Chapter 7

The Ritual Events and the Scripts

Following is a description of various aspects of the ritual events, how they actually unfold generally – including inviting the people there, the place, how we spend the time, how the group is prepared for the ritual, who helps facilitate, and then the ritual scripts/dramas themselves as they are currently. I understand any particular ritual event as an invitation to participate in a Poem, an invitation into a Poetic experience, much like going to theatre except that it is participatory theatre. It is ritual theatre, wherein there is a script known in part by at least one facilitator/celebrant, but it is not completely known, as the “actors” are not yet all assembled with their full parts spliced in. There is an expressed intention in the gathering, but the actual unfolding is unpredictable. The Poetic experience is co-created though there is a guiding story – there is hearing and speaking, learning and expression, receiving and giving, that is ever reciprocal. The sum of the whole cycle of the year of ritual events then is an invitation to participate in a Poem over time – over the period of the year or years; and that has another whole dimension to it.

Invitations

I produce an “invitation” or flyer for each Sabbat, which is meant to orient the prospective participants to the Seasonal Moment. These invitations spell out the reason for the season, give a summary of the Seasonal Moment and a sense of the celebration, along with some details of what to bring. It is usual each year, for me to re-consider the wording and make some changes as my understandings develop and change, and especially if any changes have been made to some of the ritual processes. These invitations are sent out to an interested list of persons that has grown over time. Even people who choose to come to only very few of the ritual celebrations, express their enjoyment of receiving these invitations, as reminders of the Season. It may encourage them to make the transition to Gaian time-space, and to create their own manner of celebration.

Place

Although over the years almost all of the seasonal rituals that I have facilitated have taken place within the Blue Mountains – my region, each ritual has not taken place in the same location. I would have preferred that it did, but it was not possible. I had to move for a time from my home, a ritual place with which I was “familiar” – “family”. This dislocation was a source of some disruption to me, but one that was expressive of the whole situation of this work at the time: that is, there was not really a space for it, a place, a situation, a site. One of the outcomes of the academic research, which enabled the deepened practice of the rituals (and also the meeting of my supportive and participatory partner) was the development of a place, a site. This place for the rituals turned out to be a return to my home where they have been held ever since. I now consider it important that I am present in my ceremonial place – my home – at the time of the Seasonal Moment, participating with my community in the ritual. I do not go away during these times: I feel committed to the ceremony on this site and its multivalent significance.

When I had left my home just prior to beginning the research, I realized then that I felt that the trees and plants there knew me – there had already been many seasonal rituals celebrated there. After that, quite often the rituals were held in places with which I was un-familiar, that is, I was very aware that I was not “family” with the place; or within structures that had probably never witnessed such ceremony before. It was important to me that I visited, familiarized myself, and meditated in the space, at least a week before the ritual. On the day of the ritual, I was always keen to get into the space as soon as I could, to set up and settle in. It was always a relief when the ritual was able to be celebrated at my place of dwelling, where I had plenty of time in the space, and also where I did not have to vacate as soon as it was concluded. I did notice that when a particular place was repeatedly the location for sequential Seasonal rituals, that the memory of the previous Seasonal motifs and rites would present themselves spontaneously, as the present one was being prepared and carried out. This was a great pleasure and added to my real understanding of this religious practice.

I relate all of this so as to say that compromises may sometimes need to be made for a time, but in my experience, the determination to proceed as best one can, with a generosity of spirit, and continued vision and feeling for what one is essentially celebrating, will eventuate in fulfillment or deeper practice.

Ritual Preparation of the Group

Between the stated time for arrival of the participants and the formal beginning of the event, there is time allowed for the participants to settle in – place their ritual objects and “bits” and themselves, and to meet and greet others, and to nibble. The formal beginning of the event takes place when we all come to sitting in a circle in the ritual space – which may be inside or outside depending on the Seasonal Moment, the nature of the ritual processes and the weather. We begin with a teaching about the Seasonal Moment. At this time the door is closed to any latecomers, as the teaching is important to participant comprehension of the occasion and their ability to creatively and sincerely engage in the processes of the ritual. Thus closing the door to latecomers is felt to be part of creating the “sacred space” – a space safe and known, for the unfolding of each participants’ particular dearly held understandings, interpretations and expressions.

The teachings themselves have evolved over time, and continue to, according to my understanding. I always ask for comment, additional input and questions. Some participants who have been coming for years don’t seem to mind hearing some of the same information over again each year, and neither do I, as we all seem to grow in our comprehension each time. I have included the teachings – as they are currently – in this book as Appendix F. They repeat much of the information already within the main text of this book, but in a collected, synthesised and somewhat augmented form, directly related to the particular ritual scripts. They are included here, not because I think they are definitive in any way – I regard myself as a novice yet – but because they provide a summary of the Earth-Sun Moment and its layers of significance, and may be of use to some to get started in their own Seasonal practice, meditations and further research.

After the preparatory teaching I go over the ritual format with the group, teaching any dances and songs that need to be known, and explaining and evoking participants’ particular possible actions and expressions. I have found that it is important to each person’s comfort that I specifically state that individual speaking is not required, that what is paramount is each one’s own consciousness of their intentions. They need only participate by means of gesture or minimal words according to their desire, for their own sense of presence, and also that others may respond to their presence. On the other hand, each one is encouraged to express themselves as dramatically as they like, to seize the opportunity. There is always a great range of chosen modes of presence to the processes and rites, and care needs to be taken to encourage this. For some processes, words will be offered on pieces of paper – as some participants have requested this, but it is made clear that they are meant only as guides. Some people will choose to use these words, most will write their own and a few will speak spontaneously.

The next stage of the preparation as it has been done, is ten minutes for individual meditation or contemplation of personal intentions and contributions. Participants wander into different spaces – the garden, the kitchen, the meditation room, some stay in the ritual space. Some participants will write during this time, some simply sit quietly. This time is also used for the taking care of physical needs, switching off mobile phones, taking care of details of all kinds – lights, candles, kitchen appliances, and personal – so that the ritual circle can proceed as smoothly as possible and without interruption.

Artful Expression – Headpiece, Decoration and Wreath

I have always worn a special headpiece for the rituals: I feel that any participant may do so, not just the celebrant. My ritual headpiece with its changing and continuous Seasonal decoration took on increasing significance over the years; it became a personal central representation of the year long ritual art process of creating, destroying and re-creating. For the research period particularly, it came to represent for me the essence of “She” – as Changing One, yet ever as Presence – as I was coming to know Her. In my journal for the Mabon process notes one year I wrote:

As I pace the circle with the Mabon headpiece in the centre, I see “Her” as She has been through the Seasons … the black and gold of Samhain, the deep red, white and evergreen of Winter, the white and blue of Imbolc, the flowers of Eostar, the rainbow ribbons of Beltane, the roses of Summer, the seed pods and wheat of Lammas, and now the Autumn leaves. I see in my mind’s eye, and feel, Her changes. I am learning … The Mother knowledge grows within me.

The headpiece, the wreath, the altar, the house decorations, all participate in the ritual: they are part of the learning, the method, the relationship – similar to how one might bring flowers and gifts of significance to a loved one at special moments. Then further, the removal and re-creation of the decorations are part of the learning – an active witness to transformation through time.

Co-Celebrants

These rituals – this art form of ceremony – always required others who could take on roles of helping facilitate processes, ensuring an active participation of those assembled – not passive watching. In the earliest of days when I first began to create a few of these celebrations, there were friends – female or male – who took these roles. Later when I was part of a Moon Circle of women, we all took on co-celebration, though I took the role of initiating the events and scripting the dramas. Within the context of another group – Women-Church – there was frequently co-celebration of various types of ritual celebrations, with one or a few scripting the process. These rituals were usually not of seasonal theme specifically. At that stage I had not committed myself to the full cycle of the Seasonal celebrations nor did I have any idea of the significance and power of the story of the Wheel as I have come to understand it and articulate it. This awareness has only dawned on me over time, as the particular synthesis grew within me and as others responded. I was drawn into scripting the full annual cycle of the rituals, and it all very quickly blossomed, attracting participation and co-celebration, as well as opening the pathway of academic research and documentation.

Central to the real development, deepening and articulation of this art form of ritual during the research period was the participation of four core women, as mentioned in the Introduction, and the organic nature of their participation was described. I considered them to be co-celebrants. They began as drummers initially, and their roles expanded quickly. Throughout the research period, these four women were given copies of the script weeks before each Sabbat. They were free to give their opinion and participate in the altering of details, though the story remained fairly much intact. They were conscious, as I was, that we were experimenting to some extent, with a particular expression/story of the Creative Wheel of the Year. They were happy to go with it.

These women, and one other who also sometimes drummed, always handled the elements in the rituals – volunteering themselves for different elements as they felt each time. They frequently served the Communion and spoke the blessings, they often played key roles in the Invocations, and sometimes other special roles that were part of particular rituals, for example, at Lammas offering the bread figures, and at Winter, lighting the cauldron fire. Their participation and understanding was an important part of the whole experience. These particular women still sometimes play any of these roles, but there are also others now, or sometimes students in current seasonal classes, who may volunteer at the time during preparation when the ritual format is being previewed. Some roles, such as the handling of the elements and lighting of the Winter Solstice candle, or carrying communion trays of glasses or food, lend themselves to an opportunity for children, who love to serve in this way. Frequently now there are long periods when there is no team preparing for the rituals, though I would like it if that happened again. My partner now co-hosts the events with maintaining and preparation of the ritual place, and the clean-up, and by serving various roles within the ritual such as drumming, carrying communion glasses around, and some very practical roles such as lighting the ritual fires or torches and overseeing safety matters.

Another role for co-celebrants for which I sometimes spontaneously choose an experienced participant, or for which one volunteers spontaneously, is to play the Priestess role when for example, at Mabon, it is my turn to receive the wheat, or at Eostar when it is my turn to be welcomed back, or at Samhain when it is my turn to be given a gingerbread snake.
At the time of each ritual, whenever there has been a prepared team of co-celebrants, we gather in a small circle before the formal Call to Gather, joining hands, to centre ourselves as a group.

Participation of Children

Some Seasonal celebrations may seem to lend themselves better to the participation of children, but children themselves are usually eager to attend any of them. Any hesitance to include children usually has more to do with adult discomfort with the nature of the Seasonal Moment, or a perceived compromise of the parent’s need for the process of the ritual space. All of the Sabbats have been at one time or another attended by at least one child. In each case, the child participated in the whole ritual process, at their own level of understanding, and it was always with a guiding parent. The children have always seemed to have a good experience – often expressing thanks. Children who were too young to participate have never attended.

The Ritual Scripts

As I have mentioned, I consider most of the specific phrases and language important, it is not a casual thing – I consider it Poetry; yet there is also some variation in the moment, as the particularity of the people, the person, the flow is sensed – and there is a lot of variation in the responses. The scripts, as I have written them, have evolved over time¹. The scripts continue to evolve, according to my understanding of the Seasonal event and the creative dynamic face of Mystery that it seems to me to express. I am conscious of these scripts as being a “scribing” process, an “authoring”; primarily as a Creative process that is being “authored” largely by me, yet wherein each participant may choose to articulate and “scribe” their personal experience of this particular story. Generally only minor changes have been made to the scripts in the last several years, and the community of regular participants enjoy that consistency, finding that it allows a deepening into the Poetry.

