Midsummer Ritual
Grove of Gaia
June 19th, 2010
By Lady Annabelle
Needed: Small grapevine wreaths for solar wheels. Ribbons in red, yellow and orange. Nine sacred herbs. When all arrive, they will gather a flower, leaf or small pebble or stone from the area to place on the altars. Crowns for the Oak and Holly Kings. Black Lace. Firewood and kindling. Candles and Wicca tools. Lighter. Stefanie gets the fire going while we make our sun wheels.
Lady Annabelle:
This is the festival of Midsummer. We honor here the God of Many Names in the height of his power. It is the longest day of the year. It is a time of merriment and wish fulfillment. Who know what may be granted on a day such as this. For this is the time of the solar king when he is at his strongest. As all in nature comes to its peak and then declines, so must the God as he takes on two aspects today, and wears two crowns. Together we join to turn the wheel, to honor the passing of the Oak King’s Reign and welcome the Holly King to be with us throughout the waning of the days. We gather also to welcome the Great Goddess Gaia who changes not.
The circle is cast by Lady Annabelle, Tammy, Lynn, and Sheri, and the quarters are called. Altar tenders: Erin East; Stefanie, South; Tim, West; Melina, North. Jodi calls forth the Fairies. Lady Annabelle calls the Goddess.Regis performs the role of the Oak King and Tim is the Holly King.
Lady Annabelle welcomes the Great Goddess. Here we stand in Gaia’s grove, a sacred place between worlds. It is on your great wheel upon which the Sun Gods dance. It is your wooded world that is one great breath that we breathe in, and in an ever turning circle, breathe out your sustenance. Without you we gasp, flail and lose our way. But in your sacred grove, and the presence of this holy stream, we find each other and learn the path of your worship in the heart of this community. Gaia, ancient earth mother, we honor you and seek your infinite wisdom and blessings.
Jodi calls the fairies to be with us—for enchantment and to help us see through the veil.
I. The making of the sun wheels
Lady A:
Let us all think of a wish. . .
Now let us make our sun wheels! And as we weave, tie in our wishes.
Charge it up by dancing round the fire and chanting out our wishes.
II. The burning of the herbs
Denise: Now, let us burn the nine sacred herbs of Midsummer in the fire as offering to the Gods and Goddess: We ask for these attributes and qualities ourselves as we commit this bundle to be transformed into sweet smoke. They are:
Laura: (holding the bundle) Basil, the witches herb for protection—Sage for longevity -- Lavender for happiness and peace—Lemon
balm for love and healing-- Mullein for courage-- Thyme for energy--Mint for wellness and health, Rosemary for mental powers-- and Fern for good luck.
Laura hands burns the herbs bundle to Stefanie who burns in the fire.
Lady Annabelle: Why do we dance the spiral dance? As the starry wheel spins, within which we take our place, our galaxy has spinning round it another spiral galaxy, wheeling and turning. And as we turn the wheel of the year, we stop at this beautiful point, the summer solstice, knowing we will join together to celebrate this sabbat once again. This mystery of the wheel of the year teaches us the knowledge of life eternal. That we enter into the Summerlands to be born again. For no one is forever lost, that the turning of the wheel will bring forth again. Here lies the deepest core of the wheel-- its very center, where we celebrate life and honor death, and turn to life again. And so, in the spirit of loss and love, and in the name of the beautiful circle of stars, let us turn the wheel.
III. First Spiral Dance
Lady Aleads a Spiral Dance starting in the center and moving outward.
All chant: Melina Leads: Mother I feel you under my feet. Mother I feel your heartbeat.
Down to the center!
IV. Crowning and Circling of the Oak King
Lady Annabelle:
We call forth the Oak King in his splendor and at his peak of manhood to join our circle. He is earthy, bright and lively, the Greenwood Lord. He is the soul of all things wild, and his voice can be heard in the windy treetops. He is the strength of the Oak, and the mystery of nature, untamed and free.
(Regis) Lady Annabelle crowns him in Oak leaves. Lady Aslowly leads Regisstarting in the north to each quarter point. At the Western quarter point, Jodi covers him with the sheet of black lace.
Lady Annabelle:
As sure as the Sun Lord must peak, so must he fall. . . .
V. Lament for the Oak King
All lament and weep the loss of the Oak King. Tammy and Sheri call a lament!
VI. Second Spiral Dance
Lady Annabelle leads a Spiral Dance starting on the outside and moving to center.
All chant: The river, she is flowing, flowing and growing, the river she is flowing down to the sea. Oh mother carry me, a child I will always be, oh Mother carry me, Down to the sea.
All down!
VII. Crowning of the Holly King
Lady Annabelle:
We now call forth the Holly King to rule from this Midsummer Day until Yule. He is the Wind Rider and the Stormbringer. He is the holder of the keys to the hidden realms. He is the Runemaster and the Wisdomkeeper. He is the Riddlemaker. He is Herne the hunter who is one with the hunted.
Lady Annabelle then crowns Tim in his vine and holly berry crown.
Lady Annabelle:
Rule on Lord of the Waning Year! You will teach us much!
VIII. Welcoming back the Oak King without Crown
Jodi removes the black veil and crown from the Oak King and welcomes him back into circle.
Lady A:The RIDDLE:
Green is gold (new leaves are gold art first)
Fire’s Wet (often candles floated on water for wishes)
Future’s Told (divination well-aspected)
Dragon’s Met (St. George slew the dragon at Midsummer in Mummer’s Play)
All Sing: Melina leads:
We all come from the Sun God
And to Him we shall return
Like a Ray of Sunshine,
Streaming in the summer sky
We all come from the Green Man
And to Him we shall return
Like and Acorn Green
Falling to the Forest Floor
We all come from the Hunter
And to Him we shall return
Like a dove on white wings
Flying to the evening’s rest
We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall Return
Like a drop of Rain
Flowing to the Ocean
VIX. Circle Opening
Dismiss the quarters.
Thank the God and Goddess.
Circle Opening Song
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