Earth Walker
April 20th, 2001, 04:47 PM
April 30
Theme: The maiden Goddess comes of age. Flora is
now in flower and trees, fruits, crops, and animals
are fertile. Our lady of May grants rebirth to the world.
The altar is wreathed in flowers. Women wear crowns
of bright blossoms. Branches of trees are held; the
cauldron is filled with good-smelling herbs. This is a
holy day sacred to Brigid, the fairy queen.
The circle is cast. All is purified, consecrated and
admitted; the corners of the universe are invoked.
High Priestess:
All ye assembled at my shrine
Mother darksome and divine
Mine is the scourge and mine the kiss.
Here I charge you in this sign.
She kisses the woman five times on the forehead,
eyes, lips, breasts, and genitals. The kiss is passed
around the circle from east to south to west to north.
(Optional if you are shy.)
High Priestess:
All ye assembled in my sight,
Bow before my spirit bright!
All bow. High Priestess:
Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess
The dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven,
She whose body encircles the universe:
I am the beauty of the green earth
And the white moon among the stars
And the mystery of the waters
And the desire of human hearts.
Call unto your soul: Arise and come unto me
Four I am the soul of nature who gives
Life to the universe.
From me all things proceed
And unto me all things must return.
Before my face, beloved of all,
Let your divine innermost self be enfolded
In the rapture of the infinite.
Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices
For behold, all acts of love and pleasure
Are my rituals.
And therefore let there be beauty and strength
Power and compassion, honor and pride
Mirth and reverence within you.
And you who think to seek for me
Know your seeking and yearning shall avail you
not
Unless you know the mystery:
That if that which you seek you find not within
you,
You will never find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the
beginning
And I am that which is attained at the end of
desire.
A period of silence is followed to contemplate the
Goddess's presence. When the time is right, all bless the
food and drink on the altar, and fill the chalice full.
The High Priestess offers proper libation by pouring some wine on the earth.
High Priestess:
Eternal sister of life, bless our year with wisdom
and understanding, replenish our energies,
remove all obstacles that separate sisters from
each other. So mote it be! Blessed be!
Each woman toasts the Goddess of May, Who stands
for flowering womanhood. It is unlucky to marry in this
month because She is still a maiden Goddess. But
dancing is very pleasing to Her, especially using the tree
branches that the women have brought.
Close the circle with thanks to the Goddess. Feast.
Party.
Queen of the May
I crown thee Queen of the May;
Put on thy cloak of green;
With every bush in bright array,
Appear as Heaven's Queen!
I crown thee Queen of the May;
Put on thy floral crown;
Inspire each song with joy and mirth
And banish every frown!
I crown thee Queen of the May;
Take up thy hawthorn stake
And pierce the lies of those who would
Our women's freedom take!
I crown thee Queen of the May;
Hold high thy ribboned pole;
Inspire the dance with earthly joys
And thrill each woman's soul!
I crown thee Queen of the May;
Gaze in the dew-pond still;
And as thou seest thy true love there
Do with her what thou will!
I crown thee Queen of the May;
When all is rightly seen
Each maiden fair assembled here
Appears as Heaven's Queen!
(Chris Carol)
:sunny: :sunny: :sunny:
Only my cat understands me. :D
Theme: The maiden Goddess comes of age. Flora is
now in flower and trees, fruits, crops, and animals
are fertile. Our lady of May grants rebirth to the world.
The altar is wreathed in flowers. Women wear crowns
of bright blossoms. Branches of trees are held; the
cauldron is filled with good-smelling herbs. This is a
holy day sacred to Brigid, the fairy queen.
The circle is cast. All is purified, consecrated and
admitted; the corners of the universe are invoked.
High Priestess:
All ye assembled at my shrine
Mother darksome and divine
Mine is the scourge and mine the kiss.
Here I charge you in this sign.
She kisses the woman five times on the forehead,
eyes, lips, breasts, and genitals. The kiss is passed
around the circle from east to south to west to north.
(Optional if you are shy.)
High Priestess:
All ye assembled in my sight,
Bow before my spirit bright!
All bow. High Priestess:
Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess
The dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven,
She whose body encircles the universe:
I am the beauty of the green earth
And the white moon among the stars
And the mystery of the waters
And the desire of human hearts.
Call unto your soul: Arise and come unto me
Four I am the soul of nature who gives
Life to the universe.
From me all things proceed
And unto me all things must return.
Before my face, beloved of all,
Let your divine innermost self be enfolded
In the rapture of the infinite.
Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices
For behold, all acts of love and pleasure
Are my rituals.
And therefore let there be beauty and strength
Power and compassion, honor and pride
Mirth and reverence within you.
And you who think to seek for me
Know your seeking and yearning shall avail you
not
Unless you know the mystery:
That if that which you seek you find not within
you,
You will never find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the
beginning
And I am that which is attained at the end of
desire.
A period of silence is followed to contemplate the
Goddess's presence. When the time is right, all bless the
food and drink on the altar, and fill the chalice full.
The High Priestess offers proper libation by pouring some wine on the earth.
High Priestess:
Eternal sister of life, bless our year with wisdom
and understanding, replenish our energies,
remove all obstacles that separate sisters from
each other. So mote it be! Blessed be!
Each woman toasts the Goddess of May, Who stands
for flowering womanhood. It is unlucky to marry in this
month because She is still a maiden Goddess. But
dancing is very pleasing to Her, especially using the tree
branches that the women have brought.
Close the circle with thanks to the Goddess. Feast.
Party.
Queen of the May
I crown thee Queen of the May;
Put on thy cloak of green;
With every bush in bright array,
Appear as Heaven's Queen!
I crown thee Queen of the May;
Put on thy floral crown;
Inspire each song with joy and mirth
And banish every frown!
I crown thee Queen of the May;
Take up thy hawthorn stake
And pierce the lies of those who would
Our women's freedom take!
I crown thee Queen of the May;
Hold high thy ribboned pole;
Inspire the dance with earthly joys
And thrill each woman's soul!
I crown thee Queen of the May;
Gaze in the dew-pond still;
And as thou seest thy true love there
Do with her what thou will!
I crown thee Queen of the May;
When all is rightly seen
Each maiden fair assembled here
Appears as Heaven's Queen!
(Chris Carol)
:sunny: :sunny: :sunny:
Only my cat understands me. :D