This BOS is made entirely from items submitted by either myself (I have indicated in the table of contents when the information is gathered from another book of shadows such as The Riders of the Crystal Winds Book of Shadows which does appear within these pages in its entirety The code *RCW* is the indication of the afore mentioned text.)or the author(s)( persons who have sent items to the BOS) mentioned in the Book these are items that are of usefulness to all and can be used and reused. All Items submitted will fall under copyright. Items may be printed by any Pagan but, not sold All other printing and or distribution is a copyright infringement. In other words before you grab ask. If you print and distribute these items give credit to the author of the item. Questions?

THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN
(c) copyright 1989, Rowan Moonstone

In recent years, there have been a number of pamphlets and books put
out be various Christian organizations dealing with the origins of
modern- day Halloween customs.

Being a Witch myself, and a student of the ancient Celts from whom
we get this holiday, I have found these pamphlets woefully
inaccurate and poorly researched.  A typical example of this
information is contained in the following quote from the pamphlet
entitled "What's Wrong with Halloween?" by Russell K.  Tardo.  "The
Druids believed that on October 31st, the last day of the year by the
ancient Celtic calendar, the lord of death gathered together the
souls of the dead who had been made to enter bodies of animals, and
decided what forms they should take the following year.  Cats were
held sacred because it was believed that they were once human
beings ...  We see that this holiday has its origin, basis and root in
the occultic Druid celebration of the dead. Only they called it
'Samhain', who was the lord of the dead (a big demon)".1 When these
books and pamphlets cite sources at all, they usually list the
Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Americana, and the World
Book Encyclopedia.  The Britannica and the Americana make no
mention of cats, but do, indeed list Samhain as the Lord of Death,
contrary to Celtic scholars, and list no references.  The World Book
mentions the cats, and calls Samhain the Lord of Death, and lists as
its sources several children's books (hardly what one could consider
scholarly texts, and, of course, themselves citing no references).

In an effort to correct some of this erroneous information, I have
researched the religious life of the ancient Celtic peoples and the
survivals of that religious life in modern times.  Listed below are
some of the most commonly asked questions concerning the origins
and customs of Halloween.  Following the questions is a lengthy
bibliography where the curious reader can go to learn more about
this holiday than space in this small pamphlet permits.

1.  Where does Halloween come from? Our modern celebration of
Halloween is a descendent of the ancient Celtic festival called
"Samhain".  The word is pronounced "sow-in", with "sow" rhyming
with "cow".

2.  What does "Samhain" mean?  The Irish-English Dictionary
published by the Irish Texts Society defines the word as follows:
"Samhain, All Hallowtide, the feast of the dead in Pagan and
Christian times, signaling the close of harvest and the initiation of
the winter season, lasting till May, during which troops were
quartered.  Fairies were imagined as particularly active at this
season.  From it, the half-year is reckoned.  Also called Feile
Moingfinne (Snow Goddess).2 The Scottish Gaelic Dictionary defines
it as "Hallowtide.  The Feast of All Souls.  Sam + Fuin = end of
summer."3 Contrary to the information published by many
organizations, there is no archaeological or literary evidence to
indicate that Samhain was a deity.  Eliade's Encyclopedia of Religion
states as follows: "The Eve and day of Samhain were characterized
as a time when the barriers between the human and supernatural
worlds were broken...  Not a festival honoring any particular Celtic
deity, Samhain acknowledged the entire spectrum of nonhuman
forces that roamed the earth during that period."4 The Celtic Gods of
the dead were Gwynn ap Nudd for the British and Arawn for the
Welsh.  The Irish did not have a "lord of death" as such.

3.  Why was the end of summer of significance to the Celts?   The
Celts were a pastoral people as opposed to an agricultural people.
The end of summer was significant to them because it meant the
time of year when the structure of their lives changed radically.
The cattle were brought down from the summer pastures in the hills
and the people were gathered into the houses for the long winter
nights of story- telling and handicrafts .

4.  What does it have to do with a festival of the dead?  The Celts
believed that when people died, they went to a land of eternal youth
and happiness called Tir nan Og.  They did not have the concept of
heaven and hell that the Christian church later brought into the land.
The dead were sometimes believed to be dwelling with the Fairy
Folk, who lived in the numerous mounds, or sidhe, (pronounced "shee"
or "sh-thee") that dotted the Irish and Scottish countryside.
Samhain was the new year to the Celts.  In the Celtic belief system,
turning points, such as the time between one day and the next, the
meeting of sea and shore, or the turning of one year into the next
were seen as magickal times.  The turning of the year was the most
potent of these times.  This was the time when the "veil between the
worlds" was at its thinnest, and the living could communicate with
their beloved dead in Tir nan Og.

5.  What about the aspects of "evil' that we associate with the night
today?
 The Celts did not have demons and devils in their belief system.
The fairies, however, were often considered hostile and dangerous to
humans because they were seen as being resentful of man taking
over their land.  On this night, they would sometimes trick humans
into becoming lost in the fairy mounds, where they would be trapped
forever.  After the coming of the Christians to the Celtic lands,
certain of the folk saw the fairies as those angels who had sided
neither with God or with Lucifer in their dispute, and thus were
condemned to walk the earth until judgment day.5 In addition to the
fairies,  many humans were abroad on this night, causing mischief.
Since this night belonged neither to one year or the other,   Celtic
folk believed that chaos reigned, and the people  would engage in
"horseplay and practical jokes".6 This also  served as a final outlet
for high spirits before the gloom  of winter set in.

6.  What about "trick or treat"?
 During the course of these hijinks, many of the people would
imitate the fairies and go from house to house begging for treats.
Failure to supply the treats would usually result in practical jokes
being visited on the owner of the house.  Since the fairies were
abroad on this night, an offering of food or milk was frequently left
for them on the steps of the house, so the homeowner could gain the
blessing of the "good folk" for the coming year.  Many of the
households would also leave out a "dumb supper" for the spirits of
the departed.9 The folks who were abroad in the night imitating the
fairies would sometimes carry turnips carved to represent faces.
This is the origin of our modern Jack-o-lantern.

7.  Was there any special significance of cats to the Celts?
 According to Katherine Briggs in Nine Lives: Cats in Folklore,, the
Celts associated cats with the Cailleach Bheur, or Blue Hag of
Winter.  "She was a nature goddess, who herded the deer as her
cattle.  The touch of her staff drove the leaves off the trees and
brought snow and harsh weather."7 Dr.  Anne Ross addresses the use
of divine animals in her book Pagan Celtic Britain and has this to day
about cats."Cats do not play a large role in Celtic mythology ...  the
evidence for the cat as an important cult animal in Celtic mythology
is   slight"8 She cites as supporting evidence, the lack of
archaeological artifacts and literary references in surviving  works
of mythology.

 8.  Was this also a religious festival?
 Yes.  Celtic religion was very closely tied to the Earth.  Their great
legends are concerned with momentous happenings which took place
around the time of Samhain.  Many of the great battles and legends of
kings and heroes center on this night.  Many of the legends concern
the promotion of fertility of the earth and the insurance of the
continuance of the lives of the people through the dark winter
season.

