This was tonight’s closing ritual at The Welcoming Circle.

BEYOND THE BINARY RITUAL

CLEANSING THE SPACE—David Taliesin

Use a besom and sweep around the circle. Say something like this:

We cleanse this space with a besom, the witch’s broom. May it help to clear stagnant thinking that prevents us from envisioning the Divine in new and different ways. May it create a clean, safe space for us to understand ourselves more deeply as magical and spiritual beings. May it drive away the hostility we are experiencing in our nation right now against our trans and non-binary siblings. All are welcome here. So mote it be!

CALLING THE QUARTERS—adapted from Queer Paganism by Jo Green

Inspiring Element of Air, Great Spirit of the mind,
Hear me as I call you into the East.
Bring into our circle movement and change.
Spirit of Air, hail and welcome!

Powerful Element of Fire, Great Spirit of courage,
Hear me as I call you into the South.
Bring into our circle passion and desire.
Spirit of Fire, hail and welcome!

Creative Element of Water, Great Spirit of the ocean,
Hear me as I call you into the West.
Bring into our circle cleansing and healing.
Spirit of Water, hail and welcome!

Sustaining Element of Earth, Great Spirit of wisdom,
Hear me as I call you into the North.
Bring into our circle strength and wisdom.
Spirit of Earth, hail and welcome!

Great Universal Spirit, that is the beginning and the end,
The known and unknown, the seen and unseen,
The creative source of all, we welcome you to this sacred space
To bless and guide us. Hail and welcome!

REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND GROUP DISCUSSION—Beyond the Binary Handout

DISMISSING THE CIRCLE—David Taliesin

Sustaining Element of Earth, Great Spirit of wisdom,
We thank you for your presence in our circle tonight.
May your strength and wisdom be with us
As we leave this circle and go out
Into a sometimes hostile world.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
We bid you farewe

Creative Element of Water, Great Spirit of the ocean,
We thank you for your presence in our circle tonight.
May your cleansing and healing be with us
As we leave this circle and go out
Into a sometimes hostile world.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
We bid you farewell.

Powerful Element of Fire, Great Spirit of courage,
We thank you for your presence in our circle tonight.
May your passion and desire be with us
As we leave this circle and go out
Into a sometimes hostile world.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
We bid you farewell.

Inspiring Element of Air, Great Spirit of the mind,
We thank you for your presence in our circle tonight.
May your movement and change be with us
As we leave this circle and go out
Into a sometimes hostile world.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
We bid you farewell.

Great Mystery, Creator of all things,
We thank you for your presence in our circle tonight.
Help us to see beyond the binary
Into a world that is more complex and beautiful
Than we ever thought was possible.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
We bid you farewell!

This circle is open but never unbroken
 because it is a circle woven in love.
Whatever energy is left in this space
 we return to the earth with a spirit of gratitude.
Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.

Portions credited to David Taliesin, ©2025, http://www.sabbatandsabbaths.com