An Esbat Ritual
Esbat rite, coven of the wheel

All enter & go to their places.

Water rings bell 3 times.

Narrator: "This is the time of the fullness of the symbol of our lady, the all things wax & wane, & on this night of nights, the powers of life, of magic & of creation are greatest. On these invisible tides do we weave & spin our craft for the good of all. There is a magnificence to this time when the veil between the mundane world & the hidden worlds are thin. The ancients knew well of the mysteries of this night & used them to honour the lady who is the lamp of our night sky. So weave a spell of moonlight, & fashion with it the fabric of pure magical substance. And dance & sing & be merry, my brothers & sisters in the craft, for in dark secret places many are working this night! Let us begin.

Water rings bell 3 times.

Priest casts circle, all visualise blue flame of created circle.
"I consecrate this circle of power to the ancient ones,
Here may they manifest & bless their children"

Priestess blesses the altar & lights the cauldron candle, moving clockwise she greets each one present & makes a pentacle on each ones forehead with music begins, all dance around circle.

Guardian of the east: moves forward & lights incense, blesses the rising smoke with a pentacle, then he / she carries it around the circle & replaces it on the altar. Makes invoking pentacle, then says:

"I call upon Paralda & the powers of air to witness & guard this quarter & our circle. So mote it be."

Now do the silent call while the coveners chant "Paralda..."

When the guardian of the east feels the presence of air he/she indicates for the chanting to stop with the silent gesture for air.

All: "Welcome Paralda, so mote it be."

Guardian of the south: moves forward & lights all candles except the god

/goddess candles, [bless the flames with a pentacle] then he / she carries

Fire's candle around circle & replaces it on the altar. Makes invoking

Pentacle, then says: "I call upon Ddjinn & the powers of fire to witness & guard this quarter & our circle. So mote it be"

Now do the silent call while coveners chant "Djinn..."

When the guardian of the south feels the presence of fire he / she indicates for the chanting to stop with the silent gesture for fire.

All: "Welcome Djinn, so mote it be"

Guardian of the west: Moves forward & taking a pinch of salt & stirs it into the water, use finger to make 3 circles in the water, now make a pentacle over it, holds it high, lowers it & moving round the circle sprinkle it about with rue twig, then replace it on the altar. Makes invoking pentacle, then says:

"I call upon Nixa & the powers of water to witness & guard this quarter & our circle. So mote it be".

Now do silent call while the coveners chant "Nixa .."

When the guardian of the west feels the presence of water he / she indicates for the chanting to stop with the silent gesture for water.

All: "Welcome Nixa, so mote it be. "

Guardian of the north: moves forward & blesses the salt with a pentacle,

Holds it high, lowers it, then moves around circle sprinkling it as they go round, then replaces it on the altar. Makes invoking pentacle, then says: "I call upon Ghob & the powers of earth to witness & guard this quarter & Our circle. So mote it be."

Now do silent call while the coveners chant "Ghob..."

When the guardian of the north feels the presence of earth he / she Indicates for the chanting to stop with the silent gesture for earth.

All: "Welcome Ghob, so mote it be."

Elder: "This circle is bound with power all around between worlds we stand with protection at hand. We are mortal, loved & cared for by the great goddess & the horned one, we place ourselves in their hands, so mote it be."

All: "So mote it be."

1st coven guardian: "Through the great mother all things are born & to her all things return in their season. And so mote it be"

All: "So mote it be "

2nd coven guardian: "Lord & Lady we who have dedicated our lives to the Pagan way, call upon you now, bless us as we work in your circle round"

All: "So mote it be "

Water rings bell 3 times.

Priest & priestess move forward to light & bless god & goddess candles.

Invocations to the gods inserted here......

The priest stands in the god posture while he recites the invocation while the rest of the coveners make the god gesture.

The priestess stands in the goddess posture while she recites the invocation while the rest of the coveners make the goddess gesture.

All kneel for the duration of the 5 fold kiss.

Priestess assumes the goddess position, priest kneels before her & gives her the 5 fold kiss saying:

"Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways" [Kisses right Foot then left]

Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar"

Blessed be thy womb, without which we could not be"

Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty"

Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the sacred names"

Priest now "draws down the moon" on her by kneeling again & touching her with his right finger on her right breast, left breast & womb, the same 3 points again & finally the right breast. As he does this he says:

"I invoke thee & call upon thee, mighty mother of us all, bringer of all Fruitfulness; by seed & root, by stem & bud, by leaf & flower & fruit. By Life & love do I invoke thee to descend upon the body of this thy servant & Priestess "

He now stands up & takes apace backwards.

The priestess draws the pentacle in front of him & says;

"I am the 5 pointed star of love & bliss here I charge you with this sign."

Narrator: "Hear now the charge of the goddess! "

Priestess reads the charge.

Water rings bell 3 times. Working part of ritual begins & ends with the priest saying:

"By the powers of the ancient gods, I bind all power within this circle into this......[ Spell, poppet, etc.]

So mote it be"

All : So mote it be.

Water rings bell 3 times for cakes & ale.

Priest: "may we always have good health, prosperity & happiness"

Priestess: " may we always be strong in mind, body & spirit"

Simple feast begins........

Water rings bell 3 times for closing.

Elder: "We give thanks to the lord & lady may they go in power & love.

Air "Depart in peace o powers of air farewell Paralda, our thanks & blessings."

Fire: "Depart in peace o powers of fire farewell Djinn, our thanks & blessings "

Water: "Depart in peace o powers of water farewell Nixa , our thanks & blessings "

Earth: "Depart in peace o powers of earth farewell Ghob, our thanks & blessings "

1st coven guardian: "To all beings & powers of the visible & invisible, depart in peace, may there always be peace between us, our thanks & blessings."

2nd coven guardian: "By the wiccan law ye must, in perfect love, in perfect trust.
Eight words the wiccan rede fulfil
An harm ye none, do what ye will.
What ye send forth comes back to thee,
So ever ye mind the law of three
Follow this with mind and heart
And merry ye meet and merry ye part."

All: "Blessed be."

Priest cuts circle with athame & says:

"The circle is open, yet ever remains a circle around and through us always flows its magical power so mote it be."

All: "So mote it be."

Dance around circle.

Take offerings out and pack away tools and take down altar.

Blessed be