Freddie
small freddies
charcoal
incense herbs
incense dish
water dish
jug of water
salt dish
jar of salt
candle for East - yellow
candles for altar - yellow?
candle holders - 3
candles - white - 16
white bags
sand
water chalice
matches
bell
rag
string
compass
spear
drum
torch soaked in kerosene
athame
holly crown
oak crown
wheel wrapped in rags
index cards
pens
drums
big crystal ball
smudging container
smudging herbs
gravel
wing
Need a table in the center, covered with yellow cloth.
Outline circle with 16 candles, each in sand in a white bag. Elements, candle at East.
On altar: two candles, chalice of water, athame, crystal ball, bell, rag, matches, lighter,
ritual.
Near altar: Freddie, wheel wrapped in kerosene soaked rags, mounted on a pole and bolt so it'll
turn.
Two fires between center and East, soaked with kerosene for quick lighting. Torch outside East
gate.
Priestesses: Linda
Pat
Stacy
Susan
Dana
North: James
South: Fiel
East: Patrick
West: Craig
Torch-bearer: James
Drummer: Craig
Spear: Fiel
Smudgers: Stacy
Susan
Holly King: Gareth, dressed in red and gold
Oak King: Sfen, dressed in green and gold
Mystery Play Priest: Fiel
As the Priestess is speaking, the Oak King, who is hidden on the ground under a green cloth behind the fire, and already crowned, slowly rises up and turns around.
Priestess:
This is a festival of manifestation. All that has been planted within us
may grow and emerge in the summertime of our fulfillment. The sacred seed
we sowed at springtime has become a precious plant in flower among us.
Have Oak King behind the fire.
Priestess:
Behold the Oak King, who is the symbol of the energies of the waxing
side of the year. These energies are a manifestation of a gift from the Sun,
who is Sunna, as we know Her.
Oak King:
I was the seed lying dormant in the ground
I was the first grass blade that arose to kiss the early springtime sun
I was present in the budding leaf of the trees
In the fullness of flower I rejoiced in the Goddess's earth
I am the messenger of life, ecstatically dancing my joy in existence
I am fulfilled at this time and my season ends.
Priestess:
Yes, we stand at the door into the second half of the year.
The Holly King comes in. Introduce the Holly King.
Priestess:
This is the Holly King, who symbolizes those energies of the waning
side of the year, which come after the death of the Oak King.
Holly King:
You have reached your fullness - now is my time. I am the Holly King,
it is my time to rule.
Oak King:
I'm happy - I don't want to give this up. I am enjoying my rule.
Holly King:
All that has reached its fullness must now decline, thus it is with all
natural things - so you shall also die.
Holly King initiates a wrestling match with the Oak King, and proceeds to slay him. The Oak King falls to his knees.
Priestess:
The waning of the year begins; the Holly King continues the cycle and
slays his brother the Oak King, and he will manifest in the land until the depth
of winter, when his brother, the reborn Oak King, shall come again.
Priestess then crowns the Holly King.
Holly King shows fealty to Lady and Priest in kind.
Holly King:
The Sun must set
And its light fade,
In the scheme of all things
There is a place for decline,
A time for ending affairs,
For the closing of doors,
For the razing of cities,
And the breaking of monuments.
For how can there be new life,
Unless death makes clear the way
And removes that which is old and outworn?
Know well that ending is as necessary
In all things, as is beginning,
And that there must be death
That ye may in time become as Gods
And, in your Quest,
Gain life eternal!
Holly King turns to Priest:
Priest lights and turns the flaming wheel.
Priest:
This is the wheel of the year - it goes from fullness to decline.
Or: (The Wheel of the Year now moves from fullness to decline.)
Priestess:
Now on this, the longest day, light triumphs, and yet begins the decline
into dark. The waxing of the year is over, and the reign of the Oak King is
ended. So the Oak King dies to himself, and sets sail across the dark seas
of time, searching for the isle of light that is rebirth. As the wheel turns we
share his fate, for we have planted the seeds of our own changes, and to
grow we must accept even the passing of the sun.
The Priest fetches the scarf, and the Priestess and the Holly King blindfold the Oak King.
