This ritual was taken from "Magical Rites from the Crystal Well" by Ed Fitch
Each participant should have a candle placed in a glass holder to prevent wind interference during the ceremony. Prior to ceremony, all shall sit in quiet meditation reflecting on the ways and reasons these celebrations were held by our distant ancients. The HP shall ask all to join hands while a circle is cast and raised. The HPS shall begin:
Friends, I now bid you to strike now the lights which you hold,
For this is a season of bounty and of joy, worthy to be celebrated,
As in the times far ancient Before our Gods and in their honor.
All do light their candles. The HP and HPS light the additional ones and give them to others, to be placed around the edge of the ritual area, saying to each other:
Place this light at the edge of our festival
So that the Old ones may be with us.
The watcher of the East shall call:
Far winds blow clean and clear, Sweep free through the skies and be with us here
The watcher of the South shall call:
Blessed Sun and lands of warmth, Give comfort and brightness and strength and be with us here
The watcher of the West shall call:
Oceans , lakes and streams, wash clear and bright and fresh and be with us here.
The watcher of the North shall call:
Mountains, meadows and Forests, bring forth life and richness and beauty And be with us here
The HPS shall say:
We call now upon the blessed lady, Queen of the Harvest, giver of life and of plenty
Since before time began, Give to us, as of old, Thy joy and beauty and power.
The HP shall say:
We call upon the Lord of the Harvest, Sacred king , giver of riches And of protection
Since before time began, Give to us as of old, Thy strength and laughter and power.
The HPS shall say to all in the celebration:
Let us now, as of old, Make a consecration of the harvest
And mark here the fullness of the season.
For life does fulfill its cycle and lead to life anew, In the eternal chain of the living
That has stretched and broken since time immemorial.
She takes up a sickle and an ear of maize still in its husk and leads the procession clockwise about the rite area, with the image of the Goddess at the center, no less than 13 times. The Hp and others shall beat a rhythm and all shall chant:
THE YEAR WHEEL TURNS AND BOUNTY COMES
Members of the group shall bring fruits, vegetables, grains and nits in the procession as well as the candles. Finally the HPS shall stand before the image of the Goddess and she holds up her sickle and maize calling:
O great and timeless Goddess, we give thanks for this season of the Harvest
We can nothing that is not already thine,
Yet accept it with our love, this offering and this sacrifice
To thee, O gracious and beautiful one.
She tears the husks from the maize and cuts it in twain with the sickle, then addresses those in the rite:
That the seasons of plenty shall return once more,
And in commemoration of life springing ever new from death,
I charge you now to bury within the earth the offering we have made to her.
The HP then addresses the group:
This is a time of joy, let us now eat and drink, and, each within ourselves,
invite the Gods to be with us here and to enjoy this time with us.
Cakes and ALe are served followed by much merriment. When the HP and HPS are ready to close the rite, they shall call all together and the HP shall say:
Friends this celebration now ends. Let us give thanks to the Goddess
And to the God for this time of richness and for times of magick
Which shall come. Watchers call now to the far quarters.
The watcher of the East shall call:
Far winds blow clean and pure, we give you thank for being here
The watcher of the South shall call:
Blessed sun and lands of warmth, we give you thanks for being here..
The watcher of the West shall call:
Oceans , lakes and streams, we give you thanks for being here.
The watcher of the North shall call:
Mountains, meadows and forest, we give you thanks for being here.
The HPS shall raise her arms and call:
O lady of magick and beauty, o king of strength and power,
creatures of all wild places and beings of all far realms...
We give you greetings and love and farewell, Blessed Be!
The group shall snuff the candles as the HP and HPS lower and open the circle
The circle is open but never broken.
