This is the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. Tonight we use the Circle to travel back in time. We remember what the lengthening nights meant to an agrarian people. In the time before easy food storage, the very young, old and pregnant were at great risk in the winter. There were many who would die in the darkness. Shamans and wise women watched in the nights. They prayed that the Goddess would return the Sun's light and warmth to them. The Solstice night came and the next night. When two or three nights were shorter, by moments to be sure, they knew their prayers had been answered. The light would come again to warm the land.
The people developed calendars. They were able to determine the nights of the Solstices and Equinoxes. When the night of the change came it was cause for a great celebration.
We, too, celebrate the rebirth, of the Sun, the Goddess/God and ourselves. Rosemary, fir and pine are placed on the altar to remind us that our souls are "evergreen". We write descriptions of our mundane selves, to try to see ourselves as we are in the so-called "Real World". We write down the things of both worlds that hold us back. We try to look objectively at the things within ourselves that hold us back. We examine the ways we can "break away" from them.
This night we celebrate the rebirth of the Goddess' Child, the Sun King. She brings forth the Sun, and all life. We are reborn out of the darkness of the past. This is a night of joy and wonder... We are in the presence of the great mystery... The mystery of life, and death, and life again.
From ancient caves, from torch lit temples... from the past and the present we will build the future. This is the time of new beginnings, rebirth awaits us. Ready yourselves to enter the temple of the Great Mother.
We call Her from deep within ourselves... from the memories of earlier lives, from our hope of future ones. We will enter the temple and chant our names. We will take the hands of our bothers and sisters and the Goddess to return to life as the Sun returns to warm the Earth.
Turn out all of the lights.
This is the Darkness of the womb. This is the time before time itself begins. We cast the Circle, we call on the Lady and Her Lover-Son to bring back the Light, to warm the earth again to fruitfulness; to enlighten us.
Hail guardians of the watchtowers of the east
Powers of the air.
Hear the winds call the Star-Mother, Arida!
We call to the winds to share our joy...
Guard and guide our journey this night
Mother of the winds,
Be With Us Now!Hail guardians of the watchtowers of the south
Power of the flames
See the flames reaching upward, flying outward toward the Star Goddess, Astarte!
We call to the flames to share our joy...
Guard and light our journey this night
Mother of the flames,
Be With Us Now!Hail guardians of the watchtowers of the west
Powers of the waters
See the waves rolling in from the depths of the ocean
The womb of the Goddess, Mhari-Tiamat!
We call to you to share our joy...
Guard and help us to understand the journey we take this night.
Mother of the waters,
Be With Us Now!Hail guardians of the watchtowers of the north
Powers of the earth
See the living things sleeping in this winter's darkness
This is the body of the Goddess, Cerridwen, Ishtar, Isis, Athena
We call to you to share our joy...
Guard and help us to bring the light out of darkness this night
Mother of the earth,
Be With Us Now!The Circle is cast... we are between the worlds!
The room should be dark. If the HPS needs a light to read by it should be shaded. Have ready a cauldron, or other fireproof bowl. You should have twigs and needles from several kinds of trees. Oak and Ash are traditional and particularly important as a link with the past. Be sure they are dry. Add a spoonful of sandalwood and a small amount of incense. At the appropriate moment sparks should be struck into the cauldron from flint and steel. This takes practice, but is a better link than sulfur matches.
Gather into a circle in front of the fire. This night, we remember how important this night was to our Mothers and Fathers. The Sun meant Life to them. The days have been growing shorter. The nights have grown long and cold. Only the flames can hold back the frightening darkness. Then, as we learn to keep track of the seasons, we come to realize that out of the longest night of darkness and cold, the days will get longer, the sun will return, and the earth will bear fruit again.
Come forward a little now... we are a small tribe of wanderers. The deer have begun to grow scarce. The fruits we've gathered are hard and dry. Seeds we gathered have to last until the spring. We know that some of us may not survive the cold, and the long nights of winter.
