Summer Solstice 2003 arranged by ---Shining Spider- 2003 The astrology of today: Moon- waning The myth of the Summer Solstice This holiday is about coming into fullness, fertility, and fruition. The climax. The time on the wheel represents maturity, the stage of the mother. Flowers should be in full bloom, and fruit dropping from the vine. The element associated here is fire, the sun has just entered the sign of Cancer, and the moon is in the sign of Pisces I. Creating A Sacred Space A. Cleanse space B. Ground and Center C. Call Elements 1. call each element 2. together chant**: We honor the energy of the elements within us. We are earth. We are dark, we are heavy, we are substantial. We are grounded. We are water. We are fluid, we are clear, we are vital. We are renewed. We are fire. We are bright, we are hot, we are intense. We are passionate. We are air. We are light, we are movement, we are open. We are changed. D. Cast Circle II. Calling And Honoring the Divine A. To call the Goddess (Aspect Mother) Solstice Poem* I have slept for ten thousand years. Now I stretch and waken. They are calling, calling me, and my heart leaps to greet them. My forests my hair, the grasses my heavy eyelashes. They call me, and I waken. My body bedecked with a million flowers, And these many breasts of mine, the mountains joyfully rear their tips. I long to suckle my young. They are calling. They will know me! I want to embrace all the sad and lost. All the wrongs that have been done, to me and to my children, My hands shall doom them to death, and make them right I am the defender of every mother, as I am the defender of my holy self. Earth, Mother am I, the only one; life springs from me. I carry the seed of creation. And I awake! Together We Chant: Gaia, Carry Us Home B. To call the God (aspect Father) Solstice Poem** Since mid winter I have grown sunk in roots and reached branches to the sky. Each year I leave my seed weaving myself into her cycle. I am the that which grows because of her. I am that which fertilizes her. I mark time by my life, and death. Tonight I will fall. The outstretched arms of the sun will lessen, and night will take over my reign. Just as my strength shall wane. But as each fruit and grain is gathered seek out the seed and the knowledge that I will be born midwinter again. B. Myth: Saule (read to group what is in bold) Known variously as Saule, Saulé Motule, Saules Mate is the 'Sun' and 'Mother Sun' worshipped by the Baltic peoples. She presides over childbirth and cares for orphans, and is associated with spinning, weaving, laundering, and music. Saule is often depicted pouring light from a jug, for it is her golden sunrays that enabled all life on earth; she is also depicted riding her copper-wheeled golden (or fire-) chariot pulled by two white horses. One of her symbols is the wheel, which is an ancient European sun-symbol. The wheel represents not only the sun as it travels across the sky, but also its eight spokes symbolizes the eight sunrays. These 8 spokes can also perhaps be linked to the 8 holidays on the sacred wheel. Eggs and golden apples were also her accouterments, symbolizing her fertility powers, other symbols include golden apples, and flax. Saule is said to live in her castle (or farmstead) atop dausos, the 'heavenly mountain' ('dome of heaven') somewhere far to the east. From her palace Saule begins her daily ride across the day in her chariot. At the end of her daily journey she is met in the Baltic Sea at sunset by her sun-maiden daughter Vakar.. At night she (some say Perkunele, though she and Vakar are probably synonymous) guides the boat across the world sea, arriving back at the east at each dawn. The next morning Saule is back in her palace in the east refreshed and shining for another day's journey. There her daughter Ausrine, the rising Venus, readies her for another day's journey. Saule is normally considered the consort of the moon-god Meness. He is depicted as a young god with a coat of silver, gray, or similar color, or else one covered in stars. His crown is a wreath made of stars, and he carries a sword that evidences his role as a war-god. His chariot is pulled by a gray horse. As the illuminator of the night he protects of travelers and soldiers. By him she was mother of the Saules meitas ('sun-maidens') who were identified with the planets, the oldest being the Earth. Different myths give conflict between Menness and Saules to explain their opposition in the sky. One story had Meness lusting for and abducting Auseklis, the dawn-goddess