Neopaganism Coming Of Age Ritual For Girl

Both of my daughters have had a Coming of Age Ritual when they hit their first menses. Each was tailored a little differently, to suit the individual child. Here's an example:

COMING OF AGE RITUAL FOR GIRL

ON THE ALTAR:*1 large white candle*2 smaller colored candles (1 to represent childhood - 1 to represent adulthood)*candleholders, lighter and snuffer*chalice with wine water and salt*1 small decorative towel and oil for anointing*athame/ wand / sword for erecting circle*incense *gifts for the one Coming of Age - 1 to represent knowledge (book, etc.); 1 to represent Daring ( or presentation of chosen name); 1 to represent Will (wand, crystal, etc.); and 1 to represent Silence (skeleton key, etc.)

CASTING THE CIRCLE

Priestess enters the Circle, followed by the representatives that will stand in the Quarters, then other guests. Child and Escort will enter last, standing in the NorthEast.

ERECTING THE TEMPLE

Priestess blesses and consecrates the water and salt, and mix.

Priestess: "THIS SALT AND WATER IS OF THE EARTH AND SEA, AND AS SUCH IS SACRED. MAY IT BE PURIFIED AND BRING BLESSINGS UNTO THIS RITE."

Take water and salt around the circle, sprinkling it as you go, visualise the water washing away the old and the salt purifying the space for things to come. Follow behind this with the incense, waving it, seal the circle in air and fire, further defining the boundary between this world and the next.

INVITATIONS AND EVOCATIONS

Priestess lights the center white candle on the altar.

Priestess: "LADY, MOTHER, SISTER, DAUGHTER, GODDESS, WE GATHER TODAY TO PRESENT TO YOU "WE ASK FOR YOUR PRESENCE AND BLESSINGS, AS SHE BRINGS HER LIFE INTO YOUNG ADULTHOOD." (Child) now lights the 1st colored candle, to signify the flame of life that was lit within her at birth.

CALLING THE QUARTERS

East: (Facing outward, salute the Quarter and say) "HAIL TO THE EAST, ELEMENT OF AIR. WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER OUR CIRCLE THIS DAY AND BRING IT THE BREATH OF LIFE."

South: (Facing outward, salute the Quarter and say) "HAIL TO THE SOUTH, ELEMENT OF FIRE. WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER OUR CIRCLE THIS DAY AND BRING IT WARMTH."

West (Facing outward, salute the Quarter and say) " HAIL TO THE WEST, ELEMENT OF WATER. WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER OUR CIRCLE THIS DAY AND WASH IT CLEAN."

North (Facing outward, salute the Quarter and say) "HAIL TO THE NORTH, ELEMENT OF EARTH. WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER OUR CIRCLE THIS DAY AND GIVE IT STRENGTH."

Priestess: THE TEMPLE IS ERECTED, AND WE STAND BETWEEN THE WORLDS. SO MOTE IT BE."

ACCEPTING THE RITE OF PASSAGE

Child stands before the altar, facing North.

Priestess: "ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF ADULTHOOD TO PROCLAIM YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL PATH - AND DO YOU DO SO NOW?"

(pause for Child to answer)

"IN THE NAME OF THE LORD AND LADY, ARE YOU READY TO ACCEPT THE SPIRITUAL PATH OF WICCA, LIVING IN THE DIVINE LIGHT OF THE GOD AND GODDESS?"

(pause for Child to answer)

"THE WICCAN REDE IS THE GUIDELINE THAT WE LIVE BY. ARE YOU READY TO RECITE THIS AND TO TELL WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU, ACCEPTING THIS AS YOUR RULE TO LIVE BY?"

(pause for Child to answer)

After reciting the Rede, "lights the second candle, signifying the change from childhood to adulthood, lighting the fire within herself.

"states: "FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, I CALL UPON THE LORD AND LADY, FOR THEIR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE UPON MY PATH THROUGH THIS SPIRITUAL LIFE."

