Below is the ritual we used at tonight’s Welcoming Circle. The discussion sheet for our opening can be downloaded HERE.

SURVIVING TOWER TIME

CASTING THE CIRCLE—Protection Prayer, adapted

Using an athame, cast the circle saying the following:

The Light of the Divine surrounds us
The Love of the Divine enfolds us
The Power of the Divine protects us
The Presence of the Divine watches over us
Wherever we are, the Divine is. All is well.

CALLING THE QUARTERS—David Taliesin

Guardians and Ancestors of the East,
Spirits of Air,
Powers of intuition and inspiration,
We ask you to be present with us
In our Circle today!
Hail and welcome!

Guardians and Ancestors of the South,
Spirits of Fire,
Powers of discernment and illumination,
We ask you to be present with us
In our Circle today!
Hail and welcome!

Guardians and Ancestors of the West,
Spirits of Water,
Powers of compassion and peace,
We ask you to be present with us
In our Circle today!
Hail and welcome!

Guardians and Ancestors of the North,
Spirits of Earth,
Powers of protection and prosperity,
We ask you to be present with us
In our Circle today!
Hail and welcome!

Divine Presence who is known to us by many names,
We ask you to be with us
In our Circle today!
We need your help to navigate these difficult times.
Fill us with your wisdom, courage and strength.
Hail and Welcome!

RUNE MEDITATION SHEET—David Taliesin

Make sure everyone has a handout and a pen. Ask them to mediate on the three runes from the opening presentation using the sheet they have in front of them. When everyone is finished, allow an opportunity for them to share what they wrote.

DISMISSING THE CIRCLE—David Taliesin

Guardians and Ancestors of the North,
Powers of Earth, protection, and prosperity,
We thank you for your presence in our Circle today.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the West,
Powers of Water, compassion, and peace,
We thank you for your presence in our Circle today.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the South,
Powers of Fire, discernment, and illumination,
We thank you for your presence in our Circle today.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the East,
Powers of Air, intuition, and inspiration,
We thank you for your presence in our Circle today.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!

Divine Presence, who watches over us,
Be with us during Tower Time.
May Kenaz light the way,
Algiz protect us,
And Ansuz empower our speech.
We bid you farewell!

And now the 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 and to the animals around us
Who need its strength this winter.
Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.

Copyright ©2025 by David Taliesin, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com