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

176 Creating Circles & Ceremonies
Cherish it and claim it. Take a breath and
release it.
Focus on those you stand among. Your
brothers and sisters. Your kin, who wonder
and worry if they are loved, if they’ll keep
their job, if maybe that lump is cancer, wonder
if you even see them. Claim your humanity
with them. Take a breath and release it.
Focus on the Earth and the Elements; the
plants and animals, rocks and seasons, the sun
and the stars and beyond where your mind can
conceivably grasp, where it dissolves in wonder
and terror. Take a breath and release it.
From the stars to Earth to our tribe gathered
here, from your face and your eyes, into
your shadows—
We are one. We are one. We are one. Everyone
breathe one last breath, hold it and
release it altogether with a sound.
CIRCLE CASTING (Priestess):
Round like a belly, the womb of rebirth
Round like the planet, our Mother, the Earth
Round like the cycles that ebb and that flow,
Round us a circle from which we shall grow.
Around us the trees fall, the Earth cries for rain;
Within us our souls call, crying with pain.
Around us a world getting lost in despair;
Around us a system that just doesn’t care.
But here is a Circle to work and to learn;
Here is a place where we make the world turn.
As magic is made within this sacred ground,
With our hearts and our will shall this
Circle be bound.
Gods full of wisdom, power and depth,
Our Circle’s Your cycle of life and of death.
Give us Your guidance in all that we do;
Give us Your blessings to heal and renew!
CHANT (Ps):
Round and round the Earth is turning
Turning always round to morning
And from morning round to night. (x3)
CALLING THE DIRECTIONS
PRIEST: We call forth now the Elemental
Children of Gaia…
PRIESTESS: (Chants)
Children of Gaia, Come to us now,
We claim you as our own! (Gestures to all)
ALL: CHILDREN OF GAIA, COME TO US NOW,
WE CLAIM YOU AS OUR OWN!
EAST: (Steps forward) I am the Air of
Gaia:
The winds, the hurricanes and breezes,
The scent of flowers,
The vibrations of birdsong and drums.
I am Gaia’s breath, echoed in your own.
(Steps back into Circle)
ALL: CHILDREN OF GAIA, COME TO US NOW,
WE CLAIM YOU AS OUR OWN!
SOUTH: (Steps forward) I am the Fires of Gaia:
The volcanoes and geysers, the hot fluid core,
Alive and changing, the lightning, the sparks,
The slow smoldering chemistry of life.
ALL: CHILDREN OF GAIA, COME TO US NOW,
WE CLAIM YOU AS OUR OWN!
WEST: (Steps forth) I am the Waters of Gaia:
The rain and rivers, the seas and the snows.
We are the fluid in Gaia’s veins—
Feel us in your blood and tears.
ALL: CHILDREN OF GAIA, COME TO US NOW,
WE CLAIM YOU AS OUR OWN!
NORTH: (Steps out) I am the Earthwork of Gaia:
Mountains and caverns, beaches and canyons,
Crystals, metals, and gems.
We are Gaia’s flesh and bones.
(Steps back into Circle)
ALL: CHILDREN OF GAIA, COME TO US NOW,
WE CLAIM YOU AS OUR OWN!
Ps: The Elemental Forces are here and it is good.
Now let us call forth the living beings:
Children of Gaia.
ALL: CHILDREN OF GAIA, COME TO US NOW,
WE CLAIM YOU AS OUR OWN!
FAUNA: (Steps forward) I am Fauna;
I stand for the animals.
Finned, furred, feathered, scaled and skinned.
We are Gaia’s Children.
We call to the humans to see us as your kin.
(Steps back into Circle)
ALL: CHILDREN OF GAIA, COME TO US NOW,
WE CLAIM YOU AS OUR OWN!
FLORUS: (Steps forward) I am Florus;
I stand for vegetation.