9.  How was the religious festival observed?
 Unfortunately, we know very little about that.  W.G.  Wood-Martin, in
his book, Traces of the Elder Faiths of Ireland, states, "There is
comparatively little trace of the religion of the Druids now
discoverable, save in the folklore of the peasantry, and the
references relative to it that occur in ancient and authentic Irish
manuscripts are, as far as present appearances go, meager and
insufficient to support anything like a sound theory for full
development of the ancient religion."10 The Druids were the priests
of the Celtic   peoples.  They passed on their teachings by oral
tradition   instead of committing them to writing, so when they
perished, most of their religious teachings were lost.  We do  know
that this festival was characterized as one of the four  great "Fire
Festivals" of the Celts.  Legends tell us that on  this night, all the
hearth fires in Ireland were extinguished,  and then re-lit from the
central fire of the Druids at   Tlachtga, 12 miles from the royal hill
of Tara.  This fire  was kindled from "need fire" which had been
generated by  the friction of rubbing two sticks together, as opposed
to more  conventional methods (such as the flint-and-steel method)
common in those days.11 The extinguishing of the fires   symbolized
the "dark half" of the year, and the re-kindling   from the Druidic
fires was symbolic of the returning life hoped  for, and brought
about through the ministrations of the   priesthood.

10.  What about sacrifices?
 Animals were certainly killed at this time of year.  This was the
time to "cull" from the herds those animals which were not desired
for breeding purposes for the next year.  Most certainly, some of
these would have been done in a ritual manner for the use of the
priesthood.

11.  Were humans sacrificed?
 Scholars are sharply divided on this account, with about half
believing that it took place and half doubting its veracity.  Caesar
and Tacitus certainly tell tales of the human sacrifices of the Celts,
but Nora Chadwick points out in her book The Celts that "it is not
without interest that the Romans themselves had abolished human
sacrifice not long before Caesar's time, and references to the
practice among various barbarian peoples have certain overtones of
self-righteousness.  There is little direct archaeological evidence
relevant to Celtic sacrifice."12 Indeed, there is little reference to
this practice in Celtic literature.  The only surviving story echoes
the tale of the Minotaur in Greek legend: the Fomorians, a race of
evil giants said to inhabit portions of Ireland before the coming of
the Tuatha de Danaan (or "people of the Goddess Danu"), demanded the
sacrifice of 2/3 of the corn, milk, and first born children of the Fir
Bolg, or human inhabitants of Ireland.  The de Danaan ended this
practice in the second battle of Moy Tura, which incidentally, took
place on Samhain.  It should be noted, however, that this story
appears in only one (relatively modern) manuscript from Irish
literature, and that manuscript, the "Dinnsenchus", is known to be a
collection of fables.  According to P.W.  Joyce in Vol.  2 of his
Social
History of Ancient Ireland, "Scattered everywhere through our
ancient literature, both secular and ecclesiastical, we find abundant
descriptions and details of the rites and superstitions of the pagan
Irish; and in no place - with this single exception - do we find a
word or hint pointing to human sacrifice to pagan gods or idols."13

12.  What other practices were associated with this season?   Folk
tradition tells us of many divination practices  associated with
Samhain.  Among the most common were   divinations dealing with
marriage, weather, and the coming fortunes for the year.  These
were performed via such methods as ducking for apples and apple
peeling.  Ducking for apples was a marriage divination.  The first
person to bite an apple would be the first to marry in the coming
year.  Apple peeling was a divination to see how long your life would
be.  The longer the unbroken apple peel, the longer your life was
destined to be.14 In Scotland, people would place stones in the ashes
of the hearth before retiring for the night.  Anyone whose stone had
been disturbed during the night was said to be destined to die during
the coming year.

13.  How did these ancient Celtic practices come
to America?   When the potato crop in Ireland failed, many of the
Irish   people, modern descendants of the Celts, immigrated to
America, bringing with them their folk practices, which were
remnants of  the Celtic festival observances.

14.  We in America view this as a harvest festival.  Did the Celts
also view it as such?
 Yes.  The Celts had 3 harvests.  Aug 1, or Lammas, was the first
harvest, when the first fruits were offered to the Gods in thanks.
The Fall equinox was the true harvest.  This was when the bulk of
the crops would be brought in.  Samhain was the final harvest of the
year.  Anything left on the vines or in the fields after this date was
considered blasted by the fairies ("pu'ka") and unfit for human
consumption.

15.  Does anyone today celebrate Samhain as a religious observance?
 Yes.  many followers of various pagan religions, such as Druidism
and Wicca, observe this day as a religious festival.  They view it as
a memorial day for their dead friends and family, much as the world
does the national Memorial Day holiday in May.  It is still a night to
practice various forms of divination concerning future events.  It is
also considered a time to wrap up old projects, take stock of one's
life, and initiate new projects for the coming year.  As the winter
season is approaching, it is a good time to do studying on research
projects, and also a good time to begin hand work such as sewing,
leather working, woodworking, etc., for Yule gifts later in the year.
And while "satanists" are using this holiday as their own, this is
certainly not the only example of a holiday (or even religious
symbols) being "borrowed" from an older religion by a newer one.

16.  Does this involve human or animal sacrifice?
 Absolutely NOT! Hollywood to the contrary, blood sacrifice is not
practiced by modern followers of Wicca or Druidism.  There may be
some people who THINK they are practicing Wicca by performing
blood sacrificing, but this is NOT condoned by reputable
practitioners of today's neo-Pagan religions.

 FOOTNOTES:
1 Tardo, Russell K., What's Wrong with Halloween?, Faithful Word
Publishers, (Arabi, LA, undated), p.  2

2 Rev.  Patrick Dinneen, An Irish English Dictionary, (Dublin, 1927),
p.  937

3 Malcolm MacLennan, A Pronouncing and Etymological Dictionary of
the Gaelic Language, (Aberdeen, 1979), p.  279

4 The Encyclopedia of Religion, ed.  Mircea Eliade, "Halloween" by
Primiano, (New York, 1987) pp.  176-177

5 Katherine Briggs, Nine Lives: Cats in Folklore, (London,1980), p.5

6 Dr.  Anne Ross, Pagan Celtic Britain, (London,1967), p.  301-302

7 W.G.  Wood-Martin, Traces of the Elder Faiths of Ireland, Vol.  II,
(Port Washington, NY, 1902), p.  5

8 Kevin Danaher, The Year in Ireland, (Cork, 1972), p.  214

9 Alwyn & Brinley Rees, Celtic Heritage, (New York, 1961), p.  90

10 Wood-Martin, op.  cit., p.  249

11 Rees & Rees, op.  cit., p.  90

12 Nora Chadwick, The Celts, (Harmondsworth, 1982), p.  151

13 P.W.  Joyce, A Social History of Ancient Ireland, Vol.2, (New York,
1968), pp.  282-283

14 Madeleine Pelner Cosman, Medieval Holidays and Festivals, (New
York, 1981), p.  81

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 *Bord, Janet & Colin, The Secret Country, (London: Paladin
Books,1978)

 *Briggs, Katherine, Nine Lives, Cats in Folklore, (London: Routledge
& Kegan Paul, 1980)

 *Chadwick, Nora, The Celts, (Harmondsworth, England: Penguin
Books, 1982)

 *Coglan, Ronan, A Dictionary of Irish Myth and Legend, (Dublin:
1979)

 *Cosman, Madeleine Pelner, Medieval Holidays and Festivals, (New
York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1981)

 *Danaher, Kevin, The Year in Ireland, (Cork, Ireland: The Mercier
Press, 1972)

