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Traditional First Degree Initiation

Everything is set up as for a normal Circle, with the following additional items also in readiness: A blindfold; a length (at least eight feet) of twine or thin string; anointing oil; a small hand bell; three lengths of red cord - one of nine feet, and two of four feet six.

It is also usual, though not essential, for the Postulant to bring their own new athame- and red, white, and blue cords- to be consecrated immediately after their initiation (the three cords should be nine feet long each). They should also be told, as soon as they know they’re to be initiated, to acquire any black-handled knife with which they feel comfortable.

They should also be told to bring a bottle of red wine, if only to impress on them from the start that the expense of catering for the coven, whether it be the Circle wine or any food taken before or after the Circle, should not fall entirely on the High Priestess and High Priest!

As for the additional items listed above- any scarf will do for the blindfold, but it should be opaque. And the choice of anointing oil is up to the High Priestess; Gardner's coven always used pure olive oil. Alexandrian custom is that it should include a touch of the sweat of the High Priestess and High Priest.

Before the Circle is cast, the Postulant is stood outside the Circle to the North-East, and blindfolded and bound by witches of the opposite sex. The binding is done with the three red cords. The wrists are tied together behind the back with the middle of the long cord, and the two ends are brought forward over the shoulders and tied in front of the neck, the ends left hanging to form a cable-tow by which the Postulant can be led. One short cord is tied round the right ankle, the other above the left knee-each with the ends tucked in so that they will not trip him up. As the ankle cord is being tied, the Initiator says:

Feet neither bond nor free.

The Circle is then cast, and the Opening Ritual proceeds as usual, except that the gateway in the North- East is not closed yet, and the Charge is not spoken yet. Instead, after the Witches' Rune, the Initiator fetches the sword, or her athame, from the altar. They and their Partner face the Postulant and declare the Charge. Afterwards the Initiator says:

0' thou who standest on the threshold between the pleasant world of men and the dread domains of the Lords of the Outer Spaces, hast thou the courage to make the assay?

They place the point of the sword or athame against the Postulant's heart and continues:

For I say verily, it is better to rush on my blade and perish, than make the attempt with fear in thy heart.

The Postulant replies:

I have two passwords. Perfect love, and perfect trust.

The Initiator says:

All who have such are doubly welcome. I give thee a third to pass thee through this dread door.

The Initiator hands the sword or athame to her Partner, kisses the Postulant and goes round behind them. Embracing them from the back, the initiator pushes them forward with their own body into the Circle. Their Partner ritually closes the 'gateway' with the sword or athame, which they then replace on the altar.

The Initiator leads the Postulant to the cardinal points in turn and says:

Take heed, ye Lords of the [direction] that [NAME] is properly prepared to be initiated by a Priest/ess and witch.

The Initiator then leads the Postulant to the center of the Circle and the coven circle round him sunwise, chanting:

Eko, Eko, Azarak,
Eko, Eko, Zomelak,
Eko, Eko, Cern un nos,
Eko, Eko, Aradia, 'lo

This is repeated over and over, while they push the Postulant back and forth between them, sometimes turning them a little to disorient them, until the Initiator calls a halt. The Partner rings the handbell three times, while the Initiator turns the Postulant (who is still in the center) to face the altar. They then say:

In other religions the postulant kneels, while the priest towers above them. But in the Art Magical we are taught to be humble, and we kneel to welcome them and we say …

At this point the Initiator immediately kneels and proceeds to give the Postulant the Fivefold Kiss- after which the Partner hands the length of twine to the Initiator, who says:

Now we are going to take your measure.

The Initiator, with the help of another witch of the same sex, stretches the twine from the ground at the Postulant's feet to the crown of their head, and cuts this length off with the white-handled knife (which their Partner brings them). They then measure them once around the forehead and tie a knot to mark the measurement; once (from the same end) around the heart, and tie a knot; and once round the hips across the genitals, and tie a knot. They then wind the measure and lay it on the altar.

The Initiator asks the Postulant:

Before thou art sworn, art thou ready to pass the ordeal and be purified?

The Postulant replies:

I am.

The Initiator and the other witch of the same sex help the Postulant to kneel, and bow his head and shoulders forward. They unwind the loose ends of his ankle and knee cords and bind his two ankles and his two knees together. The Initiator then fetches the scourge from the altar.

