For those of you that are attending please reply to me with any questions either on the Facebook site or email me at crimsonfox UNDERSCORE 21 AT yahoo DOT com.
Kassie and any local participants that want to go, will go at sunrise to retrieve water from a spring (Ricks Spring) for everyone to do ablutions in before entering the circles and will prepare the prepare the fire pits and circle at the ritual site before everyone gets there.
Items to bring:
your food assignment ( please let me know so we can coordinate effectively). Kassie can bring serving bowls and cutlery as needed and she will be cooking the main course.
Salad and fixins:
bread:
drinks (non alcoholic since it’s a school associated function):
desserts:
fruit:
paper cups and plates will also be needed:
Suggestions for the feast are fresh spring salads with dressings,fresh bread, fruit, leek and oatmeal soup, bread, cream pies and cookies.
The following items are optional…Kassie will bring extra Clooties, the oat cakes, eggs and flowers. If you can contribute please do.
an egg for each person
handful or barley(one person bring a bag of barley to share)
Green or pastel colored clothing to celebrate the marriage of the May Queen and Summer King, if you can
a brightly colored ribbon of cloth for clooties. ( Clooties are a prayer cloth tied to a tree in in offering to the spirits, a wish, and/or to cast off an unwanted trait)
A candle, white or pastel colored ( one that can stand on it’s own please)
oat cakes ( kassie will make these)
a personal offering. One or more of the following items, whatever you find appropriate…. tabacco, apples, oats, seeds, frankinscense, roses, sweet cakes or cookies, fruit, almonds, belladona, clover, hawthorn, ivy, marigold, meadowsweet, rowan, whiskey etc
a handful of dragon’s blood, crushed, for a fire throw (dragon’s blood is a resin that is found at most herb stores and it comes in big chucks that need to be ground. I know locally, Logan’s Earthly awakenings has some and so does Spellbound in SLC)
2 bunches of fresh flowers (either bought or collected to dress the altar with)
Ceremony:
Those who are playing parts of East, South, West, and North will stand in their respective positions. And all will take turns doing ablutions in the spring water of their face and hands and then gather at the opening in the east.
Kassie will open up the ceremony by lighting the fires in the west and say the following:
Kassie:
In the beginning gleaming fire was I
and protection was gave to me by the Spirits of our ancestors, Lady Brighid and Mighty Cuchallian.
And in protection, Strength
And in strength, Understanding
And in understanding, Knowledge
And in Knowledge, Knowledge of Justice
And in Knowledge of Justice, the Love of it
And in the Love of it, the Love of all Existence
And the Love of all Existence, the Love of Ourselves.
the Love of Brighid, Cuchallian and all Goodness in the worlds.
ALL MOVE to face the east
ALL SAY: MAY THERE BE PEACE IN THE EAST
the EAST:
female: We will go as wren in spring,
With sorrow and sighing on silent wing,
And we shall go in Our Ancestors names
Aye, til we come home again
male:Then we shall follow as falcon’s grey
And hunt thee cruelly for our prey
And we shall go in your good names
Aye, to fetch thee home again
ALL MOVE to face the south
ALL SAY: MAY THERE BE LOVE IN THE SOUTH
the SOUTH:
female:Then we will go as a mouse in May
In fields by night, in cellars by day,
And we shall go in Our Ancestor’s name
Aye, til we come home again
male: Then we shall follow as black tom’s cats,
And hunt thee through corn and vats,
And we shall go in your good names
Aye, to fetch thee home again
ALL MOVE to face the west
ALL SAY: MAY THERE BE HARMONY IN THE WEST
the WEST:
female:Then we shall go as an autumn hare,
With sorrow and sighing and mickle care
And we shall go in our Ancestors names
Aye, till we come home again
male: Then we shall follow as swift Grey hounds
And hunt thy tracks by leaps and bounds
And we shall go in your good names
Aye, to fetch thee home again
ALL MOVE to face the north
ALL SAY: MAY THERE BE TRUTH IN THE NORTH
the NORTH:
female: Then we shall go as winter trout
With sorrow and sighing and mickle doubt
And we shall go in Our Ancestors names
Aye, till we come home again
male: Then we shall follow as otter’s swift
And snare thee fast ere thou canst shift
And we shall go in your good names
Aye till we fetch thee home again
ALL MOVE to face center where the trough, flowers, altar and candles are laid.
Kassie talks about the season and it’s meaning.
Kassie then opens the trough for all to take their turn laying their offerings to the earth. Kassie will sing ” Thugamar fein an samhradh linn” ( we have brought the summer with us) in Gaelic All come forward in their own time and say, aloud or to themselves their blessings on the marriage of the may queen and summer king and their wish for the seasons gifts and light their candles from the Bel fire and set them around the altar. Remember these candles even extinguished carry the sacred flame home with you.
Kassie:
Come; let us go while we are in our prime,
And take the harmless folly of the time.
We shall grow old apace,
And die before we know our liberty.
Our life is short, and our days run
As fast away as does the sun;
And, as a vapor or a drop of rain
Once lost, can ne’er be found again
So when you or I are made A fable, song, or fleeting shade,
All love, all liking, all delight Lies drowned with us in endless night.
Then while time serves and we are but decaying
Come, my friends, come, let’s go a-Maying!
ALL SAY:
We Swear by peace, love, harmony and truth to stand In sacred memory of sacred flame and to love this life and all this land.
Kassie goes to each direction and says:
“We thank you fire.. wren and falcon in the east , mouse and cat in the south, hare and greyhound in the west…. trout and otter in the north for your guidance and attendance this day. May your presence be ever felt in our lives and your spirits always be free.
Thank you Brighid and Cuchulain, sweet goddess and god of my heart. You are most precious and most respected to all here today. May your presence be ever felt in our lives and your houses always be full with those that love you as much as I.
All exit West by throwing their dragon’s blood into the fire with the wish of a good summer and whatever else they need. They jump over or between the fire three times and after everyone has come over, we will prepare the feast.
