My Esbat Ritual

 

For full moon, new moon rituals, this is the esbat ritual that i use

Things needed:

altar, altar cloth

a cookie or cracker

a small cup of juice

stick incense that you enjoy

stick incense holder or a cup filled with sand, a lighter

earth pentacle tile - left side - for balance

cauldron - left side - for balance

bell - center

silver candle - left, gold candle - right, white candle - center

can use all white candles if needed

candle snuffer - center

wand - right

athame - right

cup of water - center or left

cup of sea salt - center or left

chalice - center or left

red wine or whatever you prefer

altar cloth

goddess statue - left, god statue - right, if have.  if not that's ok the silver and gold candle will do

fresh flowers - center

***

fill the chalice with red wine or whatever you prefer

light the incense

ring the bell

facing north, using the athame or the wand, imagine a bluish white light beaming, exiting the tip and trace a circle from north to east to south to west to north, closing the circle

"the circle is cast"

strengthening the circle

place some sea salt from one cup. "bless this creature of earth", to the cup of water "bless this creature of water," put your fingers in the cup of water and flick droplets around the circle from north to east to south to west to north again.  imagine the droplets further strengthening the circle and your rite (earth, water), return the cup to it's place on the altar

take up and walk with the burning incense from north to east to south to west to north again, imagine the smoke "bless this creature of fire," mixing with air, "bless this creature of air" strengthening the circle and your rite (air,fire), return the incense to it's place on the altar

call the quarters.

facing north, "i call those of the watchtower of the north and of earth, gnomes, guard my rite and myself."

facing east, "i call those of the watchtower of the east and of air, sylphs guard my rite and myself."

facing south, "i call those of the watchtower of the south and of fire, salamanders guard my rite and myself."

facing west, "i call those of the watchtower of the west and of water, undines guard my rite and myself."

eat the cookie or cracker from your altar, "may I never hunger"

drink the small cup of juice, "may I never thirst"

summoning.

I now call my sacred ancestors to attend, guard, and guide my rite

invocation example:

As above, so below

May the gates of the crossroads stand open
For those ancestors of heart and blood and place
Who are well in spirit and intention.
Enter and partake of this light

light the center white candle

I now call the lord to attend, guard, and guide my rite

invocation example: 

,

Horned God Invocation, www.sacredwicca.com

Horned One.
Awake from thy sleep and rise to greet me.
I await thy coming in the dark of night.
Show thyself to me.
Step out of the shadows that separate light and dark.
I call thee forth from the bowels of the earth.
I call thee forth with horn and hoof.
Come out.
Push through.
Come to me now without delay.
Stand strong and solid,
as hard as rock.
Like the walls of a fortress surround me.
No man can stand before thee,
Lord of Life and Lord of Death.
Hold me.
Keep me.
Forever, today, tomorrow.
Come to me smelling of deep forests,
smelling of fern and rain,
smelling of fire.
Arise to greet me, O Great God.
Fill my heart with fire,
with the sound of a brave heart
that beats with the sound of cannons.
Oh Dark God, hear and appear!

light the gold candle

I now call the lady to attend, guard, and guide my rite

invocation example: 

invocation of the star goddess

Hear the words of the Star Goddess,
the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven,
whose body encircles the universe:
I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white (or dark) moon
among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.
For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.
From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.
Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices,
for behold-- all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.
Let there be beauty and strength,
power and compassion,
honor and humility,
mirth and reverence within you.
And you who seek to know Me,
know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not,
unless you know the Mystery:
for if that which you seek,
you find not within yourself,
you will never find it without.
For behold, I have been there with you from the beginning,
and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

light the silver candle

perform the great rite by slowly taking the athame and pointing it upside down towards the chalice

now dip the tip of the blade down into the red wine in the chalice

upon doing this, imagine the lord and lady in intimate embrace

they are united for your sake

drink deeply, drain the chalice

***

a celebration of lovers, of the love of our heavenly parents

this is the true face of the great rite

pray, petition the lord and lady and tell them of what you desire

meditate on their presence and know that they have heard you

***

thank the lady for attending, "merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!"

snuff out the silver candle, farewell

thank the lord for attending, "merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!"

snuff out the gold candle, farewell

thank your sacred ancestors for attending, "merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!"

snuff out the white candle, farewell

snuff out the stick incense

using the athame or wand as before, imagine a blue white beam travelling UP from the circle and back into the athame or wand.  imagine this from north to west to south to east to north again

"the circle is down but never broken"

ring the bell

once you do it a few times, try switching to completely performing the ritual in your mind only.  i've found that i still receive the "peace of the goddess" as i call it whichever way i do it.  when i do it in my mind i don't use the invocations i just imagine the entities arriving without them

Blessings,

Rafe GB

***