Creating Circles and Ceremonies: Rituals for All ... - reading...

Book II: Rites & Rituals 123
II. Dedications
Congressional Office Dedication Ritual
By Diane Darling
The Green Party of California’s gubernatorial candidate was former U.S. Congressman
Dan Hamburg. He and his wife live in Ukiah. Our kids went to school together and I’ve worked
on some of Dan’s other political campaigns, including defeating a recall vote which had been
incited against Dan when he was a county supervisor, for being too “green” for the liking of local
developers and law-and-order types. After that he was elected to Congress as a Democrat.
In 1993, when he first opened his congressional office in Ukiah, Dan and his staff invited
Sister Jane, the local activist nun, and me to bless the place and the work they would be doing
there. I accepted gladly and contemplated what this meant. For me, it meant coming out to the
entire liberal community of Mendocino County as a Pagan priestess. And it meant Dan recognized
us Pagans as important constituents. Dan and his staff valued the blessings of our gods
sufficiently to request a public rite, in front of the mayor, the county supervisors, and everyone!
On the appointed day, I arrived with Oberon, with votive figures of Athena and Gaia, and a
special elixir made of spring water, eau de vie, powdered unicorn horn, and yohimbe. I set up a
small altar on Dan’s desk and waited nervously while a wide assortment of folks arrived to hobnob.
It was a very inclusive crowd: silver-buckle cowboys, long-haired attorneys, most of the
local liberals and activists, ranchers, grape growers, pot growers, winemakers, and therapists.
And there was me in my blazing tie-dye, Oberon with his old-growth hair, and Dan in a suit.
Dan said a few words about his new job in D.C., and then invited Sister Jane to say a prayer.
To my great astonishment, she began with “Heavenly Mother, Heavenly Father…” The Goddess
was invoked before the Pagan stuff ever began! Then I introduced myself as a lay priestess
from the Church of All Worlds, a green, Earth-centered religion. I explained that, as polytheists,
we regarded our gods as specialists, and for this occasion I would invoke Athena, matron of
justice and sovereignty, in whose name we would banish all ill and bless this space.
I showed them the little statues of Athena and Gaia, and then began:
Hail Athene, wise warrioress
Loyal protectress of hearth and sovereign state,
Sea-washed daughter of Metis and Olympos’ king.
Nike stands on Your right hand
Her victory laurels offered up.
We invite you to bless this office and its staff
In the names of Freedom, Justice and Wise Council,
In the name of the people served
Through the office of our champion in Congress,
Dan Hamburg.
With an owl feather, turning widdershins:
First banish doubt — let our work be just and compassionate
Next banish fear — for this work is right and our time is now
Banished be the small view — for thousands of hearts are with us
Lastly banish weary despair — for Earth’s heroes are massing
In our lifetimes the Sun rises on a new, green era.
Taking up a blooming laurel twig and the elixir, asperging the celebrants and especially the
congressman, turning deosil:
Let the Sun shine here in every corner, in every heart
Let the sweet Winds bring change, laughter, lively speech and Motherwit.
Let the Waters of Life spring forth to cleanse and quicken and refresh