And burn him we did...

Ready for the burning





Laurel with our Wicker Man

Laurel and the twins (Kelidh and Kiara)



Just lit. The Wicker Man was stuffed with papers bearing the intentions of our sacrifices.

 



The smouldering of our sacrifices



 Our ritual:

Opening:

By the Land beneath us,

By the Sea surrounding us,

By the Sky above us,

We come unto the Gods.

“The Wheel rolls more, and Autumn returns. Cooler the rain; the Sun lower burns. The coloring leaves presage the Year: All things move into harvest’s sphere. I vow to savor fruits first picked; nor into grief shall I be tricked. I vow to offer what once I spurned, and face the Turning reassured.” - Asleen O’Gaea

Circle Casting:

We are a circle, within a circle,

with no beginning,

and never ending.

http://www.bornpagan.com/upca/song_cycle/03%20-%20We_are_a_circle.mp3

Quarter Calls:

May there be peace in the east, the ancient land of prosperity. Powers of East, of prosperity, of earth. Powers of the Salmon, the wise one who knows how to return to the source of all things, we welcome you into the circle, please be with us now.

Make offering

May there be peace in the south, the ancient land of harmony. Powers of South, of the dark mystery, of the waters of the goddess, of music, of arts, of the great boar and sow, show us how to root into the dark of ourselves to find truth and inspiration, please be with us now.

Make offering

May there be peace in the west, the ancient land of wisdom. Powers of West, history keepers, poets, and those who transport us across the nine waves to the otherworld, in life and in death, in song and in story, Great Stag who heralds the changes of the seasons,  please be with us now.

Make offering

May there be peace in the north, the ancient land of strength. Powers of North, bright spear of Lugh and sword of Nuada, fire from the place where the sun never sets, Mighty eagle who teaches us courage and vision, please be with us in the circle.

Make offering

May there be peace in the center, where all the worlds meet. Now, and in the times yet to be discovered Powers of the Center, of Sovereignty and firm rulership, teach us mastery and judgment, balance and true seeing please be with us in this circle.

Make offering

Invocation of the Goddess:

We honour the great Goddess, the Corn Mother, the Harvest Mother, whose womb makes the earth fruitful. She who is known as Freya, Goddess of the Loaf; Demeter, Goddess of Grain. Join us on the Feast of Lugh. As summer ends, the harvest begins. Be with us in our revels. Blessings and Welcome.

Invocation of the God:

We honour the Corn God, who sacrifices himself so all may partake of his bounty. We honour Lugh, the Sun God, without whose light there would be no harvest. He who is also known as Adonis, Osiris, Tammuz. As summer ends, the harvest begins. Be with us in our revels. Blessings and Welcome.

Honouring the Great Spirit:

We now make offering to the Source of All. Source of All, from whom all flows, and to whom all returns in the great way of things, we make offering to you.

Offer water to the land.

Wicker Man Sacrifice:

Often we are faced with sacrifices that we must make. We come to realize that something we have must be given to others in order to open space within lives and souls for new growth. In thinking of what that may mean for you, you have placed the symbol of your personal sacrifice within this "Wicker Man," symbol of the sacrifice of your God. Meditate upon your own sacrifice and offer it willingly to the fires of Spirit with your pledge that you will go forth to carry it out also within your Life.

 Today we honour the passing of the light and the reaping of the grain. But the mystery of life is that, as the wheel turns, all that dies shall be reborn.

[Burn the wicker man, chanting to raise energy for our sacrifice.]

Chant:

We all come from the Goddess

And to Her we shall return

Like a drop of rain

Flowing to the ocean

We all come from the God

And to Him we shall return

Like a spark of flame

Rising to the heavens

Hoof and Horn, Hoof and Horn

All that dies shall be reborn

Corn and Grain, Corn and Grain

All that falls shall rise again

Blessing the bread (group focusing, hands above and below)

Powerful God of the Harvest, Bless this bread and infuse it with your strength, By your many names, we bless and consecrate this bread.

~ I pass to you this gift of the first harvest. ~

Blessing the cider (group focusing, hands above and below)

Gracious Goddess of Abundance, Bless this wine and infuse it with your love By Your many names, we bless and consecrate this wine.

~ Drink of this wine and know the cauldron of rebirth!  ~

Quarter Farewells:

Spirits of the North, Spirits of the fruitful earth, we thank you for joining our harvest celebration. Go if you must, stay if you will. Blessings and Farewell!

Spirits of the West, Spirits of the summer rain we’ve seen lately, we thank you for joining our harvest celebration. Go if you must, stay if you will. Blessings and Farewell!

Spirits of the South, Spirits of late summer’s warmth, we thank you for joining our harvest celebration. Go if you must, stay if you will. Blessings and Farewell!

