n contemporary times, the model of the Wheel of the Year is popular among many Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches. These, of course, are the eight seasonal festival periods of the year, which are often referred to as the Sabbats. In the Rose and Thorn Path of Witchery, when such modern rites are used, they're designed to present the Mythos of the Divine within Nature as the seasons flow, one into the other. In this light, the Mythos follows a mated Goddess and God (the personifications of the celestial and terrestrial emanations of divine presence and action) throughout the year. It's a complete and cohesive story that also presents esoteric concepts in the telling of it.
One of the differences in the modern rites, when compared with systems such as Wicca, is the use of the terms Sacerdotessa (pronounced Sah-chure-doh-tess-ah) and Sacerdote (Sah-chure-doh-tay). These words refer to the role of keeping things sacred within a tradition, ritual, or circle of the arts. In Old World Witchcraft, any formal group of Witches practicing together is called a Grove, which is a term in keeping with the idea of the connection to the Greenwood Realm. In essence, this is like the idea of a Coven in other traditions of Witchcraft.
Unlike many forms of modern Witchcraft and Wicca, we do not use the Elements or Elemental Spirits/Rulers as they're envisioned in contemporary practice. Instead, we use the concept of the elements as the essence or nature of the creative energies known as earth, air, fire, water, and air. Through this concept, we reach back to a time before humans added anthropomorphic views to the inner mechanism of Nature. Therefore, in Old World Witchcraft, we call each element by the title Asthesia (pronounced ah-thay-zah) and therefore we call upon the Asthesia of earth, air, fire, and water. Each is the raw energy of a specific elemental nature and quality (as opposed to a sentient spirit or entity).
Another difference between the modern festival rites of the Rose and Thorn Path and those of Wicca and modern Paganism is the use of names or titles. We intentionally use different ones so that people don't bring with them their preconceived ideas and views. If we were to use the title Samhain, for example, there's a predisposition to think about the rite as Celtic rooted and to expect certain popular practices and themes to be present. Our titles do not automatically evoke a cultural expectation or mind-set, which allows them to be experienced in their own right. The rites of the Rose and Thorn Path are a non-cultural expression of seasonal shifts and the mythology that personifies them.
Our Wheel of the Year begins on November Eve and is called Gadrian, which is an old word meaning “to gather” or “gather in.” In our mythos, Gadrian is the Otherworld time when the feminine and masculine polarities of divinity are personified as the Lady of Shadow and the Lord of Shadow. It's the season of the enveloping blackness of procreation from which all things issue forth into the world of light. There in the shadowy realm, the Goddess and God mate, and she becomes pregnant with the seed of light passed into her by the God.
The next festival is called the Winter Tide and is performed on the day of the Winter Solstice. In the mythos, the Goddess gives birth to the new Sun God, who is called the Child of Promise (the promise being another year of light, life, and prosperity). At this time, we use the titles Lady of the Womb and Lord of Rebirth.
On the Eve of February, we celebrate with the rite known as Herthfyre, which is named after the sustaining hearth fires during Winter. In this season, we use the titles Lady of Fire and Lord of Ice. The land is frozen and requires the seductive fire of life to liberate it. This is the mythos of the slumbering seed and the stirring passion of the Womb of Nature.
The Wheel of the Year then turns to the Spring Tide, which is celebrated on the Vernal Equinox. At this time, we use the titles Lady of the Lake and Lord of the Reeds. In this season, the indwelling forces of Nature quicken the life force, and in turn the seeds beneath the earth issue forth into new plants for the season. The snow is melting, and fluids return to the life force.
Next comes the season known as Meadwey, a name derived from an old term for the meadow. It's celebrated on May Eve. At this time, the Goddess is called the Lady of the Green and the God is called the Lord of the Green. In the mythos, this is the time of courtship and intimacy between the couple. Fertility emanates into all things.
With the arrival of the Summer Solstice, we celebrate the Summer Tide. In this season, we use the titles Lady of the Flowers and Lord of the Woods. This is the pivotal point where the waning forces of the year lead Nature into the season of decline here in the midst of fullness. It's the magical in-between place.
Next is the seasonal shift to Harfest, a name derived from an old word meaning “harvest.” It's celebrated on August Eve. At this time, we use the titles Lady of the Fields and Lord of the Barley. It is the time of the anticipation of the full harvest season.
Completing the annual cycle, we arrive at the festival of the Autumn Tide, which is celebrated on the Autumnal Equinox. At this time, we use the titles Lady of the Harvest and Lord of the Sheaf. Here the seed bearer willingly surrenders his life and falls into the earth. It is the act of renewal for the seasons to come again in the new year.
The altar is essentially the center and focal point that connects to the Hallow, and through this to spirits and deities. It occupies the direct center point of the ritual or magical circle. In this way, it symbolizes the Hallow, which stands in the center where material reality and nonmaterial reality meet.
The altar establishes a portal or gateway between the worlds and the inner planes. This is represented by fire, either in the form of a lighted candle or an oil lamp. The flame occupies the center spot. Fire, as a primal divine image, establishes the presence of divinity within the circle.
1 goddess candle (red)
1 god candle (black)
1 center oil lamp/fire bowl (alternative: blue candle)
1 skull-topping candle (seasonal deity color)
Rose pentacle (symbol of the Mystery Rose, five-pointed star)
Human skull figure Wand
Sacred Stone
Cauldron
Bell
Incense
Orient the altar to face the east quarter. Lay a black cloth to cover the altar. This represents the procreative blackness from which all things issue forth. Place seasonal décor as desired.
Set the lamp/fire bowl directly on the center of the altar. This represents the sacred in-between place called the Hallow. In front of this, set the rose pentacle.
Set two altar candles (representing the feminine and masculine polarities of the divine) at the back of the altar, separated, each placed at the far end of the altar. The color of the Goddess candle is red, and the God candle is black. Next to the altar candles, an image of the Goddess and God can be placed if desired.
Between the candles/images of the deities, place a representation of a human skull. This symbolizes the knowledge and wisdom of our spiritual lineage that's preserved and passed on through the Old Ways. A black candle is set on the head of the skull and is lighted for all rituals performed from the Autumn Equinox until the Spring Equinox. A red candle is used from the Spring Equinox until the Autumn Equinox. Black symbolizes the ancestral knowledge retained within shadow and its connection to the realm of the Otherworld. Red symbolizes the ancestral knowledge that flows from the Other-world to the world of mortals. It's the living river of blood that flows through the generations of Witches.
