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Decorations: This ritual is to be performed in the Nemeton. The sconces are all hung on the wall with their appropriate candles (listed below). The Earth Altar is set up. A brazier is set up on the north side of the bile', near the entrance to the enclosure, with a small unlit fire prepared in it. The bell is hung near the entrance. The six shrines are set up on the stones of the center wall. Remaining items are sitting on the outer wall toward the north end. A smudge stick made from dried sage from the garden and a lighter are sitting near the entranceway.
A fresh cake of bannock bread, a small bowl of honey, and a glass of wine are placed on the outer wall. A flask of olive oil is on the wall.
Each participant has spent some time in meditation upon their personal needs. Each has prepared two small slips of paper, one with an item of knowledge that they have gained that was especially valuable to them (gem of knowledge), and one with an example of an effort of will that they have performed in the time since the last ritual.
Candle Colors:
Review the ritual just before beginning the individual meditations.
To be done in the house prior to proceeding to the Nemeton. Give a few moments for silent contemplation to help leave mundania behind.
All proceed in a group to the Nemeton. Fox then shuts the door and locks it.
Once everyone has taken their places around the bile' the following is sung and repeated a few times to give everyone a chance to focus.
All: "We've come to the sacred grove,
with hearts and minds
and flesh and bone.
Join us now in ways of old,
we have come
home"
(Repeat)
Fox: "We call upon the spirit of fire to join us, to draw the worlds together by this shared spark and to carry our words and offerings to the gods"
All: "Spirit of fire come to us, we will kindle a fire,
Spirit of fire come to us, we will kindle a fire,
We will kindle a
fire, fan the flames inside our hearts,
We will kindle a fire, we
will kindle a fire."
(Repeat)
Fox: "We will now purify the objects to be used in our ceremony."
Fox and Kit: Pass them near the fire and anoint them with water.
Fox: Ring copper bell, say "Let us begin our celebration of the Fall Equinox"
Fox: "We open our hearts to the worlds on this day,
may these
words stir ancient memories in our souls,
may these offerings lend
strength to our gods,
may these deeds bring honor to our ancestors,
may this love heal and protect our mother, the earth"
(To the participants) "We have gathered here to celebrate the fall equinox, to give thanks in this time of harvest for the earth's bounty. Let us prepare ourselves for the task at hand."
One purification for each of the three worlds, smudge for sky, anoint with water for sea, and anoint with ocher for land.
Kit: "We will now honor the source of our lives, the earth and the splendor of the season"
Kit: "O sacred season of Autumn, by my teacher,
for I wish to
learn the virtue of contentment.
As I gaze upon your full-colored
beauty,
I sense all about you
an at-homeness with your amber
riches.
You are the season of retirement,
of full barns
and harvested fields.
The cycle of growth has ceased,
and the
busy work of giving life
is now completed.
I sense in you no
regrets:
you've lived a full life.
I live in a society
that is over-restless,
always eager for more mountains to climb,
seeking happiness through more and more possessioins.
As a
child of my culture,
I am seldom truly at peace with what I have.
Teach me to take stock of what I have given and received;
may
I know that it's enough,
that my striving can cease
in the
abundance of the grace of the Gods.
May I know the contentment
that allows the totality of my energies
to come to full flower.
May I know that like you I am rich beyond measure.
As
you, O Autumn, take pleasure in your great bounty,
let me also take
delight
in the abundance of the simple things in life
which
are the true source of joy.
With the golden glow of peaceful
contentment
may I truly appreciate this autumn day."
Fox: "Let's take a moment to reconnect with the world around us and the rythms of this harvest season.
Close your eyes and let yourself relax. Breath deeply and sample the fragrant breeze,
Feel the changes around you as the sun wheel turns the seasons. The summer has passed it's peak.
Goldenrod and asters color the fields, as milkweeds seeds float lazily across humid meadows.
The sweet songs of robin and wren have become the shrill cry of the jay, as the monarch stops in on it's long journey south. In the fields the sounds of harvest promise freshly baked bread, from grains of gold, descendants of those first wild seeds, gathered in human hands so many generations ago.
Onion and garlic braids dry in the sun as tomatoes and grapes sweeten on the vine.
Each night the air grows cooler as the first frosts kiss the fat pumpkins and ripening nuts.
