Personal Temple Raising

Standing in front of the Altar in a comfortable, neutral position, arms out to the sides, palms up, begin with the statement of presence:

I stand within the presence of the infinite with sacred reverence, as It who bears the keys to the Garden by blood, breath, and bone.

Begin the ritual formally by taking up the Bell and ringing it clearly three times. Replace the Bell on the Altar and hold the Sickle high next- announcing:

All hail, Spirits of the Earth … I alert you to the raising of the Temple. Open unto me the door of the Universe, and meet me here at this gathering!

Take up the Crystal Wand and move to the Southern Node, then. Take a moment there to gather yourself and focus your energy; ground yourself to the Earth’s core through your soles, and the Universal energy through your crown. Center yourself.

When you are ready, then, hold the Sickle in one hand outstretched at the border of the Circle. Hold the Crystal Wand in the other outstretched towards the sky. Feel yourself drawing up the Earth’s energy through your feet, and direct it out through your outstretched hand holding the Sickle. Do the same with the Universal energy- drawing it down through your upstretched arm, into the Sickle arm, and out to the Circle boundary.

Begin to walk slowly sunwise around the Circle boundary, directing the energy out and “drawing” the Circle energetically as you do so. Once you arrive back at the Southern Node, solidify the Circle’s boundary; visualize the entire boundary in your mind, and breathe in deeply, extending your arms above you. As you do, imagine the Circle ‘extending’ above you into the Sky. When you breathe out, lower your hands and imagine the Circle ‘extending’ below you into the Earth in the same manner.

So it is built between time and space - and where thorns are tended, may our Roses ever grow!

Return to the Altar now, and replace the Sickle and Crystal Wand. Ring the bell thrice more. Next, take up the Incense Burner (or Censer) and move to the Western Node. Take a moment there to gather yourself and focus your energy, then acknowledge the King of the Western Gate:

Hail, Guardian of the Western Gate! You shall find nothing but sacred reverence here. I bid thee stay and hold the Gate with Discernment!

Walk the Circle sunwise carrying the incense along its line; concentrate this time on cleansing the space as you walk.

Return to the Altar and light the central Candle next. Move to the Northern Node now. Take a moment there to gather yourself and focus your energy, then acknowledge the King of the Northern Gate:

Hail, Guardian of the Northern Gate! You shall find nothing but sacred reverence here. I bid thee stay and hold the Gate with Distinction!

Walk the Circle sunwise carrying the candle; this time concentrate on spiritually illuminating and uplifting the Circle.

Return to the Altar again and take up the bowl of Lustral Water and Aspergillum. Move to the Eastern Node. Again, gather yourself and focus your energy, then acknowledge the King of the Eastern Gate:

Hail, Guardian of the Eastern Gate! You shall find nothing but sacred reverence here. I bid thee stay and hold the Gate with Humility!

Walk the Circle sunwise while using the Aspergillum to spread the Lustral Water around its boundary in order to purify the space.

Once more, return to the Altar. Take up the bowl of Dirt (or Powdered Eggshell) dampened by Lustral Water and move to the Southern Node. Gather yourself and focus your energy, then acknowledge the final King of the Southern Gate:

Hail, Guardian of the Southern Gate! You shall find nothing but sacred reverence here. I bid thee stay and hold the Gate with Responsibility!

Again, walk the Circle sunwise spreading the Damp Earth (or Eggshell); concentrate on protecting the space. Return to the Altar and ring the bell three times ... Light the Left Ritual Candle and say:

Hail to the Great Veiled Queen, Our Lady of the Green Underground Crowned in Thorns; She, the Many-Eyed Serpent Bearing Consort to the Headless One, and Corpse-Laden Mother of the Hosts; The Everbearing boundary-Keeper of the Keys to the Garden and Wellspring Eternal!

Light the Right Ritual Candle, now, and say:

Hail to the Unknown King, Our great Headless One sent Wandering; He, the bournless, ageless one who manifests forth from the Waters over the Earth; Exalted Consort and Helpmeet, Luminous Lord of the Hosts who sacrifices all to come forth by Blood and fill the Garden with its bounty!

Return to the original neutral position taken up at the start of the ritual- arms out to the sides, palms up- and say:

Hail, she of the Hedge’s Thorn! Hail, He of the Lonely Prairie Green! I am It, child of the Clear Sweet Waters. Behold, within the Wellspring, mine own coming-forth! In my reflection I greet thee All with Humility!

Ring the Bell thrice again:

The Temple is set between time and place - and so the rite begins in peace.