In the Winter Solstice Communion blessing as it has been done in PaGaian tradition, the participants, are named as “Cake for the Queen of Heaven and Earth”[1]: it is a reference from a biblical text (Jeremiah) where it is noted that the women are (still) baking cakes for the Queen of Heaven, Astarte[2]- it’s hard to stop a good thing!  So in the ceremonial communion rite we are invoking an ancient practice, except that now within the current context we are also acknowledging ourselves as the Cosmic cake. We are all consumed, in every moment and ultimately, and we co-create the recipe and the food that we are and do become, so we might as well aspire to be delicious; and cake seems a good metaphor for all of that. Rich fruit cake that takes some time to prepare is a traditional food for Winter Solstice (and Christmas) celebrations, and apparently some form of cake has been enjoyed by Mother Goddess since very early times in the human story. The full blessing, as the cake is upheld by the celebrant, and then spoken again to each as the cake is passed around the circle is:

You are Cake, for the Queen of Heaven and Earth, for the Universe. May you enjoy and be enjoyed.

The celebrant also upholds a decanter of red wine/dark juice, and it is passed around to each, with this blessing:

You are Wine poured out for the Mystery, may your flavour be full.

Ceremonial participants are thus invited to enjoy some of Her delights, some delights of coming into being, which is celebrated particularly at Winter Solstice, and to “remember that we also are Her delights”[3]. May we be so en-tranced; entering into being and becoming accordingly – for self, other and all.

© Glenys Livingstone 2019.

NOTES:

[1]Glenys Livingstone, PaGaian Cosmology: Re-inventing Earth-based Goddess Religion, p. 200 (Chapter 7).

[2]I first heard of this biblical reference from Shirley Ranck at the Graduate Theological Union in 1977-78, when we were both students there. Shirley developed a curriculum and rite called Cakes for the Queen of Heaven, which is an excellent feminist rejuvenation of a ancient Goddess practice. Not all Bibles include any reference to Astarte at all, but the Jerusalem Bible does.

[3]Glenys Livingstone, PaGaian Cosmology: Re-inventing Earth-based Goddess Religion, p. 200 (Chapter 7).

For a PaGaian Winter Solstice Meditation:

Winter Solstice/Yule
Meditation:
$2.80

(Track 5 and 6, CD 1 of PaGaian Cosmology Meditations)