During the course of the year, the color of the skull's candle changes to match either that of the Goddess or God candle. Black represents the secret Shadow Realm, the deep dark forest, and the mystical journey that leads to the Otherworld. The God is the escort of the dead who aids in transition. Red represents the life's blood, the inner pulse that sustains and empowers. Regarding its connection to the Goddess, this current runs through the earth beneath the soil (for she's the giver of life). Red symbolizes the vehicle of life and renewal, which is reflected in the menstrual blood cycle. In the context of the skull figure, red symbolizes the ancient river of blood flowing into the world of the living. It flows from the ancestral memory retained in shadow, which is the source of its wellspring.
In front of the skull on the altar, place a small cauldron (or bowl), which contains the sacred stone. The cauldron represents the Well of the Moon, which in this context is the womb of the Goddess. Through the Goddess, all things are birthed from the Otherworld and are returned to her again. Therefore, the cauldron leads to and from the ancestral knowledge and opens into the Realm of Shadow. Because of this, it contains the magical essence of transformation.
Light the incense and place it where desired—this serves to carry the words of the rite into the ether.
Ring the altar bell thrice. Light the center flame on the altar and say:
“I illuminate the in-between place, and draw now upon the sacred Hallow.”
Ring the altar bell thrice. Light the goddess candle and say:
“I evoke the presence of She of the White Round,
And call upon her presence in this time and space.”
Ring the altar bell thrice. Light the god candle and say:
“I evoke the presence of He of the Deep Wooded Places,
And call upon his presence in this time and space.”
Hold up the rose pentacle and say:
“By my right of crossing through the Thorn Gate,
And by the powers risen in me from the Gathered Thorns,
I call this portal open, and I maintain this sacred altar.”
Ring the bell three times.
Tap the pestle inside the mortar three times and declare the altar set.
1 broom
4 quarter bowls for the Asthesia
3 feathers (for Asthesia bowl)
1 red candle (for Asthesia bowl)
Purified water (for Asthesia bowl)
Freshly dug soil (for Asthesia bowl)
4 white candles for quarter marking
2 Deity candles
Hallow candle
Mortar and pestle
Bell
Anointing oil
Stang
To begin setting the Round, take your broom and ritually sweep the physical area where the circle will be marked out. Then use the end of the feminine stang to etch the perimeter of the circle in a clockwise manner. Once completed, use the broom to sweep the air above the perimeter. Begin in the east and work around the circle clockwise until you return to the east.
Place the physical altar directly centered inside the circle. Arrange and activate it as prescribed by rite. Place the four bowls of the Asthesia at each cardinal point of the Round: east, south, west, north. In the eastern bowl, place three feathers. The southern bowl contains a lighted red candle. The western bowl is filled with clean water, and the northern bowl contains newly dug earth. While placing each bowl, call upon its Asthesia to empower it and establish the elemental force:
To call the Asthesia of air, fan the feathers against the ground and then above your head, as you speak the words of calling:
“I call the Asthesia of air.
Come and send forth my intention.”
To call the Asthesia of fire, light a red candle and place your left palm over the flame (close enough to feel the heat but not so close as to burn your skin). Then speak the words of calling:
“I call the Asthesia of fire.
Come and cause the change of my intention.”
To call the Asthesia of water, cup some of the water in your hands and then allow it to trickle back into the bowl. Repeat this as you speak the words of calling:
“I call the Asthesia of water.
Come and bring movement to flow my intention.”
To call the Asthesia of earth, pour some soil into your hands and compress it between your palms. Then speak the words of calling:
“I call the Asthesia of earth.
Come and bring solid form to my intention.”
After placing the bowls and calling the Asthesia, return to the altar. Hold the palms of both hands safely above the center flame and call to the Hallow:
“I call to the Hallow
The center of purity
The enduring unchangeable.
I call to the Hallow,
Suspend disbelief and belief
So that all things are as they be.
I call to the Hallow
To bring me equilibrium,
Balance and harmony.”
Place both palms facing the candle on the left and call to She of the White Round:
“I call to She of the White Round who commands the Night
When secret mysteries are performed,
I summon you.
She of the White Round, bearer of souls in her care,
Keeper of the cycle of life and death,
From your cauldron do all things issue forth
And return again.
I call to She of the White Round.
Look kindly now upon my intention
And manifest my desire.”
Face both palms toward the candle on the right and call to He of the Deep Wooded Places:
“I call to He of the Deep Wooded Places,
Catcher of day and night,
Usher of Life and Death.
He of the Deep Wooded Places
Knows all that's seen in light and veiled in shadow.
You who provides sanctuary and safety in the Hidden Places,
I call to you.
He of the Deep Wooded Places,
Look kindly now upon my intention
And manifest my desire.”
Finish by lighting the candle on top of the skull and then calling to She of the Crossroads:
“I call to She of the Crossroads,
Gatekeeper, Path Opener,
She of the Triple names.
Blessed trine,
Shine your light to reveal division.
Shed your light to reveal the ways.
I call to She of the Crossroads who commands silence
When secret mysteries are performed,
I summon you.
Night, faithful keeper of my secrets amid the stars, I call to you.
She of the Crossroads knows all my designs
And aids the incantations and the craft of the Witches, I
summon you.”
Now, take your wand in the left hand and pass it three times through the center flame on the altar. As you do so, speak these words:
“I draw from the Hallow.”
Then pass the wand three times through the flame on the skull while saying:
“I call to memory within Shadow.”
Next, hold the wand over the left altar candle and say:
“From She of the White Round,
I pass virtue into the circle.”
Hold the wand over the right altar candle and say:
“From He of the Deep Wooded Places,
I pass virtue into the circle.”
Go immediately to the eastern perimeter and switch the wand to your right hand. Point it down at the circle's edge, raise your left hand up into the air, and then walk along the edge from the east and back again. As you walk the Round, say these words:
“As above, so it's below.
Round is formed from head to toe.
Enclosing all, an Orb of light,
I set the Round and seal the site.”
Take your pouch containing the mixture of crushed rue, vervain, St. John's Wort, rose petals, and ivy, and pour this into the mortar, and then sprinkle the blend along the perimeter of the circle. Begin at the east and return. As you move along the circle's edge, repeat the incantation:
“As above, so it's below.
Round is formed from head to toe.
Enclosing all, an Orb of light,
I set the Round and seal the site.”
Tread the entire circle from east and back again while you slowly and rhythmically tap the pestle inside the mortar, saying these words of binding:
“Thu-ee tom tu-larr.”
