Child Naming Ceremony

The Sacred Hearth

Living a magical life

A baby naming ceremony is, in many cultures, traditionally done when the baby is about a year old, though many people prefer to do it as soon as possible after the child’s birth. The reason for the year wait is simply because, until recently, most babies didn’t make it through their first year. If they did, they had a pretty good chance of making it to adulthood. This is not to say that the baby wouldn’t have a name before it was a year old, of course it would. A naming ceremony is the child’s official introduction into the family, clan or church. It is much like the baptism ceremonies performed by Christian churches and serves much the same purpose.

Naming Ceremony

Tools- Saltwater, Olive Oil

Decorations- Flowers, eggs, birds, bunnies

Robe- Pink, blue, pastels

Acolyte (lighting candle on altar)

“We come together today to celebrate new life. Let this candle represent the spark of life within us all.”

Priest(ess)

“I welcome all those present to welcome into our midst a new life. This life has been passed into the care of name and name who have now come before us to present this life into the care of the community. For though their ancestors have gifted them with the duty of caring and providing for this new life, it is the duty of the entire community to support them in their efforts.

We perform this ritual today as our it was performed by our ancestors to welcome into our midst a new member of our clan. Today we will bestow upon the child of name and name his/her own name, so that he/she may face the world a unique individual and all of those who meet him/her will know that he/she is someone to be honored and respected. For there is power in a name. Without a name we are nothing more than a part of something else. With a name, we our ourselves.

Come, mother, and present your child before your people.”

Mother comes forward carrying child. Father may come with her.

Priest(ess) takes up bowl of salt water.

“The sea is the womb of all life. From the sea did all living things emerge.  With this water do I bless thee, mother, and thee father and the new life which you have created together.”

Priest(ess)

“Here is the mother, from whose body this new life has come forth. Let us honor her. It is right that she who brought forth life should name it. What name do you give this child?”

Mother speaks the name of child. (may whisper it)

Priest(ess) (to father)

“Is this name acceptable to you, father, without whom the mother would only be a promise of future potential and not the font of life that stands before us?”

Father agrees.

Priest(ess) (to child, annoint with salt water, may whisper in the child’s ear)

“I do bless the, child who is named name with this water, that you may never forget where you came from.”

Priest(ess) (parents)

“Do you name and you name promise to love, respect and care for this child for the entirety of your life?>  Do you promise to nurture him/her and be there for him/her in hard times and in joy, remembering that you will face sacrifice and self-denial for his/her sake many times before your final rest?”

Parents agree

Priest(ess)

“The duty of child rearing is a sacred and difficult one. It is not easy and even less so when faced alone. Who will stand beside these parents and support them in their effort?”

Godparents/Grandparents step forward.

Priest(ess)

May your commitment and dedication to this child enrich and ignoble your lives.

Priet(ess) (to child annointing with olive oil)

“Before those who love you, before your parents, your family, your friends and your community, before you ancestors, before the Gods and before all of Nature I do declare your name to be name  granted by your mother, and approved by your father. May this name serve you well. May the name name be spoken with honor. May the name name inspire people to great things. May the name name become synonymous with virtue and strength.”

Priest(ess) (to gathering)

“People, I present to you name. You are charged with assisting his/her parents and guardians to protect her/him. Welcome her/him today, and in the future offer her/him your kindness, generosity and hospitality. Some of you he/she will call teacher. Some friend. Some protector. May you all earn your roles well. Come forward one and all and give name your blessings and greetings.”

Now the mother and father stand by the altar with the baby and the group processes by offering greetings, well-wishes and gifts.

ROOM BLESSING/CLEANSING/PROTECTION SPELL

This is a bare-bones, generic spell.
Use when the energies in your home or in a particular room start feeling "off" or negative.
This spell can be tweaked to suit your particular method of working or use as is.
You will need: Small cauldron or other fire-proof bowl for burning herbs - one that you are able to carry.
Your favorite protection oil Clearing herbs such as sage, cedar, rosemary, etc.
Charcoal tablet (a half tablet would suffice) Matches
Trace the pentagram starting from the top point - in this spell you are invoking Spirit.
Meditate before you begin - make sure you're in the right state of mind to proceed.
An Alpha state is the best. The Spell:
Light charcoal in bowl/cauldron and when burning, drop a pinch or two of your clearing
herbs into the cauldron. Take a minute to take in the energy of the herbs.
Carry the vessel around the room - paying special attention to corners, closets, and places
negative energy seems to linger. Project a clear, clean, white light with your mind and say:
"By my will I banish all darkness and let in the light." (repeat around the room)
When you've thoroughly cleansed the room, return to the center and put down your cauldron.
Take up the oil and go to the North.
Trace a pentagram on the wall (window sill, door frame, etc.) Say:
From the North I call to Thee. Blessings of the Spirit Be upon this place.
Go to the East and say: From the East I call to Thee.
Blessings of the Spirit Be upon this place.
Continue to the South and West, changing the blessing accordingly.
When complete, return to the center of the room and place more herbs on the charcoal.
Stand still a bit and feel the energy of the room/space.
Again, project white light outward, mentally filling all the nooks and crannies.
When the energy feels right to you say:
This room is sealed Protected from harm.
Light replaces darkness As I will, so mote it be.
Note: This spell can obviously be expanded for an entire house.
Just begin in the center of the house instead of the center of the room.
If you are uncomfortable calling on "Spirit" for protection, you can substitute the
name of your Deity.