Participants are encouraged to add their own words to responses even in places where there is particular wording significant to the Sabbat and a relationship/theme that I feel is important to be expressed². This freedom to add or articulate their own felt response avoids any feeling of “parroting”, and invites a felt resonance for participants with what they are saying. That may mean at times that the group response to say, the calling of the elements is of varied individual statements – then it becomes simply a chorus of felt response. Most often the participants use the response that is offered in the script – they seem to desire to try out this particular expression, to participate in this particular Poetry, and then some add to it. Sometimes there has been a request for the responses to be printed out on slips of paper, so they could express it just so, and/or onto which they could write additional expressions during the meditation time before the ritual.

Starhawk says it is best to memorise or improvise. It took me some courage, in the early days, to let go of having the script in hand during the ritual, but it was important to do so, for both personal and dramatic/aesthetic reasons. I then had to learn the Poetry, which is what I really wanted to do: I have been learning a new language, a new reality that required new language, a language not readily accessible to me – so I memorised the scripts. This has filled me with the Poetry; it has become readily accessible to my mind and my lips. Increasingly then improvisation and sensing of the moment becomes possible – one first needs the “tools”, the skills of the craft, before the art is possible. I have been a novice, starting from “scratch”, so I had to take care to include all the steps in my learning, to be meticulous in my preparation.

The process of preparation for me as celebrant has involved rehearsing the ritual – the words and actions – in the space when possible. I begin this some weeks before the Sabbat. Again, this is much like the rehearsal necessary for any dramatic event: this enables a sense of the details, and I make notes as I become aware of these and any changes that I desire to make. In the weeks before the ritual, my daily meditation includes going through the script, deepening into its dimensions – feeling it for myself and for the imagined group. Sometimes I also rehearse the script as I walk or travel somewhere, sometimes over a cup of tea in bed, anywhere really.

Below are the scripts, in their most recent form. Acknowledgement of the work and inspiration of others are noted. I have already noted the use of Starhawk’s work in particular. All words in quotation are spoken by me as the celebrant, unless otherwise noted. A dotted space – (………) – indicates that a co-celebrant is taking the action and/or speaking. In small print at the beginning of each Sabbat’s script is some detail about the props and setting required for the ritual drama. At the end of each script I include a list of the particular themes for the contemplation of participants in their preparation for the ritual.

SAMHAIN

_{Participants may come dressed in costume. Each bring photos/objects that represent “old selves” – to have with them at circle. Covered basket of gingerbread snakes. Scissors. Sliced apples – rubbed with lemon, apple juice poured. Ball of golden thread. Photos of ancestors for side altar. Dark centre altar cloth with gold stars/webs in it, or a dark golden cloth³. Cauldron or large clay pot full of soil, overlaid with wreath of dried leaves (both left over from Mabon), as centrepiece with the centre candle. “Mists”/veils of varied colours as decorations. Music ready}.

Call to Gather

vigorous drumming

Centering/Presence

“Welcome to all you creatures and beings, who have slipped in from your dreams and wild places – the possibilities between the worlds. Breathe, go within for a moment.

Breathe deep. … as you let go of your breath, follow it down, and notice the Space before you inhale. Don’t hold it, just notice it. And again, breathing deep and following the breath down to this Space – that is always with you, feeling it. Breath deep – and as you let go, noticing this Space … into which all who have gone before us have travelled … from which to enter again the dance of life in some form. Feel this Space between your breaths.”

Statement of Purpose

“We are gathered to celebrate Samhain. This is the time when we recognize that the veil is thin that divides the worlds. It is the New Year in the time of the year’s death – the passing of old growth. The leaves are turning and falling, the dark continues to grow, the light part of the day is getting shorter and colder. Earth’s tilt continues to move us away from the Sun.
The story of old tells us that on this night, between the dead and the born, between the old and the new, all is possible; that we travel in the Womb of the Mother, the Dark Shining One within, from which all pours forth, and that we are the seed of our own rebirth. The gates of life and death are opened: the dead are remembered, the Not-Yet is conceived. We meet in time out of time, everywhere and nowhere, here and there … to transform the old into the new in our own bodyminds.

Let us enter this realm, the vast sunless sea within us – the Womb of All. We can proceed by remembering our elemental origins.”

Calling the Directions/Casting the Circle

All turning to the East – “Hail the East, Powers of Water. We remember that we are Water.”
All: We remember that we are Water.
“Water, that has nursed our beginnings in the primordial soup, that walks around in our flesh. We are old, so old⁴.”
....... slowly walk the circle spooning water with shell. DRUM.
All: I remember that I am Water and there is nothing I have not been⁵.

All turning to the North –
“Hail the North, Powers of Fire. We remember that we are Fire.”
All: We remember that we are Fire.
“Fire, that has surged through every thought, and action, that dances at the root of all life. We are old, so old.”
......... light pot of fire⁶ and slowly walk the circle with it. DRUM
All: I remember that I am Fire and there is nothing I have not been.

All turning to the West –
“Hail the West, Powers of Earth. We remember that we are Earth.”
All: We remember that we are Earth.
“Earth, whose intelligence has conceived us and all creatures, and to whom we all return. We are old, so old.”
......... slowly walk the circle with the rock/earth. DRUM.
All: I remember that I am Earth and there is nothing I have not been.

All turning to the South –
“Hail the South, Powers of Air. We remember that we are Air.”
All: We remember that we are Air.
“Air, that passed through the lungs of ancestors, dinosaurs, and every breathing creature. We are old, so old.”
........ light smudge, slowly walk the circle w/ smudge and feather. DRUM.
All: I remember that I am Air and there is nothing I have not been.

All turning to the Centre –
“We are this Mystery – Water, Fire, Earth and Air (PACING THE CIRCLE) – we are from all time and no Time, everywhere and no Where. Feel the space within you … the Womb of All, fertile with possibility. Breathe … this is the Centre – the Centre of the Cosmos is here.
The circle is cast, we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, where light and dark, birth and death, joy and sorrow, meet as One.”
(Light centre candle)

Invocation

“We are Co-creators – we are divine. We call the Divine by a thousand names, uttering ourselves⁷. Name yourself as you will.”
Each one: I am …........
Group response: (Deep bow) “Welcome (full name as announced)”.
Celebrant: “We welcome all these Divine/Sacred Ones – magical Co-creators”.

Transformation Journey

“Let us now remember some the old selves we have been. Let us all take the journey now, remembering some of our transformations.” (the circle joins hands, with the exception of one person who will “journey” first⁸)

The circle raises joined hands, the journeyer goes in and out the gaps of the circle, as the circle chants:
In and out the windows
In and out the windows
In and out the windows
As we have done before⁹.
The circle brings their hands down at the end of each round of chant allowing the person to be “in”. The chant stops.

Celebrant: “Who have you been?”
The person shows a photo/object – around the circle (walking around if they like), saying “this is someone I have been” (and whatever further description).
OR the person describes some “old self” they have been – as long as they have a clear picture of this “old self” in their own minds.

Group response: Hail to you and your becomings.
(Each receives the response with a bow and continues “in and out” for another round, repeating the process a few times.)

(After all have woven in and out.)

Presentation of Snakes

Celebrant takes basket of snakes, uncovers it and walks the circle saying:
“O Great Ones, you have come through so many changes, … (elaborate – with DRAMA) … as Gaia Herself has done. Gaia, like you, has come through so many changes … and yet – and YET: She and you … are More¹⁰, much more.
Accept these snakes, Gaian totems of life renewed – as you, like Gaia, have done so many times.” (uncover snakes)

Servers/celebrant distribute snakes, repeating to each: “You are More, much More.”
Response: It is so.

ALL SIT

Consuming Old Selves

“Drawn from the first by what you might become,
You did not know how simple this secret could be
The carapace is split
the shed skins lie upon the ground,
(hold up snake)
Devour now all your old shapes, wasting no part¹¹.”
(Celebrant breaks off a part of her snake.)

All: I devour now all my old shapes. (or some affirmation of what they are doing)
All eat some of their snakes. MUSIC¹² ON.

Remembering the Ancestors

“Let us remember our ancestors, those who have gone before, bring them into our presence.”

Each may name any who have passed on, that they wish to remember.

After all have spoken: “We welcome all these, who have been food for the Universe, and we remember that we also will become – are – the ancestors. We will be consumed. May we be interesting food¹³.”

Celebrant hold up her snake and break off a part.

All: We also are the ancestors. We will be consumed. (or some affirmation of what they are doing)

All eat the more of their snakes. MUSIC ON.

Remembering the Old Shapes of the Culture

“Let us remember some of the old shapes of our human culture and story that we would leave behind.”

Each name the memories and “shapes” they choose.

After all have spoken: “We devour these old shapes of our culture, of our world, transform them in our beings.”

Celebrant hold up her snake and break some more.
All: We devour these old shapes, transform them in our beings. (or some affirmation of what they are doing)
All eat more of their snakes. MUSIC ON.

Silence or Music Down (see Commentary Chapter Seven notes – SAMHAIN)

“Let us sit for a while with these endings in the vast sunless sea.”

MUSIC OFF

Building the Web – Conceiving the Future

Celebrant takes golden ball of thread and holds it up.

“Having devoured your old shapes, wasting no part
you are free … free
to radiate whatever you conceive,
to exclaim the strongest natural fibre known – your spirit, your creative self,
into such art, such architecture
as can house a world made sacred by your building¹⁴.”

ALL STAND. Put snakes down to finish eating later.

“Take the golden thread now, that emerges from your creative centre, and spin what you will.” (start chant)
All chant: Free to radiate whatever we conceive.

Celebrant passes the golden ball, having wrapped it around herself.
Each takes it and wraps it around themselves a few times.
When each has the ball, each chants: “Free to radiate whatever I conceive”, then back to “we”.

Let the chant build.
When thread gets back to celebrant, she holds it up.
“What would you conceive/spin from your bodymind? What do you want to create in your life?”

Pass ball thread for each in turn to hold – wrap one more time.
Each: ” I want … create/conceive/spin into my life … ”
Group response: So be it!
Each cuts both threads for the person next to them saying: “You are free.”
Pass scissors.

When ball of thread has gone full circle:
“May all these conceptions, desires, imaginings – spoken & unspoken – house a world made sacred by our building¹⁵.”

All: May it be so.

Communion

Celebrant put thread down, put tray of glasses with juice in centre, hold up cut apples & juice.
“Stand tall, daughters and sons of the Mother. Daughters and sons of Eve, stand tall – enjoy the fruit and drink of never-ending renewal.”

Servers, repeating the blessing: “Stand tall daughter/son of the Mother – enjoy the fruit and drink of never-ending renewal.”

Offer more apple, cider and juice. More gingerbread snakes and lolly (candy) snakes.

Story Space

stories of transformation, or anything else.

Open the Circle

All turning to the South – “We have remembered that we are Air, as old as She, and present in the lungs of all who have ever breathed. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the West – “We have remembered that we are Earth, as old as She and constantly changing. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the North – “We have remembered that we are Fire, as old as She, and surging with Her dance. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the East – “We have remembered that we are Water, as old as She, and nursing all possibility. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the centre – “We have remembered that we are Co-creator, we are Divine. We have remembered some of our transformations, and those who have gone before us, and we have conceived our futures. We have remembered that we are More, much More.
May there be peace within us and between us.” (all join hands)
All: May there be peace within us and between us.

Pass the kiss both ways.

“May the peace of the One go in our hearts.
The circle is open, but unbroken…”
All: It has been a merry meeting
It is a merry parting
May we merry meet again
Blessed Be!

