Paganism 2.0
My latest article has been published in the Building Bridges e-newsletter. Mind you, if you’re reading this blog post you probably have little to learn from it. Still… self-promotion and all that. 
Words
I spent some time exploring my path though the lens of a mental exercise. The one where you just start writing down words that you automatically connect to the concept you’re focusing on, letting your mind drift around it freely. This is what I came up with after about an hour.
Magick, Dragons, God, Goddess, Source, Planes, Warrior, Hero, Guardian, Truth, Justice, Right, Seals, Blood, sex, energy, solitary, community, modern, transhumanist, coven, initiation, weapons, martial arts, mind, body, soul, spirit, know, dare, imagine, creativity, destruction, change, nature, dance, technology, earth, mother, rock, stone, soil, growth, fire, heat, flare, spark, life, air, wind, water, bending, spring, summer, fall, winter, cycle, open, balance, assassin, knight, tantra, service, honour, duty, ancestors, family, arcane, divine, sacred, meditation, pantheon, greek, roman, norse, Asatru, celtic, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, chakra, chi, ki, circles, buddhism, hinduism, druid, enlightenment, alchemy, tribe, science, psychology, colours, art, music, rhythms, willpower, hope, action, love, spirits, intention, goal, power, wisdom, learn, vigilance, peace, war, stories, hunt, kill, life, death, mood, compassion, sigils, fitness
I didn’t push once I puttered out of words. These came naturally and almost unbidden. We’ll see if I can make sense of them.
‘09 in review, and a look forward to 2010
It’a kind of hard to review a year when I’ve only been doing this for less than half of one. One would expect amazing adventures on this plane of reality and others, but alas all the interesting bits are already posted. Still, a nice quick recap is in order and I’ll also fantasize about what I’m hoping for next year.
My official study started on Litha, which was a day with another big first… I was priest of a Wiccan ritual. I’m barely confident even now that I want to be Wiccan so you could imagine the stretch I was taking back then. Still, people said I did a good job, and I certainly got my fill of fun and learning.
I joined a local community of hundreds of Pagans here in Southern Ontario. I go out to regular monthly pub moots and have met more wonderful people than I can count. If you’re one of them (and you all know who you are) thank you for everything.
I’ve gotten back to writing, not just blogging but a Pagan newsletter that is growing in readership and size every month. So far it’s only one article which should be up any day now, but it’s a monthly thing and I have a year’s worth of articles lined up already.
Mind you, this adventure has not been free of drama. I’ve gotten on some people’s bad sides, been labeled unwanted due to who I chose as friends without anyone asking me what my thoughts were. I’ve been the unwitting tool of some and the target of titanic scorn of others.
Through almost all of it I have not really been sure what my path really was. I’ve had ideas, glimpses, flashes of insight… but nothing solid. Thing is, I still don’t. I’m not sure what I have or don’t have really. I’m told I have a knack for energy work, and spiritually I feel like I’m on the way to something, but if you asked me what that something was… I don’t know.
Next year holds quite a bit of promise for me. A full cycle through the year will help me learn much more about how life revolves around the unseen. There’s fest season, which I’ll be able to take part in this time. Technically there’s the completion of my year and a day, but I’m not holding myself to some sort of “have a life-shattering experience by then” goal. Doesn’t feel right. There is plenty I want to do, but setting a schedule like that for it makes it seem rushed. I’ll work constantly towards finding my path, and then traveling down it. When it actually happens will be on the universe’s schedule and not mine.
I have many community-oriented plans as well. Not just the D-base, but… well… you’ll see.
Plenty of books to read, plenty of articles and blog posts to write. Plenty of things to buy and see and do. Let’s give it a go, shall we?
So mote it be.
The Warrior Precepts
These precepts were put forward in the book Full Contact Magick by Kerr Cuhulain. His teachings have set me on a path that feels very right for me, the path of a Wiccan Warrior. I’ll be referring to his works often as I build my faith path.
1. Know Thyself.
2. Nurture the ability to perceive the truth in all matters.
3. You create your own reality.
4. develop a sense of Right Action.
5. Do not be negligent, even in trifling matters.
6. Your body is a temple – care for it!
7. Minimal appearance, maximum content.
8. Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye..
9. Power with.
10. Who dares wins.
11. The Gods cannot help those who will not help themselves.
12. Be creative!
13. Do not engage in useless activity.
COMe together…
I’ve had a lot of fun interacting with the Toronto Pagan community over the past few months. From what I can gather it’s a big hub for other Pagans in the rest of the country and abroad. There are several large moots that run monthly, as well as plenty of events.
