What We Knew in the Night by Raven Grimassi

Author:Raven Grimassi
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781633411081
Publisher: Red Wheel Weiser

The seal of the Watchers ...

THE SABBATIC MEAL

In the Rooted Ways the legendary Sabbat meal takes place during the full moon ritual. It has a religious connotation to it in terms of a devotional act associated with deity. However, its core meaning and symbolism are much older than modern ideas of religion and deity. We noted this in a previous chapter, which presented the concept of the fireflies and the Grain Mysteries.

In earlier chapters, we looked at ideas associated with the Sabbat meal. In this section, we will look at how the witching cup is configured in the ritual. It begins with the chalice and wine.

Ancient mystical legends reveal things such as a magical cauldron or a “holy grail” vessel in the form of a chalice. These symbolize what is worthy of obtainment. The stories also point to transformation through what is contained in these sacred vessels. The Divine Spirit is always central to the tales, and in them we find a goddess or a god associated with a vessel. Cerridwen with her cauldron and King Arthur's knights who quest for the Holy Grail are two examples.

In addition to the chalice, in the Sabbat meal we find the use of a platter. It holds the “cakes” that are part of the ritual. These items link us to the Grain Mysteries of birth, life, death, and renewal.

In essence, the grain cakes represent the slain Harvest Lord. They are his body as the seed bearer. Through his death the earth is reseeded for new growth.

The red wine represents the blood of the goddess, whether as menstrual or life's blood. The former is more often incorporated into waning moon rites, and the latter into waxing rites. However, the Sabbat meal is solely a Full Moon Rite in the Rooted Ways of Witchery.

In practice, the cakes are regarded as the substance and the wine is regarded as the essence. To consume them is to take their spiritual and magical virtues down into the cellular level of the body and upward into the soul consciousness. This combination creates an elevation of consciousness within the mind.

A specific method is used to activate the cakes and wine. Over each cake, using the Witch's blade, trace a crescent representing the harvest sickle. Next, trace an X over the cakes to symbolize the sacrificial death of the Harvest Lord. Point the tip of the blade at the cakes and say,

“By this sacred blade of the harvest, be these cakes the body of the Harvest Lord.”

Now the wine is activated. Pour the wine into the chalice. Position it so that the moon is reflected upon the surface of the wine. If this is not possible, use a lighted candle to represent the moon. Ideally, you will want to use the virtue candle.

Take a wand and trace a circle three times (clockwise) over the wine. Next, lower the tip of the wand into the wine, and say these words:

“By this sacred tool of the phallus of the life cycle, be this wine the blood and liquid essence of the goddess.

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