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Liturgy: Blessing bodies

 

Deep calls on height, the Goddess on the God,
On him who is the flame that quickens her;
That he and she may sieze the silver reins
And ride as one the twin-horsed chariot.
Let the hammer strike the anvil,
Let the lightning touch the earth,
Let the Lance ensoul the Grail,
Let the magic come to birth.

Farrar, J., Farrar, S. 1984), The Witches' Way, London: Robert Hale.

 

hail guardians of the watchtower of the east, powers of air:
blow the staleness away, fill our lungs.
help us bring freshness
into our lives.
let there be clear skies, clear minds
for us to see our way.
let our words create a safe place.
blessed be.

hail guardians of the watchtower of the south, powers of fire:
come into our hearts, warm us.
help us to emerge from hibernation, isolation,
to greet each other.
let passion glow on our birthright
as we fight injustice.
Let our emotions out
from their hiding places.
blessed be.

hail guardians of the watchtower of the west, powers of water:
rain on us, quench our thirst.
help us remember
the ocean womb from which we come.
now let us all be connected.
let our moods be flowing back and forth
until all is one.
let the drought of separation be over.
blessed be.

hail guardians of the watchtower of the north, powers of earth:
strengthen our resolve, keep us centred
help us be here, now.
let our bodies be strong
for loving each other.
let the dizziness of the workday pass,
& all of us find ourselves together
on one planet.
because of our struggles and magic
may a greater circle be cast
of love and social harmony.
blessed be.

Alan Acacia, 'A Circle for Healing during Struggle', in Starhawk 1979, The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess, London: Harper and Row

 

Our bodies are the churches of our souls. So:

We dedicate to keep our bodies clean within and without.
We will try to practice good health.
We will not work all the time, but mix work with play.
We will eat good food.
We will think good thoughts.
We will aim to be happy.
We will do nothing to harm the health and welfare of others.

 

Blessed be our eyes, that we may see our way;
Blessed be our mouths, that we may speak good thoughts;
Blessed be our hands, that we may do good things;
Blessed be our feet, that we may walk our way.
Blessed be our bodies, that we may be whole.

After Slater 1978, A Book of Pagan Rituals, p. 54.

 

God be in my head,
And in my understanding;
God be in my eyes,
and in my looking;
God be in my mouth,
And in my speaking;
God be at mine end,
And in my departing.