The best place is out of doors complete with the four elements, i.e: pick a place with a stream, sunshine, trees, breeze, secluded and where there is NO chance of being disturbed. The second best is at least some of these things but out of doors. If you live near the sea then find a cove. Or go into the desert. Indoors will not be as good. If necessary travel a bit. If you live too far north to even contemplate out of doors then do it indoors but get in plants and rocks and anything else that will bring nature into your room. Make sure you have all four elements: Fire(A hearth is good), Earth(Stones all around), Water(Can you get one of those indoor waterfalls?), Air( Lot's of Incense) and turn out artificial lights. Use your imagination. Check out the location well before your special day. I repeat there must be absolute privacy guarunteed. If the rite will be at night then make sure there are no problems at night.
4 candles for the 4 quiarters. These should be in cups or enclosures so they can't blow out on you. If they are likely to blow out then still take them but don't light them. Or if you prefer take four large stones.
A small table or box for an altar, preferably with a cloth over it. Or even if you have a mobile altar then take that.
A figure or statuette of the goddess, but alternatively a picture of the goddess. Since this is primarily a goddess event.You may wish to have the god there to lend you support.
Your Athame; this may be tricky as regards to the law. You may prefer to take your wand, on the other hand an Athame could be helpful in the unlikely event that you are disturbed.
A good quantity of Water - around a Pint ios best(600ml)
Some Salt
Some annointing oil, for example Olive or wheat germ or Jojoba spiced with some cinnamon or other essential oil you prefer, which you can obtain from specialkist shops.
A Container to mix the salt and the water in.
A chalice or wine glass - A metal goblet is better, as you may not want to risk breaking a Wine glass. For the cakes and wine: red wine or Country wine or even Barley wine or real ale or Cider or even apple juice.
Small cakes or scones, for example those little Moon-shaped short-cakes are ideal. Of course if you can make them yourself all the better.
A Bag to put your watch etc. when at the site.
During the days leading up to the event memorise the words. You don't really want to be reading bits of paper but if for some reason you have to do this then write it down in clear script using black ink. Every night get yourself alone with your shrine and Meditate on what you are going to be doing.
Check out The Meditation Pages Of This Website For Different Meditation Techniques.
1. Set up your temporary Altar and Quarterly points. These quarters can be stones or canldes but stones have the advantage of not blowing out if there is a breeze.
2. Cast Your Circle of Protection.
3. Undress - remove ALL Jewelry, watches etc. and put them into your bag. With your purse and other items that are easily lost.
4. Consecrate the Circle.
5. Summon The Guardians.Find Out How
6. Now For Your Symbolic Death. Find Out How
7. Now be at peace feel the peace of the goddess flow into you. Feel yourself merge with the cold Earth beneath you. Chant this slowly adn quietly:
"Hecate, Cerridwen,
Dark mother take me in.
Hecate, Cerridwen,
Let me be reborn."
Keep chanting until you feel yourself meltin into the goddess.
8. When you feel the time is right get up slowly and begin to walk around the circle chanting the goddess chant:
"We all come from the goddess,
and to her we shall return.
Like a drop of rain,
Flowing to the ocean."
Walk gradually faster and fasterand chant faster too! round and round the circle. Faster and Faster until you get dizzy. Don't stop even then. After a while you'll get tired but you must NOT stop. Go on the same time again until you drop exhausted on the floor. Why? Because chanting and dancing raise power.
9. Lay on your back again as you regain your breath. As soon as you have your breath back stand in front of the altar and annoint yourself thus: Dip a finger in the oil and mark a cross:
1. On the left breast( Male or Female)
2.On the right breast.
3. Just above the pubic hair.
This is the sigil sign of the first degree, the downward pointing triangle, Say:
"I annoint myself Priest/ess of the old religion, and I take the name(speak your magickal name quietly)"
Then say:
"I,(real name), in the presence of the forces of Universe and the divine, do of my own free will and mind most solemnly swaer that I will ever abide by the religion and science of the Craft of the Wise."
" I shall neither harm my fellow humans with the secrets that I learn nor shall I flaunt my beleifs or powers before them."
" From this day I shall be reborn as(magickal name) and shall honor, respect and cherish this aoth I have taken."
10. Kneel up in frontr of the alter. Pour a little wine into the goblet and place it in front of the alter. Now take your Athame and holding it with both hands, pointing down and arms outstretched plunge the blade into the wine and say:
"As the cup is to the female so the blade is to the male"
"And so conjoined bring Blessedness"
11. At this point you might consider masturbation. This is only a suggestion and if you don't want to then don't! It depends on how you see the goddess. But do not bear any of that sub-christian guilt about it. If you are a man then you might visualise the godess in front of you and make a sacrifice of your seed to her. You might do it if your goddess is a maiden but not if you see her as a Mother. If you are a woman then the goddess is inside you so how you view her is how you view yourself.
12. Now say to yourself:
" I am reborn, I am a Witch, I am a Priest/ess"
Raise to your feet and say as loud as is safe bearing in mind that sound carries."I AM A WITCH/WICCAN!."
13. Now consecrate the wine and cakes as you have already learned. Take some wine and eat cake. Close the circle and dismiss the quarters, remembering to thank them. Get dressed and eat some more and remember to keep some back for the libation which you must make on the very site of your self Initiation before you leave.
