~*Lammas*~
Lughnasadh, August Eve
July 31st or August 1st
A Grand Sabbat
Preparation:
A small loaf of wheat bread is to be placed on the altar, as is a green silk scarf. A crown woven of cornleaves should be prepared for the High Priest. In this ritual, the cauldron should be placed near the East candle.
The Ritual:
The opening is performed as usual, with the exception that the Drawing Down of the Moon is left out. The High Priest gives the Fivefold Kiss to the High Priestess and he then immediately gives the Charge. After the Witches' Rune, the coven should spread out around the outside edge of the circle and, facing inwards, begin to clap softly and rhythmically.
The ritual should proceed as the Beltane ritual, until the point where the High Priest is shrouded with the scarf. At that point, the High Preistess picks up the loaf of bread from the altar and holds it briefly about the head of the High Priest. She then goes to the center of the Circle and holds the loaf high in the direction of the altar. She invokes the Goddess:
"O Mighty Mother of us all, bringer of all fruitfulness, give us fruit and grain, flocks and herds, and children to the tribe, that we may be mighty. By the rose of thy love, do thou descend upon the body of thy servant and priestess here."
She pauses and meditates on the Goddess for a moment. The High Priestess then begins to dance slowly deosil around the Circle, still carrying the loaf. She ends her dance standing before the High Priest whit the loaf in her two hands. She says,
"Gather round, O Children of the Harvest!"
The rest of the coven gather around the High Priestess and the High Priest. The High Priestess says,
"Behold, the Holly King is dead - He who is also the Corn King. He has embraced the Great Mother, and died of his love; so has it been, year by year, since time began. But if the Holly King is dead - he who is the God of the Waning Year - all is dead; all that sleeps in my womb of Earth would sleep forever. What shall we do, therefore, that the Holly King may live again!"
The youngest female member of the coven comes forward and says,
"Give us to eat the bread of Life. Then shall sleep lead on to a rebirth."
The High Priestess responds,
"So Mote it Be."
The High Priestess then breaks the loaf apart into small pieces and gives one piece to each witch, who eats it. She saves three pieces out. The two original women come up and stand on either side of the High Priest. They lift the scarf off his head and lay it on the floor.
The High Priestess says,
"Come back to us, Holly King, that the land may be fruitful."
The High Priest stands and says,
"I am a battle-waging spear,
I am a salmon in the pool,
I am a hill of poetry,
I am a ruthless boar,
I am the threatening noise of the sea,
I am a wave of the sea,
Who but I knows the secrets of the unhewn dolmen?"
The High Priestess gives him one of the three remaining pieces of the loaf, and eats another herself. The final piece is left upon the altar. They both then lead a dance around the Circle, until the High Priestess cries, "Down!", and everyone drops to the floor.
The Great Rite is then performed , and the last of the loaf is made part of the customary offering to the Earth with the last of the cakes and wine.
All information contained on this page are from my personal Book of Shadows ©2002NyWitch
