A Look Within
A Ritual of Meditation at the Third Quarter of the Moon
SUUSI 2008

(Gather for conversation and discussion of the significance
of the moon phase, assigning parts, learning chants. HPS
then asks group to breathe and ground. And the ritual begins.)

HP: The Waning Gibbous Moon 
rises late in our night sky. 
Within the cycle of life, 
here is a time 
when the light is dimming 
and energy is retracting. 
We draw together 
to each focus our personal power 
upon the tasks at hand 
and the coming return of brighter days.

(HP turns on both candles. He holds his own candle up
as HPS cleanses with water.
After her cleansing, HPS picks up her candle and says:)

HPS:
 Be ye far from us, O ye profane, 
 for we are about to invoke the power 
 of the goddess and the god. 
 Enter we now into the darkness
 and into their presence
 with clean hands and a pure heart, 
 lest we defile the source of life.
                (Adapted from Dion Fortune.)

(HPS leads group past bowl and to Circle. As each pass the water
they cleanse. HP stands by bowl with candle. When all have gone,
he cleanses, and follows. HPS leads group around Circle once,
and then around again if necessary to reach their places.)

Chant:
She changes everything she touches
And everything she touches changes.
Repeat.
Changes, touches, touches changes.
Repeat.

(After all have formed a Circle and are in their places)

HP: 
 Be it known that the ritual is about to begin. 
 Let none be here 
 but of their own free will. 
 Be it known that the practice of our religion    
 involves secrets, 
 even in this, the Outer Court. 
 Share with no one on the outside 
 the names of those gathered
 in this Circle tonight.

HPS: 
 You have not arrived here by chance.     
 You have put yourself on this Path long ago. 
 We shall walk some of it together and rejoice.
 We first began in past sorrows, in past lives. 
 We were of the Wicca, 
 gazing at the stars, feeling deep unnamed secrets; 
 touching the Earth in joy and sensing life within; 
 seeing birth and knowing that it was a miracle, 
 a Mystery, a joy; 
 being still in the forest, being warm in the water...  
 We are all lights, and we follow the Path 
 through the Goddess and the God, by all Their names, 
 and in growing, we grow in brightness,  
 following the cycles of Sun and Moon,    
 and glowing in Divine Radiance.
                        (from Witches WebPage)

HP/HPS:  And now, let us begin.

(HPS rings bell three times.)

Casting the Circle

(Castings go outside Circle, if possible, so that all
are included within it.)

HP: (HPS uses hand gestures for this bit.)   
 By the air that is her breath 
 and the fire that is her bright spirit; 
 By the water that is her living womb 
 and the earth that is her body,  
 We shall cast a Circle                                           
 and make this place sacred and apart.    
	
(HPS casts Circle with wand.)
Chant:
We cast our circle in this place
As we create our sacred space.

(HP casts with athame.)
Chant:
We cast this Circle round and round.
By its power we are bound.

(HPS & HP both reach out, HP taking hand of person to his left
and HPS waiting for hand of person on her right as all hands
are joined.)

Chant:
We cast our circle hand to hand.
Here is where we make our stand.

 (When hand clasp comes around to HPS, HPS & HP, raise clasped hands
 and say):
We are one!

HP: (HPS uses same gestures as above.)
By her sweet breath which is air,
By the fire, her spirit fair,
By water which fills her place of birth,
And by her body, our sacred Earth.		
By these names, our quarters call,
May the Spirits join us all.        	
Begin with the East.

East Speaks: 
All hail the element of Air,				
Spirits of the East.
Come be with us this evening,
breathing the breath of reason,
And join our Circle.

South Speaks:
All hail the element of Fire,
Spirits of the South,
Come be with us this evening,
Warming us with your passion,				
And join our Circle.

West Speaks:
All hail the element of Water.			
Spirits of the West.
Come be with us this evening,			
Bathing us with your emotions,
And join our Circle.

North Speaks:
All hail the element of Earth,
Spirits of the North,
Come be with us this evening,
Grounding us in your nurturing,
And join our Circle.

HPS:											
We invite the goddess to be with us 
for our celebration.
She comes to us 
from beyond the boundaries of time.		
She is as ageless as the Earth which is her body. 
She is as ageless as the waters which are her blood. 
She is as ageless as the fires of the
heavens and as the air of her breath.
She was before time and she will be, 
when time has been  forgotten.
Across all boundaries of time 
we have honored the goddess.
For she is with us. 
She is with us in the quiet of the sunrise.
She is with us in the tumult of the ocean wave.
She is with us in the peace of the silent meadow.
She is with us in the violence of the storm.
She is with us and she is in us.
For we are all her children, no matter our age.
And she is our Mother, and 
She is Our self.

