A Young Person's Coming of Age

(Since this ritual is held to acknowledge a child's entry into puberty, pre-circle chats with the parent and or HP/HPS should include body awareness, sexual awareness, sexual identity, safe sex, abuse issues, and any other important issues the youngster will need to know about during this most challenging time of puberty)

Preparations:

Two or three days before the ritual, ask the youngster if he/she is prepared to step into adulthood. Inform him/her that he/she must make a sacrifice to prove his/her willingness to the Lady and the Lord. This sacrifice will be five of his/her favorite toys. It is important that he/she understand that these must be cherished items. Of course, he/she should not have to relinquish family heirlooms!

Ask the youngster to designate an item for each point of the pentagram. The item he/she decides to give to Spirit should be the hardest to give up. When he/she has made his/her decisions, tell him/her the day and the time of the ritual. He/she will keep his/her items until that day.

On the day of the ceremony, the youngster will bring his/her toys with him/her to his/her cleansing bath and give them to the High Priest (for boys) or High Priestess (for girls).

Day of Circle:

Ask the youngster if he/she will fast until circle. (Fast time should be at least six hours, but no longer than ten hours. It doesn't seem appropriate to encourage eating disorder patterns.) Of course, he/she can have water and fruit, as he/she deems necessary.

Two hours before the ritual, prepare a ritual bath for him/her. (The youngster should already have bathed with soap and water). Into the water, place an infusion of Lady's Mantle, Heather, Rose, Jasmine, and Gardenia.

Before you leave the room, recite these words (or something similar) "The bud of your youth is maturing into the bloom of adulthood" Then leave him/her to relax and meditate on him/her journey. When they are finished with their journey, they will leave the ritual bath, dry, and robe in a simple gown of white, sleeveless, moderate length.

A designated helper could be either the eldest covener of the same sex or any covener the youngster chooses. When the youngster feels ready, the helper will bind his/her waist with a red cord saying.... "Red of life, red of blood, I wrap you in the Lady's love" Take the youngster to a darkened room (one or two candles) and let him/her meditate in silence. The helper will remain outside the room.

Circle Preparations:

The altar should be an infusion of white, pink and flowers. Have a Maiden Goddess and a Pan Lord if at all possible.

At each quarter place flowers as well as the youngster's toy for each direction. The coveners who will be representing the quarters should be masked with representations of their roles.

Also, at each quarter, but hidden, should be the gifts from the quarters. These gifts will be nice (but not necessarily expensive) since they will help carry the youngster into adulthood. In the east will be a feather or a fan. In the south will be a thurible or a candle. In the west will be a chalice or a cup. In the north will be a large crystal or stone. To represent the Spirit a cloth-covered mirror on the altar is needed.

The women in the coven should be wearing red robes and the men should wear green. (All those past fertility should wear black). Set up the circle in the usual way. Ring a bell nine times. On the ninth ring have the youngster brought in by the helper.

Invoke the Goddess in as Mother, Maiden and Crone. Emphasize the Maiden, but don't neglect the Mother or the Crone.

Invoke the God as Warrior, Father and Sage, again, emphasizing the Warrior without neglecting the Father and Sage.

At this point the HP might want to discuss with the young man what it means to be a man and what responsibilities that entails; the HPS might wish to discuss with the young woman what it means to be a woman and what those responsibilities are.

The Ceremony:

Then the HPS will tell the coven that one among them is ready to step over the threshold into Adulthood.

HP/HPS: Is there one among us who feels ready to begin the journey into adulthood? Youngster: I am ready.

HP/HPS: Have you been told about the journey? Are you ready to make your sacrifice? Youngster: I know my journey will be long and that this is just the beginning. East: I am the East. I am the New beginning, the breeze of hope, the Breath of Life that fills your lungs. I will bring you Inspiration. I will bring you anticipation. What will you bring me?

Youngster: I acknowledge you, Eastern Wind. Thank you for your gifts. I bring you (symbol/toy) to prove my willingness to step into adulthood. East silently takes the gift and offers its own gift to the youngster.

South: I am the South. I am the strength, the passion, the blood that flows through your veins. I will bring you courage. I will bring you inner drive. What will you bring me?

Youngster: I acknowledge you, Southern Fire. Thank you for your gifts. I bring you (symbol/toy) to prove my willingness to step into adulthood. South silently takes the gift and offers its own gift to the youngster.

West: I am the West. I am the ocean, the ebb & flow, the tears that you cry with. I will bring you Rebirth. I will bring you Balance. What will you bring me?

Youngster: I acknowledge you, Western Waters. Thank you for your gifts. I bring you (symbol/toy) to prove my willingness to step into adulthood. West silently takes the gift and offers its own gift to the youngster.

North: I am the North. I am the mountain, the meadow, the bones that support you. I will bring you patience. I will bring you knowledge. What will you bring me?

Youngster: I acknowledge you, Northern Cave. Thank you for your gifts. I bring you (symbol/toy) to prove my willingness to step into adulthood. North silently takes the gift and offers its own gift to the youngster.

At this point, the youngster's helper should take the gifts from the youngster so that his/her hands are free.

The HP/HPS will lead the youngster to the altar where Spirit is waiting.

HP/HPS: I present to you "young person's name" who has journeyed the four directions and is ready to meet Spirit and fully commit to being a man/woman.

Spirit: Is this spoken truly?

Youngster: Yes, I am ready.

Spirit: I am Spirit--the center, the inner core, the kernel of life that is unique within you. I will bring you faith. I will bring you your psychic self. I will bring you the Goddess and the God. Here is a gift freely given...a picture of the Great Goddess...she of a thousand names...She who is. (hand the youngster the mirror wrapped in cloth. (For a male, it would be... a picture of the Great God... he of a thousand names... He who is.) After the youngster has looked into the mirror....

Spirit : "You are the God/Goddess. The God/Goddess is you. Treat yourself with love and respect and honor for the Lord/Lady deserves no less.

Youngster: I acknowledge you Spirit and I thank you for your gifts. I would give you this gift in return. It symbolizes my last link with childhood and my willingness to become an adult. (If the youngster wishes, he/she may briefly tell the coven what this (symbol/toy) represents to him/her.) Spirit takes the gift with reverence and passes it around the coven. As each covener takes the gift, they may offer a wish for the youngster.

When it reaches Spirit again, Spirit will hold it high and say: "Your gift is to the Goddess and to her it must return. (Hands the gift back to the youngster) Child no more, but young man/woman take this to remind yourself that always Thou art God/Goddess. Never let childhood be so far behind that you cannot turn easily to regain a laugh or play a silly game. (turns to coven) I present "young person's name" a man/woman.

Cakes and Ale

(Kool-Aid would be a pleasant reminder of youth). Also, this is an appropriate time for coveners to tell stories about their own coming of age celebrations.

Sing Circle open.

The youngster and his/her mother, father or chosen helper should take the four gifts from the four quarters and donate them to a chosen charity.

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