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(by Fred McLaren Adams) Priestess: The charm is to be sung: The Festival of First Awakening. From within the womb of the Year’s longest night, The Holy Infant thrusts lustily. The Goddess awakens in gloom of numbed earth. As the Sun tuns North once more, Life jubilantly strikes its new spark from the naked elements. In the womb of Winter’s sleep stirs the solstice seed of the sun, She awakens… the Goddess awakens…. EVOE KORE – EVOE KORE EVOE POTNIA - EVOE POTNIA EVOE POTNIA"  Hera and Zeus (by Lady Svetlana) Priestess: "The far northern and southern regions of high mountainous realms of earth are mantled with glistening caps of snowy petals in the frigid expanses of our grandmother Gaia, while the liquid domains of Selene are glassed with ice crusts of frozen water. All is still, but in the distance a crackling sound is heard, commingled with pealing innuendoes of laughter. It is the receding jollity and subsiding merriment of grandfather Frost as He scatters His mighty herd of caribou. It is the silver sounding mirth of Snow Maiden as She heckles the formal attire and serious mien of the Emperor Penguin. The sun has set. In the north temperate zones, people gather solemnly in gothic splendour at the great megalithic edifices and sacred shrines of renown beauty, to await Hyperion after the longest night of the year. The wintry panorama of Ouvrania commences with a display of giant bonfires that shall act as beacons on hill tops to intensify the ‘Energia of the Leys’. These straight tracks were used by Shamankas, Megeias, and sorceresses of old to follow them 'straight on' as they left their bodies there unto the astral or spirit dimensions. The roads in Britain still have those markings, 'straight on, dead slow', for the souls of the dead also follow these lines when they go to the land of the Gods after death. It is a rare nocturnal delight for ideally the moon should be full and at her highest sweep by contrast to the close proximity of the sun to the horizon. We gather at the most northern point of the Califia – Thalalia Track – the glorious Punta Loba of Mother Rhea and Father Kronos to perform the invocation that shall light the skies for a brief, but memorable moment, and render visible the great divinities of the Yule season. For such is my revelation since my name, Zeus, means ‘to flame up’. The thunderous lightning previews the quiet lightning of Helios at daybreak. But now the people tremble in the dark from the chill of night and with anticipation of the triumvirate couples brightening for the clouds have obscured Selene from view. The priestess and priest perform a grand rite of world frames and as all Mystai send choruses of rapt voices echo and re-echo their energies along the straight track of Califia – Thalalia that starts from Punta Lobos and runs through Santa Luisa, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, and ends at Punta Banda, the skies suddenly open. We are transfixed as we behold Gaia and Uranos, Deities of earth’s extension into the far reaches of deep space that glitter before us in royal splendour. They infuse the geosphere with cosmic forces and recharge all of the landscape – lines of holy earth – the dragon paths, the underground and overgrounds, the ecotones and seres with sinusoidal streaming of the galactic sisterhood. The violet hues redden into marvellous magenta. The images transform into the divine splendour of mesocosmic proportions – Rhea of Tundra and Kronos of Taiga and their holy realm of the sacred planetary core as the fundament of the biosphere. Below the ground seeds comfortably tucked away, … sleep soundly till they stretch their roots in the primeval thaws of coldness. As Rhea and Kronos rekindle the fires on mountain peaks and high points, we are warmed at heart and overwhelmed by their gift of peak experiences. For an instant time stands still within as it shall without at the solstitial moment. Eternity briefly intrudes upon progression, endurance upon duration and we float in the now. Yet, we are the once and future beings. Here, now and then; now and forever. Abruptly dark clouds conceal this second epiphany, and the lightning clashes over and over again while thunderous roars follow like hounds, shadowing upon the heels of their mistress. It is in the midst of this tumultuous display, with a deluge of water blasting cliffs and palisades and with horrendous sweep of wind, twisting the already gnarled shapes of Monterey pine and cypress that Hera – Akraia and Zeus – Lykaios appear on their white wedding stone, the foundation of their Hieros Gamos. She wears a wreath of asterion, river of stars topped with a star sapphire while Zeus is crowned with topaz of conifer needles sprouting from rubies and garnets. Their scintillating white robes are enhanced by an opulent dark green brocade cape for Hera and a rich burgundy cloak for Zeus! They flash benedictions on the realm of human affairs. As in Ancient Times, tonight we shall celebrate the Hieros Gamos, the Sacred