personified by the rising Venus. The thunder-god Perkunas, being the keeper of moral order that he was, broke Meness' face with a thunderbolt. This explains the phases of the moon. An alternate theory says that Perkunas and Saule had a tryst from which she bore Auseklis. Since then, the broken-hearted Meness has hidden his face in shame from Saule. Saule's major festival is Kaledos, held at the winter solstice. At this time she is honored and propitiated in anticipation of her return in the spring and summer. Her other major festival is Ligo at the summer solstice. Saule also had a presence in the house where she was sometimes thought of as being represented in the family hearth. III. Pathwork A. Meaning of the Pentagram. The pentacle is one of the Mother Goddess’s emblems. The 5 points indicate the qualities that bring about manifestation. Within the tarot the pentacle represents the earth element: the material plane, the body, money, practical matters.. Ways of expressing these points or stages are: birth, initiation, consummation, repose, and death ; spirit, air, fire, earth water; new moon, waxing moon, full moon, waning moon, dark moon ; Aura, mind, action, body emotion; sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, the five points of the human form, the five fingers of your hand. B. Meditation* Close your eyes. Focus on the sound of your breath. With every inhalation sit taller filling your body with oxygen, and with every exhalation feel your muscles relax and your lungs empty. As you relax focus on your body. Fell the five points of your body: your head, your hands and feet warming with the power that they contain and exude. The feeling is warm, and comforting. Consider what each point represents to you and contemplate your manifestation of the pentagram. the reader pauses While you have focused on your body you have not noticed that you have been transported. Instead of sitting in circle, you are in a field. No matter which way you turn you see thick green grass dotted with wild flowers. The day is long, the sun has peaked and is just now starting it’s slow descent into the south. You decide to follow the sun. As you walk you realize that the meadow is really not as expansive as you thought. It ends suddenly at a cliff. You feel safe here, at this edge. The sun is still high in the sky, warming the top of your head, your hands and your bare feet are still kept cool by the ground and wet grass. Without straining your head you can see for miles. What interests you is the sky. There are birds soaring and large white clouds sliding across the expansive blue. Focus on a cloud, or several clouds. Watch the shapes that they make, and how they slide into each other and then break apart. Notice the symbols, the numbers of them. Appreciate their abstract or extremely literal nature. the reader pauses The sun is now sinking, and it is time to return home. Turn to the east fully remembering what the clouds have taught you, or what emotion they have left you with. As you walk back feel the sun on your head and hands and on your feet. Concentrate on the warmth that they hold, and they exude. Take comfort in that feeling. When you are ready, open your eyes. IV. Spellwork A. read by priestess standing in center circle: Continue to feel the power within the 5 points of your body. Stand up. Moving clockwise start to walk, or dance around the circle. Think about the wisdom emparted to you upon your journey. Think about what manifestations are taking place in your life…. Now think of nothing but motion… think of nothing but energy: All Chant*** She is luminous She is white She is shining Crowned with light He is bright He is rising He takes flight Continue the chant until energy peaks. As it peaks leap over the candles at the east and shout out where you would want the energy to go. Direct it to the ill, direct it to the earth direct it towards progression V. Thanking A. Share in food and story When the circle is complete, we go around the circle and tell our stories about last year's summer while we eat and drink some of last year's summer harvest. B. Thank the god/dess C. Thank the elements D. Break the space Incense recipes: Incense #2 1 part each Dried and Grated Lemon Rind Dried and Grated Orange Peel Dried Patchouli Leaves Myrrh 2 parts each Dried Rose Petals Dried Lavender Credits: Solstice Poem* by Z. Budapestv Solstice Poem ** by Laura Craig Mason Meditation * by Shining Spider/Laura Craig Mason Chant ** by Lee Lanning and Nett Hart Chant***- pg 206 of the spiral dance by Starhawk |