This is the second of the Harvest Festivals, the second balancing. This night and day are of equal length. We give thanks for the gifts we"ve received and set new goals. We usually eat together with each one bringing something special to share. Look back at the year and see what you have accomplished.
We are met this Night, night of the balance between Day and Night, to celebrate the energy of the Goddess Within. We draw in that energy to focus it on our needs and goals that they may grow, and that we may grow in our work and in our lives. We meet to build a circle of protection around ourselves and those of our friends who need it.
From all the many lands the Moon shines upon come the names of the Lady. Her Faces are the faces of all Times... all places... all of our faces. We see Her images before us. We fill the tree lined shadows with Her many names.
ADITI, ARIDA, ANAHITA, ANDRASTE, ALA, AVARRA, BAST, BLANCHE, BRIGID, CERRIDWEN,
CHANGING WOMAN, DEMETER, EVANDA, FREYA, GLENMARN, HATHOR, INANNA, ISHTAR,
ISIS, KUAN-YIN, MA'AT, MAYA, MARI, MINERVA, THE MORRIGAN, PARASHAKTI, SIOBHAN,
TIAMAT, PELÉ, URANIA, VESTA, ZU-EN...
This is the time of joy... Pleasure in all things.
"All acts of Love and Joy are My Sacraments."
Let us cast the Circle. We call forth the Elementals, Sun, Moon and Stars to share our joy. May The Lady and Her Consort, The Horned One, be with us!
Hail Guardians of The Watchtowers of The East
Powers of Air
Powers of The Intellect... Dawn...
Sylphs, graceful and lovely in the Morning Light...
We call You to join with us.
Shimmering Eagle, soaring against the morning face of The Mountain
Morning Wind... Hurricane... First Light...
Come, Arida"s Breath
Be With Us Now!
Hail Guardians of The Watchtowers of The South
Powers of Fire
Powers of Action and Reaction... Midday...
Salamanders, radiant in the Noonday Sun
We call You to join with us.
Flame Crowned Lioness of the Day
Candle... Forest Fire... Volcano"s Heart...
Come, Pele"s Spirit
Be With Us Now!
Hail Guardians of The Watchtowers of The West
Powers of Water
Powers of Emotion... Eventide...
Undines, robed in pearl and coral
We call You to join with us.
Sea Dragon, Dolphin, Seabird calling in the Waning Light...
Come, Tiamat"s Soul
Be With Us Now!
Hail Guardians of The Watchtowers of The North
Powers of Earth
Powers of The Body... Midnight...
Eleven Dwellers in the Crystal Caves
We call You to join with us.
Companions in the blackest night, HunterCat and Owl...
Mountain... Valley... Midnight Star...
Come, Cerridwen"s Hand
Be With Us Now!
The Circle is Cast... We Are Between The Worlds!
We bring our concerns to you, Lady of Light and Shadow... Queen of Air and Darkness. We thank you for past aid. Now we draw your Energy into the Circle... to heal ourselves and each other. We seek to build a sphere of protective energy for each of us to protect us and those we love. Keep our homes and the homes of those we care for safe against the dangers of the mundane world. Let the Chant of The Lady"s Names as Guardian/Guide begin...
ATHENA... CERRIDWEN... ISIS ... DIANA..
ATHENA... CERRIDWEN... ISIS ... DIANA..
ATHENA... CERRIDWEN... ISIS ... DIANA..
Listen to the sound of your own breathing... Hear the air being drawn into your lungs... Listen to your heart beating... Feel the pulse moving through your body... Close your eyes and see with the inner eye, the Goddesses at the compass points of the Circle... See them as figures of light and shadow... feelings... caring Presences.
East, Arida... Opalescent... Shimmering... Cool... White...
South, Pele... Fire and Ember... Glowing... Hot... Scarlet and Black...
West, Tiamat... Clear... Surging... Barely Warm... Green...
North, Cerridwen... Starlit... Stable... Cold... Dark Blue...
