Elaborate Samhain Ritual

Decorate the altar with leaves, herbs, photographs of deceased loved ones, and anything else that you consider sacred or has special significance to you.

What you need:

• Two black candles (one to represent the Goddess in Her aspect of Crone or Lady of Darkness, and the other to represent the Horned God in His aspect of Lord of Shadows).
  
• Cauldron
  
• Cauldron Spirit
  
• Matches
  
• Parchment (write down the negative things in your life that you want to ‘sacrifice’ in the sense that you are ending something negative in order for positive growth and changes to occur).
  
• An apple
  
• Skull or Ghost-shaped candle to represent Spirits of the Dead
  
• Bowl of Salt
  
• Bowl of Water
  
• A Bell
  
• Incense Burner with Sage
  
• Athame

Begin the ritual by lighting the sage incense and two altar candles. Invoke the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

Face North, and say:

“We call to thee
O ancient spirits of the element Earth
and guardians of the northern sphere.
Tonight we seek thy presence here
in this circle and in our hearts that beat as one.
Come, elementals, come. We beseech thee.
Bring forth thy strength,
stability, and magick.
Partake of this sabbat rite
and Blessed Be!”

Turn to the East, and say:

“We call to thee
O ancient spirits of the element Air
and guardians of the eastern sphere.
Tonight we seek thy presence here
in this circle and in our hearts that beat as one.
Come, elementals, come. We beseech thee.
Bring forth thy wisdom,
dreams, and creativity.
Partake of this sabbat rite
and Blessed Be!”

Turn to the South, and say:

“We call to thee
O ancient spirits of the element Fire
and guardians of the southern sphere.
Tonight we seek thy presence here
in this circle and in our hearts that beat as one.
Come, elementals, come. We beseech thee.
Bring forth thy warmth, energy,
and flames of passion.
Partake of this sabbat rite
and Blessed Be!”

Turn to the West, and say:

“We call to thee
O ancient spirits of the element Water
and guardians of the western sphere.
Tonight we seek thy presence here
in this circle and in our hearts that beat as one.
Come, elementals, come. We beseech thee.
Bring forth thy love, intuition,
and power to cleanse.
Partake of this sabbat rite
and Blessed Be!”

Pour the salt into the bowl of water and stir it, using the tip of the athame’s blade. With the athame in your right hand and the bowl of salt water in your left, cast the circle by starting in the north and walking deosil. As you do this, dip the blade into the salt water and sprinkle the boundary of the circle. Say:

“I now conjure and proclaim this to be a circle of power,
and a sacred space between the worlds of the visible and the invisible,
the worlds of light and shadow, the worlds of mortal and spirit immortal.
Sabbat moon of enchantment, guide us well and shine your light
of Hecate’s blessings down upon this pagan right.
Let the wisdom of the Crone Goddess flow through us like blood through veins.
Let Her magick weave us a web of dreams to follow in our hearts.
Let Her strength and stability fill us, nourish us, heal, and sustain us,
and let the divine energies of the Horned God, who reigns tonight as the dark lord,
The Lord of Shadows, strengthen us and bless us with power and balance.
Let His ancient ways dwell within our hearts.”

Return the athame and bowl of salt water to the altar. The circle has now been cast and consecrated, creating a sacred space. Ring the altar bell three times, and say:

“Hail to the four elements, ancient and mystical, powerful and eternal.
Welcome Lord of Shadows and Lady of Darkness to this rite!
With sacred bell and witch’s blade, rising smoke and dancing flame
we honor thee on this night and open our hearts to your magick spell
of earth, moon, sun, and stars.
We are truly blessed by your presence,
by your love and protection, and by your guidance.
We now become as one with our beloved Goddess and God
in perfect love and in perfect trust.
As it is willed, so mote it be!”

Everyone should now raise their palms to the sky, and say:

“So mote it be!”