Beginning in the east and returning, tread the circle perimeter holding the rose pentacle outward toward the wall of the Round and say:
“I call upon She of the Thorn-Blooded Rose,
And bid you place your protection to encircle the Round,
And set your sharp thorns against any who would enter this
place with ill intent.”
All that remains now is to return to the altar and make the ritual knoll. To do so, ring a bell three times and then firmly tap the altar three times with the base of the wand. End by declaring:
“The Round is set.”
The Asthesia are released by deactivating the forces at each quarter bowl. Beginning at the east and moving counterclockwise, place a cloth over each bowl (extinguishing the candle at the south before placing the cloth). As each cloth is laid, speak the words of release:
For air: “I release the Aesthesia of air to carry off its attachment to the Round.”
For earth: “I release the Aesthesia of earth to crumble its attachment to the Round.”
For water: “I release the Aesthesia of water to recede from its attachment to the Round.”
For fire: “I release the Aesthesia of fire to cease its attachment to the Round.”
At the altar, address the Old Ones:
“Old Ones, in good will, I bid you farewell,
The branches call you home,
The night sky reaches to embrace you,
And so we part until the White Round unites us once again.”
Now, extinguish both the left and right altar candles, saying:
“Hail and farewell!”
Address the Hallow:
“In good will I release the draw upon the Hallow.
In withdrawing, all things here return to their former state.
I stand once again in the world of mortal-kind,
And the Hallow abides where all worlds meet.”
Extinguish the center flame on the altar.
“I stand again in the realm of mortal-kind!”
Make this final announcement:
“The Round is lifted and released,
The night revels are now deceased,
Depart in peace without a sound
Till we meet again in the sacred Round!”
Through this rite of Gadrian, you join with the forces of Nature that have retreated into Shadow. Here, their former state is dissolved into the Cauldron of Renewal, the formlessness from which all forms emerge. Gadrian is the presence and expression of these principles within the material world. When you touch this in the outer experience of Nature at this season, you connect it with the inner divine spark of consciousness within you. In doing so, you join material reality with spiritual perception, which brings about the wholeness of understanding.
To begin the ritual, set your altar with an appropriate theme décor such as a skull and crossbones, fall leaves, or other pertinent symbolism. The focal point of the altar is the mortar and pestle. The following items should be on hand:
2 candles to represent the presence of the Divine Feminine and Masculine
Incense of your choosing (something earthy is good)
Some fallen leaves (birch is best if possible)
Mortar and pestle set
1 bone
1 skull figure
1 red candle to go with the skull
1 pot of soil (filled two-thirds full)
Seeds of your choice as personal offerings to the deities
Mystery cords (black, red, and white)
To begin the ritual after setting the Round, first state your intention/purpose:
“At this season of Gadrian, the time of the gathering, I embrace the presence of formlessness drawing to itself all that had formed in the preceding seasons.
Through this time of season, the Great Mysteries are absorbed into Shadow where they return to the bone memory of the land.
The barrier thins and the formless spirits now walk freely among the living.”
Place pictures of deceased friends and loved ones on or near the altar. Place a candle on top of the skull, and set food and drink for the dead. Put the leaves around the base of the skull. Then say:
“I place this sacred meal of remembrance for those who have departed from the realm of the living.”
You can speak the names of your loved ones, speak to them, or simply send your love. This is the personal time to do so.
Light the altar candles representing the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine forces. Then place the mystery cord in front of the feminine candle and say:
“The season now passes to the Watch of the Goddess. I call to the Lady of Shadow, the dissolver and transformer of weary forms, and I call to the Lord of Shadow, the shaper of formless things in the vapor of shadow beneath the earth.”
Hold up the mortar and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Death Taker.
I honor the Divine Womb into which all life returns,
And from which all life issues forth again.”
Hold the pestle pointing downward and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Serpent Slumberer,
the waning messenger that lays to stillness the life that
withdraws into the Divine Womb of new envisioned regeneration.”
Tap the bone with the pestle three times, and then push the bone (lengthwise) down into the soil within the pot and say:
“The God who was formerly slain, moves now in the liquid blackness within the Realm of Shadow.”
Into the pot, drop the seeds one by one, and say:
“These are seeds of form fallen into the cauldron of the formless. These are the elements of my own nature that await dissolution and transformation so that I escape the finite patterns of the past and prepare for the rebirth of my soul's light. Herein is the end of what was manifest, and what follows now is the immersion into the black pool of the moon well, wherein I am light at home in the darkness. From the Well of the Moon, I will rise up as the envisioned soul that can only be reshaped through that which first gave it life.”
With the mortar placed on the altar, hold the pestle above it (pointing downward) and say:
“I join with the cycle of the seed slumbering in Shadow
I reach downward into blackness,
and dissolve into the Cauldron of Transformation that sits
within the organic memory of the earth.
I give way to the unmanifest, and I dissolve away as the
finite, so that I rise up from Shadow as the brightness of a
new and greater star.”
Hold both hands palm down over the mortar and say:
“Here is the vessel of Shadow's brew. I release my state of being and slide into the womb of dissolution from which I came and to which I return. My immersion advances me toward manifestation anew.”
Pause and remain still and quiet for a few moments—envision a moonless night sky.
Next, take the pestle and move it counterclockwise in the mortar, saying:
“The guardian serpent swallows the seed, becomes the seed, and forms as seed again. I am that seed, the star seed, and I await rebirth in the season to come.”
Now it's time to give offerings to the Old Gods. For this rite, the time-honored offerings are seeds. Other offerings can be given as well, such as earthy incense smoke, coins pressed into the soil, and the pouring of dark wine into the soil.
When giving offerings, say these words:
“I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lady of the Shadow who gathers forms from the mortal realm and reenvisions them into what they can become. Through you, all life is loses the finite and gains the whole. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of transformation and generation.
I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lord of the Shadow who moves unseen in the blackness of procreation. Through you, there's assurance of becoming once again. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of becoming, emerging, and attaining.
As it was in the time of the beginning, so is it now, so shall it be.”
Set the offerings in an open place outside. Next to the offerings, pour out the contents of the mortar.
Hold the pestle over the offerings and the soil, and say:
“May these offerings be pleasing to the Old Gods, and be well received. May the seeds of desired transformation and emergence manifest in my life by the Lady of Shadow, and may the Lord of the Shadow initiate my becoming in the star vision of light. And into the earth, woods, and fields may the life-giving blessings of the Old Gods breathe transformation and emergence.”
