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Lammas Ritual
August 3, 2008
tFacts SheetT
Also known as:
Lughnasadh; Lugh; Festival of Green Corn; First Harvest; Ceresalia; Elembiuos;
Feast of Cardenas
Candle Colors:
Yellow, orange
Color:
Red; Gold; Yellow, Orange, Green, Brown
Decorations:
Corn Dollies, Any wheat weaving, Shafts of grain
Food:
Blackberries, Blackberry Pies and jellies, Breads, Cider, Herbal tea Pies and
jellies, Rice, Meadowsweet tea, Berries
Gemstone:
Carnelian.
Herbs and Flowers: Blackberries, Crab Apples, All Grains, Grapes,
Heather, Pears, Sunflowers, Sloe.
Incense:
Aloes, Rose, Sandalwood.
Symbols: Corn; Grains; Bread; Wheat
Traditional Foods: Apples, Grains, Breads and Berries.
Lughnasadh, also called Lammas, is the Celebration of Harvest and begins what is
called "the chase of Lugh". Lugh is the Celtic Sun God and He grows within the
crops, living within the golden fields. This is the time of the first harvests.
At this celebration we give thanks to the Earth for its bounty and beauty. It is
from these harvests that we eat through the upcoming winter. Honoring the God
Lugh, games and sports are played to celebrate strength and good health. The
grain Goddesses Demeter and Ceres are also honored. This is a time to harvest
the dreams planted earlier in the year.
High Priestess:
“How do you enter this Circle?”
Covener:
“In Perfect Love and In Perfect trust! For this night of Lammas, I ask to enter
and celebrate. I _________________ trust in the guidance of the Goddess Rhiannon
and God Odin, to assist me this night in my workings and celebration.”
High Priestess:
“Lovely Lady, you are known to your Goddess Rhiannon and God Odin as
__________. They embrace you this night. Do you wish to take the mark of those
chosen?
Covener:
“Yes I do.”
Covener is anointed with oil
High Priestess:
“By ringing this bell you take on the commitment to the Goddess and God and give
them due honor as they invite you to join with them on this Lammas night.”
Covener rings the bell three times.
Cleans area
Each coven member cleanse the quarter that they are calling in – the symbol
of that quarter is carried around the circle three times and the corresponding
chant is said while encircling the group. All walk at the same time.
East -
Sweep, sweep, sweep this place - by the power of Air I cleanse this space.
(With broom sweep circle)
South -
Light, light, light this place - by the power of fire I cleanse this space.
(Carry light southern candle)
West
- Wash, wash, wash this place - by the power of water I cleanse this
space. (Sprinkle water)
North -
Salt, salt, salt this place by - the power of earth I cleanse this space.
(Sprinkle salt or petals)
Center-In Goddess/God position - all
- Spirit, spirit fill this place - by the powers of the Divine we consecrate
this space.
Cast Circle
Center:
“By the power of the Witch’s Staff (or sickle)
is the Magick Circle made.
A strong enclosure, a power-full room,
Safe within the Goddess’ womb;
A sacred place, a world apart
Where energies merge and Magick starts.
With Air and Fire this Circle I tread
To know our will is Magick ‘tis said.
With Water and Earth, this Circle is complete
As above so below, so mote it be!”
All:
“So Mote It Be”
Starting with Covener in the East - look in the eyes of the Covener to our left
and say:
“Hand over hand this circle is cast.”
Once the circle is made all together say:
“This Circle is cast.”
Call Watchtowers
East - air- stands and face -
“Hail Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, keepers of Intellect and
Wisdom. Be with us on the celebration of Lammas. The first of the harvest
festivals. Serious Star has risen and the corn in eye high. The morning sun
shows us that our hard work has come to fruition. As Above So Below, So Mote It
Be.” (Light Candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
South - fire- stand and face -
“Hail Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, keepers of Passion and
Fortitude. Be with us on the celebration of Lammas. The first of the harvest
festivals. The messenger of the underworld reminds us that life is a cycle.
The noon day sun shows us that our hard work has come to fruition. As Above So
Below, So Mote It Be.” (Light Candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
West- water - stand and face -
“Hail Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, keepers of Emotion and
Purification. Be with us on the celebration of Lammas. The first of the
harvest festivals. The Witches’ Pyramid -
To Know, To Will, To Dare, and To Keep Silent. Bring the understanding of the
conscience stream of life. The setting sun has shown us that our hard work has
come to fruition.
As Above So Below, So Mote It Be.” (Light Candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
North - Earth - stand and face -
“Hail Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, keepers of Mundane Needs and
Fertility. Be with us on the celebration of Lammas. The first of the harvest
festivals. The foundation of life holds us tight on our path. May we
understand the Totems that we are to be bestowed upon us. The midnight star
showed us that our hard work has come to fruition. As Above So Below, So Mote It
Be.” (Light Candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
Center - Sprit - stand in center -
“Hail Ancient Ones, watch over this rite keeping all safe and centered. Be with
us on the celebration of Lammas. The first of the harvest festivals” As above
so below, So Mote It Be.”
