"MABON"
*The Ritual of Rest - A Rite for “Summer’s End”
(Autumn Equinox)
in Australia, approx. March 19/20
Performed at Mid- Morning or Mid-Afternoon
ITEMS NEEDED:
*ALTAR/FEAST TABLE/CHAIRS (indoors) & ENTRANCE TABLE (if outdoors.) BRAZIER.
*Roast (optional) and sundries for feast. Alcohol (optional)
*Bread or cakes or pudding, and milk or juice for
libations. Libation bowl.
*Druid/Celtic music, playing softly in background.
*Jug of purified/filtered water and a cup for each participant.
* A washing bowl for feet and a washing bowl for hands. Sponge and wash-cloth.
*Watering can with salted water.
*Essential oil (Rosemary, for remembrance, optional) for Anointing.
*White ribbon for head bands, one for each participant (optional).
*Druid Staff.
*SALT in a container. Representative of EARTH/NORTH.
*INCENSE in a holder. Representative of AIR/EAST.
*OIL LAMP/CANDLE. Representative of FIRE/SOUTH.
*Cup of WATER. Representative of WATER/WEST.
*Quartz crystal (GOD/MALE/ACTIVE ASPECT/the Infinite)
*White/Pearly Seashell (GODDESS/PASSIVE ASPECT/the Integral)
*2 White Candles (God/Goddess)
*Semi-precious gemstones (optional).
*Autumn Leaf, and branch decorations for
Altar.
*Tools for Divination.
*Burning bowl.
Matches, candle, or gas match. Long tongs. Envelopes, pens, and paper for bane/wish
writing/burning. Bell.
*Chocolate or
Painted Eggs or
circular chocolates.
CREATING A SACRED SPACE:
With the Druid Staff, the Priest/Priestess, and Aides (optional), go throughout the area which is to be used and needs to be protected from ill-will and cleansed of
negative energies. E.g., If a house and yard, go throughout the house and yard, including the street frontage. Waving the switch up, down and around, the Priest/Priestess recites (with intensity of feeling and
power):
Mother/Father God,
Cleanse this place of Negative Energies.
Fill it with your Life Force,
Your Love, and Wisdom.
Protect it and All within it from harm or negativity.
As Above, So Below,
As Within, So Without.
Repeating this over and over, wherever they walk or stop until the whole area is covered.
LAYING THE ALTAR & FEAST TABLE:
THE ALTAR: (While facing North, with the
altar in front of you)
*Lay leaves/branches around the Altar’s edge, and put some autumn leaves in a bowl.
*To the Left of the centre, put the Seashell, and then a White Candle.
*To the Right of the centre, put the Quartz Crystal, and then a White Candle.
*At the East side of the Altar, put the Incense.
*At the South side of the Altar, put the Oil Lamp/Candle (this position can be reversed with the salt if you live south of the equator, as
Australians do; follow your personal preference) .
*At the West side of the Altar, put the Water.
*At the North side of the Altar, put the Salt. *Put the bowl
with autumn leaves
to the North.
*Lay the libation bowl, milk/juice, and bread/cakes/pudding, to the South of the centre.
*Lay the Druid Staff on the Altar when not in use.
*Lay the Torch next to the Druid Staff when not in use. Divination tools also lie here.
*Lay gemstones in a circle around the Altar, or around the Burning bowl.
*Put the Washing bowls/sponge/cloth/watering can beneath the Altar. *Place eggs in a
bowl beneath the
Altar (retrieve later). [If outside, and hot, put them in an esky or
coolbox.]
[Note: This ritual can be acted indoors around a dining table. In this case, forgo the washing part of the ritual, and set up the Altar at one end of the table. Circling can be visualised, holding hands, rather
than actually moving.]
THE RITUAL AREA:
*Place a chair for each participant in a circle around the Altar and
Feast Table.
*Place the Feast Table South of the Altar, within the circle. Put all
cutlery/plates/cups/food and drink on it.
*Make sure there is plenty of room for movement within the circle of chairs around the Altar and
Feast table.
*Place the Entrance Table just outside the circle, and place upon it the
purified water/cups/anointing oil, and a torch for reading.
(The torch can be carried into the circle later, once it gets dark).
