Litha (Summer Solstice)
Arranged by Margaret

Fire Ritual
2006

The Ritual of Midsummer

NCPH - North Cardinal Point Holder

ECPH - East Cardinal Point Holder

SCPH - South Cardinal Point Holder

WCPH - West Cardinal Point Holder

 

When everyone has assembled within the Temple and everyone has their power hands raised, signifying they are ready to begin, the High Priestess lights the altar candle and says:

May the Great Gods know this work we are about to do.

And everyone replies:

May it be so.

Everyone now lowers their arms, but remain standing. The High Priestess lights the white altar candle. This altar candle should be used to light all the others, including the incense and balefire. As the elements are invoked, everyone should turn to face the element as it is being invoked. The Cardinal Point Holders should make sure that when they walk the boundaries of the Circle, they do so to the OUTSIDE of the Cardinal Point benches.

The HPS takes the altar candle to teh NCPH, who uses it to place a drop of wax onto hte salt in his bowl. The NCPH holds up the bowl of salt and recites:

I spread this salt of our Earth, upon the ground to set the boundaries of this Sacred Space, no evil may cross my mark.

NCPH sprinkles the salt around the perimeter of the Temple, beginning and ending at the North. As he passes the ECPH, he hands off the Altar candle. Place the Salt next to the North candle and stand to the inside of the North bench.

ECPH holds up the incense burner and lights the incense with the white altar candle, then recites:

I light this incense, so that its' smoke may be used as a pathway, to conduct our prayers to the Gods ears.

Walk with the burning incense around the perimeter of the Sacred Space, beginning and ending in the East. Hand the altar candle to the SCPH on the way around, and stand to the inside of the East bench when finished.

SCPH picks up the red Fire candle and lights with the altar candle and recites:

This fire honors all Gods and Goddesses, may their names be praised on this night. Maiden, Mother and Crone, Heir Pharoah God, all are worshipped at this site.

SCPH walks the candle around the perimeter of the Sacred Space, beginning and ending in the South. Hand the Altar candle to the WCPH on the way around and stand to the inside of the South bench when finished.

WCPH holds up the seashell filled with water and recites:

From this water all life flows, from the beginning to the end. As was then, make it now within this place, seal our souls within Sacred Space.

WCPH sprinkles the water around the perimeter of the Sacred Space beginning and ending in the West. Hand altar candle off to the NCPH on way around, then stand to the inside of the West bench when finished.

NCPH uses the white altar candle to light the North green candle, then recites:

I call to the Great Goddess Isis, Mistress of Magick and Might. Join us now in this place, help us create Sacred Space.

I call to the Great God Osiris, God of death and resurrection. Join us now in this place, help us create Sacred Space.

NCPH hands the white altar candle to the ECPH, who lights the East yellow candle and then recites:

I call to the Great Goddess Bast, Lady of the East and the Eye of Ra. Join us now in this place, help us create Sacred Space.

I call to the Great God Ra, God of the Sun and King of all Gods. Join us now in this place, help us create Sacred Space.

ECPH hands the white altar candle to the SCPH, who lights the South red candle and then recites:

I call to the Great Goddess Sekhmet, Cosmic Goddess without whom no life would exist. Join us now in this place, help us create Sacred Space.

I call to the Great God Set, Lord of the Desert, Master of Wind and Storms. Join us now in this place, help us create Sacred Space.

SCPH hands the white altar candle to the WCPH, who lights the West blue candle and then recites:

I call to the Great Goddess Neith, Mistress of all Gods and Lady of the West. Join us now in this place, help us create Sacred Space.

I call to the Great God Thoth, God of the Moon, Wisdom and the Arts. Join us now in the place, help us create Sacred Space.

WCPH hands the white altar candle back to the NCPH who places it back on the altar before returning back to the center of the Circle.

The Priestess raises her arms to the skies and recites:

We bid welcome to the Great Goddess Nut, Goddess of the Skies and Mother of the Gods. We bid welcome to the Great God Geb, God of the Earth and father of the Gods. Join us now in this place, help us create Sacred Space.

