Imbolc Sabbat Ritual

Performed by Lady Phoenix and Lord Wodin

of the Religious Order of the Circle of Isis Rising

Sat. Jan. 27, 2006

At the MoonPath Chapter of Continental CUUPS

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

 

Positions

High Priestess:  Lady Phoenix

High Priest:  Lord Wodin

Sergeant of Arms:  Lady Freya Skye

Asst. Sgt. of Arms:  Lord Willow & Lord Merlin Amon-Menes 

Earth:  Lady Jen

Air:  Lady Bandora

Fire:  Lady Ash

Water:  Lady Deep Sea Star

Summoner #1:  Lady MorningStar

Summoner #2:  Lady Opal Moon Fire

Triple Goddess:  Maiden – Lady Gia

                            Mother – Lady Sapphire Rose

                            Crone – Lady Moon Water Dragon

(they come in with cloaks on and hoods up)

Horned God:  Mark Foley

(He enters carrying what he needs or maybe he should be somewhere all along?)

 

Elemental minions will chant “We cast the circle round and round, Consecrating sacred ground.”

 

 

Opening Ritual

  

Cast the Circle, or Temple, by defining its borders.

 

The High Priest anoints the High Priestess with Holy Oil.

The High Priestess anoints the High Priest with Holy Oil.

Anoint the Quarters and Sergeants of Arms and the rest of the positions.

 

The Sergeant at Arms rings bell 3 times and calls forth the members of the Covenant and kindred spirits, saying, "GATHER AROUND THE SACRED GROUND THOSE WHO WOULD STAND BEFORE THE GODS TONIGHT.  COME IN STRENGTH AND GOODNESS AND PEACE.  COME IN LOVE AND COME IN LIGHT."

 

Congregation is led to the opening of the temple area.  They go through a procession where CUUPs members have incense and holy water to cleanse everyone.

 

The High Priest and High Priestess welcome the members of the Covenant into the Temple area by standing near where the members enter.  Each person is greeted.

 

Once the last person enters the temple area, everyone goes to their places.

 

The High Priestess raises arms and says, "DARKNESS IS DARKNESS, AND LIGHT IS LIGHT.  BUT TRUTH IS ETERNAL BE IT DAY OR NIGHT."

All repeat.

 

Call forth the Watchtowers.

 

North –  Lady Jen

 

East –   Lady Bandora

 

South –   Lady Ash

 

West –   Lady Deep Sea Star

 

 

The High Priest says, "BEHOLD THE CIRCLE OF THE MOONPATH CHAPTER OF CUUPS."

 

High Priest says,

All say, "GLORY TO THE ALMIGHTY, GREAT AND SACRED CREATOR WHO IS KNOWN BY MANY NAMES."

 

The High Priestess says, "BEHOLD, THY SOUL IS A LIVING STAR SHINING AMONG ITS BRETHREN."

 

High Priestess says,

All say, "MAY I LOOK UPON MY SOUL AND MY SHADOW."

 

The High Priest says, "THOU ART PURE.  THY KA IS PURE.  THY SOUL IS PURE.  THY FORM IS PURE."

 

The High Priest and High Priestess say, please repeat the Articles of Faith,

 

"I BELIEVE IN THE SACRED GODDESS,

Mother of Heaven and Earth

And of all things visible and invisible

And in the Great Lord who stands by Her side

Master of Life and Death

Protector and Father Divine

And in the Holy Guardians

Of the Earth, Air, Fire, and Water,

The greater and lesser spirits,

From my feet to my crown,

In thought, word, and deed,

I am the covenant and the power

Manifest unto the world

So mote it be."

 

The High Priest invites the Divine presence of the Lord and gives salutations in His name.

 

The High Priestess invites the Divine presence of the Lady and gives salutations in Her name.

 

The High Priest rings bell 3 times.

 

The Imbolc Sabbat Ritual

When the Summoners steps forward, the Horned God goes to be covered with some type of light/flashlight that shines and shows under the cloak covering.  He should not be in total darkness.

