This ritual was performed on a camp in Matlock near to the Nine Ladies standing stones which were in terrible danger from the nearby quarry but were, a few days after the ritual and against all expectations, given a legal reprieve in the local courtroom. The actual ritual didn't proceed exactly as written, there was a degree of embelishment . . . (I think our druid friends thought it proper to invoke the ancestors along with the quarters and spirit).
The Cast
Priest: Ian
Priestess: Donna
East: Geoff
South: Marilyn
West: Ashley
North: Rosemary
Spirit: Moira
Introduction
All are called to the circle and welcomed with a word about the ritual and what
is at hand.
The Circle Is Cast
All hold hands and turn widdershins about the circle chanting "With
power we build the circle, with love we hold it dear"
The Quarters Are Called
Each quarter walks around the circle to the altar in the north and, having been
given their symbol, walks back around the circle to their quarter again
Priestess: "I call upon the quarter of the east" <she gives him
burning joss sticks>
Priestess: "I call upon the quarter of the south" <she gives her
a lantern>
Priestess: "I call upon the quarter of the west" <she gives him
the cauldron>
Priestess: "I call upon the quarter of the north" <she gives her
a pot of earth (or salt)>
East: "I call upon the element of Air to come into our circle today, protect
your element within, eliminate evil and concentrate good. So Mote It Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"
South: "I call upon the element of Fire to come into our circle today,
protect your element within, eliminate evil and concentrate good. So Mote It
Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"
West: "I call upon the element of Water to come into our circle today,
protect your element within, eliminate evil and concentrate good. So Mote It
Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"
North: "I call upon the element of Earth to come into our circle today,
protect your element within, eliminate evil and concentrate good. So Mote It
Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"
Priestess: "I call upon Spirit"
Spirit: "We are new within these lands, we have yet to meet you, spirits.
We call upon you to witness our ritual this day and bring us into your favour.
Know us as bringers of peace and harmony, great lovers of our mother earth.
Pagans all are we, gathered here today to worship the God and Goddess in the
name of Witchcraft. Spirits of this place, all, we give you thanks and hold
you dear. So Mote It Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"
Invocation Of Goddess And God
Priest (to Priestess): "I call down upon you the spirit of the Goddess,
may she give you her power, strength, guidance and wisdom. May your words be
her words, let her spirit flow through you this day. So Mote It Be!"
Priestess (to Priest): "I call down upon you the spirit of our lord, The Oak King. May he give you his strength, guidance and wisdom. May your words be his words, let his spirit flow through you this day. So Mote It Be!" <she places the crown of oak leaves upon his head>
The Blessing
The priestess takes the oil/water around the circle performing the blessing
on all, Oak King first.
The Rite
After receiving his blessing the Oak King lights and takes up the "king"
candle and proclaims:
Priest: "I am he who is the lord of light.
I am he who is the sun.
Let your love shine as does mine.
Let your love spread through the world, as does my light.
Together with the sun we must also have rain,
So together with joy we must also have pain.
I am the life, I am the hope
I am the death and I am the life anew
Without me there can be nothing.
As I give light and life to you, so it is meet that you should give to others,
Let us all share all that we have with those who have less."
Priestess: "We thak the old ones for the richness and goodness of life.
As there must be rain with the sun to make all things grow,
So we must suffer pain with our joy to know all things.
Our love is ever with the gods, for though we know not their thoughts,
Ever do we know their hearts"
<Priest walks to the centre of the circle and stands, head bowed>
Priestess: "Now is the time the Oak King must leave us. His reign is over and he must make way for another.
<Priest sinks to the ground and lays still. Priestess and quarters go to his side, one carrying a large yellow sheet which they use to begin covering him up. As they reach his torso the priestess asks for one more minute with her dead lord. They cover her also and then she emerges and returns to the altar. Quarters remain, heads bowed>
Priestess stands at the altar, with hands raised and proclaims:
Priestess: "The old king is dead! The Oak King is dead! Let the new King arise! Hail to the Holly King!"
<The quarters pull back the sheetto reveal the priest now wearing a holly crown instead of the oak one>
Quarters: "Three cheers for the Holly King! Hip Hip Hurray! Hip Hip Hurray! Hip Hip Hurray!"
Priest: "Thank you all for your "rousing" welcome! This is the time for anyone to make their own contribution. Does anyone have a song or poem or a pearl of wisdom to share?"
<I think I said something about the land and the people being as one and someone read a poem>
Priest: "Thank you, we will now share cakes and wine"
Cakes And Wine
<Priest offers the wine for the priestess to bless>
Priestess: "I bless this wine in the name of the lord and lady, may none
that drink of it ever thirst" <The wine is taken round by the priestess>
<Priest offers the cake for the priestess to bless>
Priestess: "I bless this cake in the name of the lord and lady, may none
that eat of it ever hunger" <The cake is taken round by the priestess>
<Priest tops up the chalice and offers a toast>
Priest: "I give you a toast. That this be a good, wholesome camp, that
we meet and enjoy each others' company, old friends and new and that when we
part it will be with love in our hearts and the will to renew such friendships
again. Blessed Be to all!"
Priest: "We will now close down the quarters"
Closing The Quarters
East: "I call upon the element of Air. We thank you for your presence
in our circle. Deaprt now to your own element, harming none as you go. So Mote
It Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"
South: "I call upon the element of Fire. We thank you for your presence
in our circle. Deaprt now to your own element, harming none as you go. So Mote
It Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"
West: "I call upon the element of Water. We thank you for your presence
in our circle. Deaprt now to your own element, harming none as you go. So Mote
It Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"
North: "I call upon the element of Earth. We thank you for your presence
in our circle. Deaprt now to your own element, harming none as you go. So Mote
It Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"
Spirit: "We thank you, spirits of this place, we hope that our presence
her s to your liking and that only love and peace are left behind when we depart.
So Mote It Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"
Release Of Goddess And God
Priest (to Priestess): "I release you, my lady, from this earthly body. I thank you for your presence and say that you may now go or stay as is your pleasure. So Mote It Be!"
Priestess (to Priest): "I release you, my lord, from this earthly body. I thank you for your presence and say that you may now go or stay as is your pleasure. So Mote It Be!"
Closing The Circle
Priest: "I now declare this circle broken! May we all go and enjoy the
rest of this camp. So Mote It Be!"
All: "So Mote It be!"