Imbolic Sabbat

January 31

[Pronounced Im-ball-ick. Erecting the Temple is performed. Priest and Priestess kiss. On the Altar are the two candles from Yule. They are not lit. Each witch has an unlit candle tucked into his/her belt.]

Priestess: Now has the Lord reached the zenith of His journey
It is good that we rejoice for Him.
From now till Beltane is the path ahead less dark,
For He can see the Lady at its end.

Priest: I urge ye, Wiccans all,
To give now your hearts to our Lord Woden.
Let us make this a Feast of Torches
To carry Him forward, in light,
To the arms of Freya.

[Priest and Priestess take up the extra candles off the Altar. Witches take the candles from their belts.]

Priest and Priestess: Light now your flames from the Sacred Altar.

[Females light their candles from the Priest’s; males from the Priestess’s. When all are lit they hold them high in their left hand, Seaxes high in their right.]

All: To Woden. The Mighty one,
Do we give our love and our strength.
So be it!

[All hold for a few moments, till the Priest and Priestess give the signal. Each kisses the blade of their Seax, blows out their candle-except for the Priest and priestess, who replace theirs, still lit on the Altar- and puts away their Seax.]

Priest: Thus shall the journey be made through Beltane, renewed in Strength and happy in Love.

Priestess: As the Gods give us, so it is right that we should give to the Gods.

All: So be it!

[Then followed by Cakes and Ale, followed by games and celebration.]

© Raymond Buckland, 1970, The Tree.  Used by Permission.

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