 

Summoner #1:  Welcome to the celebration of Imbolc, also known as Candlemas.  This is the feast of torches and the festival of purification.  We nurture the flames born at the Winter Solstice as the days now turn upward into spring.  The Wheel turns once again. 

 

Summoner #2:  The land is wrapped in winter and is dormant.  Yet, even in the stillness of the season, quickening and new life stirs in the womb of the Great Mother.  This Sabbat is sacred to the Goddess in Her triple aspect.  Tonight we honor Bri’id and Her son, the Sun.

 

High Priestess Says for everyone to repeat:  “Glory to the Sacred Goddess and on earth blessed be all of good will.  We praise you.  We worship you.  We glorify you.  We give you thanks for your great glory.”

 

High Priest says:  “Great God, Father Divine.  You who bless and encompass the world, have mercy on us.  You who stand beside the Great Mother, receive our prayers.  For in your light we find glory.  In Your light we are one. So Mote It Be.”

 

High Priest lights the bonfire.  This is the signal for the drummers.

Background drumming begins.

 

Earth and minions step forward and they say:  “We are the spirits of the north, powers of the earth that are now waiting silently under a blanket of snow. We call greetings to our Lady bright.”

 

Air and minions step forward and they say “We are the spirits of the east, powers of the air that blow the warming winds from the south.  We call greetings to our Lady bright.”

 

Fire and minions step forward and they say:  “We are the spirits of the south, powers of the fire that are the shining flame that burns in the infant Sun.  We call greetings to our Lady bright.”

 

Water and minions step forward and they say:  “We are the spirits of the west, powers of the water that breaks free from the ice and flows in the streams and oceans.  We call greetings to our Lady bright.”

 

High Priestess steps forward to make the calling.  She walks around and greets each aspect of the Goddess.

 

High Priestess:  “Bri’id, Lady of fire, of hearth and forge, we welcome Your return. {Pause.}  Bri’id, Lady of Healing, of peace and joy, we welcome Your return.  {Pause.}  Bri’id, Lady of inspiration, of vision and poetry, we welcome Your return.”

 

With each calling, the Triple Goddess steps forth.  They form a pyramid around the fire.  They turn and slowly walk clockwise while the chanting is done.

 

High Priest:  “Bri’id returns from Her winter sleep, Warm Spring follows in Her steps.  Soon the trees are green again, soon the flowers bloom.  We welcome back our Lady Bri’id and every house makes room.”

 

All say:  “Bri’id is come!  Bri’id is welcome!  Bri’id is come!  Bri’id is welcome!”

 

High Priest:  “She lays aside Her cloak of death and wakes the world with Her sweet breath.”

 

All say:  “Bri’id is come!  Bri’id is welcome!  Bri’id is come!  Bri’id is welcome!”

 

High Priest:  “And in the dark and frozen lands we joyfully greet the newborn lambs.”

 

All say:  “Bri’id is come!  Bri’id is welcome!  Bri’id is come!  Bri’id is welcome!”

 

High Priest:  “And grateful for this sign of life we gather here by bonfire light.

 

All say:  “Bri’id is come!  Bri’id is welcome!  Bri’id is come!  Bri’id is welcome!”

 

High Priest:  “And in the depth of winter’s blight we welcome Bri’id, our Lady bright!”

 

All say:  “Bri’id is come!  Bri’id is welcome!  Bri’id is come!  Bri’id is welcome!”

 

The Triple Goddess has slowly walked around the circle during the calling.  Then they stop.  High Priestess and High Priest returns to the altar.

 

The Maiden walks around the circle and says:  “I am the white maid of enchantment and creativity.  I am inception and expansion.  I am the waxing phase of the moon.  Soon flowers will come from my fingertips that will herald the spring.  I am new leaves and gentle rain.  I will make the sunshine soft.  You will remember me when you hear the whisper of wings.  I am Persephone.  I am Kore.  I am Bri’id.  I bring you the fresh beginnings of new life.

 

She stays in front.