 *Dinneen, Rev.  Patrick S., M.A., An Irish-English Dictionary,
(Dublin:
The Irish Texts Society, 1927)

 *Joyce, P.W., A Social History of Ancient Ireland, (New York:
Benjamin Blom, 1968)

 *MacCana, Proinsias, Celtic Mythology, (London: The Hamlyn
Publishing Group Limited, 1970)

 *MacLennan, Malcolm, A pronouncing and Etymological Dictionary of
the Gaelic Language, (Aberdeen: Acair and Aberdeen University Press,
1979)

 *MacNeill, Maire', The Festival of Lughnasa, (Dublin: Comhairle
Bhealoideas Eireann, 1982)

 *Powell, T.G.E., The Celts, (New York: Thames & Hudson, 1980)

 *Primiano, Leonard Norman, "Halloween" from The Encyclopedia of
Religion, ed.  Mircea Eliade, (New York, McMillan Publiching Co.,
1987)

 *Rees, Alwyn and Brinley, Celtic Heritage, Ancient Tradition in
Ireland and Wales, (New York: Thames & Hudson, 1961)

  *Ross, Dr.  Anne, Pagan Celtic Britain, (London: Routledge and Kegan
Paul, 1967)

 *Sharkey, John, Celtic Mysteries, (New York: Thames & Hudson,
1975)

 *Spence, Lewis, British Fairy Origins, (Wellingborough: Aquarian
Press, 1946)

 *Squire, Charles, Celtic Myth & Legend, Poetry & Romance, (New
York: Newcastle Publishing Co., Inc., 1975)

 *Toulson, Shirley, The Winter Solstice, (London: Jill Norman &
Hobhouse, Ltd., 1981)

 *Wood-Martin, W.G., Traces of the Elder Faiths of Ireland, Vols.  I &
II, (Port Washington, NY: Kennikat Press, 1902)

Published by CultWatch Response, Inc., P O Box 1842, Colorado
Springs, CO 80901-1842.  This article may be reprinted only if it is
not excerpted or abridged in any way except for review purposes.
Permission to republish must be requested in writing from the
author at the above address.  Price: $1.00 each, 10/$8.00, over
100/$0.65 ea., other quantities available.  All prices are postpaid.
 
 
 

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FIRESTAR BELTAINE 1986
 
Note: there is NO meeting dance before the ritual because the spiral
dance occurs inside it.
 
BARD                    PRIESTESS               GODDESS
FIREMAKER               PRIEST                  GOD
 
 
BARD:(harp accompaniment)
 
This is the air, oh people; these are the creatures:
Far-flying Goose; far-seeing Hawk;
Owl who knows; Raven who talks;
Crane who dances; Thrush who sings;
Quail the humble; Wren the king;
Lark who revels; Loon who weeps;
Jay who scatters; Buzzard reaps.
This is the air I conjure, and this is the birth of the world.
 
This is the fire, oh people; these are the creatures:
Drake who hoards; Kirin who gives;
Angel heals; Chimera reaves;
Coal the slow; lightning the quick;
Salamander, power's wick;
Soul who praises; Gryphon scorns;
Phoenix dies and is reborn.
This is the fire I conjure, and this is the birth of the world.
 
This is the sea, oh people; these are the creatures:
Whale who chants; Dolphin who speaks;
Clam content; Salmon who seeks;
Pike who rages; Shark who mourns;
Walrus steadies; Carp transforms;
Seal who gathers; Crab the lone;
Otter wave-borne; Eel in stone;
This is the sea I conjure, and this is the birth of the world.
 
This is the earth, oh people; these are the creatures:
Deer who worries; Boar who schemes;
Cat who conjures; Sheep who dreams;
Hare the playful; Brock the stern;
Mouse who teaches; Horse who learns;
Wolf who wanders; Bear who stays;
Stag who guards; Puma who preys.
This is the earth I conjure, and this is the birth of the world.
 
Now is the darkness.  Now is the pain.  Now is the fear.
Now is the danger.  Now is the hate.  Now are the tears.
Call on our mother!  She is the one!  Hers is the way!
She will bring comfort.  She will bring life.  She will bring day.

PRIEST:
 
Earth Mother, Birth Mother, Birch Mother,
Sea Mother, Stone Mother, Star Mother!
Queen of night and death and birth,
Womb of deep and fertile earth,
Dame of heaven's silver wheel,
Lady of the greening field,
Keeper of the apple grove,
Mistress of the arts of love,
Shine out in the fearsome dark --
Teach us how to strike the spark.
People, we can feel Her near!
She is coming!  She is here!

 GODDESS:(emerging from hiding -- should be in green, with amber &
copper)
 
Now the veils of worlds are thin;
To move out you must move in.
Let the Balefires now be made,
Mine the spark within them laid.
This My gift: that people meet
In peace and plenty made complete.
This I give: the Sacred Way,
The strength, the soul, the sight, the say.
Move beyond the fiery screen
Between the seen and the unseen;
Shed your anger and your fear,
Live anew in a new year!

FIREMAKER:(at each tree name, holds up twig, then binds all together
into a torch)
 
The Nine I sing, the Nine blessed trees
Which were empowered of old:
Oak, thou druid's door, open the way for us.
Apple, thou knowledge-giver, break our circle of blindness.
Ash, thou world-supporter, drive away ill powers.
Birch, thou tree-mother, help in our healing.
Hawthorn, thou branch of May, give us light and hope.
Willow, thou soul-leader, grant us safe passage.
Holly, thou forest king, be our safe refuge.
Hazel, thou wise-one's branch, give us true vision.
Alder, thou river's love, let us flow outward.
In peace let us flow outward; in power let us flow outward; in
beauty
let us flow outward.
 
(The Goddess lights the torch, the Firemaker lights the two fires,
which have been saturated with some flammable material, ie
charcoal
starter.  White Sage and Cedar chips may be thrown thereon.)

FIRE-PASSING CHANT:(drum)
 
Dark to light, night to day,
Through the fires lies the way;
Old to new, death to birth,
Between the worlds to our rebirth.

(Once all have passed between the fires)
PRIESTESS:
 
Sky's Father, Wise Father, Wine Father,
Sun Father, Sap Father, Song Father!
Lord of forest, field and beast,
Lord of harvest, hunt and feast,
King of heaven's golden fire,
Dancer of the soul's desire,
Master of the drum and flute,
Keeper of the vineyard's fruit,
Shine on us and warm our souls --
Teach us how to make us whole!
People, we can feel Him near!
He is coming!  He is here!
 
GOD:(emerging from hiding, dressed in green, with leaves & horns)
 
Let the light of living blaze!
Dance within the spiral maze;
Cry of pipe and thump of drum;
Out you go and in you come!
Mine the living pole of May --
Outside loving starts today!
This My gift: that lovers join
Touching at the lip and loin.
This I give: the Joyous Dance,
Music, song, the vine, the chance!
Now do fear and anger cease:
Dance the healing and release!
 
(A fairly simple triple spiral should be traced on the ground in lime
or flour, to give the people guidelines for dancing.  The dance should
go on until satiation or until the circle forms again; there is no one
human focal point -- the intent should be for peace, understanding,
tolerance, etc.)
 
SPIRAL-DANCING CHANT:(drum)
 
Joy, health and peace be in the world
That spins into the May-o,
For summer is a-comin' in
And winter's gone away-o.
 