Music¹⁶:

Points for individual contemplation prior to the Samhain ritual:

• Naming yourself (at Invocation)

• Old selves you have been

• Ancestors or those who have gone before whom you would like to name

• Old cultural shapes, stories, events you see yourself as helping transform

• What you would like to create in your life … conceive, imagine

WINTER SOLSTICE

_{Cauldron ready for fire¹⁷. Evergreen wreath around new centre candle and last year’s old candle. Deep maroon altar cloth with white ribbon. Darkened room, or outside, lit with candles. Basket of candles and holders. Trays of sand on altar for placing candles. Tree or trees with fairy lights. Bowls of scented oil. Cake and wine and juice. “Solstice” music¹⁸ playing during arrival time. Music ready. Songsheets handed out during preparation}.

Call to Gather

Celebrant starts chant, moving around the circle in an anti-clockwise direction (in the Southern H. – opposite in the Northern H.). All join in:
“A circle around, a circle around, the boundaries of the Earth.
A circle around, a circle around, the boundless Universe.
Spreading my long tail feathers as I fly,
spreading my long tail feathers as I fly,
Higher, higher, higher and higher. Deeper, deeper, deeper and deeper¹⁹.”
All join in movement and chant for some time.
All move back to places.

Centering (Note that changes have been made here, from the original text as it is in the paper version)

“Let us focus on our breath for a while. Take a deep breath and let it go. Notice the Void at the bottom of emptying your breath … feeling it, and feeling the Urge to breathe as it arises. And again … feeling it over and over – this breath that arises out of the emptiness in every moment, birthing you in every moment.

Recall some of the birthings in your life, your actual birth – see it there in your mind’s eye … coming into being. Recall projects you have brought into being, new beings within yourself, perhaps children, new beings in others, how you have been Creator and Created – even at the same time. Staying for a while with the many, many birthings in your life.

Recalling now Gaia-Earth’s many birthings out of the Dark everyday … the dawn is constant as She turns. See Her in your mind’s eye – the constant dawning around the globe, the constant birthing. Recall Earth’s many births right now of all beings – as day breaks around the globe – the physical, emotional, spiritual births. The many, many birthings everyday, and throughout the eons.

Recalling Gaia-Universe’s many birthings – happening in every moment – right now in real time and space … supernovas right now, stars and planets being born right now. The many, many birthings in every moment and throughout the eons.

Come back to your breath – this wonder – none of it separate … birthing you in every moment, out of the Ever-Present Origin, the Fertile Dark – in real time and space.”

Statement of Purpose

“This is the time of Winter Solstice in our Southern Hemisphere. Earth’s tilt leans us away from the Sun to the furthest point at this time in our annual orbit. This is for us, the time when the dark part of the day is longest – Darkness reaches Her fullness, She spreads her cloak, and yet gives way, and moves back into light. The breath of Gaia in our part of the world pauses. She rests. We wait … within the Cauldron, the Dark Space, for the transformation.
The stories of Old tell us of the Great Mother giving birth to the Divine Child on this night. This Divine Child is the new being in you, in me … is the bringer of hope, the evergreen tree, the return of warmth and light, the centre which is also the circumference – All of Manifestation. The Divine Child being born is the Miracle of Being, and the Unimaginable More that we are becoming.

Let us join the breath of Gaia in her suspension, the Great Mother in Her birthgiving. Let us recall this Dark Space, this Holy Cauldron within. Let us begin by remembering who and what we are and from whence we come.”

Call the Directions, Create the Sacred Space

All turning to the East –
“Hail the East, Powers of Water, Water that we are, we remember you.”
All: Water that we are, we remember you.
“Cosmic Dynamic of Sensitivity²⁰, that absorbs, becomes, whatever you touch; may we feel what we are, and respond compassionately.”
All: May we feel what we are and respond compassionately.
DRUMS as …..... sprinkles water w/ pine branch.

All turning to the North –
“Hail the North, Powers of Fire, Fire that we are, we remember you.”
All: Fire that we are, we remember you.
“Unseen Shaping Power of the Cosmos²¹, that gives us form – flames that we are; may we dance with you and act with Creative Lust for all of life.”
All: May we dance with you and act with Creative Lust for all of life
DRUMS as …...... lights fire in the pot, takes it around.

All turning to the West –
“Hail the West, Powers of Earth, Earth that we are, we remember you.”
All: Earth that we are, we remember you.
“Always present to us, you hold all the stories of life in your Body, we can learn it all from you; may we remember who we really are, may we hold the Wisdom of all time and no Time²².”
All: May we hold the Wisdom of all time and no Time.
DRUMS as ….......... holds up rock & carries it around.

All turning to the South –
“Hail the South, Powers of Air, Air that we are, we remember you.”
All: Air that we are, we remember you.
“Cosmic Dynamic of Exuberance and Expression²³, Wind that moves the trees, the clouds, and allows is our voice; move us and inspire us to unfurl our being.”
All: Move us and inspire us to unfurl our being.
DRUMS as …...... lights smudge stick, carries it around.

All turning to the centre – “This is what we are – Water, Fire, Earth, Air (PACING THE CIRCLE) – Divine Mystery, Cosmic Dynamics, manifest in this Place and Time. The Centre is Here. The circle is cast, we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time and space, where light and dark, birth & death, joy & sorrow meet, as One.

Invocation.

(Celebrant taking bowl of oil and holding it up)
“As the oil comes to you, turn to the person next to you, annoint their forehead with oil, and pronounce with the authority in you: ‘Thou art Goddess, Thou art the Divine Child – Creator and Created – Thou art all of That … a whole Universe (the pulse of Creativity)’, and bow deeply, as you recognize the Sacred.”

Each respond: “It is so. I am She … (or however one feels)”.

“Cosmogenesis” Dance²⁴

“Let us celebrate this Sacredness, Her eternal Cosmogenesis, in the dance.”
MUSIC

Sit in the Dark

“Sit in the stillness now, wrap the Dark Space of the Mother around, and await the transformation.”
LIGHTS OFF. CANDLES OUT.

Lighting of the Fire (see Commentary Chapter Seven notes – WINTER SOLSTICE, for changes our group has made to this process)

After some time of sitting in the dark:
“Out of Her fertile Dark Matter, the Light is born – all Manifestation is born.”

……… and a young person, both wearing special garland and clothing, feel their way (in the dark) to the centre. ……. pours methylated spirits on the sand in the cauldron/large clay pot and lights the fire.

...... says: “We recall our Beginnings – the Primeaval Fireball – the Great Flaring Forth, and Grandmother Supernova Tiamat, and our Star the Sun. We are Gift of Tiamat, out of her stardust we are born. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus and trace elements. We are Gift of Tiamat – out of her stardust we are born²⁵.”
The young person lights the centre candle.

Lighting the Candles

Celebrant: “The Universe wants to speak you, the Universe wants to speak you. Take a candle, light it, hold it up ceremoniously and recall, and speak if you like, of the new being coming forth in you this year.”
Each in turn moves to the centre, takes a candle, puts a holder on it, lights the candle and speaks if they wish, then holds the lit candle up ceremoniously – which is the cue for all to respond with:

“So be it. Let this new being within you come forth.”

Song

When all have lit candles in hand:
“Let us sing together in praise of these new beings and Her Creativity – which is also our own.”
All sing “PaGaian Joy to the World²⁶” standing in a single circle.

The Spiral Dance

“And let us dance the Spiral.”
Collect songsheets and move cushions. All join hands each holding their candle in linked right hand. Celebrant leads into a spiral, all singing the first verse and chorus of “PaGaian Joy to the World” over and over, making sure to look in the eyes and faces of the passing people, then re-forming the circle.

Re-Lighting the World (see Commentary Chapter Seven notes – WINTER SOLSTICE)

“Let us take our lights – these new beings – and re-light the world, as the Sun re-lights it. What do you wish for the world, what is the flame in your heart? Join it with all the others.”

Each one in turn steps into the centre and speaks if they wish, takes the holder off the candle, and puts their lit candle down firmly in the sand – which is the cue for all to respond with:

“May we be like the Sun and re-light the world.”
Assistants to switch on lights and re-light candles while this is in process.

Communion

“All glory and praise be to Her who daily gives us more than we can ask or imagine. We will now enjoy some of Her delights (hold up cake and wine), and remember that we also are Her delights.
You are Cake – Divine Cake – to enjoy and be enjoyed.
You are Wine poured out for the Mystery.”

Servers and celebrant serve cake with the blessing:
“You are cake for the Queen of Heaven and Earth. May you enjoy and be enjoyed. ”

Assistants hold trays of glasses and wine/juice, while servers ceremoniously pour wine/juice in front of each with the blessing:
“You are wine poured out for the Mystery. May your flavour be full.”

Toasts – short OR Story Space

Dance

“May we choose a joyful response to the awesome fact of our being in the Universe, and express that response through the art and dance of our lives²⁷. You are the choreographer of your dance of life, we are the choreographers of the dance … so enjoy!”

MUSIC²⁸
Co-celebrants lead off in improvised free dance, others may join in.

Open the Circle

All turning to the South –
“We have remembered that we are Air – cosmic dynamics of exuberance – unfurling our being. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the West –
“We have remembered that we are Earth – deep memory and presence. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the North –
“We have remembered that we are Fire – vessels of the unseen shaping power of the cosmos – dancing. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the East – “We have remembered that we are Water – cosmic dynamics of sensitivity – feeling what we are. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us

All turning to the centre –
“We have remembered that we are Goddess, Divine Child – Creator and Created – that we are Her Cosmogenesis. We have remembered our Origins and the new beings coming forth in us. We have remembered the flame in our hearts and how we might re-generate the world.
May there be peace within us and between us.” (all join hands)
All: May there be peace within us and between us.

“May the Peace and Joy of the One grow in our hearts.”

All: The circle is open, but unbroken
It has been a merry meeting,
It is a merry parting,
May we merry meet again.
Blessed Be.

MUSIC²⁹

Points for individual contemplation prior to the Winter Solstice ritual:

• the Centering/Breath meditation – all these birthings

• how you are Water, Fire, Earth and Air – Cosmic Dynamics

• how you and other are Goddess, Divine Child, Creator and Created … all That – a whole Universe.

• What new being is birthing in you this year – what is growing.

• What do you wish for the world? How might you re-generate the world? What it is that you would like to make a difference to.

IMBOLC

_{Large “well” of salt water under a clay bowl of sand for flame. Smaller bowl of salt water, and hand towel. Each wear “bridal” gear, and a “crown”/”bridal” veil. Bow and arrow. Fruit bread, Tray of glasses with light colour fruit juice or white wine. White chocolate treats, white foods such as ricotta, fetta cheese. Greenery, buds. Artemis herbs. Candles & trays of sand. Red cloth/carpet laid down – facing in towards edge of circle. Music ready. Double-sided copies of “Bridal/Brigid-ine” commitment and processional praise. Bundle of sprigs of wattle³⁰. Bell and djorge}.

Commentary Note: as of July 2007, the text of this on-line version has been changed in some places from how it is in the paper version.

Gathering

Ring the bell three or more times – with space between each ring. All come to sitting in the circle.

Centering

Ring the bell again, accentuate with the djorge.
“Listen to the bell as if listening to your ringing, your Being – the Beauty of your differentiated unique being, ringing.”
Continue the sound with the djorge for a few minutes.

“Take a deep breath, and as you let the breath go, follow it down to the space before your next breath. Imagine this space, this emptiness, as the Sea of Generosity … from which All springs forth. Feel the Urge of Creation springing forth – as the Urge to Breath arises. Imagine this breath as a Ripple upon the Sea of Generosity. Imagine it rippling out of this Sea as your breath expands. Imagine your-Self as this Ripple. We are ripples stirring upon the Original Sea of Generosity now.”

