Full Moon Ritual - February 2006
by Blayze

Entering the Circle

Everyone to line up at the bottom of the Hill. They are smudged and anointed as they enter the circle and move anticlockwise around it. Quarters enter the circle first and move to their points. They are holding the representations of the elements. 9 people will be wearing moon cords for the power raising dance.

Fire / North / Lantern & Candle

Earth / West / Dish of Salt & Aspergum

Air / South / Incense stick

Water / East / Chalice of Water

High Priestess and High Priest enter last. 

Everyone to join hands to space out the circle.

Blessing the Elements

High Priest calls the quarters forth to bless the elements.

High Priest: 	I call forth the Guardians of Water and Earth to cleanse and consecrate this space.

Water and Earth come to the centre of the circle and add the salt to the chalice of water. 

High Priest: 	We bless and consecrate Water and Earth in the names of our Gods and our Ancestors.

Water and Earth take the chalice of salt water around the circle, asperging it as they go. When they are finished, they place the items on the altar and return to their quarters.

High Priestess: 	I call forth the Guardians of Air and Fire to cleanse and consecrate this space.

Air and Fire come to the centre of the circle and light the incense sticks from the candle in the lantern.

High Priestess: 	We bless and consecrate Air and Fire in the names of our Gods and our Ancestors.

Air and Fire take the incense sticks and lantern around the circle. When they are finished they place the items on the altar and return to their quarters.

Casting the Circle

High Priestess then takes up wand to cast the circle.

High Priestess: 	By my will the Circle born, between the worlds the boundary formed. By the powers raised herein, to guard without and hold within, be this Circle cast!

High Priestess returns to the altar.

Calling the Quarters

High Priestess: 	We will now call the Quarters.

Fire:	We call upon the flames of light and warmth to witness this rite. Powers of Fire guard us!

Earth:	We call upon the stones of the earth to witness this rite. Powers of Earth guard us!

Air:	We call upon the winds of the world to witness this rite. Powers of Air guard us!

Water: 	We call upon the waves of the ocean to witness this rite. Power of Water guard us!

Central Invokation

High Priest:  	I call forth the cord dancers to make ready for the raising of power.

The cord dancers weave their cords together and then hold them high during the Central Invokation.

All:
		Our Lady of the Moon and Our Lord of Death and Resurrection
		We do build this circle, a place sacred and apart in thine honour
		Descend we pray and fill this place with thy love and thy power this night.

Power Raising with 9 Moon cords to Witches Rune and Drums.

The space is then  ready for the Invokations.

Invokations

High Priestess To the God:

	Beloved is the hunter who rules the wood
	The wood is a land without end
	Without end is the bounty of tree and stag
	Majestic is thy realm
	Thy realm entwines the secret glade as the vine reaches to the skies
	The skies are warmed by thy radiant face 
	Thy power undimmed by the velvet cloak of night

	By the last light of the sun
	We call to thee O Horned one of forest and glade
	We call to thee from crowned hills and sacred vales 
	Lord of the Hunt, Protector of Game 
	Warrior, King and lover of the Queen of night
	We call to thee 
	Shining one, Radiant one
	We invoke thee!
 
High Priest To the Goddess:

	Beloved is the mistress of the velvet night
	The velvet night is bejewelled with stars
	The stars are the pearls of the ocean deep
	The ocean deep is thy hidden realm
	Thy hidden realm is full of the bounties of mystery and spirit
	Spirit is called by the tides
	The tides are the silvered rays of thy glorious face
	Turning darkness into light

	By the rising of the silvered moon 
	We call to thee Lady of the rivers and streams 
	We call to thee from endless oceans and sacred pools
	Lady of the tides, of the cycles of life 
	Mother, Queen and lover of the lord of the sun
	We call to thee
	Silvered one, flowing one 
	We Invoke thee!

Meditation & connection to the Moon

High Priest: 	Now is the time for meditation and reflection. A time to connect yourselves to the energies of the Full Moon. Sit down within the circle and close your eyes. A scrying charm will be said to aid in connecting to the energies, let youselves go with the flow of power and images. When you are ready stand up and face the outside of the circle.

When everyone is settled, the scrying charm is spoken slowly.

	Feel the pull of the tides within
	as silver light bathes thy skin.
	Connect thyself above and below
	to quarters four the power flows.

	By Earth, by Fire, by Wind and Rain
	By current fast and darkness' bane
	Lady Full and Lady Bright
	We join with thee in the silvered night.
	
	From the four points that surround
	the Earth below unto the crown, 
	we speak the charm and chant the spell
	to drink the draught of the sacred well.

	Mother Moon, Queen of Might,
	Thy power builds throughout the night.
	Send thy rays of shining light
	to bring thy gift of second sight. 

Spiral Dance

When everyone is back from the meditation, the spiral is danced. Those not dancing to drum and clap for the dancers.

Full Moon Howl

We give thanks for the energies we have felt tonight and we honour the moon by sending a howl to Her.
All to gather in the centre of the circle to peform intoning and send up the howl.

Cakes and Ale

When everyone is back in the circle, Cakes and Ale are performed.

Quarters are farewelled.

Fire	I thank the flames of light and warmth for witnessing this rite and the Powers of Fire for guarding us. Hail and Farewell.

Earth	I thank the stones of the earth for witnessing this rite and the Powers of Earth for guarding us. Hail and Farewell.

Air	I thank the winds of the world for witnessing this rite and the Powers of Air for guarding us. Hail and Farewell.

Water	I thank the waves of the ocean for witnessing this rite and the Powers of Water for guarding us. Hail and Farewell.
	
Lord and Lady are thanked. 

High Priestess To the God

	O great Lord
	Your presence has been a source of strength this night 
	For this we do offer our thanks.
	And though you are always with us 
	We do bid thee hail and farewell
	 
High Priest To the Goddess

	O great Lady
	Your presence has been a source of joy this night 
	For this we do offer our thanks.
	And though you are always with us 
	We do bid thee hail and farewell

All raise their arms and say together

	By the earth that is her body
	By the air of her sweet breath
	By the Fire of her bright spirit
	And by the water which is her blood 
	May the circle be open but unbroken
	Merry meet 
	Merry part
	And merry meet again
	Blessed be
	
High Priestess drops her arms and with an act of will the circle is closed.