Friday Form A Circle - The Caffeinated Cross

This was found at Bewitching Ways, one of the best sites around! :)

The Caffeinated Cross
(A Javacrucian Ritual)

 
-lodged between the musty old pages of a musty, dusty old book in a musty, dusty old library whose musty, dusty old dust hadn't been disturbed by the presence of man in many a musty, dusty old century. It took a great deal of effort to translate the original writings. After months of effort and research in language libraries, it was finally determined that the weird script was not some arcane, forgotten language, but English, written by someone with a very bad case of caffeine jitters. Another fragment indicated that this was once part of a book, titled "The Mystery of the StarBuck."

THE CAFFEINATED CROSS
-- by Karl Lembke

Stand, facing east, holding your coffee cup, filled with the mystical brew, in your power hand, and assume a posture of wakeful alertness. Bring your coffee cup to your forehead and intone:

"Latte"

Lower your coffee cup to the vicinity of your navel:

"Mocha"

Bring your coffee cup to your left shoulder:

"Cappuccino"

Bring it across to your right shoulder:

Frappuccino"

Clasp your coffee cup in both hands over your heart chakra:

Arabica, Oh man!

Extend your arms to the sides, and intone:

"Before me, Mrs Olson. 
Behind me, Juan Valdez
At my right hand M J B
At my left hand, the brothers Hills
For about me swirls the coffee aroma
Within me sings the caffeine high"

Drink the coffee, in communion with the spirits of the Sacred Coffee Bean. This last step may be usefully repeated as long as you like. To end the ritual, raise the mug to your lips one last time, facing East and intone:

"Goddess. . . I needed that!"

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Friday Form A Circle - Midsummer Dragon Ritual

Needs:

• Brown candle
• Blue candle
• Orange candle
• Teal/sea green candle
• 2 white candles
• Dragonsblood
• Sandalwood
  

Place altar facing north with dragon/Goddess statue in center, a white candle to each side. To the east place a bell and dragon’s blood & sandalwood incense, to the west a chalice of wine, dish of salt, and small dish of water. With sword or staff cast the circle, saying

“Circle of Power and Protective energy, return all negativity to the sender times three”

three times.

I consecrate and bless this wine in the name of the Earth
With salt and water I consecrate and bless this bell in the name of the Earth Mother

Light the dragonsblood and sandalwood

Priestess: "Oh Blessed Mother, creatress of all, giver of lives, crone of Water, ageless and wise this sacred circle is consecrated to thee. In your sacred name and under your protection is this sabbat rite begun."

Priest: Ring the bell three times and invoke: "Sacred dragon-spirit of the air, fire creature, beautiful & fair child of Earth Mother, I now call forth thy divine image."

Return the bell to the stone altar.

Priest & Priestess: With both hands, raise the chalice of wine to your lips. Drink some of the wine Then pour the rest over the earth as a libation to the Goddess, as you say:"This blessed wine we do pour as an offering to thee O gracious Goddess of love, fertility and life."

East: I call upon the dragons of Earth to guard our circle and bless us with your element, fertility, adaptability, strength and stability. Join us in our celebration of your season of blossoming and growth.

South: I call upon the dragons of Fire to guard our circle and bless us with your element, the warmth of love, and protect us with the fire that would burn those who seek to do us harm or wish us ill. Join us in our celebration.

West: I call upon the dragons of Water to guard our circle and bless us with your element, the water that feeds the earth and us, allows us to grow and flourish, cools us when we’re hot, and quenches our thirst. Join us in our celebration.

North: I call upon the dragons of Air to guard our circle and bless us with your element, the air that living things breathe, the breeze that cools us, the food of the fire that warms us. Join us in our celebration.

Spirit: I call upon the dragons of Spirit to guard our circle and bless us with your uniting of the elements, your thirst for knowledge, understanding, bring us unity, harmony and freedom to seek what we need. Join us in our celebration.