CALLING THE ANGELS:
Taking up the Druid Staff, the Priest/Priestess stands pointing it to the North as
the Priest/Priestess recites:
Angels of the North, of Earth, of Taurus/Virgo/Capricorn,
Of Pentacles and Worldly Issues,
Of Protection, Nurturing and Growth,
Bless our Ritual and
Attend our Circle:
Heed our Prayers and carry them into the world,
That they may be Manifest
By the Laws of Right Action.
The Priest/Priestess stands pointing the
Druid Staff to the West,
(Sun-wise), as the Priest/Priestess recites:
Angels of the West, of Water, of Cancer/Scorpio/Pisces,
Of Cups and Issues of the Heart and Psyche,
Of Feeling and Inspiration and Refreshment:
Bless our Ritual and
Attend our Circle:
Heed our Prayers and carry them into the world,
That they may be Manifest
By the Laws of Right Action.
The Priest/Priestess stands pointing the
Druid Staff to the South,
(Sun-wise), as the Priest/Priestess recites:
Angels of the South, of Fire, of Aries/Leo/Sagittarius,
Of Wands and Issues of Creativity and Endeavour,
Of Light and Brightness and Love:
Bless our Ritual and
Attend our Circle:
Heed our Prayers and carry them into the world,
That they may be Manifest
By the Laws of Right Action.
The Priest/Priestess stands pointing the
Druid Staff to the East,
as the Priest/Priestess recites:
Angels of the East, of Air, of Gemini/Libra/Aquarius,
Of Swords and Issues of Knowledge and Balance,
Of Intelligence, Exploration and Union:
Bless our Ritual and
Attend our Circle:
Heed our Prayers and carry them into the world,
That they may be Manifest
By the Laws of Right Action.
ANOINTING & CLEANSING:
The Priest/Priestess stands at the entry point to the circle, where
the participants queue for entry. All participants have washed and may be bare-foot and bra-less (optional), with light-coloured clothes. (Men may be bare-chested) Each participant wears a
white ribbon tied across their forehead. The officiating
Priest/Priestess/Aides may also have a blue crescent marked on their
forehead.
The Priest/Priestess recites, with intensity/power, while the
Priest/Priestess/Aides pours water into a cup for each participant.
Drink this water to Cleanse yourself of Negative Energies,
That you may Recognise the Divinity within you
without Obstruction.
The Priest/Priestess/Aides gives the water to the participant, who drinks it all.
The Priest/Priestess recites with intensity/power, while the
Priest/Priestess anoints the Third Eye of the participant with a smear of
essential oil on their thumb.
This Oil Anoints your Psychic Centre so that you may
Communicate with the Divine more easily.
The Priest/Priestess recites:
Leave the troubles of the Mortal World behind you now
as you enter the Sacred Space.
Walk Sunwise, East to West, around the Circle
until you find your seat.
The ceremony continues until all are seated. When all are seated, the Priest/Priestess/Aides collect the washing bowls/sponge/wash-cloth/watering can from beneath the
Altar.
The Priest/Priestess/Aides pours water into the foot
bowl in front of the first participant (East of the circle entrance). He/She bathes the
feet of the participant as the Priest/Priestess recites:
Let this Water cleanse your Feet
so that the Energy of the Divine Earth
Flows into you more easily,
filling you
With Healing and Love.
The Priest/Priestess/Aides carries the used
bowl to behind the participant’s chair and solemnly empties it onto the ground, as the Priest/Priestess recites:
Let the Earth accept this soiled water
And restore it the Cycle of Life.
The Priest/Priestess/Aides places the foot bowl in front of the next participant (moving sun-wise, to the West), and places the hand bowl on the lap of the first participant, pouring
water into it, and washing the participant’s hands (wiping them dry with the squeezed sponge/cloth), as the Priest/Priestess recites:
Let this Water cleanse your Hands so that the Divine Energy
That flows through you from the Earth
May flow out more easily into the World around you,
Bringing Healing and love to All you touch.
The Priest/Priestess/Aides again carries the used
bowl to behind the participant’s chair and solemnly empties it onto the ground, as the Priest/Priestess recites:
Let the Earth accept this soiled water
And restore it the Cycle of Life.
This process continues around the circle, until all participants are bathed with salted water. (The Priest/Priestess/Aides wash each other or, if there is only one
leader, a member of the washed participants may wash the leader). Once all are bathed, the Priest/Priestess/Aides
sit in their chairs.
ENERGY RAISING:
The Priest/Priestess recites:
Now we are gathered together in this Sacred Space
To honour the Divinity within us and without Us.
Let us close our Eyes and meditate upon the Joy of Life’s Spirit.