Geese gather and sing of new generations and summer's joys, as we gather to celebrate the seasons of our lives.
Remember these images of the world around you, hold them in your heart as we sing of our unity with the world and each other."
All: "We are one, we are one, we are one, . . ."
Fox: "In this task, we've begun, what we will, shall be done" (2)
Kit: "We hold this rite to give thanks for the gifts of the earth that will sustain us and keep us healthy through the cold times ahead. We have prepared ourselves, so now it's time to invite our honored guests to witness our vows."
Fox: "This pole represents the vertical axis of the multiverse,
the cosmic tree of life.
It's roots burrow deep into the soil
of the underworld,
it's mighty trunk has grown up,
piercing
this plane of existence,
to spread it's branches across the upper
realms.
The bile' is our connection to other worlds
and the
center of our ritual universe,
constructed that we may come to
understand the workings of the worlds."
Fox: Light the guardian candle.
Kit: "We welcome the spirit of Connor on this day.
We thank
you for sharing our home with us,
and for the safe-keeping that you
give.
We wish you to occupy this place of honor,
and guard our
Nemeton during this rite,
Aid us in welcoming our invited guests,
both from this world and beyond.
Look into the spirits of all
who would enter this shrine,
and protect us from any beings who
would disrupt our
workings."
Light a candle for each. Invoke them to participate in the ritual.
Offer: olive oil to the fire
stick incense to air,
a crystal
or rock to earth,
a coin to water.
Kit: Light the others candle, saying:
"We acknowledge the presence of the chaotic entities, we give you a place in our ritual so that you will not disturb us in search of one."
Fox and Kit: Make the usual offerings: (Wild grapes for fox, and milk for jaguar)
Offerings: Nature spirits - milk, seeds
Ancestors - sweets and
wine
Gods - wine or mead
Fox: Light the west candle.
Kit: "We honor the scholars in all realms. We make offerings by returning some of the best of what we have learned and ask that you guide us as we seek wisdom and truth."
Each person should burn the offering of paper with their gems of knowledge written on them.
Kit: Light the north candle.
Fox: "We honor the warriors in all realms. We make offerings of examples of our efforts of will. We ask that you grant us courage and strength as we travel upon our chosen paths."
Each person should burn the offering of paper with examples of trials or efforts that have required courage and force of will.
Fox: Light the east candle.
Kit: "We honor the producers in all realms. We make offerings of the products of our labors. We ask that you grant us the strength and skill to produce our sustenance."
Fox: Make an offering of garden produce.
Fox: "We invite the goddess Danu and the Dagda to join us in our shrine. Come join us as we express our gratitude for the many gifts that we have enjoyed during this year."
Kit: Cut an apple in half and place it, and some wine at the gods shrine.
Kit: "We welcome and honor you, Danu on your highest day of the
year
great mother of the Tuatha De Danann,
and our mother, for
we are the people of the earth,
she who gave us life,
the
flesh of our bodies,
and the food that gives us strength.
we
thank you for your generous bounty
Fox: "We also welcome and honor you, Dagda,
the good god, the
father god,
chief of the Tuatha De Danann,
wielder of the
mighty club of life and death,
keeper of the cauldron of plenty,
god of great wisdom,
father of Brigid,
hear our praise
for you on this day."
Drumming session.
Fox: "It is now time to seek the omen"
Kit: "Mighty spirits of the worlds, send us an omen of things to come, tell us of the blessings that await the turning wheel"
Fox: Cast the runes for an omen of the nature of the return and information about the future.
Kit: "We will now consecrate and share the bounty of the harvest"
Fox: Lift the chalice of wine and the plate of bannock bread.
Kit: "May the spirits assembled bless this bread and wine, the fruit of the harvest, that it give us strength and health for the coming season."
Share the consecrated food.
Off the cuff
Off the cuff
Fox: "Our celebration of the equinox has been a success,
we
have placed our footprints on the ancient path of our ancestors,
and
brought honor to our heritage and our gods.
May the great wheel turn
until we meet again."
Kit: "Now we will ground and center to close our celebration"
Individually ground and center to release any excess energy.
All: "Walk with wisdom, from this hallowed place.
Walk not in
sorrow, our roots shall ere embrace.
May truth be your brother, and
honor be your friend,
and luck be your lover until we meet again."
Fox: "This concludes our celebration."
Ring the copper bell.
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