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Rituals
One of the traditional ways of looking at our life is in three stages. Many places you will
hear "Maiden, Mother and Crone," or, as is often used to denote males, "Boy, Father and
Sage." Because these are only three stages, and our lives are so long, they are very general.
During the following seminar, we developed our own stages and agreed that we travel from
one stage to another and back again, instead of a completely linear path. The more we
discussed and worked, the more it became clear that individuals lead individual
paths...
We took three Learning Circles to explore these stages.
Maiden and Boy; Wondrous Divine Childhood
Let's share together what it meant to live the free, unstructured life of childhood, full
of wonder and joy. If your childhood was far from this, come relive it over--the way you
wanted it to be. We will discuss the child archetypes and find, empower and celebrate
our own Divine Child within.
Mother and Father: Creative Adulthood
The span of our middle years includes a great many changes, transitions, challenges
and joys. Leaving childhood behind and moving into this long period of growth, which
archetypes can we call on to help us? How can we balance all that is demanded of us
by others and ourselves? How can we remain true to ourselves and continue to live life
in a sacred, centered way? I hope YOU come with the answers, cause I don't have them
all!
Crone and Sage: Wise Ones
We do not have to be at this point in our lives to feel the influence of these Wise Ones.
Many see this period in our lives as scary and society has been very skillful in telling us
that we do not want to even acknowledge this period of our lives exists (stay young
forever!). Women stop bleeding and men enter a new phase of their lives. How can we
prepare ourselves for this sacred part of our lives? What archetypes are available to us for
guidance? How can we acknowledge, accept and celebrate the Wise One we already
are?
East (Air):
Hail, Guardians of the East,
Powers of Air.
We call on the playful whirlwinds.
Artemis, Goddess of the hunt and moon
Come, join our circle today
Help us to relive and claim our childhood.
(Light yellow candle)
Blessed be.
South (Fire);
Hail, Guardians of the South,
Powers of Fire.
We call on the play of the flame.
Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Temple
Come, join our circle today
Help us to relive and claim our childhood.
(Light red candle)
Blessed be.
West (Water):
Hail, Guardians of the West,
Powers of Water.
Memories of catching snow on our tongues.
Blue God, full of music, play and imagination
Come, join our circle today
Help us to relive and claim our childhood.
(Light blue candle)
Blessed be.
North (Earth):
Hail, Guardians of the North,
Powers of Earth.
Athena, Goddess of wisdom and crafts
Come, join our circle today
Help us to relive and claim our childhood.
(Light green candle)
Blessed be.
Center (Spirit):
Hail, Guardians of the Center,
Powers of Spirit.
Trickster, known by many names such as
Coyote and Loki,
Untamed, uncivilized changeable and mischievous.
Come, join our circle today
Help us to relive and claim our childhood.
(Light white and yellow candles)
Blessed be.
Cast circle:
With our hearts and by our love,
This circle is cast and sealed.
Diagram the "traditional" stages of life: Maiden/Boy, Mother/Father, Crone/Sage.
Describe/diagram OUR stages of life. We added many different stages such as:
Readings about specific Goddesses/Gods
List names/entities/characteristics on diagram. Some of the ones we cam up with were:
Jim Carry,
Hand out candles; a white one (Maiden) and a yellow one (Boy) for every person.
Journey (included at the end of this section)
What do we claim or reclaim as our right to be adult children? How can we keep this alive
and healthy in our lives? Write on main paper. We claimed laughter, silliness, joy, etc.
Each person came to the altar and wrote what they wanted on the paper, then lit their
candles from the ones on the alter and sealed their words on the paper with wax dripped
from their candles.
Visualize/empowerment for working, directed at paper while I roll it up and tie it. We stood
hand to hand and felt energy move around the circle, from one person to the next, then
focused it at the paper. It was burned at the next outdoor Ritual.
Release Directions:
Center (Spirit):
Guardians of the Center,
Power of Spirit.
Coyote and Loki.
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for the continued presence of our own child within.
(Snuff yellow and white candles)
Blessed be.
North (Earth):
Guardians of the North,
Element of Earth.
Athena.
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for the continues presence of our own child with in.
(Snuff green candle)
Blessed be.
West (Water):
Guardians of the West,
Element of Water.