Let us feel it’s Energies coursing around our Circle
from East to West and back again.
Around and around, building it’s Energy within us
Until it’s Colours blend into White
And fill us with Healing and Power.
Let this Energy link us together,
Making us One as we are naturally One.
As we have always been One
with each other
And with the Divine.
All meditate. When the Priest/Priestess feels ready and rested,
he/she rises and says:
All stand and move forward to join hands in a Circle.
The Priest/Priestess recites, looking up at the sky:
O Mother/Father God,
Answers to All Mysteries and yet
Mysteries Un-Answered,
In this Place of Power
We have opened ourselves to your Essence.
We have breathed your energies into our bodies -
Co-mingling, blending, mixing them with ours,
So that we may see the Divine in Nature and
Nature in the Divine, and
Divinity within ourselves and
All else.
All repeat after the Priest/Priestess:
Make us One with your Essence.
Make us One with your Essence.
Make us One with your Essence.
The Priest/Priestess says:
All shut your eyes and breathe in the Essence of God. Let it flow through you, through your heart centre and into the centre of our Sacred Space.
CIRCLING:
When the Priest/Priestess is ready, he/she says:
Three times around the Sacred Space
We circle sun-wise, holding hands and chanting:
All hold hands and move around the circle, sun-wise (East to West), three times, chanting with the Priest/Priestess:
O Gracious Divinity,
Bathe us with Enlightenment in this Magical Time.
Charge us with wonder and joy.
Help us to attune to the Energies adrift on
The Enchanted Air.
At the end of the circling the participants, except for the Priest/Priestess/Aides, resume their seats.
RECITALS:
The Priest/Priestess recites:
O Mother/Father God, we come to Honour our Union with you,
and with all Life.
As Nature settles itself into the Quiet of Autumn
we pause to Reflect on our Lives,
knowing that Winter will soon be upon us.
We think now upon the Cycles of Existence upon the Earth,
and in our lives.
We acknowledge the Balance and Movement between Light and Dark, and between Outward and Inward Activity.
Soon, the Quiet times of Winter will allow the trees to send down their roots deep into the nourishment of the Earth.
And we know that in the Quiet Cycles of our lives, our Life Trees send down their Roots deep into Nourishment so that
when Growth is required of them again they will have
the Strength to Flourish.
We think upon the Summer that has passed,
with all the flourishing and growth of new leaves
and branches in the trees.
And we know that the Active Cycles of our lives produce the same growth and prosperity, if we have nourished our roots well,
and have fed our Life Trees in the Quiet Cycles.
We think upon the leaves that fall to the earth now,
the forest mulch and compost that will break down and nourish the Earth, so the roots of the trees will find sustenance
that supports future growth.
And we know that in our Lives, when all appears to turn dust,
to be destroyed or rotten, when life is no longer progressing
on an outward level, that we are entering the Quiet Cycles,
and that the compost of all that has gone before
will nourish our spirit, feed our lives, replenish our bodies,
if we let it settle around us to rot.
And, if we can but watch and wait a while,
this refuse which lies around us will encourage our future growth. And we learn that in time, all settles,
even the worst experiences of our lives,
and naturally rots down until all it can do is nourish us,
so that when the Sun of Life returns to us
we will be stronger and greater than before,
and better able to progress and evolve.
And so, we touch the fragments in this bowl,
and reflect upon what they once were.
The Priest/Priestess/Aide brings the Autumn bowl to the Priest/Priestess
to touch, and then passes it to each participant before replacing it on the Altar.
And we also Honour what is Passing from our Lives,
knowing that it will also come to this, and Nourish us.
And we thank Life for the Gift of our Experience,
which allows us to grow.
The Priest/Priestess recites:
Life quietens now. The air is cooler.
The Land snuggles ready for sleep.
We remember the warmth and heat of Summer.
The Nights are getting longer. The Days are shorter.
Outside Activities are becoming less as Autumn settles upon us. Soon, we will stay more indoors, and Turn Inward,
inside our Selves, to seek the warmth of the Light inside us
as the Light outside withdraws.
And we will rediscover ourselves. And think. And sleep.
And meditate. And plan for the future. And hope and pray.
But before we can settle into the darkness of our Winter,
we must cleanse the poisons that would lay with us.
For the compost that would nourish us must be the very best.