Conclude the rite by giving thanks. You can play some music, sing, dance, or read a poem or favorite passage to in some personal way celebrate the theme of Gadrian as a closing to this seasonal rite. (As a meditative concept, for example, stir some sugar into some water and watch it dissolve and disappear. Then freeze the water, take it out, feel and taste it in its new form. Reflect on the idea of transformation from one form of expression to the next.)
End the ritual by releasing the Round.
Through this rite of the Winter Tide of Yule, you join with the forces of Nature that now rise up from the depths of Shadow and emerge into the living realm of mortal-kind. Here, what was previously dissolved back into its basic elements now takes form once again. Its essence, the ever-living light of the soul, is the presence and expression of these principles within the material world. When you touch this in the outer experience of Nature at this season, you connect it with the inner divine spark of consciousness within you. In doing so, you join material reality with spiritual perception, which brings about the wholeness of understanding.
To begin the ritual, set your altar with an appropriate theme décor such as an evergreen wreath and other pertinent symbolism of the season. The focal point of the altar is the mortar and pestle. The following items should be on hand:
2 candles to represent the presence of the Divine Feminine and Masculine
Incense of your choosing (something evergreen)
1 small figure to represent the sun god (The Child of Promise)
1 small basket for the sun god figure (or he can be placed inside the wreath)
1 small candle to represent the newborn light (gold is best)
Mortar and pestle set
Personal offerings of your choice to the deities
Mystery cords (black, red, and white)
To begin the ritual after setting the Round, state your intention/purpose:
“At this season of the Winter Tide of Yule, the time of the rebirth of never-ending light,
I embrace the emergence of formation from formless Shadow, the child of light to call forth the sleeping seeds of regeneration that issue forth new life.
Through this time of season, the Great Mysteries glisten upon the star seed of light.
The light is born anew from within and without.”
Place the sun god candle in front of the wreath. Then say:
“I place this awakened light, the rays of hope, my soul's rebirth in which the promise of spiritual evolution shines forth. I break company with the season of decline and claim my place in the gift of waxing life.”
Light the altar candles representing the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine forces. Then place the mystery cord in front of the masculine candle and say:
“The season now passes to the Watch of the God. I call to the Lady of the Womb, the Gateway and Deliverer of form from formlessness, and I call to the Lord of Rebirth, the formation of light risen from the blackness—renewer and sustainer.”
Hold up the mortar and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Life Giver.
I honor the Divine Womb, from which all life returns,
And from which all life issues forth again.”
Hold the pestle pointing downward and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Serpent Awakener,
The waxing messenger whose shining rays of light dispel illusion,
And reveal the world anew once again.
The constrained view now gives way to the unlimited vision.”
Set the pestle standing upright inside the mortar and say:
“The God who submerged into the liquid blackness within the Realm of Shadow is now risen, and stands once again in the world of mortal-kind. I rise and return with him, and my light is brightened through his rays.”
Hold both hands palm down over the mortar and pestle, and say:
“Here is the vessel of the Divine Light reborn. I release my former state that slumbered in Shadow, and I unite with the new life of the new light that will grow strong and bring forth vitality, renewal, and abundance.”
Remove the pestle, and then symbolically birth the Child of Promise from the mortar. Then place him on the wreath, which represents the undying cycle of life.
Take the pestle and move it clockwise over the wreath, saying:
“The Child of Promise is born, the light and life of the World is returned. The star seed assures renewal, and I am within the seed of light, and I am born to the new light. The year now turns to wax strong again, and with it I inherit the promise. I am the star seed, and I am born anew, and I wax full and strong with the growing light begun now in this season.”
Now it's time to give offerings to the Old Gods. For this rite, the time-honored offerings are evergreen branches, wreaths, and other related symbols of enduring life. Other offerings can be given as well, such as woodsy incense smoke, pinecones, and the pouring of white wine into the soil.
When giving offerings, say these words:
“I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lady of the Womb who births forms into the mortal realm, and bestows upon them the noble quest to grow in light. Through you, all life is awakened and returned, and the part rises and flows across the surface of the whole. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of growth, enlightenment, and empowerment.
I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lord of Rebirth who moves into the world of mortal-kind and with the glowing seed of light that opens into the blossom of the sun. Through you, there's assurance of purpose and presence once again. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of emerging, growing, and reigning.
As it was in the time of the beginning, so is it now, so shall it be.”
Set the offerings in an open place outside. Hold the pestle over the offerings and the soil, and say:
“May these offerings be pleasing to the Old Gods, and be well received. May the rekindled flame of light's return manifest in my life by the Lady of the Womb, and may the Lord of Rebirth fill me and carry me aloft in his light that will rule in the year to come. And into the earth, woods, and fields may the life-giving blessings of the Old Gods breathe vitality and new growth.”
Conclude the rite by giving thanks. You can play some music, sing, dance, or read a poem or favorite passage to in some personal way celebrate the theme of Yule as a closing to this seasonal rite.
Reflect on the idea of the return of light in the time of seeming decline. Think on how the endless cycle of unvanquished life is connected to the sun and how light is carried in the vessel of the sun, which ever declines and ever grows back to full strength. See your life, and the light of your soul, as reflected in the seasons of the sun.
End the ritual by releasing the Round.
Through this rite of Herthfyre, you prepare to join with the forces of Nature that await initiation, awakening, renewal, and vitalization. Herthfyre is the presence and the expression of these principles within the material world. When you touch this in the outer experience of Nature at this season, you connect it with the inner divine spark of consciousness within you. In doing so, you join material reality with spiritual perception, which brings about the wholeness of understanding.
To begin the ritual, set your altar with an appropriate theme décor such as a bare branch, dried leaves, a cup of snow or ice cubes, or other pertinent symbolism. The focal point of the altar is the mortar and pestle. The following items should be on hand:
2 candles to represent the presence of the Divine Feminine and Masculine
Incense of your choosing (myrrh is a good choice)
Some grain to symbolize the sleeping seed in the earth below
1 red candle
Ice cubes and a plate to place them on Mortar and pestle set
Personal offerings of your choice to the deities (coins and grain are traditional)
Mystery cords (black, red, and white)
To begin the ritual after setting the Round, state your intention/purpose:
“On this eve of Herthfyre,
I embrace the presence of suspension and liberation.
Through this time of seasons, the Great Mysteries reveal
The fullness of potentiality and the quickening forces that liberate.