Priestess:

Litha, Summer Solstice, or Midsummer is the longest day of the year and celebrates the Sun at the height of his power. It includes the elements of Fire and Water for the sacred marriage of the God and Goddess and to acknowledge the need for the Sun and the rain to help the crops grow. In Wales & Britain, this was a time of Cerridwen and her magical cauldron. However, it was said in a great many places that this was a powerful time for faeries, elves & other supernatural beings. Midsummer Eve has long been associated with faeries and magic. On this night you're supposed to be able to see faeries, as the veil between the worlds is thinned. In ancient times, our ancestors went out to gather their Mugwort on Midsummer Eve. Today, we believe that all the little people are abroad in great numbers during this balance of Light & Dark. If you are on good terms with them, it's said that standing within a faery ring will help you see them. It's an excellent time of the year to become friends with faeries and other such beings. June & the Summer Solstice was also considered the time of the Green Man and the Faery Queen in Northern Europe, in particular. In the Mediterranean areas this was the time of Pan & the Forest Goddess. Pan with his pipes, enticed Nymphs & maidens to rendezvous with him in the green woods for love & pleasure. Midsummer is halfway around the wheel of the year from Yule, so while we celebrate the day when the sun is at it's strongest, we also have to note that from here on, the sun will start to lose some of it's power as the light slowly begins to wane.

Priest: Taking up leafy branch

"We love the warmth of the summer sun. We love it's light and radiant heat. But just as important to the Earth is the gift of rain to fill our reservoirs, rain to water plants & crops, rain to cool us." Dip the leafy branch into the water & sprinkle it like raindrops on the fire saying "Not too hot, not too dry, may the summer rains keep the earth green. Not too wet, not too moist, may the summer sun keep the earth on an even keel."

Pass branch to each in turn, who will dip in water and say while sprinkling on fire,

“Not too hot, not too dry, may the summer rains keep the Earth green.
Not too moist, not too wet, may the summer sun keep the earth on an even keel.”

Priest & Priestess; "Together the people stand joined at the heart and hand. As the sun burns, and the word turns, and the summer blesses the land. Let out love for one another, let our joy in life, let our love for all the earth bless us and the land forever. So mote it be."

All: So Mote it Be

Priest & Priestess: "Summer has come again! We celebrate the sunshine, the long hot days to swim & play! Lord & lady, watch over your children and keep us safe during these busy Summer months!"

Spirit: Thank You Spirit dragons for your protection and blessings go or stay as you please, our rite is done, and you are welcome here.

North: Thank You Air dragons for your protection and blessings go or stay as you please, our rite is done, and you are welcome here.

West: Thank You Water dragons for your protection and blessings go or stay as you please, our rite is done, and you are welcome here.

South: Thank You Fire dragons for your protection and blessings go or stay as you please, our rite is done, and you are welcome here.

East: Thank You Earth dragons for your protection and blessings go or stay as you please, our rite is done, and you are welcome here.

Priest and Priestess: The circle is open but never broken, the celebration is now begun ! ! ! ! !

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Friday Form A Circle

This artwork is actually a greeting card, and can be purchased here

I'd like to note here, before you read any further, that although I have posted the ritual in the "regular" way, because that is how it was written, I would not perform it exactly like this. You see, I have a very firm belief that North actually represents Air, and East represents Earth. This is not a generally accepted belief, but my logical brain says this makes more sense. Air & Fire complement each other, and Water and Earth compliment each other. In the generally accepted layout, you have Earth & Fire across from each other. Logic tells me that they would be struggling against each other, as Earth will smother Fire. You also have Air & Water facing each other, but as we all know, Air "dries up" Water.

In the layout I use, you have Air (In the North) and Fire (in the South) across from each other - Air feeds Fire, which would die without it. You also have Earth (in the East) complimenting Water (in the West). Again, Water feeds Earth, which needs it to be anything beyond a barren stretch. It just seems you would have much better chance of success if the elements were working together, not against each other...

This is how I do rituals, and it has worked for me. But I truly believe this is right, and that may be why it works. In the back of my mind, that little voice tells me "If you don't want your knowledge being used by any but those you give it to, make sure that anything that may be "found" or overheard, is slightly incorrect" and that is the philosophy that caused our ancestors to make one little change to keep this power form those who shouldn't have it...

Just my thoughts...

Houndel-the-Matriarch's Beltane Ritual

The Beltane ritual should start before sunrise or in the evening of April 30th. This is to welcome the sun in and to make effective use of the bonfire. The party or the ritual should finish some time after sunrise.

Incense, Perfumes :- Frankincense, Lilac, Rose

Stones :- Emerald, Orange Carnelion, Sapphire, Rose Quartz

Candles :- Green. Gold, Silver, and the 4 elementel colours, (yellow, red, blue, green.)