BLESSING THE FOOD:
 
God: Mine is the ripening sun.
Goddess: Mine is the nurturing soil.
God: Mine is the fruit of the vine.
Goddess: Mine is the chalice of life.
Both: We are the blessing of wine!  And the wine blesses us.
 
God: Mine is the planted seed.
Goddess: Mine is the fertile earth.
God: Mine is the mower's blade.
Goddess: Mine is the oven of making.
Both: We are the blessing of bread!  And the bread blesses us.
 
Feasting, dancing, singing, party, etc.  Some kind of grounding
afterwards.
 
 

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AN ECLECTIC CIRCLE CEREMONY
Durwydd, 1989-90

Preliminaries

WATER :
 
     Blessings upon thee, O creature of water, I cast out from thee all
impurities and uncleanness of the spirits  of phantasm, confusion, or
any other influence not for the free will of all.

SALT :
 
     Blessings be upon this creature of salt; let all malignity and
hindrance be cast forth thencefrom, and let all good enter therein.
Wherefore I bless thee and invoke thee, that thou mayest aid me.

MIXING :

     I take this salt of the Earth, Blessed with the will of
     Fire; I take this water of spirit,Exorcised with mind of merit;
 
     I mix them with words of power, Dedicated to every Tower.
 
     By the power of moon and sun,
     By the power of Spirit,earth and sea,
     God and Goddess are part of One,
     As I Will, so mote it be!
 
CASTING OF THE CIRCLE
 
     I conjure thee, O circle of power,
     As thou encircle every Tower.
     That thou beest a place of Truth, Joy and love,
     Encircling Flight of Eagle, Hawk and Dove.
      Mighty Aegis of the Lady and Lord,
     Rampart of thought, action and word.
     To work in Peace, Powerful and Free,
     Who walk between two worlds conjure thee;
     A boundary to Protect, Concentrate and Contain,
     That Power raised here be not in vain.
 
Wherefore do I bless thee and consecrate thee, in the names of
Cernunnos and Aradia.

SEALING OF THE CIRCLE

(seal with water/salt mixture)
 
With potion of earth and water, I seal the sacred circle,
Linking air and fire!
With potion of earth and air, I seal the sacred circle,
Linking fire with water!
With potion of earth,air,and fire, I seal the sacred circle,
Linking water with the Earth!
 
As the four directions are brought to merge,
Let influence of the mighty ones converge!
 
(Seal with Censer)
 
     With Incense and air of Mind,
     East to South,I do Bind!
 
     With Incense and air of mind,
     South to West, I do Bind!
 
     With Incense and air of Mind,
     West to North, I do Bind!
 
     With Incense and air of Mind,
     North to East Completion Find!
 
(Seal with Candle)
 
     With the Fire of emotion and will
     East to South, our dedication fulfill!
 
     With the Fire of veneration and Will,
     South to West, our allegiance fulfill!
 
     With the Fire of Devotion and Will,
     West to North, our consecration  fulfill!
 
     With the Fire of Commitment and will,
     From  North to East, This inscription fulfill!
 
     Within the circle All wills be free,
     The circle is sealed, So Mote it Be!

 SETTING THE WATCHTOWERS

     Ye Lords of the Eastern Tower,
     Airy Lords of Spirit;
     Let your influence of Power,
     Aid our minds with merit!
     I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness these rites and to
guard the circle.
 
     Ye Lords of Southern Power
     Fiery Lords of Will.
     Pray do grace your Tower,
     Your Powers to fulfill!
     I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness these rites and to
guard the circle.
 
     Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West,
     Watery Lords of Death and Initiation;
     I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness these rites and to
guard the Circle.
 
     Ye Northern Lords of the Earth,
     Though we be yet but Mortals;
     Bless our work with worth,
     Boreas, guardian of Northern portals.
     I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness these rites and to
guard the Circle.
 
     Goddess and God, I would know,
     As 'tis above, so 'tis below
     Blessings on this work, please bestow!
 
     This be my will, true and free,
     I do so will, so mote it be
 
INVOCATION OF THE ELEMENTS
     Air, Fire, Water, Earth,
     Elements of astral birth,
     I call you now; attend to me!
     In the Circle, rightly cast,
     Safe from curse or blast,
     I call you now, attend to me!
 
     From cave and desert,sea and hill,
     By wand, blade,and pentacle,
     I call you now, attend to me!
      This Is my will, so mote it be!

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Mabon, sometimes known as the  Harvest/Thanksgiving  Ritual  of
the Autumn Equinox, is one of the Spokes of the Wheel of the Year.  In
the many Earth of Pagan Religions, a  special  kinship with the
passing of the seasons is felt... this is usually  due to the history
of
the said Tradition, most of which stem from agrarian  culture,
where the season marked the way  of  life.   From  planting  to
reaping  to  winter to summer... the seasons were of great
importance to our ancestors, for their very existence depended upon
good harvests, mild winters, enough rainfall, and the like.
 
So... having shown the importance of the seasons, we shall turn to
Mabon itself.  Autumn.. Harvest  time..  the  reaping of what was
sown and cared thru during the year.  A time of Thankfulness and
Rejoicing. So, of course, someone, at some  point  in time must have
said... "Now that the work is over... LET'S PARTY !!!"
 
This is the essence of Mabon.   Rejoicing  in a bountiful harvest,
thanking the Gods for being so  kind  during the year, and, hopefully,
helping in winning over the Gods' favor for the coming year.
 
About THE MABON RITE itself:
 
Now, this will be a very Discordian  Ritual in that each participant
will be (more or less)  writing  his/her  own  part.   This outline is
provided to sorta nudge (nudge,  nudge,  wink,  wink, say no more sir,
say no more!) people into making  their  individual pieces able to fit
into the whole thing...    ( I  feel  like the Green Ball outta "HEAVY
METAL", the movie, something which ties things together).
Back to the rite itself.
Basically, 6 personages will be represented:

A Caller or Watcher of the EAST
SOUTH
WEST
and   NORTH.
A High Priest, and  A High Priestess.

Of course, since this  is  a  generic  Rite,  the  terms "Lord" and
"Lady" will be used when referring  to  the Male and Female aspects
of divinity/godhood/whatever... individuals may use which ever
names they wish, for a Rose, by any other name, would still smell as
sweet.

OUTLINE:
 
A. Invocation...  once everybody has  arrived, a Circle shall be cast,
more or less, and the 4  Watchers/Callers  each  get to do their thing
invoking that which that direction  symbolizes  to come and attend
the festivities.   After  which,  either  the  HPS  or  HP,  or both
would consecrate the circle... in our case..  the circle will be around
each person at their 'puter.. with a sense of being connected to each
other via the others' 'puters.  So.. what we'll do is... after the
circle
is cast, and the 4 corners have done their  things, then the HP will
call upon the Lord to attend, and the HPS shall call upon the Lady,
(or, if we want to be different, we can have the HP call the Lady, and
the HPS call the Lord... it's not as  traditional,  but  I know of some
Ladies who are more likely to pay  attention  to some Young HP than
some HPS, if you get my meaning [wink]).
 
