A Simple Ritual for the Waxing Moon
Leader: “The waxing moon is seen by pagans as the ideal time to perform any magic that involves increase. So we’re going to do one today to increase a single quality in ourselves – tolerance. Patience also falls within this quality, and it can improve our relationships and our stress levels, among other things. Let’s face it, most of us could benefit from that!”
Ceremony
First, cast a circle, by tracing an invisible circular line outside the area you’re working in, moving clockwise. You can do this with a finger, a stick, wand, athame (ritual dagger) or sword. As you do it, visualise or intend that a line of light is laid down on the ground, which turns into a globe of light that reaches both up and down, protecting the entire area you are working in. No-one should cross this line until it is removed, without having a door opened for them by the person who created it, and closed behind them, though this does not apply to children and animals who are not taking part in the ceremony.
Call the quarters, facing in the appropriate direction each time – and always turning clockwise as you move between them. One person in each quarter will call, and then all repeat the Hail and Welcome.
East: “Spirits of the East, spirits of air; we call upon you to bring to our circle the intelligence and inspiration of your element. Be with us as we work. Hail and Welcome!”
All: “Hail and Welcome!”
South: “Spirits of the South, spirits of fire; we call upon you to bring to our circle the passion and creativity of your element. Be with us as we work. Hail and Welcome!”
All: “Hail and Welcome!”
West: “Spirits of the West, spirits of water; we call upon you to bring to our circle the emotional intelligence and compassion of your element. Be with us as we work. Hail and Welcome!”
All: “Hail and Welcome!”
North: “Spirits of the North, spirits of earth; we call upon you to bring to our circle the stability and grounding of your element. Be with us as we work. Hail and Welcome!”
All: “Hail and Welcome!”
Leader: “Now we have a safe working space in which to do our ritual. We have chosen tonight to focus on increasing our quality of tolerance. So we will all close our eyes and consider how increasing this quality might improve our own lives.” (Pause.) “There are many things we may find increased tolerance helps with, such as more patience, the ability to sit still or concentrate on things better, improved relationships with our parents, siblings or friends – or even our teachers – and a calmer approach to life.”
Leader: So, having called this quality to mind and determined how it can improve our lives, we ask the goddess and the god, and element of water, to help us to increase this quality in ourselves. We visualise ourselves beside the seaside on a moonlit night, watching the quiet waves lapping gently at the shore, hearing the hiss, hiss, hiss of the water as it washes the beach, and feeling a warm, gentle breeze on our faces. We can smell the salty air and we breathe deeply, filling our lungs with its freshness. Maybe we have our feet at the edge of the water, and the tide laps our toes each time a wave comes in. All is calm, quiet and peaceful.” (Pause.) “Now, every time in our future lives that we feel we could use a little more tolerance or patience, we can close our eyes and see, hear, feel and smell this quiet, peaceful place.”
Leader: “Great goddess, horned god, we call upon you to help us increase our qualities of tolerance and patience, as we have imagined them here tonight. An it harm none, so mote it be.”
All: “So mote it be.”
Leader: “We will now share food and drink, to cement the bond between us and the pledge we have made here to become more patient and tolerant of others and of the world.”
Pass round the food and drink, saying “Blessed be”, to each other as we pass things on.
Release the quarters, starting in the North. Face the appropriate direction each time, and turn anti-clockwise between them.
North: “Spirits of the North, spirits of earth. We thank you for bringing your qualities to our circle and our working. Hail and Farewell!”
All: “Hail and Farewell!”
West: “Spirits of the West, spirits of water. We thank you for bringing your qualities to our circle and our working. Hail and Farewell!”
All: “Hail and Farewell!”
South: “Spirits of the South, spirits of Fire. We thank you for bringing your qualities to our circle and our working. Hail and Farewell!”
All: “Hail and Farewell!”
East: “Spirits of the East, spirits of air. We thank you for bringing your qualities to our circle and our working. Hail and Farewell!”
All: “Hail and Farewell!”
Release the circle by walking back round in the other direction (anti-clockwise), pointing your finger or tool at the ground and imagining the globe of light dissolving as you walk.
Leader: “The circle is open, but it is never broken. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.”
Offer some of the food and drink to the goddess and god by dropping and pouring it on the ground (outside!).