The Holly King takes the Priestess's place by the altar as she moves away. Athame in hand, she dances sunwise around the Oak King, while the Priest declaims the following poem, steadily and clearly, emphasizing the beat and maintaining the rhythm on a drum:
Priestess:
I am the Sun, I am the Moon, I am the Earth, I am the Lady. Within my
dance you live and die.
Priest:
Dance, Lady, dance - on the Oak King's tomb,
Where he lies half a year in thy quiet womb.
Dance, Lady, dance - at the Holly King's birth,
Who has slain his twin for the love of Earth.
Dance, Lady, dance - giving the Twin Kings power
And their touches of gold on field and flower.
Dance, Lady, dance - in the Flaming Wheel,
Where the Oak King rests, his wounds to heal.
Dance, Lady, dance - for the Holly King's reign,
Till his brother the Oak shall rise again.
Dance, Lady, dance - in the moonlit sky,
To the Threefold Name men know thee by.
The Priestess ends her dance by laying down her athame. She and the Holly King help the Oak King to rise.
Priest:
The spirit of the Oak King is gone from us, to rest in the summer-lands;
until, with the turning of the year, the season shall come when he will return
to manifest again.
Pause
Priest:
The spirit is gone; therefore, let this man who has symbolically stood
for this spirit be freed from his task.
Priest removes the blindfold, High Priestess removes the Oak crown. Oak King joins the audience.
Priestess:
It is now the time of the Holly King - with him comes the harvest, the
fruits of our labor. He brings the wisdom and insight that comes with
maturity.
Cover flaming wheel with cloth to put out.
James, Fiel and Patrick walk across with signs "The End ?".
Will you come to celebrate this ritual of joy with us?,
and smudge them as they enter. Move around clockwise, forming a circle, with participants breaking off and going to their places.
Men w/spear, torch and drum will go around circle on outside. Create sacred space. Come back inside, hand drum, spear, and torch to Priestesses. Priestesses will briefly hold drum, bang spear on hollow spot on rock, touch torch to Freddie, and give back to bearer.
Invoke the elements.
Priestess:
The circle is cast,
We are between the worlds,
Beyond the bounds of time,
Where night and day,
Birth and death,
Joy and sorrow,
Meet as one.
Priestess:
Dear Mother, we see you in the sun, the moon, and the earth. We
know you in our hearts. Bless and guide us in this celebration of light.
Priestesses:
For the rocks and stones, the bones of the land
For the soil
For the plants
For the animals
And for all of them that give of their spirit
For Your great glowing son who lights the day,
For Your life-giving birth waters that fill
For Your Gift of Life and Your blessing
For the men, who were made to help women
And for Your Gift of Pleasures
Great Earth Mother, ...Your children come together
Great Earth Mother, Original Ancestor and Creator of all Life,
Your children have come to show appreciation,
to thank You for all Your Gifts, great and small,
that give of their spirit to nourish the soil,
that gives of its spirit to nourish the soil,
that grow and give of their spirit to nourish the animals,
that give of their spirit to nourish the meat-eaters,
to feed and clothe and protect Your children,
and Your fair shining mate who guards the night,
the rivers and seas and rain down from the skies,
of women to bring forth life as You do,
to provide for the new life,
and whose spirit You take to help women create it,
that both men and women take in each other,
and that opens a woman so she can give birth,
Speakers at the four corners:
N: What is this night?
S: It is the night of the Midsummer Solstice.
E: What is the meaning of this night?
W: It is the peak of solar power.
N: What is the nature of this night?
S: Tonight the light reaches the limit of its power over darkness.
E: After this night of power, how then does the light proceed?
W: The light will wane and the darkness will grow.
N: How do we recognize ourselves on this night?
S: We greet the sun and glory in the light.
E: Who helps us?
W: Our Goddess helps us.
N: What is our Goddess?
S: She is the brilliant fire of heaven, the living heat, the world's golden noontides.
E: Who is our Goddess?
W: She is the Virgin of Light, the Crone of Darkness, the Mother of Time.
N: Where is our Goddess?
S: She is in our hearts in all seasons of the turning year. She surrounds us, she holds us, we live within her.
Pause
Priestess:
Would all join hands.
People in center join hands over the center, forming a spoked wheel. Begin moving.