WITCH'S PYRAMID AND PRESENTATION OF GIFTS

Priestess: "THERE ARE 4 PARTS TO THE WITCH'S PYRAMID. THESE ARE - TO KNOW, TO DARE, TO WILL, AND TO BE SILENT. WITH THESE 4 PARTS, WE IMPART 4 GIFTS."

Priestess takes young person around the Circle, starting with East, presents her to the Quarter.

East: "TO KNOW - THIS PART OF THE PYRAMID MEANS TO KNOW YOURSELF. TO KNOW WHAT YOUR BELIEFS ARE, AND TO CONTINUALLY LEARN, ABOUT YOURSELF AND THE WORLD AROUND YOU. WE PRESENT THIS BOOK TO YOU AS A SYMBOL OF THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE, AND WILL LEARN AS YOU FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE WISE."

Priestess leads "to South, presenting her to the Quarter

South: "TO DARE - TO DARE TO BE YOURSELF. TO DARE TO BE WICCAN, EVEN WHEN IT IS HARD, AND BEING WHO YOU ARE "NOT" SEEMS EASIER. WE ASK YOU FOR THE NAME YOU HAVE CHOSEN FOR YOURSELF. THIS IS THE NAME YOU WILL BE KNOWN BY IN CIRCLE, BEFORE THE GOD AND GODDESS." chosen name.

South anoints "with oil and states: "THIS IS THE NAME CHOSEN BY THIS YOUNG WOMAN, TO BE USED IN THE SERVICE OF THE GOD AND GODDESS. SO SHALL SHE BE KNOWN FROM NOW FORWARD."

Priestess then leads "to West, presenting her to Quarter.

West: "TO WILL - TO USE THE KNOWLEDGE AND DARING TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER, SO LONG AS IT HARMS NONE. TO SEND YOUR WILL OUT INTO EVERYTHING YOU DO TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE, AND TO MAKE YOURSELF A BETTER PERSON. WE PRESENT YOU WITH THIS SYMBOL OF FOCUSING THAT WILL, SO THAT YOU NEVER FORGET THAT YOU, AND YOU ALONE, CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE."

Priestess leads "to North, presenting her to Quarter.

North: "TO BE SILENT - THIS, OF ALL THE 4 PARTS, IS THE HARDEST. TO BE SILENT IN THE FACE OF IGNORANCE, OR IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION, IS HARD. TO BE SILENT WHEN OTHERS SAY THEY MEAN WELL IS EVEN HARDER. BUT NEVER FORGET THAT OTHERS MAY DEPEND ON YOUR SILENCE TO KEEP THEM SAFE IN THIS WORLD. AND THAT YOUR SAFETY MAY WELL DEPEND ON THEIR SILENCE AS WELL. WE PRESENT YOU WITH THIS KEY, THE KEY TO THE SECRET WAYS. THE KEY TO SILENCE, AND THE KEY TO KNOWLEDGE. PLACE THIS WITHIN YOUR BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE TO REMIND YOU OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SILENCE, AND THE JOY OF UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE."

CLOSING THE CIRCLE

Priestess: " WE NOW COME TO THE END OF THIS RITE, BUT BEFORE WE DEPART THIS CIRCLE, I WISH TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS COME TO THIS MOST SPECIAL OF CELEBRATIONS. "IS NOW A YOUNG WOMAN, AND HAS JOINED THE RANKS OF THE GODDESSES.

OUR THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO THE FORCES THAT BE PRESENT; TO THE LORD AND LADY, THE GUIDES AND GUARDIANS. GO IF YOU MUST, STAY IF YOU WILL, WE NOW OPEN THIS SACRED CIRCLE, AND RETURN THIS SPACE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE.

BLESSED BE!"

(Cakes and Ale)

Books in PDF format to read:

Jesse Daniel Sloan - Gendered Alter Wiccan Concepts Of Gender And Ritual Objects
Order Of The Golden Dawn - The Invoking Pentagram Ritua Of Air
Abram Herbert Lewis - Paganism Surviving In Christianity Ver 1

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