Sabbat Rituals and Celebrations

Sabbat Rituals and Other Celebrations

Check back soon, I've got some more really cool rituals--
I just have to type them up.

Handfasting
Wiccaning

Handfasting--This is by no means "the official Wiccan handfasting ritual," it is simply a handfasting ritual created by the coven of The Wyrd Sisters. The Wyrd Sisters practice primarily Goddess-oriented Wicca, therefore, there is no reference to the God in this ritual.

Needed: a soft white cord or ribbon, 3 feet in length; candles (red for the Marriage Candle, white or silver for the altar, individual colors for the couple, and white, red or pink for the Goddess), flowers, chalice (belonging to the couple if possible), athame, small pentacle cake, altar stuff, music, broom (belonging to the couple if possible).

CAST CIRCLE, INVOKE DIRECTIONS, ETC.

INVOCATION OF THE GODDESS:

Priestess: We call upon you in the guise of Aphrodite, Always Desirous One,
Sensuous lover.

Golden Aphrodite comes not as the virgin, but as the Awakener, the Desirous One. As all things she calls, and spirit commences the courtship. She awakens desire and the worlds are created. How powerful is She, golden Aphrodite, awakener of Life! Join us here and witness the bonding of (bride's name) and (groom's name).

PRESENTATION:

Priestess: To Bride: Do you, (bride's name), join us here of your own free will, to acknowledge before the Queen of Heaven and those gathered here the bond that is shared between yourself and (groom's name)?

To Groom: Do you, (groom's name), join us here of your own free will, to acknowledge before the Queen of Heaven and those gathered here the bond that is shared between yourself and (bride's name).

BLESSING OF THE ELEMENTS:

Priestess: (Raise athame wrapped in white cord.)
This blade that I hold is a symbol of Air. Know and remember that this is the element of breath, of clarity, of inspiration that moves us onward. By this blade of Air, I bring to your handfasting the power of consciousness.

(Raise unlit Marriage Candle)
This candle that I hold is a symbol of Fire. Know and remember that this is the element of spirit, of warmth, of the creativity that helps us with changes. By this candle of Fire, I bring to your handfasting the power of growth.

(Raise chalice filled with juice/wine.)
This chalice that I hold is a symbol of Water. Know and remember that this is the element of love, of beauty, of the dreaming of the Great Mother. By this chalice of Water, I bring to your handfasting the power of desire.

(Raise cake inscribed with pentacle.)
This pentacle that I hold is a symbol of Earth. Know and remember that this is the element of power, of endurance, of understanding that cannot be shaken. By this pentacle of Earth, I bring to your handfasting the power of steadfastness.

ADVICE:

(While this is being read, Priestess silently lights the individual candles held by the couple. Together they use their candles to light the Marriage Candle.)

Above you are the stars, below you are the stones; as time doth pass, remember...
Like a stone should your love be firm; like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage; let the strength of your wills bind you together; let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly.

Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened make you uneasy, for the Goddess is with you always. Ever love, help and respect each other, and then know truly that you are one in the eyes of the Goddess.

VOWS:

(Couple faces each other and clasps right arms together. Priestess wraps cord loosely around arms.)

Priestess: (Bride repeats after Priestess) By seed and root, by bud and stem, by leaf and flower and fruit, by love and life, in the name of the Goddess, I, (bride's name), take thee, (groom's name), to my hand, my heart and my spirit, to desire thee and be desired by thee, at the setting of the sun and the rising of the stars. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways, as I respect myself. So mote it be.

Priestess: (Groom repeats after Priestess) By seed and root, by bud and stem, by leaf and flower and fruit, by love and life, in the name of the Goddess, I, (groom's name), take thee, (bride's name), to my hand, my heart and my spirit, to desire thee and be desired by thee, at the setting of the sun and the rising of the stars. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways, as I respect myself. So mote it be.

(The bride and groom take an end of the rope with their left hand and "tie the knot." The cord should still be loose. They can slip it off at this point (do not untie it!) and put it on the altar.)

(Priestess takes up the chalice, makes an offering to the Goddess, and hands it to the bride and groom, who both hold it.)

Priestess: May you drink your fill from the cup of love. (Bride sips as they both hold the chalice and kisses groom. Groom sips as they both hold the chalice and kisses bride. Then the chalice is passed around the circle. Priestess makes an offering of the cake to the Goddess, then hands the cake to the bride and groom so that they both hold the plate.)

Priestess: May you feast on the bread of life. (Bride and groom feed each other. The plate is then passed around the circle.)

