July Full Moon Ritual

Moon of Fire

Setup
Items needed for this ritual include: Candles to place around the perimeter of your circle; Pieces of paper cut into the shape of a holly leaf approximately 2 x 3 inches; A pencil or pen; Six red candles for the altar; Cauldron; Drum or other percussion instrument to accompany chanting (optional).

Background
Civilization cannot exist without fire. Civilization did not begin until wild fire was tamed into the hearth fire. But while we humans may be able to contain fire, we cannot completely control it. Therein lays its mystery; fire has power that is beyond us. It has a power that we watch with fear and awe. It is easy to be mesmerized by it.

Tamed fire is the hearth. It is welcoming and protective. It provides warmth. But tamed fire also tamed humans. Nomadic peoples became settled communities when they could grow grain and bake bread. And fire is the alchemist that transforms minerals into tools.

Fire embodies the essence of natural cycles: Destruction brings about creation. Symbolically, the phoenix rises from the ashes—transformed by the flames. And so fire is a powerful symbol of rebirth, immortality, and purification.

Fire is linked with the sacred. It represents the Divine spark of life. We speak of our inner fire. Fire is the element linked with the heart chakra. And fire is the symbol of love, of burning passion. Fire is illumination and the spark of inspiration.

Fire produces light, but in doing so it creates shadow and therein is the symbol of its cycle: Destruction, healing, transformation, inspiration. Fire can symbolically clear our spiritual paths of obstacles. It can reduce what is unneeded to ash giving us room to heal. But it cannot do this without our letting go of whatever holds us back. Letting go, symbolically walking into the sacred flame, allows us to transform, to move on. With this freedom comes inspiration and growth. Like a forest that springs back to life after being destroyed, our souls revive when we let go allowing transformation to happen.

The Ritual
Light a candle (not one of the six red altar candles), and then walk around the perimeter of your circle lighting the candles you placed on the floor as you say:
Sacred circle, sacred fire,
I beckon you to inspire.
With your power bring to me
Light and wisdom, so mote it be.

Face each direction as you speak, and then light one of the red candles on the altar. For the Goddess and God, face the altar.

I summon ye spirits of North, of Earth. Be the foundation beneath the ashes of the sacred flame of Brigid. I welcome you to my bright circle.

I summon ye spirits of East, of Air. Be the gentle whisper that ignites the spark of the sacred flame of Brigid. I welcome you to my bright circle.

I summon ye spirits of South, of Fire. I call on your powers to build the sacred flame of Brigid. I welcome you to my bright circle.

I summon ye spirits of West, of Water. Be the holy well that balances the sacred flame of Brigid. I welcome you to my bright circle.

Flame of destruction, flame of purification. Lord of All, Lugh, I ask that you guide me through the fire. I welcome you to my bright circle.

Flame of healing, flame of transformation. Lady of All, Brigid, I ask that you guide me through the fire. I welcome you to my bright circle.

We think of holly as relating to Yule, but holly is the Celtic tree month that comprises most of July because it flowers at this time of year. It is in the winter around Yule time that it bears fruit, and so holly represents commitment to something that will come to fruition later. Holly, like fire, represents faith.

Use the slips of holly-shaped paper to make a vow, a commitment to yourself. Write on the paper what it is you need to release from your life, what you need to make a commitment to in order to move forward. It may have to do with your family, your career, your faith. Make a note about some form of transformation needed in your life. You only need to jot down a word or two. The important thing is to fix the intention in your mind and let the paper represent what is to be released.

Give thought to what you may need to release from your life in order to move forward. Is there an obstacle holding you back? Take the holly-shaped paper. Write on it what you need to release from your life, what you need to make a commitment to in order to move forward.

Begin the chant as you think about your intention. When you are ready, pause and then state what you want to release and transform in your life. Carefully, pass the paper through the candle flame and say:
I acknowledge _____________________ and let it go.

Drop the paper into the cauldron and feel freedom as the paper is reduced to ash. Resume chanting. Also drum and/or move around your circle, if you choose.

Chant
“We can rise with the fire of freedom,
Truth is the fire that burns our chains,
We can stop the fire of destruction,
Healing is the fire running through our veins.”

When it feels appropriate, bring your chanting (drumming and movement) to stillness. Use your usual methods for grounding energy.

Stand facing each direction as you speak, and then extinguish its related altar candle. For the Goddess and God, face the altar.

Lady of All, dear Brigid, thank you for this transformation and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Lord of All, dear Lugh, thank you for your inspiration and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Spirits of West, of Water, thank you for your balance and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Spirits of South, of Fire, thank you for your power and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Spirits of East, of Air, thank you for your gentle whisper and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

Spirits of North, of Earth, thank you for your foundation and for your presence in my bright circle this night. I ask for your blessing as you depart, and bid you farewell.

As you go around the perimeter of your circle extinguishing candles, say:
By the flame of destruction and transformation,
I am strengthened and set free.
May the flame of inspiration and wisdom,
Burn within and stay with me.

Copyright - A Year of Ritual
Llewellyn - Sandra Kynes

The full moon rituals:

January • February • March • April • May • June • July

August • September • October • November • December