|
|
Inititiations Babies are the cause of special concern in everyone's life. This ritual is for those Women who have decided to keep their babies or who have decided to name them before giving them to another Mother. Form a Circle in the usual manner. Draw the Goddess into a Woman baby and the God into a boy. The "Charge" from my traditional Book of Lights follows the Naming and replaces "The Truth". Male adults may be present if you use the name of the Goddesses for the First Degree Circle. The youngest member of the Coven bathes the little Woman in lightly salted consecrated water. The Handmaiden should assist her if the youngest member is herself tiny. The Kore then anoints the baby and the High Priestess carries the baby into the Circle. The Kore cuts the Circle and performs all the duties of the High Priestess when forming the Circle after the baby's bath. The Handmaiden acts the part of the Kore. The Messenger acts the part of the Handmaiden lighting her own maiden candle at noon or the day before if necessary. The High Priestess sits at the foot of the Altar with the baby. She whispers in her left ear and tells her everything that is going on and why. Do not include "The Dance" in the formation of the Circle. Perform the Libation with the Sabbat Cakes. Make one without Marijuana for the baby and the baby's mother if she is nursing. Mark them clearly, drawing a picture of the baby on it with food coloring. Give the baby a taste of wine to drink (just a drop) from the Cup during the Libation. The toasts are for the health and well being of the baby. After the Libation, the Mother of the little Woman retrieves her baby. She stands with her back to the Altar holding the baby so the infant can see the Altar over her Mother's shoulder. Of course, the baby must be awake for this part of the ritual. Babies being the individuals that they are, are not necessarily cooperative. If you can't gently rouse the baby, then perform this part of the ritual with the Mother holding the baby with both of them facing the Altar. The Mother says: BABY OF MY BODY Everyone applauds and toasts the new born child. Don't close The Circle. Let the party continue. This is an initiation ritual for those young Women who are between the ages of seven and thirteen. Prepare the Initiate for seven days before the initiation itself. Her Mother will have consecrated her dress or pant-suit and all of her tools before this day. She is to have vegetarian meals and she is to bathe in consecrated salt-water morning or night for these seven days. Have non-animal fiber shoes to match. The outfit can be as lavish as you like. On the day of the initiation, she is to remain in one place all day. She will choose the place. It must be a place for quiet meditation and contemplation. No one is to talk to her. She can't talk to anyone else from sunrise to the actual time of the Initiation. It was a very difficult feat for my daughters. She is to fast from bedtime the night before. Adjust the timing to include the time of the actual ritual and the age of the young Woman. Water is to be her only drink. Bathroom visits should not occur too often so as not to interrupt meditation. The young Woman will have picked out and bought the Dagger and Cup when she decided to participate in the Giving. She will also have chosen a Goddess to emulate and to name herself after. Mother's Day is the ideal day to perform the Giving. Form the Magick Circle as usual. Bathe and dress her in the dress and veil at noon. Those ladies who prefer a slacks outfit must still wear a veil The Coven members bathe her but no one is to talk to her. Everyone can talk to each other and everyone can and should talk about her. Each Witch bathes the initiates body individually from the youngest to the oldest. This can be as little as washing a hand or foot. Follow each Witch by an older Witch. The Coven members dress her after the bath as a group agreeing beforehand who will dress her in what, saying at the completion of each item: BLESSED BE THE WINE OF LIFE AND
LOVE When she is dressed, her Mother hands her Dagger to her placing it in her right hand. She says the words above after she bows to her daughter. Next, the oldest Witch hands her the Cup, bows and says the above lines. The youngest Witch places a wreath of flowers on the initiates head to hold the veil in place. She bows to the Initiate and says to her the above three lines. Return the Initiate to the quiet place until the start of her part in the Magick Circle. The Initiate should have an hour of meditation under the veil holding her Cup and Dagger. There must be a time of separate and quiet meditation for the young Woman. Clearly define the times of quiet and noise to force her to center her concentration. The veil assists in the separation. The Last Woman initiated will assist the Initiate from this point on in the proceedings. While the Initiate is meditating for this last hour, form the Magick Circle. The Initiate is not to see the formation of the Circle. You are to take your time to have the atmosphere in the room exactly as you want it. It should hold intrigue and friendship as well as love. The Last Woman, at the completion of the formation of the Circle, cuts her way out of the Circle. She does this by drawing a doorway with her Dagger into the Egg of Light (the Magick Circle). She retrieves the Initiate telling her: I AM