Blue God.
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for the continues presence of our own child with in.
(Snuff blue candle)
Blessed be.
South (Fire):
Guardians of the South,
Element of Fire.
Hestia.
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for the continues presence of our own child with in.
(Snuff red candle)
Blessed be.
East (Air):
Guardians of the East,
Element of Air.
Artimis.
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for the continues presence of our own child with in.
(Snuff yellow candles)
Blessed be.
Find a comfortable position and relax. Take a deep breath and release it slowly, letting
your body wash away its tensions... Take another breath and quiet your mind... Take a
third breath and allow your spirit to float from your body...
Go to your safe place. A real or imaginary place where you are completely safe and can
come back to at any time. Sit here a while... relax...
It is time to leave this place now. Walk out into the woods. It is an early spring morning.
The air is cool, fresh and sharp. Dew shimmers on the new leaves and the sky is streaked
with yellow and pink in the East.
You hear a child's laughter, softly, in the distance and walk towards it.
As you walk, you feel your step lighten. Feel your adult responsibilities and worries slip
away... You feel energized and look around you at the woods with the wonder and delight
of a child...
You come to a meadow and there in middle are two young children, a boy and a girl.
They are playing and laughing, caressed by the morning sun. They look up as you
approach and smile in welcome, as if they know you, but have not seen you in a
while.
Go play with these children... Laugh with them... Be the child you always wanted to be...
Relive and reclaim your childhood... your innocence.. Your wonder... Look at what they
have to show you and listen to their wise child words... and play... (Long pause)
Return to the meadow now with these children of the sun. Be with them quietly for a few
moments. Stand in this magical childhood meadow with your friends. Know that you can come back here to laugh and play any time you want to.
Before you go, thank the children. They stand next to you... very close. They have one
more thing to tell you, the deepest mystery of all. They move to you to hold you
close.
Then slowly, the deepest mystery is revealed to you. They gently merge with you... they
go back to their home, where they live... where they have always lived... Here, inside
your heart... Filling you soul with light and fun and laughter...
Acknowledge their presence with in you, accept the fact that they have always been there
inside you... and always will be. (Pause)
It is time to leave this magical meadow now. Find the path back to your safe place. See
the dew as you walk back, smell the morning and feel the earth press gently against your
feet... Enter your safe place and sit down. Relax for a moment with the warmth inside you
that is your inner child, still laughing.
Take a deep breath now and begin to return to your body... Take another one and feel the
companionship of all that are here in this room... children inside adult bodies... just as you
are... Another breath and open your eyes, your eyes that still see with the wonder and joy
of a child...
Mother and Father: Creative Adulthood
Call Directions:
East (Air):
Hail, Guardians of the East,
Powers of Air.
We call on thoughtfulness.
Bridget, Goddess of creativity,
Come, join our circle today.
Help us to take up the mantle of teacher,
while always being a student.
(Light yellow candle)
Blessed be.
South (Fire);
Hail, Guardians of the South,
Powers of Fire.
We call on passion.
Aphrodite, Goddess of love
Come, join our circle today
Help us to explore, investigate and
joyously accept our own sexuality.
(Light red candle)
Blessed be.
West (Water):
Hail, Guardians of the West,
Powers of Water.
We call on nurturing.
Apollo, gentle lover,
Come, join our circle today
Help us to accept love as well as give it freely.
(Light blue candle)
Blessed be.
North (Earth):
Hail, Guardians of the North,
Powers of Earth.
We call on strength.
Cernunnos, horned hunter and provider,
Come, join our circle today.
Help us to be steady and strong in our obligations.
(Light green candle)
Blessed be.
Center (Spirit, adapted from Starhawk):
Hail, Guardians of the Center,
Powers of Spirit.
All life is your own,
All fruits of the earth
Are fruits of your womb,
Your union, your dance.
Lady and Lord,
Join with us, Feast with us, Enjoy with us!
(Light red and green candles)
Blessed be.
Cast circle:
With our hands and by our love,
This circle is cast and sealed.
So mote it be.
Review
Diagram the "traditional" stages of life
Describe/diagram OUR stages of life, especially the Mother/Father stage
Correspondences: time of year, time of day
Readings about specific Goddesses/Gods/life stage
List names/entities/characteristics on paper.