Light the sage bundle and smudge yourself. Offer it to the person on your left, and as the bundle is being passed around deosil, repeat the following words:

“On this night of shadows,
when the old ones in their darkest aspects reign supreme,
we gather in this circle and open our bodies,
our minds, and our spirits to the witching hour.
The season of the Witch now casts its spell upon us,
drawing us into its shadow-enshrouded mysteries,
its macabre beauty, and its ancient magick
that will forever endure.”

Return the sage bundle to the altar. Light the skull or ghost-shaped candle with a match, raise up your arms in a traditional Witch’s prayer position with the palms of your hands turned up, and say:

“We light this candle of death in honor of those whose physical bodies
have returned to the dark womb of our Sacred Mother Earth.
Tonight from their graves they rise.
Tonight their spirits shall roam unchained through
this world of flesh and blood until the rising of the newborn sun.

Thin grows the veil that separates the worlds of the living and the dead.
Tonight the doors to the ghostly realms beyond stand open.
Behold the spirits, phantoms, ghosts,
and page specters that go drifting by upon the wind.

We call to thee now, o spirit(s) of (name/s).
Our circle is open to you should you choose to come.
We invite you to join us as we celebrate this sacred rite,
and we welcome you with perfect love and perfect trust,
free of fear, sorrow or hesitation.
Come, loved ones, come, and be with us here and now.”

Everyone should now devote a few minutes to thinking fond thoughts about their deceased loved one(s). If personal prayers are desired, let them now be spoken.

Note: Spirits are always “invited” and never summoned. If spirits do return to the world of the living at Samhain to partake of the loving energies and celebration of the Sabbat, it should be of their own free will.

Take up the athame in your right hand and the apple in the other. With the tip of the blade, draw the sacred symbol of the pentagram in the air above the apple, and say:

“We call upon thee, Lord of Shadows and Lady of Darkness
to bless this apple to be the food for the dead.
Let any and all visitors from the otherworld of spirit
find sustenance in this fruit as they pass from this world to the next.
So mote it be!”

Everyone should now say in unison:

“So mote it be!”

Return the apple and athame to the altar, and say:

“And just as life itself is a never-ending cycle of birth, death, and rebirth,
the wheel of the year has once again turned,
bringing us an ending and a new beginning.
The time has come for us to honor the memory of those
who have crossed over to the other side.
And at this final phase of the eight-fold solar cycle,
we must ready ourselves to release the past and
to look beyond this dimension of time and space
to gain insight of the things yet to be.”

It is now time to light the cauldron of endings and new beginnings. Pour some of the Cauldron Splash into the cauldron and light it by carefully dropping in a lit match.

Take the slips of parchment upon which are written the ‘sacrifices’ and cast them into the cauldron’s fire. As this is being done everyone should repeat the following incantation in unison:

“Air and fire, water and earth, cauldron of death that brings rebirth,
into thy flames we cast our tokens to attain our goals unspoken.
Help our faults and weaknesses vanish, let our negative traits be banished!
Burn and blaze! Burn and blaze!
Magickal power we do raise;
ancient ways and Gods we praise;
into the future now we gaze.”

Everyone should now join hands to form a human circle around the flaming cauldron, and then gaze silently into the dancing flames, inviting clairvoyant visions to appear in the mind’s eye. Continue the divination until the flames have burned out. If desired, more Cauldron Splash with a lit match may be added to lengthen the time for divination. Visions or feelings perceived may be shared by all after the close of the ritual if so desired.

Closing the Ritual

“O Lady of Darkness and Lord of Shadows,
we offer thee our love and thanks
for attending this Sabbat rite and for empowering our magick.
O ancient ones, we bid thee farewell.
Blessed Be, and so mote it be!”

Everyone should now say in unison:

“Blessed Be, and so mote it be!”

Take up the athame, face west, and say:

“With love do we now give thanks and bid farewell
to the guardians of the west whose magick is the element of water.
Return now in peace, harming none, to thy place in nature.
Blessed Be!”