All flows forward in the red river of blood that sustains our existence.”
Pass a hand over the lighted altar candles that represent the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine forces. Then place the mystery cord in front of the Feminine candle and say:
“The season now passes to the Watch of the Goddess. I call to the Lady of Fire, the liberator of endless and abundant life, and I call to the Lord of Ice, the Keeper of the burning flame of life.”
Hold up the mortar and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Life Liberator.
I honor the Divine Womb whose inner fire forges all life,
And unto which all life returns.”
Hold up the pestle and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Horn Awakener,
The risen stalk that's aroused by the seductive fire of promise,
And from that union issues forth the passion that leads to life.”
Into the mortar, place some grains and say:
“These are symbols of all that's bound to the frozen land.
Herein is the measure of what came in the season past,
And returns again in the season to come.”
With the mortar placed on the altar, hold the pestle above it and say:
“I join with the cycle of the Greenwood Realm,
I reach downward into that which is frozen and suspended in my own being,
And I awaken the seed of renewal,
And I invoke vitality that's the liberator of all that slumbers.
Awaken, arise, and unite me with the forces of the Herthfyre season.”
Turn the mortar slightly sideways and insert the pestle, slowly moving it in and out, and say:
“Seed to sprout,
Sprout to leaf,
Leaf to bud,
Bud to flower,
Flower to fruit,
Fruit to seed.”
Repeat this three times.
Set the mortar down to rest. Hold both palms downward above the mortar, making the gesture of the Triangle of Manifestation, and say:
“Here I connect with all that needs awakening, renewed vitality, and liberation. I put forth my energy to rekindle vitality, renewal, liberation, and all that enriches my life. I join myself to this cycle of Nature and strengthen its reflection in my own existence. I call forth for the liberation from suspension in my life. May the sleeping seeds within all rise to thrive in the season to come.”
Set a plate with a lighted red candle in the center. Surround the candle with ice cubes. Watch the ice cubes melting as you affirm the things that need liberation within you and state what you seek to gain from this liberation.
Now it's time to give offerings to the Old Gods. For this rite, the time-honored offerings are grain. Other offerings can be given as well, such as sweet incense smoke, coins pressed into the soil, and the pouring of liquid chlorophyll (the green blood of plants) into the soil.
When giving offerings, say these words:
“I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lady of Fire who warms the seed of the Greenwood Realm and provides renewal for all living things. Through you, all life is sustained. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of liberation, passion, and vitality.
I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lord of Ice who bears the suspended seed that ensures the cycle of life. Through you, there's assurance of life renewed. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of the will to rise, grow, be vital, and thrive.
As it was in the time of the beginning, so is it now, so shall it be.”
Set your offerings in an open place outside. Next to the offerings, pour out the contents of the mortar.
Hold the pestle over the offerings in the ground and say:
“May these offerings be pleasing to the Old Gods and be well received. May the fruits of desired manifestation be freed into my life by the Lady of Fire, and may the Lord of Ice release in me all that's still and unawakened. And into the earth, woods, and fields may the life-giving blessings of the Old Gods breathe renewal, vitality, growth, and abundance.”
Conclude the rite by giving thanks. You can play some music, sing, dance, or read a poem or favorite passage to in some personal way celebrate the force of Herthfyre as a closing to this seasonal rite.
End the ritual by releasing the Round.
Through this rite of Spring Tide, you prepare to join with the forces of Nature that bring about renewal and continuation. The Spring Tide is the presence and expression of their principle within the material world. When you touch this in the outer experience of Nature at this season, you connect it with the inner divine spark of consciousness within you. In doing so, you join material reality with spiritual perception, which brings about the wholeness of understanding.
To begin the ritual, set your altar with a Spring theme décor. The focal point of the altar is the mortar and pestle. The following items should be on hand:
2 candles to represent the presence of the Divine Feminine and Masculine
Incense of your choosing (something floral is good)
3 seeds of your choosing to represent your goals this year
1 cup of rich garden soil
1 handful of grain (such as spelt, barley, or even rice)
Mortar and pestle set Liquid chlorophyll
Personal offerings of your choice to the deities (coins, fruit, grain, flowers, and so on)
First, state your intention/purpose:
“On this day of the Spring Tide,
I embrace the presence of renewal and continuation.
Through this Tide, the Great Mysteries initiate
the Mysteries of birth, life, death, and renewal.”
Light the altar candles representing the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine forces and say:
“I call to the Lady of the Lake, the liberator of bound life within the land,
And I call to the Lord of the Reeds, the liberated fertilizing force within the land.”
Hold up the mortar and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Life Giver,
I honor the Divine Womb from which all life issues forth,
And unto which all life returns.”
Hold up the pestle and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Horn Awakener,
The impregnating force that stirs to life all within the Divine Womb.”
Halfway fill the mortar with fertile soil, and then drop three seeds upon the soil. Next, say:
“These are seeds of my desire, these the things that grow to harvest in my life.”
Name the seeds after whatever it is that you want to manifest in your life.
With the mortar placed on the altar, hold the pestle above it and say:
“I join with the cycle of the Green World,
I reach downward into Shadow,
And I draw up the organic memory of the earth.
Awaken, arise, and unite me with the forces of the Spring Tide.”
Using the pestle, gently tap the seeds into the soil (the motion is up and down with slow and deliberate movement). While tapping, say:
“Seed to sprout,
Sprout to leaf,
Leaf to bud,
Bud to flower,
Flower to fruit,
Fruit to seed.”
Repeat this three times.
Hold both palms downward above the mortar, making the gesture of the Triangle of Manifestation, and say:
“Here are the seeds of my desire, and I send forth my will to manifest all that's good in life.”
(You can name the thing you wish at this phase of the rite as well.)
Now it's time to give offerings to the Old Gods. For this rite, the time-honored offerings are grain (particularly spelt grain). Other offerings can be given as well, such as sweet incense smoke, coins pressed into the soil, and the pouring of liquid chlorophyll (the green blood of plants) into the soil.
When giving offerings, say these words:
“I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lady of the Lake who quenches the thirst of all who live in this world. Through you, life flows. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of renewal, growth, and vitality.
I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lord of the Reeds who satisfies the hunger of all who live in this world. Through you, the body is sustained. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of renewal, growth, and vitality.
As it was in the time of the beginning, so is it now, so shall it be.”
Set the offerings in an open place outside. Next to the offerings, pour out the soil from the mortar.
