SUMMER SOLSTICE

The Altar and Circle are decorated with roses and other summer flowers. A bonfire is lit in the center of the circle. All of the candle wax that has accumulated since last Summer Solstice is in a basket nearby. The Winter Solstice Sun-Ship is by the Altar, or in the south of the Circle. A corn-bread is concealed inside. A large floral wreath lies next to the Altar. Last year's wreath is placed in the West of the Circle. It will be ritually burned. The fire is lit and burning.

The Coven gathers and does a meditation before entering the Ritual Circle. They will be challenged and smudged at the gate.

SONG: THE SUN GOD!

HP: This is the time of rose, blossom and thorn, fragrance and blood. Now on this the longest day of the year, light triumphs, and yet begins the decline into darkness. The Sun King grown, embraces the Queen of Summer in the love that is death, because it is so complete that all dissolves into the single song of ecstasy that moves the worlds. So the Lord of Light dies to Himself, and sets sail across the dark sea of time, searching for the isle of light that is rebirth. We turn the Wheel and share His fate, for we have planted the seed of our own changes, and to grow we must accept even the passing of the Sun." MERRY MEET!

PURIFY, CAST THE CIRCLE AND INVOKE THE GODDESS AND GOD

After the invocations, the Coven will dance the Spiral Dance; the dance of Death and Rebirth.

All face outward. Begin widdershins! Men do not let their right heel touch the ground; so the dance appears "goat-footed". After dancing the ring a few times, a Priestess drops her left hand and begins spiraling inward.

All chant:

"TOUT A TOUT TOUT: THROUGHOUT AND ABOUT"

"IMBE ARDA, ILYE ARDA: IMBE ARDA, ILYE ARDA; ....NAI!

(Between the worlds; in all the worlds; So Mote it Be!)

The Sun God

Strum with a pick, rather fast

Am D Am D Am D Am D

High-- on the mountain top

Am D Am D Am D Am D

Up there, where the winds can blow free

C G D - C G D

I saw the Sun God smiling down on me

C G D - Am D Am D

I saw the Sun God

Cool-- was the morning breeze

Like fire was the touch of his hand

He was the Sun God and he came to me He was the Sun God

Ten-- billion years ago

Mother Earth gave her love up to the Sun Lay with the Sun God that her children might be He was the Sun God

I-- built an altar there

Spilled out my blood upon the ground ' Gave to the Sun God all l had to give He was the Sun God

High-- on the mountain top

Up there, where the winds can blow free

I saw the Sun God, I saw the Sun God

C G D - Am

I saw the Sun God--! The Sun God-

As power is raised and the Spiral is huddled together, the HPS whips about; and begins unwinding the Spiral. As each woman passes a man, they kiss, until the Spiral has unwound, and the Circle is facing inward. The Circle then dances sun wise! All chant;

"Kuwake leno leno mahote...Hyano...Hyano...Hyano"

We are part of the infinite sun; forever, and ever and ever.)

"The Goddess embraces.. the Goddess embraces.. ."

"The Traveler...the Traveler...the Traveler.. "

The Summer Lord dances with the Sun Ship round the Circle. As we chant and drum, He continues dancing sun wise (deosil). Coveners throw flowers on the Sun Ship. Then the Summer or Sun Priestess enters the Circle, portraying the Goddess; who represents transformation. She follows Him at first as He dances round the Circle, holding out Her hands and beckoning to Him, but He is unaware of Her presence...

The Dark Lord enters from the North, and blocks His path. The Sun God is caught between the Dark Lord and the Goddess. (between Death and the Cosmic Law of Nature, which is of course the Spiral Dance of Death and Rebirth! The Sun God backs up from the Dark Lord, but the Goddess is behind Him, still calling Him to Her. The Three dance round the fire, as the Sun God tries to make a desperate decision, which would preferably be to escape His destiny! He cannot, of course, escape. He backs up, as the Dark Lord continues coming towards Him. At last He accepts His fate, and rather than be lost forever to Darkness, He gives up His power (temporarily) to the Goddess. As the drumming and chanting continue, they both place the Sun Ship gently in the flames. All watch and sing SET SAIL as the Sun Ship is consumed in the fire.

