Altar Devotions
(light all the candles on
the Altar except the God and Goddess Candles)
By
the powers of the Ancient Ones, in the names of all who have gone before. We remember thee, we honor thee.
Purify the Area
(Your choice-use what you
need from the altar. Walk
counter-clockwise around the outside of the circle)
Cast Circle
Three
times round, this Circle’s bound, With
wings of light, beauty and sight Brilliant
Seraphim, Mighty Cherubim, the
Stable Thrones of the first sphere.
Three
times round, this Circle’s bound, With
wings of authority, life and spirit Dominions
of Leadership, Powers of Protection, the
Miraculous Virtues of the second sphere
Three
times round, this Circle’s bound, With
wings of justice, delight and friendship
Righteous
Principalities, Glorious Archangels, the
Guardian Angels of the third sphere
Created
on the wings of the Angels. This Circle
is now cast. We
are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time. Where
night and day, birth and death ,Joy
and sorrow, all meet as one.
Call Quarters
NORTH: We
look forward to the winter season. The season of rest and rejuvenation. We call
upon your presence here tonight to remind us to take a moment and find the
inner sanctuary where the seeds of life and inspiration await the spring.
EAST: We
know that spring will come. The season of new life and the unfolding of
mysteries. We call upon your presence here tonight to remind us that everyday
brings a new thought or idea into our lives.
SOUTH: Summer
shall arrive. The season of warmth and prosperity. We call upon your presence
here tonight to remind us that prosperity lies within all our lives through our
friends, family and foes.
WEST: Autumn
has now passed. The season of harvest and family. We call upon your presence
here tonight to remind us of our family and friends. To bask in the love and
companionship of those around us.
Anoint
(Use oil to anoint the group
- walk the inside of the circle to anoint and welcome each person in whatever
fashion feels comfortable)
Unite energies
(Start the Round Robin,
introduce yourself, give a little information and encourage the others to do
the same - starting with the person to your left.)
Invocation
Male: Father Sky, Lord of the beasts, and Protector of the
Light, be with us now
HP: I
am already here…in your shadow on the
ground, and the whisper on the wind. I am here in the sunlight on your hair, and the soft
sounds of a gentle rain.
I have always been here for
you.
Female: Mother Earth, Lady of the Grain, and Source of the
Light, be with us now
HPS: I am already here…in the beating of your
heart, and the innocence of a child’s smile, I am here in the light of your Lover’s eyes, and the
understanding of a true friend.
I have always been here for
you
Perform the Work
Raise Power
(Raise Power any way you
wish, use something that will include the whole group. Try something new or different if you like.)
Rite Of Thanks
Golden
Lord, Silver Lady
What
no human ear could hear, you heard.
What
no human eye could see, you saw.
What
no human heart could bear, you transformed.
What
no human hand could do, you did.
What
no human power could change, you’ve changed.
Goddess
of love, God of protection. You
through whom all power flows;
Source
of all; Accept
these humble tokens of thanks
From
a these Solitary Witches, Who
have spoken, And
who have been heard
Cakes and Ale
Nuts
and Berries, Roots and Leaves, Bounty born of all that lives,
Fruit in trees and grain in sheaves, Praise for all the good Earth gives.
Release Quarters
WEST: Autumn
has passed. The season of harvest and
family. We thank you for your presence
here tonight, reminding us of family and friends. We shall continue to bask in their love and
companionship though-out the upcoming year. Fare thee well and safe return,
know that you are always welcome here.
SOUTH: Summer
shall arrive. The season of warmth and
prosperity. We thank you for your
presence here tonight, reminding us of the prosperity within our friends,
family and foes. Fare thee well and safe
return, know that you are always welcome here.
EAST: We
know that spring will come. the season
of new life and the unfolding of mysteries.
We thank you for your presence here tonight, reminding us that everyday
provides a new thought or idea with our lives.
Fare thee well and safe return, know that you are always welcome here.
NORTH: We
look forward to the winter season. The
season of rest and rejuvenation. We
thank you for your presence here tonight, reminding us to take a moment to find
the inner sanctuary where the seeds of life and inspiration await spring. Fare thee well and safe return, know that you
are always welcome here.
Open Circle
We
open now this Sacred Space, and
send all energies back to place
This
Circle is open, but never broken.
Merry
Meet, Merry Part and Merry shall we Meet again!!
The Yule Fairies - A Winter Solstice Story
A group of little Fairies huddled in their home deep under the roots of a giant
oak tree. They were safe and snug in
their tiny underground cave lined with dandelion fluff, bird feathers, and
dried moss. Outside, the wind blew cold
and the snow fell softly down to cover the ground. "I saw the Sun King today," the
fairy named Rose said as she pulled her mossy cloak tighter about her. "He looked so old and tired as he walked
off through the forest. What is wrong with
him?” “The great oak said he's
dying" answered Daffodil. “Dying?
Oh, what will we do now?" Little Meadow Grass started to cry. "If the sun King dies, our little plant
friends will not grow. The Birds will
not come and sing again. Everything will
be winter for ever!" Lilac,
Dandelion and Elder Blossom tried to comfort their friend, but they were all
very sad. As they huddled together,
there was a knock on the tiny door.