Hold the pestle over the offerings and the soil, and say:
“May these offerings be pleasing to the Old Gods and be well received. May the seeds of desire be watered by the Lady of the Lake, and may the Lord of the Reeds grow and raise my desires so that they manifest in full and rich harvest this year.”
Conclude the rite by giving thanks. You can play some music, sing, dance, or read a poem or favorite passage to in some personal way celebrate the force of Spring as a closing to the Spring Rite.
Through this rite of Meadwey, you prepare to join with the forces of Nature that bring about the fertilization and the impregnation within, which itself leads to regeneration. The Meadwey seasonal shift is the presence and expression of these principles within the material world. When you touch this in the outer experience of Nature at this season, you connect it with the inner divine spark of consciousness within you. In doing so, you join material reality with spiritual perception, which brings about the wholeness of understanding.
To begin the ritual, set your altar with an appropriate theme décor such as flowers and other pertinent symbolism. The focal point of the altar is the mortar and pestle. The following items should be on hand:
2 candles to represent the presence of the Divine Feminine and Masculine
Incense of your choosing (something floral or sensual is good)
A vase of flowers
Mortar and pestle set
The Green Blood (Liquid chlorophyll)
Bowl of fresh water
Personal offerings of your choice to the deities (coins, fruit, grain, flowers, and so on)
Mystery cords (black, red, and white)
To begin the ritual after setting the Round, state your intention/purpose:
“At this time of Meadwey, I embrace the fertilizing forces and natures that call spirit to manifest in form. Through this time of season, the Great Mysteries of life take root in the flesh, drawing the Mysteries of birth, life, death, and renewal back into the world of mortal-kind.”
Light the altar candles representing the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine forces. Then place the mystery cord in front of the Feminine candle and say:
“The season now passes to the Watch of the Goddess. I call to the Lady of the Green, the temptress of abundant life, and I call to the Lord of the Green, the Risen Stalk to bear ripened grain into the season to come.”
Hold up the mortar and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Life Giver, Death Taker.
I honor the Divine Womb that receives the seeds of life,
And by which all life issues forth again.”
Hold the pestle pointing downward and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Horn Awakener,
The waxing messenger that arouses the generator of life,
Flowing the life essence into the Divine Womb of regeneration.”
Pour out some of the liquid chlorophyll into the bowl of water. Then point the tip of the pestle down toward the mortar and pause for a moment.
Move the pestle over to the bowl of water, dip it into the water, and then lower it into the mortar and say:
“The fluid of the Lord of the Green bathes now the womb of the Lady of the Green,
The mystery of birth buds in the world of mortal-kind.”
With the pestle held upright inside the mortar, say:
“I join with the cycle of the life budding in the womb of Nature.
I reach downward into Shadow and stir the organic memory of the earth.
Awaken, regenerate, thrive, and unite me with the forces of the Meadwey Tide.”
Hold both hands palm down over the mortar and say:
“Here is the living essence of the Mystery of the Gate of Thorns through which all life enters into the realm of mortal-kind. Formless embraces form, and they become one in the darkness of the womb.”
Pick up the mortar and drink a sip after saying:
“I receive the flow that brought me from the hidden blackness, and the forces that carry me through the Tides of Nature. My ascent delivers me into the fullness of the season of flesh as my spirit moves through the Wheel of the Year.”
(You can affirm the things you wish to gain in the months ahead that lead to the Harvest Season.)
Now, lower the pestle into the mortar and say:
“I join with Nature, like attracts like.”
Begin a rhythmic tapping back and forth inside the mortar while saying:
“Seed to sprout,
Sprout to leaf,
Leaf to bud,
Bud to flower,
Flower to fruit
Fruit to seed.”
Repeat this three times.
Now it's time to give offerings to the Old Gods. For this rite, the time-honored offerings are flowers. Other offerings can be given as well, such as sweet incense smoke, coins pressed into the soil, and the pouring of liquid chlorophyll (the green blood of plants) into the soil.
When giving offerings, say these words:
“I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lady of the Green who births the life of the Greenwood Realm and regenerates the fullness for all living things. Through you, all life is re-formed and returned. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of growth, vitality, fruitfulness, and abundance.
I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lord of the Green who offers the life-giving essence that ensures the continuing cycle of life. Through you, there's assurance of life renewed. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of renewal, growth vitality, fruitfulness, and abundance.
As it was in the time of the beginning, so is it now, so shall it be.”
Set the offerings in an open place outside. Next to the offerings, pour out the contents of the mortar.
Hold the pestle over the offerings and the soil, and say:
“May these offerings be pleasing to the Old Gods and be well received. May the union of the Lady of the Green and the Lord of the Green Sheaf place into my hands the growth of new form in the seasons to come. And into the earth, woods, and fields, may the life-giving blessings of the Old Gods breathe new life, new form, renewal, vitality, growth, and abundance.”
Conclude the rite by giving thanks. You can play some music, sing, dance, or read a poem or favorite passage in some personal way celebrate the force of the Meadwey Tide as a closing to this seasonal rite.
End the ritual by releasing the Round.
Through this rite of the Summer Tide, you prepare to join with the forces of Nature that bring about the fullness of life and enrich all things. The Summer Tide shift is the presence and expression of these principles within the material world. When you touch this in the outer experience of Nature at this season, you connect it with the inner divine spark of consciousness within you. In doing so, you join material reality with spiritual perception, which brings about the wholeness of understanding.
To begin the ritual, set your altar with an appropriate theme décor such as flowers, fruit, and other pertinent symbolism. The focal point of the altar is the mortar and pestle. The following items should be on hand:
2 candles to represent the presence of the Divine Feminine and Masculine
Incense of your choosing (something floral or fruity is good)
Mortar and pestle set
1 apple
Knife
Personal offerings of your choice to the deities (coins, fruit, grain, flowers, and so on)
Mystery cords (black, red, and white)
To begin the ritual after setting the Round, state your intention/purpose:
“At this time of the Summer Tide,
I embrace the manifesting forces and natures that call spirit into the fullness of form.
Through this time of season, the Great Mysteries of life fill the flesh,
Drawing the Mysteries of birth, life, death, and renewal back into the world of mortal-kind.”
Light the altar candles representing the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine forces. Then place the mystery cord in front of the Feminine candle and say:
“The season now passes to the Watch of the God. I call to the Lady of the Flowers, the mother of abundant life, and I call to the Lord of the Woods, the protector of life as the seasons move one into the next.”
Hold up the mortar and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Life Giver, Death Taker.
