First Fruits Harvest Celebration and Ritual at Sweetwood Temenos 2008
Good Folk started showing up on Friday afternoon August 1st. It was a lovely sunny, warm and clear day. It was not only Lughnasad but also a new moon. We built a fire in the picnic shelter, enjoyed a light cooling breeze, and good conversation. The conversation covered the coming of 2012, world transformation and magic. The stars and the MilkyWay were very bright and beautiful this night.
Next morning was a beautiful and cool. A group of us decided to go to Viroqua to the Saturday farmers market. I bought a plant to plant in the Sweetwood Temenos sacred circle. After the market we went over to a perm-culture farm that makes organic raspberry pies. We bought two such pies for the ritual feast after the ritual. That afternoon the circle was mowed.
The day of the ritual was lazy and though the ritual was to start at 5:00 pm it started around 6:00 pm. and was sunny and pleasant. There were Echinacea blooming next to the altar and some late season day lilies and hostas were blooming around the circle. A fire of oak was built in the center of the circle to honor the season.
The altar was set and Delta and Iacchus (priestess and priest) blessed one another and the Gate Keepers with rose oil, incense and a blessing (may your head, heart and path always be in harmony). The Gate Keepers blessed likewise all those who entered the circle.
After all were in the circle and holding hands, Iacchus lead the good folk in a grounding breath and “AH” toning. From there Delta and Iacchus cast the circle. As they went around to the quarters addressing each with sound (singing bowl) and incense the butterflies danced around them.
An invocation of the Goddess and God was given and a mediation of being thankful for the forgiveness we may have experience in this life was offered. This mediation acknowledged the increasing dark at this time in the wheel of the Year.
The Priest then went to the altar and brought forth a pitcher of spring water (from a local spring). The pitcher was handed to each of the good folk who stood forth and spoke for one of the seven directions (Earth Water, Fire, Air, Descendents, Ancestors and Community). As each direction was spoken for, a water libation was poured.
Then the priest filled the Sweetwood Temenos Chalice with water so charged from the pitcher and passed it around and around and around until all had shared what they were thankful for in their life at the Season of the first fruits harvest. After this the good folk shared the water, by drinking from the Chalice as they passed it from person to person with the blessing “Water shared, is life shared, is love shared, Thou Art God/Goddess, Drink Deep and Never Thirst!”, which ended with the priest
The priest then in thankfulness to a memory of running around naked in the summer rain as a child, took the chalice and ran around the circle three times shouting “thank you”. The good folk clapped, danced and shouted with the priest, which ended with a great shout of thanks and one last libation to life.
After this the priestess and priest took down the circle walking widdershins and honoring the quarters. Hugs and kisses and good cheer was passed around the circle. All then feasted upon the good food and drink the good folk brought to share including two organic raspberry pies. Again the evening was starry with beautiful weather and good conversation into the night.
Never Thirst
Iacchus
Good Folk started showing up on Friday afternoon August 1st. It was a lovely sunny, warm and clear day. It was not only Lughnasad but also a new moon. We built a fire in the picnic shelter, enjoyed a light cooling breeze, and good conversation. The conversation covered the coming of 2012, world transformation and magic. The stars and the MilkyWay were very bright and beautiful this night.
Next morning was a beautiful and cool. A group of us decided to go to Viroqua to the Saturday farmers market. I bought a plant to plant in the Sweetwood Temenos sacred circle. After the market we went over to a perm-culture farm that makes organic raspberry pies. We bought two such pies for the ritual feast after the ritual. That afternoon the circle was mowed.
The day of the ritual was lazy and though the ritual was to start at 5:00 pm it started around 6:00 pm. and was sunny and pleasant. There were Echinacea blooming next to the altar and some late season day lilies and hostas were blooming around the circle. A fire of oak was built in the center of the circle to honor the season.
The altar was set and Delta and Iacchus (priestess and priest) blessed one another and the Gate Keepers with rose oil, incense and a blessing (may your head, heart and path always be in harmony). The Gate Keepers blessed likewise all those who entered the circle.
After all were in the circle and holding hands, Iacchus lead the good folk in a grounding breath and “AH” toning. From there Delta and Iacchus cast the circle. As they went around to the quarters addressing each with sound (singing bowl) and incense the butterflies danced around them.
An invocation of the Goddess and God was given and a mediation of being thankful for the forgiveness we may have experience in this life was offered. This mediation acknowledged the increasing dark at this time in the wheel of the Year.
The Priest then went to the altar and brought forth a pitcher of spring water (from a local spring). The pitcher was handed to each of the good folk who stood forth and spoke for one of the seven directions (Earth Water, Fire, Air, Descendents, Ancestors and Community). As each direction was spoken for, a water libation was poured.
Then the priest filled the Sweetwood Temenos Chalice with water so charged from the pitcher and passed it around and around and around until all had shared what they were thankful for in their life at the Season of the first fruits harvest. After this the good folk shared the water, by drinking from the Chalice as they passed it from person to person with the blessing “Water shared, is life shared, is love shared, Thou Art God/Goddess, Drink Deep and Never Thirst!”, which ended with the priest
The priest then in thankfulness to a memory of running around naked in the summer rain as a child, took the chalice and ran around the circle three times shouting “thank you”. The good folk clapped, danced and shouted with the priest, which ended with a great shout of thanks and one last libation to life.
After this the priestess and priest took down the circle walking widdershins and honoring the quarters. Hugs and kisses and good cheer was passed around the circle. All then feasted upon the good food and drink the good folk brought to share including two organic raspberry pies. Again the evening was starry with beautiful weather and good conversation into the night.
Never Thirst
Iacchus
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