Kupala Meditation
Search for the Fire Fern
(about 7 minutes - you can lengthen it by adding more description to the walk through the forest.)

You may want to tape this meditation and play it back to yourself. Find a place where you will not be disturbed, take the phone off the hook if necessary. You should be in a comfortable position, preferably one in which you can keep your spine straight.

Close your eyes and relax. Let all of the muscles in your body relax. Pay attention to your breathing, be sure it is slow, deep and regular. Clear your mind and allow all stress and concern filter out of you. (You may use any relaxation techniques and/or any countdowns into alpha that you choose)

You find yourself in a dark, dark forest. It is nearing midnight. You can tell by the
position of the moon rising over the treetops. From behind, you can distantly hear the laughing and singing coming from around the Kupalo bonfires. The joy and comfort of the fires are not for you, though; for tonight, your only thoughts rest with finding the magickal fire fern. Night sounds surround you as you travel deeper into the forest, farther and farther away from the village. It is difficult to navigate here without a path, but as you walk further into the wild wood, you think of how you'll use your fire fern. For whoever finds the magickal flower may obtain anything that they desire.

You use the rough trunks of trees to steady yourself as you travel on, wading through foliage, scrambling over rocks. Feel the hardness of the stone and softness of the earth beneath your feet as you walk yet deeper into the dark wood. Eventually you come upon a small stream. You can see the moonlight jumping off the water and hear the stream gurgling over rocks and roots. You carefully cross the shallow stream in two or three steps and at once notice a startling difference. The forest on this side seems darker, more threatening. The noises of the night animals seem more frightening. "This is not a place for humans." you think to yourself, but you keep on, motivated by the fern that blossoms only once a year, on Summer Solstice at midnight. You look at the scarcely visible moon between the trees and know that it should be coming upon midnight at any minute.

You hear something crashing through the woods not far from where you are. You become aware of movement all around you, but you cannot see what creatures make the noises. Just as you begin to get really frightened you notice a small light, as if someone had struck a match a few yards ahead. The small light moves upward, slowly, in a straight line until it is about knee height, then it begins to grow larger and more brilliant. Hues of crimson, gold and the color of sunshine begin to dance within the light. It at once bursts open into a blossom of immeasurable beauty with petals dancing like flames. As you move toward it, the flower's glow begins to illuminate the trees and plants surrounding it, and you see also, what you had been warned about.

Horrible things with frightening eyes begin to take shape. They are here to keep you from the flower, and they know your fears. The hideous things grow in number and are joined by snakes, spiders, rats, whatever it is you fear they will use against you, to keep you from obtaining the fire fern. They begin to whisper things, things about your past, about your appearance, things to make you feel small and insecure. You do not listen though. You hold your breath and charge through the terrifying throng. As you reach the flower, you see that your worst fear lays upon it like a mist.(pause - count of 3) Gathering up all your courage, you plunge your hand through the mist and pluck the magickal flower. as you do, the demons shrink back into the darkness with a terrible hiss. The flower's light burns even more brightly in your hand. You feel it's power, it's light surging throughout your body. Take a minute to feel the energy and to create a clear image in your mind of what you most want to obtain at this part of your life.(pause - count of 20 or more) Now, holding that image, pull the energy of the flower into yourself and using yourself as a channel, send that energy outward to create the change. Release the energy fully, for magic does not work unless you let it go.

See the flower glow brightly in your hands, the lights it casts upon your palms. Know that you are safe and sound with the fire fern. Know that you carry with you now and always everything you need in order to make all of your wishes come true. Put it away,
somewhere on your person, and slowly return to the place where your journey started,
through the forests back to the edge. Now become aware of your surroundings. Slowly
wiggle your fingers and your toes, and when you are ready, open your eyes.

copyright 1998 - Ainsley Friedberg

 

 

Group Ritual

(This ritual is under construction)
Ritual should ideally be done in an area where a large campfire may be lit and people may go swimming. You will need:

a large life-sized poppet made of straw dressed in women's clothing
coffin shaped box or litter
Three libation plates
Offerings, preferably mead and bliny
Before the ritual everyone should have a chance to go for a swim. Water games may be played where people may douse each other with buckets of water. Be sure that all willing "dousees" wear something to denote that they are O.K. with this, like a blue ribbon pinned on their clothing or blue arm-band. The "Kupala" should be leaned against a tree and surrounded by food offerings.

At ritual time, all cookfires should be extiguished.

A fire lighting ceremony should occur. If you feel like being really traditional, the oldest male should start the fire by friction, while all the others wait in silent reverence.

Ritual area should be circled three times with torches which were lit by the central fire.

The Kupala doll should be tossed over the fire back and forth several times, but not burnt. Couples should then jump the fire while holding hands. If they do not lose hold, it is said that they will be married. Unattached persons may jump the fire with the Kupala.

The "Kupala" should be stripped of it's clothing and ornaments at the end of the ritual, then the straw should be torn apart and thrown in the water (or as much as is possible without actually littering.) Whatever remains should be carried around in the coffin or litter amidst much wailing. At this time, several men in woman's clothing should follow the coffin around crying and wailing and hamming it up as much as possible. It's supposed to be fun. If you choose, a woman may be dressed as a Catholic priest and a mock funeral may be performed. The body was traditionally censed with a mixture of dung and old shoes - but since no one will want to breathe that in, any foul smelling mixture may be used. Sulfur or asafoetida are great incenses to use when you want to really stink.

Everyone, upon leaving, should be encouraged to take some of the straw from the kupala for their gardens or house plants.