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Summer Solstice
Form circle. Invoke, Purify. Cauldron is
placed before altar filled with water, wreathed with summer flowers. The
people, men and women alternately, stand round circle. High Priestess
stands in north, before Cauldron, holding raised wand, which should be
Phallic or tipped with a pinecone (anciently the thyrsus) or a riding pole
or a broomstick, invokes the sun.
"Great One of Heaven, Power of the Sun, we
invoke thee in thine ancient names, Michael, Balin, Arthur, Lugh, Herne.
Come again, as of old, into this thy land. Lift up thy shining spear of
light to protect us. Put to flight the powers of darkness, give us fair
woodlands and green fields, blossoming orchards and r ipening corn. Bring
us to stand upon thy hill of vision, and show us the path to the lovely
realms of the gods."
High Priestess draws invoking pentacle on
Magus with wand.
Magus comes forward sunwise and takes wand
with kiss, plunges wand into Cauldron and holds it upright, saying, "The
spear to the Cauldron, the lance to the Grail, spirit to flesh, man to
woman, sun to earth." He salutes High Priestess over Cauldron, then
rejoins people, still bearing wand.
High Priestess takes aspergillum, stands by
Cauldron, says, "Dance ye about the Cauldron of Cerridwen the Goddess, and
be ye blessed with the touch of this consecrated water, even as the sun,
the lord of light, arriveth in his strength in the sign of the waters of
life."
The people dance sunwise about the altar and
Cauldron, led by Magus bearing wand. High Priestess sprinkles them lightly
as they pass her.
Ritual of cakes and wine.
Any other dances, rites, or games as the
Priestess and people wish. |