Passing Circle 2017 CO1

Passing Circle, 2017

Altar Devotions

Sara Kali, Mother, woman, sister, queen, this altar is dedicated to you.  I am honored by your presence each day of my life.  Tonight I request your help – please watch over my Kumpania, protect my familia from any who would do them harm.  So Mote it Be.

Purify the Area

Dragons of the North, South, East & West – hear my call, attend to me!  Those who live on this property and dwell in this space – gather round, we have work to do.  Tomorrow will be time to play.  Set the wards, awaken the guards – I charge you with the protection of those who fill this space.  Let no harm come to them.  Circle round; reflect back without malice anything that comes with ill intent.  Allow entry only to those who come for our own greater good.  Allow only those energies that arrive in peace and good will.

Smudge & Anoint

By the powers of the Ancient Ones, in the names of those who have gone before; we welcome you, we honor you.

Unite energies

Welcome, and thank you all for joining us this evening.  One of the most difficult things for any of us to do is to say goodbye to a loved one.  Yet, sadly, it’s something that we all must do at some point in our lifetime. Tonight we honor those who have passed on before us.  As we go about our daily routines we often don’t realize how much our lives are touched by others around us.  Like tiny pieces of glass fitted together to create a lovely mosaic, we support each other and we complete each other.  When a beautiful piece is missing we all feel the pain.

Call Quarters

North:    In the darkness of the Midnight Hour, it is not the time to be afraid.  It’s the time to rest and reflect to gather strength knowing the sun will rise again.  Each day the Earth gifts us with the sustenance our bodies need to live.  Today the Earth accepts our precious gift of the ones we’ve loved to continue the cycle.  We honor and thank the Spirits of the North for their offerings and ask them to aid us this night so that peace may be found. Enter our circle and be blessed.

East:    As the new day begins, so our loved ones will soon begin their new journey.  Spirits of Air were there to gift them with their first breath of life.  Today the Spirits will be there to accept the gift of their final breath.  We honor and thank the Spirits of the East for their offerings and ask them to aid us this night to release our pain. Enter our circle and be blessed.

South:    In the intense brightness of the Noon Hour, it is the time to dance.  It’s the time celebrate and love, to understand the full value of a life released.  Each day Fire gifts us with the light and heat our bodies need to survive.  Today Fire will be there to accept the prized gift of the ones we’ve loved as they rise to the Summerlands.  We honor and thank the Spirits of the South for their offerings and ask them to aid us this night in our hearts desire. Enter our circle and be blessed.

West:    As the day ends, so our loved ones will leave us to begin their journey anew.  Spirits of Water were there to gift us with our first tears of life.  Today the Spirits will be there to accept the gift of our tears as we say goodbye to those we’ve held dear.  We honor and thank the Spirits of the West for their offerings and ask them to aid us this night to cherish old ties. Enter our circle and be blessed.

Cast Circle

Three times round this Circle’s bound. From the North and the East to the South and the West then back to the North again.  

The first is a Circle of Protection - as we ask our Lord to cast a protective eye upon all who dwell within these walls.

The second is a Circle of Hope - as we understand that all who pass through these doors will find hope in themselves and in their futures.

The third is a Circle of Love - as we know that our Lady shines the light of Her love upon all who gather here beneath this roof.

Three times round this Circle’s bound.  North, South, East and West from edge to edge this Circle is cast. So Mote It Be.

Poem – I Miss You Most

I miss you most upon each Samhain, when the boundary turns to sheer,

I wait until the veil is parted, at the ending of the year.

Sweet spirit, as you walk among us, at the tolling of this eve,

I see your face beyond the sunset, and hear your voice upon the breeze,

In the glowing of the candle, from the shadow on the wall,

I watch for you in every movement, and hear your footsteps in the hall.

Can you sit and spend the evening as the portals open wide?

Ancestral dead, I bid you welcome, most recent dead, I pray, abide.

When you come I sense your presence, I put my hand out in the air,

A moment, then, we stand united, palm-to-palm while waiting there.

I miss you most upon each Samhain, when the boundary turns to sheer,

Invocation

Father of healing; help us to believe in the place where wounds can heal.  Mother of weaving; show us that what has been torn can be mended.

Tonight we will call to our loved ones.  We will ask them to linger a moment.  May they hear our words this night.  Now is a time to celebrate their lives and recognize our sadness.  We understand that they are not lost to us, but rather will be a part of our lives in a different way now. 

Community Workings

Words not spoken to a loved one are often words regretted.  How many times have we said – I wish I had told them, I wish I had explained, I wish I could have made them understand??  Tonight we’re going to remember those who have passed over before us, take the chance to speak to them, to say the words that need to be spoken.  Tonight we will call their names, and if they still linger near we’ll ask them to join us for a moment.  This is a safe secure space for us to communicate with those we’ve held dear to our hearts.  There is no harm, only those things meant for our own greater good.  This is not an easy thing for any of us, but your loved ones are here to listen, and you have everyone’s support.

Cakes and Ale

The bond that links a true family is seldom one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.  Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.  Tonight we share with members of our family, our friends, and we ask our Lord and Lady to bless each of us, to continue to walk beside us as we move throughout our daily lives.  All that we do is in service and in honor to the God and Goddess.  May we never hunger - May we never thirst.  So Mote It Be!

Thank Spirit

Father of Light, shine your glorious brilliance to guide our dearly departed on their way.  Great Father, we thank You for Your presence and for bearing witness to this Rite. We will remember You when we see Your Spirit shining in the midday sky and in the shadows of the dancing flames. We bid You Hail and Farewell.

Mother of Darkness, in your warm arms of night may you rock them gently to sleep.  Great Mother, we thank You for Your presence and for bearing witness to this Rite. When we gaze into the midnight sky or feel the warm winds upon our faces, we will remember You. We bid You Hail and Farewell.

Journey on now our dearly departed; we will follow when we can.  May you be born again at the same time and in the same place as those you knew and loved in this life.  May you know them again, and love them again.  Merry Part, Blessed Be, and may we Merry Meet Again. As we remember those who have passed, speak their names, invite them to depart in peace and remember to bless and honor them in your daily thoughts.

Release Quarters

Tonight, we honor and thank the Spirits of the Four Quarters. We are grateful for your presence here this night.  Dragons of the North, South, East & West – hear my call, attend to me!  I release you from your work this night.  Let loose the wards, allow the guards to return to their rest.  We bid you well as you depart, may there be peace between us.  May you always Blessed Be.

Open Circle

The Triple Circle around this place stands, strengthened by our Ritual here tonight.  This will remain an open Circle, never broken; a welcoming haven to all who visit; a place of peace and rest for the Dragons who reside on the surrounding lands.  We invite you all to stay if you will, leave if you must, but know that you are always welcome here in this space.  May those who guide us with their light, protect us in the dark and walk beside us on the roads traveled - this Circle is open but unbroken, merry meet, merry part and may we merry meet again!