Midsummer Large Group

Oak Queen & Sun Court Leader toss the sage into the fire and then jump over it.

Dip the forefinger of right hand into the oil, and tracing a pentagram

Anoint forehead, say: “Let your mind be open to the truth.”
Anoint lips, say: “Let your lips always speak the truth. “
Anoint heart area, say: “Let your heart seek the ways of the Goddess, now and always.”
Anoint palms, say: “Let your hands be gifted to work in magical ways.”
Anoint feet, say: “Let your feet ever walk upon the sacred paths!”

Circle participants follow – first tossing sage into the fire, then jumping it, then being anointed into the circle. Oak Queen anoints the males, Sun Court Leader anoints the females. After being anointed circle participants walk into the circle area. Think about the reasons you are here today.

Oak Queen (salted water), Sun Court Leader (athame) – when Oak Queen gets to, and Deacon (incense) cast the circle starting at the eastern point.

“I conjure thee, O great circle of power, so that you will be for me a boundary between the world of men and the realm of the mighty spirits. A meeting place of perfect love, trust, peace and joy, containing the power I will raise herein. I call upon the protectors of the East, South West and North to aid me in the construction of this circle. In the name of the Horned Lord and Radiant Lady thus I do conjure thee O great circle of power. This circle is sealed."

Quarter Call

East
Children of Air, Fairies all
Hearken to this midday call
Bring winds of freshness, breezy beauty
Dreams of hope, and love of duty
Bring breath of magic, sighs of spring
Let our lives with music sing

South
Children of South, Fairies all
Hearken to this midday call
Bring kisses of passion, lovers embrace
Flames of laughter and sacred space
Bring sparks of magic to enflame
Let us all be glad we came

West
Children of Water, Fairies all
Hearken to this midday call
Bring mists of insight, loving touch
Flows of emotion we miss so much
Let us quench our thirst

North
Children of Earth, Fairies all
Hearken to this midday call
Bring loam of growth, terra firma
Fertile thoughts, and gifted perma
Bring roots of magic to keep us grounded
Let us strive to be well rounded

Spirit
Divas of Spirit, Fairies all
Hearken to this midday call
With the glimmer of wishes and light of hope
Luminescence magic help us cope
The Lord and Lady we do invite
Come to us for our midday rite

Meditation – led by Oak Queen
Make Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and relax.

At this time of greatest light, we meditate on light as a symbol of spiritual energy. Breathe now gently and deeply and with each breath become aware of the light that surrounds you and the light that is within you -- the light that is the energy of Our Great Mother.
The light can be any color. It is often imagined as white -- like bright sunlight. But it can be any color, any intensity, that is best for you. Blue, green, yellow, purple, rose; we know that light can also be black. The light may stay the same color for you during this meditation or it may change from color to color, or become a blend of many colors. See the light now in your mind's eye. This light is all around us, we are bathed in its brightness, energy, and warmth.
(Pause)
Focus on the light until you sense that you and the light are one. This will be your signal that you can now bring the light inside you.
(Pause)
When you bring the light inside you, one way is to let it stream in through your crown chakra at the top of your head. The light -- this healing energy -- flows through you now, from your crown, down to your third eye (between your eyebrows) to your throat, your shoulders and your arms, and your hands, to your heart, your stomach, shining brightly at your solar plexus just above your navel, to your sex organs, shining too at your tailbone. The healing light travels down through your legs, your knees, your ankles and your feet. Feel the warmth of this healing energy now as it travels all through your body.
(Pause)
Now sense the one part of your body where the light can shine the brightest and imagine the light there. See it shine.
(Pause)
Now send the light out from that part of your body where it shines the brightest. Send it out a few inches from your body.
(Pause)
Now extend your light out from your body just a little more, then a little more, until your light extends a few feet from your body. Now, if you like, extend your light to reach your sisters. Our lights meet and we are connected by this great light, connected by our renewed knowledge of Our Great Mother. Take a few minutes now to sense this energy and this connectedness.
(Pause)
Now take from this light the energy that you need, and know that there is plenty for all. For the Source of this light is endless and ever abundant. Take a moment to experience Her abundance, and know that as you partake of Her light and Her love, so do you give your light and your love. And as you give energy, so do you receive it. And thus does the circle of life continue.
(Pause)
And as we come back now to this time and place, let us give thanks for the return of Our Great Mother, and for our return unto Her.


Ritual:
Invoke Oak (Sun Court Leader):
Hail Lady of the rising year, spring-born and summer-crowned:
Queen of Oak and Mother of Flowers,
Stir the abundance of life within us,
Dance with us at Summer's utmost height.

*crowns Oak with circlet of leaves and flowers*

Oak:
The Sun shines strong upon the ground,
Nature’s abundance grows all around,
Gently nourished by summer rain,
Apples, Oats, Wheat and Grain,
Promises of bounty, time reveals,
And On and On turns the Wheel!

The Horned One walks the bright Greenwood,
Rare glimpses seen make all feel good!
His Power once again at its Height,
Together with the shortness of night,
Summertime joy is all we feel!
And On and On turns the Wheel!

Hot and humid it begins to oppress,
All life moves less and less,
Thunders’ rumble taints the air,
The weather turns a lot less fair!
Lightning flash and Thunders Peel,
And On and On turns the Wheel!