THE LAST WOMAN She brings her to the northern edge of the Circle, birth and death, and stands on the left side of the Initiate. She is to remain at the initiates left side throughout the ritual not saying anything but copying the motions of the Initiate. It shows the Initiate that she as a Woman in her life who is willing to follow her. They are both to stand at the edge of the Circle and face the crowd of Witches. The High Priestess should not be her Mother. Conduct the First Degree Circles robed. In the Serpentine Grove everyone has a different color robe. The High Priestess bows and then says to the Initiate: WELCOME WOMAN OF THE WORLD The Initiate enters the Circle as everyone makes a path for her to the Altar. Everyone remains completely quiet. The Initiate goes and kneels before the Altar and says: I AM HERE MOTHER LEAD ME UNTIL I WILL LEAD MYSELF I WILL FOLLOW YOUR WILL LEAD ME UNTIL I WILL LEAD MYSELF I WILL FOLLOW YOUR WILL When the Initiate has said her prayer at the Altar the youngest Woman removes her wreath of flowers. The oldest Woman removes her Cup and the Kore her Dagger, and they assist her in standing. Everyone now gathers around her facing outward to form a tight Circle and starts moving in a counter-clockwise direction for thirteen steps. Then they reverse direction going thirteen steps. They continue reversing and repeating until the Initiate in the center yells "Stop!" or complains in some manner. She is not to know that she must complain. Everyone then applauds the new Witch and moves onto the party; all seriousness forgotten. All of this intrigue is to make the Initiate aware that she is not the only Woman on this planet. She shares this universe with other beings. Non-Witches come to the party following the initiation. Don't close The Circle. The Witches at the party are to inquire about the Initiates emotions during the initiation. The questions are to crystallize her experiences of the initiation ritual. One of the presents that the young Woman opens tonight will be a copy of the Book of Lights, a gift from her Mother. It should contain: 1. The Sequence of the Circle 2. The Bath 3. The Circle 4. The Dance 5. The Libation 6. Closing the Circle 7. The chapters headed: Herstory, Divinity and Magick 8. The Truth 9. The Five-fold Salute Other suggested gifts are: Altar tools, books on Witchcraft, pictures and jewelry. The Book of Lights should be hand written. A ring binder with places for her to add pictures, or whatever, of her choice works best. Like a scrap book. She is to copy the words for: 1. The Bath 2. The Circle 3. The Libation 4. The Closing of the Circle Copy them into the Book of Lights that she received at "The Naming" or into a new 5 x 7 bound book so she has a prayer book to carry around with her. The First Degree Initiation is literally a ritual of "joining" the Coven as a new member. It is a ritual for any Woman who has reached 13 years and wishes to worship as a Witch. Plan The Joining at least 84 days before the actual initiation ceremony. The High Priestess and Kore of the Coven consecrate every tool 10 days before the ritual. The Initiate must pick a new name. She must research it and like the sound of it when she says it aloud. She must be aware of the emotions that the name evokes within her. The Initiate engraves her Cup with her new name. The Initiate must pick out a new Dagger. It should be double-edged. The Witch may use her Dagger from her Giving. She should engrave her new name on it in preparation for the Joining. The Witch who introduced her to the Coven must engrave the traditional markings for the Dagger onto the initiates new Dagger. The Initiate will copy her new Book of Lights from the that of the Woman who introduced her. Copying should begin on the first day of the 84. For the first seven of the ten days before the initiation itself, the Initiate should eat vegetarian meals. She must bathe twice a day to purify her mind and body. For the last three days of the ten, she must fast, drinking only water. Sometime during the day of the initiation she is to write an oath of acceptance of Witchcraft as her religion. The Initiate has to construct a Witch's Bottle of Protection before her initiation. This is her first spell. She constructs it to show that she is willing to take responsibility for herself. On the first day of the ten day period before the initiation, she is to take a glass jar and place sharp objects into it. Broken mirror glass, razor blades, broken or bent nails and needles work well. She is to urinate into the jar until it is half full and then puts something caustic like bleach to fill it up. Then have her close the top of the jar and seal it with black wax. Instruct her to bury the jar under the threshold of the main entrance to her home, or into the walls or garden. She should bury it someplace where when it explodes it will not send needles and broken glass into her body. To impress upon her that she is about to embark upon a path that is potentially dangerous, she must create this very important spell. The creation of this bottle is evidence for her mind that she has done something physical to prepare herself for possible error in her future spell casting. It is also a mental beacon sent out by her to broadcast into the universe to announce that she is now a Witch. It is a mental weapon used to ward off anyone who has negative mental