Working with the Goddess Sekhmet page 3

7:00 pm, Saturday, July 29, 2006
Unitarian Universalist Church of Ft Lauderdale,
3970 NW 21st Avenue, Oakland Park, Florida 33309

HPS:  	Sophia		HP:   	Spelcastor

Ritual: 	Mid Summer.  (Mid point between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn
      Equinox) Ancient Egyptian New Year - Month of Sekhmet Festival
	First Harvest.  Banishing/New Beginnings (transition) ritual.
	Life that dies so that life may live.

	Honors the Grain Harvests and the Goddesses and Gods of Death and
	Resurrection. The Full Moon in August is called the Corn Moon.

	New Moon July 25, 2006  4:31 UT- Full Moon  August 09, 2006 10:54 UT

	Sun is 15 degrees in Leo on August 6, 2006.  Halfway between Summer
	Solstice (Litha) and Fall Equinox (Mabon).

	This eclectic ritual will be in honor of the Goddess Sekhmet. There will
	be elements of Egyptian, Wicca, and Strega rituals.

Goddess: 	Sekhmet
Her name has also been spelled as Sakhmet and Sekhet.

God: 		Ptah: Consort of Sekhmet.

God: 		Nefertem: Son of Sekhmet and Ptah.

Goddess of the
	North: Uatchet.		Earth=Dry+Cold  RED	G
	East:  Bast.		Fire=Hot+Dry   YELLOW	EI
        South: Nekhebet.        Air=Wet+Hot   WHITE     A
	West:  Sekhet.		Water=Cold+Wet  BLACK	U

In comparatively late dynastic times Sekhet and Bast were identified with
forms of Hathor, and were regarded as the Goddesses of the West and the East
respectively, just as Nekhe-bet and Uatchet were the goddesses of the South
and the North respectively.  Each goddess had the head of a lioness, but the
body of Sekhet is said to have been draped in a red garment whilst that of
Bast was arrayed in a green garment.

Alter:
	Facing the north covered with a red cloth.
	Decorated with barley, corn, apples
  	Red Goddess Candle placed to the northwest,
	Green God Candle placed to the northeast.  Icons next to each.
	Pentacle placed in center with the Spirit bowl and candle set upon it.
	Placed to the north: Utility knife, and Bowl contains stones to represent
	earth.
	Placed to the east: Athame, and Bowl contains votive candle (burning) to
	represent fire.
	Placed to the south: Wand, Bell, and Bowl contains incense (smoking) to
	represent air.
	Placed to the west: Chalice, and Bowl contains purified water to represent
	water.
	Other items: Ankh, Censer with chain, bowl of salt, four quarter candles,
	libation bowl, broom, one utility candle, and cauldron.
	Mundane tools: Utility knife, sacred bic lighter, candle snuffer.

Cakes and Ale:  Barley bread and Red beer (root beer and red soda)

Drummers: (all who bring drums within the circle area)
	Drum beat for the gathering.

Gunnar will pass out paper and tell everyone to write two things on it.
	"One that you want to banish from and one that you want to bring into your
        life."
	These papers will be burned on the fire.

HP: Will make the announcement that it is time to gather for the Ritual.

Bard: Aleph the Seeker will speak the Story of Sekhmet.

Fire Tender MacMage:
	will build and start the fire.

Procession:
	Jingles to carry Sekhmet banner and lead everyone into circle.
	Jennifer to carry CUUPS banner into circle.

Chant: Volunteer to lead the chant.

	"She changes everything She touches
	 and Everything She touches changes"

Drummers:
Drum beat for the chant.

Blessing coming into the circle while smudging:
	Marty Mc will smudge everyone and say:

	"Welcome to this Mid Summer rite, may your life always be bright".

HPS: lights the utility candle.

HPS: "We will have a meditation so we can get grounded before we start"

Grounding meditation:

	Ash the Silent will lead the meditation.
"Relax, breath deeply.  Take a breath for the count of 3, hold for the count
of 3,  exhale for the count of 3.  Plant your feet firmly on the ground.
Think of your feet growing roots into the ground and getting relaxing energy
from the earth.   Now think of a brilliant white light over your head.
That white light is shining down upon you.   Imagine that you are being
bathed in that white light.  That light is pouring down upon you.  That
brilliant white light is love and healing.  Let that light be within you,
and you be within that light.  You are getting relaxing energy from the
earth and love and healing energy from the brilliant white light.  Now take
a minute and see yourself on a big screen.  You are exactly how you want to
be.  Picture yourself with everything you want, wherever you want to be,
surrounded by people who love you.  This is the you that you can become.
(Pause.)  Now when you are ready come back to this place, keep the relaxing,
love, and healing energy with you, and open your eyes.".