Summer storms pass swiftly by,
And once again time doth fly,
Soon will come Harvest Time,
Wheat become bread, Grape become Wine!
A bounty taken to provide a meal,
And On and On turns the Wheel!

Still to come a last farewell,
Death embraced as He fell,
Blood freely given falls to the floor,
Sacrifice ensures life once more!
This Land again now will Heal,
And On and On turns the Wheel!

*leads circle dance from the center*
All:
We are one in the infinite sun
For ever and ever and ever.

Dance is stopped by entry of Crows, Crows should have some black on (it's probably too hot to dress in black), and carry black-feathered wands. Crows circle Oak, cawing, and then begin their lines.

Crow 1: Winter will come
Crow 2: The corn will dry
Crow 3: The leaves will fall
Crow 1: The storms will fly
Crow 2 And you must fail
Crow 3: And fall
Crow 1: And die

Repeat three times, the third in unison sing-song mocking voices.

Sun Court Leader [to Crows]:
Over my dead body! Who do you think you are? [to people]
Will you stand by and let this happen?
No! Rally round and shield our lady
from the mockery of winter!

Sun Court Leader rallies people around Oak in center of circle.
Crows approach people one at a time and touch them with their wands, asking "Why? Why?" People will give a reason for the summer to continue forever:
Crows will respond with a reason why it cannot, and take the person out to the edge of the circle.
Sun Court Leader is the last taken out.

Oak:
It is so:
If I love the Spring
I must embrace the Fall,
and for the Sun's sweet sake
go into darkness.
In Spring and in Summer I was given this power
and now I lay it down.

Oak casts down her flowering rod of office and kneels, head bowed. Four Quarters surround Oak, carrying flowers, and Sun Court Leader leads the circle in a deosil procession to lay flowers on the wand.



All:
Aye ai aye ai aye ai aye ai
Aye oh aye oh aye oh aye oh

Near the end of the procession Holly enters the circle: crows and Holly join the very end of the procession. Holly makes a grand dramatic gesture of going to the center (waiting till everyone else has returned to the circle), then kneels to lay an evergreen spring by Oak.

Holly:
Bright sister, do not grieve. I will guard and guide the turning world in your place, until at the depth of Winter we shall meet again, and you will rise to take your place once more. *takes up flowering rod*
But now, at the very balance point of the year, let us dance together, you and I.

*Holly raises Oak up, and Oak takes her place in the circle.*

Holly [to all]:
In winter and in darkness I will reign
And lead the dance till spring shall come again.

*Holly leads Spiral Dance. She should break the line next to Oak so that she is the head of the line and Oak is the tail. *

All:
Hoof and horn, hoof and horn,
All that dies must be reborn.
Vine and grain, vine and grain,
All that falls shall rise again.

Holly:
What is shoot shall become flower
What is flower shall become fruit
What is fruit shall become seed
What is seed shall become shoot
Ever and forever, as the Wheel turns.

Crow 1:
Farewell, Lady of the waning year.
Go in peace to your realms of autumn,
To watch over harvest and make ready for the dark.
Blessings on your presence.
Hail and farewell.




Sun Court Leader:
Farewell, Lady of the waxing year.
Go in peace to your realms of spring,
To cherish new life and make ready for the day.
Blessings on your presence.
Hail and farewell.



Cake & Ale

Child 1 Holds up the plate: “Thank you God & Goddess for the gifts you have blessed us with”
Child 2 “Let us eat”
Walks plate around – “Blessed Be”

Child 1 Holds up the cup: “Thank you God & Goddess for the gifts you have blessed us with”
Child 2 “Let us drink”
Walks cup around – “Blessed Be”

Question and Answer Segement:
Holly: Now has come the time to rid us all of negativity. This group has often be plagued with ill thoughts and whispered words and now - today it is time to bring them into the light. I shall pass the staff around – and as you hold it – you may ask anyone standing in this circle a question and you will hear an answer. You may ask one question of each participant here today. What is brought up here – will be left here today – and when this circle is dismissed the negative concerns raised will be dismissed as well. Now who is bold enough to step forward and claim the first round of questions?

If no one steps forward – Holly must either choose someone to step to the center of circle and ask the questions or take the task on by herself.

After everyone has been offered a chance to ask/answer questions – proceed.



Holly: As the ritual began, so it will end, Stay if you will, go if you must.

Spirit
Spirits of Diva, Spirits of power
Thank you for joining us this hour
As you return to your place in the light
Bless us and keep us every night

Earth
Spirits of Earth, Fairies of sand
Thank you for lending a helping hand
As you go off to your home in the mound
We’ll always know that you are around

West
Spirits of Water, Fairies of Dew,
Thank you for making our dreams come true
Away to your home in the sea
We’ll always remember the magic is me

South
Spirits of Flame, Fairies of Fire,
Thank you for our deepest desire
When you go home to your place in my heart
Remember always, merry meet and merry part.

Air
Spirits of Air, Fairies of Fun,
Thank you for all you have done.
Don’t be so quick to fly into the wind
The magic can wait til then to begin.

Sun Court Leader.
“I thank you Horned Lord and Radiant Lady, for aiding us this day. I thank the protectors of the North, West, South, and East for aiding us in the construction of the circle. Thank you all and farewell. “

Holly
“This circle is open but never broken. So mote it be."