I’ve been asked to write a piece for the Building Bridges Newsletter for the January issue regarding being new to the community. Oh sure I can wax on and on about the wonderful people I’ve met and the wonderful places I’ve been and the wonderful things I’ve learned (and I probably will) but I’d rather use this opportunity to illustrate an issue that I’m sure plenty of other newcomers are having.
You see, even a moot that vaunts itself as a networking event still has some pretty steep boundaries to overcome. Pagans tend to be a very secretive and cautious group until they feel safe in a group so newcomers are generally met with trepidation, a powerful phenomena to people who are more attuned to energy than the common person. This is not necessarily a fault of anyone. People like us have been persecuted for hundreds of years, and little has changed in that time as far as how Pagans see the common person. We see a threat, when we ought to see a brother or sister.
When I entered the community, I expected people to know about lots of different local covens and how to get in touch with the people therein. Instead I found more shadows. More people unwilling to speak up about their practices and organizations.
Frankly, it infuriates me. I come into this community expecting to find someone who can guide me and make sense of what I’m feeling, as I’m met with many people who are really only comfortable having a beer. I expect (and respect) that attitude coming from solitary Pagans.
After much thought I came to several conclusions. They are:
- I can’t be the only person who’s having this problem.
- If you want to see a problem fixed, it’s usually best to at least get the ball rolling yourself.
- There’s an easier way of getting people in touch with practitioners who can guide them besides networking socials.
THE INTERNET! (now the COM in the title doesn’t look like a typo eh?)
OK, enough foreplay. Here’s my plan. One of the networking moots I go to is called Building Bridges. Building Bridges has a newsletter. The newsletter requires webspace to disseminate. That webspace can be used for a great many things. With me so far?
What I want to do is put together a website for local covens. If someone were to go on to this site, they’d log in just like any other forum, and there would be a forum, but the other side of it would be a list of local covens, complete with descriptions, denominations and (here’s the real kicker) contacts. From the contact’s side, it would seem a little like an email service. They’d get messages through the site, which they could use to hand out sage advice, sift through the eager masses for new members to their covens and block if necessary. The potentials can woo prospective teachers, and the teachers can operate with complete anonymity and control. Even those who don’t want any new members might just wish to sow the seeds other journeys.
If it works, we can expand as much as we want and even share the model with other large communities around the world. If it doesn’t… well I’m going to give it my all.
In ancient times we had to contend with so much persecution that the rules of silence were a matter of survival. Today for many of us that’s no longer the case, yet we insist on living in the shadows, even among our own kind.
Earlier this year, at Toronto Pagan Pride, a great sage of our community who kinda looks like the late great George Carlin told us that we should all focus on community enrichment. This is how I intend to do it. The process will be slow and I expect quite a few people to resist out of some ill-conceived sense of protectionism (which is really xenophobia) or worse, power-hoarding. Perhaps some fear a little bit of scrutiny in their practices (we’ve all heard of people running covens for less than altruistic reasons).
I’ll be musing about my triumphs and defeats during this project here.
So what do you think?
Samhain ‘09
Because of a LOT of bullshit caused by supposedly dependable people, I had to miss Samhain this year. One of the really crappy things about that is that the ritual my friend Natascha wrote is amazing! I wanted to post it here to show off her real talent for this sort of thing.
ALTAR
2 Black Candles (Lady of Darkness/Lord of Shadows)
Rubbing alcohol Cauldron Matches
Sulfur
Water salt
Apple Skull Candle
Altar Bell Incense Burner
Pictures of the Dead, gourds, leaves, jack o’lantern, besom, and wand
Light Candles and Sage
North
“We call to thee
Ancient spirits of the Earth
Guardians of the Northern Sphere
Tonight we seek thy presence here
Bring forth thy strength, stability and magick.”
East
“We call to thee
Ancient spirits of the Air
Guardians of the Eastern Sphere
Tonight we seek thy presence here
Bring forth thy wisdom, dreams, and creativity.”
South
“We call to thee
Ancient spirits of the Fire
Guardians of the Southern Sphere
Tonight we seek thy presence here
Bring forth thy warmth, energy, and flames of passion.”
West
“We call to thee
Ancient spirits of the Water
Guardians of the Western Sphere
Tonight we seek thy presence here
Bring forth thy love, intuition, and power to cleanse.”
All
“Come elementals, come!
We beseech thee
In this circle and in our hearts
That beat as one
Partake of this Sabbat rite
And Blessed Be.”
Priestess
Pour salt into water, stir with athame, cast circle starting in the north –direction traditionally associated with enchantments, earth mysteries, and faerie folk, clockwise.
