Autumn Equinox: Sunday 23rd September 2018

Many of us experience a sense of awe at the natural world, and want to mark our connectedness with nature, and express our thanks for its sustaining goodness. Particular points in the turning year may also be understood as corresponding with different stages of our lives - which may help us to make some sense of our life experiences, and to go onwards more cheerfully and trustingly. This ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate the Autumn Equinox, traditionally celebrated around the third week of September. The exact date can vary slightly from year to year.

The Autumn Equinox is a festival of the sun, marking a time of equality of day and night before darkness begins to increase. It is a time to hail both the plough and the scythe, and the blessings not only of planting, growth, and harvesting, but also of decay, which is a necessary part of the cycle of life. As the second of the harvest festivals, celebrating especially the harvest of fruits, it reminds us too that all the resources that everyone and everything needs have already been provided – and many of them sadly squandered or hoarded. We need to right this wrong before it is too late.

The short responsive liturgy, below, is appropriate for use by any group of people, especially before sharing a meal together, but can be adapted for private solo use. You will need enough small candles/night lights, pine cones, and apples, for each person present, matches to light the candles, and knives to cut the apples. Please exercise common sense when lighting candles, and ensure there is no risk of fire. Everyone is invited to join in saying the responsive words in bold type. There may be one leader to say the biddings, or you can take it in turns, round the circle.

The liturgies, celebrations, ceremonies, prayers, and reflections offered on this blog are the result of my thoughts, reflections, and experiences, woven together using my own words and sometimes adapting words others have used: I am indebted to their wisdom. Please use these liturgies freely, altering them as suits your own context. I am always pleased to hear from people who have used them. I am posting this today in order to allow you time to make preparations, if you choose to celebrate the Equinox this weekend. 

Welcome, Thanksgiving, and Petition:

Welcome to you all, as we gather today to celebrate the Autumn Equinox,

and to open our hearts once again to the mystery & wonder of love & life.

         The arrival of Autumn is a blessing to us all!

As we gather at this time of balance of night and day, of dark and light.

we offer thanks for the fruits of creation, for all that sustains us

throughout the year, and for the beauties of our world:

         We offer thanks!

May we remember that nothing is ours by right,

for all creatures and people are equal, and, as stewards of this good earth,

it is our responsibility to share its bounty:

         May we remember to share!

We have sown and reaped the fruits of our actions.

Grant us the courage to plant new seeds of joy and love in the coming year,

and to banish misery and worry, fear and hate.

May we learn the secrets of trust, and of wise and gracious living;

and may we always count our blessings.

         Our blessings are many!

Reflection and the Lighting of Candles:

During a few moments of quiet, reflect on what in particular

has been a blessing to you, especially over the past year.

You may share out loud one of the many blessings in your life,

using the phrase: I give thanks for the blessing of ...............

to which everyone will respond: May it always be a blessing to you.

We each then light a candle as a sign of thanksgiving.

The Balancing:

Without autumn & winter, there can be no spring or summer:

         Without night, there can be no day,

         without darkness, there can be no light,

         without death, there can be no life.

Autumn is a time of change, but the Equinox is above all a time of balance,

and a good time to take stock of our own resources:

to look honestly at where we are weaker, where we are stronger,

and where we are somewhere in-between:

         We seek to find such a balance in our lives

         as is found in the natural Universe, 

         and to become part of the harmony

         that lies at the heart of creation.

We need to recognise, and not to hide from, whatever we need to change;

and we need the courage to leave behind us

whatever we no longer need to carry:

         We need to find the energy and the resources -

         inside and outside of our selves - to begin again. 

Choose and hold one of the pine cones, which represent what has sustained us

up to now. Think about – and say if you wish - what mostly that has been.

Then exchange the pine cone for an apple, which represents what will sustain you in the future. Think about – and say if you wish - what that might be.

The Sharing:

We do not live in isolation:

         We are inter-dependent: we need one another.

We also need the creatures, the environments, and the activities,

that lift our spirits and sustain life.

         And we need to share all of these in order to be fully human.

As a sign of the need to give and to receive, we now share our apples.

Everyone cuts their apple into four pieces. One piece is kept for themselves,

two pieces are shared with the people on either side, and the fourth taken home for pets or birds or to plant in the hope of an apple tree.

If you are having a shared meal, now is a good time for it,

and then use The Closing, below, at the end of the meal.

The Closing:

Summer has become Autumn, and Autumn will become Winter.

         The seasons change and the year turns.

We who are together here will go our separate ways:

         When we meet again we will have changed, grown, learnt,

         and become closer to being our true selves.

May we find what we need for rest and for growth:

         And whatever changes come, may we remember and rejoice

         that we are united in love, light, and life, now and for ever. Amen!

The candles are now extinguished

Food for the Feast:

The Autumn Equinox has traditionally been celebrated as the harvest of fruits – tomatoes, berries, apples, pears, plums, squash – so it's a good time to try out some recipes that are new to you, using seasonal fruits and veg., or to revive old favourites such as pears poached in cider, or baked apples stuffed with nuts and dried fruit. 

