Full Moon in Capricorn Ritual - July 18, 2008
Special Notes: July's full moon is known as the Blessing Moon, although it's also called the Meadow Moon. July was originally called Quintilus, but was later renamed in honor of Julius Caesar. This is a great time to do divination and dreamwork. Find a way to incorporate the watery energy of the Blessing Moon into your spell crafting and ritual. Enjoy the relaxing feeling of July's full moon and use it in your personal meditation.....
Altar Supplies: Enough candles to place around the perimeter of your circle, 6 pieces of paper in a holly leaf shape, 6 pencils or pens, 6 red candles for the altar, cauldron, instrument to accompany chanting if desired.....
Decoration: Moonstone, white agate, crescents, white flowers, silver and other lunar symbols, quartz crystal sphere, a small white or silver bowl filled with water.....
Colors: Green, silver, blue-gray....
Deities: Juno, Venus, Cerridwen, Brigid, Athena, Nephthys, Lugh....
Herbs: Mugwort, hyssop, lemon balm....
Foods: Lunar liquids such as lemonade, milk or white wine can be consumed during the simple feast that follows. Crescent cakes are traditional as well.....
Preparations: Sweep the space with the besom. While doing so, say the following chant:....
With this broom, tool of my will, I do cleanse, purify and prepare this space. From this circle now I banish all fear, malice and misfortune, that this circle may be a fit meeting place for gods and men. As I do will, so mote it be.....
Arrange your altar with all of your tools and other items the way you wish and then bless the altar saying:....
I bless you now that you may aid ....
The energy flow as magick is made ....
I cast out negative energy ....
Leaving only the positive to live and breathe ....
Within you as I start this Rite ....
Blessed be in joy, love and light.....
Background....
This Full Moon in Capricorn Ritual is to help us learn more about our selves and what we want out of life. Developing our own personal faith will help to sustain us while we are evolving and becoming the person we wish to be. It will enable us to maintain important personal values while eliminating worn out beliefs that hinder our growth. ....
Just like civilization truly began when fire was tamed into the hearth fire, we must evolve and tame that which is loose within us. But while we humans may be able to contain fire, we cannot completely control it. Therein lays its mystery; fire has power that is beyond us. It has a power that we watch with fear and awe. It is easy to be mesmerized by it. Just as the fire cannot be completely controlled, nor can our destiny. We are able to remove those things in our lives which hinder us or trouble us, but our destiny is just as mysterious as the flame of fire.....
Fire embodies the essence of natural cycles: Destruction brings about creation. Symbolically, the phoenix rises from the ashes—transformed by the flames. And so fire is a powerful symbol of rebirth, immortality, and purification. Tonight we will be working with fire as a representation of the evolution we take in our daily paths, to use in a transformation ritual, and as a representation of the beautiful full moon above.....
Entering the Circle....
Welcome to this sacred place. We shall establish the Sacred Center of the Worlds here, where our Ancestors, the Nature Spirits and the Gods can join us while we make offerings to them. And then we will ask for their Blessings in return. To begin this process, we shall all be cleansed before entering the circle.....
With the powers of air and earth, I cleanse you this day…blessed be.....
Cast the Circle....
Pass the wand to Jerry. Taking your magical wand in your power hand and starting in the east, visualize a powerful, protective silver-blue flame shooting form the tip of the ritual blade. Aim it at the floor. Move clockwise from the east, drawing the magical boundary. Remember to overlap the ends in the east when you finish. While you are drawing the circle, say:....
"I draw this magick circle let no evil or ill will cross its mark."....
Return the wand to the altar. While facing east, say:....
This is a time that is not a time,....
in a place that is not a place,....
on a day that is not a day.....
We stand at the threshold between the worlds,....
Before the veil of the Mysteries.....
May the Ancient Ones help and protect....
us on our magickal journey.....
And the circle repeats the last line "May the ancient Ones help and protect us on our magickal journey."....
Light a candle (not one of the six red altar candles), and then walk around the perimeter of your circle lighting the candles you placed on the floor as you say:....
Sacred circle, sacred fire,....
I beckon you to inspire.....
With your power bring to us....
Light and wisdom, so mote it be.....
And the circle repeats "so mote it be."....
Face each direction as you speak, light one of the red candles on the altar. For the Goddess and God, face the altar.....
I summon you spirits of North, of Earth. Be the foundation beneath the ashes of the sacred flame of Brigid. I welcome you to my bright circle.....
I summon you spirits of East, of Air. Be the gentle whisper that ignites the spark of the sacred flame of Brigid. I welcome you to my bright circle.....
I summon you spirits of South, of Fire. I call on your powers to build the sacred flame of Brigid. I welcome you to my bright circle.....
