~*The Drawing of the Moon*~
After Casting of the Circle & Conjuration of the Watchtowers
The coven return to their places around the perimeter of the Circle. The High Priest kneels in front of the High Priestess, who is standing in the Osiris position (wand in right hand, scourge in left, wrists crossed in front of her chest, then shafts of tools crossed again), in front of the altar facing South. He gives her the Fivefold Kiss, kissing her on the right foot, left foot, right knee, left knee, abdomen, right chest, left chest, and lips. When he reaches her abdomen, she opens her arms to the "blessing" position (arms outstretched in front of her, as if she was going to hug someone). As he does so, he says:
"Blessed be thy feet, that has brought thee in these ways.
Blessed be the knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar.
Blessed be thy abdomen, without which we would not be here.
Blessed be thy chest, formed in beauty.
Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names."
The High Priest again kneels in front of the High Priestess, who resumes the Orisis position. He invokes:
"I invoke thee and call upon thee, gentle Goddess of us all, bringer of all prosperity; by seed and root, by bud and stem, by leaf and flower and fruit, by life and love do I invoke thee to descend upon the body of this thy woman and priestess."
Still kneeling, he anoints her with oil upon her right foot, right knee, abdomen, right chest, and lips. He further invokes:
"Hail, Aradia! From the Horn of Plenty
Pour fourth thy store of love; I lowly bend before thee,
I adore thee to the end,
With loving sacrifice thy shrine adorn.
Thy foot is to my lip....."
He kisses her right foot and continues:
"....my prayer upborne
Upon the rising incense-smoke ; then spend
Thine ancient love,
O Beautiful Goddess, decend to aid me,
Who without thee am forlorn."
He stands up and steps back a pace, facing the High Priestess.
She draws the Invoking Pentagram of Earth in the air in front of him with the wand, saying:
"Of the Mother winsome and divine
Mine is the scourge and mine the kiss;
The five-point Pentagram of love and bliss-
Here I charge you, in this sign."
The Drawing of the Moon is Now Complete.
The ritual continues:
Then the High Priest and High Priestess face each other, in front of the altar. They each hold a candle above their heads with both hands, and lower it to their navels, as they say the following invocations, respectively:
High Priestess: "I invoke thee, Aradia, into my body and spirit. Be one with me, Mother of all life."
High Priest: "I invoke thee, Cernunnos, into my body and spirit. Be one with me, Father of the hunt."
They then continue:
High Priestess: "I am the beauty of the green Earth."
High Priest: "I am a wind of the Sea."
High Priestess: "I am the White Moon among the stars."
High Priest: "I am the Stag of seven tines."
High Priestess: "I am the mystery of the Waters."
High Priest: "I am a Gryphon on a cliff."
High Priestess: "I am the Desire of the heart of man."
High Priest: "I am a tear in the Sun."
High Priestess: "I am the soul of Nature."
High Priest: "I am a Salmon in a pool."
High Priestess: "I am the Goddess, who gives knowledge of the spirit eternal in Earth."
High Priest: "I am the God, who forms smoke from sacred fire for a head."
High Priestess: "I am the Lady, who gives peace, freedom, and reunion after death."
High Priest: "I am the Lord, who alone knows the assemblies of the Dohlmen-House."
High Priestess: "I am the Mother, and mine is the cup of the wine of life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of Immortality."
High Priest: "I am the Father, the Sun God, whose turns and cycles are to be watched and worshipped, for I sustain life."
Followed by The Witches Rune.
All information on this page is taken from my personal Book of Shadows
©2001NyWitch