Everyone should now say in unison:

“Blessed Be!”

Face south, and say:

“With love do we now give thanks and bid farewell
to the guardians of the south whose magick is the element of fire.
Return now in peace, harming none, to thy place in nature.
Blessed Be!”

Everyone should now say in unison:

“Blessed Be!”

Face east, and say:

“With love do we now give thanks and bid farewell
to the guardians of the east whose magick is the element of air.
Return now in peace, harming none, to thy place in nature.
Blessed Be!”

Everyone should now say in unison:

“Blessed Be!”

Face north, and say:

“With love do we now give thanks and bid farewell
to the guardians of the north whose magick is the element of earth.
Return now in peace, harming none, to thy place in nature.
Blessed Be!”

Everyone should now say in unison:

“Blessed Be!”

Take down the circle walking widdershins, and say:

“This circle is now uncast and this pagan right concluded.
Merry we meet, merry we part, and merry shall we meet again.
A happy Halloween and a joyous New Year to one and all!
And as it is willed, so mote it be!”

Everyone should now say in unison:

“So mote it be!”

It is traditional at this time to warmly embrace one another and exchange blessings.

Extinguish the candles. Remove the apple and bury it in the soil of Mother Earth to nourish the souls of the dead on this very special night of the year.

Cakes and Ale!

Simple Samhain Ritual

You will need:

- Black and/or orange altar cloth(s)
- Quarter candles
- One white candle for the God
- One black candle for the Goddess
- One black candle
- Carved Jack-o-lantern or skull (ceramic, stone, etc) on altar
- Samhain Incense

Cleanse the area in preparation of the ritual as you normally would. You can mark the circle with pumpkins or other things that remind you of Samhain. A nice touch is to have a jack-o-lantern mark each quarter.

Casting the Circle

Pick up your athame and kiss the blade. Starting in the North point the athame to the ground while visualizing a blue light coming from the blade to the ground. Begin to draw the circle moving deosil (clockwise). Complete this circle three times saying:

First time:
“I cast this circle in order to create a sacred space.”

Second time
“I cast this circle to contain the power.”

Third time
“I cast this circle as a barrier from all negative energy and spirits. So mote it be!”

Call the quarters starting in the North. Say:

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, element of air, and Guardians of the doorway between worlds. I do summon, stir and call you forth that you may guard and witness us in these rites. Hail and welcome!”
 
Turn to the East and say:

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, element of air. I do summon, stir and call you forth that you may guard and witness us in these rites. Hail and welcome!”

Turn to the South and say:

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, element of fire. I do summon, stir and call you forth that you may guard and witness me in my rites. Hail and welcome!”

Turn to the West and say:

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, element of water. I do summon, stir and call you forth that you may guard and witness us in these rites. Hail and welcome!”

Inviting the Lord and Lady

Light the Goddess candle and say:

"Wise Crone, Dark Lady, Dark Mother this is your time to rule. Darkness and decay begins to envelope the world and death knocks upon the door. Bring us this night your wisdom and clarity and envelope us within your love. Challenge us to look into ourselves and reflect upon what we find. Dark Mother we invite you this night to join us within our circle. Hail and Welcome."

Light the God candle and say:

"Lord, though you leave us for a time, we know that you will soon return!”

Extinguish the God candle and say:

“While we mourn your passing, we rejoice and await your return at Yule! Through your sacrifice we live and understand that death is a natural part of life. You show us that there is no true death for we all shall be reborn. The Wheel of Life forever turns. Hail and farewell!"

Circle Work

Read the Charge of the Crone.

Read the Charge of the God.

Bless the cakes and ale.

Light the black candle and place it near the offering bowl and say:

"May this candle guide those who have passed before us. We welcome (speak their names) to this rite in perfect love and perfect trust. Negative energies will be repelled for only positive energies are welcome here. May this candle serve as a beacon to those loved ones who seek to be with us this night. So mote it be!"

