2004
submitted by celtic_satin
HPS cleanses and casts the circle in the manner of the Tradition:
I cast this circle in a time that is not a time,
in a place that is not a place and
on a day that is not a day.
The circle is cast.
Consecration of water and salt:
Touch water with athame:
Blessings upon thee,
O creature of water,
I cast out from thee all impurities and uncleanness
of spirits of phantasm, confusion,
and any other negative influence.
So mote it be!
Touching salt with athame:
Blessing upon this creature of salt:
let all malignity and hindrance
be cast forth and let all good enter herein.
Wherefore I do bless thee and invoke thee
that thou mayest aid me
in the names of the Lord and Lady.
So mote it be!
The salt is poured into the water:
Salt into liquid, Earth into Water.
May the salt of Earth admonish the water to bear
the virtue of the Great Sea.
For from this mixture comes all life.
Mother, be thou adored.
Blessed be!
Consecration of fire and air:
Light the service candle:
Blessings upon thee,
O creature of fire,
that every kind of phantasm
may retire from thee,
and be unable to harm
or deceive in any way.
So mote it be!
Touching censer or incense with athame:
Blessing be upon this creature of air:
let all malignity and hindrance
be cast forth and let all good enter therein.
Wherefore I do bless thee
and invoke thee
that thou mayest aid me
in the name of the Lord and Lady.
So mote it be!
Light the incense with the blessed service candle:
Let the Fire and the Air make sweet the world!
Father, be thou adored.
Blessed be
(A doorway is cut to allow those participating to enter.
They are smudged and anointed with oil)
HPS:
The wheel of the year turns on and on, bringing us to and from each season and from and to another.
All time is here and now inside this sacred space we gather on this sacred eve so that we might celebrate this season of
Mid-Summer.
East Watchtower:
I stir the watchtower of the Air to come to us and guard this rite, for in the East is Spring and all that is begins first and again.
We bid you Hail and Welcome.
All:
Hail and Welcome!!
South Watchtower:
I stir the watchtower of the Fire to come to us and guard this rite, for in the South is Summer and all things grow and mature.
We bid you Hail and Welcome.
All: Hail and Welcome!!
West Watchtower:
I stir the watchtower of the Water to come to us and guard this rite, for in the West is Fall and all things become fulfilled and are harvested.
We bid you Hail and Welcome.
All:
Hail and Welcome!!
North Watchtower:
I stir the watchtower of the Earth to come to us and guard this rite, for in the North is Winter and all is at rest preparing for life to begin again in the East.
We bid you Hail and Welcome.
All:
Hail and Welcome!!
HPS:
(Lighting the left candle)
Goddess call:
Frigga � mother of Baldur and Hoder, wife of Odin, Patron of mothers and households, Silent seeress...
Weaver of Mists!
We invite you to our circle:
enter and give us Your blessing and guidance
on our own path of destiny.
HPS:
(Lighting the right candle)
God call:
Baldur � Oak King, lord of light,
we invite you to our circle:
enter and give us Your blessing.
Hoder � Holly King, lord of dark,
we invite you to our circle:
enter and give us Your blessing.
HPS:
Now is the time of the summer solstice, the time of the greatest light. We gather here to celebrate the time of brightness. Now is the time of the sun when our Lord is at his height in the heavens. Yet it must also be remembered that now is also the time of his decline to his death and rebirth at the darkest time of winter.
Story of the two brothers:
Some consider Balder to be a god of light since he was so bright, light shined from him. At one point Balder had a foreboding dream. Odin rode to Hel's realm to wake a volva from the dead to find out the meaning of Balder's dream. She foretold Balder's death by Hod (Hodur), his fraternal twin.
Frigg asked all things to swear not to hurt Balder but didn't ask the mistletoe because it was so young. Loki, disguised as an old woman, visited Frigg and found out Balder was invulnerable to everything but mistletoe. Loki then made a dart out of mistletoe and tricked the blind god Hod into throwing it at Balder -- all the other gods were playing games by throwing various items at Balder --, thus killing him.
HPS:
The strength of the old king is waning and a new suitor stands ready to challenge for the hand to the Goddess.
Maiden:
The king of the waxing year and the king of the waning year must do battle on this day.
HPS:
The lord of the waxing year is represented by the Oak King, the ruler of this day.
HPS:
Come forward, the Oak King
The man playing the Oak King steps forward.
HPS:
Yet on this day his brother, lord of the waning year, stands ready to take the land into his keeping. He is represented by the Holly King.
HPS:
Come forward, the Holly King.
The man playing the Holly King steps forward.
HPS:
Now is the time when the forces of light and darkness do battle.
Maiden:
Crowns the Oak King with his oak wreath.
HP:
We crown you the Oak King, lord of the waxing year.
Now is the time of your greatest power.
Are you ready to do battle for the hand of our Goddess?
Oak King:
I am.
Maiden:
Crowns the Holly King with his holly wreath.
HPS:
We crown you the Holly King, lord of the waning year.
Your season is almost upon us.
Are you ready to do battle for the hand of the Goddess?
Holly King:
I am.
There follows a choreographed battle between the Holly King and Oak King, at the end of which the Oak King falls to the floor.
While battle sing Song � Horned One 3X
Horned One,
Lover, Son
Leaper in the corn
Deep in the Mother
Die and be Reborn
HPS:
Holly King, lord to the waning year, I name you the victor.
Now is the time you take up the scepter and rule the land of the Goddess until the time of the winter solstice, when once again you will do battle with you brother.
Holly King:
As it is with the God, so it is with man.
