Gryphon's Homepage
My Own Rituals
Handfasting Ritual
Memorial Ritual
There was not a Ritual available to scavenge from. I am way too young and not nearly wise enough to become a crone, yet I was no longer a beginner, with just my toes in a Pagan lifestyle. So I wrote this Ritual.
All participants and guests go to circle.
Crone and Sage cast circle, "We are gathered here to be a witness to Gryphon's Eldering. This is a recognition of her passing from a beginning stage to a middle stage on her Path. (Etc)"
Ring chime.
Gryphon enters, accompanied by Mountain Man.
Crone: "Who brings this woman forward to be Eldered?"
MM: "I, Mountain Man, her Father, does."
Sage: "Who comes to be Eldered?"
Gryph: "I, Gryphon Rosemead."
Crone: "Are there any here who speak for this woman?"
Any speak as they wish.
Crone: "Becoming an Elder involves leaving one part of your life and beginning another."
Sage: "But it also means to always remember this part as an important foundation to the next stage."
Crone: "Being an Elder means not only accepting added responsibilities but seeking out opportunities to learn, teach, lead and serve our Pagan community."
Sage: "It is not just added responsibilities. Along with this there will be greater and deeper joys."
Crone: "Are you ready to accept the responsibilities and joys of becoming an Elder of your Path?"
Gryph: "I am."
Sage: "Then hear and understand what you are accepting."
Crone picks up feather from alter.
"The responsibility of being an Elder as symbolized by the East and Air is
Thinking about your words before speaking,
And considering silence as a way of communicating.
The hawk knows when to be silent,
And when to cry!"
Gives feather to Sage.
Sage accepts feather.
"Air also symbolizes the joy of an Elder;
The silence of the dawn;
The wind on the mountain top;
The joy of lessons well learned."
Crone: "Are you willing to accept these responsibilities and joys symbolized by Air as an Elder in your path?"
Gryph takes feather from Sage, meditates a moment. "I am." Puts feather back on alter.
Sage picks up red candle from alter.
"The responsibility of being an Elder as symbolized by the South and Fire is to
Show others the way to healing,
To clear vision that looks in and out;
To passion tempered by compassion and reason;
The lioness defends her cubs while
The lion defends his pride."
Gives candle to Crone.
Crone accepts red candle.
"Fire also symbolizes the joy of an Elder
Basking in the noonday sun,
The passion of continued growth,
The joy of creativity."
Sage: "Are you willing to accept these responsibilities and joys symbolized by Fire as an Elder in your path?"
Gryph takes candle from Crone, pauses a moment. "I am." Places candle on alter.
Crone picks up bowl of water.
"The responsibility of being an Elder as symbolized by the West and Water is
To understand your emotions.
This does not mean that you hide them,
But rather that you know them and are comfortable with the knowledge.
Take as your models the industry of the beaver,
And the exuberance of the otter."
Gives Sage bowl of water.
Sage accepts the bowl of water.
"Water also symbolizes the joy of an Elder
A pause beside a tumbling stream,
The daring that comes with self confidence,
And the joy of self-knowledge."
Crone: "Are you willing to accept these responsibilities and joys symbolized by West and Water as an Elder in your path?"
Gryph takes bowl of water, stands a moment. "I am." Puts bowl of water on alter.
Sage picks up bowl of earth from alter.
"The responsibility of being an Elder as symbolized by the North and Earth is
Having learned to be centered and focused,
grounded and in balance with yourself and your planet,
you need to lead and nurture others to those same goals.
Like the she bear who is a fierce nurturer;
She knows when to take a nap,
And when to eat a honeycomb."
Gives bowl of Earth to Crone.
Crone accepts bowl of Earth.
"Earth also symbolizes the joy of an Elder;
The sparkle of moonlight on snow,
The constancy of standing firmly on the earth,
The joy of being comfortable in your own body."
Sage: "Are you willing to accept these responsibilities and joys symbolized by Earth as an Elder in your path?"
Gryph takes bowl of Earth from Crone, pauses a moment. "I am." Puts bowl back on alter.
Crone picks up symbol of Spirit.
"The responsibility of being an Elder as symbolized by the Center and Spirit is
To dwell in community,
To be a pillar of the center
Without losing touch with the circumference of the circle,
As the dragon gathers wisdom like a hidden treasure,
And having it, shares the treasure with those who are ready."
Gives Sage symbol.
Sage accepts the symbol.
"Spirit also symbolizes the joy of an Elder
Enjoy your community,
Be a part of it,
It will sustain you as you sustain it."
Crone: "Are you willing to accept these responsibilities and joys symbolized by Center and Spirit as an Elder in your path?"
Gryph takes symbol, stands a moment. "I am." Puts symbol on alter.
Crone: "As exemplified by the Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit, do you accept the responsibilities of an Elder of your Path?"
Gryph: "I do."
Sage: "Characterized by Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit, do you accept the joys of an Elder of your Path?"
Gryph: "I do."
Crone: "Are there any here who have reasons why this woman should not become an Elder?"
Any who wish to speak, do so.
Sage: "Gryphon Rosemead, we charge you to step out of your beginning stage." Picks up red robe from alter.
Crone: "And we charge you to always remember and build on the foundation you have from your beginnings." Picks up red cord from alter.
Allison and Asherah step forward.
Asherah holds my white cord that I take off.
Allison helps me take off my white robe, folds it, puts it on the alter then rejoins circle.
Sage and Crone help me to put on red robe.
Sage takes white cord from Asherah and places it around my neck. "Never forget your past; it is the foundation for your future."
Crone places red cord around my neck. "Continue to learn and grow."
Sage: "You are now recognized as an Elder of your Path."
Crone: "Always honor your responsibilities and celebrate your joys."
Crone and Sage: "Blessed Be."
All: "Blessed Be."
Crone and Sage take their place away from the alter in the circle of friends and family.
Gryph: "I honor and love you all... blah blah" Take up chalice.
Alfred comes up to hold chalice.
Gryph blesses mead with Athame. Holds chalice with Mountain Man. Offers to Mountain Man, "May you never thirst."
Mountain Man takes sip, "Blessed be."
Mountain Man offers it to Gryph, "May you never thirst."
Gryph takes sip, "Blessed Be."
Mountain Man hands it to the next person, "May you never thirst." Chalice continues around circle.
Gryph picks up cakes, hands to Mountain Man. Blesses cakes. Offers to MM, "May you never hunger."
MM eats, "Blessed be," offers to Gryph, "May you never thirst."
Gryph takes bite. "Blessed Be."
MM passes to next in circle, "May you never hunger." Plate continues around circle.
When cakes and ale are back on alter, Crone and Sage open circle as they cast it.
All take hands:
"This circle is open,
But unbroken.
May the peace of the Lord and Lady
Go in our heats.
We merry meet,
Merry part,
And merry meet again.
Blessed be."