Marriage of Hera and Zeus. Many gamai shall be consummated in ritual unison along the ley lines and other sacred places so that our collective psychic powers for the alchemical transmutation of this planet to a chora of eternal delight are transfixed. Hurrah for Zeus! The vision of these divine hegemonies vanishes. For a time, we close our eyes and follow the Holy Pairs astrally to the Valley of Saturna." To be sung: Yet the high cliffs of Zeus strike a pose in eternity’s sunrise." Priestess: "Mystai, do close your eyes and follow the Gods from Punta Loba to Saturna Valley (* mention local peaks and plains here). The rain now reduces to gentle drops, while snow flakes are caressing the pink cheeks and red noses of our sibling celebrants in this glacier forged Ouvranian meadowland, the ancient U-su-ma-te of the Amerindians. Touch the hearts of your sisters, oh Mystai, as you fly past in eagle splendour. Great valley of the bears, we greet you astrally. After the passing of the Gods, there is much rejoicing in the Valley of the Queen and at Monte Rey Point. We raise our voices in a Hymn to Joy, celebrating the resanctification of the land – sky – love body of holy earth. EVOE THEOS AWEEIYA! A great feast shall follow and last till dawn when another ‘metonic cycle’ shall commence with the solar return. Long Live the Goddess – Given Gods !!!" Each person lines up and approaches one by one the priestess and priest. Priestess: "Listen to the cosmic attunement of the Gods. Hearken to the Music of the Spheres, since it is the auditory time of year." Crystal bowl is struck, or 3 chimes. Music: ‘Hymn to Joy’ from Beethoven’s 9th, ‘Finlandia’ from Sibelius, or the Finale of Anton Bruckner’s 7th Symphony. Adelpha goes and lies on bed with silver cove and snugs herself. Celebrants carrying candles form a procession to the Goddess’s Bed Chamber where Adelpha as Saturna lies sleeping covered in white over her head as with snow. Pine branches cover Her abdomen of swollen plenitude. They approach the figurehead of Ouvrania and Her star children. Before Her stands the Omphalos of Gaia. Celebrants: Chant: All: Atonally: Let Her awaken soon.” They sprinkle water on Her and add fir boughs. Priestess: "Sprinkle the waters of awakening on Her throbbing Omphalos to bring forth the Great Goddess for the Solstitial Impetus – Hail Rhea!!! She awakens, the Goddess awakens! EVOE KORE, KORE: EVOE POTNIA" Place candles on the tray by Saturna constellations. Priestess or Megeia: Can be the same or two different ladies. She sings: Oh give us peace, most Ancient One, of mountain top and geosphere." Adelpha: Adelpha of Goddess rings bells several times and says: Celebrants proceed back to the magic room toward the bust of Kronos next to the lit fire place. On the other side is a grail full of ice. The frozen water represents the powers of inimitable, indomitable nature of Jupiterian stone. Priestess: "Let each celebrant pick up a piece of ice or solidified water and liquefy it in the tempestuous fires of solicitation. The sacred fire consumes the hardened waters of Uranos and enlivens the pulse within the cavernous depths of our Mother – the Great Lady, Creatrix of the Heavens, And now to Despoinos; Hail to Thee Zeus, come Forest King Now celebrants stare into the fire and meditate about saving the remaining coniferous forests of Jupiter throughout the lands of his Grandmother, Gaia. Think of preserving all the animals of these biomes; deer, bear, caribou, fox, racoon, wolf etc. With the forest go the children of the wilderness. It is not for Homo Sapiens to destroy species but only to the Gods is it given the right to determine life or death. If vegetation and animal life disappear our extinction is sure to follow. Let the fire resurrect the spirit of all living beings. Priestess: "Stare, stare, and be enlightened. Look upon the waters of existence and be transformed." Music stops. Pagan Version of ‘Come Holy Night’ (by Lady Svetlana) Sung by good soprano voice. It is the night when the Goddess comes forth. Long lay the world in sweet anticipation Till She appeared and the world knew Her worth A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For and yonder lies a new glorious morn Rise from your knees, oh hear the Faerie voices, Behold your Queen, the night when She came forth Behold your Queen, the night that She appeared.” Celebrants beseated and face statuette of Black Goddess. Clanking of little cymbals. Ring Ting Shaw’s ‘Incantation to Rhea’ (by Lady Svetlana) Another Adelpha: "The deep heavens glow with your majestic presence, Ouvrania, Rhea, dark Sapphire Goddess of Stars. They glow, they glitter, they shine with brilliance, with wondrous lustre. Crystal orbs of Your all encompassing Mystery. We recline in tranquillity and meditate upon Your noble, peace-bringing nature. Oh, Great Mother of Cosmic Completion and Ultimate Consummation. Oh! Bring us peace, peace from Your divine ground, Saturna, Gaia, Rhea, Hera, Empress of Heaven, Ruler of Planets, Mother of the Gods, Goddess of Divine Attachment to the