NMR ISSUE 1

Astrological Forecast 1
Beltane
Closer Look at the Tarot: Aces
Earth's Coronation
Eastern Insights
Editorial
Evolutionary Astrology
Guardians of the Four Gateways
How to Eat Meat
Olivine
Solitary Beltane Ritual
Solitary Summer Rite
Stone Banishing Ritual
Summer Solstice
Tarot Images
The Kabalah in Everyday Use
The Oldest Magick
The Other Editorial
Witchcraft: Problems of Study

Articles
Authors
Rituals
Book Reviews
NMR Issues
NMR Covers

Solitary Summer Rite

Jason Rath

Your altar should be facing east. Perform the "Opening of the Temple" exercise as in the Beltane Ritual. Then invoke the four Quarters beginning in the east.

Invocation to the East:

Oh guardians of the East, harken to my call. Come swift sylphs of celestial waves. See that this rite is strong and smooth. And send my magick like a cloud a drift! So mote it be!

Invocation to the South:

Oh guardians of the South, harken to my call. Come salamanders quick, oh creatures of the celestial light, as flaming witnesses without heat. Come to this Circle and aid this rite! So mote it be!

Invocation to the West:

Oh guardians of the West, harken to my call. Come, undines of reflection, from the celestial seas. Travel sure and calmly unto my sacred Circle, like the cool tide of my Lady's ocean. So mote it be!

Invocation to the North:

Oh guardians of the North, harken to my call. Come gnomes of secret caverns, oh ye dwellers in celestial caves. Come and aid my doings, give me reign over all terrains. Oh come faithful watchers and strengthen this Circle! So mote it be!

If you wish, you may use the elemental meditations found in the Beltane ritual.

Invoke the God and Goddess. Keep in mind that this rite is dedicated to the Sun God at his peak. Then He dies, giving the throne to the Holly King. The Goddess acts as the Mother. Though She mourns the death of the Oak King,

She understands through His death, the mature Holly King may reign with Her in this season. Because of this She is not sad, instead She is happy and dances about.

Invocation to the Goddess:

Huntress, Virgin, Mother and Crone, Thy ways are many. Teach your children patiently. Lady of our earth, Queen of the heavens, Thy wisdom be heard within this coven. Come, oh Goddess of the silver star and forests green. Come for I call Thee! Be here with me! So mote it be!

Light the purple (Goddess) candle.

Invocation to the God:

Come ye gods of wisdom, teach us with words kind and true. Lead us through all that is false. Join us, come and complete this Circle. Come, for I call thee . . . Come for I invoke thee!

Light the yellow (God) and red candles.

Walk deosil (clockwise) about your Circle. Feel the warmth of the Sun God at his peak. While doing this say:

The Oak King, my solar Lord, has climbed the Wheel of Time and He has reached His peak, the time of death. As in all cycles, one must fall and another must climb only to die and be reborn when his time comes again. And so, my Lord the Sun King must kneel and rest a while.

Build a firm mental image of the King in your mind. See the Lord wearing His crown of oak leaves. He is strong and calm, like time itself. The details are up to your imagination. See Him standing in the east, the birthplace of the sun. Watch Him move slowly toward the center of the Circle. As He does, feel the area grow warmer and clearer. When the Oak King reaches the center of the Circle. See Him kneel and bow His head. At this point say:

The Oak King kneels in humble death. (At this point extinguish the red candle on your altar.) Yet He shall be reborn again when His time has come.

Turn to the west and see the Holly King with his crown of holly leaves. See the dark mature Lord move quickly to the fallen Oak King. (Be sure that your incense is still burning.) When the Holly King reaches the fallen God, see Him remove the Oak King's crown and place it on your altar. Then proudly he stands tall. At this point relight the red candle on your altar and say:

The Oak King rests, though not for long. The Holly King reigns, rejoice and dance with cheer!

See the Goddess as the Mother move from the northern Quarter. She is strong and mature and She wears a crescent moon as a crown. She dances and sings as She moves towards her consort.

Sing either mentally or aloud:

(Repeat)

See the Holly King embrace the Goddess as She leads him to the west. As they walk into the distance, see their images fade like the setting sun.

Perform the Great Rite as found in the Beltane ritual. Afterward, you may perform any other Magickal work.

Thank and dismiss the four Quarters as in the Beltane ritual.

Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again!