Take a piece of the cake and dip it into the wine. Place it into the offering bowl and say:

“We offer this food and drink to those who have passed before us. We offer this food and drink to our ancestors. May it please you and sustain you this night. We honor you and remember you.”

Break off a piece of the cake and pass it to your left. Eat the cake. Pick up the glass of wine and take a drink, passing it to your left. Remember your loved ones as you symbolically share a meal with them. Then sit quietly for a time and meditate and remember those who have passed. Take as much time as you wish. If your loved one has contacted you and you have communed with them, break off another piece of cake and dip it into the wine. Place it with the previous offering and say:

"I thank you for your company and for speaking with me. I offer you more food and drink. May it please you and sustain you this night! Blessed be!"

Wait silently for a short period of time and when you feel it is time then say farewell to the ancestors:

”To those who have passed that we love. We thank you for joining us and we bid you farewell as you journey back to the Land of the Dead. Go in peace. Hail and farewell!”

Farewell to the Goddess

Face altar and say:

“Dark Mother, Wise Crone. We thank you for being here with us tonight and for sharing your wisdom. Stay if you wish, go if you must. Hail and farewell!”

Extinguish the Goddess candle.

Farewell to the Guardians

Face the North and say:

“Guardians of the Watchtower of the North, element of earth and Guardians of the gateway between worlds. We thank you for your presence here this evening. Go in peace. Hail and farewell.”

Extinguish the North quarter candle.

Face the West and say:

“Guardians of the Watchtower of the West, element of water. We thank you for your presence here this evening. Go in peace. Hail and farewell.”

Extinguish the West quarter candle.

Face the South and say:

“Guardians of the Watchtower of the South, element of fire. We thank you for your presence here this evening. Go in peace. Hail and farewell.”

Extinguish the South quarter candle.

Face the East and say:

“Guardians of the Watchtower of the East, element of air. We thank you for your presence here this evening. Go in peace. Hail and farewell.”

Extinguish the East quarter candle.

Visualize the circle slowly melting away into the earth. Once it is gone the circle is open and
the ritual is done.

Before leaving the area, make sure you ground and center.

Take the remaining cake and wine and offer them to the Goddess. Pour the wine onto the ground and leave the cake on the ground and say a prayer of offering to the Goddess.

Mabon Apple Harvest Ritual

In many pantheons, the apple is a symbol of the Divine. Apple trees are representative of wisdom and guidance. This apple ritual will allow you time to thank the gods for their bounty and blessings and to enjoy the magic of the earth before the winds of winter blow through.


Decorate your altar with symbols of the season such as a basket of apples, gourds or small pumpkins, colorful fall leaves, acorns, vines, grapes or blackberries.

What You Need:

~ A pair of orange candles.
~ A cup of cider or wine.
~ An apple and something to cut it with.

If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, do so now. Light your harvest candles. Face the altar and hold the apple in both hands. If you can do this rite outside, raise the apple up to the sky, and feel the wisdom and energy of the gods coming to you. Say:

“The apple is sacred, a symbol of the gods,
and holds the knowledge of the ancients inside.
Tonight I ask the gods to bless me with their wisdom.”

Slice the apple in half across the middle. Where the seeds are, you will see a five-pointed star. Place the two halves in the center of your altar. Say:

“Five points in a star, hidden inside.
One for Earth, one for Air, one for Fire,
one for Water, and the last for Spirit.”

Turn to the North, arms raised to the heavens, and say:

“The world passes from light into darkness,
and the golden fields of the earth bring the promise
of food and nourishment through the winter.”

Turn to the East and say:

“I stand on the threshold of the darkness,
and know that the summer breezes give way to autumn chill,
which bring forth the blazes of color in the trees.”

Turn to the South and say:

“I call upon the wise ones, the ancient gods,
as the sun moves away and fire fades,
to be replaced with the chill of the night.”

