Litha Ritual June 2008

Litha Ritual

June 21

Held June 19th

Introduction

Thank you everyone for coming over this evening. This is our first group ritual and only the 4th ritual we have done. So if there are any goof up's, we apologize now.

We come together today to celebrate the pagan holiday known as Litha. Litha also known as summer solstice and the 1^st day of summer, is the longest day of the year and a time when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and seems to just hang there without moving. The power of the sun at Midsummer is at its most potent, and the earth is fertile with the bounty of growing life and holds the promise of a bountiful harvest. It is considered the midsummer, which begins with Beltane on May 1st and ends with Lughnasadh (Loo-nas-ah) on August 1st.

This is seen as the time when the Oak King, who represents the waxing (or coming) year, is triumphed over by the Holly King who represents the waning (or ending) year. The two are actually one God, the Horned God (like Cernunnos, Green Man, Pan, etc.) All of these male deities are seen as having horns and an association with nature, but the Holly King is seen as the growing youth while the Oak King is seen as the wise and mature man.

The Goddess is also celebrated at Litha. She is seen as the woman heavy with child, who will give birth to the God at Yule. She is also seen as the bounty of coming harvests, of protection and sustenance. The ancient Romans saw this time as sacred to the goddess Juno who was the wife of Jupiter, the goddess of women and children and also the patroness (or saint) of marriage and the goddess that the month June is named after.

Litha is a time of brightness, purification and healing. Litha is considered to be one of the best times to perform spells and magickal work that foster love, prosperity and healing. It is a time to meditate on the aspects of light and dark both within us and in the world around us. Litha is also a time of celebrating outdoors and enjoying the warmth of the sun and the beauty of nature.

Pass out the pouches to everyone.

Throughout the year we suffer many hurts, illnesses, sadness, and negativity. With these pouches I want you to imagine all the bad things in your life moving through your arms, out of your body and into the pouches where they are trapped. During the ritual I will ask for them, and we will release you of the negativity at that time.

Entering the Circle

We have been taught that before a person can enter the circle, one must be cleansed (also called smudging) of any bad feelings, negative thoughts, bad spirits or negative energy - cleansed both physically and spiritually. This helps the energies to come through in a clear way, without being distorted or sidetracked by negative "stuff". The elders say that all ceremonies must be entered into with a good heart so that we can be helped by the spirits to achieve our goals. Today we use sage incense to accomplish this "smudging."

With the powers of air and earth, I cleanse you this day…blessed be.

Cast the Circle

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."

Move back to the altar, facing east. Raise your dagger or wand in greeting and 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.

Set the water bowl on the pentacle disk. Hold your dagger over it and say: Great Mother, bless this Water to your service.Hold your dagger over the salt, say: Great Mother, bless this Earth to your service.Sprinkle a little salt into the water, and then hold the chalice up high. Say:
Great Mother, I give you honor!

Pass the bowl to Jerry. Beginning in the east and moving clockwise, sprinkle the water-salt mixture lightly around the edges of the circle. Replace the chalice on the altar.
Hold your dagger over the lighted incense burner, saying:"Great Father, bless this Fire to your serviceHold your dagger over the incense, saying:"Great Father, bless this Air to your servicePut a little incense on in the burner. Touch the burner briefly to the pentacle, then raise the burner high, saying:
"Great Father, I give you honor!"

Pass the incense burner to Jerry. Carry the burner around the circle clockwise, beginning in the east. Return it to the altar.
Go to the eastern quarter of the circle. Light the yellow candle and say:

Hail guardians of the East, element of air. I call you forth to witness this rite and protect this sacred space.

So Mote It Be.

In the southern quarter, light the red candle and say:
Hail guardians of the south, element of fire, I call you forth to witness this rite and protect this sacred space. So mote it be.

Move to the west; light the blue candle and say:
Hail guardians of the west, element of water, I call you forth to witness this rite and protect this sacred space. So mote it be.

End by going to the north; light the green candle and say:
Hail guardians of the north, element of earth, I call you forth to witness this rite and protect this sacred space. So mote it be.

Move back to the central altar, and stand facing east. Raise your arms in greeting, say:"This circle is bound,
with power all around.
Between the worlds, we stand
With protection at hand."

Face the South and say

We celebrate the noon of summer with this rite held in honor of the Blazing God of the Sun...All of nature vibrates with the fertile energies of the Goddess and the God. The Earth is bathed with the warmth, light and life of the Sun. The Wheel of the Year turns again...since Yule the light has been growing ever stronger. At Ostara the light finally became greater than the dark, and the light has kept on growing until today, the middle of the time of light, Litha, Midsummer. From here, the light begins to fade again, until once more, the Wheel will turn to darkness and Yule will return. Today the Sun is high, the Light is bright, and the Earth is warm. As the Lord of the Sun blazes above, the Fires of our celebration shall flame below.

Light the green candle to the left of the cauldron, saying:

"O Green Forest Mother, Meadow Mother,
Great One of the Stars and the Moon, Spinner of Fates,
I give honor to you, and ask your Blessings here."

