The Hearth of the Turning wheel Lughnassadh ritual.

Written by the Chattering Magpie and performed by the group in 2006.

First published in the HedgeWytch magazine issue 30 Lammas/August 2007 pp26-30

Introduction on the aims of the Hearth.

The Hearth of the Turning Wheel is an independent Pagan group that officially follows no fixed Tradition. We meet to celebrate the Eight High Holy Days leaving Moon observances to members' solitary practice. We do not operate a degree system although membership does require initiation.

We are a closed group and membership is by invitation only. However, guests are permitted to attend and participate in ritual; again this is strictly by invitation only.

The Hearth was founded at Samhain 2003 by four solitary workers unable to find suitable groups or simply unhappy with those available at the time.

We came together as four friends from mixed Pagan backgrounds, with different experiences and skills. The Hearth remains today a non hierarchical and democratic working group. Each member is expected to participate in the rituals often taking turns in leading them.

The Hearth takes its name from the declared aim of observing the Eight Sabbats. On foundation, being aware that members came from differing Traditions and not every member was a Witch or a Druid, we chose to avoid the weighted terms of coven or grove. Deity names are generally avoided so as individuals from differing Traditions can comfortably work together.

Over time the group has developed, people come and people go but we hope, remain always our friends. Officially the Hearth remains an independent group following no fixed Tradition. However, as a closed group with a focus on the Turning Wheel and reverence of an unnamed God and Goddess, we have to some extent taken on the characteristics of a coven and may at times be described as such.

Opening prayer or poem.

Someone will say: "Spread on the land the gold Sun lies, sinks deep within, so sweetly dies. Now dear life spent and poppies red, stain the flaxen Sun Gods' bed. So gather crops and brown bread rise. Now see fresh, new born life arise."

Casting of the circle.

Taking either the wand or athame, cast the circle from east to east deosil, while saying: "I do conjure this circle to be a place of power and protection. A place between the worlds and a time outside of time. Let this place be cleansed of all that would cause harm or fear. Let this be a place of purity, wisdom and love."

Blessing the elements.

Light the incense, using wand, athame or hand bless and say: "I do consecrate and bless thee O' elements of air and fire, to drive out all impurities and make thee fit for use in this our rite."

Put three pinches of salt into the water, using wand, athame or hand bless and say: "I do consecrate and bless thee O' elements of water and earth, to drive out all impurities and make thee fit for use in this our rite."

Carry first the incense and then the water around the circle deosil. If working out of doors then the boundary may be sprinkled with the saltwater mixture. If working within a small circle, turn and present the elements at each quarter in turn, east, south, west and finally north.

Blessing the oil.

Taking a suitable oil and using wand, athame or hand bless and say: "I do consecrate and bless this oil, to drive out all impurities and make fit for use in this our rite."

People will anoint the forehead of the person on their left saying: "You have walked this path in spirit and now, you do so in flesh."

The Druid Oath.

All link hands and say: "We swear by peace and love to stand. Heart to heart and hand in hand. Mark O' Spirit and hear us now. Confirming this our sacred vow."

Calling the quarters.

All turn to face east, salute the quarter and one person say: "Hail to the guardians of the east. Element of air and spirit of inspiration. Hail and welcome."

All: "Hail and welcome."

All turn to face south, salute the quarter and one person say: "Hail to the guardians of the south. Element of fire and spirit of passion. Hail and welcome."

All: "Hail and welcome."

All turn to face west, salute the quarter and one person say: "Hail to the guardians of the west. Element of water and spirit of emotion. Hail and welcome."

All: "Hail and welcome."

All turn to face north, salute the quarter and one person say: "Hail to the guardians of the north. Element of earth and spirit of strength. Hail and welcome."

All: "Hail and welcome."

Elemental invocation.

All present say in unison: "Air, Fire, Water, Earth, elements of astral birth, we call you now attend to us. In the circle rightly cast, safe from psychic curse or blast, we call you now attend to us. From cave and desert, sea and hill, by blade, wand, cup and pentacle, we call you now attend to us. This is our will so mote it be."

Invitation of the Goddess in three parts (by acting high priestess/the Marion):

"I invoke and call upon thee, threefold Goddess of the Moon, Lady of the secret name. Maiden of the moonlit sea, fairer than the night and silver clad, thee we invoke.

Mother of the moon and calm waters, let thy light fall upon us, for thy hair is a pool of stars in the darkness. Thee we invoke.

Widow of the waning moon whose children have grown and left thee to sorrow, guard us with learning and grant us a place in thy dark cloak of understanding. Thee we invoke. Descend, we call thee unto our circle."

All: "Hail and welcome."