HP:											
We invite the god to be with us 
for our celebration.
He is eternal and universal.
He is changing and he is changeless.		
He comes to us 
from beyond the boundaries of time.
In all the ages of being 
he is with us.
In all the places of the earth 
we will find him.		
He is the laughter 
in the ripples of water.
He is the solemnity 
in the dimness of the forest.		
He is the joy 
in the bright light of the sun.		
He is the awe 
in the dark of night.
He is the strength 
of the mighty oak.
He is the gentleness 
of the blade of grass.
He is with us and he is in us.
For we are all his children, 
no matter our age.
And he is our Father and 
He is Our self.

HPS:										
We are between the worlds,
Beyond the bounds of time,             
Where day and night,
Birth and death,
Youth and age,								
Joy and sorrow,
Meet as one.

(HPS chimes.)

Magickal Working

HPS: We are all on a journey, a pilgrimage through life.
	That journey may be spiritual or mundane.
	It may be both.
	
HP: There are times when
	We come to a standstill on that journey.

East: Stagnation is death!

HPS: Our feet become stilled on our path.

HP: We know not how to move forward.

North: Stagnation is death!

HPS: We watch our friends.

HP: But we cannot do as they do.

West: Stagnation is death!

HPS: We call out to loved ones.

HP: But they hear us not.

South: Stagnation is death!

HPS: We come here tonight 
to ask the goddess and the god 
for direction on our path.

HP (slowly and deliberately): Stagnation is death.

HPS: We have come here to save our lives!

HPS & HP: We will look within.

 (HPS holds up mirror and says): 
We will each come forth to the mirror.
	We will look within.

HP: In the mirror we will see 
our path unfold before us.
	We will find 
the guidance we seek.

(HP leads HPS to the mirror.)

HP: Pray, tell us your name.

HPS: My name is Shining Spirits. 
I shall look within.

(HPS takes up mirror. As she holds it HP leads all in
softly spoken chant. After 30 seconds, HPS puts down
mirror and returns to her place.)

(Moving diosil around the Circle, HP brings one at a
time to alter. HPS stands at altar and hands mirror
to each. They look and return mirror to HPS, or for
a count of 30 seconds. 

Chant occurs as they receive mirror and begin to look.)

HP, as he takes each to alter: Pray tell us your name.

Participant: My name is X.

HPS, as she hands them the mirror: 
X, I bid you look within.

Chant:
Stagnation is death.
We have come here to save our lives.

(After all have had a turn, HP comes forward.)

HP: My name is Spelcastor. I shall look within.

(HP & HPS now move around the circle diosil and stop
in front of each participant. HPS does males;
HP does females. Hold the mirror in front of
their face and say)

HPS: Thou art God and I honor thee.

HP: Thou art Goddess and I honor thee.

(When HPS & HP return to the alter, the mirror is placed there,
and we move on.)

HPS: We have moved beyond stagnation.
	Let us now feel that elation!
Insure that the magick will come true
By helping it happen in all that you do.

HP: Let us each now raise our voice
	In thanks
	As we all rejoice!
	Thanks to the goddess
	And the god, too.
	For their guidance in life;
	In all that we do.

Chant:
We give thanks for unknown blessings
Already on the way.
We give thanks for unknown blessings
Already on the way.

HP: 											
And now we all kneel to touch the Earth 
and ground the excess energy we have raised, 
returning it to the Earth for her nourishment.

(All kneel.)

Clearing of the Temple

HPS:  										
We came together in love and friendship; 
let us part the same way. 
Let us spread the love we have known 
in this Circle 
outward to all;  
sharing it with those we meet.

HP:   Let us now dismiss the Quarters, 
starting with the North:

North Speaks:
Farewell, Spirits of the North,
We give you thanks for your presence here.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
May there be peace between us.

West Speaks:
Farewell, Spirits of the West,						
We give you thanks for your presence here.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
May there be peace between us.

South Speaks:
Farewell, Spirits of the South,
We give you thanks for your presence here.
Stay if you will, go if you must.				
May there be peace between us.

East Speaks:
Farewell, Spirits of the East,				
We give you thanks for your presence here.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
May there be peace between us.

HP:  Lady and Lord, our thanks to you 	
for sharing this time together. 
Our thanks for watching over us; 
guarding and guiding us in all things.
Love is the Law and Love is the Bond.

HPS: 
The light of the maiden surrounds you.	
The love of the mother enfolds you.
The wisdom of the crone empowers you.
Where ever you are, the Goddess is, 		
And all is well.
Blessed be.
All repeat:
Blessed be.

HP and HPS: 
The Circle is open but unbroken,
May the Peace of the Goddess,
And The Strength of the God,
Go in your hearts.
Merry Meet and Merry Part,
And Merry Meet again.
Blessed be.

All repeat:
Blessed be.

HP:  It is my tradition that we all hug one another
following a ritual.


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Prop List:
HP Candle
HPS Candle
Water Bowel
Bell
Wand
Athame
Chimes
Mirror
Flame Light for Altar
Quarter Candles