Hand out candles
Journey
What do we claim or what can we use to fulfill and be fulfilled by the Mother/Father stage
of our lives? How can we balance all we have to do? Write on main paper. Seal with
wax.
Visualize/empowerment for working, directed at paper while I roll it up and tie it. It will be
burned at the next outdoor Ritual.
Release Directions:
Center (Spirit):
Guardians of the Center,
Power of Spirit.
Lady and Lord,
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for your dance of union.
(Snuff red and green candles)
Blessed be.
North (Earth):
Guardians of the North,
Element of Earth.
Cernunnos.
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for strength.
(Snuff green candle)
Blessed be.
West (Water):
Guardians of the West,
Element of Water.
Apollo.
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for our own ability to nurture.
(Snuff blue candle)
Blessed be.
South (Fire):
Guardians of the South,
Element of Fire.
Aphrodite.
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for sexuality.
(Snuff red candle)
Blessed be.
East (Air):
Guardians of the East,
Element of Air.
Bridget.
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for our ability to teach and to learn.
(Snuff yellow candle)
Blessed be.
Circle release:
This circle is open, but unbroken.
May the peace of the Lord and Lady go in our hearts.
We merry meet, merry part and merry meet again!
Blessed be.
Find a comfortable position and relax. Take a deep breath and release it slowly, letting
your body wash away its tensions... Take another breath and quiet your mind... Take a
third breath and allow your spirit to float from your body...
Go to your safe place. A real or imaginary place where you are completely safe and can
come back to at any time. Sit here a while... relax...
It is time to leave this place now. Walk out into the woods. It is noon in the middle of
summer. A constant breeze relieves the heat of the day. You can smell the rich dark earth
as you walk and hear the lazy birds call to each other.
In the distance you can hear drums and chanting. Go towards this sound. The leaves
whisper to you as you pass by and the sky through the dark green leafy trees is an incredible
blue...
You find yourself at the edge of a clearing. There are several men and women there,
ranging in age from young adulthood to mature folks, not yet old.
They move around each other, engaged in traditional activities. Walk out among them.
They look up, acknowledging your presence, welcoming you. They know you.
Some are busy making pottery, others build small toys for children, engage in romance.
There is a group that sit around a teacher, learning. Other make beautiful art work. They
quietly laugh and talk. Move among them, listen to their conversation, see what they are
doing...
You are drawn to an individual or group. Spend some time here, listening, watching...(long
pause)
You notice that the drumming and chanting has changed. The drums are louder and more
of the men and women are chanting. As you watch, they start moving, forming a circle.
They begin dancing, hand to hand, drawing you into the circle. You swirl with them round
and round. As you pass them again and again, you begin to recognize them. They are all,
each and every one, a reflection of you.
There, that one is you, smiling in delight, another is you after a hard, long day... one reflects
the joy you feel helping others, another still has sad tears on cheeks... still another presses
sensually against you as you pass, while that one sticks a tongue out at you and you respond
appropriately.
They begin to merge, one into another... each of the women merging with other women,
the men merging with each other. They combine until there are only three beings still
slowly danceing; one man, one woman and you.
And the truth is reveled to you; all that these men and women represent, the work, the joy,
stress and creative abilities, the sexual abandonment, nurturing, teaching and learning,
each activity they engaged in, all they said and chanted, all are parts of you.
Open your arms and accept this Woman and this Man into yourself... realize this is where
they came from in the beginning and this is where they return in the end.
Feel the man within you. The energizing, masculine power. Feel the woman within you.
The powerful, healing, creative forces moving constantly within you.
These energies are within you and have been. Now they are awake and will always be
available to you, guiding you, advising you, nurturing you, teaching you.
See the meadow again. All is quiet now and you stand alone with all the objects the
women and men had been using. These tools... these creations... are yours to use as
you want and need. They will be here, in this meadow, anytime you want them.
As you turn to leave this magical meadow, you can still hear the drums and the chanting...
very quietly... only now it comes from inside you.
Return through the afternoon woods. The sunlight slants through the trees in shafts of
golden rain...
Walk back to your safe place, enter... and sit down. Relax for a moment with the quiet
drum beat and chant that now comes from deep inside you...