B. Once invoked... it's time for the thanksgiving part...
we all got things we're thankful for... now's the chance
 
C. After the Thanks are over, a  customary  requesting of Blessing
for the coming year is asked.
 
D. That done with, it's time to  dismiss  the  summoned ones... first,
around the circle..  each  corner  doing  it's  thing...the  dismissal
consists of a Hail to the being  summoned,  a flattery (as I call it),
and then a structured dismissal (eg.   "Air of the EAST... blah, blah,
blah,.. Go if thou must, but stay if thou wilt").
The HP and HPS dismiss the Lord and Lady last with similar words.
 
E.  PARTY TIME!!!!  get out the Beer, munchies, what have you...
celebrate.. you've earned it.
 

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A MIDSUMMER CELEBRATION

by Mike Nichols (a.k.a. Gwydion)
 
     In addition to the four great festivals of the Pagan Celtic year,
there are four lesser holidays as well:  the two solstices, and the
two equinoxes.  In folklore, these are referred to as the four
'quarter-days' of the year, and modern Witches call them the four
'Lesser Sabbats', or the four 'Low Holidays'.  The Summer Solstice is
one of them.
 
    Technically, a solstice is an astronomical point and, due to the
precession to the equinox, the date may vary by a few days depending
on the year.  The summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches the
Tropic of Cancer, and we experience the longest day and the shortest
night of the year.  Astrologers know this as the date on which the
sun enters the sign of Cancer.  This year it will occur at 10:57 pm
CDT on June 21st.
 
    However, since most European peasants were not accomplished at
reading an ephemeris or did not live close enough to Salisbury Plain
to trot over to Stonehenge and sight down it's main avenue, they
celebrated the event on a fixed calendar date, June 24th.  The slight
forward displacement of the traditional date is the result of
multitudinous calendrical changes down through the ages.  It is
analogous to the winter solstice celebration, which is
astronomically on or about December 21st, but is celebrated on the
traditional date of December 25th, Yule, later adopted by the
Christians.
 
    Again, it must be remembered that the Celts reckoned their days
from sundown to sundown, so the June 24th festivities actually
begin on the previous sundown (our June 23rd).  This was
Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Eve.  Which brings up another point:
our modern calendars are quite misguided in suggesting that
'summer begins' on the solstice.  According to the old folk calendar,
summer BEGINS on May Day and ends on Lammas (August 1st), with
the summer solstice, midway between the two, marking MID-
summer.  This makes more logical sense than suggesting that
summer begins on the day when the sun's power begins to wane and
the days grow shorter.
 

    Although our Pagan ancestors probably preferred June 24th (and
indeed most European folk festivals today use this date), the
sensibility of modern Witches seems to prefer the actual solstice
point, beginning the celebration at sunset.  Again, it gives modern
Pagans a range of dates to choose from with, hopefully, a weekend
embedded in it.  (And this year, the moon is waxing throughout.)
 
    As the Pagan mid-winter celebration of Yule was adopted by
Christians as Christmas (December 25th), so too the Pagan mid-
summer celebration was adopted by them as the feast of John the
Baptist (June 24th).  Occurring 180 degrees apart on the wheel of
the year, the mid-winter celebration commemorates the birth of
Jesus, while the mid-summer celebration commemorates the birth
of John, the prophet who was born six months before Jesus in order
to announce his arrival.
 
    This last tidbit is extremely conspicuous, in that John is the ONLY
saint in the entire Catholic hagiography whose feast day is a
commemoration of his birth, rather than his death.  A generation ago,
Catholic nuns were fond of explaining that a saint is commemorated
on the anniversary of his or her death because it was really a 'birth'
into the Kingdom of Heaven.  But John the Baptist, the sole
exception, is emphatically commemorated on the anniversary of his
birth into THIS world.  Although this makes no sense viewed from a
Christian perspective, it makes perfect poetic sense from the
viewpoint of Pagan symbolism.
 
    In most Pagan cultures, the sun god is seen as split between two
rival personalities: the god of light and his twin, his 'weird', his
'other self', the god of darkness.  They are Gawain and the Green
Knight, Gwyn and Gwythyr, Llew and Goronwy, Lugh and Balor, Balan
and Balin, the Holly King and the Oak King, etc.  Often they are
depicted as fighting seasonal battles for the favor of their
goddess/lover, such as Creiddylad or Blodeuwedd, who represents
Nature.
 
    The god of light is always born at the winter solstice, and his
strength waxes with the lengthening days, until the moment of his
greatest power, the summer solstice, the longest day.  And, like a
look in a mirror, his 'shadow self', the lord of darkness, is born at
the summer solstice, and his strength waxes with the lengthening
nights until the moment of his greatest power, the winter solstice,
the longest night.
 
    Indirect evidence supporting this mirror-birth pattern is
strongest in the Christianized form of the Pagan myth.  Many
writers, from Robert Graves to Stewart Farrar, have repeatedly
pointed out that Jesus was identified with the Holly King, while
John the Baptist was the Oak King.  That is why, 'of all the trees that
are in the wood, the Holly tree bears the crown.'  If the birth of
Jesus, the 'light of the world', is celebrated at mid-winter,
Christian folk tradition insists that John the Oak King was born
(rather than died) at mid-summer.

    It is at this point that I must diverge from the opinion of Robert
Graves and other writers who have followed him.  Graves believes
that at midsummer, the Sun King is slain by his rival, the God of
Darkness; just as the God of Darkness is, in turn, slain by the God of
Light at midwinter.  And yet, in Christian folk tradition (derived
from the older Pagan strain), it is births, not deaths, that are
associated with the solstices.  For the feast of John the Baptist,
this is all the more conspicuous, as it breaks the rules regarding all
other saints.
 
    So if births are associated with the solstices, when do the
symbolic deaths occur?  When does Goronwy slay Llew and when
does Llew, in his turn, slay Goronwy?  When does darkness conquer
light or light conquer darkness?  Obviously (to me, at least), it must
be at the two equinoxes.  At the autumnal equinox, the hours of light
in the day are eclipsed by the hours of darkness.  At the vernal
equinox, the process is reversed.  Also, the autumnal equinox, called
'Harvest Home', is already associated with sacrifice, principally that
of the spirit of grain or vegetation.  In this case, the god of light
would be identical.
 
    In Welsh mythology in particular, there is a startling vindication
of the seasonal placement of the sun god's death, the significance of
which occurred to me in a recent dream, and which I haven't seen
elsewhere.  Llew is the Welsh god of light, and his name means 'lion'.
(The lion is often the symbol of a sun god.)  He is betrayed by his
'virgin' wife Blodeuwedd, into standing with one foot on the rim of a
cauldron and the other on the back of a goat.  It is only in this way
that Llew can be killed, and Blodeuwedd's lover, Goronwy, Llew's
dark self, is hiding nearby with a spear at the ready.  But as Llew is
struck with it, he is not killed.  He is instead transformed into an
eagle.
 
    Putting this in the form of a Bardic riddle, it would go something
like this:  Who can tell in what season the Lion (Llew), betrayed by
the Virgin (Blodeuwedd), poised on the Balance, is transformed into
an Eagle?  My readers who are astrologers are probably already
gasping in recognition.  The sequence is astrological and in proper
order:  Leo
(lion), Virgo (virgin), Libra (balance), and Scorpio (for which the
eagle is a well-known alternative symbol).  Also, the remaining
icons, cauldron and goat, could arguably symbolize Cancer and
Capricorn, representing summer and winter, the signs beginning with
the two solstice points.  So Llew is balanced between cauldron and
goat, between summer and winter, on the balance (Libra) point of the
autumnal equinox.

