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Summer Solstice Ritual



Could we all please form our circle.

‘We are gathered here this evening to celebrate the Summer Solstice, a many-layered festival, from which I would like to draw out the themes of the Goddess and her Consort, and the Oak and Holly Kings.’

The circle is cast

I would like everyone to be aware of the circle around them and to feel the unity that it brings. Could we all please join hands and be aware of the friendship within the circle as we give thanks to the Spirit of this Place for allowing us to be here this evening:

‘Spirit of Place, we ask for your protection and guidance whilst we are here. In return we bring our respect and gratitude and offer our healing thoughts in response to the devastation wrought here by quarrying.’

The quarters will now be called

Spirits of the East, element of Air, direction of the Dawn, of morning and new beginnings, we ask for your presence at our circle and blessings on our celebration. Could we all please close our eyes and spend a moment in thought about the air we breathe.

Spirits of the South, element of Fire, direction of mid-day, of the Sun at the height of his powers, we ask for your presence at our circle and blessings on our celebration. Could we all please close our eyes and spend a moment in thought about the life- giving power of the Sun.

Spirits of the West, element of Water, direction of sunset and evening, we ask for your presence at our circle and blessings on our celebration. Could we all please close our eyes and spend a moment in thought about the power of the oceans, the life-giving gift of rain.

Spirits of the North, element of Earth, direction of night, death and rest, we ask for your presence at our circle and blessings on our celebration. Could we all please close our eyes and spend a moment in thought about the Earth, high mountains, deep chasms, the life-giving soil. Feel the power flowing from the North.

Thank you for being here this evening, for gathering together to celebrate another point in the turning of the year, for keeping alive the Pagan Spirit by outwardly showing our acknowledgement of the passing of this festival. We are here celebrating the beauty of the Earth Goddess, whose body is “exuberantly fecund and sensuous, greeting her Sun God at the zenith of his powers.” (Sadly not my words!) We can picture her at this time as a beautiful young woman, the first signs of pregnancy just starting to show, serene, with the knowledge of motherhood that is to come, but at the moment revelling in the strength and vitality of her body. An equal match for the virility of her consort the God.

Some more words, which are not mine, but I feel to be very appropriate: “At midsummer the Goddess dances her magnificent Dance of Life, but even as she dances, she whispers to us ‘Everything flows, nothing is static’.”

To acknowledge that fact, we personify the two halves of the year in the forms of the Oak King and the Holly King and we will now witness the relinquishing of the crown of the Oak King and the crowning of the Holly King in his place, in the knowledge that at the corresponding turning of the year at the Winter Solstice, we shall see their roles reversed once more.

Could the Oak and Holly Kings please now step forward for the change over of the crown.

I would now like to share some wine around the circle and as we do so, hear any thoughts of those present as to what the Solstice means to them.

Thank you. We shall now close our circle, firstly by thanking the Spirits of the Quarters:

North: Spirits of the North, thank you for your presence, your protection and guidance. Hail and Farewell.

West: Spirits of the West, thank you for your presence, your protection and guidance. Hail and Farewell.

South: Spirits of the South, thank you for your presence, your protection and guidance. Hail and Farewell.

East: Spirits of the East, thank you for your presence, your protection and guidance. Hail and Farewell.

Thank you to the Spirit of this place. May the peace and friendship felt here this evening remain here and also in our hearts as we leave.

May the circle now be closed. (c) Freda