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Wiccan
Lunar Ritual
By Good Folk
The Altar should have four Lunar Candles, corresponding to the Phases of
the Lunar Month:
Participants are dressed in ceremonial robes of the season.
Before beginning the Ritual, light the four Quarters Candles, the Lunar Candles on the
Altar, and the Incense.
Cakes and Wine are placed on the Altar.
A small Bell should be placed near the Altar.
Entrance
The Participants
standing outside the Prayer Room, a single note is sounded on the Gong or Bell.
Enter the Room, and stand in the Center, facing East and West.
[G] We come to honor Our Lady of the (New, Waxing, Full, Waning)
Moon. Let us call for aid and protection to the Guardians of the Four Quarters.
[G] Steps forward to the East, and
says
Honored be Raphael of the Air, our Inspiring Guest;
Guardian of the East, draw near, and may our Rite be blessed!
[B] Steps forward to the West, and
says,
Honored be Gabriel of the Water, our Empowering Guest;
Guardian of the West, draw near, and may our Rite be blessed!
[G] Moves to the South, and says
Honored be Uriel of the Fire, our Empowering Guest;
Guardian of the South, draw near, and may our Rite be blessed!
[B] Moves to the North, and says
Honored be Michael of the Earth, our Sustaining Guest;
Guardian of the North, draw near, and may our Rite be blessed!
[Both] Stand before the Altar and
say
Holy Spirit of Godde, our Life-Giving Guest;
Welcome to our Circle, and may our Rite be blessed!
Centering Meditation
[G] In silence let us honor
the Elements of Creation in the Center of our Being.
All sit. Keep silence for a time, meditating on the Five Elements.
After a time, ring once on the Bell.
All stand.
Honoring
the Lady
[G] In the Face of the Moon we honor Our Lady, who was of old called among
humankind Isis, Artemis, Astarte, Aphrodite, Diana, Mary, and by many other Names.
She stands in the Center of the Circle, with head bowed and arms across
her chest.
For the Full Moon, robes are removed at this point and replaced at the conclusion
of the prayers.
Prayers are offered for the appropriate Lunar phase.
Both sit in silent meditation for a time. A Bell is rung once to end the silence.
Other Working may be done as neede, One note is sounded on the Bell.
Cakes and
Wine
Remaining seated,
Take the Cakes and bless them with words in honor of our Mother
Take the Wine and bless it with words in honor of our Mother.
Share the Cakes and Wine, talking and sharing with one another.
When all are ready, sound one note on the Bell.
The Closing
[G] By the Earth that is Her Body,
By the Air that is Her Breath,
By the Fire that is Her Spirit,
By the living Waters of Her Womb,
The Circle is open, but unbroken.
[B] Thanks be to Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Michael, Her Messengers.
[G] The peace of the Goddess go in our hearts.
Merry Meet, and Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again.
Blessed Be!
Sound one note on the Gong, or Bell. The ritual is ended.
Lunar Esbat
Praises and Blessings
[P] Priest
[PS] Priestess
New Moon
Ritual
Death and New Life
Invocation of the Goddess
[P] Dark is the night, new is the Moon,
Quiet as death, dark as the tomb;
Grandmother, Lady, come to us soon,
Warm as life, secure as the womb.
Behold the Lady of Darkness:
Mother, Grandmother, old yet ever young.
Receiving the Blessing of the Goddess
[PS] Old and eternal, young as the Spring,
Waning and waxing, new life I bring;
Round is my turning - Full unto New,
Blessing of rebirth I offer to you.
Waxing
Crescent Moon Ritual
Birth
[P] Sing we, Lady, now of birth,
New again, and growing o’er us;
Night’s light, near-light, heaven’s worth,
Future’s promise, rise before us.
Behold our Lady, the Waxing Crescent:
She who’s womb is the source of all.
[PS] In love conceived, in love they grow,
In love and sweat is birthing done;
Womb-water washed, my children know
That Mother-blood marks each her own.
First
Quarter Moon Ritual
Nursing
[P] Mother Goddess, silver bowl,
From your Moon-breast, rich and strong,
Pour upon our thirsty souls
The milk of life for which we long.
