<DIR>
Harvest Moon Ritual
Blessings & Welcome to Light & Shadows and the celebration of our Beautiful Harvest Moon in all its fullness bursting into the night sky.
Let's take a moment to prepare and ground as I help you in a short meditation.
I ask you all to take a deep breath and hold to the count of 4.
Now release as you gently blow through your mouth as if you are tickling a candle flame with your breath.
And again 1...2...3...4... - release 1...2...3...4...
See yourself in a meadow
And looking at the majestic sun.
It is bathing you with the light of our season
And you feel its power...the power of the Sun God is within its rays.
As you continue to breathe
You watch as the sun fades in the western skyline, and you bow to its reverence.
You turn to the east and see another brightness birthing over the horizen just behind the far mountain that is beyond the meadow.
As you take a deep breath the glory of the giant golden orb comes into view. The rising is so breathtaking that you just stand in awe..
You feel this light permeate your crown chakra and swirl around...Your head is reeling with the sensation. You know this is the Power of the Universe coming into you.
You notice that as it rises higher in the sky, its color changes from a deep gold to a silvery white.
As you concentrate on this wonderful light, it turns and now is going down your body...
You feel the power as it touches each part of you
You feel yourself beaming... and the energy is tingling within you.
You notice, now, that you have become part of the ripened meadow.You are part of the universe and feel the power of all....together you are One...
You feel your being reach far into the earth and reach it's center...
Here you know Love...You feel the touch of the heart of the Mother...
Now you are complete.
You feel the nourishing love of the mother...
And feel the ripening of yourself as your grow and return to the earth surface...
This brings you into full view with the Harvest Moon as it continues to permeate you from above.
As each part of you feels complete, you now pull yourself from mother earth and feel ripened and full...
Bursting with the ripeness of the harvest....
As you look around you feel completely grounded and at the center of your being.
We now relish in the feeling...as each of us have been touched and cradled by the Lord and Lady as the stirrings of this Harvest Moon shines deep inside our very souls.
</DIR> You breathe deep and count back from ten to one.
With each number, you feel more refreshed and well.
You reach number one and stretch and feel completely grounded, centered and ready as we now prepare our sacred space for this night.
~Ritual of the Harvest Moon~
Now let us continue as we create our night and the Circle of the blessed Harvest Moon in Her Fullness.
Walks deosil, making sure to keep herself inside the conscrated area, and begins casting the Circle
I cast this circle in perfect love and perfect trust.
Circles with her athame for the casting of the first turn
The walls of mystery now rise and create a barrier against all that would harm. We are in a Sacred Place between man and the Mighty Ones.
Circles a second time to cast protection.
From my heart of being I extend this flaming circle of power. Let no evil or discordant influence enter here nor abide within its boundary.
(I ask that you, my friends, now sprinkle a small pinch of the salt around your area as you sit at your computer.)
Circles a third time to seal the circle
Here in this place we are safe, loved, and amongst friends.
So Mote It Be!
(PAUSE)
As you look to the East , Visualize a roaring pillar of YELLOW rising toward the Fullness of the Moon.
Moves to the East, as she finishes lighting the yellow quarter candle, she raises her arms:
Hail to the Guardian of the Watchtower of the East and the Element of Air, We summon you!
Let your winds move through our minds and raise our hearts so that we may become one with the life around us.
Bring your caress to blow away old pain and release new hope. We are bound only by the limits of our imagination. Ward this circle with your presence tonight.
Hail and Welcome!
(PAUSE)
As you focus your eyes to the South, visualize a bright flaming column blazing RED in the night sky.
Moves to the South, lights the red quarter candle, then raises her arms:
Hail to the Guardian of the Watchtower of the South and the Element of fire, We call upon your powers
of fire & beseech the keepers of the white spirit to guide us.
Let the passion of your being flow through us, encourage us, renew our failing hopes and guard us now in our endeavors. We call to thee, join us this night.
Hail and Welcome!
(PAUSE)
You now turn to the West and visualize a wondrous funnel of whirling water rising high into the fading skyline.
Moves to the West, She Lights the blue Quarter candle as she raises her arms:
Hail to the Guardian of the Watchtower of the West and the Element of Water, keepers of water and place of the setting sun.
