Initiation
Ceremony
Location: The Quarry
Set
up the circle gear as per usual, although need a cauldron in the middle of the
circle.
Initiate
should have a set of cards he's filled out.
Everyone
apart from Initiate should be masked in some way - nothing elaborate, just
enough to give at least the illusion of anonymity.
The
guide stays with Initiate as he meditates and prepares himself for the evenings
events, and holds onto the candle Initiate will be carrying.
The
rest of the group are at the main circle.
Salt
and Water consecrated.
Casting
the first circle
"I
call fair warning! A circle is to
be cast, a sacred space! Hear ye
all and take note! I cry fair
warning!"
Walks
round the Circle, North to North saying:
"I
conjure the O Circle of Power, that thou may be a place of love, of joy and of
truth; a shield against wickedness and evil; a boundary between the world of men
and the realms of the Old Ones; a rampart and protection that shall preserve and
contain the power raised within thee. Wherefore
I bless thee and consecrate thee in the names of Mielikki and Tapio. And so it
is."
Casting
the Second circle
Asperge
the circle, saying:
"I
conjure thee with water, let thou be a temple and sacred space.
A protection from evil and malignancy, a place of love and worship...And
so it is."
Casting
the Third circle
Cense
the circle, saying:
"I
conjure thee with fire and air, let thou be a temple and sacred space.
A protection from evil and malignancy, a place of love and worship...And
so it is."
The
Watchtowers
East
"Oh
Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air, Ilmarien, sky God and
creator of the storms, mighty skyfather Ukko the Thunder God, I do summon stir
and call upon thee to witness this rite and guard this working, let thy sylphs
of the airy realms encircle and guard this temple with their winds.
Hail and Welcome!"
South
"Ye
Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire, Hiisi, forest Guardian
with thy flaming beard, I do summon stir and call upon thee, to witness this
rite and guard this working, let they salamanders swarm about this circle,
guarding it with their flames. Hail
and Welcome!"
West
"Ye
Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Water, of death and
initiation, Wellamo, bounteous water mother, I do summon stir and call upon thee
to witness this rite and guard this working, let thy undines and nymphs enfold
this circle in their watery protection, the power of the seas and rivers.
Hail and Welcome!"
North
"Ye
Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth, Mielikki, my Lady of
the Forests, Tapio, Mighty God of Wood and Hunt, I do summon, stir and call upon
thee to witness this rite and guard this working, let thy gnomes and piskies
stand guard about this circle with the strength of the mountains and force of
earthquakes. Hail and Welcome!"
Invocation
of the God and Goddess
"Beautiful
Mielikki, aspen lipped and willow slim, I do humbly request that you watch over
this rite, that you guide my hands and my lips in this sacred of tasks.
Lend me thy favour, that I may complete this rite."
"Power-filled
Tapio, with thy cloak of moss and hat of fir.
I do ask that you lend my thy strength and power, that I may complete
this rite and task."
"And
it is so."
When
ready, Initiate is given a lighted candle and brought to the edge of the circle.
The
Entry and Cleansing of Initiate
[
G = 'Gatekeeper" I -
"Initiator"]
G
opens a portal in the circle.
G
- "Who are ye to ask for entry into this circle?"
Initiate
- States name.
G
- "For what purpose do ye wish to enter?"
Initiate
- "To be initiated into the secrets and to take my first steps along the
path of the wisecraft."
G
- "To enter this circle to be initiated, ye must leave behind all earthly
concerns. Do ye freely surrender
these so that ye may enter as a child, unburdened with the trappings of a life
thus lived?"
Initiate
- "I do, and as a sign of this, I give these to you."
Hands
over cards which are placed in cauldron.
G
- "The candle held before thee signifies the spirit of your life thus
lived, do ye freely surrender this into the hands of the Goddess?"
Initiate
- "I do" Hands
candle to Goddess.
Goddess
- "I take this candle in the name of the Goddess, and take all it
signifies. Thus your life before
now ends." Snuffs
candle out.