I now conjure and proclaim this to be a circle of power and magick
Worlds between, a sacred space, shadow and light, Immortal and Mortal alike
Sabbat Moon of enchantment
Guide us well and shine your light
Hecate’s blessings upon this rite
Let the wisdom of the crone
Flow through our veins
Her magick weave us a web of dreams
Her strength nourishes us and heals us
And let the dark lord, Hades, the lord of the shadows; bless us with power and balance
His ancient ways dwell within. So mote it be!”
All
“So mote it be!”
Priest
Ring altar bell
“Hail to the four Elements
Ancient, mystical, powerful eternal
With sacred bell and witch’s blade
Rising smoke and dancing flame
We honor thee on this nite and welcome you to our rite.”
All
“Hail and welcome!”
Priest
In perfect love and perfect trust, as it is willed so mote it be!
All
“So mote it be!”
Smudge with incense burner passing it from left covener to covener clockwise.
“On this night of shadows when old ones reign supreme
We gather in this circle and open our bodies, our minds and our spirits (to the witching hour).
The season of the witch is upon us
Drawing us into enshrouded mysteries, its macabre beauty
Spell of earth, moon, sun, and stars
Its ancient magick forever endure.”
Priestess
Light skull candle
“We light this candle in honor of the dead
Tonight their spirits shall roam unchained
Thin grows the veil that separates the worlds of the living and the dead
Realms beyond stay open, behold those who go drifting by upon the wind.
We call to thee (names), John -forgotten keeper of the lighthouse
Hecate –Goddess of the crossroads
Hades –King of the underworld
Demeter –Goddess of the harvest
Persephone –Queen of the underworld
Dearest loved ones, both newly departed and old, So long as your intentions are pure and your spirit is benevolent, come into our circle to commune with us, that we might share your wisdom as Hecate teaches Persephone. We welcome you free of fear, sorrow, or hesitation, be with us here and now.”
All members should devote thoughts and/or prayers and if desired let them now be spoken!
Priestess
Draw a pentagram with the athame above the apple Cut apple to reveal the pentagram.
“Bless this apple to be the food for the dead.”
Priest
Use wand to draw pentagram above chalice
“Bless this wine to be the drink for the dead.”
Together
“Blessed be the season of Samhain, the time of the all-knowing Hecate, the night of Persephone’s descent into the Underworld, the season of Demeter’s greatest sorrow, the night to celebrate the nearness of the spirit world. Let them, all and any from the otherworld find sustenance in this wine and fruit as they pass from this world to the next. So mote it be!”
All
“So mote it be!”
Priest
“The wheel of the year has once again turned, bringing us a new beginning. The time has come for us to honor the memory of those who have crossed to the other side. And at this final phase of the eight fold solar cycle we must ready ourselves to release the past and to look beyond this dimension of time and space to gain insight of the things yet to be.”
Priestess
Lights cauldron: pour ¼ cup rubbing alcohol into cauldron and light with match CAREFULLY, add and relight as needed for burning parchments.
“Air and Fire, Water and Earth
Cauldron of death that brings rebirth,
Into thy flames we cast our tokens
To attain our goals unspoken
Help out faults and weaknesses vanish,
Let our negative traits be banished.
Burn and blaze! Burn and Blaze!
Ancient ways and Gods we praise!”
Everyone goes to cast their “sacrifice”/”secret wish” into the fire, when returning to the circle join hand and chant in unison getting gradually louder while parchments are burning
All
“(Samhain Eve)Into the future now we gaze
We chant, we weave
A web of magick for to cleave
Spells conceive in love believe
Our new year’s wish we shall achieve.”
Quiet down and wait for the last to burn
All
“So mote it be!”
“Persephone, sweet Maiden; Demeter, loving, fertile Mother; Hecate, dark, all-knowing Crone; we offer you gratitude and love for attending this sabbat rite and for empowering our magick. Thank You for Your blessings and for the lessons learned throughout this turn of the Wheel. And for that which is to come throughout the next year. We ask that you grant the wisdom, strength, and courage to come through it all gracefully. May you go now in peace. O ancient ones we bit the farewell. Blessed be!”
All
“Farewell and blessed be!”
Priest
“With love now do we bid farewell to the elementals.”
West
“Farewell guardians of the West
Spirits of Water
Return now in peace harming none!”
South
“Farewell guardians of the South
Spirits of fire
Return now in peace harming none!”
East
“Farewell guardians of the East
Spirits of Air
Return now in peace harming none!”
North
“Farewell guardians of the North
Spirits of Earth
Return now in peace harming none!”
