Consecrate the circle.

Bless the altar, symbols and tools of the ritual.
The High Priest anoints the High Priestess with Holy Oil.
The High Priestess anoints the High Priest with Holy Oil.

The Herald calls forth the members of the Covenant, saying, 
"GATHER AROUND THE SACRED GROUND THOSE 
WHO WOULD STAND IN SPIRIT TONIGHT.  COME IN 
STRENGTH AND GOODNESS AND PEACE.  COME TO 
REMEMBER THE LIGHT OF LIFE."

A chant begins  (We all come from the Goddess?). CUUPS members 
with palm fans, smudge sticks, and Holy Water stand in 2 lines.  
The attendees go through the 2 lines for cleansing.  Then they form 
a circle while changing as everyone enters the circle.

The High Priest rings bell 3 times.

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

Call to honor the Spherical Directions.
East -	Lady Irene
South - Lady Cinnamon
West -	Lady Black Diamond
North - Lord Barlowe

The High Priest says, "BEHOLD THE CIRCLE OF THE 
MOONPATH CHAPTER OF CUUPS GATHERED TO 
MARK THE PEAK OF WINTER IN THE NORTHERN 
HEMISPHERE OF OUR WORLD."

All say:  "GLORY TO THE ETERNAL AND SACRED 
POWER BEHELD IN ALL THINGS SEEN AND UNSEEN, 
WHO IS KNOWN BY MANY NAMES."

The High Priestess says: "BEHOLD, THY SOUL IS CAST 
FROM A LIVING STAR. THOU ART SHINING 
AWARENESS, OBSERVER OF LIFE."

All say:  "MAY I LOOK UPON MY LIGHT AND MY 
SHADOW AND WALK IN THE TRUENESS OF SELF, AND 
IN KNOWLEDGE OF OUR GREATER CONNECTION 
WITH THE COSMOS."

The High Priest says: "WE ARE PURE BEINGS.  OUR LIFE 
FORCE IS PURE.  OUR FORMS ARE PURE. WE GATHER 
TO ALIGN OUR HOLY SELVES WITH THE GREATER 
AND LESSER SYSTEMS WE ARE AN INSEPARABLE 
PART OF."

May all 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, 
The continuity of life 
And the sanctity of the earth.
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 says, "THE SACRED GOD IS THE 
PRIMORDIAL BREATH OF LIFE. HE, WHO IS BEYOND 
HUMAN GENDER, IS BEHELD IN ALL EXPRESSIONS OF 
LIFE.  MAY YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER WITH YOUR 
HEARTS AND MINDS AS I INVOKE OUR GOD." 

Invocation of the God

The High Priestess says, "THE SACRED GODDESS is the 
PRIMORDIAL WOMB OF BEGINNINGS. SHE, WHO IS 
BEYOND HUMAN GENDER, IS BEHELD IN ALL 
EXPRESSIONS OF LIFE.  MAY YOU JOIN ME IN 
PRAYER WITH YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS AS I 
INVOKE OUR GODDESS."

Invocation of Goddess

The High Priestess rings bell 3 times.

The High Priest calls forth the Sabbat Instrument of Cleansing - 
AND ASKS EVERYONE TO PASS IT AROUND AND SMOKE 
THEIR NEIGHBORS AS THE REST OF THE RITUAL CONTINUES.

SABBAT RITUAL:

High Priest says: As you sage one another, we will begin the 
Sabbat Ritual to honor the Peak of Winter in the Northern 
Hemisphere of our planet the Earth. (I like the simultaneous action 
as it blends the sense of participation in ritual).

High Priestess rings the bell 3 times.

High Priestess:	Great Goddess, Temple of Life, before You I 
honor the experience of my incarnation as Woman.
I am humbled by the ingenious complexity 
beheld in Your planetary and Universal organism. 

May the essence of the Womb be honored, in 
its potential power to bring forth life anew.

High Priest:	Great God, Breath of Life, before You I honor 
the experience of my incarnation as Man.  
I stand in awe at Your masterfully, creative 
hand as the manifestation of Life has been 
renewed for eons. 

May the essence of the Seed be honored, in its 
potential power to bring forth life anew. 

