Dedication Rite
This is an important ritual to mark inner change, a rite of passage to a new identity as a Wiccan. Wiccans prefer the term 'Dedication' to 'Initiation', although it is the same thing. Dedicating one's life to the Goddess is serious as well as happy, and no less so when done in private as when in a group. It should be prepared for through moons of contemplation.
Certain Wiccans believe that Dedication is not something to be undertaken alone, and that in needs the involvement of some form of priestesshood to meditate on the Mysteries. But the path of divinity is open to us all and should not be controlled by any priestesshood. Wiccans have always been individuals, and while there is much to recommend group study, anyone who wishes to follow a lone path should feel free to do so. As certain Wiccans believe that this rite must be preformed in the company of a coven or another Wiccan, others believe that only the Goddess and the God can initiate you.
Any dedication ceremony, whether lone or by a coven, has stages. The first stage is one of contemplation. If you have been thinking and studying for many months already then one Moon of this will do, but it should be the minimum. Start your lead-up period with a New Moon, and initiate yourself on the third day after the following New Moon. Meditate each day and study anything you feel led to: perhaps knowledge about different Gods and Goddesses, healing, or whatever. If you are a newcomer then a year and a day, or thirteen Moons, are good traditional time spans to devote to preparation. Please do not rush this.
It is useful to chose a "witch-name", which can be the name of a God or Goddess (example: Epona, a Celtic horse Goddess), or a name from a legend, such as the Arthurian Gawain, to affirm new identity.
The ceremony need to be preceded by purification, so take a leisurely bath with salt in it, or a few drops of lavender oil. Put on an old garment that you are prepared to burn. Have a new robe ready if you wish, and a little good quality oil - perhaps just pure vegetable oil, or use almond or grapeseed oil with essential oils frankincense, myrrh and sandalwood dissolved in the ratio two drops of essential oil to one teaspoon of carrier. Also have some wine to make a toast to your new identity, plus some cake or bread. Work skyclad if you wish, but keep your garment with you, and some scissors.
Ensure that you will be alone for a considerable space of time - preferably the whole night following the dedication rite, and the entire day before. Before the ritual, spend time outside, alone, preferably in some deserted place in the country (although that is most often not possible). Begin the ritual after sundown. Assemble the magickal equipment and cast your circle. Begin to burn incense. Allow a feeling of calm and transcendence to pass over you - this is an important moment.
The Ritual
You will have called upon the Four Guardians in forming your circle. Turn again to North, hold high your arms and offer yourself to the Powers of Earth, as witch and priest/ess. Do similarly to East, South, and West in turn, then turn back to North (although if you are able to see the Moon in the sky, turn instead towards Her).
Say something along the lines of:
Great Goddess, bright Lady of the awakened soul,
Accept me.........(Your witch-name)as your priest/ess.
At important hour of my life, I dedicate myself in your name, Isis, Aradia, Diana.
Folding your arms over your chest and lowering your head, say:
Horned One, God of the Witches,
Give me your protection on my new path.
Fill me with your energy and your joy Lugh, Herne, Cernunnos.
[Note: You can use any names of the Goddess and God that are evocative for you. This matters, the mythology does not.)
Take the oil and pass it through the candle flame and over your chalice or cauldron, and trace a pentagram over it with your athame. Anoint yourself between the eyes, upon the heart, and the genitals, saying:
Let the mind be free.
Let the heart be free.
Let the body be free.
Stand in the center of your circle, face North and say:
Great Gods, Old Ones, Powers of the Cosmos, accept me.....(your witch-name here), a true witch and pagan, as your priest/ess.
Now sit yourself down comfortably, close your eyes, and feel the powers of life accepting you. Feel your being expand. Still your mind and allow what pictures may come surface in you. This is an important part of your rite. Don't rush it. It is in this stillness, this inner cauldron, that you are re-fashioned as a witch. When you are ready, get up, hold your arms high and face North. Say:
I (your witch name), witch and priest/ess embrace my new role with joy and celebration. My new life in the Goddess and God begins here
Place wine in your chalice and trace a pentagram over it as you did with the oil. Drink the wine and eat the bread in celebration of you union with the Powers of Life and the Goddess and the God. When you feel ready you may like to dance in joy at your new state.
Take up the old garment and shred it with the scissors, imagine your old identity coming to an end with it. (If you have a fire, throw it in, so much the better.) Put on your new robe. Whenever you do magick or ritual on the future, you will use this robe, or go skyclad.
Finally toast the Gods and Guardians saying:
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.