Consecrate the salt and water (HP places point of athame in salt)

HP:
"As Salt is Life, let it purify us in all ways we may use it.  Let it
cleanse our bodies and spirits as we dedicate ourselves in these rites to
the glory of the Goddess and the God."
(HPS places three portions of salt in the water with her athame.)

HPS:
	"Let the Sacred Salt drive out any impurities in this Water, that we may
	use it throughout these rites."

Drummers:
	Drum beat for casting the circle.

Cast the Circle:
     With blade: (HPS casts the Circle with athame moving deosil.)

	"I cast the circle round and round, by it's magic we are bound".

     With water and salt:  (Melanie takes up salt water.  Follows HPS around
	the Circle):

	"Salt and water purify, Strength and Dreams, never die".

     With incense: (HP takes up censer and follows Volunteer around the
	Circle.)

	"Air and fire purify, Imagination and Magick fly".

They return to alter and HPS rings bell three times.

Invite the Spirit, Goddess, and God of the Universe.

HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".

HP: 	"Let the words be spoken".

HPS lights the Spirit candle in the spirit bowl from the utility candle.
	"Hail Great Spirit, Spirit of the Universe, I bid you welcome,  join us in
	this rite and lend us your wisdom".

HPS lights the Goddess candle from the Spirit candle in the spirit bowl.
	"Hail Great Goddess, Goddess of the Universe, I bid you welcome."

HP lights the God candle from the Spirit candle in the spirit bowl.
	"Hail Great God, God of the Universe, I bid you welcome."

Invite the elements:
HP:	"Let's Invite the elements starting with the north".

NORTH: - (earth - Goddess Uatchet - Mountain Lioness)
HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".
(Red for north will dance to the alter to use the microphone.)

HP: 	"Let the words be spoken".

Red: "Hail Goddess Uatchet of the North and Earth, great Mountain Lioness, I
      bid you, join us and give us strength.  So Mote it be".

(HPS: lights the north quarter candle from the Spirit candle in the spirit
bowl.)

EAST: - (fire - Goddess Bast - Lioness)
HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".
Swamp for east will dance to the alter to use the microphone

HP: 	"Let the words be spoken".

Swamp: "Hail Goddess Bast of the East and Fire, great Lioness, I bid you,
join us and give us magic power.  So Mote it be".

(HPS: lights the east quarter candle from the Spirit candle in the spirit
bowl.)

SOUTH: - (air - Goddess Nekhebet - Winged Lioness)
HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".

(Willow for south will dance to the alter to use the microphone.)

HP: 	"Let the words be spoken".

Willow:	"Hail Goddess Nekhebet of the South and Air, great Winged Lioness,
        I bid you, join us and give us insight.  So Mote it be".

(HPS: lights the south quarter candle from the Spirit candle in the spirit
bowl.)

WEST: - (water - Goddess Sekhet - Sea Lioness)
HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".

(DeepSeaStar for west will dance to the alter to use the microphone.)

HP: 	"Let the words be spoken".

DeepSeaStar: "Hail Goddess Sekhet of the West and Water, great Sea Lioness,
             I bid you, join us and give us new beginnings.  So Mote it be".

(HPS: lights the west quarter candle from the Spirit candle in the spirit
bowl.)

Invite the Goddess Sekhmet:
HPS:	"Let the Drums beat".

HP: 	"Let the words be spoken".

HPS:
"As it was at Memphis, So be it now!   Hear me, I beseech Thee, O Powerful
One!  Hail Sekhmet, Bright Mother, Dark Mother... Goddess of rebirth and
healing.   We call to you, your children call to you.   Come, be with us,
and give us guidance".


"Sekhmet, Lady of the Place of the Beginning of Time,  Sekhmet, Whose
Essence is Fire, Tempestuous, Forever, Great one of Magick,	 Grant me
success in my endeavor!  Blessed be the Name of Sekhmet, Beloved Her Image!
Possess me now, O Great One".