(High Priestess sweeps the circle with a broom (or a wand) and 
then kneels in front of the altar, whereupon the High Priest places a 
veil (or a wreathe) upon her brow.)

High Priest:	We gather this Winterpeak's night to honor 
the fruit of Your womb, where in the frozen 
north new life rests in potential to be awakened anew. 

All may repeat:	  "Glory to the Sacred Goddess. May She be 
the abundant Earth forever."

The High Priest lifts the High Priestess to her feet and removes the 
veil.  Then he removes his black cloak and the High Priestess's 
black cloak and lights a candle from the altar candle.

High Priest:	"The light of My seed I have given forth, so 
that it may be nurtured and grown anew."

High Priestess lights her candle from the High Priest's candle.

High Priestess:	"Your seed I have received and within life 
grows throughout the Earth as rivers melt and waters flow.
To all I shall give blessings in abundance. 
By the rising of coming moons, may it wax true."

High Priestess blesses the basket of candles:
Purpose of the blessing - to mark Winter's Peak and give the 
blessing of Abundance to all within the rite. 

"I bless the creatures of wax and light
Serve this purpose, flaming bright
Infused with magick, you shall be
Wick and wax, delivering pure energy. 
I give you life of needed length
Instruments now of clarity and strength
If Candlemas day be long, be bright
Winter will have another flight.
But if the day is dark with rain,
Winter will be gone again!
For I am Brigid, known by many names,
With this light, you become my living flame.
Burn this candle and sing me praise
As it was done in elder days!
For I am Brigid, both here and there,
I bless the hearths and hearts so that none may despair.
In fertile darkness life grows into birth
Thus with this light do we banish Winter from the Earth
Behold! Earth awakens from Her slumber,
Light falls across the Artic tundra. 
Behold!  The Sun lengthens His presence
Fertility is bound within matter and Light's essence.
Be ever mindful of the law of three
I bless these candles, So Mote It Be!"

High Priest rings the bell 3 times.

May all repeat the Affirmation of Power

I am at 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 are Thy children.
So mote it be.

The High Priest: "WE ARE ALL CENTERS TO ALL 
THINGS. THERE IS DIVINITY IN ALL OF NATURE."

The High Priestess: "THE TREE AND THE OCEAN ARE 
CENTERS TO ALL THINGS. THE LIVING AND THE 
DEAD ARE CENTERS TO ALL THINGS."

The High Priest SAYS: "THERE IS ONLY ETERNAL 
CHANGE IN WHICH WE PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART. 
THE EARTH BELOW US IS SACRED, TOUCH IT AND 
KNOW IT IS YOUR BODY. (give folks a moment to touch it if 
they wish) THE SKY ABOVE US IS SACRED, TOUCH IT 
AND KNOW IT IS THE BREATH IN YOUR LUNGS. 
(give folks a moment to lift their arms to the sky if they wish). 

INHALE THIS BEAUTIFUL OXYGEN DEEPLY, AND 
EXHALE TOGETHER IN A UNIFIED AND EXTENDED 
OM, ALLOWING YOUR VOICE TO BLEND WITH THE 
VOICES OF EVERYONE.  KNOW THAT THIS IS THE 
SOUND OF THE UNIVERSAL LIFE WE ARE ALL A PART 
OF..  (encourage the circle to OM together for a few times, 
and I would even encourage this to take its own form and 
continue for a while. It is a wonderful group meditative 
opportunity.)"

The High Priest says: LOOK INTO THE EYES OF YOUR 
NEIGHBOR AND HONOR THEIR DIVINITY. LET US 
EMBRACE IN JOY FOR OUR OPPORTUNITY TO 
EXPERIENCE THIS LIFE TOGETHER AND WITH ALL 
THINGS GREAT AND SMALL."

May all 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.

Cakes and Ale.  The High Priestess and the High Priest bless the 
cakes and ale, plus the other food and drink to be consumed after 
the ritual.

The High Priest rings bell 3 times.

Dismiss the Goddess

Dismiss the God

Closing salutations to the Holy Guardians of the Watchtowers of 
the:

North-	Lord Barlowe
West-	Lady Black Diamond
South-	Lady Cinnamon
East-	Lady Irene

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.

The High Priest rings bell 3 times.