CEREMONY OF INITIATION FOR A COVEN
Guided Meditation
Person A
Hear the words of the Threefold Goddess, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dianna, Aphrodite, Ceridwen, Isis, Arionrhod, Brigid, Aradia, and many other names:
Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me who is Queen of all the Wise. She who would learn all sorcery yet has not won its deepest secrets, them I will teach her, in truth, all things as yet unknown. And you shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love in My presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is Person Ay on earth. For My law is love unto all beings.
Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the earth.
Atunement
All
We all come from the Goddess,
And to her we shall return
Like a drop of rain,
Flowing to the ocean. (Repeat x 3)
Raising of the Circle
Person B
Person B takes the Athame from the altar and traces a circle around the coveners. When she returns to the north, she kneels and salutes, saying, "Hail and well come, frosty Spirits of the North. Lend to us your power and protection this night, that the Coven of the Golden Grove may be given a true initiation, to justly wield the power of Earth. So mote it be!"
ALL: (envisioning a wall of dark-green light springing up from the circle) "So mote it be!"
Person C
Person B passes the Athame to Person C and she advances to the east, kneels and salutes, saying, "Hail and well come, bright Spirits of the East. Lend to us your power and protection that the Coven of the Golden Grove may be given a true initiation, to justly wield the power of Air. So mote it be!"
ALL: (envisioning a wall of lemon-yellow light springing up from the circle, within the wall of green) "So mote it be!"
Person A
Person C passes the Athame to Person A and she advances to the south, kneels and salutes, saying, "Hail and well come, fiery Spirits of the South. Lend to us your power and protection that the Coven of the Golden Grove may be given a true initiation, to justly wield the power of Fire. So mote it be!"
ALL: (envisioning a wall of crimson light springing up from the circle, within the walls of green and yellow) "So mote it be!"
Person D
Person A passes the Athame to Person D and she advances to the west, kneels and salutes, saying, "Hail and well come, tireless Spirits of the West. Lend to us your power and protection that the Coven of the Golden Grove may be given a true initiation, to justly wield the power of Water. So mote it be!"
ALL: (envisioning a wall of dark blue light springing up from the circle, within the walls of green, yellow, and red) "So mote it be!"
Statement of Purpose
Person C
"I call upon the Horned God; I call upon the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone; I call upon the Spirits of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water; I call upon the Hosts of the Mighty Dead; and I call every true Witch within this circle to witness that we are here to consecrate and initiate the Coven of the Golden Grove as a group of Witches who gather regularly to celebrate our faith and work magick. The circle is cast!
We gather today to celebrate the birth of a new coven of Witches, who shall gather to honour the Goddess and the God, to celebrate the wheel of the year, to work magick in accord with the Wiccan Rede, and in all ways to serve as priestesses of the Old Religion."
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!"
Wiccan Rede
All
Bide ye Wiccans laws ye must
In perfect love and perfect trust
Live and let live
Fairly take and fairly give
Form a circle thrice about
To keep all evil spirits out
To bind ye spell every time
Let ye spell be spake in rhyme
Soft of eye, light of touch
Speak you little, listen much
Deosil go by waxing moon
Sing and dance ye Wiccan rune
Heed the north wind's mighty gale
Lock the door and drop the sail
When the wind comes from the south
Love will kiss the on the mouth
When the wind blows from the west
Departed souls will have no rest
When the wind blows from the east
Expect the new and set the feast
Nine wood in ye cauldron go
Burn them quick and burn them slow
Elder be the Lady's tree
Burn it not or curst you'll be
When the wheel begins to turn
Soon ye Beltane fire will burn
When the wheel has turned to Yule
Light the log and the horned one rules
Heed ye flower bush and tree
By the Lady blessed be
Where the rippling waters grow
Cast a stone and truth you'll know
When ye have and hold a need
Harken not to other's greed
With a fool no seasons spend
Lest ye be counted as his friend
Merry meet and merry part
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart
Mind the threefold law ye should
Three times bad and three times good
When misfortune is anow
Wear the blue star on thy brow
True in love ye must ever be
Lest thy love be false to thee
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil;
An ye harm none do what ye will!
The Warning
Person B
Person B tells Person C to kneel and points the Athame at her neck (Person C raises her 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 - it would be better for you to throw yourself forward and spill out your life than become a member of this coven with fear or falseness in your heart: How do you come?"
Person C: "I come with perfect love and perfect trust."