"Open up, Fairies," called out a loud voice. "Why are you hiding instead of joining
us in our Solstice celebration?" Rose opened the door and the little gnome
Brown Knobby pushed inside, shaking the glistening snowflakes off his brown
coat and hat. "We are too sad to celebrate," Daffodil said wiping her eyes. "The Sun King is dying, haven't you
heard?" "He is dead you silly Fairies." Brown Knobby's round
dark eyes sparkled with laughter.
"Now hurry, or we'll be late for the celebration!" "How can you be happy and laughing?!" Elder Blossom stamped her
little foot and frowned at the gnome.
"If the Sun King IS dead, it will be winter always. We will never see the Sun again!"
"Silly little child-Fairies." Brown Knobby grabbed Dandelion by the
hand and pulled her to her feet.
"There is a secret to the Winter Solstice. Don't you want to know what it is?" The
Fairies looked at him in surprise.
"Secret?" they all said.
"What secret? We are only new little Fairies, you silly gnome. We've never been to a Solstice celebration
before." "Come and see. Come
and see. Get your capes and come with
me." Brown Knobby danced and jigged around the room. "Hurry, Hurry, don't be slow! To the
sacred oak grove through the snow!"
He danced out of the door and disappeared. "What did that gnome mean?" Rose
asked as she gathered up her cloak of dried rose petals held together with
cobwebs and lined with goose down.
"I don't know, but the Lady lives in the Sacred Grove." Meadow
Grass pulled on her hat. "Perhaps
if we go to see the Goddess, She can explain what Brown Knobby was talking
about.” The Fairies left their snug
little home and trudged off through the snow toward the sacred oak grove. The forest was dark with only the light of
the Moon shining down through the thick fir branches and bare limbs of maple
and hawthorn. It was very difficult for
them to get through the snow because they were very, very small. As they waded through the wet snow and
shivered in the cold wind, they met a fox.
"Where are you going, Fairies?" the fox asked. "To the Sacred Grove," they
answered, they were cold and shivering.
"Climb on my back and I will take you there swiftly." The fox
knelt down so the Fairies could climb up.
Then he raced off through the dark.
"Listen!" Lilac said as they neared the grove of sacred
trees. "Someone is singing happy
songs. A LOT of someone’s." The
beautiful music carried over the cold, still, moonlit air. It was the most beautiful music the Fairies
had ever heard. The fox carried the
Fairies right to the edge of the stone altar in the center of the grove, then
knelt down. "Look!" said Elder
Blossom as they slid to the snow covered ground. "There is the Maiden and the Mother and
the OLD Wise One, And many other Little People." "They are all
smiling and happy," said Lilac as she looked around at all the
creatures. "All the animals are
here too," whispered Dandelion.
"Why are they all looking at the Mother?" The Fairies moved
closer to the three Ladies seated on the altar stone. The Mother held a bundle close in Her arms,
smiling down at it. The Maiden reached
down and took the Fairies gently in her hands.
She held them close to the Mother so they could see what She held. "A Baby!" the Fairies cried. " A new little Baby! Look how he
glows!" "He is the newborn Sun King," said the Maiden
smiling. “But Brown Knobby and the old
oak tree said the Sun King was dead," the Fairies answered her. "How can this little baby be the Sun
King?" "That is the secret of the Winter Solstice." The Old Wise
One touched the baby's cheek with her wrinkled hand. "Every year the Sun King must come to
the Sacred Grove during the darkest days of winter where he dies. I take his spirit to the Mother who gives him
new life again. This is the way for all
creatures, not just the Sun King." " You mean everything lives and
dies and lives again?” The Fairies
looked down in wonder at the baby Sun King, nestled in the arms of the
Mother. "Yes Little Ones,"
answered the Old Wise One. "There
is never an end to life. This is the
great mystical secret of the Winter Solstice." The Fairies laughed because
they were so happy. "I think the
little Sun King should have gifts," said Rose. "I will show him where the wild roses
bloom in the early summer." "And, I will teach him to call the birds
and listen to the songs of the wind," exclaimed Dandelion. "When he is older and stronger, "
said the Mother, "then the flowers will bloom at his touch, the birds will
return to sing their songs, and the air will be warm from his breath, and
winter will be gone for a time. Then the
Sun King will run and play with you in the forest." The little Fairies
sang to the Baby Sun King, songs of the coming spring, the sweet smelling
flowers, the bumbling bees, and all the secrets of the forest. And all the creatures within the Sacred Grove
sang with them. Then the fox took them
back to their snug home under the roots of the giant oak tree where they
dreamed wonderful dreams, waiting for the warmth of spring and the fun they
would have with the little Sun King.
Welcome to the CircleOfOne Archives
Go Mbeannaigh (Gaelic, Ireland - Blessed Be)
Beannaichte Be (Gaelic, Scotland - Blessed Be)
Sonqongi Apukuna Wak'aychasunkiku
(Quechua, Peru - May the Heart of the Mountain bless you)
Xut Kala Xetl (Tlingit, Alaska - Blessed Be)
Seja Abençoado (Portuguese, Portugal - Blessed Be)
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