Pomegranates are associated with this festival as well, reminding us of the story of Persephone, who was obliged to spend six months of the year in the Underworld, as she had eaten six pomegranate seeds there (some versions of the story say three months/three seeds) – an attempt to explain why we have winter when almost nothing grows. 

This year we shall be enjoying ratatouille galettes with eggs from our own hens, cheeses, and plum tarte tatin, washed down with lovely Breton cider. 

There are lots of recipes available online, but if you'd like to try any of ours, please use the comment box, and I'll post them up as soon as possible.

Tomorrow is Lammas: Wednesday 1st August 2018

Many of us experience a sense of awe at the natural world, and want both to mark our connectedness with Nature and to express our thanks for her sustaining goodness. Particular points in the turning year may also be understood as corresponding with different stages of our lives - which may help us to make some sense of our life experiences, and to go onwards more cheerfully and with greater trust.

Lammas, Loaf Mass, celebrates the beginning of the Harvest season, especially the harvest of grain, on 1^st August in the Northern Hemisphere and 2^nd February in the Southern Hemisphere - although some celebrations start on the eve and continue through to the next day!

This festival of the Moon also marks the descent of the year towards Winter, as the evenings grow shorter, and the leaves on the trees will soon begin to change into their glorious autumn colours. This is a time of fulfilment and of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth - and a time both to remember that we will reap what we have sown and to delight in our accomplishments.

The short responsive liturgy, below, is appropriate for use by any group of people, especially before sharing a meal together – a bring-and-share picnic would be great, weather permitting! If possible, sit in a circle. You will need a small, easy to tear loaf of bread to share during the liturgy (please check if this needs to be gluten-free or lactose-free), a big bag of sunflower seeds, and some smaller bags or large envelopes, one for each person present. Everyone is invited to join in saying the responsive words in bold type. There may be one leader to say the biddings, or you can take it in turns, round the circle.

The liturgies, celebrations, ceremonies, prayers, and reflections offered on this blog are the result of my thoughts, reflections, and experiences, woven together using my own words and sometimes adapting words others have used: I am indebted to their wisdom. Please use these liturgies freely, altering them as suits your own context. I am always pleased to hear from people who have used them.

The Gathering and Thanksgiving:

Welcome to everyone!

We gather today to celebrate the beginning of the Harvest,

and to give thanks for the beauties of this season,

for the grains and fruits that will be harvested

to provide nourishment through the winter,

and for the colourful beauty of the trees:

       We offer thanks!

We give thanks for our homes, which provide shelter for us,

and enable us to offer a welcome and hospitality to others:

       We offer thanks!

We give thanks for our own achievements,

and for the opportunities to achieve still more in days to come:

       We offer thanks!

A time of quiet is kept during which you may choose to name one thing

which you are glad to have achieved during the past year, using the words:

I give thanks that I have...

to which everyone will respond:

May you be blest in this always.

The Sharing:

Harvest-tide is a time of warmth and plenty,

and the earth yields enough for us all;

but many people and creatures are in want.

       Our hearts are glad that we are able not only to receive,

       but also to give.

We share this bread as a sign of unity and thankfulness.

Grain was planted, harvested, milled and baked to make this bread:

       We are thankful for the labours of others

        that satisfies our hungers.

May those who hunger be given bread:

       And may those who have bread

       be given the hunger for justice!

Bread is passed from hand to hand for all to tear and share.

Eat it now.

The Distribution:

Harvest cannot happen unless seeds fall to the earth

and rise again the following year:

       Plants grow and change with the seasons, and so do we.

As seeds take root in fertile soil, so too we find our roots

for growth and development:

       As the smallest seed may grow into a huge plant,

       so too we may accomplish great things.

As grains are harvested and set aside for winter:

        So we can set aside that which we can use later.

The seeds of yesterday's plants are the provision for today and tomorrow:

       That which is past results in that which is now,

       and that which is now enables that which is to come.

Everyone takes a handful of sunflower seeds.

They may be eaten later, fed to the birds, or planted.

The Closing Blessing:

May the blessings of the harvest be upon us and all creatures:

       The blessings of water, warmth, and air,

       the blessing of earth, its nurture and its beauty.

May we have time to re-discover the world of joy:

       The blessings of friendship and bread to share,

       the blessings of music and laughter and love:

       these blessings be given us all. Amen!

Food for the Feast:

Lammas has traditionally been celebrated as a feast of bread and beer, to mark the grain harvest, but summer fruits may also be at their peak now – tomatoes, melons, peaches, sweetcorn, beans.

This would be a great time to try out different grains that you may not have eaten before, such as quinoa, spelt, or buckwheat. It would also be good to make summer fruit jams, bake your own bread, and brew your own beer – and to learn how to make corn dollies (but don't eat them!)

If you celebrate with a picnic away from home, please make sure there are designated drivers who abstain from the beer or other alcoholic drinks.

