Summer Solstice 2005

Arranged by: Shining Spider- 2005
Date of holiday: June 21st
Date of ritual: June 18th
Astrology of Day: Waning moon in Scorpio

I. Creating A Sacred Space
A. Smudge Space
1. Pass around the chalice
2. Pass around the censer

B. Introductions (Names and truths)
1. Explanation of the Holiday:
Since the long night of the Winter Solstice the Sun has been shining more and more light into our lives. The pendulum of light and dark has fully swung in the favor of Day light and all of the things that come with it. Our fields and yards are full of grass, flowers and fruit. Suddenly you may find yourself with more energy, more ideas, and greater stamina. Our bodies need light, and while some of us are more delicate when it comes to sunburns, we should all reflect on bringing the sun and its presence at this time into our lives. 2. Each participant Introduces themselves.
C. Ground and Center

1.Group meditation (grounding and centering tree meditation)

D. Call Elements
1. East to North deosil

E. Create Space
Group meditation
Using the sound of our voices, we raise energy together to create a circle.

II. Calling And Honoring the Divine

Goddess
Participant reads:
Supple earth,
it is your bounty
that feeds us,
it is your bounty
that encourages us
it is your bounty
that propels us
to action.
Tonight
Earth Goddess
be with us in the scent of grass,
in the heart of our rhythms
and the intent of this
gathering
All Say:
Hail and welcome
Goddess Earth


B. God
Participant reads:
Bright God
who's vitality
warms our very core,
who's light
encourages seedlings,
who's energy
propels us to action.
Tonight
Sun God
be with us
in the warmth of
this room,
and the warmth
of each word shared,
and the intent of
this gathering.
All Say:
Hail and welcome
God of the Sun

C. To call Spirit
*group meditation/calling*

D. Honor those who came before (Ancestors)
*group meditation/calling*

E. Myth: Hermes
Area: Greece
Peoples: Grecians
Time Period: 'ancient Greece'


The current cultural image of the God Hermes is a wing'ed shoed messengar. Even in Greese their Postal service uses this image as an icon. Earlier though, before he earned this role of protector of merchants and travelers he was more of a primordial phallic god associated withIn fertility, luck, roads and borders. The root of the God Hermes name is the word herma, which referrs to a square or rectangular pillor of bronze or stone. In Athens busts of Hermes head (his bearded face on top of the pillar, and male genitals at the base) were often placed outside of homes for good luck. Herme's origin myths are rich with activity, slight of hand and cunning. It is easy to see how this god's roots were of productivity and perhaps a sense of ribauld humor. It is his sense of luck, and sheer schmoozy potential that we are choosing to honor tonight.
The god Zeus had been having an affair with a nymph named Maia, who soon became pregnant. She gave birth to Zeus' son in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Peloponnesus. As Maia slept her newborn son who she had so carefully wrapped in blankets escaped in search of adventure. Hermęs ran to Thessaly, where Apollo was grazing his cattle. Finding a moment where the cows were not being watched Hermes stole a number of them, hid them in a cave and covered their tracks. While in the cave with his prize, he found a tortoise. He killed the turtle, then removed it's insides leaving only the shell. Then he used the cow's intestines and the tortise shell to make the first lyre.
While Hermes was busy inventing, the god Apollo had noticed his cattle were gone, and went to Maia to complain. By the time he reached her cave Hermęs had already replaced himself in the blankets she had wrapped him in, so Maia refused to believe Apollo's claim. Zeus intervened and claimed to have seen the events, and siding with Apollo. Hermęs then began to play music on the lyre he had invented. Apollo, a god of music, fell in love with the instrument and offered to allow exchange the cattle for the lyre. Hence, Apollo became a master of the lyre.

III. Pathwork

Meditation


Realized or not we all have many talents, and unlimited possibilities, not just for productivity, but for creativity. Together we will meditate on the magical symbol that is the pentagram to further expand our power.
Close your eyes.
Calm your mind
As thoughts, or worries enter your mind, hold on to them, appreciate their value, and then
let go.
Feel yourself cool, calm, at peace.
As you sit in darkness you feel a warmth at your feet. Golden light wraps your feet, turning orange and then red. Your feet tingle with the warmth. Imagine all of the things your feet want to do: travel, dance, wander…. Let the light linger on your feet, enjoy the warm sensation.
The light at your feet fades, until you are surrounded by darkness again. Feel your mind settle, your temperature cool. You are calm again, at peace.
Slowly the same warm light wraps around your hands, warming them from wrist to each finger tip. Make fists of your hands and then release, feeling the contrast of the action. The yellow light turns orange and then red, coating your hands in a tingling and invigorating sensation. Imagine all of the things your hands want to do: draw, write, create, love… Let the light linger on your hands, enjoy the warm sensation.
The light at your hands fades, until you are surrounded by darkness again. Feel your mind settle, your temperature cool. You are calm again, at peace.
Slowly your head feels warm. There is a light wrapping around your eyes, the top of your head, the crown charka. As this happens the light at your hands, and at your feet returns. At each point of your body there is warmth, a tingling, a power being felt. Let your body feel that power, that energy, the potential that it is to be a living breathing pentagram.
Slowly, the light, and the warmth fade. They are not gone, but just less present. Feel your mind settle, your temperature cool. You are calm again, at peace.
Enjoy this state of nothingness.
Slowly, bring your awareness back into the room: the temperature, the smells, the sounds.
When you are ready, open your eyes.

IV. Spell-work - A. Raising Energy-
Lemon halves are passed around the circle, each participant takes 2.
A pitcher will be passed around, into the pitcher each participant squeezes their lemons saying:
'may the sourness
of the sun
open my eyes
to the light'
A second time the pitcher is passed around, into the pitcher each participant spoons in sugar saying:
'maythe sweetness
of the sun
open my heart
to the warmth'
Pass around the pitcher for the 3rd time, each person pours the person to the left a cup of lemonade saying:
May each
of your days
brim
with warm light
and sweet growth.
This is the blessing
of the sun god
to you.

V. Thanking
Share in -
--lemonade
and lemon cookies
Sharing of experience
B. Thank the god/dess
C. Thank the elements, thank spirit, and thank our ancestors
D. Break the space
Credits:
All writing by Shining Spider 2005