opposite sex. Gaia, Ruler of Earth, You are the Matrix of our lives, of all life, of our planet, of all planets. Help us in our yearning for transcendence, for lasting value, for wholeness. Let Your maternal benevolence soothe us in our moments of terror, in existential uncertainty, in confusion and anxiety. We pray to you, Grande Dame, Despoina, to bless our inner most being as we seek the eternal, as we search for the infinite. Mystic Mother Rhea, grant us the reassurance of immortality, of life ever lasting, now and forever. As Hestia, bring happiness to our hearths and understanding to our domestic relationships. May Your warming fire melt away our woes and sorrows. Also may You stimulate in us the desire to open our hearts and homes to guests. Let all remember what it is like to be hospitable. Hera, Lover of Zeus, magnificent Peacock Lady of Royal Blue, You are the Guardian of Stability, of all giving, never ceasing Love. Hera – Akraia of mountain ledge and alpine fell, we surpass all difficulties to reach You. Reveal Yourself! Let us behold Your Glory. As we sleigh through snow covered tundra in sleds drawn by Your dashing reindeer, giant bells sing from invisible steeples.” Ring gong gently. "Near the polar ice-caps white polar bear and emperor penguin hear the bass drum of Zeus echoing Your snowy Beauty in the wilderness. Thousand of harps vibrate ecstatically and their music rises to envelope the spheres. EVOE POTNIA Hail Mountain Mother Rhea." Incantation to Kronos (by Lady Svetlana) Priest: Beat gong: "“You, Great Emperor of Time and the river lead each hour to the brink of eternity. As the end approaches, You, oh timeless Kronos, reveal a new beginning. As Winter starts, release snow storms so earth may rest under the whole, peaceful mantle of Rhea, Your Beloved. Blizzards rage in the northern regions of taiga and cone forest in Your Honour, Great father of Duration and Endurance. The sturdy pine, the elegant fir, the stately cedar solemnly salute You. The wolf howls to please You. The deer runs in his pleasure to know You. The bear tumbles to make You laugh. Jagged cliffs and grandiose palisades bear witness to Your stately Power. Oh Mighty Jove, Ruler of turbulent skies and raging heavens, enter our minds. …Yet, You are also God of Order and Continuity. Your Wisdom empowers us to structure our lives in accordance with the path of the Goddess Given Gods. Reveal to us, oh Zeus, Brother and Consort of Hera, the poetic art-sciences of geomancy, geodesy, and geosophy, so we may build our lives by Your Sacred Measure. Help us, brilliant Jupiter build henges and ley-lines to ensoul the great landscapes of holy earth. The sorceress and shamanka shall fly magically on astral trips along these straight paths while others may walk along these tracks for spiritual transformation. Let Your Strength seep through our beings so we may fulfil our chosen destinies in Your Name. Zeus, Zeus, we call to Thee, magnanimous, forceful One, boom forth Your thunder. Illuminate the heavens with Your lightning. Uranus, Potnios, Isthmaius, shake decaying foundations of matter and spirit so a new grandeur arises and flies freely through luminous spaces surrounding our pearl-blue planet.” Drum again. "As the horns blow loudly in the dark at midnight, Your Glorious Presence resounds and reverberates throughout the murky forests. In the chilling cold we tremble for we know a God has come. EKKA” The Snow Maiden (by Lady Svetlana) Priestess: "When all is quiet again in the pre-dawning hours before sunrise the Snow Maiden’s frolicking stops abruptly as She notices the Yule fires smouldering in the distance. The glowing embers spark a yearning flame within Her. “Oh, for the sake of Love, even for a moment of such rapture”. She sighs in precognition of the thawing snows of Candlemas and Her own liquification when Her firm form will flow with the melting waters. Tears form on Her smooth crystal clear countenance. The chill of old frost sweeps the land again for the Winter has just begun. She freezes into shapely form and forgets Her momentary longing. Her tears lie as diamonds at Her moon-bright feet. All around Her little fir trees tremble as in a dream of early morn. The glowing coals of the celebrants have turned to cinders. The scattered group converges in the Eastern Quadrant of the Henge. It is time for the sun to rise on this longest night of the year. Priestess and priest have bidden the moon adieu and stand transfixed as the monumental cliffs around them. Carmelle, the place of the stone-bearing Goddess shall be one of the new most sacred centres of the dawning age of the Aquarian Maiden. As will U-su-ma-te, the Valley of the Bears (Yosemite) for the Great Mother Saturna EVOE KORE EVOE POTNIA – E,E-VO-EEE" Play softly ‘The Snow Maiden’ from Rimsky Korsakoff. All dance in criss cross fire pattern to the ‘Charm of Yule’. One by one each approaches and holds mistletoe above Her head; all kiss Her. Everyone in turn is kissed by all under the mistletoe.  Next Page * Last Page * Yule Index * All Festivals |