    This, of course, is the answer to a related Bardic riddle.
Repeatedly, the 'Mabinogion' tells us that Llew must be standing
with one foot on the cauldron and one foot on the goat's back in order
to be killed.  But nowhere does it tell us why.  Why is this particular
situation the ONLY one in which Llew can be overcome?  Because it
represents the equinox point.  And the equinox is the only time of the
entire year when light (Llew) can be overcome by darkness
(Goronwy).
 
    It should now come as no surprise that, when it is time for Llew
to kill Goronwy in his turn, Llew insists that Goronwy stands where
he once stood while he (Llew) casts the spear.  This is no mere
vindictiveness on Llew's part.  For, although the 'Mabinogion' does
not say so, it should by now be obvious that this is the only time
when Goronwy can be overcome.  Light can overcome darkness only at
the equinox -- this time the vernal equinox.
 
    So Midsummer (to me, at least) is a celebration of the sun god at
his zenith, a crowned king on his throne.  He is at the height of his
strength and still 1/4 of a year away from his ritual death at the
hands of his rival.  The spear and the cauldron have often been used
as symbols for this holiday and it should now be easy to see why.
Sun gods are virtually always associated with spears (even Jesus is
pierced by one), and the midsummer cauldron of Cancer is a symbol
of the Goddess in her fullness.  It is an especially beautiful time of
the year for an outdoor celebration.  May yours be magical!
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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This ritual is a compilation of Gardnerian,  Fairy,  and traditional
Wiccan sources,  and  is  intended to be used as an initiation for
graduates of my training course in Basic Technologies of Witchcraft.
While the ritual is powerful enough as it stands,  I strongly
recommend that it be reserved for people who have been prepared
through training at least equivalent to  that which I give, or much of
the impact may be lost.
                                Blessed be!
                        J. Brad (Talespinner) Hicks

Guided Meditation
 
(The following will be read to all participants in the form of a
guided meditation, prior to the processional.  It helps if the first
paragraph is read by a male voice and the second paragraph by a
female voice.  NOTE: All are nude; the initiate is also blindfolded.)
 
Hear the words of the Threefold Goddess, who of old was called
Artemis, Astarte, Dianna, Aphrodite, Ceridwen, Isis, Arianrhod,
Brigid, Aradia, and many other names:
 
"Whenever  you have need of anything,  once in the month,  and better
it be when the moon is full,  you shall assemble in some secret place
and  adore the spirit of Me who is Queen of all the Wise.  She who
would learn all sorcery yet has not won its deepest secrets,  them I
will teach her, in truth, all things as yet unknown.  And you shall be
free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked
in your rites.  Sing, feast, dance, make music and love in My
presence,  for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy
on earth.  For My  law  is  love unto all beings.  Nor do I demand
aught
of sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and My love is
poured out upon the earth."
 
Processional
 
The  Initiate  is  left  to meditate as the others rise and follow the
High Priest/ess into the Circle area and three times around,
chanting:
 
        "We all come from the Goddess,
         And to her we shall return
         Like a drop of rain,
         Flowing to the ocean." (repeat)
 
Raising of the Circle
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS takes the Sword from the altar and traces a  circle
around the  coveners.  When he/she returns to the north, he/she
kneels and salutes, saying, "Hail and well come, frosty Spirits of the
North.  Lend to us your  power and protection this night,  that
<initiate's born name> may be given a true initiation, to justly wield
the power  of Earth.  So mote it be!"
 
ALL:  (envisioning a wall of dark-green light springing up from the
circle) "So mote it be!"
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS advances to the east, kneels and salutes, saying,
"Hail and well come, bright Spirits of the East.  Lend to us your
power and protection that <initiate's born name> may be given a true
initiation, to justly wield the power of Air.  So mote it be!"
 
ALL:  (envisioning a wall of  lemon-yellow  light  springing  up  from
the circle, within the wall of green) "So mote it be!"
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS advances to the south,  kneels and salutes,  saying,
"Hail and well come, fiery Spirits of the South.  Lend to us your
power and protection that <initiate's born name> may be given a true
initiation, to justly wield the power of Fire.  So mote it be!"
 
ALL:  (envisioning a wall of crimson light springing up  from  the
circle, within the walls of green and yellow) "So mote it be!"
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS advances to the west, kneels and salutes, saying,
"Hail and well come, tireless Spirits of the West.  Lend to us your
power and protection that <initiate's born name> may be given a true
initiation, to justly wield the power of Water.  So mote it be!"
 
ALL:  (envisioning  a wall of dark blue light springing up from the
circle, within the walls of green, yellow, and red) "So mote it be!"
 
Statement of Purpose
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS:  "I call upon the Horned God; I call upon the Maiden,
the Mother, and the Crone; I call upon the Spirits of Earth, Air, Fire,
and Water; I call upon the Hosts of the Mighty Dead; and I call every
true Witch within this circle to witness that we are here to
consecrate <initiate's name> as Priest(ess) and Witch.  The circle is
cast!"

 
ALL:  (envisioning the walls of the circle bending together overhead
and flowing together under the floor to form a hemisphere of  bright
white light) "So mote it be!"
 
The Warning
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS  cuts a gate in the circle,  and roughly leads the
Initiate to kneel at the edge before the gate, then balances the
sword-point over the Initiate's heart (the Initiate raises his or her
hands to support the point).  "You stand at the edge of a place that is
between the worlds, in the presence of the Gods and under the
watchful eye of the Mighty Dead.  If you go any further, you embark
on a path that cannot be safely turned aside before your death.  Feel
the sharpness of the blade at your breast, and know this in your
heart - it would be better for you to throw yourself forward and
spill out your life than to enter this circle with fear or falseness in
your heart."
 
INITIATE: "I come with perfect love and perfect trust."
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS lays down the sword, lifts the Initiate to his or
her feet, and kisses him or her.  "Thus are all first brought into the
Circle.", then leads the Initiate to the altar and taking up the sword,
re-draws the circle over the gateway.
 
Administration of the Oaths
 
ALL  (except  the High Priest/ess and the Initiate) begin a quiet
"Aum" and sustain it throughout the Five-fold Kiss and the Oaths of
Initiation.
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS, administering the Five-fold Kiss:  "Blessed are
your feet, that have brought you to this place.  Blessed are your
knees,  that shall kneel at the altars of the Gods.  Blessed is  your
sex,  without which we could not be.  Blessed is your breast,  formed
in strength and beauty.  Blessed are your lips,  which shall speak the
Words of Truth.  Are you prepared to take the oath?"
 
INITIATE:  "I am."
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "Then kneel." Takes the Initiate's Measure.  "You
who have from birth been called <born name> but now seek to become
<Craft  name> - do you willingly pledge yourself to the God and the
Goddess?"
INITIATE  places his or her left hand on the top of the head and right
hand on the soles of the feet.  "All between my two hands belongs to
the Gods.  So mote it be."
 
ALL others raise the volume of the "Aum" slightly.
 
HIGH  PRIEST/ESS:  "And  do  you swear to keep silent all those
things that must be kept silent, and to respect that which is taught
to you?"
INITIATE:  "I willingly swear to keep silent all that must be kept
silent, and to respect that which is taught to me.  So mote it be."
 
