8.  Elemental Song/Lisa Thiel
Sacred Spirits of the mountains (Earth)
Ancient ones who reside here
We offer you our song of greeting
So that our way may be clear
 
Sacred Spirits of the forest (Sky)
Ancient Ones who reside here
We offer you our song of greeting
So that our way may be clear

Sacred Spirits of the waters (Sea)
Ancient Ones who reside here
We offer you our song of greeting
So that our way may be clear
Sacred Spirits all around us
Ancient Ones who reside here
We ask ye now for they blessing
As kindred in the One we are
As kindred in the One we are
As kindred in the One we are

9.  Bring Back the Light/Gypsy
Sing merry meet
Merry meet in good measure
Follow along as we join in the dance
Sing merry meet
Merry meet in the Circle
Follow along you can join in the song

Bring back the light
Light never ending
Through dark of night
This call we are sending
With all our might
Bring back the light
Bring back the light
Our hearts are open
On solstice night
We are invoking
The lord of life
Bring back the light
The light

Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Moon
Queen of the Horns and Queen of Fire
Lord of Life, Seed of Light
Flame that warms the coldest night

Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Moon
Queen of the Horns and Queen of Fire
Hearken to this witches rune
Work our will as we desire
Lord of Life, seed of Light
Flame that warms the coldest night
Bring to us the waxing light
Be with us on Solstice night
Bring back the light
Light is descending
To earth tonight
Light never ending
To earth tonight
Bring back the light

Sing merry meet
Merry meet in the circle
Follow along as we join in the dance
Sing merry meet as we meet in the circle
Follow along you can join in the song

10.  O Chi Mi na Morbhenna (Gaelic Traditional)

This song was composed by John Cameron (Ballachulish) in 1856. It has often been played at funerals, including John F. Kennedy’s in Arlington, Virginia in 1963.

This is one of the most haunting and emotionally evocative Gaelic songs. It is a traditional lament, and weuse it at Samhain. It calls the Ancestors quite effectively, in their own language, which some of you may have experienced. It reminds us of connection to them, to our Ancient homeland, and those things that are truly sacred to us: the land, family, the hearth, hospitality, our language, our people.

As Gaelic lyrical poetry, this piece is written in traditional bardic style, following certain rules of alliteration, assonance, consonance and rhyme.

 
Chorus:
O chi, chi mi na morbheanna
O chik chi mi na corrbheanna
O chi, chi mi na coireachan
Chi mi na sgoran fo cheo

Chi mi gun dail an t-naite ‘s d’rugadh mi
Cuirear orm failt’s a’chanain a thuigeas mi

Gheibh mi annaoidh gradh ‘n uair ruigeam

Nach reicinn air thunnaichean oir

Chi mi ann coilltean, chi mi ann doireachan
Chi mi ann maghan bana is toraiche
Chi mi na feid air lar nan coireachan

Falaicht’an trusgan de cheo

Beanntaichean arda is aillidh leacainnean
Sluagh ann an comhnuidh is coire cleachdainnean

‘S aotrom mo cheum a ‘leum g’am faicinn
Is fanaidh mi tacan le deoin

Mummers Dance
When in the springtime of the year
When the trees are crowned with leaves
When the ash and oak and the birch and the yew
Are dressed in ribbons fair.

When owls call the breathless moon
In the blue veil of the night
The shadows of the trees appear
Amidst the lantern light.

Chorus:
We’ve been rambling all the night
And some of this day
Now returning back again
We bring a garland gay.

Who go down to those shady groves
And summon the shadows there
And tie a ribbon on the sheltering arms
In the springtime of the year.

And so linked their hands and danced
Round in circles and rows
And so the journey of the night descends
When all the shades are gone.

A garland gay we bring you here
And at your door we stand
It is a sprout well budded out
The work of our Lord’s hand.

11. Welsh Lullaby

Hush, my dear one, sleep serenely
Now my lovely, slumber deep.
Mother rocks you, humming lowly
Close your eyes, now, go to sleep.

Gods they hover ever nearer,
Looking on your smiling face.
I will hold you close, enfold you
Close your eyes, now, go to sleep.

Lovely darling, I will guard you,
Keep you from all woe and harm.
Softly, gently, I will rock you,
Resting sweetly on my arm.

May you slumber e’er so softly
Dream of visions wondrous fair.
I will hold you close, enfold you
Close your eyes, now, go to sleep.

May you slumber e’er so softly,
Dream of visions wondrous fair.
I will hold you close, enfold you
Close your eyes, now, go to sleep.
Baby, go to sleep.

12. The River is Flowing

The river is flowing, flowing and growing
The river is flowing down to the sea.
River, carry me, your child I will always be,
Mother, carry me down to the sea.
   Diana Earthmission

Women in Spirituality 2004 Chants

Ancient Mother
 
Ancient Mother, I hear you calling
Ancient Mother, I hear your song
Ancient Mother, I share your laughter
Ancient Mother, I taste your tears
 
Goddess Chant
 
Freya, Kore, Hathor, Rhiannon,
Rhea, Maat, the Morrigan
Freya, Kore, Hathor, Rhiannon,
Rhea, Maat, the Morrigan
 
High, raising up the Goddess
Oh, fill my soul
High, raising up the spirit
Oh, make me whole
 
Freya, Kore, Hathor, Rhiannon,
Rhea, Maat, the Morrigan
Freya, Kore, Hathor, Rhiannon,
Rhea, Maat, the Morrigan
 
High, raising up the Goddess
Oh, fill my soul
High, raising up the spirit
Oh, make me whole
 
She is a woman crowned with a crescent
She is the mother of all that lives
She is the Earth that is spinning in starlight
She is the Goddess of all that is
 
High, raising up the Goddess
Oh, fill my soul
High, raising up the spirit
Oh, make me whole
 
I know a woman stirring a cauldron
She is the source of the heart's deep core
I love a maiden dancing in moonlight
She is the key to the ancient lore
 
High, raising up the Goddess
Oh, fill my soul
High, raising up the spirit
Oh, make me whole
 
Freya, Kore, Hathor, Rhiannon,
Rhea, Maat, the Morrigan
Freya, Kore, Hathor, Rhiannon
Rhea, Maat, the Morrigan
 
High, raising up the Goddess
Oh, fill my soul
High, raising up the spirit
Oh, make me whole
 
Freya, Kore, Hathor, Rhiannon,
Rhea, Maat, the Morrigan
Freya, Kore, Hathor, Rhiannon,
Rhea, Maat, the Morrigan
 
High, raising up the Goddess
Oh, fill my soul
High, raising up the spirit
Oh, make-me-whole
 
By the Earth
 
By the Earth that is Her Body,
By the Air that is Her Breath,
By the Fire that is Her Bright Spirit,
By  the Living Waters of Her Womb,
May the peace of the Goddess
Be forever in your heart
  The Circle is open
But unbroken
Merry Meet and Merry Part
 
And Merry Meet Again