The Partner rings the handbell three times and says 'Three'. The Initiator gives the Postulant three light strokes with the scourge.

The Partner says 'Seven' (but does not ring the bell again). The Initiator gives the Postulant seven light strokes with the scourge.

The Partner says 'Nine'. The Initiator gives the Postulant nine light strokes with the scourge.

The Partner says 'Twenty-one'. The Initiator gives the Postulant twenty-one light strokes with the scourge. (The twenty-first stroke may be more vigorous, as a reminder that the Initiator has been being deliberately restrained). Then the Initiator says:

Thou hast bravely passed the test. Art thou ready to swear that thou wilt always be true to the Art?

The Postulant replies:

I am.

The Initiator asks:

Art thou always ready to help, protect and defend thy siblings of the Art?

The Postulant replies:

I am.

The Initiator says:

Then say after me: I [NAME], in the presence of the Mighty Ones, do of my own free will and accord most solemnly swear that I will ever keep secret and never reveal the secrets of the Art, except it be to a proper person, properly prepared within a Circle such as I am now in; and that I will never deny the secrets to such a person if they be properly vouched for by a sibling of the Art. All this I swear by my hopes of a future life, mindful that my measure has been taken; and may my weapons turn against me If I break this my solemn oath.

The Postulant repeats each phrase after the Initiator. When the oath is complete the postulant is helped to their feet by the Initiate and the other Witch of the opposite sex. The Partner brings forward the anointing oil and the chalice of wine, then.

The Initiator moistens their fingertip with the oil and says:

I hereby sign thee with the Triple Sign and consecrate thee with oil.

The Initiator then touches the Postulant with the oil just above their pubic hair, on their right breast, on their left breast and above their pubic hair again, completing the inverted triangle of the First Degree.

The Initiator then moistens their fingertip with wine, says:

I anoint thee with wine.

The initiator then touches him in the same place with the wine. The wine is returned to the Altar and the Initiator then says:

I consecrate thee with my lips.

The initiator then kisses them in the same places that have already been anointed with wine and oil.

The Initiator and the other witch of the same sex now remove the Postulant's blindfold and untie their cords. All present from the Coven next say:

Welcome, Priest/ess and Witch.

The Postulant is now an initiated witch, and the ritual is interrupted for each member of the coven to welcome and congratulate him, kissing or shaking hands as appropriate. When this is done, the ritual continues with the presentation of the working tools.

As each tool is named, the Initiator takes it from the altar and hands it to the Initiate with a kiss. Another witch of the same sex as the Initiator stands by, and as each tool is finished with, takes it from the Initiate with a kiss and replaces it on the altar.

The Initiator explains the tools as follows:

Now I present to thee the Working Tools.

First, the Magic Sword. With this in thy hand, thou art the ruler of the Circle.

Next I present the Athame. This is the true witch 's weapon, and has all the powers of the Magic Sword.

Next I present the White-hilted Knife. Its use is to form all instruments used in the Art. It can only be used in a Magic Circle.

Next I present the Wand. Its use is to call up and control those to whom it would not be met to use the Magic Sword.

Next I present the Cup. This is the vessel of the Goddess, the Cauldron, the Holy Grail. From this we drink in comradeship, and in honor of the Goddess.

Next I present the Pentacle. This is for the purpose of calling up appropriate spirits.

Next I present the Censer of Incense. This is used to encourage and welcome good spirits and to banish evil spirits.

Next I present the Scourge. This is the sign of power and domination. It is also to cause purification and enlightenment. For it is written, "To learn you must suffer and be purified". Art thou willing to suffer to learn?

The Initiate replies:

I am.

The Initiator continues:

Then lastly, I present the Cords. They are of use to bind the sigils in the Art, and are the material basis; also they are necessary in the Oath.

The Initiator says:

I now salute thee in the name of the Lady, newly made priest/ess and witch.

They then kiss the Initiate. Finally, they lead the initiate to each of the cardinal points in turn, saying:

Hear ye Mighty Ones of the [direction]; [NAME] has been consecrated priest/ess, witch, and hidden child of the Divine.

If the Initiate has brought his own new athame and / or cords, they may now, as their first magical work, consecrate them- either with the Initiator or with the person who is to be their working partner, if that is already known.

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