The HPS raises her hands to the skies and recites:

We bid welcome to the Gods and Goddesses of the four corners of the world. Anubis, Hathor, Horus, Khnum, Ma'at, Min, Ptah, Selket, Serquet and Sobek we invite you to join us, protect us, guide and guard us in this rite, which we hold in your honor and foryour glory.

The Temple Guardian (TG) picks up the sword, raises it straight up to the skies and recites:

As our prayers and praise rise up to you on the smoke of our incense and fires. May your blessings and commandments descend upon the steel of this blade.

TG drives teh sword gently into the ground in the center of the circle, being very careful not to stab his foot.

HPS says: May we receive your words.

All: May we receive your words.

Priestess: Our Circle is cast.

Cakes and Ale

All: Now is the time for us to give thanks to the Gods for that which sustains us.

Priestess: So be it. May we ever be aware of all that we owe to the Goddess.

Priestess takes the chalice and places it before her on the altar, then takes the athame in hand and slowly lowers it into the Chalice.

HP: In like fashion may male join female.

All: For the happiness of both.

Priestess: Let the fruits of union promote life.

All: Let all be fruitful and let wealth be spread throughout all the lands.

HP raises the cakes and ale into the air.

Priestess raises athame over food and drink then recites:

This food is the blessing of the Gods to our bodies, let us partake of it freely. And as we share, let us remember always to see to it, that all we have we share with those who have nothing.

Priestess begins to the left and goes to each present offering cakes and ale reciting to each:

May you never hunger and may you never thirst.

HPS:

The Great God Ra is ready to descend to the underworld in his royal barge, taking with him all those who have passed on during the last year. Does anyone have any loved ones who have passed on during the last year? If so, please come forward with an offering for them.

Each person who has lost a loved one, now comes forard in turn and tosses their offering into the Balefire, while saying:

May the soul of (loved ones name) be blessed.

Once everyone has gone, everyone says:

May it be so.

HPS: May all those who travel with Ra be lightly judged and find peace within the Kingdom of Osiris, until their time to return. If anyone has any special prayer requests, please step forward now.

Each person steps forward in turn, writing their request on a piece of paper, lights it from the altar candle and then tosses it into the fire, along with their token gift saying:

May the smoke from these flames carry my prayers to the Great God Geb and Goddess Nut.

Once everyone has had the opportunity to take their turn, the HPS asks everyone to take their place for the closing and grounding ceremony.

Priestess raises her arms to the skies and recites:

We thank the Great Goddess Nut and the Great God Geb, we ask that you join us in future Circles. May your names live forever in the hearts of men.

WCPH snuffs out all candles at the West and recites:

We thank the Great Goddess Neith and the Great God Thoth. We ask that you join us in future Circles. May your names live forever in the hearts of men.

SCPH snuffs out all candles at the South and recites:

We thank the Great Goddess Sekhmet and the Great God Set. We ask that you join us in future Circles. May your names live forever in the hearts of men.

ECPH snuffs out all candles at the East and recites:

We thank the Great Goddess Bast and the Great God Ra. We ask that you join us in future Circles. May your names live forever in the hearts of men.

NCPH snuffs out all candles at the North and recites:

We thank the Great Goddess Isis and the Great God Osiris. We ask that you join us in future Circles. May your names live forever in the hearts of men.

HPS stands in front of the altar, snuffs out the altar candle and recites:

We release this circle of power and might may all spirits go or stay as they please. As I have said, so let it be.

All: So let it be.

Everyone forms a circle, hand in hand, around the Balefire on in the center of the Sacred Space. HPS stands at the East, HP stands at the West, PS stands at teh North and P stands at the South. All gathered raises their hands to the sky and the HPS recites:

We now share our energy and will wtih our Mother Nut and with each other.

HPS lowers her hands to shoulder level and all others follow in kind. HP recites:

We now release our energy and will to our Father Geb and with each other.

HP lowers his hands to waist and all others follow in kind, PS recites:

We give thanks to all the Gods and Goddesses, may you receive our energy, thanks and prayers.

All: So let it be.

HPS: May we all enjoy the Feast of the Harvest.