Speaking the Word of Creation

“Next time you take a deep breath, we will do it together, and as we let the breath go, let us speak the Mother’s word of Creation “Om” or your own variation of it – let it come from your belly. You may contemplate how you spell the world, co-create it with your self-expression, and how this weaves with others. Let us Spell it together … (let it have its own flow and time):”

Statement of Purpose

“This is the season of the waxing light. Earth’s tilt is taking us back towards the Sun. The New One born at the Winter Solstice begins to manifest, and we who were midwives to this infant Flame now see the it grow strong as the light part of the day grows visibly longer. This is the time when we celebrate individuation: how we each become uniquely ourselves. It is the time when we celebrate beginnings … the first tendrils of green emerging tentatively from the seed. We meet to share the light of inspiration and creative intentions, which will grow with the growing year.
This is the Feast of the Virgin – Brigid, She who tends the Flame of Being; Artemis, She who midwifes body and soul. She is deeply committed to the Creative Urge, to manifestation, deeply committed to Self. She is uncompromised, unswerving, noble, true, a warrior of spirit. She will protect the stirrings of Life.”

Let us begin our celebration of Her, by remembering our beginnings, from whence we come – our true nature.

Creating the Sacred Space

“We are from the East, and we are Water – filled with the primordial oceans. You may feel it in you, its moistness, taste it. We are juicy with it, soft with it. Feel how you are Water. We are Water, we are this.”
Response: We are Water, we are this.

“We are from the North, and we are Fire – sparks of ancient heat. You may feel it in you, the warmth of your body. Your metabolism an echo of the Great Fire at the Beginning, and of the Sun. Feel how you are Fire. We are Fire, we are this.”
Response: We are Fire, we are this.

“We are from the West, and we are Earth – geological, Gaian formations. You may feel it in you – the weight of your body, your memories. She is alive in us and we in Her. Feel how you are Earth. We are Earth, we are this.”
Response: We are Earth, we are this.

“We come from the South, and we are Air – drawn from and drawing from this ancient river that all have breathed. You may feel it in you, expand with it. We are inspired with it. Feel how you are Air. We are Air, we are this.”
Response: We are Air, we are this.

We have always been from the very beginning, and so we always shall be. We are at the Centre of Creativity – a multiplicity of centres. The circle is cast, we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time and space, where light and dark, birth and death, joy and sorrow, meet as One.”
Light the candle.

Invocation

Pass basket of candles, each take one.
“Let us each light our own lights. When you have done so, sit for a few moments gazing into the flame. Contemplate how the Flame of Being is in you, how it is given to you – a Gift, and how it is yet ever-new.”
SITTING QUIETLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS.
“When you are ready, one at a time, place your flame on the altar, affirming that you are She – this ever-new Flame of Being, this Young One, the Virgin-Self, a unique beautiful being of the Universe … however you’d like to express it.”
Each put candle down in the sand when ready to.
Each one: “I am She – shining and new” (or “I am this ever-new Flame of Being, Virgin-Self”, or some variation as is meaningful).

Celebrant holds up the Artemisia herbs and arrow and pronounces:
“Let us invoke Artemis, She of Old who midwifes body and soul, who is always birthing you, and who is true. Taste Her herbs, to remind you of the creative resistance to coming into Being – of birthing the New, and hold Her arrow, to remind you to be true.”

Pass the herbs around and each rub and taste the bitterness on their fingers. Pass the arrow, and each hold it to their heart. Each repeat to the next person:
Taste Her herbs, to remind you of the creative resistance to coming into Being – may She midwife you. And hold her arrow to remind you to be true.

Purification and Strengthening³¹

“Take the bowl of salt water, breathe into it and say where in your life does your Urge to Be wilt? What are your vulnerabilities? Where can the delicate new being be torn? What leaches your power -your strength of Being?”

Pass bowl of salt water, clockwise³².
Each one may speak … and breath into the water.
Drum beat as each washes – drums stop when person stops.
Group response for each one’s washing: May you be cleansed.

Let us raise some power, some of our energy.
All stand. Drum … and improvised voice, raising energy – moving.

All return to sitting.

Celebrant holds up the bowl of salt water, and asks:
“Where in your life do you feel power, strength of Being? What encourages your “nwyfre³³” – life force? Your Passion? Where do feel the excitement of Creativity?”
Each one may speak … and breathe into the water.
Drum beat as each washes again – drums stop when person stops.
Response for each one’s washing: “We bless your power.”

Pass the bowl of salt water, counterclockwise³⁴.

After the bowl has gone full circle, celebrant pours water into the centre bowl.
“We commend our power to and from its Source – the Well of Creativity³⁵.”

Co-celebrant light the centre flame and announce: “We are tenders of the flame.”
All: “It is so. We are tenders of the Flame.”
OR sing response: “We are tenders of the Flame.”

“Take up your flame now and let us invoke the ancient One Brigid, She of Old who tends the flame of Being.”
All stand and take up their candles, putting a holder on.
All sing: “Ave Brigid³⁶” a few times.

Celebrant puts on mask and changes headpiece, takes up the bundle of wattle (or other seasonal flower), walks the circle – as “Brigid”, and stands near the red carpet.

Co-celebrant exclaims “Brigid”!

The “Bridal”/ Brigid-ine Dedication

“Now is the time for your commitment to Being, your dedication to Self.”

Each steps forward to the red carpet in turn, and may speak:
(each may use these words or add or write/speak their own words)
“I commit myself to Self – my particular small self, understanding that I am She – Gaia – She who is All. I am connected to Her as the tree bud is to the branch. ‘I am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mystery of the waters’. I will protect Her and honour Her in myself – this ever-new beautiful Self. I am a Promise of Life. Whatever She needs I will give Her. I will tend Her in myself.”

Celebrant (as “Brigid”): “Rejoice O highly favoured. Gaia Herself rejoices in your commitment and freedom to Be, for you are a Promise – of Life.”
She gives each a sprig of wattle (or early Spring flower).

Each processes slowly up and down the red carpet a couple of times, holding up their candle, with arms raised like Eurynome (the Bird-headed Snake Goddess³⁷), if they like. Then stands, until group finishes its response and praise.

Group response – “processional praise”: (Written on paper)
“Brigid of the holy well and the sacred flame!
Artemis of the arrow, flying true and on Centre!
Ancient One, Eurynome, whose passion is Life!
Aphrodite,who sings love songs to her own beauty.
The Lover, Radha, Who knows who She really is.
We celebrate you in (person’s name).”
All sing: “Ave Artemis³⁸!” twice.
All state: Ave (person’s name)!

Dance³⁹

Re-light centre flame.
“Let us celebrate our commitment to Being in the dance. Let us dance it into Being.”
All put candles down – in the sand trays on the altar.
MUSIC ON.

Communion

Celebrant holding up fruit bread and wine/fruit juice:
“Let us enjoy our manifested state with food of the Mother, brought to us by Her and by the creativity of our ancestors.”

Assistant holds tray of poured wine/juice. Server and/or celebrant offer a glass and fruit bread to each, saying:
“Rejoice O highly favoured .
Blessed are you amongst women & men & children
And blessed is the fruit of your Creativity.”

Pass around white chocolate treats, ricotta, fetta cheese.

Story Space

Let us share stories of creative projects and intentions.

Open Circle

“We have remembered that we are Air, we feel Her in us – this ancient river, expanding. May there be peace within us.” All: May there be peace within us.

“We have remembered that we are Earth, we feel Her in us – our weight, a geological formation. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

“We have remembered that we are Fire, we feel Her in us – our warmth an echo of the Great Fire. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

“We have remembered that we are Water, we feel her in us – our moistness, the primordial ocean. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

“We have remembered that we are creative Ripples stirring upon the Sea of Generosity, Flames of Being ever-new, spelling the world with ourselves. We have dedicated ourselves to tending the Flame of Being – this Virgin Young One, this Brigid-ine One. May there be peace within us & between us.” (all join hands)
All: May there be peace within us & between us.

Song

“The circle is open but unbroken. May the peace of the Goddess be ever in our hearts. Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.”

All: Blessed be!

Pass the kiss in both directions.

Points for individual contemplation prior to the Imbolc ritual:

• how the Flame of Being is within you – affirming that you are this beautiful, unique being, ever-new … this Virgin-self.

• What causes your Urge to Be to wilt? What holds you back? What are your vulnerabilities?

• What encourages your strength of Being, your power? Your commitment/dedication to self – how you might express that.

  EOSTAR

  _{Each one bring a stone/rock, a Spring mask, a large bouquet, “laurel” head garland. Potted flower from Mabon on altar. Centre cauldron or large clay pot of soil, overlaid with wreath of greenery and flowers, with centre candle. Green altar cloth. A “gateway” from the circle to the “Underworld”/house⁴⁰ marked with stones and a flame torch. Lit lantern, bulb seeds, 3 stalks of wheat tied with red ribbon, poppies, near gateway. Masks around altar, stones in basket, bouquets near gateway. Poppyseed ring cake – sliced, but left whole. Chocolate eggs wrapped in gold paper/foil. Copies of “Stepping into Power” words. Music ready. Boiled coloured eggs for decorations. In Australia, it works very well with the themes of this Sabbat to have green and gold ribbons around … the colours of winning at world games}.

  Each one to take special stone/rock and head garland to pre-ritual contemplation with them. Place rock/stone in basket on altar upon gathering to the circle, and wearing garland.

  Call to Gather

  drums – STRONG BEAT

  Centering/Breath Meditation

  “This is the time of Eostar, the Spring Equinox, the moment of balance of light and dark in the light part of the cycle. The light and the dark in the South and in the North of our planet, are of equal length at this time.

  Feel the balance in this moment – Earth as She is poised in relationship with the Sun. Feel for your own balance of light and dark within – this fertile balance of tensions. Breathe into it. Breathe in the light, swell with it, let your breath go into the dark, stay with it. Breathe in the light, swell with it. Shift on your feet, from left to right, feel your centre. ... breathe it in.

  In our part of Earth, the balance is about to tip into the light. Feel the shift within you, see in your mind’s eye the energy ahead, the light expanding. Feel the warmth of it. Breathe it in.”

  Statement of Purpose

  “This is the time of Spring’s return. Warmth and growth may be sensed in the land. The young light that we celebrated at Imbolc, has grown strong and come to balance with the dark. Life bursts forth with new strength. The story of Old tells us that Persephone beloved Daughter, returns from Her journey to the Underworld. Demeter stretches out Her arms – to receive and rejoice. The beloved One, the Lost One, returns with new Wisdom from the depths.
  We may step into a new harmony. Where we step, wild flowers may appear; where we dance, despair may turn to hope, sorrow to joy, want to abundance. May our hearts open with the Spring.

  Let us begin our celebration by remembering our true power of Life – our Gaian Powers. Let us enter the eternal Space and Time in which we are immersed and embraced – the Demeter who holds us, who waits for us, who receives us.
  ( Note that this text has been changed from the paper version )

  Creating the Sacred Space

  All facing the East
  DRUMS
  “Hail the East and Powers of Water – powers of sensitivity, emotion and response: I am wet with you, I taste you, I know you.”
  ........... take the water, for each to wet their hands and wipe it on themselves.
  Response: I am wet with you, I taste you, I know you.