This is the longest night of the year. We light the fires, calling on the Great Mother to hear us, and take pity on us. "Let the Sun be reborn to warm the lands again..." The fire draws deer to us. We will feast this night. We thank the deer, and the Goddess and God who sent them.
Travel forward again... Our people regard themselves as sophisticated now. We know that the sun returns each year, but the darkness and cold can still frighten us. We have learned the paths of the stars... but... We remember... we remember fear, and darkness... and the coming of the deer... we celebrate the rebirth of the Sun from the womb of the Goddess. We will feast this night, and remember.
Strike the flint and steel.
The Light returns! The Light is re-born!
Look around the circle... we too are a small tribe of wanderers. The "seeds" we need to protect are ourselves and our family. We do not hunt the deer, but we work hard to see that our tribe is fed, and we thank the Goddess for helping us care for those we love.
Join hands, and let the power of this night fill you... Let the power express itself as a hum... let it grow...
We will stand in the center of the circle, with the hands of our family touching us to bring healing and love to us. We will chant our chosen names. We will take our places in the circle of Witches of the Covenant.
We bring into the Circle the things we feel hold us back. We ask the Goddess Within to aid us in breaking the bindings, to let us see clearly what our best selves can be. We seek the best within us. May the Goddess be within each of us this night, to guide the journey we take to understand the rebirth that this time offers us.
As the Goddess brings forth the sun, so may we bring forth new selves; selves free of the bindings that have held us in bondage to the past.
Around the Circle passes a ball of black yarn. This is a symbol of the things that keep us from being all we can be. We loop it around our wrists, naming the things it symbolizes with each loop. Let us feel the strength of the Goddess within us. Let us know our ability to understand and overcome all of them. Let the energy build...
The Priestess will come to each of you in turn and ask you your chosen name, and what holds you back. Then as the circle chants your name to empower you, you will break these bonds of your own making so that you may know your power to break them too!
The remnants of the bonds will be thrown into the cauldron to burn with the incense as a symbol of your ability to transform your bonds into new sweetness in your life.
Embrace the Lady... Thank Her for this magical journey. Embrace the God, the Unicorn... H will bring you safely back to this time and place, the mundane world. We are relaxed, renewed, revitalized, rested... We can hear our renewal in our strong heartbeat... in our relaxed breathing... Again, we breathe the Names of the Goddess...
ATHENA... CERRIDWEN... ISIS ... DIANA..
ATHENA... CERRIDWEN... ISIS ... DIANA..
ATHENA... CERRIDWEN... ISIS ... DIANA..
Her Face shines out of darkness
We feel Her strength within us
Bringing out of Winter
Promise of renewalLife is... Change is... Change is... Life is...
Cycles of Becoming...
Dreams become the Goal Stars
Courage leads to action...
Love and Will the torch-firesLife is... Change is... Change is... Life is...
We, Our Lady's Daughters
Strong and Valiant Women
We, 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...
In this, the Night of Darkness
Bring the gift of vision
Show us now our pathway
Shining into MorningLife is... Change is... Change is... Life is...
*She charges everything She touches, and
Everything She touches, changesShe charges everything She touches, and
Everything She touches, changesChange is, touch is - touch is change is
Change us, touch us - touch us, change usEverything lost is found again
In a new form, in a new wayEverything hurt is healed again
In a new life, in a new day
From traditions hidden in the mists of time, our people have watched the dance of the seasons, winter to spring, summer to autumn. We have learned to see the seasons within ourselves too. We see the changing seasons as the cycles of change. This night we gather to share food and wine as a pledge of our love, trust and friendship... We share the cup of healing and rebirth... We share the promise of the Lady that we are Her Children, Her Reflections... Her other selves... We share Her promise 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 Athame, 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.
Everyone can join in the feasting this night. If there are crumbs left, remember to put them out for Her small creatures. Pour out the drink for the Goddess and God as well.
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 BonesLady, 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!* From "The Spiral Dance" by Starhawk
Comments? Questions? Virtual Chocolate?