Take a deep breath now and begin to return to your body... Take another one and feel
the companionship of all that are here in this room... Another breath and open your eyes.
Be here... now.
Crone and Sage: Wise Ones
Call Directions:
East (Air):
Hail, Guardians of the East,
Powers of Air.
Powerful tornadoes and gentle fragrant breezes.
Come, join our circle today.
Help us to stop and hear the wisdom
of the Wise Ones within ourselves.
(Light yellow candle)
Blessed be.
South (Fire);
Hail, Guardians of the South,
Powers of Fire.
Smouldering embers, used to form
swords for battle and
knives for healing.
Come, join our circle today
Help us to eliminate from our lives
that which no longer belongs.
(Light red candle)
Blessed be.
West (Water):
Hail, Guardians of the West,
Powers of Water.
Vast oceans of mysterious currents
and deep knowledge.
Come, join our circle today.
Help us to understand, accept and love
ourselves and all those around us
(Light blue candle)
Blessed be.
North (Earth):
Hail, Guardians of the North,
Powers of Earth.
Mighty mountains rounded by time
and fertile valleys.
Come, join our circle today.
Help us to feel the guiding, forming hand
of the Goddess within ourselves.
(Light green candle)
Blessed be.
Center (Spirit):
Hail, Guardians of the Center,
Powers of Spirit.
Gaia, ancient Earth Mother,
Come, join our circle today.
Help us to feel our connection to you,
and to our history through our ancestors.
(Light black candles)
Blessed be.
Cast circle:
With our hands and by our love,
This circle is cast and sealed.
So mote it be.
Review
Diagram the "traditional" stages of life
Describe/diagram OUR stages of life, especially the Wise stage
Correspondences: eight major Holidays, Moon phases
Readings about specific Goddesses/Gods/life stage
List names/entities/characteristics on paper.
Hand out candles
Journey
How can we tap into the wisdom and experience we already have and see ourselves as
the sacred Wise Ones we already are? Write on main paper. Seal with wax.
Visualize/empowerment for working, directed at paper while I roll it up and tie it. It will be
burned at the next outdoor Ritual.
Release Directions:
Center (Spirit):
Guardians of the Center,
Power of Spirit.
Gaia, Ancient Mother,
We thank you for your presence here today,
And for your gentle and firm guiding hands.
(Snuff black candles)
Blessed be.
North (Earth):
Guardians of the North,
Element of Earth.
Mountains and valleys,
We thank you for your presence here today,
May we always walk gently upon
You with respect and love.
(Snuff green candle)
Blessed be.
West (Water):
Guardians of the West,
Element of Water.
Watery mysteries and deep knowledge,
We thank you for your presence here today,
Continue to flow through us.
(Snuff blue candle)
Blessed be.
South (Fire):
Guardians of the South,
Element of Fire.
Embers of battle and healing,
We thank you for your presence here today,
Continue to smoulder within us.
(Snuff red candle)
Blessed be.
East (Air):
Guardians of the East,
Element of Air.
Caressing breezes and destructive tornadoes,
We thank you for your presence here today,
Speak to us, and help us to hear your words.
(Snuff yellow candle)
Blessed be.
Circle release:
This circle is open, but unbroken.
May the peace of the Lord and Lady go in our hearts.
We merry meet, merry part and merry meet again!
Blessed be.
Find a comfortable position and relax. Take a deep breath and release it slowly, letting
your body wash away its tensions... Take another breath and quiet your mind... Take a
third breath and allow your spirit to float from your body...
Go to your safe place. A real or imaginary place where you are completely safe and can
come back to at any time. Sit here a while... relax...
It is time to leave this place now. Walk out into the woods. It is midnight and very cold.
You are dressed warmly, so you only feel the cold on your face when the sharp winter wind
blows. You can see the small sliver of the bright waning moon through the stark bare
branches of the trees along the path. Snow, luminous in the moonlight, crunches
underfoot.
The path ends in a small meadow. In the meadow is a cottage, light spilling out onto the
snow from the windows and the slightly open door. Walk to this house. As you near, you
hear soft voices. Push open the door and look inside. The voices belong to two ancient
Wise Ones, a Crone, leaning over a bubbling cauldron, and a Sage, working with something
on an old worn table.
