Why are you here, what personal reason brings you to this point?
Are you proud of what you’ve done this past year?
What do you hope to accomplish with CircleOfOne?
Why do you think you’ll be an asset to the group?
What do you hope to accomplish as a Solitary?
7:30pm - Smudge and anoint the initiate.
7:45pm - Place the blindfold and lead the initiate through a quick ‘white light’ grounding before escorting to the other door. After knocking on the door, leave the initiate to wait alone. Wait until the initiate is inside and seated before sneaking into the room.
HPS: Who comes to the Gate?
By what Magickal name do you desire to be known before our Gracious Lady and Her powerful Consort?
Are you willing to suffer to learn?
With this name shall you be known within the Circle.
With this name shall you work the Magick of the Earth.
With this name shall you be sanctified.
You are a child of the light, chosen by the Lord and Lady themselves. Welcome and Blessed Be.
(The initiate is allowed inside and led to a place where he can sit)
HP: Calm yourself, allow yourself to drift into relaxation. Slowly a blue mist begins to swirl about your body, you begin to float. You feel yourself being lifted higher as the swirling blue mist becomes a globe around you. It is taking you into the dream realm where you will begin your sacred journey. The globe of blue mist begins to disappear, revealing a midnight sky. As the mist clears, you can see that you are standing in a rocky desert. Brilliant white starlight plays against the black canopy of the desert sky; on the horizon you can see spiny cactus and large boulders. Starlight glitters around his silhouettes. You can see one very bright star ahead of your, which seems to be guiding or watching over you. This is the North Star, which lives in the place of great wisdom and silence. You turn to your right - the East. A great wind blows the desert sand up into a whirling dervish. The dust devil approaches you and holds steady a few yards away. You can feel the breeze against your cheeks, feeling it lifting your hair. Hold your spirit arms up and mentally greet the powers of the East:
“Hail to thee, O mighty winds of the East! Guardians of Air, keepers of the portals of the future, grant us knowledge and understanding in this, our sacred quest.”
The whirling dervish envelops you. You are now in the center of the swirling Air. Feel its power fill you. Slowly the dust begins to settle, and the swirl diminishes as you are filled with the power of Air. Take a moment to experience the element.
Turn now to face the South. There, on the ground before you, is a burning stick. The dancing flame is small at first, but then the flame catches onto other twigs and dried brush laying nearby. This continues until a ring of flame surrounds you. You can feel the warmth against your skin. Hold your spirit arms up and mentally greet the power of the South:
“Hail to thee, O mighty flames of the South! Guardians of the powers of Fire, keepers of the power to will, grant us strength of spirit in this, our sacred quest.”
The flames rise higher; feel his life-giving heat and allow his power to fill you. As you absorb the power of Fire, the flames die down and there is stillness once again. Take a moment to experience the element.
Continuing your circle, face the West. There, a few yards away, is a rushing brook. Hear the soft sound of trickling Water rushing over stones. Walk to it and see the stars reflected in its rushing waters. You step into the brook and suddenly you are up to your waist in Water. The Water is warm and comforting as it twirls around you. The Water begins to rush faster, threatening to pull you under its dark currents. Raise your spirit arms to greet the powers of the West;
“Hail to Thee, O mighty torrents of the West! Guardians of Water, Keepers of the portals to the past, grant us courage in this, our sacred quest.”
Now is the time to absorb the power of Water. As you do so, the level of the brook diminishes until it is only a trickle between your feet. Step out of the stream bed and notice that you are not wet. Take a moment to experience the element.
Continue your sacred circle, face the North once more. See the huge, dark stone boulders that lay in a grouping several yards away. Go to him. You notice that the boulders lay in a circular formation, close together. The only entrance is from the South - a small crevice just big enough to squeeze through. It is very cold within the towering walls of the stone circle. Moss grows on the inner boulder walls. Carved into the stones are the many faces of your ancient ancestors. Take a moment to look at the faces. Etched in the Earth beneath your feet is a spiral, and at its center is a carving of your own face. Hold your arms up, see the North Star, and greet the power of the North:
“Hail to thee, O mighty stones of the North! Guardians of the Earth, Keepers of the powers of silence, Grant us wisdom in this, our sacred quest.”
The ancient wisdom of the North Star is drawn down into your third eye at the center of your brow. The surrounding boulders tremble, then slowly roll apart to allow you passage. You have been anointed with the the elements of life, and are centered within your being. You have passed the initiation of elemental alignment.
It is time to return to the physical world now. As you stand in the center of the spiral, allow the blue globe of mist to form and surround you once more. It is bringing you back to your place of departure. You are returning now. You are here.
