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

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

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22.09.2013 Views

212 Creating Circles & Ceremonies our favorite things to do were inner-tubing down the river and wallowing in a “primal ooze pit.” This was made by positioning an inflatable kids’ swimming pool over a shallow pit dug in the sand, with a thin slick “ooze” made with water and powdered white porcelain slip we bought at a ceramics supply store. We’d let the ooze dry on our skin, and then wash it off in the river. Fireworks would light up the night, with drumming and dancing around the great bonfire. At Your House Litha is a classic time for magick of all kinds. Celebrate nature’s sacrifice and renewal, and make changes in your own life. Make a protective solar talisman to put up on your door. Nurture your crops, and harvest magickal herbs from your garden. Decorate your altars with summer flowers and sun images; use a white altar cloth and candles, and fill your chalice with water. Some sort of fire on your altar is important, so use candles or votives. Include fresh fruits as a reminder of the Earth’s bounty. A symbol or picture of Earth on your altar is a gentle reminder to honor her. Add flowers of gold, orange, and yellow; roses are traditional. Litha is also a special time for honoring and blessing animals, so bring your pets and familiars into your Circle and give them special treats and attention. Since Litha is just before American Independence Day on July 4, you can often buy fireworks at this time (unless they are illegal in your state, and/or you live in a very dry area with high fire danger in the summer). My favorites are fountains, which can be safely set off at a beach, around a campfire, or on the driveway. These have the colored sparkles and special effects of the high-exploding skyrockets, without the dangers of shooting them into the air. Each firework can be set off as a spell, naming the purpose before you light it. Be sure to keep a water hose handy just in case any sparks get away! Summer Solstice - June 21st Also called Midsummer’s Eve/Day, Litha T heme: Union 1 By Ruth Barrett Summer Solstice marks the peak of the solar cycle at midsummer. In the midst of the longest day of the year, we simultaneously begin our return to the dark half of the year. The exact date of the Summer Solstice fluctuates each calendar year between June 20 and 23. At Winter Solstice the underlying energy is passive and concerns visioning, but the seasonal energy at Summer Solstice is active: It’s about doing and expanding, living the dream envisioned in the dreamtime of winter. At the peak point of summer bloom, prayers for blessings on the crops are asked of the Goddess. The Earth is fertile, and the womb of the Earth Mother is now ripe with life as she begins to pour forth her creations in the form of growing fields, trees, flowers, and animals. Two fire traditions were practiced widely on Summer Solstice, sometimes called “Bonfire Night.” One old Irish custom dictated that a community fire was to be lit exactly at sunset, and had to be watched and tended until long after midnight. The communal fire was built and lit by the inhabitants of a whole town, or several towns, and celebrated with music, dancing, fire jumping, singing, and other ceremonies. The family fire was a smaller fire lit by members of each household for the benefit of their particular household or farm. The family fire was a quiet affair in which protective ceremonies were the main concern. In some villages, the inhabitants took embers or ashes from the family fire, or from the community fire, and threw a portion into each field, or on the four corners of each field, in order to protect them from damaging weather such as drought or hail storms. The cattle of the farm were herded together and driven through the smoke of an outdoor bonfire. In Ireland, this was also a traditional time for medicinal herb gathering. 2

Book III: W heel of the Year 213 207. Summer, Summer Corn-doll of Beltane, Maiden of Summer Borne up each hill and down every glen Radiant lasses in their white dresses We have brought only the Summer in Ch: Summer, Summer, milk freshly flowing We have brought only the Summer in Golden Summer, opening daisies We have brought only the Summer in We brought it with us from branching forest We have brought only the Summer in Golden Summer of Sun’s descending We have brought only the Summer in In the sky warbling song of the blackbird Joy without end and flowers on the trees The cuckoo and blackbird are singing for pleasure We have brought naught but the Summer in! —Traditional lyrics adapted by Artemisia Gaelic transliteration by Jim Duran 208. Midsummer Fires In the Vale of Glamorgan, there I saw A cart wheel all covered in straw Set alight, then rolled downhill Augur for harvest, good or ill If out before it reaches the end Poor harvests now bad weather send If lighted all its fall, and still longer Abundant crops will grow for farmer. At Buckfastleigh is lit upon on sunset Midsummer wheel that luck may get If guided by sticks, it meets the stream Fortune will shine within its beam A flaming chariot is shown in part Bringing delight and joy to heart As sun now wheeling through the sky Brings living warmth to you and I. In Shropshire, upon St John’s Eve Three fires do they carefully weave A bonfire of clean bones, no wood Of wood, no bones, the wakefire should Keep on burning through the night Watched by all, for second sight And lastly, made of wood and bones St John’s fire is lit upon old stones. At Penzance, tar barrels set on fire With music played on harp or lyre Folk walk this way, sing loud and raucous Holding forth torches of blazing canvas Then link hands, and dance in circle “Threading the needle,” rhythmical Over the dying embers, fading light As the evening falls to night. In Ireland, when fire dulls to reddish glow Men leap over the flames in show When lower still, young girls can leap Thrice back and forth a man to keep Married women walk upon the embers Secure good will for family members Then all take back within one hand To their own house, a sacred brand. Midsummer Eve, and fires are lit The solar nexus reaches summit Spoked wheel pauses, then rolls on We chant at equinox in antiphon Lay out the candles for spectacle In pattern of five, a pentacle Of customs old, and customs now Upon the Ancient Burial How. —Tony 209. Hail to Juno Hail to Juno, our Protectoress! Liberator of the people; Patroness of babes and mothers, Walk with us between the worlds. —Sanura & Diane DesRochers Healing Gaia’s Children Summer Solstice 2000 at the Hog Farm by Liza Gabriel & Oberon Zell-Ravenheart Before ritual: Totem pole raising, teach chants and distribute song sheets. Bardic: MC’d by Darryl, Artemisia, and others. Food Blessing: “Give Thanks to the Mother Gaia.”

