Second Degree Initiation Ritual for the Coven of the Good Witch   A well conducted initiation can be a very moving and powerful experience. It is a magickal rite, invoking cosmic powers, and should be conducted in the full confidence that the invoked powers will manifest. Every initiation is a symbolic death and rebirth, consciously undergone. In traditional Wicca, a man is initiated by a woman and vice-versa, and the initiator should be a second- or third-degree initiate. Our modern practice recognizes the balance of energies in all of us and that we can connect with each energy. We, then, may initiate male-to-male and female-to-female, when both masculine and feminine energies are present. Symbol is the inverted pentacle. This represents the four elements (or four areas of personality) along with the fifth (Spirit or Self). This has begun to appear, but is not yet ‘in control.' It, and therefore the perfect individual, has not become the master over routine life. That is the goal of the 2nd degree. This ritual is one I wrote for a friend, Diana. The Initiator (Priest/ess) should have a helper for the ritual. All lines marked as H can be divided between those in attendance if desired. Preparation: Set up as for a normal circle. Additional on altar should be: 1) blindfold, 2) shroud, 3) anointing oil, 4) new white candle (in which magickal name is to be carved), 5) bell, 6) personal magickal tools: sword, athame, boline, censer, chalice, wand, pentacle, scourge, 7) necklace and veil for Legend of the Descent of the Goddess (veil should be filmy and silver/blue/or green), 8) Cup of Life, filled, 9) Items for Cakes & Ale (can use I's personal chalice and athame for this).  I should fast for approximately 24 hours, take a ritual purification bath just before ritual. It would also be best to be completely alone for several hours beginning with the bath until the ritual. During this time meditate, connect with all the elements and become balanced. You will want to come out, greet people and play host/ess, but try not to.  I is blindfolded, covered with cloth and is left in the center of ritual area.  P casts circle with sword saying: I conjure thee, O great circle of power, so that you will be for those gathered a boundary between the world of men and the realms of the mighty spirits, a meeting place of perfect love, trust, peace and joy upon this day of celebration. I call upon the protectors of the East, South, West and North to aid me in the construction of this circle. In the name of the Horned Lord and Radiant Lady, thus do I conjure thee, O great circle of power. The circle is cast. We stand in a place between worlds, a place without a time and time without a place.

Directions, light the candle and say: The East, the Sylphs, the Knowledge, the Wind Positive forces, I call you in. The South, the Drakes, the Hearth, the Fire Aid this night in my desire. The West, the Mers, the Love, the Water I conjure my need into matter. The North, the Gnomes, the Roots, the Grove Bring your gifts, I make it so. The Center, the Spirit, the Life, the Force I call you now to open your doors. Call to the Deities: Lady Diana, we welcome you to our circle. Grant your blessing to this initiation ritual. Lord Apollo, we welcome you to our circle. Grant your blessing to this initiation ritual.  A bell is rung three times.  Witch's Rune (All present may share reading stanza by stanza. As the Rune is being recited, P should draw down the Solar/God aspect upon self. Anoint with oil Pentacle sigil: lips, l hip, r shoulder, l shoulder, r hip, lips. Hold athame sun-ward, feel time stop and draw energy down.)  Darksome night and shining moon, East, then South, then West, then North; Hearken to the Witches' Rune-- Here we come to call ye forth! Earth and water, air and fire, Wand and pentacle and sword, Work ye unto our desire, Hearken ye unto our word! Cup and censer, wand and knife, Powers of the witch's blade-- Waken all ye into life, Come ye as the charm is made! Queen of witches, hear us well, Horned hunter, Lord of might-- Lend your power unto the spell, And work our will by magic rite! By all the power of land and sea, By all the might of moon and sun-- As we do will, so mote it be; Chant the spell, and be it done! Hear us, hear us, Apollo, Hear us, hear us, Diana, Hear us, hear us, Cernunnos, Hear us, hear us, Demeter.

P: Here, ye Mighty Ones of the East, South, West and North, Diana, a duly consecrated priestess and witch is now properly prepared to be made a High Priestess. She has come alone through many trials, but we have gathered to give our support. Grant her your blessings. All chant: She changes everything she touches, everything she touches changes. During the chant, I emerges from under the cloth in a symbolic rebirth, but remains blindfolded. P takes up scourge.  H: You who stand on the threshold between the world of men and the domains of the Lord and Lady, have you the courage to make the journey? I: I do. I come with perfect love and perfect trust. H: All who have such are doubly welcome. To attain this sublime degree, it is necessary to suffer and be purified. Are you willing to suffer to learn? I: I am. H: This path is one fraught with troubles and turmoil. It is an inward path which leads into the eternal priesthood. One that will mark you into future incarnations. Are you willing to accept this burden? I: I am. H: Then you must do so with your full faculties. H takes blindfold off of I.  P: I hold in my hands the scourge, a tool of torment and suffering. In days past, pain was inflicted as a means of learning and purification. The true ordeal of your initiation cannot be inflicted by the hand of a human. It is the sacrifice which you must endure in order to achieve your destiny.  It is not necessary to add to your suffering, since life itself provides enough as your learning experience. We do, however, pause for a few moments in which to remember painful events in your life and the lessons you learned.  All bow heads in silence to ponder the lessons.  P: Remember well the lessons you have learned. And fail not to offer compassion and understanding to others who have also suffered. P replaces scourge on altar.  I at this time opens her envelope and contemplates her "promise" made to the God and Goddess on the occasion of her 1st initiation. This may be spoken if desired.