And as we would burn the plants of Nature which
would poison the compost of our gardens, we now
burn the negative experiences of our Past so that
they may be neutralised in ash and smoke and
return to the Cycles of our life,
without lying in wait to regrow as our weeds and pests and banes.
The Priest/Priestess/Aide prepares the burning bowl and
supplications.
The Priest/Priestess
rises and recites:
On this day of Summer’s End,
We burn the banes of our lives, sending their smoke into the ether,
Dispersing their ashes into the Cycle of Life,
That they may become in Truth our Nourishment,
By the Laws of Right Action.
We herewith Resolve our differences,
And Wash away the pains of the Past.
Each participant, (sun-wise, East to West), takes up their Burning Letter and holds it with tongs over the Burning Bowl
as the Priest/Priestess/Aide ignites it (as often as necessary to
completely char it all...) The Priest/Priestess/Aide rings the
Bell throughout each burning.
As each participant burns their prayers, the Priest/Priestess recites, and the participant repeats after the
Priest/Priestess:
Burn away the rubbish,
By the Powers of the Divine!
Heal what is unhealthy,
By the Powers of the Cosmos!
Progress what should move forward,
By the Powers of the Mortal World!
Let Right Action be the Path of My Life, and
Right Knowledge be my Guide.
Heed me!..
Heed me!..
Heed me!..
I laugh at all that negates me!
I laugh with joy for all God has given me!
I laugh with pleasure at this time of Reflection, for
The Knowledge that All Life is a Circle of Oneness.
The participant laughs until all the paper is thoroughly burnt, then recites:
By the Laws of Right Action,
May Success be made Manifest,
On all levels of my Life, and in the lives of those I care for
In this world or the next.
Once all the letters have been burnt, the Priest/Priestess
recites:
Now is the time of Mabon, the Ritual of Rest, the time for Reflection, and the time for Laying the Seeds of the Future.
The Priest/Priestess/Aide brings the ritual eggs and gives
one to each participant.
The Priest/Priestess says:
Let us hold aloft these Eggs and gaze at them,
for they are the Seeds of our Future.
Let us hold them close to us and look deep into their centre with our Inner Eye, and picture the Future we wish to be Seeded.
Let our Wish be embedded deep within their shells as the
growing embryos of our Future.
And when we are sure that we have filled the shell to overflowing, that the Wish is strong, and sure and certain, let us eat the Egg and the New Life within it, that it may grow
inside us and become Manifest in our Lives, by the Laws of Right Action.
After all have eaten their Eggs, the Priest/Priestess makes a
libation and says:
Mother-Father God, I thank you for the Blessing of Life. I share with you these libations to Acknowledge your Graciousness and to Remember that I must not take for
granted what is given but must always remember to return some to the Cycle of Life.
The other participants follow her example and repeat the recitation.
The Priest/Priestess says:
Accept our offering in your honour, Divine Spirit, we thank you.
(The libations are later buried/emptied in/on the ground, or
left in the bowl/plate/cup until the animals/birds/insects have eaten it...)
DE-CIRCLING:
The participants join hands again in a circle and circle thrice in an anti-Sunwise direction, (West to East), as the Priest/Priestess
recites and the participants repeat after him/her:
We disperse the energies of this Circle,
Returning them to the Cycle of Life,
To the Divine Mind,
So that our Prayers may Progress and
Balance may be Restored.
We send the Energies of this Circle on their Way
Into Us, into Our Lives and
Into the Lives of those we care about.
All stop and reflect as the Priest/Priestess recites:
We thank you, Mother/Father God, again, for attending us,
For all the guidance and knowledge given us
and all the wisdom, strength and support of your
healing love toward us.
We give thanks for all you have done for us and with us, and
For all you will be to us and in us
As our lives unfold.
The Priest/Priestess recites:
We thank the Angels of the North, the West, the South and East; of Earth, Water, Fire and Air for attending us. May you heed our prayers for Right Action manifest in
our world.
We thank you for your Blessings upon us.
The Priest/Priestess recites:
We thank again all spirits who have attended our rites.
Go in Peace to God and rest.
DISPERSING THE ALTAR:
The offerings for God, etc. are poured on the ground and/or buried.
The Autumn decorations on the Altar are dispersed on the ground.
The Tree and inside decorations may stay until they die, or until Litha.
All other items are put away, as well as the Altar,
chairs and tables.
REVELRY:
Egg and spoon races. Rolling egg races.
Gifts/Eggs are
given to each other at this time as Wishes/blessings for the Future. |
