{"collection":"bos","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bos/bos010.htm","path":"bos/bos010.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bos/bos010.htm","text":"Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999]\nNote: there is NO meeting dance before the ritual because the spiral dance occurs inside it.\n| CELEBRANTS: | | | | \n| BARD | PRIESTESS | GODDESS | | \n| FIREMAKER | PRIEST | GOD | | \nThis is the air, oh people; these are the creatures:\nFar-flying Goose; far-seeing Hawk;\nOwl who knows; Raven who talks;\nCrane who dances; Thrush who sings;\nQuail the humble; Wren the king;\nLark who revels; Loon who weeps;\nJay who scatters; Buzzard reaps.\nThis is the air I conjure, and this is the birth of the world.\nThis is the fire, oh people; these are the creatures:\nDrake who hoards; Kirin who gives;\nAngel heals; Chimera reaves;\nCoal the slow; lightning the quick;\nSalamander, power's wick;\nSoul who praises; Gryphon scorns;\nPhoenix dies and is reborn.\nThis is the fire I conjure, and this is the birth of the world.\nThis is the sea, oh people; these are the creatures:\nWhale who chants; Dolphin who speaks;\nClam content; Salmon who seeks;\nPike who rages; Shark who mourns;\nWalrus steadies; Carp transforms;\nSeal who gathers; Crab the lone;\nOtter wave-borne; Eel in stone;\nThis is the sea I conjure, and this is the birth of the world.\nThis is the earth, oh people; these are the creatures:\nDeer who worries; Boar who schemes;\nCat who conjures; Sheep who dreams;\nHare the playful; Brock the stern;\nMouse who teaches; Horse who learns;\nWolf who wanders; Bear who stays;\nStag who guards; Puma who preys.\nThis is the earth I conjure, and this is the birth of the world.\nNow is the darkness. Now is the pain. Now is the fear.\nNow is the danger. Now is the hate. Now are the tears.\nCall on our mother! She is the one! Hers is the way!\nShe will bring comfort. She will bring life. She will bring day.\nEarth Mother, Birth Mother, Birch Mother,\nSea Mother, Stone Mother, Star Mother!\nQueen of night and death and birth,\nWomb of deep and fertile earth,\nDame of heaven's silver wheel,\nLady of the greening field,\nKeeper of the apple grove,\nMistress of the arts of love,\nShine out in the fearsome dark --\nTeach us how to strike the spark.\nPeople, we can feel Her near!\nShe is coming! She is here!\nNow the veils of worlds are thin;\nTo move out you must move in.\nLet the Balefires now be made,\nMine the spark within them laid.\nThis My gift: that people meet\nIn peace and plenty made complete.\nThis I give: the Sacred Way,\nThe strength, the soul, the sight, the say.\nMove beyond the fiery screen\nBetween the seen and the unseen;\nShed your anger and your fear,\nLive anew in a new year!\nThe Nine I sing, the Nine blessed trees\nWhich were empowered of old:\nOak, thou druid's door, open the way for us.\nApple, thou knowledge-giver, break our circle of blindness.\nAsh, thou world-supporter, drive away ill powers.\nBirch, thou tree-mother, help in our healing.\nHawthorn, thou branch of May, give us light and hope.\nWillow, thou soul-leader, grant us safe passage.\nHolly, thou forest king, be our safe refuge.\nHazel, thou wise-one's branch, give us true vision.\nAlder, thou river's love, let us flow outward.\nIn peace let us flow outward; in power let us flow outward; in beauty let us flow outward.\n(The Goddess lights the torch, the Firemaker lights the two fires, which have been saturated with some flammable material, i.e. charcoal starter. White Sage and Cedar chips may be thrown thereon.)\nSky's Father, Wise Father, Wine Father,\nSun Father, Sap Father, Song Father!\nLord of forest, field and beast,\nLord of harvest, hunt and feast,\nKing of heaven's golden fire,\nDancer of the soul's desire,\nMaster of the drum and flute,\nKeeper of the vineyard's fruit,\nShine on us and warm our souls --\nTeach us how to make us whole!\nPeople, we can feel Him near!\nHe is coming! He is here!\nLet the light of living blaze!\nDance within the spiral maze;\nCry of pipe and thump of drum;\nOut you go and in you come!\nMine the living pole of May --\nOutside loving starts today!\nThis My gift: that lovers join\nTouching at the lip and loin.\nThis I give: the Joyous Dance,\nMusic, song, the vine, the chance!\nNow do fear and anger cease:\nDance the healing and release!\n(A fairly simple triple spiral should be traced on the ground in lime or flour, to give the people guidelines for dancing. The dance should go on until satiation or until the circle forms again; there is no one human focal point -- the intent should be for peace, understanding, tolerance, etc.)\nJoy, health and peace be in the world\nThat spins into the May-o,\nFor summer is a-comin' in\nAnd winter's gone away-o.\nGod: Mine is the ripening sun.\nGoddess: Mine is the nurturing soil.\nGod: Mine is the fruit of the vine.\nGoddess: Mine is the chalice of life.\nBoth: We are the blessing of wine! And the wine blesses us.\nGod: Mine is the planted seed.\nGoddess: Mine is the fertile earth.\nGod: Mine is the mower's blade.\nGoddess: Mine is the oven of making.\nBoth: We are the blessing of bread! And the bread blesses us.\nFeasting, dancing, singing, partying etc. Some kind of grounding afterwards.","title":"Internet Book of Shadows: Firestar Beltaine 1986","type":"page"}