A PRIESTESS PAINTS SUNS ON EVERYONE'S FACES

Coveners are seated round the fire as they meditate on the

withering blossoms. You may scry or throw in a parchment. You

might see visions. The Summer Priestess and the Sun God return to the Circle. The Dark Lord waits by the fire; His sword raised. He knows His reign draws near....

Set Sail

Set sail, set sail! Follow the twilight to the West,

Where you may rest, where you may rest.

Set sail! Set sail!

Set sail, set sail! Turn your face where the Sun grows dim,

Beyond the rim, beyond the rim.

Set sail! Set sail!

Set sail, set sail! One thing becomes another,

In the Mother, in the Mother.

Set sail! Set sail!

Set sail, set sail! Make of your heart a burning fire,

Build it higher, build it higher.

Set sail! Set sail!

Set sail, set sail! Pass in an instant thru the open gate,

It will not wait, it will not wait.

Set sail! Set sail!

Set sail, set sail! Over the dark and the sunless Sea,

You are free, you are free.

Set sail! Set sail!

Set sail, set sail! Guiding the ship of the rising Sun,

You are the one, you are the one.

Set sail! Set sail!

Set sail, set sail! Into the raging wind and storm,

To be reborn, to be reborn.

Set sail! Set sail!

Set sail, set sail! Over the waves where the spray blows white,

To bring the light, to bring the light.

Set sail! Set sail!

We are awake in the night!

We turn the wheel to bring the light!

We call the Sun from the womb of Night!

Set sail! Set sail!! Set sail! Set sail!

A Priestess carries a large floral wreath around the Circle holding it up for each Covener to look through. She says:

"See with clear sight and know the mystery of the Magick Circle."

Coveners scry through the wreath into the fire.

Priestess holds up the wreath after each person has scryed through it and says:

"May the dreams you envision this year be realized."

Another Priestess fetches last year's wreath and lays it in the fire. She says:

"May the dreams we envisioned last year be carried by the Traveler to safe places."

The HP and HPS carry a large basket of candle wax to the balefire. This is wax that was used in Rituals, during the past year but not completely consumed. It has magickal links, and must go back into the earth, or be purified in the fire. The HPS says:

"Behold, here we have the remnants of all of our magicks. Burn with the red sun! Plow on the outgoing tide!"

She will place a little wax into the fire. The wax will make the fire burn very hot. Drumming should begin now.

The corn bread which is hidden in the Sun Ship will be removed before the fire gets too big.

The rest of the wax will now be added slowly to the fire by the Coven.

The mood is relaxed, as the fire will burn for quite a while. Parchments or individual magic’s can be done at this time.

Coven sings in Elvish (Farewell to the Sun):

KARNEVALINAR AND GLORION LAER

Kanevalinar, namarie!

Aiya, Feamornie!

Glorion Laer, Coithoniel melui,

Namarie, Ciranor, annaear ranui,

Mellva gwillar le

Mellva gwilar -- le

Mellva gwila--r le--

CAKES AND WINE

The HP will hold up the corn bread and say:

"Behold the God has gone into the grain!"

Taking a piece of the bread the HP throws it into the fire, for a libation.

The HPS does the same with some wine.

The HPS chants, and everyone repeats a line after her.

"The Sun is on the water

He will quench our thirst

The God is in the Corn.

It will grow high!

The God is on the tree and vine.

He will ripen in season!

The Sun is not lost

It will rise again!

The Sun is within us!"

SEE HOW WE SHINE! SEE HOW WE SHINE! SEE HOW WE SHINE!

Usually at this time libations of corn bread and wine are thrown into the fire in honor of the season, and thanks are given. This can get very merry. Anyone who wants to dance or sing, jump, or tell stories, should.

The Circle is opened and the feast begins.

MERRY MEET AND MERRY PART AND MERRY MEET AGAIN!