A Sea Wiccaning
Adapted from : "Ceridwen Goddess" by Amalthea

This rite is done on the sea-shore, either a fire is lit or an altar is set up on the beach itself.

THE WICCANING RITE:

All form a circle.

[Priestess takes her athame, plunges the blade into the container of salt]

"So that you may be fit to dwell in this Sacred Space, I bless this salt, in the names of our Lord and Lady, I bless this salt" [then transferring three 'knife-fulls' to the container of seawater taken from the beach where the ritual is held]

"So that you may be fit to dwell in this Sacred Space, I consecrate and bless this water" [stir the salt into the water.)

(Priestess walks the diameter of the altar or firewood and casts the salt-water along its perimeter)

Priest Blesses incense & lights & blesses a candle & the ritual fire, Priest traverses the perimeter of the 2nd Circle with frankincense & myrrh and then a candle.)

Priest casts the Sacred Circle: [3rd circle which is large & includes the ocean]

"With earth and air draw forth all that is fair, by fire and sea of ill stay O Circle, be thou a meeting-place of love and joy and truth a shield against all wickedness and evil a rampart of protection that shall preserve the powers that we may raise within Thee. Wherefore do I bless and consecrate thee.

Priestess welcomes all gathered into the Circle space:

"May your mind be free, may your heart be free, may your body be free."

All dance around circle.

Invoking the Watchtowers:

WATER takes the bowl of water to the WEST and says:

O cool lakes and deep seas of the West waters, soft and giving of fresh life join with us

Cast your blessings upon these children and become a friend to them!

Blessed Be.

All echo, "Blessed Be!"

(the water is placed at the West gate)

FIRE: takes a candle to the South and says:

O warm sun and warm skies of the South bringing life anew, the growth of all things, and promise of the future, join us

Cast your blessings upon these children and become a friend to them!

Blessed Be!

All echo, "Blessed Be!"

(the candle is placed at the south gate)

AIR; takes the censor/sage to the East and says:

O Winds of the East who bring forth freshness, life, and joy, join us

Cast your blessings upon these children and become a friend to them!

Blessed Be!

All echo, "Blessed Be!"

(the censor is placed at the East gate)

EARTH: takes the bowl of earth to the North and says:

O mighty mountains and endless steppes of the North Meadows of green and the creatures that therein dwell join us, cast your blessings upon these children and become a friend to them.

All echo, "Blessed Be!"

(the bowl is set at the north gate)

The Priestess holds the alter Wand aloft and asks:

"Repeat after me.... As above so below, as the Universe, so the soul, as without so within.

Blessed and Gracious Ones -- on this night do we consecrate to you our minds, our bodies, and our spirits. Blessed Be!"

PRIESTESS:

All-dewy Sky-sailing Pregnant Moon, who shines for all, who flows through all light of the world, which is yourself, maiden, mother, crone, Silver bright, the weaver & the green one. O most gracious and magnificent Lady we ask that some portion of your presence be here among us now

Give protection and shelter to the small and sacred ones who are here to be dedicated in your honour.

PRIEST:

Seed sower, grain reborn, Horned One come!

Bright sun, Dark death, Lord of winds, Great Lord of the dance of life, Sun-child, winter born king, Hanged one, Untamed, untamed! Stag and stallion, goat and bull, Sailor of the last sea, guardian of the gate. Lord of the two lands, ever-dying, ever-living, radiance O ancient Lord of the universe, we ask some portion of your presence here among us now. Shield and strengthen the child who shall be dedicated in your honour!

MAIDEN (can be a sister of the child or one of the sponsors or a witness, as she sprinkles the child with barley)

"Dearest one, may you never know hunger or poverty for material or spiritual things. I bless you with the barley of the Spirits, for nourishment and wealth."

MOTHER: (a Priestess who is the mother of the child as she sprinkles the children with water)

"I bless you in the name of the Spirits of all life and healing, with the waters of the Earth, that you may be healthy and strong in body, mind, and spirit. Let love be your treasure, may you be happy in your heart."

CRONE: (Coven elder or the Priestess's mother and the grandmother of the child as she sprinkles the children with salt)

"Dearest ones, may you have access to your own wisdom and that of others. May you be protected from foolishness and self-destruction. May you know the essence of things; may you be bright and find it easy to learn and teach."

FATHER: (a Priest, who is the father of the child ,sences with fire/sage incense)

"With the Fire of the Universe to spark your temper, I would ask that you may find joy and a sense of merriment in all that you accomplish - to see the lighter side of life's journey and find happiness in your work."