energy towards Witches. The Witch who introduced her is to witness the construction and burial of the Witch's Bottle. Every Initiate should acquire a bracelet and necklace of any material. The Initiate should also acquire a robe of any color except white and black. She is not to pick exactly the same color or style robe as anyone else in the Coven. The Witch that introduced her can confirm the color at the purchase of the robe. Occasionally, there is nudity in the First Degree Circle other than at the initiation itself. Create the Magick Circle in the usual manner as the Initiate bathes. The Initiate is to remain in the bath until summoned by the Last Witch who was initiated into the Coven. She must memorize the words for the initiation without knowing everyone else's corresponding lines. She must do this during the ten day cleansing period before the initiation. The Last Witch will direct the initiation. Form the Circle in the usual manner. The Last Witch brings the Initiate to the northern outside edge of the Circle. The Initiate is to be nude while everyone else stands robed. The Last Witch stands on her left and the High Priestess and Kore stand inside the Circle facing out of it at them. The High Priestess says: WOMAN OF BEAUTY AND STRENGTH The Initiate replies: I DO The High Priestess wearing black with her face covered, places the point of the Sword or the edge of the Double Ax or the point of her Dagger on the chest and over the heart of the Initiate as she says: PREPARE TO DIE The Initiate replies: LOVE AND TRUST ARE MY FINAL WORDS The High Priestess removes the Ax from over her heart. The Witch who introduced her takes her own Dagger and cuts a doorway into the Circle for the Initiate to enter. The Last Witch puts a blindfold over the eyes of the Initiate. She then turns the Initiate so the Initiates' back is to the Circle. The Last Witch embraces her, kisses her on the mouth and then gently pushes her backwards so she stumbles into the Circle. Using their hands, the Witches assist her in remaining upright and moving backwards until she reaches the Altar. The Witch who introduced her closes the doorway that she had cut into the Circle. The High Priestess, in the meantime, has replaced the Ax in a safe resting place. Placing her dominant hand into the dominant hand of the Initiate, the High Priestess says: WE JOIN WITH TRUST AND LOVE The Initiate replies: TRUST AND LOVE ARE MY ONLY WORDS The Last Witch holds the Initiates' left arm, by her side by the wrist, with both hands. She also places her right foot on top of the initiates left foot. The Witch who introduced her does the opposite on her right side. Everyone is to wait for a few minutes before beginning the next phase of the initiation. There must be absolute silence from the Coven during these few minutes. They are to stand in place as they desire. As time goes on the Initiate will begin to wonder about trusting because nothing is happening and she doesn't know what will happen next. Every Witch, excluding the two that are holding her arms and feet in place, at the completion of the time, gives the Initiate a Five-fold Salute. At the completion of the Salute the two Witches who were holding her hands and feet now grasp her around the waist. They proceed to run with her around the Circle until she works up a sweat stopping finally to face the Altar. The Kore behind her reads or recites "The Truth". The High Priestess takes the initiates measure, tying a knot at each point, when the Kore has completed. She measures the Initiates' heart by measuring her fist. She measures her height, the circumference of her head, the area circling her breasts and her hips. The High Priestess keeps the measure in a safe place. At the completion of the measure the High Priestess says to the Initiate: Old name HAS PASSED AWAY The Last Witch hands her the Anointing Oil and then the Initiate anoints herself at the points of the the Five-fold Salute while still blindfolded. She touches her body with the oil on the appropriate spots indicated by the Last Witch. The Witch who introduced her removes her blindfold as the High Priestess says: SWEAR AN OATH OF JOINING She kneels and the Last Witch assists the Initiate to bend her body forward to place her forehead upon the Pentacle on the Altar. The Kore then puts the Double Ax on the back of the Initiates' neck. The Initiate says the oath that she has prepared and memorized beforehand. When she has completed her oath everyone says: BLESSED BE New name of Witch And the Initiate replies: BLESSED BE her new name The Initiate stands in the Open Position and says a prayer that she must compose on the spot. The Last Witch will inform her of this procedure as she places the Initiates' body in the correct position. At the completion of her prayer she gives the Five-fold Salute. Everyone says at its completion: BLESSED BE New name The Initiate repeats the above four lines with a swagger in her manner and voice. She struts around the Circle as she does so. Everyone hugs and kisses the new Witch in congratulations. The Dance is next, followed by the Invocation of the Goddess and the Libation. This magick Circle is Closed in the usual manner. The Swearing is the Second Degree Initiation ritual. Those Witches who wish to become High Priestesses take this initiation. During the time between this ritual and the Third Degree initiation, the