Behold our Mother, the Waxing Moon:
She who feeds us from her own breast.
[PS] Draw near, Beloved, safely led,
Stay close upon thy Mother’s breast;
From silver bowl you shall be fed,
And suckled there shall you be blessed.
Waxing
Gibbous Moon Ritual
Puberty
[P] Maiden Daughter, waxing Mother,
White-light, Night-light, love’s embrace;
Seeking love, we find each other
In the radiance of your face.
Behold our Mother, the waxing Moon:
In bloom of youth, she is the herald of love.
[PS] I call you to the fire of youth,
With passion quickened heart of flame;
That you may know the wonderous truth
Of liquid kiss and whispered name.
Full Moon
Ritual
Mating
(Priest and Priestess remove robes)
Invocation of the Goddess
[P] Wondrous, fruitful, all-loving Mother,
Giver of life, and Source of all;
Behold, thy power binds one to another,
Come, descend on us as we call.
Mother, I invoke your presence.
Dwell now in the body of your servant and priestess.
The Priest gives the Five-fold Kiss:
[P] Blessed are your feet, that have brought you in these ways. (Kisses both feet)
Blessed are your knees that shall kneel before the sacred altar. (Kisses both knees)
Blessed are your loins that bring forth life. (Kisses
her above the pubic hair)
Priestess opens into Goddess Blessing position, arms and legs spread.
[P] Blessed are your breasts formed in beauty and strength. (Kisses both breasts)
Blessed are your lips that shall speak the sacred names. (Kisses lips)
(With this final kiss, they embrace full length, feet touching.)
Priest kneels, arms downward, palms forward, and says:
[P] Fulsome Mother, shower ‘round us
Blessings in this fertile hour;
Pulsing light and love surround us,
Blazing five-point star of Power!
Receiving the Blessing of the Goddess
Priestess makes the sign of a Pentagram in the air in front of him.
Priestess resumes Goddess stance and says
[PS] Hear, my Beloved, womb-born of my daughters:
I your Mother life’s milk bring you,
Horned God’s kiss upon my breast.
Queen of Night, I stand before you,
See me, know me, and be blessed!
By whatever name you call me:
Mother, Lady, Sister Moon,
If in loving trust you call me,
Help comes swift, and aid comes soon.
Freeborn Earth-child, passion’s gleaning,
Skyclad dance, and merry be!
Know life’s fullness, find love’s meaning,
Harm ye none, and heaven see.
Speak ye what your hearts desire,
Honor me by learning well;
Bodies joined, or souls afire,
Love enfleshed my love shall tell.
Priestess offers the Goddess’ blessings on the world at Full Moon.
Other petitions and praises are offered. Priest
and Priestess replace robes.
Waning
Gibbous Moon Ritual
Bearing
[P] Mother of all, radiant, beaming,
Full and heavy womb, with expectation ripe;
Be present here in Moonlight gleaming,
And bless your children in this waning night.
Behold our Mother the waning Moon:
She who births the ages.
[PS] My pain delivers greatest treasure,
In labor is all life brought forth;
Yet birth pangs are but love’s due measure,
The birthing-price for all of worth.
Third
Quarter Moon Ritual
Maturity
[P] Mother, All-good, strong and ageless,
Bearing hope and counsel, come!
We would tread your path of Wisdom,
Guardian of hearth and home.
Behold our Mother, Lady of the waning Moon:
She who calls us to celebrate love and wisdom.
[PS] Now age rests light upon my brow,
And I embrace my waning light;
And though I walk in Wisdom now,
Undimmed is Passion’s flame this night!
Waning
Crescent Moon Ritual
Elderhood
[P] Mother stands in Moonlight gleaming,
Starlight night and silver hair;
Peace and wisdom from you streaming,
Mother, keeper of our care.
Behold our Mother, the waning Crescent:
She who offers guidance and peace.
[PS] I am the Crone, I am time’s Mother,
All there is to see, I’ve seen.
Days pass, years fly, and time flows onward,
While I, unchanged, have changing been.
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