 

The Mother walks around the circle and says:  “I am the crimson mother of ripeness and fertility.  I am stability and fulfillment.  I am the full phase of the moon.  In this next year, the bounty and richness of summer will come from my womb.  I am bursting fields.  I will moisten the earth and ripen the corn.  I will warm your homes with fire.  I am Demeter.  I am Gaia.  I am Danu.  I am Bri’id.  I bring the rich center of life.”

 

When she finished, she stands next to the Maiden in front.

 

The Crone steps walks around the circle and says:  “I am the dark Grandmother of Time.  I am wisdom and knowledge.  I am the waning phase of the moon.  Know that the cold of winter and the silence come from my bones.  I am black nights.  I am the coiling snake.  I am the howl of the wolf.  I am the tomb.  I am Hecate.  I am Kali.  I am the Morrigan.  I am the keeper of the Sacred Spiral.  I am Bri’id.  I am the Ending before the Beginning.”

 

When she finishes, she goes to the others and forms the position of the Triple Goddess.  They turn in the circle for all to see.  Then the Triple Goddess goes to where the God is covered and holding a light.

 

They say together, “Behold, new life stirs within Our womb!”

They circle him and say three times:  “Arise My Son/Husband/Lover, I give You Life.  Shine blessings upon Thy children with Thy light.”

 

They remove his cloak and help him to stand.  Maiden and Mother are on each side.  Crone is behind.

 

Horned God steps forward, squats to place one hand upon the earth, and says:  “Behold, my hand is upon the earth.  I bless the earth and all life upon it!  I bring light upon the land!” 

 

When the Horned God steps forward, the Triple Goddess return to their place to form the position.

 

Horned God stands and raises both hands in the horned god position.  He says:  “Behold, my hooves are upon the earth.  As I am the taker of life, so am I also the giver of life.”

 

The Horned God goes to the Triple Goddess, kneels, and say, “The earth stirs because of you.  Any by your love my spirit is renewed.”

 

High Priestess steps forward and the Horned God and Triple Goddess return to their positions in the circle.  High Priestess says, “So does the wheel turn.  Just like the spiral.  The Spiral represents the process of creation and birth.  It is the passage from the hidden to the seen.  It is the symbol of the Goddess of Creation and it is the combined knowledge of the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. May we now experience the spiral in the form of a spiral dance!

 

Spiral Dance.

 

^^^  Ring bell 3 times.

 

Closing Ritual

 

The High Priestess and High Priest say, please repeat the Affirmation of Power,

"I AM THE CENTER OF ALL THINGS,

Born of the Most High

The Earth and the Water are at my feet,

Thy bounty and goodness are with me.

Thy power and wisdom are in the Wind

And the Fire at my grasp.

I lift my spirit to Thee

And thy Glory shines upon my face

Holy Art Thou

And blessed art Thy children.

So Mote It be.”

 

Cakes and Ale.  The Elements and minions bring the cakes and ale forward for blessing.  The High Priestess and the High Priest bless the cakes and ale, plus the other food and drink to be consumed after the ritual.

 

Announcements.  Spelcastor or Sophia?

 

The High Priest rings bell 3 times.

 

The High Priestess says, please repeat the Affirmation of Faith, "THOU ART A LAMP UNTO MY FEET,

Though the road be narrow

And rocks bar the way,

My footing is sure,

For Thou art with me

In all that I do.

So Mote It Be.”

 

The High Priestess renders closing salutations to the Lady.

 

The High Priest renders closing salutations to the Lord.

 

Closing salutations to the Watchtowers done widdershins.

 

West - Lady Deep Sea Star

 

South - Lady Ash

 

East – Lady Bandora

 

North – Lady Jen

 

 

Clear Temple with

 High Priestess and High Priest:

                             Health, happiness and love from us to thee

Have a Happy Imbolc, So Mote It Be.

Everyone claps 3 times.

 

***  This ritual was composed of material taken from different places.  The opening and closing ritual are adaptations of what is used at the circles of the Religious Order of the Circle of Isis Rising.  The ROCIR’s inner mysteries also influenced some of the main part of the ritual.  The rest of the main ritual was provided by the book, Seasonal Dance, by Janice Broch and Veronica MacLer.