Cakes and Wine

Cakes and Wine

 
A pair of people generally does this. Any two people that work well together, regardless of gender or sexual orientation can do it. It can also be done by one person if they work solitary. The example that follows is done by a man and a woman simply because that is the way that I am most familiar with and feel the most empathy with. I encourage you to play with different combinations to see what works best for you. Each one will feel different.
 
The people that are blessing the cakes and wine should go to the altar and kneel there. The woman picks up her athame and hands the cup to the man. He places it between them as the woman raises the blade above the cup, held in both hands. Then both center themselves and connect with each other before proceeding.
 
Woman: Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices.
Man: And let my worship be in the heart that brings bounty to the earth.
Woman: Let there be Honor and Humility within you.
Man: Let there be Beauty and Strength within you.
Woman: Let there be Power and Compassion within you.
Man: Let there be Mirth and Reverence within you.
 
Woman: As the Lance is to Man,
Man: And the Grail is to Woman,
Woman: Let each find themselves whole in the other.
Man: For there is nothing greater in this world
Together: (As priestess lowers the athame into the cup) Than when the two are made one in Truth and their bounty is poured out upon the earth. (Priest and Priestess kiss to bless the union.)
 
If there is more than one cup to be passed, and this is recommended with large groups, split the blessed wine into all of them, leaving a bit as an offering and add more wine to fill the other cups. Leave a small amount of extra wine to bless the bread. The priest takes one of the cups and holds it for the priestess to drink, and then she returns the blessing by holding the cup for him. He should then go the south and begin his cup passing moonwise (N, W, S, E, N). The priestess will stay in the north and start her cup around as well, in order to let people take in the blessings of the gods. The cup should be passed with a hug or a kiss and a “Blessed be.”
 
The priest should then come back to the north and pick up the bread, kneeling again by the priestess. They should wait for the cups to go halfway around so that everyone has had a chance to share the cup. When it has, she should pick up the original cup and dip her fingers into the wine, sprinkling some over the bread that the priest is holding. He tears the bread in half, handing her one half, then tears off a smaller piece and gives her a kiss saying “Blessed be” before placing the bread into her mouth. She does the same, and then moves to the south to start her half going around sunwise. She tears off a piece and gives a kiss and “Blessed Be” before giving the bread to the next person and them placing the smaller piece in their mouth. In the north, the priest does the same.
 
Once the bread has gone around, the cups and bread are continually passed, after breaking off a small piece of the bread for the Gods for an offering, until they are gone. Discussion of the ritual so far, past rituals, struggles of the past months and general conversation takes place. If there is to be an actual feast, it is brought out now and people can go get their own plates of food, making sure to place a small offering on the offering plate.
 
The offering plate and cup should be dumped out onto the earth somewhere out of the way after the ritual. Never dump one onto concrete. Running river water, if available is also a good choice for returning the offering to the earth. Many covens take up a collection at this time for food drives and charities by leaving out a collection plate and letting people donate as they can.