I honor the Divine Womb that has delivered life into form,
And by which all life issues forth again.”
Hold the pestle pointing downward and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Horn Awakener,
The waxing messenger that empowers the life force within Nature,
Bearing the seeds of everlasting for the awaiting Divine
Womb of regeneration.”
With the knife, slice the apple in half from the stem area down to the bottom, and then separate the apple (you should see where the seeds are lodged). Then say:
“Here is the Sacred Mystery, the seed of life nestled in the fullness of Nature.”
Lay the tip of the wand on the face of the sliced apple and say:
“Here is the risen stalk of life and the Cauldron of Regeneration. Through this union may the days ahead be evergreen.”
Place one half of the apple in the mortar. Then lower the pestle down to meet it and say:
“I join with the cycle of the risen stalk and ripening flesh of Nature's bounty.
I reach downward into Shadow and call to the organic memory of the earth.
Awaken, foresee, prepare, and unite me with the forces of the Summer Tide.”
Hold both hands palm down over the mortar and say:
“Here is the living embodiment of the Mystery of Life.
Here is the hidden seed in the ripening abundance of Nature's bounty.”
Pick up the apple half, say the following words, and then kiss the area where the seeds are contained:
“I venerate the forms within Nature that carry within them the Great Mystery of birth, life, death, and rebirth. Here is the symbol of those Mysteries placed before me by the Old Ones so that I will always remember.”
Take a few moments and give thanks for all that's good in your life and all that you see as potential in the future.
Now it's time to give offerings to the Old Gods. For this rite, the time-honored offerings are flowers. Other offerings can be given as well, such as spicy incense smoke, coins pressed into the soil, and the pouring of liquid chlorophyll (the green blood of plants) into the soil. When giving offerings, say these words:
“I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lady of the Flowers who brings forth fullness in the life of the Greenwood Realm and prepares all living things for the season to come. Through you, all life grows to strength and fullness. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of growth, vitality, fruitfulness, and abundance.
I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lord of the Woods who protects what has grown from within the Greenwood Realm. Through you, there's the strength of endurance and fortitude. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of renewal, growth vitality, fruitfulness, and abundance.
As it was in the time of the beginning, so is it now, so shall it be.”
Set the offerings in an open place outside. Next to the offerings, pour out the contents of the mortar.
Hold the pestle over the offerings and the soil and say:
“May these offerings be pleasing to the Old Gods, and be well received. May the wedding of the Lady of the Flowers and the Lord of the Woods place into my life the sustaining forces of Nature in this season and those to come. And into the earth, woods, and fields may the life-giving blessings of the Old Gods breathe new life, new form, renewal, vitality, growth, and abundance.”
Conclude the rite by giving thanks. You can play some music, sing, dance, or read a poem or favorite passage to in some personal way celebrate the force of the Summer Tide as a closing to this seasonal rite.
End the ritual by releasing the Round.
Through this rite of Harfest, you prepare to join with the forces of Nature that bring about abundance, maturity, and reward of effort. Harfest is the presence and expression of these principles within the material world. When you touch this in the outer experience of Nature at this season, you connect it with the divine spark of consciousness within you. In doing so, you join material reality with spiritual perception, which brings about the wholeness of understanding.
To begin the ritual, set your altar with an appropriate theme décor such as a cornucopia or other pertinent symbolism. The focal point of the altar is the mortar and pestle. The following items should be on hand:
2 candles to represent the presence of the Divine Feminine and Masculine
Incense of your choosing (something fruity is good)
Several types of fruit and some grain to symbolize abundance
Mortar and pestle set
Personal offerings of your choice to the deities (coins, fruit, grain, flowers, and so on)
Mystery cords (black, red, and white)
To begin the ritual after setting the Round, state your intention/purpose:
“On this eve of Harfest,
I embrace the presence of ripeness and abundance.
Through this time of seasons, the Great Mysteries reveal
The fullness of Life, the sacred river of blood that sustains our existence.”
Light the altar candles representing the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine forces. Then place the mystery cord in front of the Feminine candle and say:
“The season now passes to the Watch of the Goddess. I call to the Lady of the Fields, the Birther of abundant life, and I call to the Lord of the Barley, the Bearer of ripened Nature.”
Hold up the mortar and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Life Generator.
I honor the Divine Womb from which all life
comes to fullness,
And unto which all life returns.”
Hold up the pestle and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Horn Awakener,
The risen stalk that arouses the coupling of Birther and
Breeder, and from that union issues forth the ripe seed bearer.”
Into the mortar, place a portion of fruits and grains, and say:
“These are symbols of all that's rich and abundant. Herein is measure of return from effort.”
With the mortar placed on the altar, hold the pestle above it and say:
“I join with the cycle of the Greenwood Realm,
I reach downward into Shadow,
And I draw up the organic memory of the earth.
Awaken, arise, and unite me with the forces of the Harfest season.”
Run the tip of the pestle clockwise around the edge of the mortar and say:
“Seed to sprout,
Sprout to leaf,
Leaf to bud,
Bud to flower,
Flower to fruit,
Fruit to seed.”
Repeat this three times.
Hold both palms downward above the mortar, making the gesture of the Triangle of Manifestation, and say:
“Here I connect with all the effort I put forth to bring about abundance, richness, and prosperity in my life. I join myself to this cycle of Nature and strengthen its reflection in my own existence. I call forth for the manifestation in my life all that's my due and full measure.”
(You can affirm the things you wish to come to fullness in your life now.)
Now it's time to give offerings to the Old Gods. For this rite, the time-honored offerings are ripe fruit and grain. Other offerings can be given as well, such as sweet incense smoke, coins pressed into the soil, and the pouring of liquid chlorophyll (the green blood of plants) into the soil.
When giving offerings, say these words:
“I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lady of the Fields who nurtures the Greenwood Realm and provides the fullness for all living things. Through you, all life is sustained. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of growth, vitality, fruitfulness, and abundance.
I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lord of the Barley who bears the seed that ensures the cycle of life. Through you, there's assurance of life renewed. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of renewal, growth vitality, fruitfulness, and abundance.
As it was in the time of the beginning, so is it now, so shall it be.”
Set the offerings in an open place outside. Next to the offerings, pour out the contents of the mortar.
Hold the pestle over the offerings and the soil, and say:
“May these offerings be pleasing to the Old Gods and be well received. May the fruits of desired manifestation be gathered into my life by the Lady of the Fields, and may the Lord of the Barley ripen and present them before my hands. And into the earth, woods, and fields, may the life-giving blessings of the Old Gods breathe renewal, vitality, growth, and abundance.”
