In a Cardiff flat, a young woman stands naked in the corner of a spacious room. The carpet and furniture have all been pulled back against the wall and a thick white cord marks a nine foot circle on the floor. She is blindfolded and her arms are tied behind her back so that they form a triangle. Cords are also bound around her left knee and right ankle; but she can still walk unimpeded. 'Feet neither bound nor free....'. Even though she knows me well, she is slightly nervous, and the thick smell of the incense that swirls around the room makes her feel slightly light headed. She hears footsteps and jumps slightly as a little consecrated water is flicked at her as I consecrate the circle with the four elements.
I step forward from the altar, which is crowded with athames, candles, the pentacle, God/Goddess figurines and all manner of regalia that I will need to carry out the ceremony. I move towards the Eastern Cardinal point, touching the ground with the tip of the magic sword. I intone the blessing as I begin to move deosil, marking the circle with my sword:
'Oh thou circle, be thou a meeting place of love and joy and truth. A shield against all wickedness and evil. A rampart of protection for all those who shall stand herein. Wherefore I do bless and consecrate thee in the names of Karnayna and Aradia.'
My mind is fixed on the matter in hand, of my responsibility to the candidate. My commitment to her must be 100%; it must be absolute
I walk to the gap in the circle at it's North East quarter and I address the candidate:
'Listen to the words of The Great Mother, who was of old also called among men Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Arianrhod, Bride and by many other names.'
For the next few moments I intone The Charge of The Goddess, taking in the beautiful prose. Everything one needs to know about The Craft is contained in it's words. Some say it is a complete grimoire in itself. The haunting words seem to calm the candidate and she relaxes a little. She jumps, however, as she feels the tip of the sword pressed firmly into the flesh above her left breast. I make the challenge:
'Oh thou who standest at the threshold between the pleasant world of men and the terrible domain of the Dread Lords of the Outer Spaces, hast thou the courage to make the assay? For I say verily; it were better to rush on my blade and perish than to make the attempt with fear in thy heart.'
If the candidate says no at this point, the ritual will be immediately ended and the circle closed. She will be asked no questions and sent on her way with no malice. However, she clears her throat and gives the passwords; 'I have two perfect words - perfect love and perfect trust.'
I respond by saying 'All who are doubly welcome. I now give thee a third to pass you through this dread door.' I give her a light kiss on the lips. I place my hands on her shoulders and spin her into the circle, leaving her somewhat bewildered and disorientated. I then lead her to the four cardinal points of the circle beginning at the East.
'Take head ye Lords of the East, South, West and North, that Sarah is properly prepared to be made a Priestess and a Witch.' She is led into the centre of the circle. I dance step and pace around the circle using special chants to help me summon the power. After I have dropped to the ground to welcome the power, I take a break; I sit cross legged before the altar. I gaze at the statuettes of the Lord and Lady. I mentally invoke them to bless the candidate and that she may be strong in her new path.
Presently, I slowly rise. I pick up a small handbell from the altar and ring it eleven times. I continue with the ritual and kneel before her saying: 'In other religions, the postulant kneels while the Priest towers above her. But in the Art Magical we are taught to be humble and so we kneel to welcome them.'
I now proceed with the fivefold salute, kissing the candidate lightly on her feet, knees, just above the pubic hair, breasts and lips, I invoke:
'Blessed be thy feet that have brought thee in thy way.
Blessed be thy knees that shall kneel at the sacred altar.
Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be.
Blessed be thy breasts formed in beauty.
Blessed be thy lips that shall utter the sacred names.'
I stand and face the candidate. I continue 'Before thou art sworn, art thou willing to pass the ordeal and be purified?' She replies 'I am.' Her feet and knees are now bound with the cords. I reach down to the altar for a small reel of red cotton. I then take the loose end and run the cotton down her back from the crown of her head to her feet, 'taking her measure.' She is informed that in olden times her measure would have been retained by the Coven, and used against her if she tried to leave. Today, however, as security is no longer a life or death situation, she is given her measure back. She came into this circle with perfect love and perfect trust and to illustrate these principles I return her measure by tying it loosely around her left arm. She may do with it as she sees fit after the ceremony.
I reach to the altar for the handbell and ring it thrice more. I gently grip the candidate by the elbows and lower her to kneel before the altar with her head touching the floor. I fetch a small whip (the scourge) from the altar and proceed to strike her three, seven, nine, and twenty one strokes across the buttocks. Most are very light and are purely token. One or two, however, will sting to impress upon her the solemnity of the ritual. After she has received forty light strokes, I whisper in her ear: 'Ye have bravely passed the test!' I help her to her feet before addressing her again :
'Art ready to swear that thou wilt always be true to the art and ever ready to protect, help and defend thy brothers and sisters of the Wicca, even though it should cost thee thy life ?' More confidently now, she replies 'I am'.
I pick up my athame from the altar and place the tip over Sarah's heart. She now takes her First Degree obligation during which she swears to keep secret that which I will teach her and allegiance to the craft. I ring the bell eleven more times. Once more I kneel before the candidate to consecrate her in the First Degree.
Using anointing oil and then wine from the altar chalice I touch her just above the pubic hair, on the right breast, left breast and finally above the pubic hair once more. I then repeat the process with my lips informing Sarah that she is now a fully consecrated Priestess and Witch.
I remove her blindfold and untie her. She blinks in the dim candlelight, her eyes damp and glistening with emotion. She smiles at me and I step forward and give her a warm hug to welcome her into the Craft. She stares at me as I continue, her eyes now accustomed to the dim candlelight.
'I now present to thee the Working Tools of a Witch; they are also the Magical Weapons.' The candidate is now presented in turn with the sword, the athame, the white handled knife, the wand, the pentacle, the censor of incense, the scourge and the cords. As each is handed to her a little law on what each is used for is imparted to her.
After the cords have been presented, I make the invoking pentagram over her with the wand saying: 'I now salute thee in the names of Karnayna and Aradia, newly made Priestess and Witch.'
I take her round the circle once more, proclaiming that Sarah has been consecrated a priestess of the Goddess to the Lords of the Watchtowers at each quarter.
We kiss and embrace warmly once again. Before we close the circle we will consecrate the wine and cakes on the altar and talk of the ritual, what Sarah is feeling now, and plan for her training in the First Degree. I ask her how she feels at this moment. Little tears well up in the corner of her eye with happiness. Sarah takes a sip from the wine and replies; 'I feel as though I've just come home after a long absence.' We drink a toast to the Old Gods and enjoy the warm atmosphere of the circle.....
Peter Nash