Finally, turn to the West and say:

“I will reflect on the guidance of the gods,
and let the cool autumn rains wash over me,
cleansing my heart and soul.”

Raise the cup of wine or cider to the sky, toast the gods and say:

“The Wild God returns this night to the belly of the Mother.
The Mother Goddess tonight becomes the Crone.
As the Wheel of the Year turns, the earth dies a bit each day.
I willingly follow the old gods into the darkness,
where they will watch over me, protect me, and keep me safe.”

Sip from the cup and as you drink your wine or cider, think about the power and energy of the Divine, in whatever aspect you choose to honor.

Extinguish one of the Harvest candles and say:

“The Wild God has gone to rest in the Underworld.
I look to the darkness for renewal and rebirth.”

Extinguish the other candle and say:

“The Mother Goddess has entered her most powerful stage.
She is the Crone, the wise one, and I ask for Her blessing.”

Stand in the darkness for a moment. Reflect upon all the changes that are to come and those things that will stay constant. Feel the energy of the gods as you connect to them and understand that even though winter is coming, the light will return again.

When you are ready, end the ritual.

Tips:
Leave the apples on your altar overnight and the next morning put them in your garden as an offering to the earth.

Feel free to replace the Wild God and Mother Goddess with the names of deities from your own tradition.

Litha/Summer Solstice Ritual

If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, consecrate a space, or call the quarters, now is the time to do so. This ritual is a great one to perform outside, so if you have the opportunity to do so, take advantage of it.

Begin this ritual by preparing the wood for a fire, without lighting it yet. While the ideal situation would have you setting a huge bonfire alight, realistically not everyone can do that. If you're limited use a table top brazier or fire-safe pot and light your fire there instead.

Say either to yourself or out loud:

Today, to celebrate Midsummer, I honor the Earth itself. I am surrounded by tall trees. There is a clear sky above me and cool dirt beneath me, and I am connected to all three. I light this fire as the Ancients did so long ago.

At this point start your fire, and say:

The Wheel of the Year has turned once more.
The light has grown for six long months until today.
Today is Litha, called Alban Heruin by my ancestors,
A time for celebration.
Tomorrow the light will begin to fade
As the Wheel of the Year
Turns on and ever on.

Turn to the East, and say:

From the east comes the wind,
Cool and clear.
It brings new seeds to the garden
Bees to the pollen
And birds to the trees.  

Turn to Face South, and say:

The sun rises high in the summer sky
And lights our way even into the night.
Today the sun casts three rays,
The light of fire upon the land, the sea, and the heavens.

Turn to face West, and say:

From the west, the mist rolls in
Bringing rain and fog,
The life-giving water without which
We would cease to be.

Finally, turn to the North, and say:

Beneath my feet is the Earth,
Soil dark and fertile,
The womb in which life begins
And will later die, then return anew.

Build up the fire even more, so that you have a good strong blaze going. If you wish to make an offering to the gods, now is the time to do it. Say:

Alban Heruin is a time of rededication to the gods.
The triple goddess watches over me.
She is known by many names.
She is the Morrighan, Brighid, and Cerridwen.
She is the washer at the ford,
She is the guardian of the hearth,
She is the one who stirs the cauldron of inspiration.
I give honor to You, O mighty ones
By all your names, known and unknown.
Bless me with Your wisdom
And give life and abundance to me
As the sun gives life and abundance to the Earth.
I make this offering to you
To show my allegiance,
To show my honor,
To show my dedication
To You.

Cast your offering into the fire.
 
Conclude the ritual by saying:

Today, at Litha, I celebrate the life
And love of the gods
And of the Earth and Sun.

Take a few moments to reflect upon what you have offered, and what the gifts of the gods mean to you. When you are ready, if you have cast a circle, dismantle it or dismiss the quarters at this time.

Allow your fire to go out on its own.