Flowers/Herbs - Angelica, Ash, Belladonna, Bluebells, Cinquefoil, Clover, Daisy, Hawthorn, Ivy, Marigold, Rose, Rowan, Sorrel, Woodruff, Yellow Cowslip

Tools :- Wand (preferably Oak), Athame, Cup with wine, Sword, Pentacle, Cauldron, White and/or Green Alter cloth, Fire, Salt, and Water containers. 3 lots of coloured ribbon.

Music :- Celtic, Irish Dance

Altar :- Lay the tools on the altar cloth or near it. The altar can be on the ground, a table, a rock or a stump. The altar should be in the center or in the Eastern quarter of the Circle.

Sigils :- make using the preferred method, Charge the sigils several hours/days before the ritual commences and leave in your sacred place until you require them.

Casting the circle

I raise this circle Weaving a web of Beltane power.
Circle of death, Circle of birth, Circle of the Mother Earth.
Shining, forever Spinning, Ending never.

Drawing down the light. Perform the Tau Cross

The Banishing/Cleansing Ritual.

Facing East. before you, draw the flaming blue Pentacle in the air, walking deosil draw the Pentacle in the South, West and North.

Facing East: Guardian of the watchtower of the East Mighty Raphael assist and attend our Beltane ritual if you will, lend us the protection of all the creatures of the air.

Facing South. Guardian of the watchtower of the South Great Michael assist and attend our Beltane ritual if you will, lend us the protection of all the creatures of the fire.

Facing West, Guardian of the watchtower of the West Mighty Gabriel assist and attend our Beltane ritual if you will, lend us the protection of all the creatures of the water.

Facing North, Guardian of the watchtower of the North Great Urial assist and attend our Beltane ritual if you will, lend us the protection of all the creatures of the earth.

Return to the center .

For about me flames the Pentacle, and above me the six pointed star.

Light up a candle in each of the four cardinal directions.

By these flames we invoke the powers of Air, Fire, Water, Earth.

light the incense,

By these perfumes we invoke the powers of the ancient ones.

Light the gold and silver candles (representing the feminine and the male aspects of the deities)

(Lighting the Silver Candle)

"Lady of the Night, wake from your winter slumber, I call to you.
Join us in this Beltane Celebration with joy, light and love.

(Lighting the Gold Candle)

"Lord of the Day, hunting through the forest, I call to you.
Join us in this Beltane Celebration with joy, light and love."

start the music and begin the ritual Work.

(Lighting the Green Cauldron Candle)

As we kindle the Beltane fire. "Ancient Ones, Listen to this Beltane call. Bring us the glimmer of wishes, the light of hope and the mystery of magic by your presence."
" Let the Oak King live again.
May the great Mother become fruitful once more".

(Pass the wand through the Green Cauldron Candle's flame)

As the wand is to the earth, so the male is to the female.
Joined they bring happiness.

(Take the athame place it in the cup of wine)

As the Knife is to the cup, so the male is to the female.
As the sun to our blossoming world, joined they bring forth life.

Here do what ever invocation is intended. Bless and charge the sigils etc.

The Priestess holds the ribbons in her hands let each person present hold the other end of a ribbon raising her hands the Priestess calls down the blessings of the God and Goddess.

As the May Queen and the great Horned God bestow their blessings upon us and all of the creatures of the earth, we who are one with them rejoice, and ask that their happy union become the example for all humanity to live in love and harmony.

Closing the circle.

Facing North. I thank you great Urial my love & energy I offer freely to you, in gratitude for your assistance this day, leave now if you will, fare you well and harming none as you go your way.

Facing West, I thank you great Gabrial my love & energy I offer freely to you, in gratitude for your assistance this day, leave now if you will, fare you well and harming none as you go your way.

Facing South I thank you great Michael my love & energy I offer freely to you, in gratitude for your assistance this day, leave now if you will, fare you well and harming none as you go your way.

Facing East, I thank you great Raphael my love & energy I offer freely to you, in gratitude for your assistance this day, leave now if you will, fare you well and harming none as you go your way.

Clap your hands three times. The ritual is ended.

From Bewitching Ways,
By Houndel-the-Matriarch May 1st 2004

It is the child's unrestrained expression of bliss and delight that is what Beltane is all about. It is the sheer joy of running through fields, picking flowers, rapturing in the sunlight, delighting in the fragrance of spring, dancing in the fresh dew covered grass. Our children guide us through the natural abandonment of our adult sensibilities and show us how to take grand pleasure, warmth and bliss from the gift of Beltane.

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.