Sacred Circle of Wiccan Fellowship

Open Study Group

Revised August 22nd, 2010

Basic Full Moon (Esbat) Ritual

During a New Moon or Full Moon is an excellent time for meditation, mirror magick, working with your psychic ability or just communing with the Goddess. Esbat rituals are best performed at night in view of the Moon surrounded by nature, but in todays world we do not always have that luxury. Remember three very important things in performing an Esbat Ritual: Practicality, Safety and Space. So when ready to perform your Esbat Ritual, day or night, face towards the Moon and set up your altar and begin the ritual by purifying the space that you are going to worship in. It is appropriate to decorate your ritual space with crescent moons, white flowers, silver objects or other lunar symbols. Step One, to cast this Circle you will need the following items. Place all of the following items in the center of your circle or on your altar as you feel comfortable. A Compass (or some other method of determining the directions East, South, West and North) A White Spirit Candle and a holder (representing the Spirit) A White (or Gold) God Candle and a holder (representing the God) A White (or Silver) Goddess Candle and a holder (representing the Goddess) A Smudge Stick or Incense and burner (representing Air) A box of Matches and/or a piece of Charcoal (for the burner) (representing Fire) A Glass or Bowl of water (representing Water) A Small Bowl or Cup of Sea Salt (representing Earth) A Bowl (Cauldron) of water (representing the womb of the Goddess) A space in which to work where you wont be disturbed. Take the phone off of the hook, and ask any family members or housemates present not to disturb you while you work. Step Two, while using the compass. Find the direction North and face toward it. To your right is now East, to your left is now West and behind you is now South. Step Three, light the Spirit candle and say the following or similar: This is the guiding light of divine wisdom and spiritual power. I/we release all that is negative in my/our life and welcome all that is positive so that I/we may grow and become stronger. So Mote It Be! Step Four, casting the circle. Remember, after the Circle has been cast do not cross the boundary unless it is an emergency or the Elements have been dismissed. If there are others joining you in this Circle, they are to stay in place at this time and while facing the center of the circle repeat your words as you say them.

Start by lighting your Smudge stick or Incense and go to the East quarter. From the East quarter begin walking around the perimeter of your circle clockwise a first time. While using your dominant or power hand, spread the smoke around the perimeter of the Circle at regular intervals while saying, With Air and Fire I purify this Circle. Repeat as necessary till you complete one full circle. Once you have walked around the circle one full turn, take the smudge stick or incense back to the center of your Circle. After placing your Smudge Stick or Incense back on the altar pick up the glass or bowl of water and sprinkle three pinches of sea salt into it and then go to the East quarter again. From the East quarter begin walking around your perimeter of your circle a second time. While using your dominant hand, flick the saltwater around the perimeter of the Circle at regular intervals while chanting the following or something similar: With Water and Earth I consecrate this Circle. Repeat as necessary till you complete one full circle. Once you have walked around the circle one full turn, take the cup or Goblet back to the center of your Circle and put it down from where you got it. Head back to the East quarter and begin walking around the perimeter of your Circle one final time while chanting the following or something similar: Three times the Circle round, three times the Circle formed. Repeat as necessary till you complete one full circle. Once you have walked around the circle one full turn go back to the center of your circle and stand in front of the altar and say the following or similar: This circle is now formed with power all around. Between the worlds I/we stand with protection at hand. So Mote It Be! Step Five, the Elements should now be called. If there are others joining you in this Circle, they are to stay in place at this time and face the quarter as you travel to them repeating your words as you say them. After each quarter drop your hands and then move to the next. If desired, you may use your Athame, sword or wand to salute each Element instead of your hands. From the center of your Circle, go to the East quarter and hold your hands about head height, palms up and overlapping, greeting the Element and say the following or similar: I/we call upon thee, oh Powers of Air. To help me/us feel the power and presence of the Gods within my/our mind(s) and to guard all those within this circle! Go to the South quarter and hold your hands about head height, palms up and overlapping, greeting the Element and say the following or similar: I/we call upon thee, oh Powers of Fire. To help me/us feel the power and presence of the Gods within my/our spirit(s) and to guard all those within this circle!

