 | Firefly Online Midsummer Ritual Today at 12pm EDT |
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MIDSUMMER/YULE RITUAL
If you would like to participate in this ritual, you may do so on your own, or join us in the chat room on Sunday June 20th at 12pm EDT Click here to join in:http://fireflyhouse.org/mod/chat/view.php?id=662 This ritual is for both Midsummer (Northern Hemisphere) and Yule (Southern Hemisphere). Much of the ritual is written ambiguously, however, there will be points that call for participants in one hemisphere to do something different than participants in the other hemisphere. What is so awesome about this is that we get to celebrate the entire cycle that the Earth goes through…not only is part of the world coming out of the dark half of the year, but the other part of the world is going into it at the same time! If doing this ritual in the chat room, have your computer in what will become your circle. You can create your sacred space at your desk, if need be. An altar and tools are not necessary; and you can include them if you wish. Before the ritual, you may want to cleanse yourself and cleanse your space. Directions below. NEEDED FOR THIS RITUAL:
“Air I am, Fire I am, Water, Earth, and Spirit I am” HERE ARE SOME OPTIONAL ELEMENTS: Cakes and Ale: I would highly suggest you include cakes and ale in your online ritual, as this ritual will call for it. This does not have to be complicated, and I’ve included further instructions below. Cake – be it a desert, cracker, fruit, bread, etc., have 2 pieces of some food item—one for yourself and one for an offering to the divine. Ale – be it wine, mead, water, soda, etc., have enough for you and enough to leave a bit for an offering to the divine. Purification of Self: You might choose to take a cleansing bath with salt/oils before the ritual. You might choose to spend time in meditation to ground and center yourself before the ritual. You may choose to burn sage and waft it over yourself to cleanse yourself. Purification of Space: You might choose to “sweep” the area with a broom while visualizing your space clearing. You might choose to burn and waft sage around your space while visualizing your space clearing. You might choose to just visualize the negative or unwanted energy leaving your space and positive energy filling it. Take a minute to do this and come back to us. MIDSUMMER/YULE RITUAL Purification of Self: Regardless of how you have prepared, take a few breaths. As you inhale, feel your lungs and body filling with positive energy. As you exhale, feel the negative unwanted tension and stress flowing out of your body. Maybe you associate a color with positive (such as yellow) and a color with negative (such as black) and these colors become gases that you move in and out of your body. Raising Energy: Repeat the following chant until I post the next portion of the ritual. Feel free to clap your hands, tap your feet, or shimmy in your chair. Fall into the rhythm of the universe. “Air I am, Fire I am, Water, Earth, and Spirit I am” Cast Circle: From where you are sitting or standing, clasp your hands in front of you. From your core, from your central place, reach down through your body and touch the Earth. All the energy from the Earth to flow into you. Then, from your central place, reach up for the outer edges of the universe and allow the energy from the cosmos to flow into you. Then, reach out to the East, leaning over as far as you need, and touch an invisible wall. Reach out to the South, leaning over as far as you need, and touch an invisible wall. Reach out to the West, leaning over as far as you need, and touch an invisible wall. Reach out to the North, leaning over as far as you need, and touch an invisible wall. Clasp your hands together again, and push out in all four directions at once, your energy hitting the invisible wall you just felt. As the energy hits this wall, it fortifies the strength of the barrier, solidifying, and making it strong. "The circle is cast."CALLING THE QUARTERS: NORTHERN HEMISPHERE: TURN TOWARDS THE EAST AND SAY "Hail to you, Oh Elementals of the East. Enrich my circle with light, happiness, and harmony. In this time of abundance, you allow the birds and the bees to float high above the ground. You are the breath of fresh air that glides through the forest. And yet, you are the winds of change. Though you can be kind, your storms are ferocious. Powers of Air, bring me balance and protection. Welcome!" SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: TURN TOWARDS THE EAST AND SAY “I call to you, Spirits of the East, Elemental of Air. I am here to celebrate the Solstice of Winter. I ask that you come to my circle and enlighten me with wisdom, thoughts, and understanding. I am present in the world of the intellect, of Air.” NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TURN TO THE SOUTH AND SAY: "Hail to you, Oh Elementals of the South. Grant my circle love, warmth, and passion. At this summer's peak, you allow the world around me to connect and grow, as animals and plants alike rejoice in the fertility abound. You have brought the Sun high in the sky, heating our days and our hearts. Though I relish the splender of your warmth, your fires can be and terrifying, eating up everything in their path. Your heat can be dangerous, parching lips and exhausting the masses. Power of Fire, bring me balance and protection. Welcome!"