Invitation of the God in two parts (by acting high priest/the Robin):

"Lord of the Sun, the hunt and the fire, be with us now before the time of departure. We call upon thee this night, for this is the time of your festival. Come before the time of departure is on us. Come and bless this rite. Thee we invoke.

Giver of life and strength, giver of plenty. Witch Lord, thou who art also Lord of the path of death and peace. Thee we invoke. Descend, we call thee unto our circle."

All: "Hail and welcome."

Time for the talking stick, what the sabbat means to us and so forth. Followed by some chanting and the main focus of the ritual, which may include a suitable prayer. At this point we may attempt to sing "John Barleycorn."

Marion picks up the wheat sheaf and says:

"Fields bright with corn,

Drenched with sun.

Lughnassa, beginning of the harvest.

The Mother, the Maiden are one.

In Hellenic garb Demeter and Persephone,

Or Brighid in the Celtic lands.

Or Isis who watches over the fertilising Nile.

The Mother gives us bread, life.

Her arms seek to shelter us,

Even in this age when we,

Find it hard to see her face,

In the dust of the modern world.

The technical jungle,

Whose human seeds may yet reunite us,

With the stars.

Where the Gods have always lived,

And from where they will come again.

As now, in glimpses in the woodland and plain.

Or where the seeing eye can look beyond,

The dimness of the mind, fettered logic,

That never dares to dream.

To find order again,

In the pattern of time and space."

Marion hands the wheat sheaf to the Robin who says:

"I am the plant of life,

Which comes forth from the God.

Which grows from the ribs of the God.

Which allows people to live.

Which makes the Gods divine.

Which spiritualises the spirits.

Which enlivens the limbs of the living.

Which sustains the masters of wealth,

And the masters of substance.

I live as corn, the life of the living.

I live upon the God of the Earth,

But the love of me is in the sky,

On earth, on the water and in the fields.

Now the Goddess is content, She rejoices.

I am life appearing from the God."

In silence the Robin walks around the circle deosil and gives each person an "ear of corn."

Thanking the Lord and the Lady.

Marion: "Companions we have met together to celebrate the Lughnassadh feast. Together we have worked our purpose, the God and Goddess have witnessed our working. Together we have called for power to accomplish our working but it is not for us to command whom we worship. Nor is it for us to bid them to be gone, we cannot dismiss them."

Robin: "We ask instead of the Lord and the Lady, that they remain with us all our days, guiding our feet and lighting our paths. We ask that they are with us in our lives and in our deaths. Our true parents even as we are their children."

The rite of communion.

The chalice: "As the knife is to the man so the cup is to the woman. May their union bring truth."

The plate: "By the sharing of food may our bonds of love be strengthened."

Drink first, and as the cup is passed to the person to your left say: "May you never thirst."

Take a biscuit and as the plate is passed to the person to your left say: "May you never hunger."

The remainder will be deposited on the earth in the morning as usual.

Closing the quarters.

All turn to face north, salute the quarter and one person say: "Guardians of the north. We thank you for guarding this circle. Hail and farewell."

All: "Hail and farewell."

Turn to face west, salute the quarter and one person say: "Guardians of the west. We thank you for guarding this circle. Hail and farewell."

All: "Hail and farewell."

Turn to face south, salute the quarter and one person say: "Guardians of the south. We thank you for guarding this circle. Hail and farewell."

All: "Hail and farewell."

Turn to face east, salute the quarter and one person say: "Guardians of the east. We thank you for guarding this circle. Hail and farewell."

All: "Hail and farewell."

If not included prior to blessing the meal, a suitable blessing may be included at this point.

Final closing.

Marion: "Let the circle be open but let us not forget our working. Let the candles be put out but let us not forget what we have learned. Let the rite be ended in the knowledge that we shall meet once again."

Robin: "Before the Lord and Lady, God and Goddess, this meeting is ended."

Sources.

Chattering Magpie private BOS (2005)

Clegg K. private BOS (2005)

Cunningham S. (1998) Wicca: a guide for the solitary practitioner. Llewellyn, USA.

Franklin A. Harvey P. (2004) Blessing the grain August ritual. In Silver Wheel. Lughnassa 2004.

Jones E.J. (1994) The Roebuck in the thicket. Capall Bann.

Leigh M. Sanders A. (1969) Legend of the Witches. (documentary film)

Moorey T. (nd.) Witchcraft-a beginners guide.

St. George E.A. (1972/2000) Rites of shadow/The Devil's prayer book. Rigel Press/Corvus Books.

About the author:

Chattering Magpie is the Pagan Federation Regional Coordinator for the county of Derbyshire, a Raven initiate and Brother Knight of the Loyal Arthurian Warband. He works as a Staff Nurse in Trauma and Orthopaedics at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. He is currently pursuing post registration study in orthopaedic nursing with the University of Nottingham.