In Unison
“Farewell to thy place in nature. So mote it be!”
Priestess
Uncast circle in opposite direction: start north and walk counterclockwise
“This circle is now uncast
It is open, but never broken. We carry its protective forces now into the mundane world.
(A happy Halloween)
And a joyous new year to one and all! As it is willed, so mote it be!
Merry we meet, merry we part and merry shall we meet again.
Blessed be!”
Warm embraces are in place.
Bury apple on the grounds and empty chalice over it. Let candles burn out while feasting
She worked for weeks on this rit and it really shows.
Be well!
To breathe…
I breathe.
We breathe air for oxygen because our bodies need it to survive. The process of how and why can be found elsewhere, though are quite fascinating.
But if the body needs to breathe, to invoke and dispell in a cyclical fashion, so must the spirit. A practitioner does this regularly, constantly taking in and blowing out energy, either in circle or in many other instances. A wise practitioner is doing this contantly, just as his body breathes without thought but with purpose, so does his spirit.
However, “energy” can be such a broad term. Vagueness in visualization can hinder one’s ability to utilize energy. Therefore, I’ve recently been training my spirit to “breathe” the elements. That’s right, I breathe, not just air, but earth, wind and fire.
When I breathe, air, I visualize the wind, not just static air. Air currents from the cardinal points flow over the planet, carry our thoughts and intentions among the same zephyrs that carry birds. The wind is intent, thought, aether. Martial artists envision moving the wind via a strike or slash because it is the extension of their intent. We envision divine messengers often with wings of some sort because they carry intent with them.
When I breathe earth, I visualize the molten rock at the core of our world, hot and full of unrestrained force, slow but unstoppable. When I breathe earth, I don’t breathe “nature” or “green” because I feel that nature is, like human beings, a combination and balance of all elements.
When I breathe water, I take in the energy that all the creatures of the waters take in. Cold and dark and deep. And yet, you’re closer to the great mother when you are in the deep. We all sprang from the deep, and in this small way I return to it.
When I breathe fire, I take in the heat of solar furnaces, the spark of the big bang. Ultimate destruction and ultimate creation in the same breath. I see the sun and I think of the roar it would emit if there were wind to carry the sound. A massive wall of divine flame beyond all imaginings.
I breathe.
Toronto Pagan Pride Day ‘09
Outside of the various fests that occur outside of the Greater Toronto Area, Pagan Pride Day is probably the largest and most complicated event of the year. With an attentance of around 200 people, plenty of planning and logistics go into making this event a success. Our main staging and planning forum is the Building Bridges pub moot. It’s there that information is disseminated, funds are raised and new ideas are brought to light. It’s very important to have a regular gathering such as this, since many people are involved in the organization phases and free time is in short supply during the summer. Aside from that, online social networking and the website play critical roles.
From what I understand, this Pagan Pride event is connected to similar events under the same banner all over the world.
Since I’m so new to the community and the higher echelons of discourse held within and among the higher-ranking members, I was not really able to get my feet too wet this year. Jimmy, Crystal, Samantha and others seemed to have a hard time getting the ball rolling for various reasons, but they were all quite proud of themselves when it all came together last-minute. They did swear not to let it happen again though…
The event took place at Wilket Creek Park. Not difficult at all to get to via mass transit, which is an important factor when planning any Pagan event in this city. Not many of us drive for some reason.
I arrived early with Sam and Brianna. I wanted to make myself as available as possible to the organizers and I was eventually put to work, putting up tents and signs. There was really very little to do. People started to float in little by little. There were plenty of people who had not seen each other for a long time meeting here and they chose to spend the majority of the day mingling. The weather was gorgeous and it really lent itself to a relaxing ambiance.
The opening ritual was asatru, courtesy of Crystal. We called in Thor for the protection and the general awesomeness that he’s known for. It was pretty short. We opened up a circle for the whole staging area, and let it be until main ritual much later in the day. The meal was half potluck and have BBQ using the raised money. Rebecca (I call her Chef) is a master of the grill and did an outstanding job making sure that everyone got what they wanted. Sadly I forgot to bring something to share, but I made a sizable donation for next year’s BBQ. We also were collecting canned goods for the Daily Bread Food Bank, which was pretty awesome. Not sure how much we collected but every little bit helps.
