Imbolc Ritual
Adapted from Edain McCoy's The Sabbats
Cleanse and cast the circle. Then call the elements in the manner with which you are most comfortable. We used the corner callings from Spiral Dance, by Starhawk.
The high priestess takes the chalice from the alter and holds it up to the sky.
HPS: Blessed Lady Goddess, we humbly ask your presence at our circle tonight as we honor you at this season.
Coveners: Blessed be the Lady.
The high priest takes the athame from the altar and holds it up to the sky.
HP: Blessed Lord God, we humbly ask your presence at our circle tonight as we honor you at this season.
Coveners: Blessed be the Lord.
The Virgin Goddess leaves the circle. She comes to the edge of the circle with her candle wheel in her hands. She should stand at the West quarter (the doorway to the Land of the Dead). The high priestess will cut a doorway in the circle and allow the Goddess to enter. Everyone should greet her in their own way (verbal, motion, etc). The Goddess should walk three times clockwise around the inside of the circle, and come to a stop before the alter and kneel before it, facing North.
The coveners should walk in single file to the altar starting with the person to the altar's right. This will make the procession head clockwise. When everyone is back in their places holding their lighted candles, the ritual can continue.
HP: Behold the light. The God has returned for his bride.
Coveners:
Blessed be the light which warms. Blessed be the God.
Blessed be the Wheel which turns. Blessed be the Goddess.
The child God steps out from among the rest and stands before the bride, who is still kneeling. The God bows to the goddess and she to him. Then they do a few flowing dance steps around the circle without touching each other, but conveying the idea of awakening sexuality. When they are finished, they lift the besom from its resting place on the altar. The Goddess should hold the straw part and the God the stick. They should make sure they do not physically come in contact with each other while they do this. The high priestess stands in front of the besom and takes it from them by grasping it firmly with both hands. The Goddess and God step back to take their places with the rest of the coven.
HPS: With Imbolc we sweep away the last vestiges of winter.
The Coveners turn and face outward from the circle. The Priestess moves counterclockwise around the circle behind the covenors, sweeping from the center outward. As the High Priestess passes each covenor he or she should voice either aloud or silently all the things that he or she wishes to have swept from their lives. When this is finished, the Virgin Goddess and the child God step forward again and take the besom from the High Priestess in the same manner in which it was given. Then the High Priestess steps back and the Virgin Goddess and child God place the besom back onto the altar, and again take their positions among the covenors around the circle.
HPS: The God has claimed the Goddess bride and the Wheel of the Year turns on. Who is Goddess?
All women: I am Goddess.
HP: Who is God?
All men: I am God.
HP and HPS: Who is Goddess and God?
Coveners: All living beings are Goddess and God.
HP and HPS: And who are we?
Coveners: We are the children of deity. And we are deity. We are part of the creative life forces which move the universe. we are microcosm and macrocosm. We are part of all that is.
Cakes and Ale
HPS: Though we are apart, we are ever together - for we are one in the spirit of our goddess and God. Merry meet. Merry part.
Coveners: And merry meet again.
All: Blessed be!
Ground, take down the circle.