We also journey throughout our time,
form birth until death and to rebirth on our way.
We must remember that the Goddess will raise the God
with the kiss of rebirth
and send him, yet again, on his journey.
We also go down to the cloak of her darkness
and her veil hides us from mortal sight.
But the tomb is the womb of time
form which we return to other lives,
to share once more the knowledge
and love of our fellows and friends.
Workings
� Becoming one with your stone �
pass the tray of stones for everyone to choose one.
We are going to become one with the energy of the stone.
Desert Rose � Barite � Gypsum -
useful in establishing contact with Nature Spirits. Aids one in coping when life is living in the fast lane. Often used for canter of medicine wheel. Used by Native American Indians in rain ceremonies. An Earth Keeper stone. Stimulates progression. Gently grounding; clarifies thinking and mental vision, perception. Quiets worry, brings out practicality
Apache Tears � Obsidian �
sharpen inner and outer vision, help keep away negativity, helps let go of old loves and old ways, used for protective purposes. Strength and endurance. Comfort during grief; provides insight and acceptance. Centering, grounding. Eases and releases pain, loss, sadness, anger, etc to help heal and go on with life. For looking within, protection, vision quest/purpose.
Staurolite � Cross Stone � Fairy Cross -
used for luck, help to remember past lives, stone of good fortune, balance the four elements. Used for protection against accidents and to bring one courage. Represents 4 elements and joining of spirit with earth/matter. Spirituality, compassion, allowing-ness, detachment; Focus centered on the Here and Now
Amethyst �
has a direct link to the mind, helps you feel less scattered and more in control of your faculties, useful in dispelling rage, anger, fear and anxiety, and is a good stone for clarifying and remembering dreams. Spiritual growth and awareness, and an essential healing stone. Psychic abilities, imagery, mind quieting. Wear when sleeping or when awake to reduce anger, impatience, and nightmares. Especially aids sobriety; alcohol/food/sex/other addictions.
Pink Quartz � Rose Quartz �
it is deeply in tune with emotional states helps us discover the ability to love ourselves and makes us more open to other people. Gently removes negativity from all chakras, and enhances self-love. Promotes unconditional love and compassion for all beings. Brings harmony to uncomfortable situations. Slowly eases childhood traumas/neglect/lack of love, low self-esteem. Cleanse and recharge often.
Get comfortable with the stone you have chosen.
Close you eyes and relax.
Visualize a white light coming from the earth beneath you,
rising up your back and over your head,
traveling down your front,
and enclosing you in a sphere of protective light.
Hold the stone in your hand and feel its energy,
become one with the energy of the stone.
Once you are comfortable with the balance
place your stone in front of you when finished.
HPS:
(picks up the container of wine and faces the alter and pours the wine into the chalice, saying:)
As life is to death, joy is to sorrow, peace to humility
may they impart their essence and wisdom unto all.
For I am the Father, Lover and Brother unto all,
the bringer of life, the giver of death,
before whom all time is ashamed.
Let my spirit breathe upon you
and awaken the fires of inspiration within your soul.
(Placing the container of wine on the alter and
picking up the athame in the right hand
and the chalice in the left�
lowers the athame into the chalice touching the wine)
For as this athame represents the male and the God,
So this chalice represents the female and the Goddess.
And they are conjoined, to become one,
in truth, power and wisdom.
So Mote it be!
HPS:
(places the athame on the altar and takes a sip of the wine and hands the chalice to the next person)
May the Father bless you and may you never thirst.
ALL:
(pass chalice taking sips and saying
�May you never thirst.�)
HPS:
(over cakes)
Mother,
let this symbol of your bounty
which sustains all creation
and links us to the never-ending chain of life.
(Takes small bit and passes plate to the next person)
May the mother bless you and you never find hunger.
ALL:
(plate should be passed around the circle member so each may partake while saying
�May you never hunger.�)
HPS:
Dismiss the Gods and Goddess.
Goddess Dismissal:
Frigga � mother of Baldur and Hoder,
wife of Odin, Silent seeress...
Weaver of Mists!
We thank you for attending this rite.
Stay if you will,
depart if you must,
our thanks and blessings.
Gods Dismissal:
Baldur � Oak King, lord of light,
We thank you for attending this rite.
Stay if you will,
depart if you must,
our thanks and blessings.
Hoder � Holly King, lord of dark,
We thank you for attending this rite.
Stay if you will,
depart if you must,
our thanks and blessings.
North Watchtower:
Watchtower of the Earth,
Winter in the North.
We thank you for guarding our rite.
Stay if you will,
depart if you must,
our thanks and blessings.
ALL:
Our thanks and blessings.
West Watchtower:
Watchtower of Water,
Fall in the West.
We thank you for guarding our rite.
Stay if you will,
depart if you must,
our thanks and blessings.
ALL:
Our thanks and blessings.
South Watchtower:
Watchtower of Fire,
Summer in the South.
We thank you for guarding our rite.
Stay if you will,
depart if you must,
our thanks and blessings.
ALL:
Our thanks and blessings.
East Watchtower:
Watchtower of the Air,
Spring in the East.
We thank you for guarding our rite.
Stay if you will,
depart if you must,
our thanks and blessings.
ALL:
Our thanks and blessings.
HPS:
This circle is open yet ever it remains a circle.
Its power runs in and through us always.
So mote it be.
Song � May The Circle Be Open
May the circle be open
But never unbroken
May the peace of the Goddess
Be ever in your heart
Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet again!
Acting High Priestess: celtic_satin