ALL others raise the volume of the "Aum" a little more.
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "And by what surety do you swear all of these
things?"
 
INITIATE:  "All of these things I do swear, by my mother's womb and
my hope of future lives, knowing well that my Measure has been
taken in  the presence of the Mighty Ones.  Should I fail utterly in my
oaths, may my powers desert me, and may my own tools turn against
me.  So mote it be.  So mote it be.  So mote it be!
 
ALL yell quickly: "SO MOTE IT BE!"
 
Triggering of the Spell
 
ALL  grab the Initiate quickly and hoist him or her completely into
the air (if possible), chanting the Initiate's new name over and over
again, as fast as possible, as they carry him or her three times
quickly  around the  circle.  When  they return to the starting point,
they set him or her down face-down and  press  him  or  her  firmly
into  the  ground.
    Gradually, the pressure relents to gentle massage.  Through all of
this they  continue chanting the Initiate's new name,  falling off in
volume and speed as the pressure relaxes.
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS:  "Know that the hands that have touched you are
the  hands of love."  Removes the Initiate's blindfold and helps him or
her up.   "In the Burning Times,  when each member of the Coven held
the lives of the others in her hand, this would have been kept, and
used against you should you endanger others.  But in these happier
times, love and trust prevail, so take this (hands the Measure to the
initiate),  keep it or burn it, and be free to go or stay as you
please."

Follow-Through and Earthing of Power
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS hands the sword to the Initiate,  and leads him or
her  to the East, where they both kneel.  The Initiate salutes, and the
High Priest/ess announces, "Behold, restless Spirits of Water  -  I
bring before you <new  name>, who has been consecrated as
Priestess and Witch!" Repeats at the South, West, and finally North.
 
ALL (including High Priest/ess and Initiate) join hands in the Circle.
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS: "Thank you Spirits of the Mighty Dead, Spirits of
the Four Elements, and awesome Lord and Lady for hallowing our
circle.  Go  or stay as you will - our circle is ended."
 
ALL ground and center, then absorb the power of the Circle and
return it to the Earth beneath their feet.
 
HIGH PRIEST/ESS (after a suitable pause):  "Our lovely rite draws to
its end.  Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.  Blessed Be!"
 
ALL:  "BLESSED BE!"
 
 

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INVOCATION TO FRIGG
Russ Anderson

When this invocation was first used, each person in a healing  circle
invoked a healer into (her/him)self.  This was my invocation.  The
rest of the circle was asked to echo "Join us, Frigg" as I was saying
"Join us. Frigg,". This was my first  attempt at writing an
invocation, and it DID work. I hope that it also works for anyone else
who wishes to use it, because it now feels like time to share it.
     Blessed Be, Russ
 
"Frigg, Daughter of Jord, Join us.
 Frigg, Daughter of Fiorgyn, Join us.
 Frigg, Wife of Odin, Join us.
 Frigg, Sister of Thorr, Join us.
 Frigg, Mother of Balder, Join us.
 Frigg, Mother of Hodr, Join us.
 Frigg, Mother of Hermod, Join us.
 Frigg, Mother of the gods, Join us.
 Frigg, Wise in all fates, Join us.
 Frigg, Who will tell no fortunes, Join us.
 Frigg, First among the Asynjur, Join us.
 Frigg, Queen of Asgard, Join us.
 Frigg, Mistress of home and hearth, Join us.
 Frigg, Mistress of Eire, Join us.
 Frigg, Mistress of healing, Join us.
 Frigg, Your servant _______ calls you! Come to me NOW!"
 
 
 

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TOOLS:  Drinking Horn
        Hammer (Mjollnir)
        Sword
        Pentacle/Stone
        Bowl of Salt
        Water
        Censer & Incense

CELEBRANTS:
        White Priestess (Skadi)
        Gold Priest     (Freyr)
        Red Priestess   (Freyja)
        Red Priest      (Heimdallr)
        Black Priestess (Vala)
        Black Priest    (Odin)

Procession, consisting of Soulers (any small number) and White
Mare.

Skadi takes the sword around the circle with these words:

        SHARP BRIGHT STEEL THE CIRCLE SCRIBES;
        CARVING, CLEAVING WORLD FROM WORLD.

Freyja banishes the circle with the hammer and these words:

        MANKIND'S FRIEND, BY MJOLLNIR'S MIGHT
        BANISH BEINGS THAT BODE US ILL!

She stands in the center and to each quarter and above and below she
makes the Hammer-Sign, saying,

        HOLY HAMMER, HALLOW AND HOLD US.

Vala seals the circle, carrying pentacle and bowl of salt, saying,

        STOUT STONE SHIELD US, SHUT THE CIRCLE.

Skadi asperses the circle (Vala follows with censer) with these
words:

        BE ALL BLESS'D WHO BIDE HEREIN,
        BY STONE AND SEA, BY STORM AND SUN.

Now Heimdallr takes the sword and calls the quarters as follows:

        WISDOM'S WAIN,  EAST WIND I CALL THEE!
        THOUGHTS THY THANES  THAT THRIVE IN NEWNESS.
        BREATHE AND BLESS,  BLOW ALL CLEAN;
        WATCH AND WARD,  O WIND OF MIND.

        SUMMER'S SAVOUR,  SOUTH WIND COME NOW!
        BRIGHT THE BLESSINGS  YOU BEAR WITH YOU.
        STRONG OF SPIRIT,  SUN-LIKE FIRE;
        WATCH AND WARD,  O WIND OF SOUL.

        WILD AND WET,  WEST WIND I SUMMON!
        SEA-SPRAY BEARING,  SINGING, SHOUTING;
        BEATS THE EARTH'S BLOOD  IN THY BREAST;
        WATCH AND WARD,  O WIND OF HEART.

        WHITE WITH WINTER,  NORTH WIND, WAKEN!
        STONE'S STRENGTH BRINGING,  SNOW-CLOAKED WIND.
        FROM THE FROST-REALMS,  FRESH AND CHILL,
        WATCH AND WARD,  O WIND OF FORM.

The Priestesses and Priests stand opposite each other, and each one
of the pair invokes the other, as follows:

Skadi (to Freyr)
        LORD OF LIFE, HAIL LAND-MASTER!
        GOD OF GRAIN THAT GROWS AND DIES
        AND RISES REBORN, FULL OF RICHNESS;
        FALLOW FIELDS SHALL YET BE FERTILE --
        SPRING SAP RUNS AS STIRS YOUR PHALLUS --
        BLESS BARREN EARTH, LET IT BEAR AGAIN!

Freyr (to Skadi)
        SHOW-SHOES STRIDING, HAIL SWIFT HUNTRESS!
        WILD ONE, FREE AND WILLFUL GODDESS,
        BOW AND BLADE YOU BEAR BESIDE YOU,
        FINDING FOOD TO FEND OFF HUNGER.
        WINTER WILL NOT LEAVE US WANTING;
        GIVE GOOD HUNTING, GRANT US SKILL!

Freyja (to Heimdallr)
        STANDING STEADFAST, HAIL FAR-SEER!
        WATCHFUL ONE, ON RAINBOW WAITING,
        HORN AT HAND TO ROUSE THE HEROES,
        NEWS YOU KNOW FROM NINE WORLDS OVER.
        PEOPLE'S PARENT AND OUR PATRON,
        OPEN OUR EYES TO ALTERED SIGHT.

