To aid the self-dedicated Wiccan Priest and self-dedicated Wiccan Priestess, here is the ritual script for the Spring Sabbat of The Tree, as slightly adapted for our coven. Additional sources consulted included What Witches Do, Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft, Wicca, Wicca Craft, Wicca for Life, The Wheel of the Wiccan Year, and “Birth-Song” by Victor B. Neuburg.
(The Erecting the Temple is performed. Priest and Priestess kiss. Let there be flowers on the Altar and about the Circle. On the Altar, beside the Sword, rests a Priapic, or pine-tipped, Wand. Also on the Altar is a small bowl filled with potting soil and, beside it, a nasturtium seed. A bowl of hard-boiled eggs, colorfully dyed and decorated with runes, may also sit on the Altar.)
Priest: “Seax Wica, harken to me! Awake! It is time to greet the Spring. Freya, Lady of Light, hear us! Frey, Lord of Life, hear us! We are here to celebrate both with you and for you.”
(Priestess raises both arms high.)
Priestess: “Welcome, welcome, beauteous Spring! Now let us join together, inspired by the Gods. Let us cast behind us the darkness of Winter, and look again forward to that which lies ahead. Now is the time for birth. Now is the time for the planting of seeds.”
(Priestess lowers her arms. Priest takes up the Priapic Wand and holds it out, vertically, before him.)
Priestess: “By the power of the raised Wand doth the Seed find the Furrow. Blessings upon this handsome Wand.”
(Priest turns to face her. She kisses the tip of the Wand.)
“All honor to it; may it ever be thus.”
All: “All power to the Wand, All power! For Love is here. Blessed be!”
(Priest and Priestess lead a dance about the Circle, Priest carrying the Priapic Wand. All sing as they dance:)
All: “The bud beneath the winter’s ice, Earth-fire beneath the snow, the unborn Spring’s supreme device, the virginal soft glow.
Beneath the snow the sacred Fire, beneath the bud the Fruit; the all-unquenchable desire hid in the holy Root.
Dawn! It is thine, and mine, and his! Rejoice! Come forth! Be wise! These be the olden Mysteries whereby shall Earth arise.”
(When they have danced sufficiently they stop. Priest replaces Wand on Altar and the Priestess takes up the bowl of Earth.)
Priestess: “Of old would we celebrate by together planting the seed, one with another, yet here do we symbolize that act, in veneration of our Lady and our Lord.”
(Priestess turns to face Priest and holds bowl close between her breasts. Priest takes up his Seax and carefully makes a depression in the soil, in the center of the bowl. Putting away his Seax he then takes up the seed, from the Altar, and holds it cupped in his hands over the bowl.)
Priest: “These rites of Spring belong to all; to us and to the Gods. This is a joyous time. This is a time for planting.”
(He places the seed in the depression in the soil and covers it with Earth.)
“This seed I do place in the womb of the Earth, that it may become a part of the Earth; a part of Life, a part of us. Blessed are the Gods! Blessed are the Seax Wica! Let Love abound!”
All: “Love! So be it!”
(Priest and Priestess kiss, then the Priestess replaces the bowl on the Altar. All kiss one another. Then shall follow the Ceremony of Cakes and Ale, followed by feasting and merriment.)
Image: Freja by John Bauer (1882-1918)
Lincoln Green 