A bell is rung three times.  H: Are you ready to swear that you will always be true to the Craft? I: I am. H: Are you ready to help, protect and defend your brothers and sisters of the Craft? I: I am. I kneels facing the altar.  P: Then say after me:  "I, Diana, in the presence of the Lord and Lady, and the Mighty Ones do of my own free will and accord most solemnly swear that I will ever keep sacred the Craft of the Wise; that I shall follow the Rede to the best of my ability; that I will never deny knowledge to any person, if he or she be properly prepared, searching, or of a right and pure heart; and that I will help, protect and defend my brothers and sisters of the Craft . These things I swear by all that I hold sacred in this life and those yet to come." Bell is rung three times.  H: By this initiation, you will be sworn forever to the Gods, to honor and to serve them, and to make manifest their will upon the earth. The path is the way of internal questing, the quest for the Cauldron of the Self. It is one which must be traveled alone. For those who have made this oath, there can be no loneliness, for it is these whom the Gods love and will always be present. Christof, as Diana's teacher, steps forward kneels facing her, places his left hand under her right knee and right hand on her head to form a Magickal link. He says: Power comes from within and from the Lord and Lady, who are always within and around us. Yet we may share our powers with one another, for the good of the Craft. I will all my power into you. Keeping hands in place, the link is maintained for as long as is necessary. They stand and Christof steps back when they are finished.  P takes up Cup of Life.  P: I hold before you the Cauldron of Cerridwen, the Cup of Life and Death, the Grail of Immortality. Life is a dance of light and dark, of joy and pain. We must embrace life in its fullness. Will you drink of this Cup, the Cup of the Wine of Life, and thus accept the true priesthood? In answer, I takes cup and drinks. Then sets it back upon altar. P takes up oil.  P: I consecrate you with oil. With fingertips moistened with oil P touches I just above pubic hair, on right breast, on left hip, on right hip, on left breast and finishing with pubic hair. This makes the symbol of the inverted pentagram. High Priest/ess and Witch of the Second Degree. The ritual is interrupted for each person present to congratulate the I, to present hopes and wishes.  P: Hear ye Mighty Ones of the East, South, West and North, Diana has been duly consecrated High Priestess and Witch Queen. A bell is rung three times.  I now takes up Sword and recasts circle; takes up Athame and invokes the quarters; takes up Censer and censes circle; takes up Pentacle and presents it to watchtowers; takes up Wand and inscribes the 2nd degree sigil (inverted pentacle) into the air above the altar; takes up Boline and inscribes white candle with Magickal Name and 2nd degree sigil.  P anoints candle and any other new tools.  Legend of the Descent of the Goddess Portrayers of the various roles should be selected in advance. I or P becomes Goddess (wears veil), P or I becomes Lord Death (wears crown and holds sword), he stands at the altar. Guardian stands near edge of circle. Necklace is placed upon the altar.

Narrator: In times far beyond recorded history, our Lord, the Horned One, was many things. Among them was that as Lord of the Shadows, the Lord of Death, who was lonely, stern and just. Now our Lady, the Goddess would solve all the Mysteries, even the mystery of Death; so she journeyed to the Underworld. The Guardian of the Portal challenged her... Guardian: Strip off your garments, and lay aside your jewels; for you may bring nothing into this our land.  She does so (removes veil and necklace) and the Guardian leads her to the altar.  Narr: So it continued as she passed each of the seven Portals. She laid down all that she had with her, and was brought before our Lord Death, the Mighty One. Such was her beauty that Death himself laid down his crown and sword, knelt and kissed her feet, saying: Death: He kneels, lays down the sword and crown, and kisses her feet. Blessed be your feet, that have brought you in these ways. Abide here with me.  Goddess: But I love you not. I have come here to learn. Why do you cause all things that I take delight in to fade and die? Death: My Lady, it is age and fate that do these things, and against them, I am powerless. Age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace, and strength so that they may return. But you! You are lovely beyond all. Return not; abide here with me! Goddess: But I do not love you. Death: If that be so, then you must receive full knowledge of Death. Goddess: It is fate -- then let it be so. She kneels.  Narr: And she knelt, and Death showed her many things. She learned, understood, and she cried... Goddess: I now understand. I feel the ache of love. She stands.  Death: Blessed be! Gives the Goddess the Fivefold kiss. (feet, knees, groin, breasts, lips) Blessed be your feet that have brought you in this path. Blessed be your knees which shall kneel at the sacred altar. Blessed be your life which is the center of all creation. (kiss just above pubic hair) Blessed be your breath which embodies the life force. Blessed be your lips that shall utter the ancient, Sacred Names. He places the necklace upon her. In this way only may you attain joy and knowledge. Narr: And he taught her all the Mysteries and they loved and were one, and he taught her all the magicks. For there are three great events in the life of Mankind: Love, Death and Reincarnation in the new body; and Magick controls them all. For to fulfill love, you must return again at the same time and place as your beloved, and you must remember and love them again. To be reborn you must die and be ready for a new body; and to die you must be born; and love is the key; and this is all the Magicks. I now celebrates the Great Rite and Cakes & Ale with partner of her choice. As celebration ends, P reverses the Lunar/Solar draw. Remember to re-affirm oath of service. Ground and center.  I now closes the ceremony: Farewells to Lord and Lady; Dismiss the quarters; Opens Circle.  Celebration continues with feasting.