Harvest Home Ritual
                                     1987
                                By Michael Fix

                                Circle Casting
                               (High Priestess)
       (Spoken while harvesting imaginary grain in perimeter of circle)

Birds circle hungrily overhead
As through harvested fields we tread.
The smokehouse fires and burning leaves
Their scents do spiral and interweave.
Ripples circle in our wake
As rice we harvest from a lake.
The dusty Earth now shorn of locks
Swirls as pass our fattened flocks.
Much bounty may our harvest see
As we cast, so mote it be!

Responsorial:  So mote it be!

                              Quarter Invocations
                                 (High Priest)

Facing East:  Guardians of the watchtower of the east, we do summon, stir, and
call thee up to protect us in our rite. Come to us now on the cool breath of
Autumn's sigh which heralds the advent of Winter and the close of harvest
time.  Breathe into us the spirit of the pure joy of life.  So mote it be!

Responsorial:  So mote it be!

Facing South:  Guardians of the watchtower of the south, we do summon, stir,
and call thee up to protect us in our rite.  Come forth from the cook fires
and smokehouses where food is being made ready for the coming cold months.
Kindle within us the flame of spiritual awakening.  So mote it be!

Responsorial:  So mote it be!

Facing West:  Guardians of the watchtower of the west, we do summon, stir, and
call thee up to protect us in our rite.  Come forth from the rainbow hued
morning dew that covers the fields, and is soon to be frost.  Asperge us with
your diadems and water our deepest roots that we may find peace of mind.  So
mote it be!

Responsorial:  So mote it be!

Facing North:  Guardians of the watchtower of the north, we do summon, stir,
and call thee up to protect us in our rite.  Come forth from the fertile bosom
of our Blessed Mother Earth, and nourish us so that our hopes may grow to
fruition.  So mote it be!

Responsorial:  So mote it be!

            Blessing, Consecration, and Procession of the Elements

  (Four members of the coven who have been chosen beforehand now approach the
 Priestess.  Each holds one of the following: an  incense burner, a candle, a
vessel of water, and a vessel of salt.  Each in turn approaches the Priestess,
 recites their piece, receives her blessing, and then processes deosil around
  the perimeter of the circle while stopping to bow at each of the quarters.)

      (Celebrant with the incense burner symbolizing the element of air)

I am everywhere.  I fill the fleshy pouches of your lungs, I stir all things
from the smallest blade of grass to the tallest tree. I cool you with my
breezes and destroy you with my storms.  Without me you would die.  Am I not
holy and worthy of praise?

          (Celebrant with the candle symbolizing the element of fire)

I live in the guarded embers of campfires and the pilot lights of stoves, I
spring from the lightning and the hands of men, I warm you and I destroy you.
Without me you would die.  Am I not holy and worthy of praise?

      (Celebrant with the water vessel symbolizing the element of water)

I rise from the moist crevices of the Earth, I beat on the shores of Her body,
I fall from the skies in silver sheets. Without me you would die. Am I not
holy and worthy of praise?  (Celebrant asperges the circle with water)

       (Celebrant with the salt vessel symbolizing the element of earth)

I am your Mother.  From me come the fruit and grain and animals which feed
you. I am your support, and my pull on your bodies keeps you held firmly to
me.  Without me you would die.  Am I not holy and worthy of praise?

                           Invocation of the Goddess
                                 (High Priest)

Come to us Moist Mother Earth.  Come to us and take your ease.  You have
labored long and hard to bring forth your bounty, so that we your children may
survive.  Come and relax, for well have you earned your rest.  Eat and drink
your fill, sing, dance, and be merry, for  you have done well, and there is
plenty for all.  And, if it pleases you to ask for the favors of one of us as
well, may you find satisfaction there too.  We shout your praises, for you are
the essence of fullfillment, love, and joy.  You are the most beautiful, and
beyond measure is your grandeur and great- ness.  May we never forget that we
are a part of your Sacred Body, and may we work to preserve it in all of its
myriad forms.  All hail the Great Mother!

Responsorial:  All hail the Great Mother!

                             Invocation of the God
                               (High Priestess)

Come to us Lord of the Hunt, Sacred Herdsman, and Divine Smith.  Put by your
horn, lay aside your crook, stow your hammer, and quit your forge for now.
Wipe your brow, and come find your leisure in the midst of our good company.
Have a seat, put up your feet, and pour yourself a cold draught.  By the
virtue of your work have you earned a rest, for well have your cared for the
wild beasts and domesticated flocks.  And many a time has your forge burned
long into the night with you hard at work creating lightning bolts of such
exquisite beauty and terrible power as we have ever beheld.  Join us Great
Lord, and indulge yourself to the fullest.  May you know no want in our
presence, for thanks to you and the Goddess, we know no want.  We raise our
glasses high and toast your greatness. All hail the God of the Wild Magicks.

Responsorial:  All hail the God of the Wild Magicks.

                          Guided Meditation by Priest

             (Meditation will be about our own spiritual harvest.
             This will conclude with a personal empowerment chant)

                               Empowerment Chant

 (Holding hands, the coven members repeat the  following chant until the high
   priestess decides that enough energy has been raised, and upon her signal
 everyone will direct a portion of the energy into themselves to help them to
        develop the inner strength to attain personal spirtual goals.)

Ripen fruit, ripen seed
Harken to my inner need

                                   Communion

(Fruit and Wine, songs, and a good time.  Also, each member of the coven will
be asked to describe something that they have done in the last liturgical year
                           that has "borne fruit.")

                              Quarter Banishings
                                 (High Priest)

Facing East:  Guardians of the watchtower of the east, return now to the brisk
Autumn breezes which are brimming with the excitement of the year's climax.
Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!

Responsorial:  Hail and farewell!

Facing South:  Guardians of the watchtower of the south, return now to the
dying fires of Autumn's heat soon to give way to Winter's chill. Take with you
our blessings and thanks.  Hail and farewell!

Responsorial:  Hail and farewell

Facing West:  Guardians of the watchtower of the west, return now to the
Autumn rains which cool the Earth's fevered brow baked in the heat of Summer
afternoons. Take with you our blessings and thanks.  Hail and farewell!

Responsorial:  Hail and farewell!

Facing North:  Guardians of the watchtowers of the north, return now to the
Earth where worms burrow deeper and seeds nestle awaiting the long sleep of
Winter.  Take with you our blessings and thanks.  Hail and farewell!

Responsorial:  Hail and farewell!

                               Circle Banishing
                               (High Priestess)

Equal night and equal day
Soon the light will fade away
Equal day and equal night
This circle fades as does the light
Thus the magick we invoke
Fades anon like wisps of smoke
Until we next decide to play
Equal night and equal day

So mote it be!