Witch is to study and occasionally open the Circle. The Initiate sets up and uses an Altar in her own home and maintains intensive communication with the High Priestess. After the Swearing, the Initiate has to copy all the rituals except the initiations. She is to start her own Book of Shadows by keeping a record of the spells that she performs. Only those Witches of the Second and Third Degree may attend her initiation. The time between the First and Third Degree Initiations should be a minimum of three years and three days. The fasting period is again three days with only water to drink. For the seven day period preceding the three day fast, the Initiate is to eat exclusively vegetarian meals. She is also to wash twice a day during the entire ten day period. There are no special tools to consecrate and there is nothing for her to learn for this initiation. The Initiate doesn't witness the formation of the Magick Circle. She remains in the ritual Bath until summoned by the last Witch initiated. This is a nude Circle. The Last Witch brings her to the northern edge of the Magick Circle after the Invocation of the Goddess. The High Priestess cuts a doorway for her to enter and closes it again behind her. The Last Witch remains outside of the Circle at the northern edge. She remains looking into the Circle for the entire length of the Initiation. The Last Witch is to place herself within a protective egg of light as the High Priestess closes the Circle. The Coven ignores her. The Initiate walks directly to the Altar and facing it makes an announcement to the presence of the Goddess and to the Coven. She is to state her future ambitions with the Coven as a group and with Witchcraft for her future. She is to announce her intentions of leaving or remaining with the Coven after her Third Degree Initiation. She also announces the date she has chosen for the Initiation and the basis of thought for her new Coven if she should choose to create one. The High Priestess comes up to her back and says into her left ear at the completion of her oration: TURN AROUND WOMAN They must look directly into each others' eyes for at least one minute. The High Priestess then steps backwards three steps and says: I SALUTE YOU IN THE NAME OF MY MOTHER The High Priestess must not say her Mother's name. For the two years and two days between her Second and Third Degree Initiation, she uses the title "Mother". The High Priestess kneels and gives the Initiate the Five-fold Salute. The High Priestess, at the points of the Five-fold Salute, anoints her on the back of her body. She recites the Five-fold Salute as she rubs in the oil. Each Witch of the Coven repeats the process in order of rank. The Last Witch, who is still standing outside of the Circle, does not participate. The Initiate then turns around to face the Altar again for a minute of meditation as the Coven lines up behind her according to rank. The High Priestess then moves around her body clock-wise to stand between the Initiate and the Altar with her back to the Altar. The Initiate gives the High Priestess the Five-fold Salute, anointing the front of the High Priestess's body. The Initiate anoints everyone in this manner. Follow the ritual of Swearing with the Libation, the Closing of the Circle, and the admittance of the Last Witch. If the Last Witch decides to leave the coven training for the position of Third Degree Initiate, then she states so now. To serve the Goddess is the goal of the Third Degree Initiate. The initiation process causes the Initiate to think in another mode. She becomes aware that she already knows what she needs to know to get where she has set her goal in life. She becomes aware that she must manipulate the physical and the mental to achieve her goal. She also becomes aware that she is not alone on this planet. She realizes the only way to succeed is to achieve oneness with her created universe for the benefit of all; for the harmony of all. This ritual is in recognition that the Initiate is willing to serve the people and the planet through spiritual service to the Goddess. The Borning is equal to the number five. This is the fifth ritual of initiation inclusive of the Naming. You have five fingers and five toes. Four is the number of the Earth Mother. Four times five equal your solidity; four groups of five fingers and toes. Each set equals the numerical symbol of the body and number of the universe, twenty. You have five physical senses. Those of the mid-point can look forwards and backwards with equal insight. Five is the number of moderation and is the fulcrum of the decimal scale. The choice is representative of the process of beginning a new life within the clergy of Witchcraft. For this initiation the Initiate will pick a new name for use only by her Mother and those of the Third Degree. Instruct the Initiate to write her own new ritual of the Magick Circle. She should include it in the 5 by 7 inch Book of Lights during the time before her Borning if she plans to start her own Coven. For the Borning, she will buy a new Dagger. It must have a double edge. Engrave the blade with the symbols for the Dagger. The hilt must bear her new name. The Third Degree Initiate requires an amber and jet necklace. The necklace is "The Circle of Rebirth" where jet equals death and amber equals life. There should be multiples or divisions of twenty beads. The