HP:   Says SEKHMET'S OWN PRAYER OF PROTECTION
"SEKHMET, Awakener, Lady of Transformations.  Great One of Magic, Opener of
Ways, One Before Whom Evil Trembles, Protectress of the Divine Order, Over
comer of All Enemies, Bring the Strength of your Divine Fire To protect your
Beloved Children, Those whom you have gathered to your Breast. Our Hearts
are Pure. Our Minds Clear. Let all Here be Accomplished For the Glory of
Sekhmet, So we may better Delight in the Breadth Of Your Divine Presence
within Our lives.
Amen - So Mote It Be"

Invite the God Ptah:
HP: 	"Let the Drums beat".

HPS: 	"Let the words be spoken".

HP:
"Hail Ptah, God of Memphis and life, he who set all the Gods in their places
and gave all people, all cattle, and all creeping things that live the
breath of life, patron of masons, sculptors, painters, builders and
carpenters, consort of Sekhmet, we call to you.  Come, be with us, and give
us new life".

Invite the God Nefertem:

HP: 	"Let the Drums beat".

HPS: 	"Let the words be spoken".

HP:	"Hail Nefertem, Son of Sekhmet and Ptah we call to you.  Come, be with
	us, and give us joy".

Explain the purpose of the Mid Summer Ritual:

HP:
"We are no longer in Memphis.  There is no inundation.  This is the first
harvest.   We now reap what we have sown.  A time for rejoicing.  We invite
you to share our harvest.   The first of three harvests before winter is
upon us.   The first crops are cut in the fields.  The plants die as the
fields are reaped.  Look at the fields of your life.   This is the time to
look within yourself.  Look at what you have sown and are now reaping.  You
are harvesting the sowing of your past deeds and words.  This is the time to
cultivate positive deeds and words for the future".

HP:   	"Have you sown well?"

HPS:  	"Have you tended your fields with care?"

HP:   	"What do you fear?"

Chant three times by everyone:

	"Hoof and horn,	 Hoof and horn,	 All that dies shall be reborn.
	 Wheat and grain, Wheat and grain, All that falls shall rise again".

HPS:  Explain the Banishing/NewBeginnings Ritual:
"This is a Banishing/NewBeginnings ritual.   This is the time to rid
yourself of deeds, words, feelings, and emotions that produced ineffective
harvest.  Now is the time to replace those deeds, words, feelings, and
emotions, with ones which will be effective to bring success, happiness and
joy into your life.

"Everyone has written something on paper that you want to banish from your
life and bring into your life.  Think hard about what you want  to replace
in your life and what you want to replace it with.  Banish the things that
are keeping you from becoming what you want to be.

Think about what and who you want to become. Put those thoughts into the
paper in your hand.   The energy will be in the paper even if nothing is
written on the paper.  These will be burned in the fire and as they burn the
energy will go into the universe.  We will start a chant.  During the chant
when you are ready come forward and light the paper from the candle and drop
it into the cauldron to finish burning.   As you leave the cauldron then
join us as we will then have a spiral dance".

HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".

Drummers:
        (Drum beat for raising energy during the chanting and the spiral dance.
        Aleph the Seeker to lead banishing chant as everyone comes forward to
        burn their paper:)

	"Magick, Magick, what we claim.	 Into the Paper into the flame".

(Jingles & Max leads in a spiral dance as the drummers' drum.)

After the dance is done all say:
	"And As We Will It, So Mote It Be!"

Dedicate the Barley Bread:

HPS:  "Behold the Bread of Life,
    	Eat of the Bread of Life, that you might live through the long
	winter's Night".

HP:   "Eat of the Bread of Life, that you might live through the long
	winter's Night".

(HPS holds athame.  HP holds up plate of bread.)

(HPS Touches each with athame and puts one in the libation dish.)

Dedicate the Red Beer:
HPS:  	"Behold the Red Beer of Life,
      	 Drink of the Red Beer of Life, that you might live through the long
         winter's Night."

HP:   	"Drink of the Red Beer of Life, that you might live through the long
         winter's Night".

(HP Fills Alter chalice and libation dish with the red beer.)

Great Rite:
(HPS holds chalice.  HP places athame into chalice.)

HPS:	"As the chalice is to Goddess

HP:	"The athame is to the God

HPS & HP:  "In like fashion may male join with female for the happiness of
            both".