Conclude the rite by giving thanks. You can play some music, sing, dance, or read a poem or favorite passage to in some personal way celebrate the force of Harfest as a closing to this seasonal rite.
End the ritual by releasing the Round.
Through this rite of Autumn Tide, you prepare to join with the forces of Nature that bring about the completion of cycles and the gathering of fullness in preparation for decline, which itself leads to regeneration. The Autumn Tide is the presence and expression of these principles within the material world. When you touch this in the outer experience of Nature at this season, you connect it with the inner divine spark of consciousness within you. In doing so, you join material reality with spiritual perception, which brings about the wholeness of understanding.
To begin the ritual, set your altar with an appropriate theme décor such as a cornucopia or other pertinent symbolism. The focal point of the altar is the mortar & pestle. The following items should be on hand:
2 candles to represent the presence of the Divine Feminine and Masculine
Incense of your choosing (something earthy is good)
A sheaf of wheat or a corn cob, or anything of grain
Mortar and pestle set
Ritual blade
The Green Blood (Liquid chlorophyll)
Personal offerings of your choice to the deities (coins, fruit, grain, flowers, and so on)
Mystery cords (black, red, and white)
To begin the ritual after setting the Round, state your intention/purpose:
“At this time of the Autumn Tide,
I embrace the presence of completion and the shedding of old for new.
Through this time of season, the Great Mysteries come full circle,
Rejoining the Mysteries of birth, life, death, and renewal.”
Light the altar candles representing the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine forces. Then place the mystery cord in front of the masculine candle and say:
“The season now passes to the Watch of the God. I call to the Lady of the Harvest, the gatherer of abundant life, and I call to the Lord of the Sheaf, the Giver of the ripened grain who falls into shadow beneath the earth.”
Hold up the mortar and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Death Taker.
I honor the Divine Womb into which all life returns,
And from which all life issues forth again.”
Hold the pestle pointing downward and say:
“I evoke and invoke the Serpent Slumberer,
The waning messenger that lays to stillness the life that
withdraws into the Divine Womb of regeneration.”
Take the ritual blade and ceremonially “cut down” the Seed Bearer, and say:
“The Harvest Lord willingly dies so that his seed and life falls into the womb of the Goddess. The Slain God journeys now into the Realm of Shadow.”
Into the mortar, drop the seeds of grain one by one and say:
“These are seeds of return, these are the elements of my own nature that await transformation and regeneration. Herein is the gathering of one full cycle of growth returning back into itself.”
With the mortar placed on the altar, hold the pestle above it (pointing downward) and say:
“I join with the cycle of the Sleeping Seed
I reach downward into Shadow,
And nestle in the organic memory of the earth.
Await, slumber, rest, and unite me with the forces of the Autumn Tide.”
Hold both hands palm down over the mortar and say:
“Here are the fallen seeds of my transformation and the regeneration to come. I fall back into the arms of the forces from which I came and those that carry me through the Tides of Nature. My descent advances me toward renewal.”
(You can affirm the things you wish to transform and the renewal that you will to manifest in your life.)
Now, anoint the pestle with the liquid chlorophyll and then lower it into the mortar, saying:
“The green blood of the Harvest Lord has been sacrificed, and his ripened grain falls back into the earth:
Seed to Shadow,
Shadow to memory,
Memory to past,
Past to seed,
Seed to Greenwood,
Greenwood to seed.”
Now it's time to give offerings to the Old Gods. For this rite, the time-honored offerings are ripe grain. Other offerings can be given as well, such as earthy incense smoke, coins pressed into the soil, and the pouring of liquid chlorophyll (the green blood of plants) into the soil.
When giving offerings, say these words:
“I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lady of the Harvest who gathers the life of the Greenwood Realm and regenerates the fullness for all living things. Through you, all life is refreshed and renewed. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of growth, vitality, fruitfulness, and abundance.
I give these offerings, and with heartfelt reverence, to the Lord of the Sheaf who sacrifices the ripened seed that ensures the continuing cycle of life. Through you, there's assurance of life renewed. With love, I freely give these offerings to honor you, and I ask for your blessings of renewal, growth, vitality, fruitfulness, and abundance.
As it was in the time of the beginning, so is it now, so shall it be.”
Set the offerings in an open place outside. Next to the offerings, pour out the contents of the mortar.
Hold the pestle over the offerings and the soil and say:
“May these offerings be pleasing to the Old Gods and be well received. May the seeds of desired transformation and renewal manifest in my life by the Lady of the Harvest, and may the Lord of the Sheaf release the ripeness and present this to my hands in the seasons to come. And into the earth, woods, and fields, may the life-giving blessings of the Old Gods breathe transformation, renewal, vitality, growth, and abundance.”
Conclude the rite by giving thanks. You can play some music, sing, dance, or read a poem or favorite passage to in some personal way celebrate the force of the Autumn Tide as a closing to this seasonal rite.
End the ritual by releasing the Round.
Each of the solitary rites can be embellished to make it suitable for a group of people to perform. This is simply a matter of dividing up various phases of the rite and assigning them to a number of people in attendance. You can also add other things that you feel will allow more participation by members of the group.
For setting the Round (casting circle) with multiple people, I suggest the following additions, but feel free to add more:
East/Air: Eeeee
South/Fire: Iiiiii
West/Water: Ooooo
North/Earth: Aaaaa
For the eight festival rites (Sabbats), I suggest the following embellishments:
The modernized Mythos from Old World Witchcraft tells the tale of a mated deity couple and their journey through the seasons of the year. It's a cohesive story in which we find the key points that reflect the divine within Nature. The following outlines these points:
In the Mythos, there are two stories running in tandem. They feature the Goddess and God, respectively. Let's examine each separately in order to reveal the inner teachings.
The Goddess is the Whole (the Everything), and in this sense, she represents the Wheel of the Year as a concept. She's the entire year reflected at once in the Wheel. In the Mythos, the Goddess never dies; she can't because she's the whole of existence. We can only catch a glimpse of her nature at each of the eight festivals:
The God is the part of the Whole, the finite elements, and in this sense, he represents the points in the Wheel of the Year as a structure. He follows a mortal life pattern—he is born, matures, and dies. His death is linked to the Greenwood and the harvest of its bounty. He's the seed-bearer who, with his death, falls into land. The God can only be glimpsed as whole through each individual aspect that rises with each distinct season.