Preparation
Assemble materials
Set the altar (working candle color: pink)

State Intention
It is I, [ritual name] who comes before thee for the purpose I state:
I come before the light and love of the gods to grant forgiveness upon ______
for the following acts: ______________
This is my intent. (Light working candle)

Banish and Purify
If any ill intent here be, by these sounds I banish thee
Banish old energy, ring bell at altar quarters, widdershins)
By Air and Fire, sanctify
(Place athame in fire, draw point at circle quarters, deosil)
By Water and Earth, purify
(Place water in chalice, put dipping stone in water and draw circle, deosil)
Through the blessings of the Goddess and the God, I claim this space sacred.
(Place tip of athame into chalice)

Cast the Circle
In this circle now I spin, let the magick rite begin.
May I feel safe and sure for the work I shall procure. So Mote It Be.
(take wand and draw magickal circle around the altar)

Ground and Center

Set the Four Quadrants
Guardians of the East, element of Air, realm of the mind, direction of the rising sun and new beginnings, come to me. I look to you to find the wisdom of forgiveness. Hail and welcome. Blessed Be!

Guardians of the South, element of Fire, realm of the heart, direction of the noonday sun and fortitude, come to me. I look to you to heal the emotional rifts caused by these transgressions while still remaining protected. Hail and welcome. Blessed Be!

Guardians of the West, element of Water, realm of the soul, direction of the setting sun and endings, come to me. I look to you to help me create and experience the greater life free of the burdens of grudgery and anger. Hail and welcome. Blessed Be!

Guardians of the North, element of Earth, realm of the physical, direction of the dark of night and renewal, come to me. I look to you for the strength to engage in these acts of forgiveness with honesty and strength. Hail and welcome. Blessed Be!

Call the Deities
O great Goddess, Mother of all, Blessed Mother of the Earth,
You, whose face shines in the silver moon, You, who wraps me in her arms of love,
Like a flower that opens its petals to the air,
Like the water that flows through deep forests,
Join me now, O sweet Lady.
O Goddess of the Moon, great feminine one,
bless this sacred circle and all work within it done. [light candle]

O Great God, Father of all, Blessed Father of the sky,
You, whose face shines in the golden sun, You, who fills us with sacred light,
Like the warm breeze that fills me,
Like the fire that warms and protects me,
Join me now, O great Lord.
O God of the Sun, great masculine one,
bless this sacred circle and all work within it done. [light candle]

O sacred Child, Mystery of all, Great miracle of creation,
You, whose face shines in the starlit heavens,
You, who gives me the strength of life,
Like the silence that stills me, Like the center of the wheel,
With you, O great force of the universe, let me be present.
O Child of the Stars, great mysterious one,
bless this sacred circle and all work within it done. [light candle.]

Raise Energy
(raise energy drawing Spirit into self)

Close the Circle
And hereby I this circle enclose. Within its bonds let no troubles dispose.
With love and trust shall I hold fast. For now, at last, the circle is cast.” [ring bell]

Ritual
For acts done to you by yourself or others:
Make a list of the transgressions.
On a separate piece of paper, identify each using words or symbols
Attach each slip of paper to a stone
Feel the weight of that stone in your hand
Consider the pain caused
chant “I feel the weight of the pain”
place the stone in a bag and put the bag in your lap or on your feet
after all the bags have been put in the bag, take each one out
forgive the hurt
chant “to live without harm, without regret is to forgive but not forget.
and now so that all may in peace live, this inequity I forgive.”
remove the paper and burn it.
After all have been done, return the stones to the bag and take them to a river.
Put each in the river chanting:
“through the gods that love and forgive, I forgive.
Let now your waters wash clean wash clean this memory
And relieve me of its burden.”
For acts done to others:
Make a list of the transgressions
write each on a separate slip of paper
consider the pain caused
burn each asking out loud for forgiveness
For each write a letter to the person asking for forgiveness
either send or burn the letter

Completion
Now this circle I undo, for the magick rite is through
Let this sacred work befall for the good of one and all. So Mote It Be.

Release Deities
O Child of the Stars, great mysterious one, with you my work here has now been done.
If you have come to bless this rite, I thank you now for your bright light.

O God of the Sun, great masculine one, with you my work here has now been done.
If you have come to bless this rite, I thank you now for your bright light.

O Goddess of the Moon, great feminine one, with you my work here has now been done.
If you have come to bless this rite, I thank you now for your bright light.

Release Quadrants
Guardians of the West depart, to your watery realm impart.
Bless this work done in true mind and heart. Hail and Farewell. Blessed Be!

Guardians of the South depart, to your fiery realm impart.
Bless this work done in true mind and heart. Hail and Farewell. Blessed Be!

Guardians of the East depart, to your airy realm impart.
Bless this work done in true mind and heart. Hail and Farewell. Blessed Be!

Guardians of the North depart, to your earthly realm impart.
Bless this work done in true mind and heart. Hail and Farewell. Blessed Be!

Ground
(allow your energy to be returned to the earth)

Open the Circle
Let these blessings I bestow like a seed, take root and grow.
For the circle now is open but let this magick remain unbroken.
So Mote It Be. [ring bell]

Bow [place hands together]
[touch forehead; touch center of chest; cross hands across chest; drop hands open in front of you, bow.

NEEDS:
working candle: _____
altar
altar cloth
altar tools
deity candles
quadrant candles
list of transgressions
a moderate size stone for each on the list
tape
marker
cauldron