Book III: W heel of the Year 213<br />

207. Summer, Summer<br />

Corn-doll of Beltane, Maiden of Summer<br />

Borne up each hill <strong>and</strong> down every glen<br />

Radiant lasses in their white dresses<br />

We have brought only the Summer in<br />

Ch: Summer, Summer, milk freshly flowing<br />

We have brought only the Summer in<br />

Golden Summer, opening daisies<br />

We have brought only the Summer in<br />

We brought it with us from branching <strong>for</strong>est<br />

We have brought only the Summer in<br />

Golden Summer of Sun’s descending<br />

We have brought only the Summer in<br />

In the sky warbling song of the blackbird<br />

Joy without end <strong>and</strong> flowers on the trees<br />

The cuckoo <strong>and</strong> blackbird are singing <strong>for</strong><br />

pleasure<br />

We have brought naught but the Summer in!<br />

—Traditional lyrics adapted by Artemisia<br />

Gaelic transliteration by Jim Duran<br />

208. Midsummer Fires<br />

In the Vale of Glamorgan, there I saw<br />

A cart wheel all covered in straw<br />

Set alight, then rolled downhill<br />

Augur <strong>for</strong> harvest, good or ill<br />

If out be<strong>for</strong>e it reaches the end<br />

Poor harvests now bad weather send<br />

If lighted all its fall, <strong>and</strong> still longer<br />

Abundant crops will grow <strong>for</strong> farmer.<br />

At Buckfastleigh is lit upon on sunset<br />

Midsummer wheel that luck may get<br />

If guided by sticks, it meets the stream<br />

Fortune will shine within its beam<br />

A flaming chariot is shown in part<br />

Bringing delight <strong>and</strong> joy to heart<br />

As sun now wheeling through the sky<br />

Brings living warmth to you <strong>and</strong> I.<br />

In Shropshire, upon St John’s Eve<br />

Three fires do they carefully weave<br />

A bonfire of clean bones, no wood<br />

Of wood, no bones, the wakefire should<br />

Keep on burning through the night<br />

Watched by all, <strong>for</strong> second sight<br />

And lastly, made of wood <strong>and</strong> bones<br />

St John’s fire is lit upon old stones.<br />

At Penzance, tar barrels set on fire<br />

With music played on harp or lyre<br />

Folk walk this way, sing loud <strong>and</strong> raucous<br />

Holding <strong>for</strong>th torches of blazing canvas<br />

Then link h<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> dance in circle<br />

“Th<strong>reading</strong> the needle,” rhythmical<br />

Over the dying embers, fading light<br />

As the evening falls to night.<br />

In Irel<strong>and</strong>, when fire dulls to reddish glow<br />

Men leap over the flames in show<br />

When lower still, young girls can leap<br />

Thrice back <strong>and</strong> <strong>for</strong>th a man to keep<br />

Married women walk upon the embers<br />

Secure good will <strong>for</strong> family members<br />

Then all take back within one h<strong>and</strong><br />

To their own house, a sacred br<strong>and</strong>.<br />

Midsummer Eve, <strong>and</strong> fires are lit<br />

The solar nexus reaches summit<br />

Spoked wheel pauses, then rolls on<br />

We chant at equinox in antiphon<br />

Lay out the c<strong>and</strong>les <strong>for</strong> spectacle<br />

In pattern of five, a pentacle<br />

Of customs old, <strong>and</strong> customs now<br />

Upon the Ancient Burial How.<br />

—Tony<br />

209. Hail to Juno<br />

Hail to Juno, our Protectoress!<br />

Liberator of the people;<br />

Patroness of babes <strong>and</strong> mothers,<br />

Walk with us between the worlds.<br />

—Sanura & Diane DesRochers<br />

Healing Gaia’s Children<br />

Summer Solstice 2000 at the Hog Farm<br />

by Liza Gabriel & Oberon Zell-Ravenheart<br />

Be<strong>for</strong>e ritual: Totem pole raising, teach chants <strong>and</strong> distribute song sheets.<br />

Bardic: MC’d by Darryl, Artemisia, <strong>and</strong> others.<br />

Food Blessing: “Give Thanks to the Mother Gaia.”

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