts
as well as their hands together as a group.  Let each speak of her symbols and
findings.

"The work is done, but the task is never complete.  The new moon draws nigh and
then we may delve more deeply into ourselves, having cleared and straightened,
focused and centered now."

Other Working

Any personal working that anyone has goes here.

Grounding

Food Stuffs

"Lord and Lady, we offer you the fruits of last year's harvest, apple cider
kept through the winter, bread baked from last year's wheat, and honey from
last summer's clover. Share with us."

Unwinding

Each of the celebrants thanks the element that she called beginning in the
North and proceeding widdershins around the circle.

The God and Goddess (Arianrhod and Hern) are thanked for their presence:
"Arianrhod, Silver lady, thank you.  Go if you must, but stay if you will.
Hail and Farewell."

"Hern, we thank you for your presence now and always.  Hail and Farewell."

The circle is opened beginning in the East and going widdershins in the usual
ma nner.

"The circle is open but unbroken.  So mote it be."