A Litha Ritual from Judy M. -- June 27, 1999

Here's the rite we'll be doing.  We will need a LOT of drummers, seasoned 
hands to help guide the power cone, people to help with directions, pass out 
cups, fruit, etc.  I'd like to get to there around  6:30pm to do some set-up, 
talk over the rite and find our helpers. We will set up the central fire and
a ring of torches.  Then we start at 8 PM.

There will be strips of paper and pens for anyone interested to write down a
relationship wish:  to draw a new lover, deepen a commitment, or any other 
relationship desire.  the paper is to be folded and put into the basket.

People can file into the circle after a water blessing (volunteers - 2)

(volunteer) sweep the circle

HPS: "The earth has reached the midpoint on her journey around the sun.  
Daylight hours begin to shorten again.  This is the time of midsummer, called 
Summer Solstice or Litha.  The Goddesses of Love preside, bringing abundance, 
fertility, power and order.  Tonight is lovers' night around the world.  It 
is also, by the way, a great time to perform divination about relationship 
questions.  The wheel of the year is turning; from the high point of Siummer, 
we now face the coming winder even though its first signs are far away."

HP: Let's take a moment to ground our energies.  Let your knees unlock 
themselves, and Imagine for a moment with me that you are a very large tree.  
Beneath your feet your roots sink deep into our mother the earth and 
intertwine with other deep roots, reinforcing each other's strength.  Feel 
the layers of cold Earth and rocck beneath your feet as you reach down 
through the bones of your ancestors, down, down, to the molten heart of the 
Mother.  Good, now we're ready to work our magics together."

HP:  Will the drummers herald the call of the watchtowers? (Drummers are 
asked to give a short burst of drumming  preceeding each quarter call)   
Start in the East, then South, West, and North (4 volunteers)

E: I greet you, Aquila, mighty eagle, guardian of the watchtower of the East. 
 Come down from your lofty abode and guard the circle against all perils 
coming from the East.  Aquila!

S:  Leonis, I greet you, mighty lion.  Rise up in roaring flame and 
brilliance and guard the circle against all peril coming from the South.  
Leonis!

W: Ormsilvren, cunning serpent, rise up now from your liquid depths and guard 
the circle against all peril coming from the West.  Ormsilvren!

N:  Tauros, mighty bull, guardian  of the watchtower of the North, place of 
greatest power.  Stand fast, O shaker of mountains, and guard the circle 
against all perils approaching from the North.  Tauros!

(volunteer)  Takes the staff and travels around the circle saying:  By the 
power of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, be this circle cast and sealed.

HPS:  Ishtar, Queen of Heaven, Goddess of the moon, bringer of love and 
fertility, fanning the flame of desire, come to us this night and give us 
your blessings.  Ishtar, we welcome you!

HP:  Enki, Lord of the Earth and Primordial Oceans, Father of us all, Lord of 
the 
Sacred Eye, source of all secret magical knowledge, come to us this night 
with your sweet waters and give us your blessings.  Enki, we welcome you!

Start the spiral dance.  The drummers are asked to set the pace of the spiral 
and to give us a slow buildup to crescendo. Sometimes the spiral is a bit 
rigorous, so if anyone needs to be careful, would they do us the honor of 
holding the center of the circle?

Bring the papers to the middle of the circle after the spiral 
dance.(volunteer)  Hopefully we have a fire, but if we don't, we'll burn the 
papers after the rite in the backyard.  (4 seasoned volunteers will be needed 
to help direct the energies to the papers and to help keep the count.) We 
will do a chant with increasing intensity 12 times.  On the 12th time, 
coveners are asked to aim their arms toward the basket of papers and let the 
12th chant out in a yell, slowly trailing off.  Then ground the energies by 
placing both hands on the ground.  

All yell:  And as we will it, so mote it be!

(4 volunteers) bring the fruit to the front of the altar where it is blessed 
by offering it to Ishtar and Enki: Ishtar, Enki, give us your blessings.  Let 
our wishes be fulfilled, let our lives reflect  joy, passion and wisdom. And 
we thank you.

Pass the fruit around with each volunteer covering a quadrant.  

(4 volunteers) each cover a quadrant and pour the cranberry juice into the 
cups that have been passed around.

HPS:  May our lives be sweet and our efforts fruitful!

HP:  Enki, we thank you for coming to us this night.  Keep us in your care 
always.  Enki!

HPS:  Ishtar, we thank you for being with us this night.  Be ever close.  
Ishtar!

HPS walks around  the circle widdershins, and disperses all astral energies 
prior to releasing the watchtowers:  Let all who have come not in summons to 
our call, depart now in peace, harming none on the way (3X).

HP: And now, to dismiss the watchtowers, starting in the North...

N:  Tauros, mighty bull, guardian of the watchtower of the North, we thank 
you for being with us this night.  Go if you must, but be ever close.  Tauros!

W:  Ormsilvren, cunning serpent, guardian of the watchtower of the West, we 
thank you for being with us this night.  Go if you must, but be ever close.  
Ormsilvren!

S:  Leonis, mighty lion, guardian of the watchtower of the South, we thank 
you for being with us this night.  Go if you must, but be ever close.  Leonis!

E:  Aquila, mighty eagle, guardian of the watchtower of the East, we thank 
you for being with us this night.  Go if you must, but be ever close.  Aquila!

HPS:  cuts the circle and says: The circle is open but unbroken.  Merry meet, 
merry part, and merry meet again.  

ALL:  Blessed be!

Sing on the way out:   (3X) The circle is open but unbroken

May the (peace, love, joy) of the goddess be ever in your hearts.

Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.

( It is our tradition that, following each Ritual, we hug one
another. )