We call upon your aid this night to shelter our sacred wheel as we celebrate the fullness of our Mother. With your presence let us be renewed by the flowing waters and so be reborn in spirit, we call to thee, join us this night
Hail and Welcome!
(PAUSE)
As you face the North , you now visualize a Mountainous earthen piller of earth and plants of all kinds GREEN and full of the lushness of life.
moves to the North and bows as she lights the green Quaarter candle, then raises her arms:
Hail to the Guardian of the Watchtower of the North and the Element of Earth, Powers of Earth, we Summon you!
Bring us the wisdom of the ancient ones, the strength of the buffalo, the courage of the wolf that hunts in winter. Bless us with your presence this night.
Hail and Welcome!
(PAUSE)
moves to the Center, Focusing her attention to the altar in the Center of the Circle,
Lights the God and Goddess candles (all participants may now do the same)
(short pause)
...She raises her arms:
Hail to the Great Father, Lord of the Hunt and wild beasts. Great Horned Lord! You of the Wild Hunt! We ask you to be with us this night. It is your time, the time of the culling, of the harvest.
The time when we can no longer be nourished by the green growing things, and must thus be nourished by the four-legged and winged brothers and sisters
. We ask your blessings, as we enter Your season. May we nourish each other's spirits as you nourish our bodies. May we be mindful of those Spirits which give their lives that we might live to see spring. And may we be ever grateful.
Hail to the Great Mother, Lady of the Silver Moon above.
Lady, Dark and Bright, join us this night as we celebrate your full moon in its Pisces form and brings to light a celebration of commitment to the enlightenment of all sentient beings.
We ask that together, you, Deaest Lord & Lady of the full Blood Moon, join us this night to lend us your energies and lay witness to our worship and the magick raised!
Hail and Welcome!
(PAUSE)
Merry Meet, my precious family. We have gathered this night to celebrate the Mother in all her glory. Let us now hear her words:
***********************************************
Hear now the words of the Star Goddess! The dust of whose feet are the hosts of Heaven, whose body encircles the universe:
(Change Color)
"I who am the beauty of the green Earth, and the white Moon among the Stars, do call upon your souls...
Arise, and come unto Me.
For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed, and unto Me they must return...
Let My worship be in the heart that rejoiceth, for behold - all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.
Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you
And you, who seek to know Me, know that thy seeking and yearning will avail thee not, unless thou knowest this mystery: that, if that which you seek, you findest not within thee,
You will never find it without, for behold - I have been with thee from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."
(Change Color)
I ask that you say this as I quote it, ALOUD(not in type)...as words said in voice carry Power:
"Oh Mother Moon, represented now in the Wheel of the Year by this Full Harvest Moon,
You represent Life's energy.
that streams through my veins.
I celebrate the life force that supports me, my loved ones, and all beings as we move through life."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
<DIR> Welcome to all...This is the night of the Harvest Moon in its full power, when the energy is most magickal.
The Wheel of the Year is drawing to a close. We are now at Harvest time.
While the phrase "reap what you sow" may not have the physical sense that it held for our ancestors, it is still so very relevant to our lives today.
Most of us do not grow our food and build our homes by hand but we do sow the seeds for many other things - love, family, friendship, success - coupled with hate, anger, failure.
All that you have sown this year, you WILL harvest.
We take this time of the Harvest Moon to look back at the year just past and put our lives in perspective.
The coming winter is a time of introspection, rest and rebirth.
Do you have all you need to make it through the winter?
Are you holding on to too much, in fear of letting go and not letting the Goddess provide?
Look around you…is your home cluttered and stuffy? Does it feel stale or full of life?
Look inside you…does your mind feel cluttered? Your heart filled with sadness or joy?
Your body - healthy or cluttered with junk?
All of this is the result of your actions and choices.
Take a moment to reflect on all that has happened this year…good and bad.
This is the time to find balance in your life…light and dark, joy and sadness, work and rest.
In keeping with the idea of clearing clutter and preparing for winter…there is no spell to add to your mind here�?/P>
just take a full moment to focus on your candle…think about the colour you chose.
Inhale the scent of the oil that you chose.
Why did you choose these? What do you need to find balance in your life…And write them here as the words form.