Spirits of the East, Spirits of balmy summer breezes, we thank you for joining our harvest celebration. Go if you must, stay if you will. Blessings and Farewell!

Farewell to the God and Goddess:

Lugh, Lord of summer’s harvest, Lord of the light, we thank you for your presence here this evening. We thank you for your physical and spiritual bounty which sustains us. Go if you must, stay if you will. Blessings and Farewell!

Goddess of the Corn and Grain, Harvest Mother, we thank you for your presence at the Feast of Lugh. We thank you for your fruit and your wisdom. Go if you must, stay if you will. Blessings and Farewell

Thanksgiving Prayer and Circle Opening:

We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.

We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water.

We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.

We return thanks to the moon and stars, which have given to us their light when the sun was gone.

We return thanks to the sun which has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.

Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit,

in Whom is embodied all goodness,

and Who directs all things for the good of Her children.

As we have given honor today to the old ways, so will we do again in the Future!

May it be so!

Go in peace to the Feast! The rite is now ended.

May the circle be open but unbroken

May the peace of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again!!!



"We're gonna burn him!"

I spent part of Saturday morning making a miniature Wicker Man for our group to burn in sacrifice at our upcoming Lughnassadh ritual. He turned out pretty well, I think:

The next day, one of our neighbours was out front, and mentioned to me that he had watched me over the back fence (he's a bit of an odd duck - harmless, but a touch weird) for about 10 minutes while I was making this. My daughter piped up right away with, "He's a Wicker Man," and our neighbour said, "Uh-huh?" in an I-have-no-idea-what-you're-talking-about kind of way, and picking up on his confusion, Laurel continued on with, "We're gonna burn him!" LOL Didn't clear up his confusion any... ahahaahahaha!

I love my kids!

What a lovely, magical weekend...

Friday evening brought us a little furry visitor - Miss Lola, my friend's King Charles Spaniel / Mini Poodle mix. We had a two night slumber party while Mom and Dad went to a wedding out of town. The kids had a blast, and we were reaffirmed in our decision to wait another year or two before getting a dog of our own :-)

Saturday was my group's Litha ritual and get together. What an absolutely wonderful, reaffirming, powerful evening it was. Kat's ritual was probably one of the most vital, compelling, spirituall full, spoke-to-my-very-soul rituals I have participated in in a very long time, maybe even ever. I share it below... so lovely, so perfect. I'm growing more and more pleased with the group we have grown to be. So many great people, such strong connections forming. The core three - D, W and myself, are certainly my favourite, but at least a couple of the "newer" participants are getting to be very dear to me as well. I have been so starved for community that it is pure heaven to have this group.



Midsummer (Litha) Ritual 2011

Declamation/Grounding:

Here and now are the Mysteries

Out of no stored and storied past

Of things long lost and long forgotten,

But within the breathing moment of Time.

Magic comes out of no fabled twilight,

But that which falls on the hills this night.

The old trees partake of it

And the voices of the grass

The ghost-white blossomed elders

And the first cloudy glow of the rising moon.

If we can see; if we can hear

Out of no buried past come the mysteries

Out of no fabled time or mist-shrouded land

But from the fields of our own home comes the grain that makes the bread of their feast

From the flowers of every summer flows the honey of their mead

From the rocks of all eternity come the sands of time.

Look!  Between the stones is a blade of grass.

And the rites of the high mysteries

And the runes of all witcheries

Are written upon it.

Circle Casting:

[sung]

We are a circle moving one with the other

We are moving together we are one

I am Spirit and I flow in you

You are spirit and you flow in me

May the powers give us strength, and our knowledge keep us safe

May the forces of light and darkness guide over us and keep us from harm

In the holy name of all that is, the circle is cast.  So mote it be.

Circle Purifications:

(Done by children – K speaks the words)

With the laughing breath of air do we cleanse this sacred space, that knowledge may be fresh and our own minds clear.

With the warm light of fire do we cleanse this sacred space, that power may flow freely and our own wills be strong.

With the soothing flow of water do we cleanse this sacred space, that love may flow between us and our own hearts be whole.

With the firm body of the earth do I cleanse this sacred space that we might have nourishment and keep unto our law.

Quarter Calls:

[sung]

From every direction the earth is singing – change it change it,

From every direction the earth is singing – change it now. X 2

Open your hearts to the song of the east (south, west, north) X2

Now open your heart to the song of the wind (fire, water, earth) – open your heart to the wind

Deity Welcome:

Reach out now,

To the vastness of the universe, to the depths of your soul

And bid welcome to the ones who are your Gods.

Reach out now,

To the vastness of the universe, to the depths of your soul

And bid welcome to the ones who are your Gods.