Here are some suggestions for your Lammas picnic meal:

• Home made breads, such as seeded rolls, flat breads, corn bread, barley bread + herb butters
• Summer vegetable & barley broth, veggie noodle miso soup
• Vegetable pies, tomato or sweetcorn quiches, fruit/jam tarts
• Grain based salads such as tabbouleh, quinoa salad, corn & bean salad
• Lavender shortbread, fruity scones or muffins
• Beer (ale or lager), non-alcoholic fruit cup

There are lots of recipes online, but if you would like any of mine, please leave a comment and I'll post them up as soon as possible.

The Summer Solstice: Wednesday 20th/Thursday 21st June 2018

Many of us experience a sense of awe at the natural world, and want to mark our connectedness with nature, and express our thanks for its sustaining goodness. Different points in the turning year may be understood as corresponding with different stages of our lives – which may help us to make some sense of our life experiences, and to go onwards more cheerfully and trustingly.

This ceremony provides an opportunity to mark the Summer Solstice on the eve of 21^st June (or 21^st December in the Southern Hemisphere).The word 'solstice' means 'standstill' and refers to the fact that the sun appears to rise and set in the same place for a few days at this time of year. The Sun is at the height of its power for us, bringing growth and abundance, before continuing its rotation towards the vital rest and darkness of Winter. It is a good time to celebrate the fullness of life, to recognise the spiritual fire within each and every one of us, and to honour our connection with the Sun - our source of light and life.

The short responsive liturgy, below, is appropriate for use by any group of people.

It is particularly suitable for use at the beginning of a party outdoors – and you may wish to stay up all night to greet the dawn on the longest day! If possible, sit in a circle. If it will be safe to do so, and you will be out of doors, you may have a bonfire; otherwise you will need a large candle, and matches to light it. Please exercise common sense when lighting fires or candles and do not leave them unattended: stay safe! You will also need a container of water and something to use to sprinkle the water over everyone – a bunch of foliage (sparge) would be good. There may be one leader, or you can take it in turns around the circle of speak the biddings. Everyone is invited to join in saying the words in bold type.

The liturgies, celebrations, ceremonies, prayers, and reflections offered on this blog are the result of my thoughts, reflections, and experiences, woven together using my own words and sometimes adapting the words others have used: I am indebted to their wisdom. Please use these liturgies freely, adapting them as suits your own context. I am always pleased to hear from people who have used them.

The Welcome, Thanksgiving and Petition:

Welcome to you all, as we gather to celebrate the Summer Solstice.

We give thanks for the blazing Sun of Midsummer,

for the fertile earth, and for the turning year,

moving through light to darkness, and through darkness to light.

         May the fire of the Sun enliven our hearts!

We give thanks for meadows and gardens in bloom,

for oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams,

for hills and green woods and sandy beaches.

         May the abundance of the Earth prompt our generosity!

We give thanks for the richness of human life,

for the breadth of our dreams, and the opportunities to heal.

         May the light of the Moon awaken our compassion!

A large candle or a bonfire is lit

The Reflection:

In springtime we planted; now we tend and enjoy our gardens & fields, before the work of harvest:

         This is a good time to take stock of our lives.

         What have we planted, and what is growing?

         What are we achieving for ourselves

         and for the people and creatures we care about?

Are we still aligned with our recognised goals

or have we strayed from them?

         What changes do we need to make

         in order to achieve our aims more closely?

A short time of quiet is kept.

If anyone wishes, they may share their thoughts.

The Renewal and Closing:

As the rays of the Midsummer Sun nourish and sustain us,

so may this water bless and renew us.

Water is (gently!) sprinkled on everyone using a sparge. Make sure the person leading the ceremony is also sprinkled by someone else. Everyone then says:

         May this water bless and renew us;

         may our minds be open to the truth,

         and our lips open to speak it;

         may our hearts seek the ways of love;

         may our hands be gifted to work for one another;

         may our eyes see the visible and

         the invisible wonders of the world;

         may our feet ever walk upon the paths of peace;

         and may we joyfully come home

         when our earthly time is done.

Farewell to the waxing year, season of planting, fertility and growth:

         Welcome to the waning year, season of harvest,

         and the quiet hidden replenishment of winter.

Seasons must change:

         The Summer Sun will surely return!

Please do not leave the candles &/or bonfire unattended,

and ensure they are safely extinguished at the end of the evening.

Food for the Feast:

If you're holding a party, then a barbecue would be one option for the feast. But if the weather where you live is changeable, then you may prefer to plan a few drinks and nibbles for outside at the end of the liturgy, but have the food inside. We're opting for a middle way this year, and our menu includes guacamole and crudites, herb bread, salads, grilled corn cobs and vegetable skewers,

honey-lavender cheesecake, and baked fruit salad. Pink wine is pretty, or, if you like it, mead is appropriate (although it tastes like cough mixture to me!) and we'll also be offering a non-alcoholic fruit cup.

Decorative details:

The summer wreath I made for May Eve just needs refreshing from time to time with fresh flowers and greenery. Instead of a jug of flowers, I shall be bundling together wild flowers, lavender, and herbs, tying them with twine or raffia, and hanging them upside down to fragrance the house as they dry. And for the table centrepiece, I'm borrowing an idea from the website of the Witch of Howling Creek: float flower heads in a shallow bowl of water – very simple and very pretty.