THE DIVULGENCE OF THE NAMES
(explained to the Witnesses by Guardian)

Ancient European peoples believed that you must have two names, one public and one a secret name that only those present at the blessing ceremony knew.

This second name is for use after puberty, when the soul changes into its first adult self, when it can be uttered once more by this child before the Gods. The first public name was to divert the evil eye, to gain favour with the fates, to keep away sickness, and to help the child reach adulthood.

PRIEST:

"Great Spirit of Nature, protect and guide this young soul among us.

May the Blessings of the wise and joyous Father of the Gods far-seeing and far-knowing be upon thee. May the blessings of the Triple Goddess, of Maiden, of Mother, of Crone, and all their power be upon thee."

{The following blessings/invocations are spoken and followed by the child being immersed in the ocean water of the beach where the ritual is held, by one of the parents.}

PRIESTESS;

[Goddess name of choice]

Great Goddess, Mother of All envelope this daughter / son of yours in the waters of your womb.

Grant her/ him protection from wrong-doing, Wash away the memories of her / his pain

Shower her /him with Your blessings in a life everlasting

Bless .......... [ childs secret name whispered & a pentacle in oilis traced on its breast]

So Mote it Be!

PRIEST: Great Goddess, Nurturer and Bearer of all Men, great and small, without whose womb they would not be. Mother of Gods, of Sacrificial Kings, Presidents, Emperors, and beggars Welcome this daughter/ son of Yours into your Light and as you have taught us, let her/ him find "Beauty and strength, power and compassion, mirth and reverence, honour and humility" within her /his heart. Wash her /his fears away with your caress!

Bless & protect......... [childs name spoken aloud & an equal armed cross is traced in oil on the forehead]

Blessed Be!

1st SPONSOR :Hail, O gracious and most magnificent Lady, whose slender hand turns the vast wheel of the sky.

Whose triple aspect does see the beginning, the life, and the end of all things. Whose wells of mystery do give inspiration and rebirth throughout eternity, receive here this small daughter / son of yours with blessings and with love.

So mote it be!

2nd SPONSOR: "For this newest arrival, who came as an unplanned gift from the gods, whose arrival has challenged us and helped us grow, we ask the blessings of the Lord & Lady upon those who will guide & protect this small

COVEN ELDER:

"O Lady of the Starry Heavens, Wise All-Father, behold this lovely child, conceived and brought forth in love.

Bless and protect her /him and grant the gifts of wisdom, inspiration, and wonder, adorn her /him with your enduring and eternal strength and steadfastness. May she / he ever have a spirit that seek the stars, and roots that hold tight deep within thy loving breast."

CAKES & ALE, Bell is rung by Water.

PRIEST blesses the wine /ale, dipping the athame into the chalice:

"As the cup is to the female so the athame is to the male, and conjoined they bring blessed creation"

Hail Earth, Mother of All!

May your fields increase and flourish.

Your forests grow and spread,

And your waters run pure and free!

Accept my offering, O Earth Mother!

Bring forth that which is good, and sustaining, For every living thing!"

[Priest pours a little on the Earth, takes a sip & holds it for Priestess, it is then passed around the circle]

Priestess blesses cakes & says:

"Let us join hands and purify ourselves breathing in the life force of the universe and expelling all evil from us.

Take now of the bread and know of the grain of which you partake as the latest of countless generations growing to fruitfulness and in dying, giving of the seeds from which new life shall spring Know that every seed, every grain is the record of times most ancient and a promise of all that shall be.

Partake of the bread and know of life eternal and of Immortality.

With this knowledge are our souls sustained."

[Priestess takes a cake & crumbles it as an offering, takes one herself then offers cakes to Priest, then the dish is passed around]

PRIEST-may at this point pour more wine / ale & bless it :

As the Chalice of wine is shared around the Circle, the Priest asks for it's glorification :

Drink now of the wine And know of the tranformation of simple fruits to sparkling elixir as this wine has undergone change so by life's cauldron shall we.

As this wine gives the enchantment of the Divine or abasement into the lower realms, so do all humans rise or fall in each life As their own will and strength determines.

RING BELL.

1st Guardian: All join hands,:

"Lords of the Winds, the Fires, the Seas, and the Fields, before you depart to your fair and lovely realms, we thank you for your presence this evening! Blessed be! ...

2nd Guardian;

May the Circle be open but not broken, may the Beauty of the Goddess and the strength of the God dwell in our hearts. Merry meet, and merry part, and meet again. Blessed Be!"

ALL DANCE AROUND ALTAR OR FIRE.

GIFTS EXCHANGED & FEAST BEGINS, DONT FORGET TO PUT OUT RITUAL FIRE BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

END OF RITE.

BLESSED BE