Light the red candle to the right of the cauldron, saying:

"O Great Red Sun God, Forest Father,
God of Fertility and Plenty, be here with us now.
I give honor to you, and ask your Blessings here."

Collect the pouches of herbs from everyone, Lift them aloft saying:

"O fiery Sun, burn away the unuseful, the hurtful, the troublesome, the painful,
the sickness, and ill luck.
PURIFY US!"

Hold them over the main altar candle to light it afire. When it is burning, drop it into the cauldron, saying:

"By the powers of the Great Goddess and the Great God, by the powers of the Great Spirit of All-That-Is, by the powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, and by the powers of the Sun, Moon and Stars...

WE BANISH THESE BANES FROM OUR LIVES!"

Visualize the negative energies burning away to nothing. When the pouch and the herbs have been consumed by the flames, place the container of water into the cauldron on top of the ashes. Say:

"As the Phoenix rises from the ashes, so let this water be pure and new, for this is the sacred cauldron of the Triple Goddess. O Great Mother Goddess, bless this water, so that its touch may bless and renew, even as the rays of the Midsummer Sun nourishes and blesses all life."

Pass your hands and arms between the two candles, over the cauldron saying:

I wish for all of us increased luck in love, finances, health, wisdom, and well-being.

Dedication/Rededication Ceremony

Kneel before the altar; place a pinch of salt on your tongue, and say:

"I, Brighid (Brigeed), dedicate myself to the Pagan Way, to the Goddess and the God, who together form the Great Spirit, the All-That-Is, whose combined power is strong and vital here. I give my word-bond to follow the ancient paths that lead to true wisdom and knowledge. I will serve the Great Goddess, and give reverence to the Great God. I am a Pagan, a witch...a stone of the ancient circle, standing firmly balanced upon the Earth, yet open to the winds of the heavens, and enduring through time. May the Blessed Goddess and God witness my words."

Face the North and say:

"Behold, O Powers of Earth, Spirits of the North,
I, Brighid
dedicate myself to the Lady of the Moon,
and the Lord of the Sun."

Face the East and say:

"Behold, O Powers of Air, Spirits of the East,
I, Brighid,
dedicate myself to the Lady of the Moon,
and the Lord of the Sun."

Face the South and say:

"Behold, O Powers of Fire, Spirits of the South,
I, Brighid,
dedicate myself to the Lady of the Moon,
and the Lord of the Sun."

Face the West and say:

"Behold, O Powers of Water, Spirits of the West,
I, Brighid,
dedicate myself to the Lady of the Moon,
and the Lord of the Sun."

Dip the forefinger of your power hand into the cauldron water, and trace a pentagram, and/or, a crescent moon on your forehead, saying:

"Let my mind be open to the truth."

Anoint your lips, saying:

"Let my lips speak the Truth, except that they be silent among the unbelievers where there may be harm."

Anoint your heart, saying:

"Let my heart seek the ways of the Goddess always."

Anoint the centers of your palms, saying:

"Let my hands be gifted to work in magickal ways."

Anoint the soles of your feet, saying:

"Let my feet ever walk upon the sacred paths."

If anyone else wishes to dedicate or rededicate themselves, come forward now.

Jewelry blessing

If anyone brought a magical piece of jewelry and wishes it to be blessed, bring it forth now.

Place your magickal jewelry upon the pentacle, sprinkle it (lightly) with the salted water, and then pass it through the flame of the candle and the smoke of the incense. Place it back on them, saying:

"This (these) magickal emblem(s)
You shall wear for all things magickal.
Bless this (these) piece(s),
O Great Goddess and Great God,
that (name) may be blessed and protected
in all ways whenever he/she shall wear it."

Money Growth Spell

¨ Carve & dress a green candle to express your desires

¨ Arrange coins around the base of the candle

¨ Light the candle and chant:

Money grow, money flow

Candle burn, watch us earn

Harm none along the way

Delay not many a day!

Money grow, money flow

Charge these gifts to bring financial showers

What we want is ours!

Pass a talisman to everyone and say:

Take this talisman as a gift from us to you. Charged with the blessings of the spirits with us today, go forth in confidence of receiving the financial blessing available to you.

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 Ritual

"O Green Forest Mother, Meadow Mother,
Great One of the Stars and the Moon, Spinner of Fates,
Thank you for your presence here today. Hail and farewell."

Put out the green candle to the left of the cauldron.

"O Great Red Sun God, Forest Father,
God of Fertility and Plenty, be here with us now.
Thank you for your presence here today. Hail and farewell."

Put out the red candle to the right of the cauldron.

Go to the north;

Thank you, guardians of the north, element of earth for your presence and aid. Hail and farewell.

Put out the green candle and depart the Element.

Move to the west

Thank you, guardians of the west, element of water for your presence and aid. Hail and farewell.

Put out the blue candle and depart the element.

Move to the southern quarter,

Thank you, guardians of the south, element of fire for your presence and aid. Hail and farewell.

Put out the red candle and depart the element.

Go to the eastern quarter.

Thank you, guardians of the East, element of air for your presence and aid. Hail and farewell.

Put out the yellow candle and depart the element.

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 that the circle is open, but never broken.