Midsummer Celebration 2009
June 20, 2009

A Midsummer's Night Dream!

The Midsummer ritual was a great success. One of the highlights, actually one of the most impressive highlights was the Circle Cast by Bonnie. This student was able to cast a very tangible Circle that was felt by all in the Circle. Major kudos to you Bonnie. We are very proud of you and your progression.

We had about 30 or so folks attend the ritual and several new faces, as well as some returning that we have missed. It really warms the heart to see old and new family enjoy themselves at our gatherings.

Blackberry Circle would also like to thank everybody who donated to help the children in the shelter enjoy a bit of summer like children should. $60.83 was raised and that should guarantee them the ability to go swimming and enjoy the local recreation center during their summer break. Again, thank you one and all who were able to contribute.

And here is a copy of the raw ritual as compiled and arranged (happy now Alicia? LOL) by Keith and his students. The actual ritual was a little different due to last minute changes, but this is the base ritual for posterity sake.

All others sit outside Circle and watch till they are led in by Puck

OBERON…..”How now, spirit! whither wander you?”

PUCK… “Over hill, over dale, through bush, through brier,
Over park, over pale, through flood, through fire;
I do wander everywhere, swifter than the moon's sphere;
And I serve the Fairy Queen, to dew her orbs upon the green. The cowslips tall her pensioners be; in their gold coats spots you see. Those be rubies, fairy favors; in those freckles live their savors. I must go seek some dewdrops here, and hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear. Farewell, thou King of Spirits; I'll be gone. Our Queen and all her elves come here anon.”

OBERON….”The King doth keep his revels here tonight; take heed that the Queen come within his sight. Either I mistake your shape and making quite, Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite Called Robin Goodfellow. Are not you he That frights the maidens of the villagery; Skim milk, and sometimes labor in the mill; And uselessly make the breathless housewife till; And sometime make the beer to bear no foam; Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?
Those that Hobgoblin call you, and sweet Puck, You do their work, and they shall have good luck. Are you not he?”

Puck…..”Thou speakest aright. I am that merry wanderer of the night. I jest to Titania and make her smile When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile, Neighing in likeness of a filly foal; And sometime lurk I in a gossip's bowl In very likeness of a roasted apple, And when she drinks, against her lips I pull And on her withered chin pours the ale. The wisest aunt, telling the saddest tale, Sometime for three-foot stool mistaketh me; Then slip I from her bum, down topples she, And "thief" cries, and falls into a cough; And then the whole shire hold their hips and laugh, And waxen in their mirth, and sneeze, and swear A merrier hour was never wasted there. But room, King! Here comes Titania, the Queen!”

Oberon.. “Well met by moonlight, proud Titania.”

Titania.. “What, waiting Oberon? Fairies, skip hence. Hopefully, not like last year must I forswear his bed. For rather would we meet on hill, in dale, forest,or meadow, By paved fountain or by rushy brook, Or in the beached margin of the sea, To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind, Lest the moon, the governess of the floods, Pale in her anger, dirtys all the air, That rheumatic diseases do abound. And through this disorder of nature we see The seasons alter. Hoary-headed frosts Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose; And on old Winter's thin and icy crown An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds Is, as in mockery, set. The spring, the summer, The fruitful autumn, angry winter change Their customary attire, and the bewildered world, Seeing what the seasons bring, knows not which is which.”

Oberon.. “I do amend it then; it lies with me. Why should Oberon cross his Titania?”

Titania.. “If you will patiently dance in our round and see our moonlight revels, come with us. If not, shun me, and I will spare your haunts.”

Oberon.. “Through the house give glimmering light, By the dead and drowsy fire; Every elf and fairy sprite Hop as light as bird from brier; and this ditty, after me, Sing, and dance it trippingly.”

Titania.. “First rehearse your song by rote, to each word a warbling note. Hand in hand, with fairy grace, Will we sing, and bless this place.”

Participants outside Circle now dance in and around the circle Deosil, last 4 are quarter callers. As each quarter is passed the person calling stops there.

QUARTER CALLS

(Cast Circle, dancing , singing Locomotion )

Keith & Students…. ( walks Deosil directing energy)

Bonnie says..” The Rede instruct-eth thee, thrice cast shall the Circle be.
Goddess’ flowers placed here and thus, Surround and encircle us.
Ringing bells the senses stir, Time and space begin to blur.
Now ring the bells with all your might, Raise the Circle’s power this night.
The sphere has grown and sealed at last, Now the Circle is three times cast.”

CONSECRATING THE ALTAR

Ashley… ” Creature of Air, I cleanse and consecrate thee by the ancient energies of the North. I cast out all negativity in this world and the world of phantasm. Blessing of the Ancients be on you now. So Mote it Be!”

Maribeth “ Creature of Earth, I cleanse and consecrate thee, by the ancient energies of the East. I cast out all negativity in this world and the world of phantasm. Blessing of the Ancients be on you now. So Mote it Be!”

Maria “ Creature of Fire, I cleanse and consecrate thee by the ancient energies of the South, I cast out all negativity in this world and the world of phantasm, Blessing of the Ancients be on you now. So Mote it Be!”

Kristen “ Creature of Water, I cleanse and consecrate thee, by the ancient energies of the West, I cast out all negativity in this world and the world of phantasm. Blessing of the ancients be on you now. So Mote it Be!”

Oberon and Titania stand facing each other. (Does symbolic Great Rite with hand gestures)

Ashley…”The God is strong and powerful, virile, and fertile. Lord of the Hunt the King of the forest, and with the Goddess, together they create Life.”