  All facing the North
  DRUMS
  “Hail the North and Powers of Fire – powers of shaping, passion and understanding: I am spark of you, I feel your warmth, I know you.” ......... light the fire, take it around, each passes their hand over it.
  Response: I am spark of you, I feel your warmth, I know you.

  All facing the West
  DRUMS
  “Hail the West and Powers of Earth – powers of memory, presence and action: I hold the story of you in my body, I feel your weight, I know you.”
  .......... take the basket of rocks around, each takes their own.
  Response: I hold the story of you in my body, I hear you, I know you.

  All facing the South
  DRUMS
  “Hail the South and Powers of Air – powers of perception, awareness and inspiration: I breathe you in, I expand with you, I know you.”
  .......... light the smudge stick and take around to each.
  Response: I breathe you in, I expand with you, I know you.

  All facing the Centre
  “This is the truth and Power of who we are – Water, Fire, Earth and Air (PACING THE CIRCLE). We are beyond the bounds of time and space, we are at Centre – the Centre is here, where light and dark, birth and death, joy and sorrow meet as One.”
  (Light candle)

  Invocation

  “Let us invoke and recognize the Divine Heraic self in each other – emerging and present. Announce yourself.”
  Each person, holding up their rock/stone: “I am a Hera, Courageous One, Beloved One ... returned and Wise.”
  (option to say more – in terms of your own experience, perhaps what and how you feel you have made it through.)
  Each place the rock/stone on the centre altar.

  Response: Beloved One, (repeat however they named themselves), we welcome you.

  Story

  “Let us sit and listen to the traditional story of this season – versions of which have been told for aeons.”
  ALL SIT DOWN
  ……. reads:
  “Persephone had gathered three poppies and three sheaves of wheat. Then Demeter had led Her to a long, deep chasm and produced a torch for her to carry. She had stood and watched Her Daughter go down further and further into the cleft of the Earth. …
  For months Persephone received and renewed the dead without ever resting or growing weary. All the while Her Mother remained disconsolate. .. In Her sorrow She withdrew Her power from the crops, the trees, the plants. She forbade any new growth to blanket the Earth. The mortals planted their seed, but the fields remained barren. Demeter was consumed with loneliness and finally settled on a bare hillside to gaze out at nothing from sunken eyes. For days and nights, weeks and months She sat waiting.
  One morning a ring of purple crocus quietly pushed their way through the soil and surrounded Demeter. She looked with surprise at the new arrivals from below and thought what a shame it was that She was too weakened to feel rage at Her injunction being broken. Then She leaned forward and heard them whisper in the warm breeze: “Persephone returns! Persephone returns⁴¹!”

  Celebrant holding up a potted flower:

  “Persephone returns! The Seed of life never fades away. She is always present. She is returning. Let us put on our masks, we are the Persephones.”
  Each put on their Spring mask.

  Chant and Dance

  ( Note this is changed slightly from the paper version of the book )

  All: “Persephone Returns! Persephone Returns! Rejoice, rejoice! Persephone Returns! w/ arms raised like Bird-headed Snake Goddess, and free movement as individuals.
  Link hands and grapevine steps (moving to outside space if necessary): “We are the Persephones” X 4.

  Repeat as desired.

  Improvise or choreograph as desired … with clapping and drums.

  Raising Energy

  “In the tradition of our ancestors, and the people of this land too, let us wake up Mother Earth and ourselves⁴²!” Foot stomping on the Earth in time to: “She who is alive, is alive in us, and we who are alive, are alive in Her.”

  Return to the “Persephone” chant and dance in the circle for a while.

  Stepping into Power/New Wisdom/ New Strength of Being

  “Now is the time for us to step into the Power of growth, to emerge, to soar, to feel the Power of Being, to welcome back that which was lost, and to welcome the New Wisdom.”

  …….. go to the gateway and light the lantern, and the torch.
  Celebrant stand near the gateway.

  (If there is enough people, 2 may form an archway for re-entry.)

  MUSIC⁴³ on

  Each one in turn, goes to the gateway, takes off their head garland and picks up the lantern, and also wheat, poppies and seed as they wish, and walks into the “Underworld”/house for their Journey.

  Group waits and watches – like Demeter.

  The Journeyer returns to the “gateway” and puts the lantern down, and whatever else they have taken with them, and stands waiting. Music pauses.

  Each: (Optional words – some choices … each write their own)
  “I have gained new Wisdom. My bodymind feels new knowings. I have ReTurned from … . I am gaining in strength and real Power – Gaia’s Power. I leave behind the binds of the past – they are for me …

  I welcome back my beloved Daughter/Child within. I welcome back the Beloved Lost One. She/This One is for me …

  I step with Her/Him into the light & strength of Spring and Being.”

  Each steps through the threshold of the gateway, takes off their mask, is embraced by the celebrant, given a bouquet and their laurel garland placed back on their head. Others may embrace the returned One too.
  Celebrant may greet with words like: “You are a champion, a hera, welcome”, according to how the journeyer has expressed themselves and the intuitive sense of the celebrant.

  Group response: “Yay, yippee!” (cheer, clap) “What a hera! We bless your empowerment. You made it!”
  (Switch music back on, and await next person to take the Journey)

  Sitting

  “Let us sit quietly for a while-rest on our laurels!”
  (harp music for a few minutes)

  Communion

  “Blessed are you – you have seen these things. You know the end of life and you know the divine –given beginnings. May you enjoy the wisdom of your journey.”

  Celebrant hold up the cake:

  “Take and eat this holy cake – with its many seeds, remembering Her fertility and abundance. Do this in remembrance of She who gives Life. ”

  Celebrant puts pieces on two plates and passes a plate in each direction. Each repeats blessing as they hand to next person:
  “Take and eat – do this in remembrance of She who gives Life. ”

  Servers take glasses to all. Celebrant holds up the juice:
  “Blessed are you – you have seen these things. Take and drink this Nectar Divine – do this in remembrance of She who gives Life. ”
  Pass a decanter of juice in each direction. Each repeat the blessing as they pour for the next:
  “Take and drink- do this in remembrance of She who gives Life. ”
  Offer wine for those who wish.

  Offer Eostar eggs, around the circle:
  “Remember the Ancient One who laid the Golden Egg, who lays the Golden Egg – take it, it is yours – laid out for you everyday.”

  Stories

  Let us tell each other stories of empowerment.

  Open Circle

  All turning to the South – “We have remembered that we are Air, we are the breeze, She expands in us. May there be peace within us.”
  All: May there be peace within us.

  All turning to the West – “We have remembered that we are Earth, we are the story, She speaks in us. May there be peace within us.”
  All: May there be peace within us.

  All turning to the North – “We have remembered that we are Fire, we are the dance, She is our form. May there be peace within us.”
  All: May there be peace within us.

  All turning to the East – “We have remembered that we are Water, we are the juice, She feels with us. May there be peace within us.”
  All: May there be peace within us.

  All turning to the Centre
  “We have remembered that we are Divine Ones – Heras, Persephones, Courageous Ones – Beloved Ones. We have remembered something of our Journeys, our Lost Places and welcomed and embraced New Strength of Being, New Wisdom. We have welcomed our Lost Beloved Ones. May there be peace within us and between us.” (all join hands)
  All: May there be peace within us and between us.

  “The circle is open but unbroken, may the peace and courage of Goddess go in our hearts.”

  All: It has been a merry meeting,
  It is a merry parting,
  May we merry meet again.
  Blessed Be!

  Song

  “Shine⁴⁴” (hand out words for all to sing along.)

  Points for individual contemplation prior to the Eostar ritual:

• the balance of this Moment, the light and dark in balance on the planet and within you … this fertile balance of tensions.

• yourself as a Hera/Hero/Courageous One … some of what you have made it through, how you have returned from the depths with Wisdom – represented with the rock/stone (take it with you for contemplation).

• stepping into Power/New Strength – your Journey, what/whom you are welcoming, how you might like to express this (spontaneous or written).

BELTANE

_{Outside altar. A firepit/large clay pot with sand, pole hung with rainbow streamers. Red altar cloth with streamers of rainbow colours. Doughnuts hung in bushes. Pink ring cake, with rose honey and petals-cut up but whole. Sweet wine and champagne. Rose water in East. Earth paint in West, card paper, water & towel. Each bring object or photo representing Beauty for them. Wear head garlands of flowers. Copies of invocation words. Rose petals scattered about}.

Each one to take object or photo of Beauty to pre-ritual contemplation with them.

Call to Gather

Conch horn if possible, or drums

Centering/Breath Meditation

“Breathe deep. Feel your breath as it waxes towards fullness – as it rushes in. Breathe deep and feel your breath as it waxes towards filling completely. Feel your desire for this breath. This is how Gaia breathes in our part of the world at this time. The light is waxing towards fullness. Feel your breath as it rushes in. Feel your desire for this breath.

Breathe deep … in that breath we share in the life of all who have come before us, and danced the dance of life: and we are present to all who will come after us and dance the dance of life. Breathe deep … and feel the Presence of all these … and the Present that always is. You may if you like make a simple gesture that embraces this Present Moment and this Presence – reaching back and down, bringing your hands and arms up and forward … reaching, and folding over in reverence if you like as you embrace it all.”

Statement of Purpose

“This is the time of Beltane, when the light part of the day is longer and continues to grow longer than the dark part of the day. Light is waxing towards fullness. In our region, Earth continues to tilt us further toward the Sun – the Source of Her pleasure, life and ecstasy. This is the time when sweet Desire for Life weds wild delight – it is met; when the Promise of Spring – which you are, weds the Passion of Summer – fulfillment is nigh. The fruiting begins. It is the celebration of Allurement … Holy Lust … that which holds all things in form and allows the dance of life. The ancients called this Holy Lust, this primordial essence ‘Aphrodite’ … they sang of Her:

‘For all things are from you.
Who unites the cosmos.
You will the three-fold fates.
You bring forth all things.
Whatever is in the Heavens.
And in the much fruitful earth
And in the deep sea.’

Let us celebrate our erotic nature, that brings forth all things.

Let us begin by remembering the Sacred Space present – the sensuality of the Present Moment – and our deep Desire for it.”

Creating the Sacred Space

All turning to the East
“All hail the East, presence of Water!”
All: All hail the East, presence of Water!
“We desire you, thirst for you, as all have done before us.”
All: We desire you, thirst for you, as all have done before us.
Soft but constant drums, as ....... takes water jug around , pours a little into each one’s hands, for them to drink.
Each one affirms: I desire you, thirst for you, as all have done before me.

All turning to the North
“All hail the North, presence of Fire!”
All: All hail the North, presence of Fire!
“We desire you, gather around you, as all have done before us.”
All: We desire you, gather around you, as all have done before us.
Soft but constant drums, as …...... lights the fire, and each one in turn comes to the flame and passes their hands over it.
Each one affirms: I desire you, gather around you, as all have done before me.

All turning to the West
“All hail the West, presence of Earth!”
All: All hail the West, presence of Earth!
“We desire you, are held by you, desire to make our mark with you, as all have done before us.”
All: We desire you, are held by you, desire to make our mark with you, as all have done before us.
Soft but constant drums, as ….…. attends the wet earth, bowl of water and towel for washing, and each one in turn comes to the wet earth, puts in their hand and impresses their print on a piece of card paper.
(Each rinses and dries their hands)
Each one affirms: I desire you, desire to make my mark with you, as all have done before me.

