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Drawing Down the Moon

The High Priest 'Draws Down the Moon' on the High Priestess in every instance it is cast in the circle. To do so, first he gives her the Fivefold Kiss, and then, kneeling again, he touches her with his right forefinger on her right breast, left breast and womb; then the same three points again; and finally the right breast. During all this, the High Priestess spreads her arms outwards as necessary. As he touches her, he says:

I invoke thee and call upon thee, Mighty Mother of us all, bringer of all fruitfulness; by seed and root, by stem and bud, by leaf and flower and fruit do I invoke thee to descend upon the body of this thy servant and priestess.

He spreads his arms outwards and downwards with the palms forward (he is still kneeling) and says:

Hail, Lady! Pour forth thy store of love; I lowly bend Before thee, I adore thee to the end, With loving sacrifice thy shrine adorn. Thy foot is to my lip [kissing it] my prayer upborne upon the rising incense-smoke; then spend thine ancient love, O Mighty One, descend to aid me, who without thee am forlorn.

He stands up and takes a pace backwards. The High Priestess draws the Invoking Pentagram of Earth in the air in front of him with the wand, saying:

Of the Mother darksome and divine, mine the scourge, and mine the kiss: The five-point star of love and bliss. Here I charge you, in this sign.

This completes Drawing Down the Moon. Traditionally the Charge of the Goddess is delivered by the High Priestess afterwards, as an address to the Coveners present.

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