| "BLESSED ARE WE IN HER MYSTERY HAIL MIGHTY DEMETER AND SWEET KORE" |
| RITE OF CONSECRATION THE PRIESTESS OF DEMETER SPEAKS Now begins the Rite of Consecration. Initiates, please repeat the lines of the following prayer in this Dedication to the Great Mother; INITIATES SPEAK Holy Mother, Beloved Goddess, Radiant in beauty, Rich in power and in passion, You, who created the Mysteries of the Seed and the magic of Earth, Who turns the seasons and creates the cycles of nature, I am Thine. Beloved Goddess, Fill me with Thy Eternal beauty and Thy ecstasy, and I shall be awake and know the miracle that is life. I shall honor You Who are the Mother of Life, offering respect for Your great mountains, seas, and lands, And for the air, that wraps itself around the body of the Goddess as a cloak of unseen ethers. Panagia, Be with me this day and into the night, and in all the days and nights to come, Until Thy Holy Daughter receives me in fair Elysium. Shine Thy blessings upon my life, granting me health, prosperity, and peace. I give all honor and praises unto You. As I say “Hail, to the Great Mother!” So be it! THE PRIESTESS OF PANAGIA SPEAKS She is with you, For you are Demetrioi, Initiate, and beloved of the Great Mother. THE CROWNING OF THE INITIATES THE INITIATES TAKE UP COLORED CLOTHS/RIBBONS THE PRIESTESS OF DEMETER SPEAKS Initiates, You have in your hands the colored cloths. Listen to the meaning of the colors. Red for poppies and pomegranates, for the fertile Mother, and for Queen Persephone… Green for Demeter Chloaia, for Kore the Maiden, for glorious spring, and for the powers of rebirth… Yellow for the Harvest Mother, and for the magic of saffron-cloaked Hecate and Her harvest sickle. In the colors, we honor Demeter, Persephone, and Hecate, the crown of Demeter’s Temple. EACH INITIATE TWISTS THE THREE CLOTHS TOGETHER THE PRIESTESS OF DEMETER SPEAKS AND EACH INITIATE PLACES THE CROWN ON HER/HIS HEADS The Three, as One. You are crowned in the name of all Holy Demeter, Her blessings are sealed upon you, For joy in life, for wisdom, and for compassion. May joy rise up from your heart, O beloved initiate of the Great Mother… Go in peace. |
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