May ~ Month of Mary

May Ritual to Honor the Goddess 'Mary'

Here and elsewhere, both Mary and the month of May are greeted, welcomed and celebrated on specific days in May. Later, the whole month of May became the month of Mary. On each day of this month, special devotions to Mary were organized. This custom originated in Italy (Ferrerra, 1784). It was spread widely during the nineteenth century - a century well-known for its monthly devotions (Heart of Jesus in June; Rosary in October).

One ritual performed during the month of May is known as 'The Crowning'. The crowning consists of putting a statue of Mary at the center of your altar, singing praises to her, and placing a garland of flowers on her head. More floral tributes are placed at her feet and fresh flowers are kept on the altar all month long.

What you need:

• Decorate your altar with blues and whites - blue and white candles; blue or white altar cloth; red roses, Lily of the Valley or any flowers blooming in your area at this time.


• A statue of the Goddess 'Mary' or any Goddess statue that you relate to.


• A small crown made of flowers to fit the head of your statue.


• Incense - Rose, Lily of the Valley, Orchid or any spring scent.


• Blessing water (to make your own, see recipe below)

Cleanse your ritual area and if your tradition calls for you to cast a circle, do so now. As you go around your altar lighting the candles and incense say:

"Mary, Goddess of my Heart, You have been called many names;
Ashanti, Bast, Bonna Dae, Brighid, Cybele, Demeter,
Freya, Frigga, Gaia, Isis, Juno, and Yemaya.
Throughout time, You have been ever faithful to Your children,
and I look to You now for comfort, for peace, for guidance and wisdom.
Your love shines forth on me and forever I will be guided by Your spirit.
Be with me now as I honor You, O most gracious Queen.
Blessed Be."

Take up the crown and say:

"Bring flowers of the rarest, bring flowers of the fairest
from garden and woodland and hillside and vale;
My full heart is swelling, my glad voice is telling
the praise of the loveliest Rose of the vale.

Oh Mary, I crown You with blossoms today.
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.

My voice is ascending, in harmony blending,
Oh, thus may my heart turn, dear Mother, to You.
Oh, thus shall I prove You, how truly I love You;
How dark without Mary life's journey would be.

Oh Mary, I crown You with blossoms today.
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May."

"Mary, Mother and Queen, please accept my crown!"

Sprinkle the crown with Blessing Water and then pass it through the incense. Place the crown gently and reverently on Mary's head and say:

"Mary, Queen of Heaven,
Gracious Mother of us all,
I ask You to hear my prayer.
Make my heart overflow with Divine grace
and resplendent with celestial wisdom.
Render me strong with Your might
and rich in love and grace.
Pour down upon me the gift of Your love
so that I may always feel Your presence.
Help me to live in such a way
as to please You and keep Your ways.
Blessed Be."

You may now leave an offering to Mary if you like and partake of Cakes and Ale (honeybread is also a good choice). Now would also be a good time to sit quietly and meditate on what the Goddess means to you in your life. When you are done, end the ritual by saying:

"Queen of my heart, Your destiny is meant to be my destiny.
Teach me to love as You did,
to love my neighbors as You did, and above all,
to love my family as You loved Yours.
I consecrate myself to You with the ancient prayer;

My Queen, my Mother,
I give myself entirely to You,
And to show my devotion to You,
I consecrate to You this day my eyes,
My ears, my mouth, my heart,
My entire self without reserve.
As I am your own, my good Mother,
Guard me and defend me as your child.
Blessed Be."

You may also end your ritual with 'The Goddess Rosary' if you like.

How to make Blessing Water

On the evening of a full moon and before the full moon rises, set out your container of water. At midnight, under the full moon, do the following ritual. When done let the water sit out under the full moon and collect it in the morning before sun rise.

While performing the Three-Fold cross say:

"Oh, Great One, Lord and Lady of all that can be surveyed and not,
I call upon you and need your assistance in this moment.
I bring forth this water in which I request your blessings."