All turning to the South
“All hail the South, presence of Air!”
All: All hail the South, presence of Air!
“We desire you, reach for you, as all have done before us.”
All: We desire you, reach for you, as all have done before us.
Soft but constant drums, as …...... takes perfumed flowers around to each.
Each one affirms: I desire you, reach for you, as all have done before me.

All turning to the Centre
“We are united in our Desire – for Water, Fire, Earth and Air (PACING THE CIRCLE), in our longing, with each other, and with all who have come before us and all who will come after us, in their Desire and their longing. Our desire, our longing, is the Beloved, is the Universe, desiring in us⁴⁵. Feel it. This is the Centre of Creativity – beyond the bounds of time and space, where light and dark, joy and sorrow, birth and death meet as One.”
(light candle)

Invocation

…….: “Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, .....
I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me. For I am the soul of nature that gives rise to the Universe. From me all things proceed and unto Me they must return. Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold – all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of Desire⁴⁶.”

Celebrant: “Name yourself as the Beauty, the Beloved -whom She desires, that you are.”

Each one: (wording as you want … this is a suggestive collage of phrases. Add, change or leave out what you want. Hold object or photo of Beauty, if you like, as you speak). “I am this Beauty”. AND/OR “I am the Beauty of … . I am the Beauty whom She (the Cosmos/Universe) desires. I am Allurement Herself … Aphrodite. I am the Form of Her Desire … my bodymind and all Being, is Her Desire. The Beloved is within me. I am the Beloved.“ (Put your object or photo on the altar)

( Note this is changed slightly from the paper version of the book )

Response: Welcome, we recognize your Beauty and your Desire.

( Note: see post #12 for further suggestion re Invocation )

The Dance⁴⁷

“With all this Holy Desirable Beauty, let us dance the dance of life.”
(All move to the pole)

Celebrant: “Take a ribbon of your choosing and weave in to your life what you will.”
Each person: “I choose red, for …... or “I choose blue, for ….. “ etc.
Response: May it be so.

All chant as the group dances:
“We are the Dance of the Earth, Moon and Sun
We are the Life that’s in everyone
We are the Life that loves to live
We are the Love that lives to love⁴⁸.”

( Note this is changed slightly from the paper version of the book )

After it is woven, the chant continues, with improvised dancing and clapping, eventually over to the firepit/altar. Drums start up, dancing continues.

Leaping the Bonfire

Drums abate.

“Let the flame of Love burn away your petty disharmonies and habitual negativities. Leap the Flame, and leave behind what you will.”

Light the fire.

Each takes a turn leaping the fire, saying what they leave behind to the flames. Each make take several turns.

Drum roll for each leap.
Response: claps and cheers. “May it be so.”

Sitting

When the excitement quietens down, and all are done.
“Let us sit with this healing, and name others for whom we desire this.”
After the naming:
“Feel this desire in you now. This is the primordial essence, that brings forth all things. May all these desires spoken and unspoken, be so.”

Communion

Celebrant holding up the plates of cake:
“Take and eat this Holy Cake, consume your desire.”
Put pieces of cake on two plates and pass in each direction. Each one repeat blessing to next.

Server take glasses to all. Celebrant holds up the wine.
“Take and drink. Taste and enjoy the sweetness of life.”
Pass a decanter of wine in each direction. Each repeat the blessing as they pour just a little (it is sweet) for the next. Offer juice for those who wish.

Open champagne: “Life, the Universe is a happening, a party and we are the champagne⁴⁹. May you enjoy a lightness of Being.”
Invite all to find and eat the doughnuts hanging about.

Storytelling

Space for speaking, and telling stories of Passion.

Open the Circle

All turning to the South
“We have remembered the presence of Air, how we desire Her, reach for Her. May we know peace within us.”
All: May we know peace within us.

All turning to the West
“We have remembered the presence of Earth, how we are held by Her, how we desire to make our mark with Her. May we know peace within us.”
All: May we know peace within us.

All turning to the North
“We have remembered the presence of Fire, how we desire Her, gather around Her. May we know peace within us.”
All: May we know peace within us.

All turning to the East
“We have remembered the presence of Water, how we desire Her, thirst for Her. May we know peace within us.”
All: May we know peace within us.

All turning to the Centre
“We have remembered that we are the Beauty whom She Desires – that the Beauty and Holy Desire of the Universe is within us, uniting us with all and with the cosmos. May we know peace within us and between us.” (all join hands)
All: May we know peace within us and between us.

“May the Delight and Ecstasy of the Divine – Goddess and God, Beloved and Lover – go in our hearts.”

Song

“The circle is open but unbroken. May the peace of the Goddess be ever in our hearts. Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.”

All: Blessed be!

Pass the kiss in both directions.

Dance Music⁵⁰

Points for individual contemplation prior to the Beltane ritual:

• your desires as the Universe desiring in you

• how you are the Beauty of the Rose, the Tree, or whatever you choose … “the Beauty whom She desires.”

• what you would weave into your life

• what you would leave behind to the flames – let the Flame of Love burn away.

SUMMER SOLSTICE

Note: some of the text has been changed from the paper version of the book

_{Fire ready off to side. Each brings a full rose or flower. Wrapped lollies (candy), small fruits, flowers in baskets. Golden yellow altar cloth with black ribbon. Wreath of roses, wildflowers, black ribbon near fireplace. Loaves of bread near fireplace and on altar. White wine and white grape juice. Queenly/regal/”best clothes” attire, and a small shoulder bag/pocket for “small edibles”. Dyad poem copies. Olive oil. Rattles, tambourines, drums}.

Each one take their rose/flower to pre-ritual contemplation with them – place in basket on altar upon gathering to the circle.

Call to Gather

drum beat, people come in moving in a circle to the rhythm – several circles, feeling the rhythm.

Centering/Breath Meditation

“Breathe deep, feel the weight of your body – sink into it. This is how Earth holds you. Visualise roots coming from your feet going deep into earth through the mantle and crust all the way down into her core. This is the Truth of whence we come. Breathe deep, and sink into your relationship with Her.

Breathe deep, and with each breath draw up from Her all that you desire … filling your bodymind to capacity, until you can draw it no longer, feeling the fullness … then letting it go. Again, breathe deep, fill your bodymind to capacity. Hold it a moment, feel the need to let go. Giving it away.

This is how Gaia breathes in our part of the world at this time. She is filling to capacity, and giving it away, letting go.”

Statement of Purpose

“This is the time of the Summer Solstice – when the light part of the day is longest. In our part of the world, light is in Her fullness, She spreads Her radiance, Her fruits ripen, Her greenery is everywhere, the cicadas sing. Yet as Light reaches Her peak, our closest contact with the Sun, She opens completely, and the seed of darkness is born.

As it says in the tradition, this is the time of the rose, blossom and thorn, fragrance and blood. The story of Old tells that on this day Goddess and God, Beloved and Lover⁵¹, embrace, in a love so complete, that all dissolves, into the single Song of ecstasy that moves the worlds. Our bliss, fully matured, given over, feeds the Universe and turns the wheel. We join the Beloved and Lover in the Great Give-Away of our Creativity, our Fullness of Being.”

Banishing

“Let us begin by remembering that we are each open channels for the moving energies of Life – Goddess and God, Beloved and Lover. Let us recall those voices that hold us back from being these open channels, fully who we might be – that block the flow.

Turn to a partner or group of three – expressing some of this if you like … dramatic if you like. If you would rather not speak, your consciousness is all that matters; but do listen to your partner – without comment.”

ALLOW A FEW MINUTES

“Let us banish those voices – move some of that energy, raise some energy – open up the channels.”

DRUMS AND RATTLES AND VOICE.

“Having made a start on banishing those states of being which throw us off balance, let us call upon those with which we may be in harmony.”

Creating the Sacred Space

All turning to the East
“Hail the East, Powers of Water – Cosmic Dynamic of Sensitivity.”
All: Hail the East, Powers of Water – Cosmic Dynamic of Sensitivity.
Celebrant: “… that absorbs, becomes, whatever it touches; may we feel what we are, and respond compassionately.”
DRUMS as ......... sprinkles water with oak branch.(each speak as they wish as water goes by – or conscious of their own relationship with water)
When water is placed back on altar:
All: May we feel what we are, and respond compassionately.”

All turning to the North
“Hail the North, Powers of Fire – Unseen Shaping Power of the Cosmos.”
All: Hail the North, Powers of Fire – Unseen Shaping Power of the Cosmos.
Celebrant: “… that gives us form – flames that we are; may we dance with you and act with Creative Lust for all of life.”
DRUMS as ….... lights the fire in the pot, carries it around. (each speak as they wish as fire goes by – or conscious of their own relationship with fire)
When fire is placed back on the altar:
All: May we dance with you and act with Creative Lust for all of life.

All turning to the West
“Hail the West, Powers of Earth, deep Sentient Presence and Memory.”
All: Hail the West, Powers of Earth, deep Sentient Presence and Memory.
Celebrant: “You hold all the stories of life in your Body – as each of our bodies do also; may we remember who we really are, may we hold the Wisdom of all time and no Time.”
DRUMS as ....…. holds up rock and carries it around. (each speak as they wish as earth goes by – or conscious of their own relationship with earth)
When rock is placed back on the altar:
All: May we remember who we really are, may we hold the Wisdom of all time and no Time.

All turning to the South
“Hail the South, Powers of Air, Cosmic Dynamic of Exuberance and Expression.”
All: Hail the South, Powers of Air, Cosmic Dynamic of Exuberance and Expression.
Celebrant: “Wind that moves the trees, the clouds, and allows us our voice; move us and inspire us to unfurl our being.”
DRUMS as …..…. lights smudge stick, carries it around.(each speak as they wish as smudge goes by – or conscious of own relationship with air)
When smudge is placed back on the altar:
All: Move us and inspire us to unfurl our being.

All turning to the Centre
“This is what we are – mysterious Flashes of Water, Fire, Earth and Air (PACING THE CIRCLE) – in this Dynamic Place of Being, this Sacred Interchange of form and formlessness – this Event. We are at Centre. The circle is cast, we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time and space, where light and dark, birth and death, joy and sorrow meet, as One.”
(light the centre candle)

Invocation

Celebrant: “Let us recognize and invoke the Sacred Fullness of the Mother, the Wholeness of the Universe, the Summerland – in each other.”
Celebrant start in two places – in different parts of the circle. Then each person pass the invocation to the next, around the circle:
“Hail …......., thou art the Sacred Fullness of the Mother: the Wholeness of the Universe, the Summerland, is within you. (Thou art Sovereign of Summer)”.
(bow of reverence, take their hand- optional)
Response: It is so.

“Let us continue the invocation of the Sacred Fullness present in us with a Conversation of Union.”

Dyad Poem⁵²

(inner and outer circles – facing each other) SLOW
Inner: ............................ Outer:
Nameless One…................. of many names
Eternal …........................... and ever changing One
Who is found nowhere …..... but appears everywhere
Beyond ….......................... and within all
Timeless …........................ circle of the seasons
Unknowable Mystery …....... known by all
Mother of all Life …............. Young One of the Dance
Engulf us with your love …... Be radiant within us
Inner circle step back into outer circle:
All (with actions): See with our eyes. Hear with our ears. Breathe with our nostrils. Touch with our hands. Kiss with our lips. Open our hearts … that we may live free, joyful in the Song of all that is.

Song/Toning

Begin with “O – Ah – Ay – Ee”, building on this, each flowing into their own sound and listening for the others – harmonising voices. Let it flow for a while, building and ebbing, until it comes to its own conclusion.

