In our family large as it is we have always celebrated the birth of our newest member. When the are a month old or on the next full moon we have an initiation ritual welcoming them to the family. It does not mean that they have to be a part of the coven, but it does allow them to partake in some of the rituals as they get older. If they so choose they will become a full member on their thirteenth birthday. But that is for another post.
Now on to the ritual.
Time: Full Moon, usually between the hours of 8 pm and 10 pm
Place: Outside if the night is warm, or inside an empty room (or a room of rituals) if the day is to cold
Ritual Wear
The Mother of the Child- Wears yellow to represent the happiness felt for the child, it also represents the choice the child has of walking in the light
The Father of the Child- Wears green to represent the connection the child will hopefully have with nature, and also represents the success the child can have in life
The Child- Wears white to represent its innocence and purity
The one Leading the Ritual (High Priestess)- Wears red to represent our blood and the bond the child will always have with us
The rest of the people in attendance- Wear blue, usually a soft blue to represent calm and serenity
Supplies
2 white candles
Bassinet or A kid carrier for the baby to be laid in, the blanket covering should be white
Blessed Water (Water that the high priestess has prayed over and has set outside for two sunrises and two sunsets)
Lavender Incense ( for a peaceful setting)
A pendant on a chain for the child (usually and crystal)
A piece of white ribbon
A piece of yellow ribbon
A piece of blue ribbon
A piece of green ribbon
A piece of red ribbon
Ritual (english translations are in the parentheses)
The Mother and Father hand the baby to the High Priestess, they then pick up the two white candles and light them. With the two candles they light the incense. The parents set the incense on the ground at the foot of the bassinet. They then stand at the head of the bassinet, mother to the right, father to left holding the white candles.
The high priestess will the hold up the child and say:
Ce Glacann anseo leanbh seo?
“Who here accepts this child?”
The coven and parents will reply:
Deanaimid
“We do”
The high priestess will the lay the child in the bassinet and cover it with the white blanket.
The priestess says:
Ce anseo ainmneacha an leanbh?
“Who here names this child?”
The parents say:
ainm na tuismitheoiri an leanbh seo
“The parents name this child (insert name here)”
The priestess then takes the white ribbon and ties it to the side of the bassinet. Saying:
Bealtaine do chroi fanacht glan mo phaiste, agus is feidir leis an lonrai solas sios ar tu
“May your heart stay pure my child, and may the light shine down upon you”
She then takes the green ribbon and ties it to the left of the white. Saying:
Lig nadur tu a threoru ar do thuras fada beag amhain
“Let nature guide you on your long journey little one”
She then takes the red ribbon and ties it to the right of the white. Saying:
Lig doiteain ni scrios tu, biodh se cabhru leat agus tu a choimead te
“Let fire not destroy you, let it help you and keep you warm”
She then takes the yellow ribbon and ties it to the left of the green. Saying:
Eist leis na guthanna go taistil ar an ghaoth le haghaidh beidh siad comhairle a chur ort
“Listen to the voices that travel on the wind for they will advise you”
She then takes the blue ribbon and ties it to the right of the red. Saying:
Lig an suaimhneas ar an uisce a leigheas tu in am an ghatair, lig do do chroi go leanunach ar nos an taoidi
“Let the tranquility of the water heal you in times of need, let your heart be constant like the tides”
Taking the blesses water the priestess will then draw a line going across the child’s forehead.
She will then say this prayer:
Old cinn, treoir sin a. Glacadh leis an leanbh mar ata againn. Lig an leanbh seo a chur i dteagmhail lei le solas mar a bhi againn. Treoir ar an leanbh ar an turas ar an saol mar ata agat faoi threoir duinn. Beannaigh an leanbh agus lig se aon dochar teacht anocht no aon oiche. Mo thighearna, mo bhean a dheonu le do thoil go bhfuil an leanbh seo bronntanas beag. Mar Guim cuirfidh se sin do a bheith.
“Old ones, those who guide. Accept this child as we have. Let this child be touched by the light as we have been. Guide the child on the journey of life as you have guided us. Bless this child and let no harm come tonight or any night. My lord, my lady please grant this child that small gift. As I pray it so shall it be.”
She will then kiss the brow of the child. The coven will then take turns kissing the brow of the child fully welcoming it into the family.
The Mother and Father will say:
Beannachtai isteach doibh siud a bhfuil ar n-leanbh bheannaithe.
“Blessings onto those who have blessed our child”
The rest of the coven and the priestess will say:
Bealtaine do leanbh a fhios ghra, solas, agus sonas. beannachtai agus eolas a thabhairt duinn chun ar newest ball den teaghlach.
“May your child know love, light, and happiness. We give blessings and knowledge to our newest family member.”
The priestess hands the child back to the parents.
Let the incense burn out.
Usually after this particular ritual the child is put to bed and the adults have a glass of wine.
I myself really love this one, as the boys generally wear jackets or cloak like robes in their colors and the girls all wear dresses. I also think it is one of the more pretty rituals my family does.
Child Blessing
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