All:
“So Mote It Be”
Invocation of Deities
Read the charge of Goddess _“I
call upon the Tree-fold Goddess, Maiden, Mother, and Crone. This the
celebration of first harvest – Lammas. Maiden of the bountiful field – first
grain of the new harvest. Mother of the laden trees – first fruit of the new
harvest. Crone of the ripening grape – first wine of the new harvest. Bring to
us the Lammas Night, The brilliances of the Moon, The enlightenment of the
Night, The hope of joy. The turning of the wheel of life, Maiden of the waxing
moon, Mother so full and bold, Crone of the silent night. By the moon, the one
in three, Descend upon us and be with us now. As above, so below, so mote it
be. “(Light silver candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
Read the charge of God:“I
call upon the great horned God, Odin, Lugh, Belarous. This the celebration the
first harvest Lammas. Warrior that protects the ripping crops – first watcher
of the new harvest. Father that works the sickle rather then the bow – first
cutter of the new harvest. Wise One that knows the cycle of life – first ripper
to the harvest. Bring to us this Lammas night, The brilliances of the sun. The
enlightenment of the day, The hope of joy. The turning of the wheel of
life, Once to honor the warriors that have fallen, Once to honor the givers and
fathers of life, Once to honor the wisdom of old age. By the sun, the great
one, Descend upon us and be with us now. As above, so below, so mote it be.’ (Light
gold candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
Purpose
The purpose of this ritual is to come together and celebrate the Sabbat of
Lammas. We honor the Great Horned God in all his glory with the first harvest.
We remember the stories of the gifts the God has given us. This is the time we
honor our new graduates and embrace them to the Craft. Welcome
This is the first harvest summer wanes and our eyes turn to the upcoming winter
– death - time
Reading of the Witches’ Creed
Raise the Cone of Power
HOOF AND HORN
© Ian Corrigan
Hoof and horn, hoof and horn
All that Die shall be reborn.
Corn and grain, corn and grain,
All that falls shall rise again.
Working
Blessing of wine and cakes
God Covener:
“As the athame is to male” (hold up the Athame)
Goddess Covener:
“The cup is to the female: (hold up Chalice)
God Covener:
“We have conjoined and united the Goddess and God.”
(Place Athame in Chalice)
Goddess Covener:
“We have honored the divine three”
God Covener:
“We honor the sacred consort”
Goddess Covener:
“We ask that by this act of bring our Goddess and God together we united to all
this night of the Full Moon.”
(Place the two together on the Altar)
God Covener:
“Now we bless the cakes and ale”
Goddess Covener:
“Magnificent Queen, Mother Goddess, and Springtime Maiden, we offer this juice
in your honor.
(Pour into chalice)
Fill this juice with health, wealth, joy and love. Grant us knowledge as we
drink.’
(Pass the chalice around and follow it with cups for all – once the chalice has
made it all the way around place on the Altar)
Pass drink to each member and say:
“May you never thirst for knowledge.”
God Covener:
“God of the harvest, Warrior, and consort of the great Goddess, we offer this
food in you honor.
(Hold up
plate)
Fill this food with strength, prosperity, joy and love. Grant us wisdom as we
eat.”
Place one cookie in the chalice
(Pass the plate around – hand off the plate then take your cookie - once the
plate has made it all the way around place on the Altar)
Pass food to each member and say:
“May you never hungry for wisdom.”
Eat and be merry
Thank the Deities
Center:
“As our ritual has now come to a close. And we have celebrated the first harvest
Lammas. We now thank the Ancient Ones for all they have giving us. As the mist
of time recede back across the standing stones. We offer thanksgiving to the
Gods for sharing this time and sacred space with us. We have infused ourselves
with the wisdom and knowledge of the Gods. The wheel has turned and we set our
eyes on the horizon towards Mabon when we will all again be together. We give
thanks to the Old Ones the at have been with us this Lammas night we give thanks
to the Gods for sharing this time and sacred space with us. Our thanks for
watching over us, guarding and guiding us in this Lammas ritual. As above so
below, So Mote It Be."
ALL:
“So mote it be.”
Thank the Deities
God Covener:
“Great Horned God, Odin, Lugh, Belarous. We thank you for your energy this
Lammas night. We bid you a fond fair well. Be with us as us return to the
outside world in perfect love and perfect peace. As above so below, So mote it
be.” (Extinguish Candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
Goddess Covener:
“Triple Goddess, Maiden, Mother, and Crone. We thank you for your energy this
Lammas night. We bid you a fond fair well. Be with us as us return to the
outside world in perfect love and perfect peace. As above so below, So mote it
be.” (Extinguish Candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
Close the watchtowers
North - Earth - stand and face
- Ye Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, keepers of mundane needs and
fertility. We gratefully thank thee for your presence, guidance and protection
this Lammas Night. We know understand our Totems and that this is our path. Our
work has made it to fruition. We release you back to your realm in perfect love
and prefect peace. As above so below, So Mote it be. (Extinguish Candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
West- water - stand and face -
Ye Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, keepers of emotion and
purification. We gratefully thank thee for your presence, guidance and
protection this Lammas Night. The Witches’ Pyramid - To Know, To Will, To Dare,
and To Keep Silent. The steam of concrescence flows through us all. Our work
has made it to fruition. We release you back to your realm in perfect love and
prefect peace. As above so below, So Mote it be. (Extinguish Candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
South - fire- stand and face - Ye Guardians of the Watchtowers of the
South, keepers of passion and fortitude. We gratefully thank thee for your
presence, guidance and protection this Lammas Night. The messages of the
underworld have been received and wisdom of the cycle of life. Our work has
made it to fruition. We release you back to your realm in perfect love and
prefect peace. As above so below, So Mote it be. (Extinguish Candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
East - air- stands and face-Ye
Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, keepers of intellect and wisdom. We
gratefully thank thee for your presence, guidance and protection this Lammas
Night. The Dog Star shines and task have completed. Our work has made it to
fruition. We release you back to your realm in perfect love and prefect peace.
As above so below, So Mote it be. (Extinguish Candle)
All:
“So Mote It Be”
Open the Circle
Cross arms right over left then turn saying: “This Circle is open but never
unbroken. “Merry did we meet! Merry have we been! Merry let us part! And Merry
meet again! So Mote It Be.”
Clean up and eat
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