There were plenty of workshops to choose from, but the schedule wasn’t packed so it was easy to drift off and join a conversation elsewhere. I attended workshops on pub moots, Northern Italian folklore and faith-blending. The moot workshop was run by Sam and she was nervous as all hells about it. While there were a few interruptions in the last little bit, the only thing that she needs to work on is her volume. When speaking outdoors to a group surrounding you, you really need to project. Franco Minatel ran the folklore talk. He’s quite an interesting fellow and sure knows how to make gnomes and fairyfolk come alive. It makes me wonder how much of my Italian heritage has been covered up and consumed by Christianity. The last workshop I went to was Faith-blending and community rituals with John Huculiak. Basically John spoke about his own lifelong spiritual journey through many faith systems and how he learned something key from all of them, because they all have something to teach us beyond their individual dogmas. He suggested we do something everyday that we can call sacred. he brews his morning coffee. It seems simple but when you break down and indulge in all the steps, it can become something more. I think I’ll try it. Sam really looks up to John, as they have something no unlike a teacher/pupil relationship. I intend to learn everything I can from them both.
Main ritual was a blast. It was certainly the biggest circle I’ve ever been in and the energy was very nice. We started with a few basic chants just to get things flowing, re-called the quarters, and then it was Jimmy’s show. His intention was to really get a strong energy flow going so we did something called a spiral dance. Basically everyone joins hands and dances inwards in a spiral while chanting and swinging arms, once everyone is as tight in as we could get, we expanded and contracted the circle by running inwards and outwards. By the end everyone’s heart was pounding and the amount of energy was intoxicating. Jimmy made a point to speak on how we are growing as a community and we’ve come to a point were we can focus more on enrichment, and not just building and expansion.
Also, great music offered up by the Firedance drummers, guest starring Samantha!
Afterwards, everyone fluttered around, some still in a daze from the huge surge of energy. Apparently quite a few of us need to work on our grounding skills. We managed to get the bonfire going just as the bugs came out en masse. We had a small bardic competition as people started to filter out and go home.
I’ve made it clear to Sam and Crystal that next year I’m really hoping to take a much more active role. I tried to be as helpful as I could during the day and I’ve gotten thanks and compliments for it. I’ve also spoken to Sam about ideas I have concerning a serious revamp of the event, but that can come to light in a few years.
So mote it be.
My first Lammas.
It was a beautiful day in High Park. The Uncoven of Fluffy Pagans (more on them in a later post) met at a small diner in the middle of the park before heading into the bush. Just over a hill in a circular concrete-covered area with benches around it. Painted on the concrete is a laberynth. Perfect for ritual and potluck!
Salt-dough miniature breads were made to represent offerings, along with all the usual Pagan gear we manage to pull together for these things.
———
Altar Setup
A standard altar set up with the Goddess and God represented in either statue or candle form (though candles will be used anyway) and a source candle. A cauldron filled with special tokens symbolic of Lammas that coveners can take home with them and place on their personal altars, and the wine chalice sit in front of the God/Goddess candles. Elemental blessings (a stone [a small dish of salt will be kept as well, for blessing the tokens], a candle, a seashell holding water, and smudge incense) are kept on the altar near their corresponding candles (which the Quarter Summoners will be retrieving from the altar and bringing to their stations). An athame/wand/sword to cast circle is kept near the base of the altar. Altar decorations include sheaths of wheat and the colors red, orange, yellow, and gold for the combination of summer and autumn as well as bursts of green and brown for the fertility of the Earth.
Offerings
- Lammas/corn bread
- Strawberries
- Mead/ale or grape juice
- Other seasonal fruits
Uncoven Roles
- Priestess (PS)
- Priest (P)
- Handmaiden (HM)
- Earth Summoner (ES)
- Air Summoner (AS)
- Fire Summoner (FS)
- Water Summoner (WS)
HM takes the besom from the altar’s base and sweeps the circle space going deosil. As she does so, she recites the following chant.
Besom, besom long and lithe
Made from ash and willow withe
Tied with thongs of willow bark
In running stream at moonset dark
As the ritual fire is lighted;
Sweep ye circle, deosil;
Sweep out evil, sweep out ill.
Make the round on the ground
Where we do the Lady’s will.
Besom, besom, Lady’s broom
Sweep out darkness, sweep out doom
Rid ye Lady’s hollowed ground
Of demons, imps and Hell’s red hound.
Then set ye down on Her green earth
By running stream of Mistress’s hearth,
‘Til called once more on Moon and Sabbat’s night
To cleanse once more, the dancing site.
HM returns the besom to the altar with a kiss and takes her place near assembled Priesthood.
PS casts the circle using the athame or wand, starting in the East and working deosil three times around the outer circle, she holds the athame/wand in her projective hand and says
I cast this Circle of Power to be a fitting place between the Worlds existing in a space between space and a time between time. It is a rampart of protection to contain all workings and energy raised here within. I do bless and consecrate thee in the name of the Old Ones. So mote it be!