I will wait as you write...
(PAUSE)
Take these thoughts and focus them�?/P>
Use them to clear, clean, and harvest what is good, let go of what is bad.
Prepare for the darkness of winter, celebrate the glowing light of autumn.
</DIR> This is your last burst of energy before the time of resting and introspection of winter. Use it well. =)
As you think of these things you have listed, project them into your candle.
Now, light your candle and look at the flame of your intent.
Take your parchment and write anything that comes to mind as the flame talks to you about your personal harvest.
This is YOUR time...When you are ready to continue state.... "and so it is."
(PAUSE)
Feel the Moon energies helping you to make plans for the coming inward time. Hum to yourself and start to build your cone of power...
Drum, Clap...turn on your music...whatever beat you wish but the time is now to build your power.
As you feel this primal energy emerge, deeply breathe in the energy as if it is building within your very being.
visualize all of your harvest being blessed and preparing to give you new enlightenment. You will build on this and through this harvest will emerge as the wonders of your growth.
You feel the satifaction building and know that you are growing higher and more intense
This is the power of your intent...Hold it within you.
You feel as you continue to drum, that you will burst with the powers that are building and you feel an extasy that is nearly complete.
Watch your flame as it dances to your continual beat.
Feel the energy!
know your intent!
SEE IT READY!! Breathe DEEP!
STOP!
EXHALE and release all that is within....
Now close your eyes and just relax..collapse in your extasy.
Take a moment to just enjoy the feeling...
This night you have done powerful magick and you will reap the rewards of your harvest throughout this moonphase. I hope you will share as you see things coming to pass and finsihing during this nest two weeks.
Center once more as we bid farwell to our invited guardian guests.
moves to the North, places her hands over her heart :
Guardians to the Element of Earth, I thank thee for thy presence and aid. As the seed grows within, so shall it without.
extinguishes the flame of the green quarter candle that marks the coming of the mighty Northern guardian...
Go if you must, harm none, but know you are welcome to stay.
Hail and Farewell!
watches the piller of earthen harvest turn and wither and so, moves to the West, places her hands over her heart:
Guardians to the Element of Water, I thank thee for thy presence and aid. With pure love within, so shall it be without
solemnly extinguishes the flame of the blue quarter candle that marks the station of the western guardian...
Go if you must, and harm none, but know, you are welcome to stay...
Hail and Farewell!
Sees the water spout turn to a soft rain and disappear moves to the South, places her hands over her heart:
Guardians to the Element of Fire, I thank thee for thy presence and aid. With burning light within, so shall it be seen without.
extinguishes the flame of the Red quarter candle that marks the firey attendance of the southern guardian...
Go if you must, and harm none, but know, you are welcome to stay...
Hail and Farewell!
witnesses the flaming column wither to a graying smoke and moves to the East, places her hands over her heart:
Guardians to the Element of Air, I thank thee for thy presence and aid. With the air of change blowing within, so shall it be without!
extinguishes the flame of the yellow quarter candle that marks the essence of the airy Eastern guardian...
Go if you must, and harm none, but know you are welcome to stay...
Hail and Farewell!
looks one last moment as the yellow piller fades to a mist cloud and blows away then turns and moves to the Center of the Circle and places her hands over her heart:
Great Father, Lord of the Beasts and growth, Thank-you for your blessing and love this night. You have sown the seed and so it shall grow...
You are welcome to stay but go if you must.
Hail and Farewell!
Great Mother, Lady of the Moon and life, Thank-you for Your blessing and love this night. You have nurtured the seed and it shall prosper.
Your Blessings are felt and we bid you farewell, Stay if You will, but go if You must...
Hail and Farewell!
gently extinguishes each deity candle as she bows in reverence...
Before I close the Circle, please ground and release any excess energy by bending to touch the ground with both hands, or whatever means feels right to you....
takes up her wine and mooncakes
I toast to each of you the toast of the Full Harvest Moon and ask that you drink and feast merrily for we are in celebration of your beginnings and discovering our endings. Blessings to you all!
As I close my hand, the Mists dissipate and the Moon beams shine upon us all. This circle is now open but never broken.
Merry we Meet and Merry We Part to Meet Merry again another day.
Blessed Be!]
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