This ritual usually takes place in the summer. Although Aphrodite was a love goddess in Athens, she was worshipped as a battle goddess in Sparta, and in the dim recesses of prehistory she seems to have had all the functions of the Mesopotamian Queen of Heaven - love, war, death, agriculture, law, etc., etc. The ritual is written for five or six parts: Priest, Priestess, North, East, and South; Priest or Priestess may double as West for invoking and dismissing the Elements. Some of these roles can be combined in a pinch, and the ritual would even work fairly well as a solitary rite. If the instruction "Cast Circle" leaves you feeling bewildered, look at Anatomy of the Esbat.
Cast Circle.
From the North we gather, From the sun-drenched mountain slopes, Across the rich black earth of the fields we come - By ones and twos, by threes and sevens, White ankles gliding through the dew-kissed grass. Among the shade of the trees in the forest grove, We raise a temple built from love.
From the East we gather, From the saffron gates of dawn; Across the open plain we run like mares, Swift as thought, sure as rain, Laughing through meadows, shouting through woodlands, Whistling through golden seas of wheat We sing our hymns of joy and praise.
From the South we gather, From the warm bare-limbed lands, Dancing like wavering flames, Opening our arms and hearts like roses in bloom. Our eyes flashing like shooting stars, Our bodies glowing like candles, We kindle the sacred fire on the altar.
From the West we gather, From the salt-sprayed sandy shore, Flowing in like the surging tide, Rippling across the dunes, Gently rocking in each others' arms. Unrolling a carpet of soft sea foam, We open the door to welcome love.
Older than the rule of Time Is the force expressed through Her being; Love is the Law by which our hearts are governed. May all who stand here Feel the touch of the golden Goddess Aphrodite And come a little to understand Her nature.
Sing, O Muse, of golden Aphrodite, Who stirs sweet longing in the hearts of all; She sways the hearts of Gods and mortal races, The beasts and birds all hearken to Her call. Her smile inspires to joyful propagation All creatures born of land and sea and air; A moment free of fear, in love they mingle, Gently held in Aphrodite's care.
Long ago, both Love and War were Thine, The Evening Star struck terror, and desire; The blood of warriors and the lovers' wine Were spent upon Thy sacrificial pyre. O golden Goddess, honey-sweet, No stranger to the battlefield; Bereft of sword, with unshod feet, Still Thou the mightier weapon wield. Thy warm smile sunders the soldier's shield, Thy glance subdues the warrior glorious; Thy soft word commands him kneel And gladly cede Thou art victorious.
Beauty, aloft in the notes of the shepherd's reed; Desire, afire on the strings of the poet's lyre; Pleasure, aprance in the dance of the timbrel and drum; Delight, awake and inspired by the voice of the choir; The music resounds and rebounds from the earth to the sky, The answering beat of the heart in harmonic reply.
Aphrodite heavenly, Come from the stars, come at our call; Aphrodite far-shining, Come from the sky, come at our call; Aphrodite foam-born, Come from the waves, come at our call; Aphrodite upon the graves, Come from the earth, come at our call; Aphrodite in the garden, Come from the flowers, come at our call; Aphrodite golden goddess, Come to us, come at our call.
Come with the gold of the setting sun And purple clouds afire, Come with the rays of the Evening Star That illumine the heart's desire. Come with the arch of the swallow's flight That startles the sky with swift wings, Come with the voice of the harp and the lyre With the joy of sad truth in their strings. Come with soft waves of the warm sea foam Scented with jasmine and rose, Come with the breath of the cool night breeze And the soft lover's kisses it blows. Come to the ache of the hollow flute That cries in the woods alone; Come Aphrodite, with tender caress And let Thy warm love be known.
Rise from the foam, O Star of the Sea, Across the waves and over the lea, Come from the far Cythereian shore, Come with the echoes of drums of war, Come from the temples on Cyprian heights, Come with the softness of warm summer nights, Come on the wind by the white-feathered wing, Come to the shrine where Thy praises we sing, Come wake the sleepers and set them free - Come, Aphrodite! To me! To me!
I come, with the kiss of morning dew on bare feet, walking softly. Nodding in the drowsy midday sun, with the distant sound of children's laughter, I am near. The curve of birds in flight, a moment out of time, a common sight seen as new, and wondrous. Mark the graceful curve, the subtle shade; seamless artifice and pure nature, both are mine. See me. At ruddy sunset, the day unwinds; for a moment's rest, I am here. In the evening, the crickets sing my name; and softly, in the darkness, I sing my love for you. Hear me. This I ask of you: Feel my kisses, that I love not in vain; For I love you. Taste my love, in melting flavors that curl the tongue and roll the eyes. Breathe in my scent, subtle, half-forgotten; it speaks to you in ancient tongues. I am here, beside you; will you not turn? Will you not seek the quiet moment, and hear my words? I love you.
O smile-loving Goddess, honey-sweet, Let us seek quiet, to hear Thy sweet words. For softly love whispers, and close we must listen Lest never a sound be heard. O, may we show the love that we feel, With courage and hope and warmth. And O, may we feel the love we are shown, Though it be as shy and afraid as our own.
The wind sighs, then the night is still.
The hearth fire fades to dim embers.
The sea grows calm, and keeps its own counsel.
The silent earth sleeps underfoot.
The golden Goddess smiles, and with a soft kiss, withdraws to the realm of the Gods, As we return to the mortal realm.
While the salt sea kisses the shore, May Thine ancient love endure.
Close Circle.