Heimdallr (to Freyja)
        VANIR BRIDE, HAIL VISION-GIVER!
        CAPPED IN CAT-FUR, CLOAKED IN FEATHERS,
        DRUMMING FOR THE DANCE OF DREAMS,
        YOU HASTE TO HUNT OUT HIDDEN THINGS.
        SCANT NOW THE SCREEN THAT HINDERS SIGHT;
        LET US LEARN THE LORE OF TRANCE-WORK.

Vala (to Odin)
        ONE-EYE, WANDERER, GOD OF WISDOM,
        HUNT-LORD, HAIL, WHO LEADS THE HOSTING!
        NINE NIGHTS HANGING, KNOWLEDGE GAINING,
        CLOAKED AT CROSSROADS, COUNCIL HIDDEN.
        NOW THE NIGHT, YOUR TIME IS NEAR US --
        RIGHT ROADS SEND US ON, RUNE-WINNER.

Odin (to Vala)
        EVERY AGE YOUR EYE HAS WITNESSED,
        CAULDRON-KEEPER; HAIL, WISE CRONE!
        REDE IN RIDDLES IS YOUR RATION --
        WYRD-WEAVING AT THE WORLD-TREE'S ROOT.
        ELDEST ANCIENT, ALL-KNOWING ONE,
        SPEAK SECRETS TO US, SEND US KENNING.

Odin reminds everyone what the festival is about, as follows:

Odin:   SO COMES THE SOULS'-DAY.  SUMMON FOR FEASTING
        ANCESTORS, ANCIENTS, HONOURED AND BLESSED;
        LET IN BELOVED ONES, LEND THEM YOUR BODIES --
        WHOM DO YOU HALLOW?  HAIL THEM BY NAME!

Allow a few minutes for everybody to name the ancestor they want
to welcome.  Then Vala gives this admonition:

Vala:   AS ANCIENT ELDERS YOU LEARN FROM AND HONOUR,
        LET NOT THE LIVING ONES MOULDER ALONE.
        NEAR IS THEIR KNOWLEDGE  NEARER THAN SPIRITS',
        SEEN WITHOUT CEREMONY, SIMPLY FOR ASKING.

Both:   GRANDMOTHERS, GRANDFATHERS, GREAT BE THEIR BLESSINGS
        PAST ONES AND PRESENT  WE DANCE THEM ALL POWER!

All the Celebrants but Heimdallr form a circle facing outward;
Heimdallr goes to the West, and all say:

        WIDE ARE THE WORLDGATES; NOW THE WIGHTS WANDER.
        WELCOME WITHIN ARE THE DEAD WHO WERE OURS;
        REST FROM RIDING HERE, REVEL AND FEAST HERE;
        COME IN, OLD KINSFOLK, KEEPERS OF WISDOM!

 Heimdallr cuts the Soulers' Procession into the Circle on "Come in",
and moves to stand with the other Celebrants while the Soulers
dance slowly around singing:

        WELCOME WINTER, WANING SEASON,
        NOW WITH NIGHT THE NEW YEAR COMES;
        ALL WHO HONOUR ELDER KINSFOLK
        DANCE THE DEAD TO EARTHLY DRUMS.
        SOULS RESPECTED SAFEGUARD LIVING
        HOUSE WE'LL HOLD, AND HALLOW HEARTH;
        BLESSINGS BE ON THOSE WHO BIDE HERE,
        AND INDEED ON ALL THE EARTH!

The Celebrants begin also to circle, dancing in character, starting
widdershins then spiraling in and out to end deosil, as in the
meeting dance, while the Soulers encourage the outer circle to dance
also.  The intent should be for luck in the new year, and better
connection with our Ancestors (as well as better treatment of our
Elders!).  WE ARE THE OLD PEOPLE, and BLOOD OF THE ANCIENTS are
appropriate and may be sung in polyphony...

As the providers of food, FREYR and SKADI bring forward the feast.
Some food should be laid out for the ancestors, and people should be
encouraged to let the ancestors use their senses for a while to enjoy
the food with them.  The Soulers in particular should receive Soul
Cakes.  A strong magical gesture would be for people to bring
forward canned and other non-
perishable food (which can be later given to a food bank or similar
organization).

Freyr speaks as follows:
        CAKES TO US CARRY, CORN FROM THE STOREHOUSE;
        WINE DEFIES WINTER, WARM WITH CAUGHT RIPENESS;
        MILK MADE TO CHEESES, MEAT DRIED AND SALTED;
        LAST OF THE LAND'S FRUITS ERE THE LONG SLEEP.

Skadi speaks as follows:
        GOOD NUTS AND GAME-FOOD ARE HUNTERS' GUERDON;
        SLEEPING EARTH'S SECRETS YIELD TO THE SEEKER
        TRUE BURIED TREASURE: ONIONS, POTATOES
        FOREST SHALL FEED US WHILE THE FIELDS REST.

Both say (if there is to be food donation):
        ALL WHO HAVE AUGHT TO OFFER, NOW BRING IT;
        WIGHTS, BEAR YE WITNESS  WORK WITH THE GIVERS.
        FEEDING OUR FELLOWS, LET US BE FED SO,
        SOPS FOR THE SPIRIT OR SUP FOR THE FLESH.

[If there is to be scrying and divination, it should be done now in a
quiet space marked off as separate from the feasting-place.  FREYJA
and HEIMDALLR lead the scrying and VALA and ODIN lead rune-work,
with the following optional speeches:

Heimdallr:
        LET THE LOTS TUMBLE, LOOSING THEIR LEARNING;
        WORD-WOOD AND WIT-STONES, WON THROUGH ORDEAL.
        COME UP AND CAST THEM, WHILE WORD IS CLEAREST
        AUGERS MAY ANSWER   AUGHT THE YEAR HOLDS.

Freyja: WIDE ARE THE WORLDGATES, WINDOWS ARE OPEN;
        SIGHTS MAY BE SEEN NOW, ELSETIMES BUT SCARCELY.
        CRYSTAL AND CAULDRON   CAPTURE THE VISION;
        MYSTERY'S MEANING   SPEAKS TO THE MINDFUL.]

Note: it is entirely appropriate for partying to go on inside the
sacred circle (people can get up and move around), so that the Dead
have the opportunity to enjoy their day before we bid them farewell;
the circle should be cast large, with this in mind.  The only
constraint is to open in sufficient time to clean up the hall before
the rental time runs out. The circle is opened as follows:

Heimdallr:
        TO WATCHING WINDS, WE WISH FAIR WANDERING;
        FAN US SWEET FRAGRANCE; HAIL, FAREWELL!

ALL:    TO SLEEPLESS SOULS, WE WISH SWEET RESTING;
        FRIENDS WILL KEEP FAITH; FAREWELL NOW!

        GODS AND GODDESSES, GO WITH PRAISES!
        FINISHED OUR FESTIVAL; HAIL, FAREWELL!

Celebrants ground with this formula:
        AS FROM THE EARTH OUR ENERGY COMES,
        INTO THE EARTH THE EXCESS FLOWS;
        EARTH AND ALL EMPOWERED ALIKE
        BE IT SO!

Skadi:  SEE: THE CIRCLE IS SEVERED THUS [she cuts]
        MERRY MEET, MERRY PART, MERRY MEET AGAIN!

B*B
Leigh Ann
ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93)