(The initiate is given time to return and then asked to sit quietly)
HPS: Mistress, Andromeda, once more I seek your assistance. Please hear my plea. I ask you to be for me a link between the world of the mundane and the world of the spiritual. It is said that only a Witch can initiate another Witch. It is said that to be a Solitary is to be nothing more than a Self-Proclaimed Witch, uninitiated. How can this be so? Surely the Goddess chooses her own. Who initiated the very first Witch? Who better to initiate into our Circle, to welcome this Solitary Witch, than Aradia, Queen of all the Witches, The Sacred Child born of Diana and Lucifer. Help us Mistress, to request Lady Aradia’s presence.
You have been there for us,
Since before time was.
You are there in the scents of the Earth
In the whisper of the Wind
In the warmth of the Sun
In the refreshing coolness of a Mountain Stream.
You were always there for us,
Even before we understood.
You were there in the Magick of Moonlight
In the wonder of a Sunrise
In the freedom of an Open Field
In the comfort of a Sheltering Forest.
My Lady Aradia, please be here for us now. Walk beside us as we continue to take tentative steps along your path. We accept you as you are, both the dark and the light, the good and the bad. Two halves of a perfect whole. Complete.
Aradia, I seek your presence tonight. Hear my request. Help to welcome this initiate, to bless this CircleofOne. Join with me now; guide my heart, my actions, and my words this night. Teach us, show us the way.
HPS: I am here. Once more it is as it should be. As it has always been since the beginning of time itself. I am the Teacher, you are my child. Tonight we begin a journey together. In the coming years much will be expected of you. This is not an easy path. You still have much to learn. Know that whenever you have need of me, I will be there. Whenever you have questions, call to me, and I will be there. Whenever you have needs that go unmet do not be afraid to ask for me; I will be there. You are my child, and I am the Teacher. Learn from me. I know all that you are. I know who you are, who you could be, and who you would wish to be. There is nothing that you can think, do, want, or know, that I have not already experienced myself. There is nothing to regret or forgive. I have done it all. Open yourself up to me. Learn from me.
Now, let’s begin. Know that once the next morning’s sun has risen that whatever happens this night shall never be spoken of again. Not among your Coven Mates, not to anyone else. Is that understood??
Maiden: Over the waves, behind the wind, beneath the mountains, within the sacred flame; there do You live, and there do You breathe Life into us all! Guardians of this Sacred Space, Blessed Energies great and small, strength and protection for this place and Blessings on us all! As above, so it is below. As without, so it is within. Time once again will stand still!
HPS: North and South, East and West, Black spirits and White, Red spirits and Gray. Heed my call, attend to me. Around and around, throughout and about. The good come in and the ill stay out. Circle round, attend to me. Witness this rite, welcome this initiate. Bestow your Blessings on this CircleofOne.
Maiden, brings initiate to the North
Much of what is expected of you, you have already accomplished. You have already designed, written, and performed rituals for both yourself and a public group. You have already come far in your own lessons, soon you will begin to teach those lessons to others. You have only just begun along your chosen path that will lead you to greater understanding and service to your community. Continue as you have begun...you are a child of the Light. You teach your strongest lessons by your own examples. Light the way now for others to follow. In the coming years you may be expected to hold this ceremony for someone else. Perhaps there will be others sitting where you now sit. And you will be responsible for helping them to grow as you have grown.
Now repeat after me:
I will serve the Great Goddess
And give reverence to the Great God
I am a Pagan
A stone in the ancient circle
Standing firmly
Balanced on the Earth
Yet open to the winds of heaven
And enduring through time
HPS: Tonight you stand at the edge of the abyss, poised to make choices that may change the rest of your life. Do you spread your wings and take the step over the edge, risking the chance that you may fall crashing to the earth. Many times in life the only thing that holds us on the edge of greatness is our own fears. Fear of being the fool. Fear of failing. Fear of loss. Even fear of success. Only a fool goes through life without fear, but a wise witch moves on despite his fears. Do you trust in yourself? Do you trust the Goddess? Do you trust the God? Then spread your wings and fly tonight. As we move through each of the quarters you will be asked to do simple tasks...if you don’t understand what’s expected of you please ask questions. As you’re introduced in each quarter you’ll need to speak your name.
North
We begin in the North were we discover the knowledge of the ancients buried deep in our own hearts. Do you willingly release your heart to the Lord and Lady? To do with as they please, whether for good or ill as only they see fit?
(Seeds & flower pot w/dirt)
HPS: Allow initiate time to respond. Ask him to hold out one hand and place one or two seeds in his palm. Tell him that what he holds is the energy of his own heart. Hold a flower pot in front of the initiate and tell him to bury his heart deep into the earth.
HP: All of our lives we take from the Earth. She is our Mother; it is in Her nature to give. There comes a time when we must learn to give back. In the coming years you will find some personal way to give back to the Earth, whether it be recycling, planting a garden, or performing a monthly healing ritual. Are you willing to do this?