HPS & HP: (offer each other the bread and red beer.)
	"Will you share the bounty of the Goddess and God with me?"

HPS: 	"This food is the blessing of the Goddesses and Gods to our bodies.
	Let us partake of it freely.
	And as we share, let us remember always that we share with those who have
	nothing."

HPS:  "The bread and red beer that is left, offer to Her, Mother Earth, so
	that Her creatures may live through the long nights ahead".

HPS:	"Will the volunteers please come forward for the bread and red beer?

(HPS and HP hand: cups to Volunteers.   ; red beer to Volunteers   ; bread to
Volunteers.)

HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".

Drummers:
(Drum beat while cakes and ale are distributed.
Cups passed out by North:Carmen - East:Swimp - South:? - West:?)

(Red beer poured by North:? - East:Samantha - South:? - West:?)
     	"Will you share the red beer of life with me?"

(Bread passed out by North:Belial - East:Heidi - South:? - West:?)
     	"Will you share the bread of life with me?"

(All drink) (All eat) (announcements)

Farewell to Nefertem:

HP: 	"Let the Drums beat".

HPS: 	"Let the words be spoken".

HP:  	"Hail God Nefertem.  Thank you for being with us tonight,  for the
	gift of joy that you have given us.
	Hail and farewell.  Blessed Be."

Farewell to Ptah:

HP: 	"Let the Drums beat".

HPS: 	"Let the words be spoken".

HP:     "Hail God Ptah. Thank you for being with us tonight,  for the gift
         of life that you have given us.
	 Hail and farewell.  Blessed Be."

Farewell to Sekhmet:
HP: 	"Let the Drums beat".

HPS: 	"Let the words be spoken".

HPS:    "Hail Goddess Sekhmet. Thank you for being with us tonight, for the
         Blessings you have given us, and the gift of guidance.
	 Hail and farewell.  Blessed Be."

Farewell to the elements

HPS:    "Let's bid Farewell to the elements starting in the West"

West - (water - Goddess Sekhet - Sea Lioness)

HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".
(DeepSeaStar for west will dance to the alter to use the microphone.)

HP: 	"Let the words be spoken".

DeepSeaStar : "Hail  Goddess Sekhet of the West and Water, great Sea Lioness,
	Thank you for attending our rite.  Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be".

(the West quarter candle is extinguished)

South - (air - Goddess Nekhebet - Winged Lioness)

HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".
(Willow for south will dance to the alter to use the microphone.)

HP: 	"Let the words be spoken".

Willow: "Hail  Goddess Nekhebet of the South and Air, great Winged Lioness,
	Thank you for attending our rite.  Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be".

(the South quarter candle is extinguished)

East - (fire - Goddess Bast - Lioness)

HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".
(Swamp for east will dance to the alter to use the microphone.)

HP: 	"Let the words be spoken".

Swamp : "Hail  Goddess Bast of the East and Fire, great Lioness,
	Thank you for attending our rite.  Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be".

(the East quarter candle is extinguished)

North - (earth - Goddess Uatchet - Mountain Lioness)

HPS: 	"Let the Drums beat".

(Red for north will dance to the alter to use the microphone.)

HP: 	"Let the words be spoken".

Red: "Hail  Goddess Uatchet of the North and Earth, great Mountain Lioness,
	 Thank you for attending our rite.  Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be".

    (the North quarter candle is extinguished)

Farewell to the Spirit, Goddess, and God of the universe:

HP: 	"Let the Drums beat".

HPS: 	"Let the words be spoken".

HP: 	"Hail Great God, God of the universe.  Thank you for being with us
	tonight.
	Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be". (the God candle is extinguished)

HPS: 	"Hail Great Goddess, Goddess of the universe.  Thank you for being
	with us tonight.
	Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be". (the Goddess candle is extinguished)

HPS& HP: "Hail Great Spirit, Spirit of the universe.	 Thank you for being
	with us tonight, for the gift of wisdom that you have given us.
	Hail and Farewell.  Blessed Be". (the Spirit candle is extinguished)

Close the circle: Volunteer to lead in singing  (Three times)
	"The circle is open but not unbroken. May the love of the Goddess be
        ever in your heart,
	Merry Meet, and Merry Part And Merry Meet again!"
	"Blessed Be"