P takes the container of smudge from the altar and lights it from the Source candle. He passes it around the circle deosil. Everyone smudges him or herself. The ritual space and all coveners are now blessed by the elements of Air and Fire.
PS takes the seashell of water off the altar and passes it around the circle deosil. She touches each covener on the forehead with a drop of water as well as sprinkling drops of water onto the ground. The ritual space and all coveners are now blessed by the element of Water.
P takes the rock off the altar and passes it around the circle allowing each covener to ground him/herself through the rock. The ritual space and all coveners are now blessed by the element of Earth.
AS approaches the altar and takes the yellow Air candle, lights it from the Source candle and takes it back to their station. All coveners turn to face the East. AS says
Guardians of the East, Element of Air, we humbly invite you to witness our rite and lend your energies of Intellect and Communication to this, our Circle. We bid you Hail and Welcome!
FS approaches the altar and takes the red Fire candle, lights it from the Source candle and takes it back to their station. All coveners turn to face the South. FS says
Guardians of the South, Element of Fire, we humbly invite you to witness our rite and lend your energies of Passion and Courage to this, our Circle. We bid you Hail and Welcome!
WS approaches the altar and takes the blue Water candle, lights it from the Source candle and takes it back to their station. All coveners turn to face the West. WS says
Guardians of the West, Element of Water, we humbly invite you to witness our rite and lend your energies of Intuition and Healing to this, our Circle. We bid you Hail and Welcome!
ES approaches the altar and takes the green Earth candle, lights it from the Source candle and takes it back to their station. All coveners turn to face the North. ES says
Guardians of the North, Element of Earth, we humbly invite you to witness our rite and lend your energies of Grounding and Fertility to this, our Circle. We bid you Hail and Welcome!
Returning to center, the PS lights the God candle from the Source and calls the God, arms raised to the sky and says
Hail to the mighty Oak King, he who sacrifices Himself in the form of cut corn, wheat and grain for our bread, and plucked fruit from the trees. We humbly ask that you join us in our Circle today as we honor your sacrifice. We offer many thanks for your blessings bestowed upon us at this time of first harvest. Hail and welcome!
P lights the Goddess candle from the Source, calls the Goddess, arms lowered towards the ground and says
Hail to the mighty Lady of the Grain, she whose womb bears the first swollen signs of life. Gracious Mother whose fertile lands nurture the sown seeds that have grown into this year’s harvest. Blessed Serpent Lady, guardian of the crops and keeper of the mysteries of rebirth and transformation, we humbly ask that you join us in our Circle today as we honor your gifts that sustain our lives. We thank you for your many blessings. Hail and welcome!
PS addresses the gathered coveners
We welcome you all to our Lammas celebration! On this day, we honor and partake of the first harvest and give thanks to the Lord and Lady for Their gifts, Their blessings and His sacrifice so that we may be nourished by the fruits of the land.
P addresses gathered coveners
Take this moment to reflect and account for achievements in your life that you have reached leading up to today. Consider also your current stage in life’s great mystery and the progress being made in your endeavors now. Remember that many blessings come in disguises and may not always be clear. So take heed that seemingly negative situations come with a silver lining for the greater good.
PS takes cauldron filled with Lammas tokens for coveners to take home into the center of circle and says
Think upon this as we welcome the elements to bless these fruits of the harvest for you to take home. These tokens, symbolic of the Lammas season, are a reminder of your personal abundance; of achievements made now; achievements in development, and blessings in disguise.
P takes smoldering smudge from altar and approaches AS, s/he takes smudge, hands P the Air candle and P takes his/her place while AS approaches cauldron. AS allows smudge smoke to waft over the cauldron and says
By the nourishing breath of the Gods, the seeds from these gifts have been spread across the land
AS returns smudge to P and takes back Air candle. P returns to the altar. PS approaches FS and takes his/her place while FS approaches cauldron, holds aloft Fire candle and says
By sunlight through the summer, these gifts were warmed upon the plain
FS returns to his/her place in the circle and PS returns to the altar. P takes up water shell and approaches WS, switches Water candle with shell, WS approaches cauldron and sprinkles water over the cauldron and says
By cleansing rains, these tokens were watered in their need
WS returns to his/her place in the circle, takes back Water candle and P returns to the altar. PS takes salt dish and approaches ES, switches salt dish with candle and ES approaches the cauldron. S/he sprinkles salt over cauldron and says
These gifts were plowed and planted with seed
ES returns salt dish to P and takes his/her place in circle, P returns to altar with salt dish.