Priestess: (while moving in wheel)
Our lives are movement; we move as the sun.
From youth to maturity we have come.
With the Lady we do flow,
in love and light, we ask to grow.
With the Lady we do flow,
in love and light, we ask to grow.
With the Lady we do flow,
in love and light, we ask to grow.
Then join circle, leading it in a spiral inwards, then out, slowly chanting:
With the Lady we do flow,
in love and light, we ask to grow."
As the chant finishes, go into the guided meditation.
Priestess:
Let us pause and reflect a moment.
This time speaks to us of courage and self-confidence; The Summer Solstice is an effective time to face your fears and recognize your problems, and overcome or resolve them. The energies now are straightforward and direct; so should we be in our dealings with ourselves.
Take a moment now and focus your thoughts on how you wish to direct these energies, and on the things you wish to achieve.
Pause
Now focus on these energies. We will begin to spin the circle, and when we end it, that's when we'll send our energies.
Priestess:
For these purposes of our growth and the health of Mother Earth, we
do direct our energies.
Priest:
Let the Midsummer fires shine forth!
Put small cauldrons on rock and light.
Start circle moving. Fast chant. Lead circle around a couple of times, then loop people through the two fires. Then continue to move around in circle.
Love and light - let it grow.
Love and light - let it grow.
Now Priestesses in center form wheel again.
Priestesses break apart, and clap hands.
Priestess:
Now send forth the energy! So Mote It Be!
Put water on Freddie.
Dismiss the elements.
Priestess:
As a family we have gathered to share with the elements, earth, water,
fire and air. From this circle of mystery we now depart to live our lives in our
Mother's heart. In service to Life we are as one. We now depart - the circle
is done.
The Priest leads people out of the circle through the East gate and towards the path to the big rock, lighting the torch as he goes. Others play drums. As we approach the big rock, someone will ignite the bonfire (have it set up w/kerosene). Gather around the bonfire.
Priest:
Of olden times our ancestors used ale to celebrate this season, since
it seemed to them the blood of that beneficence which brought them barley
bread. Let us share this symbol gladly in our company, with that same spirit.
(Fine up to this point, except Fiel didn't have his lines for the South speaker.)
People in center join hands over the center, forming a spoked wheel. Begin moving.
(Almost forgot our lines here.)
Priestess: (while moving in wheel)
Our lives are movement; we move as the sun.
From youth to maturity we have come.
With the Lady we do flow,
in love and light, we ask to grow.
With the Lady we do flow,
in love and light, we ask to grow.
With the Lady we do flow,
in love and light, we ask to grow.
Then join circle, leading it in a spiral inwards, slowly chanting:
With the Lady we do flow,
in love and light, we ask to grow."
(Everybody wound up around the altar table, after having kicked over both small cauldrons.)
As the chant finishes, go into the guided meditation.
Priestess:
Let us pause and reflect a moment.
This time speaks to us of courage and self-confidence; The Summer Solstice is an effective time to face your fears and recognize your problems, and overcome or resolve them. The energies now are straightforward and direct; so should we be in our dealings with ourselves.
Take a moment now and focus your thoughts on how you wish to direct these energies, and on the things you wish to achieve.
Pause
Now focus on these energies. We will begin to spin the circle, and when we end it, that's when we'll send our energies.
Priestess:
For these purposes of our growth and the health of Mother Earth, we
do direct our energies.
(We still had people close around the altar table, so Pat asked everyone to quietly fade back into the original circle.)
Form another wheel in center, then start circle moving. Fast chant.
Love and light - let it grow.
Love and light - let it grow.
Now Priestesses in center form circle.
Priestess:
Now send forth the energy! So Mote It Be!
Put water on Freddie. (Big fireball!)
(Didn't dismiss the elements, said "I don't think any of you have any doubt that this circle is grounded!")
Priestess:
As a family we have gathered to share with the elements, earth, water,
fire and air. From this circle of mystery we now depart to live our lives in our
Mother's heart. In service to Life we are as one. We now depart - the circle
is done.
(Told people to go party. Everybody staggered out, and we had people follow Patrick with the torch, and grab some candle bags on their way. Went to top of hill, drank and danced.)