Ivy's Pentacles

THE FIVEFOLD KISS

The fivefold kiss is given for a variety of reasons, usually as a blessing or acknowledgement of another's greeting. It is given upon initiation sometimes and is usually used in a group setting, though one can simply anoint the five points of this kiss on oneself and take them to mean the kisses of the deities, a blessing for yourself by yourself. It is a nice acknowledgement of our own divinity, because it is symbolic of the respect the God and the Goddess give to each other, in mutual acknowledgement of importance and love. For this reason, it is usually given to a woman by a man, and to a man by a woman, though that is because in the traditional circles for which it was invented, the male-female polarity is considered an institution.

Note: Though it is called "fivefold," it actually consists of eight kisses; two for the feet, two for the knees, one for the reproductive organs, two for the breasts, and one for the lips, making it a magick number. The fivefold kiss is performed as follows:

Given to a woman:

(Kisses on each foot)
Blessed be thy feet, that brought thee in these ways.
(Kisses on each knee)
Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar.
(Kiss on the lower stomach, above the pubic hair)
Blessed be thy womb, without which we could not be.
(Kisses on each breast)
Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty.
(Kiss on the lips)
Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names.

Given to a man:

(Kisses on each foot)
Blessed be thy feet, that brought thee in these ways.
(Kisses on each knee)
Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar.
(Kiss on the lower stomach, above the pubic hair)
Blessed be thy phallus, without which we could not be.
(Kisses on each breast)
Blessed be thy breast, formed in strength.
(Kiss on the lips)
Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names.

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