As you breath, take in the energy of the Elements... Take what you need from each of them to build the energy within yourself... Feel the strength of the Earth beneath you. Let it flow up into you. Feel the Energy of the hidden Moon... Draw it down from the Lady... the Mother. Feel the Energy growing within you... It is too much to contain within one person... Let it fill you and overflow into your left hand. It flows sunward through the Circle... See it flood the Circle, Filling it with Love, Healing and Strength.
As the Energy flows around the Circle, shadowed shapes begin to form... The Lady and the Unicorn. In your hands you hold a magic clay. It glows with the energy you focus on it. From it we will build a globe of pure energy. It draws strength from the earth beneath us, the Moon above... It holds energy aimed at us, transforms it if necessary, and lets it flow into us as we need it. It helps us to think clearly, to heal our bodies, and understand the people around us. It shelters us form any who would harm us, whether deliberately or incidentally. Negative energy is transformed, or returned to it"s source. We have no need to interact with it.
Let This energy be strong, filled with the energy of the sleeping volcanoes and linked to them so that they may draw on it at need. Let those who are protected by it grow away from the need for calamity. Let joy and friendship be theirs. May their physical bodies grow stronger and healthier day by day and the blessings of all the Gods be with them, and us. Let the energy flow over the spheres you have built and strengthen them. The Firebird will call you to return, until then, go with The Goddess and Her Consort....
Embrace the Lady... Thank Her for this magical journey. Embrace the Unicorn... Let Him carry you back now... Back to Our place between the Worlds... You are relaxed, renewed, revitalized, rested... You can hear your renewal in your strong heartbeat... in your relaxed breathing...Again, we breathe the Names of The Goddess...
ATHENA... CERRIDWEN... ISIS ... DIANA..
ATHENA... CERRIDWEN... ISIS ... DIANA..
ATHENA... CERRIDWEN... ISIS ... DIANA..
Her Names can not be counted...
Her Faces are The Seasons
Her Love became Creation
Her Promise is Eternal
Life is... Change is... Change is... Life is...
Cycles of Becoming...
Dreams become the Goal Stars
Courage leads to action...
Love and Will the torch-fires
Life is... Change is... Change is... Life is...
Be the Lady"s Daughter
Strong and Valiant Woman
Be the Horned One's Other...
Warm and Loving Human...
Life is... Change is... Change is... Life is...
In the silver moonlight...
Know yourself as Goddess
Bringing into Daylight
Insights born at midnight...
Life is... Change is... Change is... Life is...
From Traditions hidden in the mists of time, Our People have shared food and wine as a pledge of our Love, Trust and Friendship... So now do we share the Cup of Healing and Rebirth... Promise of the Lady that we are Her children, Her reflections... Her self... Promise too, that all will be renewed, that the cycles are unending.
See the Chalice, the Cup, the Cauldron of Rebirth... Symbol of the Lady.
See the Atheme, the Sword... force and Symbol of the Horned
One...
Power to Change...
See them joined, one in power and ecstasy. In Their joining is Strength, Joy and Beauty, the Wonder of Creation.
We join Them in the love of each other in the Circle. We share our Joy as we share the Cup.
See the Lady... Hear Her Voice...
"Mine The Cup... The Wine of Life... Drink Deeply, and with Joy"
We pass the Cup with a Kiss.
Let this sharing set the seal of The Goddess on our gathering.
Guardians of the East, Wind's Children
Guardians of the South, Fire Born
Guardians of the West, Sea spawned
Guardians of the North, Earth's Bones
Lady, Queen of Times Past, Present and Time to Come...
Lord Consort, Lover of the Shining One...
We Thank you for your presence and protection. As you depart
to your Ancient Realms, remember us, our needs... our goals.
Let there be Peace and Joy... Love and Trust between us always.
From Time"s Beginnings to Eternity"s Endings... Hail and Farewell, blessed be!
Questions? Comments? E-Mail me.
