Blessed Be the Feet

What is the Five that is Eight?

So goes the old witches' riddle, the answer—of course—being, the Fivefold Kiss.

The Fivefold Kiss is a standard trope of Wiccan liturgy which I've always loved for its whole-hearted affirmation of the sanctity of the body, and for its ritual utility.

(Once, when I encountered a goddess in a field—but that's another story for another night—due to my familiarity with the rite, I was not caught at a loss, but knew the proper way in which to venerate her.)

It's worth mentioning that the witch's greeting "Blessed Be" alludes, elliptically, to this rite, as also to the story of the Lady's Descent to the Underworld.

I've long thought the Fivefold Kiss far too good a text to be confined to a single rite, so I've riffed on it here to produce a song or chant for more general use.

All we need now is a tune.

Blessed Be the Feet

 

Blessed be the feet

which walk in sacred ways.

Blessed be the feet.

 

Blessed be the knees

which kneel at the sacred altars.

Blessed be the knees.

 

Blessed be the sex,

without which we would not be.

Blessed be the sex.

 

Blessed be the breast(s),

formed in beauty and in strength.

Blessed be the breast(s).

 

Blessed be the lips

which speak the sacred names.

Blessed be the lips.

 

Blessed be, blessed be,

blessed, blessed,

blessed be.