The Fivefold Blessing

Begin by asking the Goddess for a blessing, the Priest/ess performing the blessing should kiss each of the below mentioned body parts.

Note: there is no need to kneel before the divine, we are each the divine, everything is the divine. The Goddess and the God made us to stand upright..

Blessed be thy feet, that bring thee on thee path.
Blessed be thy knees, that kneel to the Lord and Lady.
Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be.
Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty and in strength
Blessed be thy lips, that utter the sacred names.

The mechanism of a blessing

Think of a white light so powerful that it encompasses your mind, body, and spirit.

Move the white light into a mental picture of the person, place, or thing.

In your mind, allow the white light to burst through the object (no, this won't hurt anyone).

Intone words of blessing or touch the person, animal, or thing.

Seal the blessing with a hand motion of your choice while pronouncing aloud "It is done."

©2003 Silver RavenWolf

Solitary Witch

The Ultimate Book of Shadows

for the New Generation

Trisklean rite of tea

PURPOSE: 
     The purpose of this working is to pay homage to the Gods and to reflect on Their blessings upon this your life.

Tools: 

 Herb(s) for tea 

 Container for herb(s) 

 Cup(s) and Tea Pot 

 Decanter of Pure Spring Water 

 Brewing dish with candle 

 Scrying Candle 

Prepare By: 
     Placing a small table or platform in the center of your working space and arranging the Brewing dish, herbs, cup(s), Tea Pot and spoon on the table. Also place the cauldron with scrying candle within for use during the meditation. (Use the diagram, which follows, as a guide for arranging of the tools.) 
     Prior to casting the Circle, light candle and fill the Brewing dish with Spring Water from a decanter. Keep the Brewing Dish covered during the Casting, as I have found this helps the water to heat faster and hotter. 

BLESSING OF HERBS 
     With the tip of your Athame touching the Herbs, intone this blessing: 
Thou has grown by favor of the Sun, The Moon, and of the dew. 

I make this intercession, ye herb: 
I beseech thee to be of benefit to me and my rite, 
For thy virtues are unfailing. 
Thou art the Dew of all the Gods, 
The Eye of the Sun, 
The Light of the Moon, 
The Beauty and Glory of the Sky, 
The Mystery of Terra. 
I purify thee so that Whatever is wrought by me with thee may, 
In all its powers, Have a good and speedy effect with good success. 
Be purified by my prayer and be powerful! 
So mote it be! 

      When water is hot enough, place the herbs in the Tea Pot and add water from the brewing dish, give it a couple of stirs. While the tea is steeping, intone this Prayer:

Earth Mother 
Giver of life 
Strengthen me during my life-long strife. 
Teach me Your ways of perfect love, 
Peace, and wisdom true. 
Spawn from my purest heart 
These words to You 
May this prayer help me to better 
Myself in word and deed, 
To a higher plane I shall succeed. 
Beautiful Light of Goodness Fair 
Lore of old we both do share 
A Witch's brew, I drink to You 
My love for You, by day, by night 
In thought and in sight 
Will my soul learn 
The meaning of this life again. 

     Pour out a cup for all present, including one for the Gods, and enjoy. Sit before the table and meditate on the blessings that the Gods have bestowed upon your life. You may use the scrying candle here to focus upon for your meditation. If the Gods so choose They may give you a Message or Vision through the blessings of the Sight. You may relax now and finish off the pot. 

(Note: this rite is not to take the place of The Feast, but is to be used as a time of blessing and communing with the Goddess

WHITE CANDLE SPELL FOR BLESSING
Get a white candle -- either a plain one (offertory, pillar, or taper) or a figural one in the
gender of the person you want to bless. Carve the person's full name on the candle,
then dress it with Blessing Oil or Holy Oil. For more power, you may place a name-paper
of the person, or a photo, or some personal item of theirs (such as a bit of hair or a snippet
of clothing) either under the candle or next to it. One easy way to do this is to place the
paper or personal concerns under an overturned saucer and put the candle on top of the
saucer. Burn a portion of the candle every day for seven days, pinching it out between burnings.
As you light it each day, say this
[Name], may you be blessed
May all good things come to you
May nothing whatsoever harm you
May your heart be light
May your travels be safe
May your health be good
May your mind be sound
May your friendships sustain you
May you be blessed in every way
* If you have a special request for this person (such as that they find a lover, get a
good job, come home safely from a war, or whatever), just add it to the list.
Some people use a large pillar-type candle and keep it going for longer than seven days.
They may make a habit of burning such a candle every day -- or once a week, on Sundays --
for as long as their friend or relative needs help, even doing so for months at a time.
If the candle is large and it is to be burned in this way, it should be re-dressed with
Blessing Oil or Holy Oil once a week: after the initial dressing, you can drop a tiny bit of
oil into the "well" or hole in such a large candle just before lighting it each time.