PS says
These gifts have been blessed by the elements that have aided in their growth. Take these home with you and place them on your personal altars and bring into your home the blessings of the season and today.
HM takes the cauldron and approaches the coveners allowing each member to take a token from the cauldron and moves deosil around the circle. Priesthood begins a chant and encourages everyone to join in.
Horned One, Lover, Son,
Leaper in the Corn,
Deep in the Mother,
Die and be reborn!
When the tokens have all been distributed, allow the chant to go on for a few more rounds before Priesthood calls it to an end.
P says
The Lord and Lady have heard our praises and are pleased. It is time we take their blessings in return.
PS says
For they have given us the fruits of the earth so we may know neither hunger nor thirst.
PS takes the chalice of wine while P takes the athame and stand in front of the altar while facing each other.
P says
I am the athame, the All Father, the Sun, the Seed.
PS says
I am the chalice, the Great Mother, the Earth, the Womb.
PS holds the chalice with both hands while the P lowers the tip of the athame into the chalice with both hands and stirs the wine three times deosil. At the same time, both say:
Together they bring life, they bring creation. Together we are blessed.
P takes out the athame and cleans the blade, kisses the blade and returns it to the altar. PS lifts the chalice, kisses the cup and takes a sip. She pours a bit of wine onto the Earth for libation. She passes the chalice to the P so he may drink. He then passes the chalice to a covener in the circle and the chalice is then passed around the circle deosil.
PS takes up the plate of cakes. P joins her placing one hand with hers under the plate and the other hand covering hers hovering over the plate. The hovering hands slowly trace a pentacle over the cakes while both say:
Lady and Lord most sacred, bless this food into our bodies bestowing health, wealth, joy and peace, and that fulfillment of love which is perfect happiness.
PS eats part of a cake. She takes another and libates it to the Earth. She hands the plate to the P so he may eat, he then passes the plate to one of the coveners who passes the plate around the circle deosil.
PS says
We have revered in the harvest blessings bestowed upon us by the Lord and Lady on this day. We have rejoiced in celebration of their gifts and they have smiled upon our gathering.
P says
And as we bring this circle to an end, we partake even more of their gifts of bounty with a feast!
PS bids farewell to the God, arms held to the sky
Hail to the mighty Oak King, we thank you for your gifts and your sacrifice and for your presence here in our Circle today. We happily accept your gifts and remember the lessons that you have given us with your sacrifice. Please, stay if you will but go if you must. We bid you Hail and Farewell.
P bids farewell to the Goddess, arms lowered towards the ground
Hail to the mighty Lady of the Grain, we thank you for the blessings of your fertile womb that have been cast over the land. We thank you for your presence here today in our Circle. We happily accept your gifts and remember the lessons you have given us. Please, stay if you will but go if you must. We bid you Hail and Farewell.
Everyone addresses the East and AS says
Guardians of the East, Element of Air, we thank you for witnessing our rite and lending your energies to our Circle. Stay if you will, but go if you must. We bid you Hail and Farewell!
AS snuffs out the Air candle. Everyone turns to address the South. The FS says
Guardians of the South, Element of Fire, we thank you for witnessing our rite and lending your energies to our Circle. Stay if you will, but go if you must. We bid you Hail and Farewell!
FS snuffs out the Fire candle. Everyone turns to address the West. The WS says
Guardians of the West, Element of Water, we thank you for witnessing our rite and lending your energies to our Circle. Stay if you will, but go if you must. We bid you Hail and Farewell!
WS snuffs out the Water candle. Everyone turns to address the North. The ES says
Guardians of the North, Element of Earth, we thank you for witnessing our rite and lending your energies to our Circle. Stay if you will, but go if you must. We bid you Hail and Farewell!
PS takes up the athame or wand and proceeds to close the circle deosil. Walking around the outer circle three times, she says
I draw the energy of this circle into Earth knowing that the magic raised here remains within our hearts. Blessings have been given and received. The circle is open but never broken. Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again! This rite is now ended!
PS stomps her foot once sealing the energy into the ground.
So mote it be!
The circle is over. Feasting begins!
A Blessing Before Meals
Answer us, O ancient ones,
Providence and power be thine
Hear and answer, Gracious Goddess
Grant us laughter, wit and wine!
Descend on us, O thou of blessings
Come among us, make us glad
Since thou art chief of all creation,
Why or why should we be sad?
Be among us, joyous greenwood
Banish heavy hearted hate
Accept our craft, O gracious Mother,
Let cheerful brightness be our fate!
So mote it be!