HPS: O beings of the Earth, the dragons, you of the fairy realm, Gods and Goddesses of the North, come to us on the blur of a Hummingbirds wings. See and know this witch... The initiate gives his new name.
Behold this Rite, receive this initiate. Hearken unto his chants; heed his calls. Attend to him as you would attend to our Lord and Lady. So Mote It Be!!
East:
We move to the East where we walk with beauty along the path of the Visionary. Do you willingly cast your soul to the winds? Do you accept what comes, to learn and to grow?
(Feathers, AirBox)
HPS: Allow the initiate time to respond. Ask him to hold out one hand and place one or two feathers in his palm. Tell him that what he holds is the energy of his own soul. Tell him to hold his hands up and with a deep breath blow his soul to the four winds.
HP: We are the soul of our community. We need to take care of each other, to learn to take care of those less fortunate. In the coming years you will find a community service project that interests you and log at least 15 hours of your personal time. Are you willing to do this?
HPS: O beings of the Air, the dragons, you of the fairy realm, Gods and Goddesses of the East, come to us on the wings of Eagles. See and know this witch...The initiate gives his new name.
Witness this Rite, welcome this initiate. Hearken unto his chants, heed his calls. Attend to him as you would attend to our Lord and Lady. So Mote It Be!!
South:
Now we move to the South, where we shed the past the way a serpent shed’s its skin - all at once - to be reborn once more, fresh and new. Do you willingly walk into the fire, to sacrifice yourself to the flames? Do you accept the challenge to begin again, unfettered by the doubts and regrets of the past? Free to forgive yourself and begin anew?
(Candles, Fire candles)
HPS: Allow the initiate time to respond. Ask him to hold up one hand as he step into the flame prepared to shed the past and step into the future. Hold candles up as the initiate step forward until he feels the heat.
HP: As we learn to take care of others, we learn to take care of ourselves as well. That means spending time within yourself, getting in touch with your own spirituality. You will design, from scratch, a simple altar devotional and perform it each week on a day of your choosing, alone. Are you willing to do this?
HPS: O beings of the Fire, the dragons, you of the fairy realm, Gods and Goddesses of the South, Just as the great serpent that swims the seas, join us. See and know this witch...The initiate gives his new name.
Observe this Rite, embrace this initiate. Hearken unto his chants, heed his calls. Attend to him as you would attend to our Lord and Lady. So Mote It Be!!
West:
Lets now move to the West, where we leap into our new lives, into our destinies, by freeing ourselves from fears of the future and death so we may live fully in the present. Do you willingly cast yourself into the waters of change? Do you accept that change is a necessary thing and look forward to your future with arms open wide?
(Water, water bottles)
HPS: Allow the initiate time to respond. Ask the initiate to step forward, sprinkle with water as he does so.
HP: As we take care of ourselves, we understand that we must also take care of those closest to us. In the coming years you will choose some facet of the Craft that holds particular interest to you. You will study and learn all that you can so that you can eventually teach it to others. You will research and write a lesson of your choice and teach it to your Coven Mates. Are you willing to do this?
HPS: O beings of the Water, the dragons, you of the fairy realm, Gods and Goddesses of the West, come to us with the fluid grace of the Jaguar. See and know this witch...The initiate gives his new name.
Mark this Rite, usher in this initiate. Hearken unto his chants, heed his calls. Attend to him as you would attend to our Lord and Lady. So Mote It Be!!
North again:
We end as we have begun, in the North. O Gracious and lovely Goddess of the wilds, O God who is the protector and bringer of joy, see before you thy friend and servants. Help him along the Way, to know the richness of Life. So Mote it be
(Place an amulet on the initiate. Place the cord around the initiate)
HPS: Shall you have power and knowledge of Earth, of Air, of Fire, and Water, of the force of Life itself in the service of the Goddess and the reverence of the God. Welcome, you are now a Natural Witch. Neither bound by Tradition nor Degree, but by your own principles and deeds. You are now one of the Shinning Ones, chosen and initiated by the Goddess Herself. May you continue to walk wisely on the Path of Enlightenment.
(Take a moment to hug and congratulate the Initiate before leaving)
Now before you remove your blindfold, before I leave you, do you wish to look upon the face of the Goddess?
(Hold a mirror up in front of his faces so that the first thing he sees is himself. Allow the initiate in turn to remove his blindfold)
Welcome to the CircleOfOne Archives
Go Mbeannaigh (Gaelic, Ireland - Blessed Be)
Beannaichte Be (Gaelic, Scotland - Blessed Be)
Sonqongi Apukuna Wak'aychasunkiku
(Quechua, Peru - May the Heart of the Mountain bless you)
Xut Kala Xetl (Tlingit, Alaska - Blessed Be)
Seja Abençoado (Portuguese, Portugal - Blessed Be)
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