Person B lays down the Athame, lifts Person C to her feet, and kisses her. "Thus are all first brought into the Circle.", then hands Person C the Athame.
Person C
Person C tells Person A to kneel and points the Athame at her neck (Person A raises her 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 - it would be better for you to throw yourself forward and spill out your life than become a member of this coven with fear or falseness in your heart: How do you come?"
Person A: "I come with perfect love and perfect trust."
Person C lays down the Athame, lifts Person A to her feet, and kisses her. "Thus are all first brought into the Circle.", then hands Person A the Athame.
Person A
Person A tells Person D to kneel and points the Athame at her neck (Person D raises her 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 - it would be better for you to throw yourself forward and spill out your life than become a member of this coven with fear or falseness in your heart: How do you come?"
Person D: "I come with perfect love and perfect trust."
Person A lays down the Athame, lifts Person D to her feet, and kisses her. "Thus are all first brought into the Circle.", then hands Person D the Athame.
Person D
Person D tells Person B to kneel and points the Athame at her neck (Person B raises her 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 - it would be better for you to throw yourself forward and spill out your life than become a member of this coven with fear or falseness in your heart: How do you come?"
Person B: "I come with perfect love and perfect trust."
Person D lays down the Athame, lifts Person B to her feet, and kisses her. "Thus are all first brought into the Circle.", then places the Athame back on the altar.
Dedication
All
Prick your fingers with a pin and squeeze a little blood into the Chalice filled with red wine.
Say together:
"Oh Holy God, Sun King, Oak King, and Winter King. You are always within us. And our love is always yours. It is to you our hearts call. And we ask in your name, to be dedicated into the Craft.
Burn like these candles, ever within us, and know that we love you. So mote it be.
Oh Holy Goddess, Maiden, Mother, and Crone. You are forever our mother. And our love is always yours. It is to you that we are born.
And we ask in your name to be dedicated into the Craft.
Burn like this incense, ever within us, and know that we love you. So mote it be."
Person B
Take a sip from the Chalice and say:
"I drink of my sisters and I ask the Goddess and the God for/to grant me... (your own words)"
Pass chalice to the left.
Person C
Take a sip from the Chalice and say:
"I drink of my sisters and I ask the Goddess and the God for/to grant me... (your own words)"
Pass chalice to the left.
Person A
Take a sip from the Chalice and say:
"I drink of my sisters and I ask the Goddess and the God for/to grant me... (your own words)"
Pass chalice to the left.
Person D
Take a sip from the Chalice and say:
"I drink of my sisters and I ask the Goddess and the God for/to grant me... (your own words)"
Then place chalice back on the alter.
Blessing
Person D
Bless us, Maiden, now and forever.
Blessed be our eyes, that we may see your path.
Blessed be our noses, that we may breathe Thy essence.
Blessed be our lips, that we may speak of Thee.
Blessed be our hearts, that we may be faithful in Thy works.
Blessed be our loins, that create life as You have brought forth the universe.
Blessed be our feet, that we may ever walk in Thy ways.
Cakes and Wine
Person B
As we partake of these cakes and this wine, let it be a sign that what is above shall be made manifest below that we act on this plane to achieve our aims, as well as placing our intentions on the astral level. The coven is born.
Farewell to the Quarters
All
A: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, Powers of Earth, we thank Thee for attending. If go ye must, we say: Hail and Farewell!
All repeat: Hail and Farewell!
L: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, Powers of Fire, we thank Thee for attending. If go ye must, we say: Hail and Farewell!
All repeat: Hail and Farewell!
J: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, Powers of Air, we thank Thee for attending. If go ye must, we say: Hail and Farewell!
All repeat: Hail and Farewell!
D: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, Powers of Water, we thank Thee for attending. If go ye must, we say: Hail and Farewell!
All repeat: Hail and Farewell!
Farewell to the Goddess and the God
Person D and Person B
A: For all your blessings to us great Goddess, we thank you. For your guidance, your protection, your love and power and wisdom, we thank you. Be with us always.
D: Thank you for Your presence, oh Horned One. Grant that this beginning may be peaceful, and that the love and wisdom we shall experience will continue, even when the coven is no more. We thank you for making way for the seeds of new growth to come. Blessed be.
All repeat: Hail and Farewell!
Opening the Circle
Person C
The circle is open but never broken. To one another we say:
All repeat: Merry did we meet, and merry did we part, and merry shall we meet again!