We gather to welcome the mystery of light

Of daytime and the shining sun

The wild green growing forests

And the potent force of Man

Reach branches to the sky

To dance in Wind and Flame

Our Green God

We gather to welcome the mystery of shadow

Of night that cradles the silver moon

The seed’s deep inner magic

And sweet Woman’s fertile womb

Roots deep into the soil

To touch the Earth and Rain,

Our Lady Goddess

For all Gods are but one God, and all Goddess one Goddess

As above, so below; As the universe, so the soul

As without, so within

The Infinite Radiance of All that Is

Wine Blessing:

Infinite ones – all life is your own

Everything in the universe, a gift from your sacred body

As above, so below; As the universe, so the soul

As without, so within

The Infinite Radiance of All that is

We share this wine (these cakes) in communion with you

and with each other.

To the Gods!

Body of the Ritual:

Let's play with the Celtic Tree Cards, and read some of the meanings if time permits - at least for the kids.  This will give us a tree to focus on during the guided meditation – people can meditate on their card-tree or any tree they feel they have a connection with.

Meditation:

(below)

Quarter Farewells: Improvise

Deity Farewells: Improvise

Circle Opening:

[sung]

From Fire to Water to Earth and to Wind

It's the circle of Life, the dance without end

So merry meet and merry part and merry meet again (X3)

Guided Meditation: The Tree

Take a few even breaths, and allow yourself to be like a tree, planted on the earth...

Bring your awareness to your feet.  Your feet are like roots growing into the earth. Imagine your legs reaching down deep into the core of the planet. Feel how your roots anchor you on the earth, making you feel rooted and grounded.  With each breath you draw in, feel the energy and nourishment of the earth drawn up through your roots and into you.  The earth cradles you, feeds you – your roots spread wide, creating a base and support for you, and the nourishment you need to grow into all that you can be.  Your roots are your past, your experiences; they are your eternal connection to the Earth.

Let your awareness move up your legs to your body.  Your torso is like a tree-trunk standing tall. Your trunk is your core, your strength.   Imagine your trunk growing up and up, upward toward the sun and the sky.  Feel how your core is the source of your strength, your will and determination; moving ever upwards, it gives you height, lifts you up from the earth, moves you out of your cradle and up to where you need to go.  Trust in your trunk to hold strong, and grow tall.  Think of the rings inside your trunk – a new ring each year – pale for drought, dark for rain – each year of your experience, your core, your trunk grows wider, stronger, becomes more stable.

Let your mind travel outwards along your arms.  Your arms are like branches growing out from your core. Feel your branches moving ever-so-gently in the breeze.  Your branches reach out, reach up – they intertwine with the trees around them, they brush against all that surrounds you – they are your spirit reaching out to explore this amazing and glorious world around you.  Feel the connection that your branches bring to you.

Your hands, your face, your hair – they are the leaves and the blossoms the twigs of your tree. Your leaves are the gentle receptors that pull the sights, the sounds, the sensations of the world in to you.  They absorb the rays of the sun; they rustle with the wind; they soak in all that the world can offer.  Feel your face, like a beautiful flower, turning upward basking in the light of the sun.   As your blossom opens, it becomes your light, your shine – the smile that is your gift to the universe.

In your blossom – at the core of the blossom – feel a seed germinating.  It may be safely wrapped in a pod, it may have a bit of cottony fluff to bear it on the wind, it may keep safe in the armor of a hard nut.  This seed is an idea.  Your tree may have one idea or many.  Let your idea grow, pulling nourishment through your roots, strength and will through your trunk, support and connection through your branches, and light and energy through your leaves.  Now let your idea go.  Pause  Perhaps it will float off into the breeze, beginning a journey into the unknown.  Perhaps it will plummet to the ground, where it will put out roots deep into the ground.  And let's face it – maybe your seed will be snapped up by a bird, or devoured by an animal – it may have quite the interesting adventure through the digestive juices, before it gets SHAT OUT in a dollop of poo.  That is the life of some ideas – it's a hard beginning.  But it means it has help cracking its shell, and comes with its own nutrient-rich fertilizer!  All sorts of adventures await this seed, this idea.  Send it out to the universe, and see what grows from it.

Your tree is so amazing, its roots reaching way down into the earth; its trunk reaching upward and holding strong; the tree's branches flowing outward, and the crown of the tree reaching toward the light of the sun... spreading ideas and light.  You are a green growing thing, alive with the wild green energy of the gods.

Feel deeply connected to the earth. Feel strong and stable in your core. Feel the gentle movement and flow of your arms. Feel your crown reaching upward, basking in the light. Enjoy the tree experience as long as you like...

When it is time, lower your head, close your hands, and pull your spirit leaves back into yourself.  They are a part of you, all that they bring in from the universe remains with you. 

Let your branches lower and become your own limbs – always there to reach out to connect you, always a part of you. 

Let your trunk remember what it is to rise and fall as a breathing human – all that core strength is in you, a part of you, always there to hold you stable and strong. 

