HPS     Sophia L. 

HP      Marty M.

Ritual:
Banishing ritual.  Write something on paper that you want to banish from 
your life.  These will be burned on the fire.
(Volunteer to pass out paper and tell everyone to what to write)

Goddess: Demeter

God:    Lugh

Alter: Decorated with corn, apples, green/yellow squash

Candles: Goddess, God, Sprit

Incense: Cedar, Sage, & Eucalyptus.  Also Amberdust

Theme: First harvest.  Life that dies so that life may live.

Blessing coming into the circle:
“Welcome to the Lammas rite, may you always have insight”.

Invite the elements:

Drum roll before each quarter

East  - (air   - Winged Lion)
”Hail Winged Lion, WatchTower of the east, Sprit of Air, I bid you come, 
join us in this rite and lend us your nourishment”.


South – (fire  - Lion)
”Hail Lion, WatchTower of the south, Sprit of Fire, I bid you come, Join us 
in this rite and lend us your magic power”.


West  - (water - Sea Lion)
”Hail Sea Lion, WatchTower of the west, Sprit of water and oceans, I bid you 
come, join us in this rite and lend your protection”.


North – (earth - Mountain Lion)
”Hail Mountain Lion, WatchTower of the north, Sprit of earth, I bid you 
come, join us in this rite and lend us your strength”.


Invite the Spirit: (Drum roll before)

HPS:    ”Hail Great Sprit, Sprit of the universe, I bid you come, join us in 
this rite and lend us your wisdom”.

Consecrate the salt and water
(HP places point of athame in salt)

HP:  "As Salt is Life, let it purify us in all ways we may use it.  Let it 
cleanse our bodies and spirits as we dedicate ourselves in these rites to 
the glory of the God and the Goddess."

(HPS places three portions of salt in the water with her athame.)

HPS:  "Let the Sacred Salt drive out any impurities in this Water, that we 
may use it throughout these rites."

Cast the Circle:

With blade:

(HPS casts the Circle with athame moving deosil.)
“I cast the circle round and round, by it’s magic we are bound”.

With water and salt:

(HP takes up salt water.  He follows her around the Circle)
”Salt and water purify, may your life never be a lie”.

With incense:

(Volunteer takes up censer and follows him around the Circle.)
“Air and fire purify, may your life be like apple pie”.

They return to alter and HP rings bell three times.

Consecrate the HP and HPS with oil

HP takes up the Oil and anoints HPS, outlining Celtic Cross on forehead.

HP:  "I consecrate thee in the names of the God and the Goddess, may you 
never hunger."

They salute.

HPS takes up the Oil and anoints HPS, outlining Celtic Cross on forehead.

HPS:  "I consecrate thee in the names of the God and the Goddess, may you 
never hunger."

The HP and HPS Consecrate everyone in circle with oil

Drum roll as everyone is being anointed.
HP & HPS takes up the Oil and anoints everyone in the circle.  HP for 
females; HPS for males.

HP & HPS:  "I consecrate thee in the names of the God and the Goddess, may 
you never hunger."

They return to alter and HP rings bell three times.

Invite the Goddess and God.

HP      Invite the Goddess:

“Hail Demeter, Bright Mother, Dark Mother... we call to you, from your home 
in the Stars, From your home beneath our feet, your children call to you.    
            Come, be with us, guide us tonight in your Rites”.

HPS     Invite the God:
“Hail Lugh, Corn God, we call you. From the Fertile Fields, we bid you 
come...Be with us, guide us, in your Rite tonight”.

Explain the purpose of the ritual:
”Now is the time of the death of the Sun God, as we walk into the dark of 
night.  Breath deep of the light of the Golden One, Lugh, the Sun King, for 
the long nights are coming.  Now is the time of the death of the Corn King, 
who dies as the fields are reaped. We stand in the time of waiting, for the 
fall of winter is upon us, and the ground shall lie lifeless under the hand 
of the Reaper.  Look at the fields of your life”.

HP      “Have you sown well?”

HPS     “Have you tended your fields with care?”

HP      “What do you fear?”

Chant three times by everyone:
“Hoof and horn,
Hoof and horn,
All that dies shall be reborn.

Corn and grain,
Corn and grain,
All that falls shall rise again”.