———
I was Earth this time. First time being an elemental and it ended up being the element I have the hardest time connecting to. That’s not to say I can’t ground myself… I can utlilize earth, I just can’t call upon it as easily as, say, fire. Odd for an Aquarius, I know. I don’t think I’d have too much trouble with water or air, but I intend on find out soon. The only way I seem to be able to make any connection with earth is when I am in direct contact with it (shoes and socks off, bare feet on earth) and if I’m focusing on imagry of nature such as trees and grass. In any case it’s something to work on. To be honest, I wasen’t pleased with the energy I put out. I’m sure I can contribute more.
After walking back out of the laberynth (since we took the time to walk in, why not) we ate. Actually we had all been nibbling on some fresh bread that Lisa baked throughout the entire rit. She thinks it came out bad but I loved it. Everyone brought such great food and we all sat and ate and laughed and told stories until the sun set and the bugs came out in full force.
Once I get a Blackberry I’ll be able to add some cheap photography to these posts. I know it seems that there’s very little here as far as commentary from me, but that’s really because I’m still absorbing everything. I have little to compary anything to at this point but I should be able to write more as I progess.
Drumming as a path to visions?
Firedance is a group of hobbyist drummers out of Toronto that play at festivals and holds their own small events. Most play the djembe but some bring even more eclectic tools. Recently I was able to join them for a last-minute jam session. Not many people showed up becuase the invites went out so late, but the most was made of it.
A friend of mine by the name of Tony is an amazing drummer and a very wise man for his age. Short with long flowing locks of blonde hair, he becomes a torrent of energy when he wails on his drum and he invites all to share in it. I had never played a djembe before and was aching to give it a shot, so when he was taking a break and two other girls were trying to find a beat, I asked to borrow his new drum.
I don’t know anything about music or how to describe it. Ours was a simple beat and I caught on quickly. It grew and grew. All I could hear was the sound of my drum, I wanted more and more so I played louder and louder, faster and faster. My body was moving on its own, burning up. My hands were numb, the pain long gone. I’d later find that they’d swell a lot and I was smart to have taken off my ring.
After… I have no idea how long, Tony came up to me and stopped me. I was about to pass out when he said something about me showing him up. I don’t think he could have paid me a bigger compliment and he knows it.
I grabbed a water and the closest chair and dropped. Others were playing right in front of me but I was swimming in energy, intoxicated.
At some point I passed out in that chair, head thrown back, mouth open. I was somewhere else, the energy had wisked me away. I was having what could be my very first vision.
It’s like trying to remember a dream that doesn’t want to be remembered. I was on a cliff at night. Below that cliff a few feet away was a rainforest paradise nessled between two enormous volcanic ranges. Some peaks glowed red while others were ice-tipped and cloud-carressed. Before me was a golden alter adorned with many gems, and in the centre was a large basin filled with a jet black liquid. Behind me were hundreds of people. I think they were dressed in vaguely tribal outfits and they were all chanting something I could not understand. There were musicians and dancers and preists and priestesses all over, but they were at least a dozen metres away and seemed to be giving me space for something. They sky was filled with lights. Not just stars, but what looked like a crazy artist’s rendition of a universe in explosive chruning chaos. It was more alive than I could possibly describe.
Suddenly I felt a pull towards the basin. I stepped cautiously, and with every step the life around me became louder and more vibrant. The whole universe wanted me to do something. The closer I got the more I wanted it, but I had no idea what I was supposed to do but walk towards the basin. I didn’t run. Every step was a joy and I savoured it.
Arriving, I stared into the liquid and something peered back through my own oily reflection. The liquid ate all the light around it but that needed for my reflection. Was it my reflection? My hand, through no prompting of my own rose and reached to touch the liquid. My hands hovered above the surface, and I noticed the liquid came up to meet me as if every individual drop was alive and free to reach out to me. My hands touched the surface and the liquid exploded into silver flame, burning far too hard and far too big for easy explination. I took a single step back and looked at my hands. I was not on fire, and that thought filled me with great sadness and regret for some reason. The flame seemed to violently twist and writhe independantly of the wind, which was blowing hard at that point. Suddenly the people turned and ran and I followed suit. I got clear just as the cliff became engulfed in the flame and exploded. What remained in its place was an enormous dragon composed entirely of silver flame. I roared to announce its birth and its power, and the universe responded, seeming to shout its acceptance of the new dragon master it its own tougue. It looked at me for an instant before it shot into the sky, turning night to day for only an instant. Once it was gone, the world seemed to become very calm, as if it had given birth.
That’s when I woke up. I found a friend of mine (Samantha) with her hand over mine looked slightly shocked. I asked her what was up and she said she could see my hands bathed in silver flame.
…I need a djembe.
