Midsummer 2007 Ritual
at Cedar Light Grove
A.D.F.
Baltimore, Maryland
by Jack Green
The Midsummer Rite at Cedar Light Grove focused on a very
specific purpose or prayer. We wished for the Faerie Folk to give and
strengthen the power of the seer in those who seek it. The Faerie Folk
were the stars of this ritual. They were the patrons for the
rite. All other deities and shining ones were called in a very
generic manner. Proper nouns weren't used. This is unusual for Cedar
Light Grove. Usually we are very specific as to the Gatekeeper, the
Earth Mother, and the Shining Ones. But in this specific ritual,
we called the various Old Ones, using descriptive words, adjectives,
superlatives, titles, rather than names.
The fire was lit, and the sacred waters poured. The altar was prepared, and the call of worship was chimed. We gathered in the front of the Grove to make procession. The procession itself was a bit unusual in that we often sing. This time chimes were given out and rung. The ringing would continue during the various change of events throughout the ritual. The gentle ringing of the chimes as we circled the sacred space and found our various places in the circle, was somewhat otherworldly, and mystical. It definitely created an atimosphere of the sacred other. Our senior druid led us in the Gathering Invocation which we almost always use at High Rites and other occassions. Its refrain is "We come to the Well, and the Fire, and the Tree." Anna stated the openning prayer, and Deirdre honored the Earth Mother. Again She was honored and invited using Her attributes rather than Her name. Caryn honored the Outsiders, carrying a cup of drink to placate those who should just temporarily leave us alone to our worship and faith. Those Outsiders were kind enough to oblige. Will did a brief meditation to center our thoughts in this holy spot of time and space. Any distractions could go and join those outsiders with their drink. As the congregants become centered and focused on spirit, they joined in the Grove chant, "Walk now with me, within our sacred grove". This too is a traditional chant that we use both at High Rites and in our weekly services. The Lore of the Season came next. It was done in choral format. Will played the role of Oberon. Caryn played Titriana. Jack played Puck. It came from the writings of William Shakespere in Midsummer Night's Dream. The idea in the short reading basically had to do with the seeing of reality, in such a way, that happiness and clarity of purpose can be found. The statement of purpose that was originally mentioned in Anna's prayer through prose was restated in poetry. "We ask the ones who we invite, help those who would recieve the sight." Renee then called the Gatekeeper in generic fashion as one who opens doors between worlds. Caryn honored the Well, Water, and Tree. The Sacred Gates were opened with the help of three druids and three sicles. The Kindred were welcomed to our sanctuary. Kat used a bit of Shakesperesque poetry to welcome the Nature Spirits. Jack used a bit of Jackesque poetry to honor the ancestors and welcome them. Finally, Renee spoke eloquently in welcoming the Shining Ones. Anna then stood center welcoming those Faerie Folk who were attending our rite. Offerings were given to Fire, Well, and Tree as each of these holy folk were welcomed. Once again, proper names were not used. Praise offerings were then made in honor of the Faerie Folk and of Midsummer Eve. Some of the offerings were serious, and some of the offerings were less than serious. But all were done in spirit of Midsummer and the Faeries. At one point we were singing, "Little Rabbit Foo Foo." The silliness did much to raise the energy, get people laughing, and most important, entertain the Wee Folk. Finally, the praise offerings were complete. The Time of the Return had arrived.
Will was reading the omen. No one really had any idea how he would go about doing this. Would he use runes or tarot or a natural omen? Kat had already shared that she would record in detail each High Rite's omen. This was part of her praise offering to the Sidhe. Will began prancing around the circle, staff in hand. He would stop periodically and ask the person he was nearest to, what word was on their mind. He would then prance on, rambling in coherent and incoherent manner about the word submitted. He did this again and again, picking one word after another from the somewhat confused and totally amused congregants. Kat was jotting down each word, as this bizarre and strange spectacle went on. Finally, after Will reached a certain number of words (that apparently had been prearranged by Kat and Will, in druidic consultation), Kat stopped him. She then took center stage, and read the message that the Faerie Folk had given. I was amazed and awed by the fact, that those random words, when put together made.....absolutely no sense. But then again, it is the Faerie Folk speaking. They don't have to make sense. Through careful analysis of the twisted and jagged prose created from this unorthodox omen, we did come to the conclusion that our offering had been accepted. We then sanctified and imbibed in the Waters of Life. Usually we use juice in one goblet, and meade or some other alcohol in other other. This time we used lemon scented water. It was just one more departure from the norm at Cedar Light. We accepted the Faeries' message. They would support our Seers' Guild as we seek to see more clearly signs and portents, visions and messages in this chaotic world around us. Jack did a final short rendition of Puck's soliliquy. It was then time to bring the rite to a close. The faerie and spririts were then whispered a gentle goodbye. The gates were closed. The ritual was over. We moved on to revels and food and fellowship.