And finally, when you are ready, pull your roots slowly up from the earth, never forgetting that the earth cradles you still, feeds you nourishment, you will never lose that root-deep connection with the earth, it will be there any time you reach for it.

For the tree, time passes in a special, magical way.  The tree does not run and rush in a frantic or frazzled way – the tree lives and grows, connects and intertwines, reaches down and out, accepts – the tree simply IS.  We can be the tree, our rings expanding slowly and steadily – each year of drought or famine, of nourishment and plenty, expanding and strengthening. 

We are the tree.

Stories I could have written...

I just finished reading Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley this morning.

While I'm certainly not a Pagan-Druid-turned-"nun" in 6th century Ireland, there is so much in this story that speaks to my own spirituality and the conflict I've felt for years between Paganism and Christianity.

This excerpt, taken from close to the end of the book, is especially poignant for me (highlights in brown are my own emphasis):

"I have learned many things since I came to Brigit's chapel and read the letters and scriptures of the saints. I will give here the sum of the facts I have seen concerning the transformation of this land since Christians have come here, in case they not be recorded by any other hand:

1st, improvements in tools and methods used for husbandry
2nd, increase in varieties and hardiness of plants and domestic animals
3rd, decrease in violence between túaths and in the taking of hostages
4th, increase in literacy and knowledge of the world
5th, increase in the distance between the rich and the poor, the latter increasing in numbers while the former increase in wealth
6th, decrease in the influence and freedom of women, whose councils exist no longer and whose  property has been diminished
7th, increase in cruelty to the land and disregard for its power and beauty

I see the improvements the Christians have brought, but these improvements and payments in gold have seduced the chieftains away from powers older and more elemental than scripture. The chieftains themselves relied too much on druids for their knowledge and did not make themselves wise enough. Surely a wise leader would see the benefits of marrying old wisdom to new devices, of scorning intolerance and dogma while embracing the new heroes and rituals, which have such pretty sounds and good influence. I would live in a world full of Christ-like humans, but not one full of Christians, may God forgive me. This I can now say as I prepare to leave this place, having reached the truth of my own limitations as a follower of the Christian doctrine, which the abbot has shown to be fertile ground for harmful shame and fear.

I have seen that the Christian philosophy of the bishops compels people to turn away from the earth and toward heaven. It encourages a view of the earth as a place of degredation and temptation and spreads this view of our one mother to include all mothers, whose wombs are considered unclean. And it seems curious to me that those who condemn this earth and its goods most vehemently and greedily amass those goods. The monks who preach and practice poverty are exceptions to the priests and converted chieftains who instead practice fierce and jealous aquisition. Then these rich men confess and say certain words to garner absolution for the sins they committed in order to be come wealthy. But they keep the wealth. The chieftains who used to know the earth as their wife now use her as mistress. I fear that the cleverest means of power will be for the Christians to use their wealth to own the weapons and war beasts that will give them dominance over the distribution of grain and land. This, I have heard, has already happened in Britain, where the priests have armies to mete out their doctrines and have made the people so dependent on them that they give portions of their harvest to them. It is no mystery that the Pelagians and others who say that a man can speak directly to God without a priest have been discovered floating in lakes and sleeping with axes in their skulls. Power does not willingly give up its place to truth, though I thought it would. I did not understand. May God and all who read this forgive me if my words are heresy. I still love the power of words. They dispel my loneliness. They soothe my fear of uselessness.

But I say wind and water or fire and worms can overcome any words or theory, and some priests would do well to be humbled by this fact. They would do well to look away from their manuscripts and icons from time to time. But I understand their need to dwell on miracles, codes, and saints. With me it is not so much piety as loneliness that makes me beg the hero Jesus or Brigit or any god or saint to appear to me so I can believe and feel protected, even if they do not tell me for what purpose the world exists. How sorely I need to feel that words and stories do not disguise chaos and disaster but hint at some comforting wisdom. How well I understand the true torment of hell as being eternally kept from seeing the face of God. I already know this punishment, but it is, I confess, perhaps an exile of my own doing. How thorough the loneliness! How tiresome the self-pity! I wish that I could thoroughly believe in some creed. I wish that I was ignorant enough to know one truth and discard all others."

This woman is my kindred.

Feeding my soul today...

"Catechism for a Witch's Child"

by J.L.Stanley

When they ask to see your gods

your book of prayers

show them lines

drawn delicately with veins

on the underside of a bird's wing

tell them that you believe

in giant sycamores mottled

and stark against a winter sky

and in nights so frozen

stars crack open spilling streams of molten ice to earth

and tell them how you drank

the holy wine of honeysuckle

on a warm spring day

and of the softness

of your mother

who never taught you

death was life's reward

but who believed in the earth

and the sun

and a million, million light years

of being.