This is the Witches New Year. We invite those who have passed the veils between the worlds to return to share a meal with us, to speak with us if they will. We remember them with love. This is not a sad time for us. We believe that we return to the womb of the Goddess in Summerland at our death on this level of existence. We ask to be reborn with our friends when it is time to learn more on this plane. Remember that we invite, we do not insist.
We are met this night, to evoke from deep within us the Dark Queen, the Reaper, and Planter. This is a night for listening to the voices of the past... the futures... Out of the darkness of the our losses comes the reassurance of rebirth. This is the gift of The Goddess we seek this night.
From all the many lands the moon shines upon come Her Names. Her Faces are the Faces of All times, all places... All of Our Faces... We fill this shadowed night with the glory of Her Many Names!
ADITI, ARIDA, ANAHITA, ANDRASTE, ALA, AVARRA, BAST, BRIGID, CERRIDWEN, CHANGING WOMAN, DEMETER, DIANA, EVANDA, FREYA, GLENMARN, HATHOR, INANNA, ISHTAR, ISIS-ATHENA, LIA, LIRRIEL, JUNO, KUAN-YIN, MA'AT, MARI, MAYA, MINERVA, MORGANNA, PARASHAKTI, SIOBHAN, TALISAN, TIAMAT, PELE, URANIA, VESTA, ZU-EN...
This is the time of Remembrance.
The ancient fears run in the shadows. This is the night of the mysteries. In the firelight we see the faces of the past... our own faces. Let that flickering light call you into that world out of time and space, between the worlds where the Goddess waits... Not as the Bright Maiden... or the Loving Mother... but as The Morrigan, the Great Raven.
Hail Guardians of the watchtowers of the east
Powers of the air
Voices of the past, singing on the wind...
Guard us well as we open the gates of Summerland.
Morning breeze... Hurricane force... First Light...
Come, Athena, bring wisdom
Be with us now!Hail Guardians of the watchtowers of the south
Powers of the fire
Passions of the past, glowing embers, memories
Guard us well as we open the gates of Summerland
Noonday sun... candlelight... bonfire...
Come, Astarte, bring strength
Be with us now!Hail Guardians of the watchtowers of the west
Powers of the water
Dreams of the past, so often set aside
Guard us well as we open the gates of Summerland
Oceans roar... mirrored lake... falling rain...
Come, Mari, bring healing
Be with us now!Hail Guardians of the watchtowers of the north
Powers of the earth
Gifts of the past, so seldom remembered
Guard us well as we open the gates of Summerland
Fertile plain... quiet garden... tree touched hill...
Come Cerridwen, bring strength
Be with us now!The Circle is cast... We are between the Worlds
The fires of the season glow before us. Let yourself be warmed by the flames. Let the colors build images in the flames. See the past, old friends... old enemies. Those who have gone to the Isles of the Blessed can pass the veils this night. We have set a table for them. If they will, let them come to speak with us again. Listen to the beating of your heart.
Hear the drumming of the ancient shamans come to you out of the past. The Morrigan and Herne the Hunter ride this night. It is a night to look at our fears. We need to know them so that we may find the strength to overcome them. They may never go entirely away, but we can understand them, and decide that they must not keep us from doing the best that we can to grow in this lifetime.
These are the things we examine this night. Our remembrance of those we have lost, our celebration of their lives, and the acknowledgement of our own fears. Perhaps our loved ones will come to us this night, to advise us or just to share some time with us. Perhaps this night will bring us face to face with our fears and insist that we understand them, and in understanding them, learn to live with them.
Now the drums grow quieter. It is time to say our farewells to those who have visited us this night. We thank them for sharing their memories with us.The horns of the Wild Hunt have faded for another year. Remember what you have learned this night. Fears are part of human nature. No one is without fear. Facing that fear, and acting in spite of it, is the skill we would learn this night.
Within this Circle we draw the strength of Earth, Moon and Stars. It fills us. It fountains over all of us here in the circle, healing energizing us, filling us with the certainty that we can grow. We can be more than we have been. We stand together before the Ancient Goddess and renew our pledges of love and honor to Her, the Lady of Ten Thousand Names!
Out of our Love of Live, Ourselves, Each Other and The Goddess, may Love grow.
Out of Our Faith in Creation, Ourselves, Each Other and The Goddess, may Strength grow.
Out of Our Caring, that the World regain Her balance; that Our needs be met; that our Goals be reached...
We call to You.
Lady of the Morning, Daystar, Mother of the Evenstar, Queen of the Starry Night...
Help us to define our goals. Help us to reach them.
We accept with Joy our place in the Creation.
We accept the responsibility for our uses of the Powers.
We ask the just rewards of our work.
Lady-Mother, Sister-Maiden, Wise Crone
Join us in Love, Faith and Trust.
Help us to know and love ourselves and our sisters and brothers.
Her Names can not be counted
For All our Names are Goddess...
Her Face Is Change, Unchanging
Our Faces in the Mirror...Life is, Change is.... Change is, Life is
We Dance the Circle Dance,
The Seasons change around us...
Sowing into Growing
Growing into Harvest...Life is, Change is.... Change is, Life is
In The Dance of Seasons
See Yourself reflected
Maiden into Mother...
Mother Grown to Wisdom...Life is, Change is.... Change is, Life is
Unicorn Within us
Bring Our Will to Action
In Our Hands Our Future
In our Hearts be JoyLife is, Change is.... Change is, Life is
*She charges everything she touches and
Everything she touches, changesHe charges everything He touches, and
Everything He touches, changesChange is, touch is, touch is, change is
Change us, touch us, touch us, changesChange is, touch is, touch is, change is
Change us, touch us, touch us, changesEverything lost is found again
In a new form, in a new way
Everything hurt is healed again
In a new life, in a new day*From The Spiral Dance - Starhawk
From Traditions hidden in the Mists of Time, from tales passed down in precious fragments... from the living moments of our days come our Rituals...
We bring our memories to share in the Cup, Gift of the Goddess, the Sacred Chalice.
We bring the energies of our Power to join the Atheme, the Strength of the Horned One...
This joining is the energy of Creation itself... We share it 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.
This Sharing sets the seal of the Goddess on Our Gathering.
Guardians of The East... we thank you for Wisdom
Guardians of The South... we thank you for Passion
Guardians of The West... we thank you for Empathy
Guardians of The North... we thank you for StrengthLady, Queen of Air and Darkness...
Lord Consort, Guardian of the Western Gates...We thank you for your presence and protection. As you depart to your ancient realms, remember us... remind us of our strengths...
Let there be Peace and Joy...
Love and Trust between us always.As Our Will, So Shall it be!
From Time's beginnings, to Eternity's endings...
Hail and Farewell...
Blessed Be!
