Grove of Gaia

Full Moon: The Internal Hearth

September 10, 2006

A Ritual by Lady Annabelle

Needed: Hand-blended incense; a small red candle for the cauldron; eye of the day candles for a candle-lighting ritual; foil cups.

I. Circle is cast; purification by the elements; calling of the quarters and invocation of the God and Goddess—those of fire.

II. Lady Annabelle: Let us all move into the chalice position to receive the moon:

Moonfire—spark us. Moonlight--fill us. Moonstar—inspire us. Lady of the Moon—bless us! Bless us!

III. Heart of the Ritual:

This September ritual asks us what we need to heal to get to our own center: our internal hearth. Those of us with school-age children have transitioned them to school. All need healing and protection as we enter into this phases of the year.

The hearth is the center of the home—it is where the cooking was done, where the fires were kept and kindled to make sure that the home was comfortable through the darkest and coldest nights of the winter.

There are many ways to stoke the fire to keep it going, from building a fire of three logs or building three mounds with the coals to get it through the night, to passing the magick of the coal from house to house. The power of three is seen in many of the old magickal ways of firekeeping as is the power seen in the heart of the coal?

Food being prepared at the center of the home reminds us that our inner hearth is about self-nurturing. What is our relationship with food? It is a place where we gather with family and friends. What is our relationship to our families and friends? Can we begin to integrate these aspects ourselves for our inner healing and empowerment? (Pass something to eat)

The smoke from the chimney carries prayers into the heavens. Incantations are made over the fire to bring them into being as the transition takes place between fire and air. The fire hisses and pops. There is a language of fire written in the code of transformation. How do we use our talk? Do we use it to destructive or constructive purposes? How is our intelligence engaged? Do we use it to make the world better and whole? Or do you create more schisms and breakdowns?

Can we use our prayers that go up into the smoke to integrate and heal how we use our words? (Each says a word about this)

The word hearth has emotional connotations, with its relationship to the word heart? How are our emotions balanced? Are they out of control? Are they passionate in a healthy way? Are we reluctant to express them? Think of how moving to our inner hearth might heal our feelings. (Pass the smoking incense)

Hearths or sacred fires were tended and kept by ancient priestesses. Think of the Vestal Virgins—these women were the keepers of the holy flame, priestesses of fire, if you will. I imagine them meditating upon the fire in all its aspects and building, tending, and stoking the sacred fires. Prayers were sent to the divine ones upon the holy smoke. Once a year these fires were deliberately put out so that they could be rekindled again.

If you were to rekindle a sacred fire within you, what would you affirm as you relit it? (Candle lighting: all share)

IV. Empowering chant with each person by name.

V. Honoring the Firekeepers:

Let us tonight honor the priest and priestesses known as Firekeepers in our tradition. Two have received initiation in July, and one last February. Since we share our sacred names only with those initiated into our tradition, I say please come to the center, Cave Bear, Laira, and Aratha.

Soon we ready to turn the wheel toward autumn. Think now all of you, and especially our Firekeepers, on the healing center of our own internal hearth and how we might make our lives more sacred everyday, integrate ourselves more fully and burn with the wisdom, dignity and beauty of our Path. Blessed be, my sisters and brother!

VI. Aratha, Laira and Cave Bear, in unison:

Moonfire—spark us. Moonlight--fill us. Moonstar—inspire us. Lady of the Moon—bless us!

VII. Cakes and Ale—Marc blesses the cakes; Lady Annabelle the wine. Libation. Toasts.

VIII. Farewell to the quarters. Blessings of the Goddess and God.

IX. Circle opening song.