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- History - Mythology
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Overview
- History - Mythology Rituals/The Ordination of Alison Jones |
The Ordination of Alison JonesLyceum of Earth Wisdom & the Holy Grail 16th November 2003On the altar there is a cup of water, a stone, a vessel of grain, a censer, and oil. Also the ordinand’s crown, stole and wand. On the hearth altar red and white candles are burning. There is Hecate incense, and a black candle on the small altar, and the basket of gifts for the participants. There is also a traditional offering of almonds and honey, which will be taken to the Hoar Stone later.
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Opening of the lyceum in the usual way the candidate stands in the East of the circle. Opening of the quarters as follows: East: May there be peace in the East. We call upon
the powers of the East, the many coloured winds, the Hawk and the Owl.
May Hecate the Bright-Face, glowing maiden, be present in the East, to
guide us around the serpentine path of our journey through the labyrinth.
Allies of the East, take heed of our call. We bid you welcome. South: May there be peace in the South. We all upon
the powers of the South, the cleansing flame, the fire within that sparks
our inspiration, the light of the ancestors that burns deep within us.
May Hecate the Midwife be present in the South, to ease our path, and
may the Frog Goddess Heqit walk also beside us. Allies of the South take
heed of our call. We bid you welcome. West: May there be peace in the West. We call upon
the powers of the West, the sacred rivers, streams, oceans, wells, the
blood of the land. May Hecate the Soul-Bearer be present in the West,
Saffron-clad in the twilight place, bring justice and truth to our journey
today. Allies of the West take heed of our call. We bid you welcome. North: May there be peace in the North. We call upon
the powers of the North, the bones of the land, ancient and wise. May
Hecate the Way-Shower be present in the North, wise-woman, dweller of
the hollow-hills grant us the blessings of the abundant earth and eternal
stone. Allies of the North take heed of our call. We bid you welcome. Centre: (Intones Ogham) . May there be
peace in the centre. We call upon the powers of the Sacred Yew tree. Dark
tree, warder of time and ghosts buried long ago. Unchanging guardian,
lend us the shelter of your spreading canopy, may your dark, curling fingers
bring us cool shade. Trusty Yew, immortal tree, take heed of our call.
We bid you welcome. Priest H: Alison, do you wish to be ordained as a Priestess
of the Gods? Priest H: So may it be, may you worthily serve the Gods in all places. Priestess H: The path of the Priestess is a spiral, which leads ever deeper into the labyrinth of mysteries. As you walk the web be guided by the silver thread of the Spiderwoman. Priest H: As you walk the sacred path be guided by Owl Spirit floating on ghostly wing. Lady of this Holy House, by what right does the candidate approach the threshold of ordination? Priestess H: By the pathway of dedication, and the quest for truth. By the opening of the heart, and the inspiration of the Goddess. In addition she has qualities which declare her worthy to be ordained. Let the scroll be read. Herald: (Reads the scroll listing the qualifications and works of the candidate) Priest H: What work has this candidate to offer that she may best serve deity? Candidate: I bring three gifts. The first an offering bowl. With this I bring all I have learned as a vessel at the altar of Hecate. That I may use these gifts to help others and those who come to me in the wider community. The second a mask, with which I bring my gifts of empathy and understanding. I have learned to wear many faces and walk the spiral of many paths, and with this I bring my gifts of love and compassion, and sharing all I have learned with others, in many different guises The third, the gift of words to represent the stream of creativity brought to me by Hecate. I bring myself as a channel to her altar, that I may always remember that they are a gift of the divine and the words thereof. (Reads poem) Priest H: It is good to give, it is also necessary to receive. (He takes the hearth stone of the lyceum from the altar and presents it to the candidate) Take this stone from the hands of Isis, Mistress of the Perfect Black. May you discern the spark of life within all. Priestess H: (Takes vessel of grain from the altar and presents it to the candidate) . Receive these grains of barley from Cerridwen, mistress of the barley. May you protect all growing things. Priest H: (Takes the cup of water and anoints the candidate) Accept this water from Bran, Lord of the Grail. May you receive true vision. Priestess H: The purpose of deity unfolds itself through
our lives in many ways. Which deity have you chosen to follow as a priestess
that you may serve the Goddess in her work? Priest H: So may it be! Let us now seek the council of the holy three who guard the inner temple of Hecate. (Takes Lyceum stone and grains from candidate and replaces them on the altar). (Hecate the ‘Way -Shower’, ‘Bright -Face’ and ‘ Midwife’ move to the centre and stand back to back facing outwards, then all the company chant the following three times or as many times as feels appropriate). All: WE ARE THE FLOW, WE ARE THE EBB, WE ARE THE WEAVERS, WE ARE THE WEB, WE ARE THE LOOM AND WE ARE THE THREAD, WE ARE THE SPEAKERS AND WHAT IS SAID (The group journeys to the inner temple all reading out the following together) All: We move past the rocky entrance of the cave, from twilight into darkness and beyond. The voices of the guardians of all time weave and spin, drawing us in. They call to us; they bid us enter, so we answer the call. We pass the outer edges of this hidden place and leave all light behind. We pass into the chamber where the guardians await us, aged and ageless, fierce beauty in their ancient forms. The air is ringing with their singing and our blood is stirring, flowing, seeping and boiling carrying us forward, hot with power, pushing us further into the cave. Within the belly of the cave we remember distant memories, the memory of life, May the guardians approach! (Priest H leads the candidate around to each of the guardians in turn) Hecate Way -Shower: Rest between the in breath and
the out breath, between the living and the dead. The past stretches behind
you, coiled and shed like the skin of a serpent, the way forward now falls
into shadow as I, with flaming torch illumine the path you have taken.
