First Degree Ritual

Items needed: a purifying oil.

Purify and cast Circle.

Read the Charge of the God and the Goddess.

Dedicant stands at the edge of the Circle waiting to be let in.

Dedicant is challenged with:

"Who comes to the Gate?"

Dedicant responds:

"It is I, ___________, daughter(son) of earth and starry heaven."

Priestess* holds athame to dedicant's heart and says:

"You are about to enter a vortex of power, a place beyond imagining, where birth and death, dark and light, joy and pain, meet and make one. You are about to step between the worlds, beyond time, outside the realm of your human life. You, who stand on the threshold of the Gods, have you the courage to make the journey? For know that is is better to fall upon my blade and perish than to make the attempt with fear in your heart."

Dedicant answers:

"I enter the Circle with perfect love and perfect trust."

Priestess grounds the point of the blade and draws dedicant into the Circle, saying:

"Thus are all first brought into the Circle."

Dedicant kneels before the altar, and is blessed by the elements.

For the North, sprinkle dedicant with salt and say:

"This is the blessing of Tamahome; may it strengthen you. By the powers of Earth, I charge you to walk in balance, to hold sacred all the things of the earth, to dedicate yourself to the protection of Mother Earth and Her children."

For the East, circle dedicant with incense and say:

"This is the blessing of Chichiri; may it inspire you. By the powers of Air, I charge you to go forth with wisdom, to ever seek more knowledge and to use that knowledge wisely and with honor for all things."

For the South, dedicant holds her/his hand above a candle flame, say:

"This is the blessing of Tasuki; may it purify you. By the powers of Fire, I charge you to forge new things, to be in constant creative action, giving expression to the powerful energies of the Goddess and God."

For the West, sprinkle dedicant with water, say:

"This is the blessing of Hotohori; may it cleanse and renew you. By the powers of Water, I charge you to live in love, to trust your emotions and your intuition, to give your heart to the Goddess and God. Do you promise to do all of these things?"

Dedicant answers.

Priestess takes dedicant's hand and helps her/him to stand and says:

"Rise now, daughter(son) of the Goddess and know that you are forever blessed."

Priestess says:

"Repeat after me:
I, __________, do of my own free will most solemnly swear to protect, help, and defend my sisters and brothers of the Art. I always will keep secret all that must not be revealed. This I do swear, mindful that my measure has been taken and in the presence of the God and Goddess."

Dedicant kneels, priestess places one hand on her/his head and the other beneath
her/his heel and says:

"All between my two hands belongs to the Goddess."

Dedicant replies:

"So mote it be."

Priestess says:

"With this sacred Oil may you be anointed and cleansed, granted new life as one of the Children of the Gods. From this day forth you shall be known as Priest/ess in your own right, within the Circle and without, to all your brothers and sisters of the Craft; and to all the Gods , kami, ancestors, and spirits."

Dedicant blessed herself/himself with (anoint each point with oil):

"Bless me Deities, for I am Your child.
Blessed be my mind, that I may know Your Mysteries.
Blessed be my eyes, that I may see Your path.
Blessed be my nose, that I may breathe Your essence.
Blessed be my mouth, that speaks the Sacred names.
Blessed be my breast, that I may faithful in my work.
Blessed be my hands, that do Your work.
Blessed be my loins, to receive pleasure and to birth new life.
Blessed be my legs, that support me on Your path.
Blessed be my feet, that I may walk in Your ways."

Priestess says:

"Behold, as we need the Gods, so do the Gods need us. Behold, I speak for the God and Goddess yet you and I are equal. Now you are priest/ess and witch. You will share our knowledge of the Gods and of the arts of healing, of divination, of magick, and of all the mystic arts. These you shall learn as you progress. But you must also know that sometimes to learn you must suffer, and all that you learn must be used in accordance with the Rede and the Rule of Three."

Dedicant says:

"Long has been my journey, but now the end is here. I have served my apprenticeship for a year and a day, I have searched for the Divine within and without, and I now take my rightful title of priest/ess and witch. I swear to use my knowledge to help within the bound of the Rede and the Rule of Three. I come to full blossom at Midsummer, the time of the greatest light.** Now is the time to celebrate!"

Priestess says:

"Now you will never suffer loneliness; for none who are dedicated in Circle are friendless or without brothers and sisters. May you find love and peace within the Circle and in your life. Blessed be!"

If dedicant has chosen a craft name now is the time to introduce her/him with it to the group, ancestors, kami, and patrons.

Bless and eat Simple Feast.

Phaedra's Notes:

* This can be either a priest or priestess. I used Priestess simply because that's what I am!

**This part was for a specific student's ritual. She was dedicated at Midsummer, so this part can be deleted or changed to fit the person that this will be used for. I tend to start classes in the spring, so many students are ready for their First Degree at (the following) Midsummer. It used to be unconscious, but I do it intentionally now because that is when I first came to the Craft and self-dedicated.

The ritual is for to initiate someone into the First Degree. There are some rather traditional elements in this, but I have to change things around and this is the end result. This is a beautiful ritual that has worked really well for me. Over the years it has changed a little, but I like to keep this one up since it was used first. I think it helps to instill in the seeker that they have completed their first phase and we are all equal in the Circle and without.

Drawing the dedicant into the Circle with a more traditional challege was something I debated over and finally chose to use. Why? Because it does something mystical for me, I don't particularly like the outside form of it, but has a nice inner resonace that shows love and trust for the people in the Circle and for the person issuing the challege. Real trust is there for you to face someone holding a knife to your chest and to NOT feel threatened or uneasy.

With the blessing of the elements I chose to begin in the north for that directions connotation with the flesh. It starts with the body, moves into spirit, and then beyond. I like it at any rate.

I wanted the dedicant to bless themselves so that they understand, while another person is taking them through a dedication, they are initiating themselves. All we do to help or guide them is useless without what they bring - their heart, body, and mind.