SILENCE FOR A MOMENT

The Give-Away⁵³

Celebrant and a few others pick up baskets of blossoms first, then baskets of lollies (candy), throwing handfuls of contents into the air – repeating the blessing;
“She gives it away, She pours it forth.
They – Beloved and Lover, give it away, They pour it forth.”

Celebrant and a few others do the same with baskets of small fruits, or hand larger fruits to people, with the same blessing.
(Everyone pick up lollies, fruit – puts them in pocket/bag.)

Spiral Dance and Chant

“Each pick up the rose or full flower you have contemplated – which represents your fullness of being, your radiance – and let us dance the Mystery of the Spiral.”
All pick up rose/flower and join hands, each holding their flower in linked right hand.
Celebrant leads into a spiral, as all chant, making sure to look into the eyes and faces of the passing people.

All chant:
“She is shining, crowned with light.
We are radiant, we are bright.
We dissolve into the night⁵⁴.”

The Fire

As the circle opens back out, lead to the fire at the side … light it.
“Let us join in the Great Give-Away, each give it away, give your Creative Fullness away … to the Universe – however you’d like to express it. Take your time.”

Each one comes forward in turn, and speaks if they wish, and throws their rose on the fire.
Response: “We bless you, and the Gift that you are”.

Silence and the Wreath⁵⁵

All stand watching the flowers burn.
Celebrant holds the wreath to each person’s face, so they can see the flames through it and says: “See with clear sight.”
She holds the wreath aloft, where person can see it, and says:
“And know the mystery of the unbroken circle.”

Communion

(Bread near fireplace)
Celebrant holds up the bread
“We are each the Bread of Life, ripening for consuming – feeding the world with our everyday acts and being. It is the Sun that ripens in us – bringing us to this creative fullness, this Radiance. We are the Sun. We are the grain, we are the Bread of Life.”

Each comes forward in turn, takes the bread from the celebrant and breaks off a piece, holds it up and affirms: “I am the grain, I am the Bread of Life.” (add more if they like)
Response: “It is the Sun that ripens in you. So may you shine!”

Celebrant holds up the wine
“We are each the Wine, poured out for the Mystery.
It is the Sun that ripens in us – bringing us to this creative fullness. We are the Sun. We are the grape, we are the Wine.”

Each comes forward in turn, takes the decanter of wine from the celebrant and a glass, pours their wine/juice, holds it up and affirms:
“I am the grape, I am the Wine.” (“I am the grape, I am the juice.”)
Response: “It is the Sun that ripens in you. So may you shine!”

Stories

“Let us sit and enjoy some of our fruits and lollies and tell each other stories of the fullness of Creativity, what you are creating – perhaps every day, what is peaking in you, flowering in you, perhaps what you want to give or have given – or whatever you would like to say.

Response: “May you be fruitful” or “We bless your creativity” or other appropriate formal response.

Open the Circle

All turning to the South
“We have remembered that we are Air,
Cosmic Dynamics of Exuberance and Expression
unfurling our being.
May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the West
“We have remembered that we are Earth,
deep Sentient Presence and Memory
holding all the stories of life in our bodies.
May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the North
“We have remembered that we are Fire,
vessels of unseen shaping power – dancing flames.
May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the East
“We have remembered that we are Water,
Cosmic Dynamics of Sensitivity
absorbing, becoming all that we touch.
May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the Centre
“We have remembered that we are open channels for the moving energies of life – the Sacred Fullness of the Mother, of the Universe – that the Creativity that pours forth from us is Divine – is what the Cosmos is made of. We have remembered that we are the Bread of Life – that our Passion released, may feed the world.
May there be peace within us and between us.” (all join hands)
All: May there be peace within us and between us.

“The circle is open but unbroken,
May the Peace of the One go in our hearts.”

All: It has been a merry meeting,
it is a merry parting,
may we merry meet again.
Blessed Be.

Pass the kiss in both directions.

Points for individual contemplation prior to the Summer Solstice ritual:

• the voices or what holds you back from being fully who you might be – what blocks the flow.

• how you and others are the “Fullness of the Mother, of the Universe”. Contemplate the Dyad Poem as a conversation of the interchange of form and formlessness.

• the rose/flower – what you give away to the Universe, how you feed the Universe with your daily creativity, your Passion, your actions.

• how you are the Bread of Life (connected to the third contemplation) – how it is the Sun in you that ripens, as much as Earth.

LAMMAS

_{Each bring a bread figure that they made with contemplation on what they fear. Wear black preferably, bring dark veil or dried garland. Black felt altar cloth. Dark rye bread on two plates & dark beer, red wine and dark grape juice. Dark foods such as licorice, prunes, black olives. Fire ready. Star carrots/cookies near fireplace. Small bowl of ash. Small basket of grain. Cauldron-like clay pots for all the elements. Centre candle on large cauldron-like claypot of earth with wreath of dried roses from Summer with wheat/grain heads, rosehips, flower pods. Music ready}.

Each take bread figures to to pre-ritual contemplation with them – place in basket on altar upon gathering to the circle.

Put on veils or garlands before contemplation.

Call to Gather

a bell, ringing several times continuously.

Centering

“The Hour is come. ‘For whom does the bell toll?’ (three times – different emphasis on toll, bell and whom each time.) ‘It tolls for thee.’

Breathe this breath that is yours, as if it were your first … do you remember that it was so? Breathe this breath that is yours, as if it were your last … do you remember that it will be so? Breathe it now, this breath that is yours … but not yours. We breathe this breath together (take hands) … we are the breath of the Cosmos in this time and in this place.”

After a few moments let go hands.

Statement of Purpose

(See Commentary – Notes on Chapter Seven, LAMMAS Notes )

“This is the season of the waxing dark. The seed of darkness that was born at the Summer Solstice now grows … the dark part of the days grows visibly longer. Earth’s tilt is taking us back away from the Sun. This is the time when we celebrate dissolution; each unique self lets go, to the Darkness. It is the time of ending, when the grain, the fruit, is harvested. We meet to remember the Dark Sentience, the All-Nourishing Abyss, She from whom we arise, in whom we are immersed and to whom, we return.
This is the time of the Crone, the Wise Dark One, who accepts and receives our harvest, who grinds the grain, who dismantles what has gone before. She is Hecate, Lillith, Medusa, Kali, Erishkagel – Divine Compassionate One. We meet to accept Her transformative embrace, trusting Her knowing, which is beyond all knowledge.”

“Let us slip between the worlds into Her dark space. Let us begin by remembering Her Recipe, the elements in Her Cauldron from whence we come.”

Creating the Sacred Space

All turning to the East
“Hail the East: Water we are –
filled with the ocean tides – in Her Cauldron of Creativity!”
Drum for several beats – water person wait.
Each presented with cauldron (clay pot) of water, ladles it into their hand, holds it to the East and responds:
“Water I am! – in Her cauldron of Creativity! (- add whatever else).” (sip the water)

All turning to the North
“Hail the North: Fire we are –
sparks of ancient heat – in Her Cauldron of Creativity!”
Drum for several beats– fire person to wait.
Each presented with the firepot, lights a match from the firepot, holds it to the North and responds:
“Fire I am! – in Her cauldron of Creativity! (- add whatever else).” (dead match into a clay pot held by an assistant)

All turning to the West.
“Hail the West: Earth we are –
geoformations – in Her Cauldron of Creativity!”
Drum for several beats – earth person to wait.
Each presented with cauldron of earth, takes some, holds it to the West and responds: “Earth I am! – in Her cauldron of Creativity! (- add whatever else).” (Put earth back, and touch ‘dirty’ hand to own forehead/throat/ chest)

All turning to the South.
“Hail the South: Air we are-
particles of light and inspiration – in Her Cauldron of Creativity!”
Drum for several beats – air person to wait.
Each presented with the cauldron with lit smudge stick in it, lifts it out, holds it to the South and responds: “Air I am! – in Her cauldron of Creativity!” (- add whatever else).” (put smudge stick back)

All turning to the Centre. “This is Her recipe – Water, Fire, Earth and Air (PACING THE CIRCLE) – we are made from this, these are our Origins. We are at the Centre, in Her Cauldron of Creativity. Her Centre is Here.
The circle is cast, we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of space and time, where light and dark, birth and death, joy and sorrow meet as one.”
(light centre candle)

Invocation

(See Commentary – Notes on Chapter Seven, LAMMAS Notes for possible changes to this process )

Bowl of ash and basket of wheat grains in one hand and arm.
Celebrant to each: ” ......... you are the grain that is harvested – you are Her Harvest (put wheat in their hand); remember Her Dark Sentience within you (touch their forehead with ash).”
Response: “I am She, Dark and Ancient Wise One.” (add or express own words)

Sitting (with music⁵⁶)

“Contemplate Her now within you – this Dark and Ancient Wise One.”

After a few moments or more:
“All stand – put your grains in the centre”.

Dissolution – the Bread Figures⁵⁷

(See Commentary – Notes on Chapter Seven, LAMMAS Notes for possible changes to this process )

.......... (perhaps with black veil over her face) takes the basket of bread figures around and invites each to take their bread figure from the basket:
“What holds you back from opening to the Old Compassionate One, what do you fear?”
Each person speaks if they wish, then summarizes with one or a few words that the group can repeat in a chant.
............ and the group repeat the answer – chant style (a few times).
After circle is complete: hold up the bread figures.
Celebrant: “Let us take all our fears and give them to the Old Compassionate One, She who receives all, She who transforms all.”
Each chant again – their own fears primarily, moving in a circle. Let it build.
Celebrant lead a procession with the chant continuing until reaching the fireplace.
Light the fire.
Each steps forward in turn and tosses their bread figure on the fire: “To the Old Compassionate One -the Creative One who transforms all”.

All respond: May it be so!

Silence

“Everything passes, all fades away⁵⁸. May we open our Hearts.” A few moments of silence as we watch the bread figures burn.

“I am Love”

Celebrant (holding the basket of stars): “She says: I am Love, I am the All-Nourishing Abyss. All manifestation springs from me – you have given yourself back. You will reap the harvest, you will proceed in joy and abundance … for this is the Mystery.”

The Hoped for Harvest⁵⁹

Celebrant takes the basket of star carrots/cookies around to each.
“What do you hope to harvest? What do you hope for?”
Each responds, then summarizes with one or a few words that the group can repeat in a chant.
Celebrant and the group repeat the answer – chant style (a few times).
After circle is complete: “Let us carry all our hopes back to the circle and gestate them.”
Each chant again, their own hopes primarily, as the group processes back to the circle.
Celebrant holds up her star: ”May all these hoped for harvests be so.”
All respond: “May it be so!”
All eat the stars.

Music⁶⁰

Communion

Celebrant hold up plate of dark rye bread and decanter of dark beer:
“May you be nourished by Her Harvest. Let Her Rich Creative Darkness soak through you.”
Pass the bread to people either side (two plates, bread on each):
“May you be nourished by Her Harvest.” Each repeat the blessing around the circle, as they offer the bread.

(Assistant distribute glasses to each person)
Pass the dark beer to people either side (2 decanters):
“Let Her Rich Creative Darkness soak through you.”
Each repeat the blessing around the circle, as they offer the beer/wine/juice.

Offer other dark foods – licorice, prunes, dark olives.

Story Space

“Perhaps there are stories of things you are letting go of, perhaps stories of loss, perhaps stories of harvests.”

Dance – Harvest Dance⁶¹

“Let us dance in celebration of the Harvest – our harvests and the Harvest of these times. Can the grub imagine the butterfly she will become? Can we imagine what will emerge?”