Hold up the container of water to show it and say:

"Bless this water with your wisdom, guidance, love, healing, purification and power."

Place the container on your altar. Hold your hands over it and say:

"I banish thee, O element of water,
of all negativity both seen and unseen,
and bless thee in the name of the Great One."

Imagine a brilliant blue-white light filling the water.

Hold up the container of salt to show it and say:

“Bless this salt with your wisdom, guidance, love, healing, purification and power.”

Place the container on your altar. Hold your hands over it and say:

"I banish thee, O element of the Earth,
of all negativity both seen and unseen
and bless thee in the name of the Great One.”

Envision the same brilliant blue-white light entering the salt.

Add three pinches of salt to the water and stir it three times in a deosil direction. Perform the Three-Fold cross over it and then with both hands, hold the container at eye level and say:

"I cleanse and consecrate this water in the name of the Great One.
May it enhance and purify all that it touches.
With the water so blessed, may this harm none,
With these final words, let it be done.
As I will it, so mote it be.
Blessed Be!”

Your Blessing Water is now ready to be poured into a pretty container and used for rituals.

Beltane

Ritual to Honor the Sacred Feminine at Beltane

This simple ritual can be performed by both men and women, and is designed to honor the feminine aspects of the universe as well as our female ancestors. If you have a particular deity you call upon, feel free to change names or attributes around where needed. Otherwise, you can use the all-encompassing name of "Goddess" in the rite.

Decorate your altar with symbols of femininity: cups, chalices, flowers, lunar objects, fish, doves or swans. You'll also need the following items for this ritual:

• A white candle
• An offering of something that is important to you
• A bowl of water
• A handful of small pebbles or stones

If your tradition calls for you to cast a circle, do so now.

Begin by standing in the Goddess position and say:

“I am (your name), and I stand before You.
Goddesses of the sky, earth and sea, I honor you,
for your blood runs through my veins,
one woman, standing on the edge of the universe.
Tonight, I make an offering in Your names
As my thanks for all You have given me.”

Light the candle and place your offering before it on the altar. The offering may be something tangible, such as bread, wine or flowers. It can also be something symbolic such as a gift of your time or dedication. Whatever it is, it should be something from your heart. Once you have made your offering it is time to call upon the Goddesses by name. Say:

“I am (your name), and I stand before you.
Isis, Ishtar, Tiamat, Inanna, Shakti, Cybele,
Mothers of the ancient people,
Guardians of those who walked the earth thousands of years ago,
I offer You this as a way of showing my gratitude.
Your strength has flowed within me;
Your wisdom has given me knowledge;
Your inspiration has given birth to harmony in my soul.”

Now it is time to honor the women who have touched your life. For each one, place a pebble into the bowl of water. As you do so, say her name and how she has impacted you. You might say something like this:

“I am Teresa and I stand before you
to honor the sacred feminine that has touched my heart.
I honor Mary, who gave birth to me and raised me to be strong;
I honor Mildred, my grandmother, who always made me feel special and who always had ice cream;
I honor Mary, my grandmother, who lost her courageous battle with cancer;
I honor Janie and Sheri, my sisters, who have themselves become mothers with great love and concern for their children.
I honor Bernie, my best friend, who has been with me through life’s ups and downs.”

Continue until you have placed a pebble in the water for each of these women. Reserve one pebble for yourself. Finish by saying:

“I am (your name) and I honor myself,
for my strength, my creativity, my knowledge, my inspiration,
and for all the other remarkable things that make me a woman.”

Take a few minutes and reflect on the sacred feminine. What is it about being a woman that gives you joy? If you're a man performing this ritual, what is it about the women in your life that makes you love them? Meditate on the feminine energy of the universe for a while and when you are ready, end the ritual.

Tips: This ritual can be adapted for a group easily. With a little planning it can become a beautiful ceremony for a number of people. Consider doing it as part of a women’s circle in which each member honors the others as part of the rite.

Source: paganwiccan.about.com