Coven obtains a silver bracelet, and engraves it with the initiates new name. They also engrave it with the symbols of her new status. They present it to her during the Borning. Engrave a new stemmed Cup with the initiates new name. She uses it only in Circle situations thereby keeping it special. At the completion of this ritual Borning give the Initiate the complete set of Initiation rituals. Give her the Book of Shadows also. Both Books should be of the three-ring-binder type. It should contain places for pictures, as in a scrapbook. To the 5 by 7 inch Book add an outline of the eight yearly Sabbats. It is mandatory that, for the first of two weeks before the initiation, the Initiate eats only vegetarian meals. She should limit them to two per day. She is to bathe before she eats to prepare her body to receive the life forces of the food. The Initiate fasts for the second seven days. She is to bathe twice a day at sunrise and sunset. She remains apart from friends and acquaintances during this two week period. She's to remain in exclusive communication with the Third Degree Coven. One member should be with her twenty-four hours per day for the fourteen days. It does not have to be exclusively one Woman, especially not her lover. The Initiate is to complete a Ritual of Protection on the first of the fourteen days at sunrise. At the time of the Initiation, form the Magick Circle while the Initiate remains in the bath. The Last Witch cuts a doorway at the North in the Egg of Light; the Magick Circle. She brings the Initiate carrying her old Dagger and Cup from the bath into the Circle. The Last Witch enters the Circle leaving the Initiate outside. The High Priestess moves forward and says to the Initiate who is standing outside the Circle: ARE YOU WILLING TO BE BORN AGAIN? The Initiate replies: YES, I AM WILLING TO BE BORN AGAIN The High Priestess says: COME INTO OUR CIRCLE AND SERVE US Each Witch in order of rank asks her the same question as they step out of the random grouping. They line up behind the High Priestess after asking the question. The Initiate then crawls though the tunnel of legs created by the Witches. Accompany the Borning with cries and moans and laughter of joy of giving birth. When she reaches the area before the Altar, she removes her Athame from the altar, salutes it and proceeds to reconstruct the Magick Circle. The High Priestess serves as Kore and so on down the ranks except the position of Handmaiden. She has lit the candles for the Borning from her special candle. At the completion of the creation of the Magick Circle, she is to lead the Dance. At its end, she hollers "Stop". Everyone instead of falling down with one thought in mind, as she would suspect under normal circumstances, line up behind the High Priestess according to rank. The High Priestess takes the initiates right hand in her left. The Kore takes the initiates left hand in her right. They go on to proclaim the presence of a new Witch to the Goddess presence at the four Quarters of the room. When they arrive at each Quarter, the Initiate proclaims: MOTHER GODDESS OF THE East,
South, West, North The Initiate is to present herself before the Altar and salute it. She is ignorant as to what is to follow. The Last Witch removes everything from the Altar except the Pentacle, the two Altar Candles of Illumination and the Maiden Candle. The youngest Witch assists the Initiate to lie down upon the Altar with her head to the North. Place the Altar Candles in the area of space on each side of her head. Place the Pentacle beneath her buttocks so any vaginal juices that she creates will fall upon it. Place the Maiden Candle between her legs at the level of her knees. The High Priestess stands at her head in the Open Position facing her body and says: THE ONLY ALTAR IS THE WOMAN I LOVE YOU Continue with the words from the Invocation of the Goddess: GODDESS, MIGHTY WOMAN ... At the concluding words: WOMAN, GODDESS, WOMAN, GODDESS The High Priestess moves to the feet of the Initiate and proceeds to give her the Five-fold Salute. She lingers with her kiss at each point, and then returns to her place at the Initiates' head. She reads or recites "The Truth" as each Witch also gives the Initiate the Five-fold Salute lingering at her kissing. The Coven regroups into a circle around the High Priestess and the Initiate who is the new Altar. They slowly move clock-wise with their hands on the lower back of the Woman next to them. They watch the new Witch make love to herself to form the link between herself and the Goddess. At the completion of her love making, the new Witch is assisted to stand facing the Altar and the High Priestess who says: THE ONLY ALTAR IS THE WOMAN The new Witch turns her back to the Altar and everyone gives her the Five-fold Salute in order of rank. The High Priestess gives the Bracelet to the new Witch to place on her own arm. The new Witch now says a prayer of acceptance of her new duties as a High Priestess. Her first duty is to choose someone to assist her in the consecration of her new Dagger and Cup. Follow the consecrations with the Libation with the new Witch taking the part of the Kore. Close the Magick Circle now or allow it to dissipate by itself at sunrise. The photographer of the Coven takes
a photograph of the Initiate at the completion of the Borning. The
High Priestess keeps a copy for her records.
|
