CLOSING CEREMONY

Priestess takes the cup, filled with water, from the altar while the Priest takes the wand.  The priest then holds the wand over the cup in the priestess' hands and says:

"As the male is to the female, so is this wand to this cup; in the Name of the Divine Lord and Lady I do bless its contents.  (Dips the wand into the cup.) Amen."

All respond: "So mote it be."

The cup and wand are placed back on the altar and the priest picks up the bread while the priestess picks up the dagger.  The priestess then holds the dagger over the bread in the priest's hands and says:  "As the Lord was killed and his body strewn to nourish the earth, so was this grain cut, and made into this bread, to nourish our bodies.  In the Name of the Divine Lord and Lady I do bless it.  (Touches the dagger to the bread.)  Amen.

All respond: "So mote it be."

(Share bread and water.)  The priest goes to a person in the Circle and says:

"May you never hunger."  (The person takes the bread, says thank you, and eats a small piece.) 

The priestess goes to the same person and says:  "May you never thirst."  (The person holds the bread in one hand and takes the cup with the other, says thank you, and takes a small drink.)  

This person then says the same words with the bread and water to the person in the Circle to their left and this is repeated until all in the Circle have shared in the bread and water;  the priest and prietess being last and returning the cup and bread to the altar.

The person in the east then says: 

"Divine Lord and Lady we thank you for the help you have given us, both within and without this Circle. May all who have been a part of it depart in peace, better for having been within it.¹ May your love nurture us every day of our lives, may your strength protect us wherever we may go. In your name we pray, amen.

ALL: So mote it be.

Person in the east then says:

"In the Name of the Divine Lord and Lady, I now declare this Circle closed."  (All then exchange hugs and can leave the area freely.)

Note: This closing is in the form of a prayer directed to Deity. When it refers to ‘‘all who have been a part’’ this means every entity present, physical and non-physical, alike. There should be a feeling of cooperation among all who are present and all should part with the same blessing.

Footnotes:

1. The Divine Lord and Lady are our spiritual Father and Mother, as they are of all that exists in this realm of duality. All are equally divine, physical and non-physical alike. When we part company from a Lycian Circle, we part as equals. The Rulers of the Quadrants and the members of the Craft within the Circle all depart with the same blessing.