(August 1)
Place upon the altar sheaves of wheat, barley or oats,
fruit and breads, perhaps a
loaf fashioned in the figure of
the Sun or a man to represent the God. Corn dollies,
symbolic of the Goddess, can be
present there as well.
Arrange the altar, light the candles and censer, and
cast the Circle of Stones.
Recite the
Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Stand before the altar, holding aloft the sheaves of
grain, saying these
or simular words:
Now is the time of the First Harvest,
when the bounties of nature give of
themselves
so that we may survive.
O God of the ripening fields,
Lord of the Grain,
grant me the understanding of sacrifice
as
You prepare to deliver Yourself under the sickle
of the Goddess and journey to the lands of
eternal summer.
O
Goddess of the Dark Moon,
teach me the secrets of rebirth as the Sun
loses its strength and the nights grow cold.
Rub the heads of the wheat with your fingers so that
the grains fall onto the altar.
Lift a piece of fruit and
bite it, savouring its flavour, and say:
I partake of the first harvest,
mixing its energies with mine that I may
continue
my quest for the starry wisdom of
perfection.
O Lady of the Moon and Lord of the Sun,
gracious ones before Whom the
stars halt
their courses,
I offer my thanks for the continuing
fertility of the Earth.
May the nodding grain loose
its seeds to be
buried in the Mother's breast,
ensuring rebirth in the warmth of the
coming Spring.
Consume the rest of the fruit.
Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle
is released.