Go to the West quarter and hold your hands about head height, palms up and overlapping, greeting the Element and say the following or similar: I/we call upon thee, oh Powers of Water. To help me/us feel the power and presence of the Gods within my/our emotion(s) and to guard all those within this circle! Go to the North quarter and hold your hands about head height, palms up and overlapping, greeting the Element and say the following or similar: I/we call upon thee, oh Powers of Earth. To help me/us feel the power and presence of the Gods within my/our body(s) and to guard all those within this circle! Step Six, The Circle is now cast. Stand or kneel before your Altar with your hands outward and, palms up and say the following or similar: Oh, Great Goddess of the Earth, Goddess of the Stars and Spinner of the Fates. I do hereby call to you in your ancient names, known and unknown, and do ask that you be here with me, so that I may give homage to you. Light the White (or Silver) Goddess Candle While still standing or kneeling before your Altar, again place your hands outward and palms up, and say the following or similar: Oh, Great God of the Sun, God of Fertility and Plenty. I do hereby call to you in your ancient names, known and unknown, and do ask that you be here with me, so that I may give homage to you. Light the White (or Gold) God Candle Step Seven, the God and Goddess are now present. As you stand or kneel before your Altar. Place your hands outward and palms up, and as you gaze up at the moon say the following or similar: Oh Lady of the moon, Lord of the Stars I/we ask that you guide me/us with your wisdom, help me/us grow with your knowledge, and hold me/us in your arms. You are the beginning and the end, within you I/we see myself/ourselves. Blessed be this time in which you come unto me/us and fill me/us with your presence. Hold the bowl (Cauldron) of water to the sky. Say the following or similar: The moon is a symbol of the mother, the sun a symbol of our father and they watch over me/us every night and day. They bring the changing tide, the shifting night, the flow that changes my/our body/ies and the passion of lovers to their beloved. Their wisdom is great and all-knowing, and I/we honor them tonight. Keep your watchful eyes upon me/us, great Lady and Lord, until the cycle returns once more, and bring us to the next full moon, in your love and light. So Mote It Be! At this time relax and feel the energy from the moons rays sink into your body, Feel the powerful Gods energy clean and fill you with power and love. Visualize the Gods standing before you with open arms and love in her eyes. Tell them your problems, wishes or desires, empty your being to them and let go of what is negative in your life and embrace the positive.

Once the intention candles have burnt out (or to a mark you placed on it) you are finished, say the following of similar: All honor and love be to the Lady and Lord, for they are the power behind all powers, the Gods behind all Gods, the eternal life behind death. Step Seven, closing the Circle. When you are ready to close the Circle go to the East quarter and begin. If there are others joining you in this Circle, they are to stay in place at this time and face the quarter as you travel to them repeating your words as you say them. From the center of your Circle, go to the North quarter and hold your hands about head height, palms up and overlapping, greeting the Element and say the following or similar: Depart in peace oh Powers of Earth, my/our thanks and blessings! Go to the West quarter and hold your hands about head height, palms up and overlapping, greeting the Element and say the following or similar: Depart in peace oh Powers of Water, my/our thanks and blessings! Go to the South quarter and hold your hands about head height, palms up and overlapping, greeting the Element and say the following or similar: Depart in peace oh Powers of Fire, my/our thanks and blessings! Go to the East quarter and hold your hands about head height, palms up and overlapping, greeting the Element and say the following or similar: Depart in peace oh Powers of Air, my/our thanks and blessings! After you have finished in the North quarter, return back to the center of your Circle and stand facing the east. Raise your hands outward palms up in thanks and say the following or similar: To all the beings and powers of the visible and invisible, depart in peace. May there always be harmony between us, my/our thanks and blessings! Finally, in closing say: So Mote It Be! (If there are others present with you in this Circle, you may wish to add the following lines as you look around the Circle.) This Circle is now open, yet not broken. Merry meet and merry part until we meet again, So Mote It Be! You have just closed your Circle