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: TURN TOWARDS THE SOUTH AND SAY “I call to you, Spirits of the South, Elemental of Fire. I am here to celebrate the Solstice of Winter. I ask that you come to my circle and infuse me with your passion, warmth, and love. I am present in the world of the spiritual, of Fire.” NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TURN TO THE WEST AND SAY: "Hail to you, Oh Elementals of the West. Bring forth dreams, understanding, and bright emotions. When the earth is at it's most abundant time, your waters are warm and full of life. Yet, you are the fierce waves and raging storms on the ocean. Powers of Water, bring me balance and protection. Welcome!" SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: TURN TOWARDS THE WEST AND SAY “I call to you Spirits of the West, Elemental of Water. I am here to celebrate the Solstice of Winter. I ask that you come to my circle and wash in dreams, intuition, and balanced emotions. I am present in the world of the emotional, of Water.” NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TURN TO THE NORTH AND SAY "Hail to you, Oh Elementals of the North. Plant firm roots in this MIsdummer circle for stability, abundance, and growth. It this time of year, you bud and sprout, showing off the wonders of the earth. You give the animals and plants a place to live and eat, as if they were your own offspring. But with that, I have seen the shaking earth, crumbling features, and barren lands that you can bring. Power of Earth, bring me balance and protection. Welcome!" SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE TURN TO THE NORTH AND SAY “I call to you Spirits of the North, Elemental of Earth. I am here to celebrate the Solstice of Winter. I ask that you come to my circle and forge into my being strength, stability, and growth. I am present in the world of the physical, of Earth.” NORTHERN HEMISPHERE COME BACK TO THE CENTER AND SAY: Oh, Great Spirit. Hail to you that weaves the magick of the universe. Join me as I celebrate the peak of summer. Welcome!" SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE COME BACK TO THE CENTER AND SAY: Oh, Great Spirit. Hail to you that weaves the magick of the universe. Join me as I celebrate the return of the light. Welcome!" NORTHERN HEMISPHERE BOW YOUR HEAD AND SAY: "Horned one, you show your strength as you have impregnated the Goddess and we are rewarded with the abundance of the earth. From this point on, the nights grow longer, and you grow weaker. Sustain my circle with the sunlight on this solstice night. Hail, Great God, and Welcome!" SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE BOW YOUR HEAD AND SAY: “I celebrate on this day for you, Holly King, to reclaim the light. On this night, you regain your rule. Though we now move into winter, we know that the sun strengthens in the sky. Join my circle tonight, as I celebrate your return." NORTHERN HEMISPHERE RAISE YOUR ARMS LIKE CRESCENTS AND SAY: "Oh, Great Goddess, at this peak of summer, your blessings shine down upon the earth. Everything glows with your motherly love. Sustain my circle with abundance that you have shown the earth. Hail, Great Mother, and Welcome!" SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE RAISE YOUR ARMS LIKE CRESCENTS AND SAY "Oh, Wintery Lady, I light this candle to carry me through the long nights. Join my circle tonight and light my way in the dark. Be with me as I celebrate the renewed light." SOLSTICE POEM dawn creeps in crystal clear intrepid yet wary endings become beginnings savor this juncture for the road ahead is long and arduous but in this moment all things are possible 1997 Judy AnneMEDITATION AND PROSPERITY SPELL: Thrust your hand into the bag or basket of herbs, and pull out a handful (maybe less if you are using candles). Cup the herbs in both hands. Sit and meditate for several minutes about where you have been since the last solstice and where you want to go before the next one. If you chose to write down your goals for the next 6 months on paper, do so at this time. Think about where you have been since the last solstice and where you want to go before the next one. Stand and raise your cupped hands high, or raise up your goal list. "Lady and Lord, please shed upon my life and this earth the prosperity we feel now through this half of the year. Though it comes in many forms, I vow to keep my eyes, ears, mind, and heart open to your blessings in all forms. I follow the path of your will. So mote it be." Tie the herbs up in a sachet (cloth) and keep them close to you. Or, put your goals list somewhere you can see it. CAKES AND ALE: DISMISSING THE GODDESS: "I thank you, Dear Lady, for your presence in my circle at the celebration of this solstice. Go if you must, stay if you will, know that you are always welcome. Hail and Farewell! DISMISSING THE GOD: "I thank you, Mighty Lord, for your presence in my circle at the celebration of this solstice. Go if you must, stay if you will, know that you are always welcome. Hail and Farewell!" DISMISSING SPIRIT: "I thank you, Great Spirit, for your presence in my circle at the celebration of this solstice. Go if you must, stay if you will, know that you are always welcome. Hail and Farewell!" TURN TO THE NORTH: "I thank you, Elementals of the North, for your presence in my circle at the celebration of this solstice. Go if you must, stay if you will, know that you are always welcome. Hail and Farewell! TURN TO THE WEST: "I thank you, Elementals of the West, for your presence in my circle at the celebration of this solstice. Go if you must, stay if you will, know that you are always welcome. Hail and Farewell! TURN TO THE SOUTH: "I thank you, Elementals of the South, for your presence in my circle at the celebration of this solstice. Go if you must, stay if you will, know that you are always welcome. Hail and Farewell! TURN TO THE EAST: "I thank you, Elementals of the East, for your presence in my circle at the celebration of this solstice. Go if you must, stay if you will, know that you are always welcome. Hail and Farewell! GROUNDING: Take a moment to release any excess energy from the ritual into the ground. |