HP      Explain the Ritual:
“This is a Banishing ritual.  Everyone has written something on paper that 
you want to banish from your life.  These will be burned on the fire. We 
will first have a spiral dance led by Merlin. We will then continue with a 
chant.  During the chant when you are ready come forward and light the paper 
from the candle and drop into the cauldron”.

Merlin leads everyone in a spiral dance as the drummers’ drum.

Banishing chant as everyone comes forward to burn their paper:

        “Banish, Banish, what we claim.
Into the Paper into the flame”.

After everyone is done all say:

“As We Will It, So Mote It Be!”

HPS & HP        Dedicate the Bread:

HPS     “Behold the Corn King, eat of the Bread of Life, that dies to be 
reborn”.

HP
“Eat of the Bread of Life, that you might live through the long winter's 
Night”.

HP & HPS        Dedicate the Apple Juice:

HPS     “Behold the Bright Mother, Drink of the Juice of Life, that dies to be 
reborn.”

HP
“Drink of the Juice of Life, that you might live through the long winter's 
Night”.

HP & HPS        finish the Dedication of the Bread and Apple Juice:

HPS     “For it is written that Life must die so that Life can live”.

HP
“All is in the hands of the Mother, from Birth, until Death, and to Birth 
again”.

HPS
“The bread and juice that is left, offer to Her, so that Her creatures may 
live though the long nights ahead too”.

HP      Fills Alter goblets and libation dish.

HPS & HP offer each other the cakes and ale (bread and juice)

"Will you share the bounty of the Lord And Lady with me?”

Great Rite
The HP places his athame in the HPS goblet
HPS     “As the athame is to the God, the goblet is to the Goddess”
HP      “In like fashion may male join with female for the happiness of both.”

HP      takes up plate of cakes.
HPS     touches each with athame and puts one in the libation dish.

HPS (as HP hands cakes and ale to volunteer)
"This food is the blessing of the Gods to our bodies.  Let us partake of it 
freely.  And as we share, let us remember always that we share with those 
who have nothing."

CAKES AND ALE passed out by volunteers

        “will you share the bread of life with me?”
        “will you share the juice of life with me?”

(All drink) (All eat)

Thank you to the Lady and Lord:

HPS:    “Lady and Lord, we thank you for your attendance to this your Rite...

HP:     “And may we walk with the knowledge of you in our thoughts...

HPS:    “and the Love of you in our hearts.

Fairwell to the Goddess:
HP:     “Hail Lady Faire Goddess Demeter,
thank you for attending our Rite tonight...for the Blessings you have given 
us, the gift of Life”. Hail and farewell.  Blessed Be

Fairwell to the God:
HPS:    “Hail Corn King God Lugh, thank you for the gift that you have given 
us...the gift of Life”.  Hail and farewell.  Blessed Be

Farewell to the spirit:
HPS:    ”Hail Great Sprit, Sprit of the universe. Thank you for attending our 
rite.  Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be”.

Farewell to the elements:

Drum roll before each quarter


North – (earth - Mountain Lion)
”Hail Mountain Lion, WatchTower of the north, Sprit of earth.  Thank you for 
attending our rite.  Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be”.

West  - (water - Sea Lion)
“Hail Sea Lion, WatchTower of the west, Sprit of water and oceans.  Thank 
you for attending our rite.  Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be”.

South – (fire  - Lion)
“Hail Lion, WatchTower of the south, Sprit of Fire.  Thank you for attending 
our rite.  Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be”.

East  - (air   - Winged Lion)
”Hail Winged Lion, WatchTower of the east, Sprit of Air.  Thank you for 
attending our rite.  Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be”.

Close the circle:

“The circle is open but not unbroken.
Merry Meet, and Merry Part
And Merry Meet again!
Blessed Be”

*LAMMAS OATMEAL-APPLE BREAD*

• 1 C Wheat Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons Salt
• 1 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1/2 C Brown Sugar
• 1 C Butter
• 1/2 C Nuts (if you are not a nut person these are optional *grin*)
• 3 Medium Apples (chopped)
• 1 C Raisins
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Ginger
• 1 1/2 C Rolled Oats
• 1 Egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla or orange extract

Note: I had to add 1/2 c of water for mixing