Puck.. “As above, So below, As without, so within
As the Universe, so the soul”

Maria…”Tonight, at Midsummer, we mark the peak of power for the Bright Lord. It is a time to celebrate the ending of the waxing year and the beginning of the waning year, in preparation for the harvest to come. Midsummer is a time to absorb the Sun's warming rays and it is another fertility Sabbat, not only for humans, but also for crops and animals”

Ashley…“Physical power is only one aspect of strength. To be truly healthy and whole, mind and spirit must be strong as well. It is the balance of abilities that we find our courage.”

Maribeth… “This is the World, Our life and our home From birth to death and birth again The seasons turn, and we with them. Let us mark their passing, and so remember,

Kristen.. “That even in the midst of strife the struggles of everyday life, When we become to preoccupied, To send Our minds and hearts beyond ourselves That still the wheel turns”

Maria…“Outer and inner worlds are One and as much as we try, unknowingly to exist apart, alone We have a place to fill together in the great and unending spiral of life and time. Blessed be”

CAKES AND ALE

Ashley..” Goddess of abundance, Bless these gifts as you bless us all. Help us to see, and to remember, the Divine in all that we share”

Pass Cakes starting at South saying “May you never Hunger”

Puck..” God of the Harvest, Bless these gifts as you bless us all. Help us to see, and to remember the Divine in all that we share”

Pass Ale at South, saying “May you never thirst”

Maribeth..“ It’s a time of year when the crops are growing, and the earth has warmed. The Bright Lord is at the height of his power, even though his end draws near.”

Kristen..“ The Goddess, heavy with life from Her mating at Beltane, gives birth to the soon to be Dark Lord. Today we honor the Earth itself, as we are surrounded by tall, and some not so tall trees. Clear sky above cool dirt below. We are connected to all and all are connected to us.”

Keith…”The Wheel has turned yet again, the Light has grown long for 6 months…Until today, Today is Litha, one of the Lesser Sabbats a time for celebration, for tomorrow, the Light begins to fade”

Ashley…” According to the old folklore calendar, Summer begins on Beltane and ends on Lughnassadh, with the Summer Solstice midway between the two, marking MID-Summer.. As the Wheel turns on and ever on”

Puck <mischievously>.. “I'll follow you; I'll lead you about a round, Through bog, through bush, through brake, through brier: Sometime a horse I'll be, sometime a hound, A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire; And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn, Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn.’

(Pass out leaf-shaped pieces of paper, that the participant "fairies" wrote various small creature's names on prior to the ritual, announcing that these are what Puck has just turned them into.)
Puck.. < when the first game is over> Hail Titania!

Titania.. “My gentle Puck, come hither. Thou rememb'rest since once I sat upon a promontory and heard a mermaid, on a dolphin's back, Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath that the rude sea grew civil at her song, And certain stars shot madly from their spheres to hear the sea-maid's music.”

Puck... “I remember.”

Titania.. “That very time I saw (but thou couldst not), Flying between the cold moon and the earth, Cupid, all armed. A certain aim he took At a fair Vestal, throned by the West, And loosed his love shaft smartly from his bow,
As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts. But I could see young Cupid's fiery shaft Quenched in the chaste beams of the wat'ry moon,
And the imperial vot'ress passed on, In maiden meditation fancy-free.
Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell. It fell upon a little Western flower,
Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound, And maidens call it love-in-idleness. Fetch me that flow'r; the herb I showed thee once.The juice of it, on sleeping eyelids laid, Will make a man or woman madly dote
Upon the next live creature that it sees, Till the end of that passing day,
Fetch me this herb, and be thou here again Ere the Leviathan can swim a league.”

Puck.. “I'll put a girdle round the earth. In forty minutes.”

(Pass out leaf-shaped pieces of paper, that the fairies had written their ritual fairy names on prior to the ritual, announcing that these are the faires that they have just fallen in love with.)

Puck.. after the second game
“Now, how about a game of Strip Tarot?”

Oberon.. pulling Puck by the ear.. “No more of this foolery, the sun is almost here.”

Titania.. Now, until the break of day, Through this time each fairy stray. To the best bride-bed will we, Which by us shall blessed be; And the issue there create Ever shall be fortunate. Shall upon all children be. With this field-dew consecrate, Every fairy take his gait, And each several forest bless, Through this world, with sweet peace. And may Mooncircle be blest Ever shall in safety rest. Trip away; make no stay; Meet me all by break of day. Blessed Be!

Release Quarters,

Take down Circle

Keith, Alicia, Maria….( walks Widdershins releasing Circle)

Bonnie….” We came to honor Deity, our Circle strong cast times three,
As we joined, depart we must, In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust,
Our energy begins to fall, bringing down our sacred wall,
The Circle is open but never broken, Merry meet, Merry part,
Till we Merry Meet Again. Blessed Be!

Puck.. If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended-
That you have but slumb'red here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend.
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call.
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

And of course, our notification..

Our Midsummer ritual will be led by Keith and his fan club. The theme for this ritual will be a Midsummer's Night Dream (duh!).

Anyway, come and join us celebrating not only the height of the Summer Lord's reign but also the inevitable birth of the Winter Lord with our possibly twisted version of one of Shakespeare's best known works.

Festivities will begin at 19:30 and more information will follow...

**HELP THE CHILDREN** It has come to our attention that several children who are in a local shelter are not able to enjoy the summer in ways that children should. We ask that everyone bring at least $5 (five dollars) per person to donate towards these children so they can go swimming and enjoy other activities that they otherwise could not. Any donations towards Blackberry Circle during the Midsummer ritual will go towards these children.