Lammas Ritual, 9 Holly (1 August)
in the Year of our Lady 2006

Sprinkle water to cleanse the space

Set up altar by placing the five candles at the elemental points and the censer in the middle of the altar. Place the photos or representations of the animals you want to protect around the censer.

Light charcoal and allow to heat

Using your wand, close the circle:

Bast, Egyptian Goddess of cats large and small, you who rule the pleasure of music, dancing, and sensuality, I invite you into my circle this night. Come, dear protector of cats! Come lovely feline woman! I need your power tonight!

Light the candle at air.

Bau, Egyptian Goddess of dogs, you who emerged into our lore as the eldest of heaven, you who protect dogs, large and small, I invite you into my circle this night. Come to us, canine Lady! I need your protection this night.

Light the candle at fire

Ix Chel, Mayan snake Goddess of water and of the moon, of childbirth and of weaving, you who nurse all creatures through pregnancy, labor, and lactation, you who can become invisible at will, I call upon you this night. Come into my circle, dear Snake Lady of the Mayans! All pregnant animals need your protection tonight.

Light the candle at water

Epona, Celtic horse Goddess, you who protect horses, wild and tame, sacred Mare who bestowed sovereignty to the ancient Celts, I invite you into my circle this night. Come mare woman! I need your protection this night!

Light the candle at earth

Artemis, many breasted Goddess of Greece, you who nurture all creatures great and small, you who guard the woods, the air, and the streams and protect all beasts from hunters, I call upon you on this night of Lammas! Come, Lady Protector, Lady nurturer, for I need your power this night.

Light the candle at spirit

I am here to honor the beasts who choose to be our companions. Just as the ancients honored the beasts that helped them gather their food at the first harvest, I celebrate the beasts that bring me the harvest of love and companionship. I give thanks to these animals and cast for their protection now and until next Lammas ritual. Companions all, I welcome you into my circle this night. Come, sweet creatures! Join me in celebrating the love and comfort we bring to one another. [Invite all animals who will come into your circle]

Charge of the Goddess

Whenever you need anything, once a month and best when the moon is full, and eight times more in the year, you shall meet in some safe place to celebrate my spirit, who am the queen of all women. You shall meet in freedom, and as a sign of trust you shallbe naked in your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in my presence, for mine is ecstasy of the spirit and joy on earth. My only law is love unto all. Mine is the secret that opens on the door of birth and mine is the mystery of life that is the Cauldron of Hecate, the womb of immortality. I give knowledge of the all -creative spirit, and beyond death I give peace and reunion with those gone before. Nor do I ask any sacrifice, for I am the mother of all things and my love is the breast milk that nourishes the earth.

I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From me all things proceed and unto me they must return. Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold- all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And you who seek to know me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not unless you know the mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which us attained at the end of desire.

Place some rosemary on the charcoal.

Rosemary I burn for the love of you, to keep you safe, and to purify you.

Place some sage on the charcoal.

Sage I burn to keep you safe, to remind you of your immortality, and to make your wishes come true.

Place some marjoram on the charcoal.

Marjoram I burn to keep you safe, to keep you healthy and happy and to show my love for you.

Kiss each animal in your circle on the forehead. If the animal you wish to honor isn’t in the circle, kiss his/her photo or representation.

[Name], I thank you for being in my life because…

honor you

I wish for you a long, happy, and healthy life

I ask you to be my companion for as long as you will it.

So mote it be.

Journey now and experience the light of love and protection surrounding you and all the animals who live with you. Feel the love flow from them to you and back again. Let them guide you where they want you to go. See what they want you to see and hear what they want you to hear. When you are ready come back and ground, sending all the extra love out to all the homeless, unloved animals of the world.

Open the circle, thanking the Goddesses in reverse order, beginning with Artemis and ending with Bast.

Let the candles burn out on their own.

When the censer is cool, throw the ashes to the wind so they may bless all the unloved homeless beasts.