(Bride and groom hold hands and jump over the broom.)

PROCLAMATION:

Priestess: Let the sun and the moon and the stars, and these our brothers and sisters, bear witness that (bride's name) and (groom's name) have been joined together in the sight of the Goddess. The Goddess blesses them, as we do ourselves.

All: Blessed Be!

DISMISS GODDESS:

Priestess: We thank you, Aphrodite, for your presence among us, and as you take your leave, we ask that you leave among us, in each of us, the ability to each be a kindler of desire and sensual lover. Hail and farewell.

DISMISS ELEMENTS, OPEN CIRCLE.

Wiccaning--This is by no means "an official Wiccaning ritual," it is simply a Wiccaning ritual created by the coven of The Wyrd Sisters. The Wyrd Sisters practice primarily Goddess-oriented Wicca, therefore, there is no reference to the God in this ritual.

Space is purified, circle is cast, directions are called, Goddess is invoked.

Priestess: We meet in this circle to ask the blessing of the Goddess on ___(child’s name)___, son/daughter of ___(parents’ names)____ so that s/he may grow in beauty and strength, in joy and wisdom. There are many paths, and each must find his/her own; therefore, we do not seek to bind ___(child’s name)___ to any one path while s/he is still too young to choose. Rather do we ask the Goddess, who knows all paths, and to whom all paths lead, to bless, protect and prepare him/her through the years if his/her childhood so that when at last s/he is truly grown, s/he shall know without doubt or fear which path is his/hers and shall tread it gladly.

___(mother’s name)___, mother of ___(child’s name)___, bring him/her forward so that s/he may be blessed.

Mother holds baby up and says:

"Queen Brigit (or some other Goddess or the Goddess of All), we have brought for you here my son/daughter for joy, for fay (which means magicalness; having magical or fairy-blessed qualities). Bless this child with golden luck. May his/her heart have your silver touch. Health and wealth shall be his/her lot. By neither sickness nor evil shall s/he ever be caught. Blessed be."

Priestess: ___(mother’s name)___, mother of ___(child’s name)___, does your child also have a hidden name?

(Mother says what her child’s hidden name is.)

Priestess then anoints child on the forehead with oil, marking a pentagram and saying,

"I anoint you with oil and give you the hidden name of __________."

Priestess then anoints child with water saying,

"I anoint you with water in the name of the Goddess."

Priestess: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East (South, West, North) we bring before you ___(child’s name)___, whose hidden name is _______, and who has been anointed within the Wiccan Circle and who is, therefore, under the protection of the Goddess.

Mother places child on the ground and rejoins the circle.

Priestess moves forward, takes the bowl of barley or corn and pours it on the ground in an uninterrupted circle around the child saying,

"Demeter (or another Goddess or the Goddess of All) accept this offering to you. May this child never know hunger of body, nor heart nor soul."

Priestess takes the bowl of water, sprinkles child and pours the water on the ground around child saying,

"Yemaya (or another Goddess or the Goddess of All), accept this water as an offering to you. May this child have the life-force always strong within him/her. May the moon’s fertility infuse him/her with love for all living."

Priestess takes the bowl of salt, again making a circle around the child saying,

"Blessed be Sophia (or another Goddess or the Goddess of All), wisest of the wise, in the earth and beyond the heavens. Protect and bless this child with wisdom."

In the name of the Goddess (either the Goddess of All or a specific Goddess), the priestess bestows gifts on the child (like the gift of self-love, the gift of strength, the gift of wisdom, etc.) gently sprinkling flower petals on and around the child.

Priestess then asks the mother if there are any person or persons who she would like to name as guardian parents.

If so, then the persons are asked the following promise.

Priestess: Do you, _______________, promise to be a friend to ___(child’s name)___ throughout his/her childhood, to aid and guide him/her as s/he shall need, and with his/her parents, to watch over him/her and love him/her as if s/he were of your own blood ‘till by the grace of the Goddess, s/he shall be ready to choose his/her own path?

(The guardian parent promises. If there is more than one guardian parent, they are asked the same promise.)

Priestess: The Goddess has blessed him/her. The Guardians of the Watchtowers have acknowledged him/her. We, his/her friends, have welcomed him/her. Therefore, O Stars and Moon and Sun above, shine in peace on ___(child’s name)___, whose hidden name is _____________. So mote it be.

Celebrations—singing, dancing, whatever.

Then libations. Allowing the mother to offer her special thanks if she wishes.

Dismiss the Goddess.

Dismiss the directions.

Open the circle.

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