I summon you spirits of West, of Water. Be the holy well that balances the sacred flame of Brigid. I welcome you to my bright circle.....
Flame of destruction, flame of purification. Lord of All, Lugh, I ask that you guide me through the fire. I welcome you to my bright circle.....
Flame of healing, flame of transformation. Lady of All, Brigid, I ask that you guide me through the fire. I welcome you to my bright circle.....
Working:....
Now we will all gaze at the moon. While doing so, feel its energies sinking into your body. Feel its cool Goddess energy wash over you with power and love. While I call out to the Goddess, paying honor to her, visualize her. Visualize whatever physical appearance suits you best, I will be visualizing Brigid. When you visualize her, do so in white draping clothing, wearing a crescent moon crown and carrying a glowing silvery white orb in her hands. As she walks, she spreads moonrays everywhere and her eyes laugh with kindness, her skin is white and translucent and she glows. When I start to chant "I pray by the Moon," please repeat after me until I hold my hands up to cease the chanting.....
Now say this:....
Wondrous Lady of the Moon, You who greets the dusk with silvered kisses;....
Mistress of the night and of all magicks, who rides the clouds in blackened skies and spills light upon the cold Earth;....
O Lunar Goddess, Crescented-One, Shadow maker and shadow breaker, Revealer of mysteries past and present, Puller of seas and ruler of women;....
All-wise Lunar Mother, I greet your celestial jewel at the waxing of its powers with a rite in your honor.....
I pray by the Moon,....
I pray by the Moon,....
I pray by the Moon.....
Spellwork....
We think of holly as relating to Yule, but holly is the Celtic tree month that comprises most of July because it flowers at this time of year. It is in the winter around Yule time that it bears fruit, and so holly represents commitment to something that will come to fruition later. Holly, like fire, represents faith.....
Using these pieces of holly-shaped paper you will make a vow or commitment to yourself. This vow or commitment will be something that you need to release from your life in order to move forward. It may have to do with your family, your career, your faith. Make a note about some form of transformation needed in your life. You only need to jot down a word or two. The important thing is to fix the intention in your mind and let the paper represent what is to be released.....
As soon as everyone is done…....
Next we will begin chanting. I will go through the chant with you until you got it, then we will continue to chant together until everyone is done with the next part. The next part is, when you are ready, to pass the holly paper through the candle flame and say:....
I acknowledge _____________________ and let it go.....
After you light it on fire, drop the paper into the cauldron and feel freedom from the release you needed to make in your life as the paper is reduced to ash. You will then return to chanting until we have all burned our papers.....
Chant....
"We can rise with the fire of freedom,....
Truth is the fire that burns our chains,....
We can stop the fire of destruction,....
Healing is the fire running through our veins."....
When it feels appropriate, bring your chanting (drumming and movement) to stillness by signaling with hands.....
Now that the changes have been released to the universe, we need to take a moment to ground ourselves. If you need any instructions on this, please let me know now.....
Cakes & Ale Ceremony....
Raise the cake before you and say:....
Good Spirits who are with us tonight, we ask your blessing upon this cake, that it may nourish not only our bodies, but our souls as well.....
Take a piece of cake and break it over the ground in an offering.....
"Back to the Earth, return to the Earth, in honor of the God, Goddess and the Elementals!"....
Pass the tray of cake around and say:....
May you never hunger.....
Raise the chalice before you and say:....
Good Spirits gathered with us at our feast, we ask your blessing upon this drink, that it may flow through our bodies and renew our spirits.....
Tip the chalice and pour three circles of wine onto the ground.....
"Back to the Earth, return to the Earth, in honor of the God, Goddess and the Elementals!"....
Pass the chalice around and say:....
May you never thirst.....
Closing Circle....
Stand facing each direction as you speak, and then extinguish its related altar candle. For the Goddess and God, face the altar.....
Lady of All, dear Brigid, thank you for this transformation and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.....
Lord of All, dear Lugh, thank you for your inspiration and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.....
Spirits of West, of Water, thank you for your balance and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.....
Spirits of South, of Fire, thank you for your power and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.....
Spirits of East, of Air, thank you for your gentle whisper and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.....
Spirits of North, of Earth, thank you for your foundation and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.....
As you go around the perimeter of your circle extinguishing candles, say:....
By the flame of destruction and transformation,....
I am strengthened and set free.....
May the flame of inspiration and wisdom,....
Burn within and stay with us.....
Move back to the central altar, and stand facing east. Take your neighbors hand to your right and say:....
Thank you for coming out to celebrate with us today. As we go forth in our lives, we will keep the memory of what has happened here today. Go forth in safety and love, and remember (take hand of the person to your left) that the circle is open, but never broken.
No comments:
Post a Comment