Needed:
- Salted water
- Incense
The Erecting the Temple is performed. Priest and Priestess kiss.
Covener: "There is an addition to our number. Let us give her/him due welcome."
Parents move to stand across the altar from the Priest and Priestess. They hold the baby.
Priest: "What is the name of the child?”
Parents give the child's name — the name by which it will be known in the Circle until old enough to choose its own name.
Priest: "We welcome you, (Name)."
Priestess: "Welcome, and much love to you."
Priest and Priestess lead Parents and child three times, deosil, around the Circle. Parents then "offer" the child — they hold the child over the altar.
Parents: "We here offer the fruit of our love to the gods. May they watch over her/him as s/he grows."
Priestess dips her fingers in the salted water and gently wipes them over the baby's face. Mother then passes the child through the smoke of the incense.
Priestess: "May the Lord and the Lady ever smile upon you."
Priest: "May they guard you and guide you through this life."
Priestess: "May they help you choose that which is right and shun that which is wrong."
Priest: "May they see that no harm befalls you, or others through you."
Priestess (to parents): "We charge you both, in the names of the God and of the Goddess, to lead this child, with love, through the highways and byways of life. Teach him/her the ways of the Craft that s/he may learn to honor and respect all life and to harm none."
Priest: "Teach her/him of the Lord and the Lady; of this life, of all that went before and what may come after. Tell the tales of the gods and teach the history of our Craft. Teach her/him to strive for that perfection which all desire and, when the time is right, hope — but do not press — that s/he joins with us and becomes truly one of our beloved family."
Parents: "All this will we do. So do we pledge."
Priest and Priestess: "We bid welcome to (Name)."
All: "Welcome!"
Then shall follow the ceremony of Cakes and Ale.