COTH Midsummer 2014 / temple consecration
By Blayze
In the centre of the circle is a copper sun table and mirror. Sitting on altar is a copper cauldron filled with water and with a large lit candle inside it. Around the edges of the circle are flowers and tea lights. There are also bound bunches of flowers and bells wrapped around candles that are spaced around the circle edge amongst the loose flowers. The flower bunches also have gold ribbons wound around them.
Everyone is given percussion instruments (shaker eggs, tambourines, drums etc). Process into the temple space singing “The Song Of Summer”. Pass under the flower be-decked archway.
From o’er the hills where the witches are gathered
Come chant the spell in the morning light
Step through the gateway and into the circle
Dance the round of the Solstice rite

Sing a song of Summer and of dawning
Sing a song of Shadow and of mourning
Spear to Cauldron, Lance to Grail
Raise the staff and spill the ale
For the Sun.

Come bring a brand to the bonfire waiting
Join in the dance of the flaming spear
Watch for the stranger who enters the circle
Hide the light of the waning year
Circle three times around the temple. At the end of the song, instruments are placed around the edges of the circle.
HPS casts circle with athame. Quarters are called. Rune.
HPS: On Midsummer’s eve we gather the flowers of forest and field. Flowers of yellow for the sun, and green for the earth.  Seek the flowers at the edge of the circle, then go to stand in the centre of the circle.
PS sings Dance Till The Dawn as everyone collects their flowers.

Come lasses and lads, dance till the dawn
Across forests and fields and ripening corn
Gather the flowers a-bloom in the hay 
To welcome the Sun on Midsummer’s Day

Everyone searches for the flowers and collects them. They go to the centre.
HPS:. You will find golden ribbons wrapped around your flowers. Unwind the ribbons and use them to form the rays of the Sun’s light. At Midsummer, the power of the Sun is at his height. Strong rays of light kiss the land. 
HPS takes up the cauldron and candle. She takes the candle out of the cauldron and uses it to light the candles of those standing in the circle (and those who are not dancing but are standing at the edge).
HPS returns the candle to the altar but keeps the cauldron. 
Now everyone is standing in a circle around the copper table. They are holding their lit flower candles. 
Those not dancing can sing along and beat drums.
Cord dance begins as everyone sings “Midsummer’s Day”
Midsummer’s Day and we have come
To dance for joy and for the Sun
Our King is high, our King is tall, our King is strong but he must fall
And we have come to dance today, but not to cry for Sun’s decay, 
We will keep on dancing till we cannot dance no more
We’re dancing for the Sun, we’re dancing for the Sun
As we will keep on dancing till the light is overcome
We’re dancing for the Sun, we’re dancing for the Sun
As we will keep on dancing till the light is overcome

At the end of the song, drape the ribbons down along the copper table and step back.
HPS then takes the cauldron and places in over the centre of the ribbons / centre of mirror.
HPS takes up the salt water and libates a bit of it into the cauldron.
HPS: We consecrate this cauldron with water and earth.
HPS returns salt water to altar.
HP takes up the censer and censes the cauldron.
HP: We consecrate this cauldron with fire and air.
HP returns censer to altar. He picks up the sword.
HPS: I ask each of you to make an offering of a petal or a leaf to the waters of the cauldron if you wish.
Everyone makes their offerings.
HPS takes up jug of mead from the altar.
HPS makes an offering of mead to the cauldron and returns jug to the altar where she takes up the aspergum.
HPS holds aspergum high as HP holds the sword over the cauldron.
HPS: Within this sword are all of the energies of our previous temple. They have been contained, ready to release at Midsummer, as the energies of the Sun’s height and power are released across the land. 
HPS says:  Spear to cauldron, lance to grail.
HP plunges sword into cauldron.
When energies have been sent, HP takes sword and gives it to hooded figure sitting at the edge of the circle.
HPS takes up the Aspergum and asperges participants, and the circle.
Cakes and Ale
Farewell.