In short reflection, it was a good rite. It differed in numerous ways from the norm. But Midsummer itself, at least the way we practice it, is always a bit different. My favorite part of the rite was the laughter. The silly praise offerings, the goofy omen, and the happy atmosphere were a bit like the tickling of faeries. A personal message of: don't take yourselves too seriously and if you want to see, just open your eyes. Sometimes we need the faerie folk to remind us of these most basic truths. And sometimes we just need to laugh. This Midsummer, we did laugh!
The fire was lit, and the sacred waters poured. The altar was prepared, and the call of worship was chimed. We gathered in the front of the Grove to make procession. The procession itself was a bit unusual in that we often sing. This time chimes were given out and rung. The ringing would continue during the various change of events throughout the ritual. The gentle ringing of the chimes as we circled the sacred space and found our various places in the circle, was somewhat otherworldly, and mystical. It definitely created an atimosphere of the sacred other. Our senior druid led us in the Gathering Invocation which we almost always use at High Rites and other occassions. Its refrain is "We come to the Well, and the Fire, and the Tree." Anna stated the openning prayer, and Deirdre honored the Earth Mother. Again She was honored and invited using Her attributes rather than Her name. Caryn honored the Outsiders, carrying a cup of drink to placate those who should just temporarily leave us alone to our worship and faith. Those Outsiders were kind enough to oblige. Will did a brief meditation to center our thoughts in this holy spot of time and space. Any distractions could go and join those outsiders with their drink. As the congregants become centered and focused on spirit, they joined in the Grove chant, "Walk now with me, within our sacred grove". This too is a traditional chant that we use both at High Rites and in our weekly services. The Lore of the Season came next. It was done in choral format. Will played the role of Oberon. Caryn played Titriana. Jack played Puck. It came from the writings of William Shakespere in Midsummer Night's Dream. The idea in the short reading basically had to do with the seeing of reality, in such a way, that happiness and clarity of purpose can be found. The statement of purpose that was originally mentioned in Anna's prayer through prose was restated in poetry. "We ask the ones who we invite, help those who would recieve the sight." Renee then called the Gatekeeper in generic fashion as one who opens doors between worlds. Caryn honored the Well, Water, and Tree. The Sacred Gates were opened with the help of three druids and three sicles. The Kindred were welcomed to our sanctuary. Kat used a bit of Shakesperesque poetry to welcome the Nature Spirits. Jack used a bit of Jackesque poetry to honor the ancestors and welcome them. Finally, Renee spoke eloquently in welcoming the Shining Ones. Anna then stood center welcoming those Faerie Folk who were attending our rite. Offerings were given to Fire, Well, and Tree as each of these holy folk were welcomed. Once again, proper names were not used. Praise offerings were then made in honor of the Faerie Folk and of Midsummer Eve. Some of the offerings were serious, and some of the offerings were less than serious. But all were done in spirit of Midsummer and the Faeries. At one point we were singing, "Little Rabbit Foo Foo." The silliness did much to raise the energy, get people laughing, and most important, entertain the Wee Folk. Finally, the praise offerings were complete. The Time of the Return had arrived.
Will was reading the omen. No one really had any idea how he would go about doing this. Would he use runes or tarot or a natural omen? Kat had already shared that she would record in detail each High Rite's omen. This was part of her praise offering to the Sidhe. Will began prancing around the circle, staff in hand. He would stop periodically and ask the person he was nearest to, what word was on their mind. He would then prance on, rambling in coherent and incoherent manner about the word submitted. He did this again and again, picking one word after another from the somewhat confused and totally amused congregants. Kat was jotting down each word, as this bizarre and strange spectacle went on. Finally, after Will reached a certain number of words (that apparently had been prearranged by Kat and Will, in druidic consultation), Kat stopped him. She then took center stage, and read the message that the Faerie Folk had given. I was amazed and awed by the fact, that those random words, when put together made.....absolutely no sense. But then again, it is the Faerie Folk speaking. They don't have to make sense. Through careful analysis of the twisted and jagged prose created from this unorthodox omen, we did come to the conclusion that our offering had been accepted. We then sanctified and imbibed in the Waters of Life. Usually we use juice in one goblet, and meade or some other alcohol in other other. This time we used lemon scented water. It was just one more departure from the norm at Cedar Light. We accepted the Faeries' message. They would support our Seers' Guild as we seek to see more clearly signs and portents, visions and messages in this chaotic world around us. Jack did a final short rendition of Puck's soliliquy. It was then time to bring the rite to a close. The faerie and spririts were then whispered a gentle goodbye. The gates were closed. The ritual was over. We moved on to revels and food and fellowship.
In short reflection, it was a good rite. It differed in numerous ways from the norm. But Midsummer itself, at least the way we practice it, is always a bit different. My favorite part of the rite was the laughter. The silly praise offerings, the goofy omen, and the happy atmosphere were a bit like the tickling of faeries. A personal message of: don't take yourselves too seriously and if you want to see, just open your eyes. Sometimes we need the faerie folk to remind us of these most basic truths. And sometimes we just need to laugh. This Midsummer, we did laugh!