Open the Circle

All turning to South
“We have remembered that we are Her recipe –
that we are Air, in Her Cauldron. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the West
“We have remembered that we are Earth in her Cauldron. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the North
“We have remembered that we are Fire, in Her Cauldron. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the East
“We have remembered that we are Water, in Her Cauldron. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the Centre
“We have remembered that we are Divine – Sacred and Ancient Wise One, we have remembered the Dark Sentience, the All-Nourishing Abyss to whom we belong, in whom we are immersed. We have remembered our fears and our hopes. We have remembered that our harvest is Her Harvest.
May there be peace within us and between us.” (all join hands)
All: May there be peace within us and between us.

“The circle is open but unbroken
May the Peace and Harmony of Goddess – the Mystery – go in our hearts.”

All: It has been a merry meeting
It is a merry parting
May we merry meet again
Blessed Be!

(Pass the kiss in both directions)

Music⁶²

Points for individual contemplation prior to the Lammas ritual:

• your own demise, the passing of your breath, the passing on of your “harvest”.

• the Dark and ancient Wise One within you – how you are this, the Wisdom and Transformations of the Ages of Gaia within you.

• your bread figure – what do you fear? What holds you back from opening to the Old Compassionate One – the One who transforms all?

• What do you hope to “harvest” – what are your hopes?

MABON

_{Wreath with wheat/grain heads and Autumn leaves, around centre candle. Three wheat stalks tied with red ribbon for each partticipant – all wrapped in cloth and tied ceremoniously with long thick red ribbon. Purple triangle overlaid on autumn coloured altar cloth⁶³. Basket of bulbs. Each bring fruit or wine or juice or cake/cookies/fancy bread – next to themselves in circle. Glasses, plates, cutlery, bottle openers ready. Each bring a plant pot with soil – put outside (in “Underworld”) near large pot full of soil, with small spades. Garden flame torches to light path to the pots. Lantern. Each bring a shawl – and stories of loss/grief. Tissues. Bells. Bowl of water and towel near “gate” of the “Underworld” for handwashing. Music ready. Bowl of pomegranate seeds in Underworld. Red threads available}.

Call to Gather

energetic drumming

Statement of Purpose and Centering

“This is the time of Mabon, the Autumnal Equinox, the moment of balance of light and dark in the dark part of the cycle. The light and dark parts of the day in the South and in the North of our planet, are of equal length this day.

Feel the balance in this moment – Earth as She is poised in relationship with the Sun. Feel for your own balance of light and dark within. Breathe into it. Breathe in the light, swell with it, let your breath go into the dark, stay with it. Feel for your centre, shift on your feet, from left to right, ..... breathe into it.

In our part of Earth, the balance is about to tip into the dark. Feel the shift within you, see in your mind’s eye the descent ahead, the darkness growing, remember the coolness of it. This is the time when we give thanks for our harvests – the abundance we have reaped. Yet we remember too the losses. The story of Old tells us that Persephone is given the wheat – the Mystery, knowledge of life and death – for this she gives thanks. But she sets forth into the darkness – both Mother and Daughter grieve that it is so.

Let us enter the sacred space, wherein we may speak the Mystery. Let us begin by remembering who we are and from whence we come.”

Creating the Sacred Space

All turning to the East
“We are from the East, and we remember that we are Water.
She is alive in us and we in Her.”
………. carry water around and sprinkle it on participants. (AVANTI)
Each respond as they feel the water: “I remember that I am Water. She is alive in me and I in Her.” (producing a cacophony effect)

All turning to the North
“We are from the North and we remember that we are Fire.
She is alive in us and we in Her.”
……….. light and carry the fire around the circle. (AVANTI)
Each respond as they feel the fire: “I remember that I am Fire. She is alive in me and I in Her.” (producing a cacophony effect)

All turning to the West
“We are from the West and we remember that we are Earth.
She is alive in us and we in Her.”
……. carry a rock or bowl of earth around for each to touch. (AVANTI)
Each responds as they feel the earth:”I remember that I am Earth. She is alive in me, and I in Her.” (producing a cacophony effect)

All turning to the South
“We are from the South and we remember that we are Air.
She is alive in us and we in Her.”
……. light and carry smudge around. (AVANTI)
Each responds as they smell the smudge: “I remember that I am Air. She is alive in me, and I in Her.” (producing a cacophony effect)

All turning to the Centre
“We remember that we have been present you and I, in the East, in the North, in the West, in the South, we have been present always in each stage of Gaia’s story – She is alive in us and we in Her. We are at Centre, which is everywhere. The circle is cast, we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of space and time, where light and dark, birth and death, joy and sorrow meet as One.”
(light centre candle)

Invocation

“Let us call Demeter.”
Chant and drums – with a facilitator to co-ordinate and orchestrate.
All (as celebrant ties on mask of Demeter, adds to her costume and picks up bundles of wheat): “Demeter , Demeter – Mother we call you, Mother we call you.”
LET ENERGY BUILD
When “Demeter” is ready and standing waiting, the group finishes with “Demeter!”
“Demeter” walks the circle twice ceremoniously untying the ribbon and unwrapping the cloth. She holds up the wheat bundles for all to see, stating:
“You are offered the wheat in every moment.”

“Demeter” goes to each one: ( Note: slight changes have been made to the way this is expressed as my undertanding grows: see Commentary Chapter Seven notes – MABON for latest version and post #2 and 3 in Autumn Equinox/Mabon reflections )

”(name), I give you the wheat – the Mystery – the knowledge of life and death. I let you go as Daughter(Child⁶⁴), most loved of Mine … you become Queen(Sovereign⁶⁵). You will return as Mother⁶⁶, co-Creator with me. You are the Seed in the Fruit, that becomes the Fruit in the Seed. Inner Wisdom guides your path.”

Response: “It is so. I am Daughter(Child), becoming Mother – Seed becoming Fruit. The Mother knowledge grows within me.” (each may vary and add words as desired to express self)

Celebrant takes off her mask and extra “Demeter” garments, and is given the wheat and invocation by another participant.

Thanksgiving for the Harvest

“Let us give thanks for our harvests – this harvest we are given in every moment, all that we have gained.”

Each one picks up their “harvest” and puts it in the centre, stating:
“I give thanks for my harvest of …
Response: “Your life, it is blessed.” OR “Your harvest, it is wonderful. We hear your joy.”

Celebrant; “We have harvested much, our lives are blessed. We are Daughters and Sons of the Mother. ”

Remembering the Losses and Sorrow⁶⁷

“It is time now to take our Wisdom, and remember the sorrows – the losses involved. Let us put on our shawls and remember the grief of the Mother, of mothers and lovers⁶⁸ everywhere, our grief.”

All put shawls on – may put shawls over head.

MUSIC⁶⁹ on.
“Persephone descends. The Beloved One is lost.”
All process in a circle.

Participants may speak names and events etc for whom and what they grieve spontaneously as the music plays⁷⁰. “I remember …”
Response: “For this we grieve.”

Repeat for as long as necessary.

Celebrant: “Sit with a partner now and tell each other anything further in your heart, the losses you grieve … or just sit with each other in silence.”

Celebrant ring bell after a few minutes as the cue to switch.

Ring bell to bring to silence.

Song

(start softly)
“Ancient Mother we hear you calling, ancient Mother we hear your song.
Ancient Mother our grief and pain is yours, ancient Mother we taste your tears⁷¹.”

Silence

The Hope of Persephone

The basket of bulbs is passed around. Each take one.
“Persephone goes forth into the darkness to become Queen of that world. She tends the sorrows. These represent our Persephones, who tends the sorrows – we are the Persephones, who may tend the sorrows. Let us go out into the night with Her and plant our seeds. Let us go out into the night with Her and plant our seeds.”

All begin singing the chorus of “Changing Woman⁷²”:
“She changes everything She touches, everything She touches, changes.”

Celebrant takes the lit lantern, and all follow her outside (to the “Underworld”).
Each plants their bulb in their pot, as the singing continues. Co-celebrants may sing the verses of the song.

Story – (see Commentary Chapter Seven notes – MABON)

When all are done planting, a co-celebrant reads an excerpt of the story of Persephone⁷³.

“In the crook of Her arm Persephone held Her Mother’s wheat close to Her breast, while Her other arm held the torch aloft. She was startled by the chill as She descended, but She was not afraid. Deeper and deeper into the darkness She continued, picking her way along the rocky path. For many hours She was surrounded only by silence. Gradually She became aware of a low moaning sound. It grew in intensity until She rounded a corner and entered an enormous cavern, where thousands of the dead milled about aimlessly, hugging themselves, shaking their heads, and moaning in despair.

Persephone moved through the forms to a large, flat rock and ascended. She produced a stand for her torch, a vase for Her Mother’s grain, and a large shallow bowl piled with pomegranate seeds, the food of the dead. As She stood before them, Her aura increased in brightness and in warmth.

I am Persephone and I have come to be your Queen. Each of you has left the body you knew, and resides in the realm of the manifesting – the realm of the dead. If you come to Me, I will initiate you into your new world.

She beckoned those nearest to step up onto the rock close to Her. As each one came before Her Persephone embraced them and then stepped back and gazed into the eyes. She reached for a few pomegranate seeds, squeezing them between Her fingers. She painted the forehead with a broad swatch of the red juice and slowly pronounced:

You have waxed into the fullness of life,
And waned into darkness;
May you be renewed in tranquility and wisdom.

Pomegranate Seeds

Pass pomegranate seeds around. Each squeeze a few and mark another on the forehead, repeating the blessing if they like.
Moment of silence – then return to:
“She changes everything She touches, everything She touches, changes”, as all move back inside, carrying the pots with them.

An attendant at the door helps with holding pots while each rinses their hands.

Communion

Celebrant holds the pot up:
“These represent our hope. The Seed of life never fades away. She is always present. Blessed be the Mother of all life. Blessed be the life that comes from Her and returns to Her⁷⁴.”

Response: “It is so”.

“Let us eat, drink and enjoy Her gifts and give thanks.”
All join in cutting cake or whatever is there, opening wine, and serving each other.

Participants may put red threads on. ( See Commentary – Notes on Chapter Seven, MABON – this has now been made into a ritual process, and is in the new edition of the paper version 2008.)

Storytelling

Let us tell each other stories of the Sacred Balance- the Care that we feel and know. Or anything else you would like to say …

Open the Circle (Note that in the paper version of PaGaian Cosmology – p.246 – there are errors in this section, which have been corrected in this on-line version).

All turning to the South
“We have remembered that we are Air, that She is alive in us and we in Her. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the West
“We have remembered that we are Earth, that She is alive in us and we in Her. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the North
“We have remembered that we are Fire, that She is alive in us and we in Her. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the East
“We have remembered that we are Water, that She is alive in us and we in Her. May there be peace within us.”
All: May there be peace within us.

All turning to the Centre
“Take up your sheaves of wheat, and your pots. We have remembered that we have been given the Mystery – Her knowledge is within us. We are the Seed in the Fruit, becoming the Fruit in the Seed. We have remembered our harvests, our sorrows and our hope. We have remembered the Sacred Balance of the Cosmos – the Thread of Life, the Seed that never fades away: it is within us, within our Hearts. We feel it.
May there be peace within us and between us.” (all join hands)
All: May there be peace within us and between us.

Pass the kiss in both directions.

Song

“The circle is open but unbroken. May the peace of the Goddess be ever in our hearts. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.’

All: Blessed Be!

Points for individual contemplation prior to the Mabon ritual<