They look up as you enter and their heavily wrinkled faces seem strangely familiar.
They gesture you in, and you enter the warmth and light of this place. Look around.
Herbs and other objects hang from the roof and around the walls. Objects rest on shelves
and tables...
Walk to the woman, stooped by age and wisdom. She has something important to tell you
about the cauldron and what is inside... Listen to her (long pause)
When she is finished, move to the table and sit with the Sage. As he works with his hands,
he tells you what he is doing, the materials he is working with and what the finished working
will be. Listen to him... (long pause)
When he is finished speaking, the woman joins you at the table. She helps the Sage finish
the working on the table. They look at you expectantly, lovingly, eyes full of knowledge and
faces expressing compassion. If you have anything to ask, or to tell these Wise Ones, do so
now... (long pause)
When you have visited with these Wise Ones as long as you wish, put you hands out to them. They take your hands and each others', so you three are sitting around the table in a complete circle. Your hands begin to feel very warm and you look closely at these teachers. You know now why they look so familiar.
The outline of the Crone and Sage begin to fade, to turn into swirling colors. You know it is
time for these magical Wise Ones, that have so much knowledge and compassion, to go
back to where they live. The colors begin to sink into your outstretched hands, travel up
your arms. Along with the colors, you feel the warmth. It goes into your shoulders and
rests in your chest. It finally fades just over your heart and you know the Crone and the
Sage have gone back to the place they came from--deep within you.
Sit in this warm cottage, with the knowledge that the incredibly wise and compassionate
beings have always been, and always will be, a beautiful part of you.
When you are ready reach out to the working they made. It was made for you. Pick it up
and hold it close as you rise from the table. Take a last look around the cottage, seeing
all the objects and herbs here. Know that these are all tools that are yours to use when
you need to, and when you have gained the knowledge to use them. This place, this warm,
safe cottage and the Crone and Sage, will always be here any time you have need.
Walk out of the cottage and find the path again, still holding the working close against you.
The winter wind is still quite cold, but the warmth inside you keeps you from being the
least bit uncomfortable. The sliver of moon is small, but so bright that it casts tree shadows
on the snow.
Walk back to your safe place, enter... and sit down. Relax for a moment with the warmth
inside you...
Take a deep breath now and begin to return to your body... Take another one and feel the
companionship of all that are here in this room... Another breath and open your eyes. Be
here... now.
We celebrate the Divine Child within us;
Maiden and Boy, wonder and joy.
We call on the playful whirlwinds.
Artemis, Goddess of the hunt and moon.
We call on the play of the flame.
Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Temple.
We call on flying snowflakes.
Blue God, full of music, play and imagination
We call on the dancing waves.
Athena, Goddess of wisdom and crafts,
We call on the trickster, known by many names such as
Coyote and Loki,
Untamed, uncivilized, changeable and mischievous.
We will always honor our Divine Child within.
(Place scroll on fire)
So mote it be!
We celebrate our Adult selves,
Mother and Father, provider and nurturer.
We call on thoughtfulness.
Bridget, Goddess of creativity,
Help us to take up the mantle of teacher,
while always being a student.
We call on passion.
Aphrodite, Goddess of love
Help us to explore, investigate and
joyously accept our own romantic self.
We call on nurturing.
Apollo, gentle lover,
Help us to accept love as well as give it freely.
We call on strength.
Cernunnos, horned hunter and provider,
Help us to be steady and strong in our obligations.
We claim these responsibilities and joys
as our right.
(place scroll on fire)
So mote it be.
We call on powerful tornadoes and gentle fragrant breezes.
Help us to stop and hear the wisdom
of the Wise Ones within ourselves.
We call on smoldering embers, used to form
swords for battle and knives for healing.
Help us to eliminate from our lives
that which no longer belongs.
We call on vast oceans of mysterious currents
and deep knowledge.
Help us to understand, accept and love
ourselves and all those around us.
We call on mighty mountains rounded by time,
and fertile valleys.
Help us to feel the guiding, forming hand
of the Goddess within ourselves.
We call Gaia, ancient Earth Mother,
Help us to feel our connection to You,
and to our history through our ancestors.
We claim these powers and abilities for ourselves.
(Place scroll on fire)
So mote it be!