G
- "Finally, your name is the last sign of your current identity.
Do you freely surrender this also?"
Initiate
- "I do."
G
- "To enter this sacred space at this time, you must be as a babe before
birth, blind and helpless."
Initiate
holds his hands in front of him, and is blindfolded and has hands bound before
him.
G
- "Enter the circle, seeker of no name."
Initiate
led into circle, being spun about deosil in the process, and led to stand in the
West.
I
- "Mother Earth, Father Sky, I do call thee to bear witness to this
initiation. Tonight we have a
seeker, who has cast off all the trappings of his former life, even his
name."
"I
call upon the Gods to bear fair witness, I call upon the Guardians of the
Watchtowers of the West, Ye Mighty Lords of Death and Initiation."
"For
hear me well, oh seeker of no name - before ye can be reborn ye must die."
"Morrigan,
Great Queen, Lady of War and the dark of the moon, I call upon thee to look upon
this seeker. Cover him with thy
raven wings, and judge his worth."
"Lilith,
First Woman and Dark Mother of All, I call upon thee to look upon this seeker. Look upon him with thy eyes of independence and free will,
and judge his worth."
"Kali
Ma, Black Mother, Slayer of Demons both within and without, I call upon thee to
look upon this seeker. Rip from him
all remaining doubts and those trappings of his former life that he cannot yet
relinquish and judge his worth."
"Hecate,
Goddess of Wisecraft, who struck such fear into mortal men that they called thee
the Nameless One, I call upon thee to look upon this seeker.
Embrace him in thy arms, look upon his soul and judge his worth."
"Seeker,
it is thy wish that thy feet be placed upon the path of the secrets.
Are ye prepared to face the Dark Lady?
The Goddess of the New moon, to die by her hand and be reborn in her
arms?"
Initiate
- "I am."
I
- "Then know this, one of the great secrets of the path: she who takes away
all life is the source of it all as well. For
in death are the seeds of rebirth."
I
- "Dark Lady, judge this seeker, we call him worthy for thy grace.
Take him in thy arms, let him die and reborn anew."
I
- "Seeker, are ye prepared to follow the Gods and Goddesses, wherever they
may lead ye?"
Initiate
- "I am."
I
- "And will ye keep the secrets from all, save those that seek in genuine
search of the truth?"
Initiate
- "I will."
I
- "Then, as the Dark Lady has seen fit to take you and return you anew, I
name thee a Priest of the Goddess, and of the God.
By
what name shall ye be know?"
Initiate
- States his name, and his craft name if he has chosen one.
Remove
blindfold and bindings.
Each
member of the group does the following:
"Hail
Initiate (+craftname?), Priest and follower of the path." Remove
mask, embrace him and kneel.
I
- "Ye Lords, Ladies and Wise Ones, gods, Goddesses, Spirits of rock and
tree, of beast and bird. I do name
this man a true Priest and Follower of the path." Removes
mask, embraces Initiate and kneels. "Hail and Welcome Brother"
All
stand.
I
- "Where before we were masked, now you may see us as we truly are,
brothers and sisters in the eyes of the Goddess."
Goddess
takes up candle and relights it. "Now
you are reborn as an initiate, guard well the flame of thy spirit."
Hands candle to Initiate.
I
- "Mighty Goddesses, who have borne witness to this night.
We thank thee and wish the pleasant journey back to thy own realms. Hail and Farewell!"
All
- "Hail and Farewell."
All
greet and Welcome Initiate to the path more informally.
I
- "Now Initiate, I hand this circle over to you.
As we are all equal in this place. I
trust thee to close this temple as I would myself.
But
before I do, take up the parts of your former life you wish to keep, viewing
them now in the light of your new life, your new role and path.
Those you do not wish to keep, you are free to burn and leave behind,
scattered to the four winds."
Initiate
takes cards he wants, and burns the rest in the cauldron, using his candle as
the fire source.
The
group (excluding Initiate) leave the circle and when he's ready he banishes and
closes it.
And
much drinking and merry making is done by all...