Typographical notes: A tilde (~) is used to indicate ornamentation throughout, with double tildes indicating more of the same. Either a slash (/) or an “incorrect” comma may be used to indicate phrasing. Foreign language text (usually Irish) is set in a “Plain” typeface, since diacriticals (accent marks) in italics are too hard to read. As usual, italics are used for choruses. Lines in italics usually indicate a chorus or refrain.

Quarter Calling

© 1990, 2001 c.e.
words by Isaac Bonewits
music by unknown S.C.A. bard (for Kipling's “Hymn to Mithras”)
Key of A-minor

[East]
Winged One, Spirit of Air,
your children invite you here.
Come on the winds of the sunrise,
give us your vision so clear.
You are the gentle spring breezes,
you are the glory of flight.
Winged One, Spirit of Air,
keep us wise through our rite.

[South]
Fierce One, Spirit of Fire,
your children invite you here.
Come with your blazing noon passion,
banish all sorrow and fear.
You are the flickering candle,
you are the bonfire bright.
Fierce One, Spirit of Fire,
keep us brave through our rite.

[West]
Swift One, Spirit of Water,
your children invite you here.
Come on the waves of the sunset,
bring to us joy and good cheer.
You are the well of deep comfort,
you are the crashing waves height.
Swift One, Spirit of Water,
keep us sure through our rite.

[North]
Hoofed One, Spirit of Earth,
your children invite you here.
Come from the mountains of midnight,
with new strength and vigor appear.
You are the field of our pleasure,
you are the source of our might.
Hoofed One, Spirit of Earth,
keep us strong through our rite.

[Center]
Winged One...
Fierce One...
Swift One...
Hoofed One...
Keep us pure through our rite.

This is a fairly generic quarter calling, based on the common Wiccan habits of assigning animal spirits as elemental rulers, starting in the East, and going clockwise. Note the patterns repeated in each verse.

Quarter Farewell

words © 1991, 2001 c.e. by Deborah Lipp
music by unknown S.C.A. bard (for Kipling's “Hymn to Mithras”)
Key of A-minor

[East]
Wise One...

[South]
Brave One...

[West]
Sure One...

[North]
Strong One...

[Center]
We bid you now hail and farewell.
Go by the powers that brought you,
Go by the unweaving spell.
As thy bright pentagrams fade,
Depart, 'ere the circle is gone.

[East]
Winged One...

[South]
Fierce One...

[West]
Swift One...

[North]
Hoofed One...

[Center]
As we say, be it done!

This is a fairly generic quarter “dismissal,” based on the common Wiccan habits of assigning animal spirits as elemental rulers, starting in the East, and going counter-clockwise. Note how the titles and primary honorifics are reversed so that the last thing said to each one is the first thing that was said earlier.

This Ae Night: Circle Casting and Closing

© 1983, 2001 c.e.
words by Isaac Bonewits (& Lady Pythia on Closing)
music English trad. (“Lykewake Dirge”)
Key of A-minor

[* refers to variation notes at end]

Circle Casting:

[Starting in the Center, then walking]
This ae night, this ae night, Every night and all;
Power and might of dark and light, Come answer to our call.

[East (Air)]*
Queen Above, Below as well, Every night and all;
Listen as we strike your bell, Come answer to our call.

[Walking to South]
Silver Huntress of the night, Every night and all;
Put the evil ones to flight, Come answer to our call.

[South (Fire)]
Lord of Lust, warrior fell, Every night and all;
Lend Your aid unto the spell, Come answer to our call.

[Walking to West]
Golden Starlord of the Flame, Every night and all;
Your children from You warding claim, Come answer to our call.

[West (Water)]
Ancestors beneath the seas, Every night and all;
Guard your sacred mysteries, Come answer to our call.

[Walking to North]
Ye who to the Gods are bound, Every night and all;
Make the circle strong and sound, Come answer to our call.

[North (Earth)]
Midnight sun and midday moon, Every night and all;
Harken to the ancient tune, Come answer to our call.

[Walking to East]*
East and South, then West and North, Every night and all;
Your people sing to call ye forth, Come answer to our call.

[Turning in the Center]
By fertile Earth, blue Water fair, Every night and all;
By rushing Fire, and whirling Air, Come answer to our call.
By Your sacred names revealed, Every night and all;
Your circle now is cast and sealed, Come answer to our call.

Circle Closing:

[Turning in the Center]
This ae night, this ae night, Ye answered to our call;
Power and might of dark and light -- Farewell unto ye all!

Lady of the Moon and Lord of the Sun, Ye answered to our call;
Our thanks to Thee, our magic's done. Farewell unto ye all!

Earth and water, fire and air, Ye answered to our call;
We bless thee for thy love and care. Farewell unto ye all!

Merry meet and merry part, Ye answered to our call;
In love and trust, by magic's art. Farewell unto ye all!

This ae night, this ae night, Ye answered to our call;
Power and might of dark and light -- Farewell unto ye all!

Notes & Variations:

This song is meant to be used in casting a Generic Wiccan circle, and includes both the Quarter Invocations and some Preliminary Invocations of the Goddess and God, as well as matching Farewells for the end of the rite.

The main version assumes the most common Wiccan traditions of starting the circle casting in the East, but can be easily modified. If the circle is started in the North, the North/Earth verse gets done first and its following walking verse becomes:

North and East, then South and West, Every night and all;
The circle shall be cast and blest, Come answer to our call.

There may be rare occasions in which the appropriate Quarter to start your circle casting might be the South or the West, in which case one of these two varients could be used:

South and West, then North and East, Every night and all;
We summon ye unto the feast, Come answer to our call.

or…

West and North, then East and South, Every night and all;
With sacred words from heart and mouth, Come answer to our call.

Those in the Southern Hemisphere may prefer to work counterclockwise, in which case they would write the directions line to match the starting point and the order in which each Quarter is passed, then choose the rhyming line. For example:

South and East, then North and West, Every night and all;
The circle shall be cast and blessed, Come answer to our call.

Etc. Use your imagination — you won’t get struck by lightning, honest!