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

222 Creating Circles & Ceremonies
essential that might impede its fruition. Look at the priorities in your life and review them to see
if they are consistent with what you say you want or need. Initiate any necessary changes.
• Celebrate the abundance of the Earth by making and sharing a feast of fresh seasonal
fruits, grains, and vegetables.
• Bake bread and taste the gift of life. Shape it into a Goddess figure, and share the bounty
of her body at a seasonal ritual or feast.
• Give thanks for the gifts around you and for good fortune in your life.
• Find ways to taste what you have accomplished in the growing season.
• Honor your leadership skills or the ways in which you have supported others with wisdom.
• Take a festive picnic meal to the mountains, ocean, or a river.
• Send intentional energy through dance and song to ensure a harvest or the completion of
projects, etc., which you have been nurturing along.
• Commit or re-commit yourself to animal and/or environmental activism to protect the
Earth and her creatures from further pollution or extermination.
Attend to recycling. Teach and encourage others to do the same.
• Find ways to give back to the Goddess for her gifts.
• Share with or provide food to those who have less than you.
John Barleycorn Ritual
By Oberon & Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart, 1976
This ritual is a Mystery play to be enacted in pantomime while the traditional
song, “John Barleycorn,” is played or sung. These should be a bit
of a musical interlude between each verse to allow the actions to catch up
with the lyrics. Depending on how many people are available, many of
the parts can be played by the same actors, with changes of props.
Characters Notes on Costumes & Props
Three Women These are the Fates or Norns. They should wear flowing, grey, hooded robes.
The 1st should carry a spindle of yarn; the 2nd a cloth measuring tape; and the
3rd a large pair of shears. Or alternatively, one large crystal ball among them.
John Barleycorn Straw-colored undergarb, with a green full-length cape overall that can be
dropped at the right moment and a brown blanket to cover him at the beginning.
A beardless man is preferred, with a long fake blond beard that can be
hooked over his ears (this is not a requirement, as the beardless scene is only
one verse). For the final verses he will also need a brown drinking cup, such
as a wooden mug with a handle. This must be filled with whiskey.
Two Reapers (May be played by the same actors as Fates, without robes) Simple scythes
for each (plastic Hallowe’en prop scythes will do nicely). 9’ cord or rope.
Two Forkers (May be played by the same actors as Reapers) Two pitchforks (not lethally
sharp!).
Loader Kid’s wagon. Best if it could be one made to look like wood, with slatted
sides. But anything will do.
Two Beaters (May be played by the same actors as Reapers) Two sticks.
Miller (May be played by the same actor as Loader)
Action: John Barleycorn is lying on his back on the ground in the center of the Circle
covered by a brown blanket. Three women enter as the song begins, and circle slowly
around him. On final line they shake hands over his body:
There were three women came out of the West
Our fortunes for to scry,