Tell me traveller, what have you learned on this long and winding path?
What is the vision that you hold within? Hecate Bright -Face: You have travelled through the
realm of Cerridwen, the Sow Queen, guarding her inner wisdom with foresight
and knowing. Through the well of rebirth you have come, the stream of
inspiration carries the child and the initiate with it on a tide of remembering,
the sacred truths of regeneration. Tell me traveller, how will you manifest
the vision that you have carried? Hecate Midwife: The thread is measured, the fruits hang
on the tree, abundant with juices. The dream unfurls into life. The gateway
has opened, revealing the inner mysteries, guiding you inwards. From depth
to height you have soared, and now the pathway is clear. In choice lies
the greatest gift. Which way to go? None may decide but you. Tell me traveller,
what are the fruits of wisdom the vision offers? (The three step back to their places in the circle) (Priestess H: Veils the oracle) Priest: The holy three have spoken, now let the candidate
approach the holy one. Hecate the Beauteous, you I invoke: You, of roads and crossways, Of heaven, of earth, and sea as well. You, the saffron-clad, among the tombs, dancing with dead souls at the Bacchic rite. You, daughter of Perses, lover of desolation, Taking joy in deer and dogs, in the night. You, Wild Queen! Bearer of souls, bringer of justice. Ungirded, possessed of form unapproachable! You, great huntress, universal sovereign Empress: You mountain-roaming guide, and bride, and nursemaid, I entreat, O Lady, your wisdom at this sacred rite. Oracle of Hecate - Candidate: Thanks oracle Priestess H: (Grounds oracle as required) (All return to circle, candidate waits in the centre) Priest H: How say you? Is this candidate acceptable to the Lyceum as a Priestess? All: (Those present express assent or otherwise, if assent the rite continues as below, otherwise the rite ends here.) Priest H: Let the candidate be ordained before us all. Priestess H: (anoints head) . May your mind be illumined with truth. (Anoints heart) . May your heart be filled with love and compassion. (Anoints hands). May your hands minister to all life. Priestess H and Priest H together: In the name of deity we ordain thee Priestess of Hecate. Priest H: With this crown I dignify your head, may vision sit upon your brow (places crown on new priestess’s head). Priestess H: With this stole I hallow your heart, may compassion dwell forever in your soul .(Drapes stole around new priestess’s shoulders). Priest H: With this wand I strengthen your will for good. May you wield power with integrity and discernment (places wand in new priestess’s hand). Priest H and Priestess H together: May you be blessed by Hecate. (Place hands on new priestess’s shoulders) . Receive now the blessings of the tutelary deities of this lyceum, Rigantona and Tigernonos. Priestess H: Daughter of Hecate, stand and reflect the glory of deity. (New priestess turns and stands before the lyceum) Priestess H: We have stood in the depths of the cave of Hecate, the belly of the earth. It is now time to return, for the moon is rising, and our journey back begins here. Rest on the ancient voices that gently rise, bringing us out of the cave to meet the light. All: The night is rising, the journey back starts here. We rise on the ancient voices sounding deep within. We catch fragments of returning light that flash and glimmer through the cave. The voices soar, expanding into open chambers, floating high on the quick moving air, and we trust to our waking wings. As we gain the cave mouth so we halt and give thanks. We emerge, edged in light, carrying our cave journey coiled within us. Priest H: Let us send out blessings to all in need. (All turn outward with palms outstretched and offer prayers and blessings to those in need, aloud and silently) Priestess H: May the new priestess give us the blessing Communion New Priestess: (Presents each member present with a small gift and gives an appropriate blessing to each one in turn) . In the name of the divine mother, may all that lives be blessed. The creatures of the water, air and earth, animals ancient and wise, reptiles and fish. May the winged messengers of the Goddess be blessed; likewise all trees and plants. May the elements themselves be blessed by the sacred hands of the Goddess of a Thousand Names, and the earth, her body manifest. All: So may it be! Centre: (Intones Ogham) We give thanks for the
powers of the Sacred Yew tree. Dark tree, warder of time and ghosts buried
long ago. Unchanging guardian who lends us the shelter of your spreading
canopy, your dark, curling fingers bring us cool shade. Trusty yew, immortal
tree, we thank you for your protection. We bid you hail and farewell. North: We give thanks for the powers of the North, the
bones of the land, ancient and wise. We give thanks to Hecate the Way
Shower wise-woman, dweller of the hollow-hills who grants us the blessings
of the abundant earth and eternal stone. Allies of the North we give you
thanks for you council and protection, We bid you hail and farewell. West: We give thanks for the powers of the West,
the sacred rivers, streams, oceans, wells, the blood of the land. We give
thanks to Hecate the Soul -Bearer, Saffron-clad in the twilight place,
who brings justice and truth to all our journeys. Allies of the West we
thank you for your council and protection. We bid you hail and farewell. South: We give thanks for the powers of the South, the
cleansing flame, the fire within that sparks our inspiration, the light
of the ancestors that burns deep within us. We give thanks to Hecate the
Midwife who eases our path, and to the Frog Goddess Heqit who walks also
beside us. Allies of the South we thank you for your council and protection.
We bid you hail and farewell. East: We give thanks for the powers of the East, the
many coloured winds, the Hawk and the owl. We give thanks to Hecate the
Bright -Face, glowing maiden, who guides us around the serpentine path
of our journey through the labyrinth. Allies of the East, we thank you
for you council and protection. We bid you hail and farewell. Closing of the lyceum, followed by reports and feasting. |
