Blessings are listed first. Below the blessings is a section for Calling in the Directions and opening and closing the circle.
Now you begin to spiral out from the dark seasons, turning, turning to the light.
I call in the Goddess Brighid, Goddess of the three-fold fire.
Fire in the forge that shapes and tempers-
Fire of the hearth that nourishes and heals-
Fire in the head that i incites and inspires.
It's Brighid's touch that melts the ice, and Brighid's breath that turns our land green.
We welcome you Brighid to our circle.
Fire in the forge that shapes and tempers-
Fire of the hearth that nourishes and heals-
Fire in the head that i incites and inspires.
It's Brighid's touch that melts the ice, and Brighid's breath that turns our land green.
We welcome you Brighid to our circle.
2016 Imbolc Blessing/Opening: We honor the return of the light. This day is sacred to Bridgid, the celtic Fire Goddess...
Prayer for the Great Family: "Gratitude to Mother Earth, sailing through night and day-and to her soil: rich, rare and sweet; In our minds so be it...Gratitude to Plants, the sun-facing, light-changing leaf and fine root-hairs; standing still through wind and rain; their dance is in the flowing spiral grain; In our minds so be it..."
Candlemas Invocation: This is a choral response. "What is this Night? / It is the night of Candlemas. / What is the meaning of this night? / It is the festival of new fire..."
Is there a correct sequence for opening the circle and calling in the Directions? I've looked at many sites that have varied the order (as have we over the years). As with everything you do in ritual, your intention should guide you. Anything you use on this site, can be changed to meet your needs. However, I did find the following guidelines if you choose to use them:
"Note that the South is the starting point of the Q’ero Wheel, (South, West, North, East), whereas in the Native American tradition the East is the beginning of the cycle (East, North, West, South)" (https://www.gaia.com/article/four-directions-ceremony)
We've added the following to our rituals:
"Note that the South is the starting point of the Q’ero Wheel, (South, West, North, East), whereas in the Native American tradition the East is the beginning of the cycle (East, North, West, South)" (https://www.gaia.com/article/four-directions-ceremony)
We've added the following to our rituals:
We begin by acknowledging that our celebration takes place on the ancestral and unceded land of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of the Maidu People. We pay our respects to elders both past and present, and to their stewarding of the land throughout the generations. We pledge ourselves to respect and honor the earth, our Mother, through our celebration.
(To open the circle:)
By the Earth that is her body, By the air that is her sweet breath, By the fire of her bright spirit, And the water of her living womb, Our circle is cast, and we are between the worlds. And what happens between the worlds changes the world. |
(And to close the circle…)
By the Earth that is her body, By the air that is her sweet breath, By the fire of her bright spirit, And the water of her living womb, Our circle is open and yet unbroken. May the peace of the goddess be forever in your heart. Merry meet and merry part And merry meet again. |
2017 Candlemas Ritual-Calling in the Directions: "I welcome the East and the goddess Athena. Guide us to follow our intuition and trust our inner wisdom. Give us the strength to take action without delay. We have access to all universal wisdom. We know what to do..."