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ALL (envisioning the walls of the circle bending together overhead and
flowing together under the floor to form a hemisphere of bright white light):
"So mote it be!"
The Warning
HIGH PRIEST/ESS cuts a gate in the circle and roughly leads the Initiate to
kneel at the edge before the gate, then balances the sword-point over the
Initiate's heart (the Initiate raises hir hands to support the point). "You
stand at the edge of a place that is between the worlds, in the presence of the
Gods and under the watchful eye of the Mighty Dead. If you go any further, you
embark on a path that cannot be safely turned aside before your death. Feel the
sharpness of the blade at your breast, and know this in your heart that it would
be better for you to throw yourself forward and spill out your life than to
enter this circle with fear or falseness in your heart."
INITIATE: "I come with perfect love and perfect trust."
HIGH PRIEST/ESS lays down the sword, lifts the Initiate to his or her feet and
kisses him or her. "Thus are all first brought into the Circle.", then leads the
Initiate to the altar and taking up the sword, re-draws the circle over the
gateway.
Administration of the Oaths
ALL (except the High Priest/ess and the Initiate) begin a quiet "Aum" and
sustain it throughout the Five-fold Kiss and the Oaths of Initiation.
HIGH PRIEST/ESS, administering the Five-fold Kiss: "Blessed are your feet, that
have brought you to this place. Blessed are your knees, that shall kneel at the
altars of the Gods. Blessed is your sex, without which we could not be. Blessed
is your breast, formed in strength and beauty. Blessed are your lips which shall
speak the Words of Truth. Are you prepared to take the oath?"
INITIATE: "I am."
HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "Then kneel." (takes the Initiate's measure.) "You who have
from birth been called <born name> but now seek to become <Craft name> -- do you
willingly pledge yourself to the God and the Goddess?"
INITIATE places his or her left hand on the top of the head and right hand on
the soles of the feet. "All between my two hands belongs to the Gods. So mote it
be."
ALL others raise the volume of the "Aum" slightly.
HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "And do you swear to keep silent all those things that must be
kept silent and to respect that which is taught to you?"
INITIATE: "I willingly swear to keep silent all that must be kept silent and to
respect that which is taught to me. So mote it be."
ALL others raise the volume of the "Aum" a little more.
HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "And by what surety do you swear all of these things?"
INITIATE: "All of these things I do swear, by my mother's womb and my hope of
future lives, knowing well that my Measure has been taken in the presence of the
Mighty Ones. Should I fail utterly in my oaths, may my powers desert me, and may
my own tools turn against me. So mote it be. So mote it be. So mote it be!
ALL yell quickly: "SO MOTE IT BE!"
Triggering of the Spell
ALL grab the Initiate quickly and hoist hir completely into the air (if
possible), chanting the Initiate's new name over and over again, as fast as
possible, as they carry him or her three times quickly around the circle. When
they return to the starting point, they set him or her down face-down and press
him or her firmly into the ground.
Gradually, the pressure relents to gentle massage. Through all of this they
continue chanting the Initiate's new name, falling off in volume and speed as
the pressure relaxes.
HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "Know that the hands that have touched you are the hands of
love." (removes the Initiate's blindfold and helps hir up.) "In the Burning
Times, when each member of the Coven held the lives of the others in her hand,
this would have been kept and used against you should you endanger others. But
in these happier times, love and trust prevail, so take this (hands the Measure
to the Initiate), keep it or burn it, and be free to go or stay as you please."
Follow-through and Earthing of Power
HIGH PRIEST/ESS hands the sword to the Initiate and leads hirto the East, where
they both kneel. The Initiate salutes and the High Priest/ess announces:
"Behold, restless Spirits of Water -- I bring before you <new name>, who has
been consecrated as Priest/ess and Witch!" Repeats at the South, West, and
finally North.
ALL (including High Priest/ess and Initiate) join hands in the Circle.
HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "Thank you Spirits of the Mighty Dead, Spirits of the Four
Elements, and awesome Lord and Lady for hallowing our circle. Go or stay as you
will -- our circle is ended."
ALL ground and center, then absorb the power of the Circle and return it to the
Earth beneath their feet.
HIGH PRIEST/ESS (after a suitable pause): "Our lovely rite draws to its end.
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again. Blessed Be!"
ALL: "BLESSED BE!"
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