Rounding the Circle
By Staff Writer: Paganus Greybeard
Mist.
A swirling, grey, murky mystic mist.
A Solitary Figure stands in the quiet grey mystic mists.
A Sword and a Staff are held.
A tiny, four legged, square table stands in the altar’s place.
There are several objects on the table/altar covered by a grey cloth.
There are four other small table/altars at the ‘four corners of the
circle’. The Sword is set down beside the table/altar. The Staff
is leaned up against the table/altar. There is a ceremonial
broom/besom leaned up against the lover shelf of the table/altar.
The Figure takes the cloth cover off the table/altar, folds it up
and sets it down below on the second shelf. The Figure lights a
candle on the table/altar.
BMP {BardicMagus/Priest}/{Celebrant}:
“This candle is lit.
This candle is Light unto the Darkness.
May the Darkness be dispelled and dispersed….
May this Circle - this Place, this Space - be Consecrated and
Sanctified.
This Circle is Sacred and Sanctified.
May This Moment between Moments be Consecrated and Sanctified.
This Moment between Moments is Sacred and Sanctified.”
Celebrant takes the candle and lights four more candles on the four
table/altars:
“Candle of the East - Be lit and let Your Light shine into the Darkness.
Candle of the South - Be lit and let Your Light shine into the Darkness.
Candle of the West - Be lit and let Your Light shine into the Darkness.
Candle of the North - Be lit and let Your Light shine into the Darkness.”
Celebrant slowly turns in a clockwise circle:
“Candles of the Four Directions - Be lit and let Your Light shine
into the Darkness. May the Darkness be dispelled and dispersed….
May this Circle - this Place, this Space - be Consecrated and Sanctified.
This Circle is Sacred and Sanctified.
May this Moment between Moments be Consecrated and Sanctified.
This Moment between Moments is Sacred and Sanctified.”
Celebrant sets the candle down and picks up the Staff:
From the Ancient Sacred Tree comes this Staff….
Staff is tapped on ground:
For Truth - Understanding - Learning - Growth & Development.
Staff is tapped on ground:
For Justice - Health & Healing - Strength - Survival & Endurance.
Staff is tapped on ground:
For Honour - Ethics - Faith - Hope - Charity - Love.
Staff is tapped on ground:
From the Lord & Lady Aspects of the Infinite, Eternal ALL.
Staff is tapped on the ground:
From the Guides, Guardians & Ancient Sacred Elements of the Four
Directions.
Staff is tapped upon the ground:
From Akasha - Elemental ‘Word of the Creator’ Aspect of the ALL.
Staff is tapped upon the ground:
From the Ancients whom once were here and still are here….
Staff is tapped upon the ground:
From the Tree, Cauldron & Well of the Ancients.
Staff is tapped one last time upon the ground:
From the Eternal & Infinite ALL. From the ALL in All of the
Names, Aspects and Understandings of All the Religions, Faiths
and Beliefs From All of the Cultures, Societies and Nations from
the Dawn till This Day.
Celebrant sets the Staff back against the table/altar and picks up the
Sword. Celebrant holds the Sword above the candle on the table/altar:
“Out of the Ancient and Eternal Fires of the ALL’s Creation came
the Ancient Sacred Elements - Fire, Earth, Water, Air and Spirit.
Fire for the Light Into and Against the Darkness.
Water for Life and Healing.
Earth for the very world we live in and upon.
Air for the Very Breath of Life.
Spirit for that which is unseen but not unknown.
In the most Ancient and Forgotten of Days The Ancients
learned to make fire. From that first fire came the knowledge of
survival. Some of that survival meant protection and defense
against dangers known and unknown. Protection against dangers seen and
unseen. You could not always hide in the cave. Sometimes you had to
stand your ground and defend yourself. For that moment when action had to be
taken The Ancients were given The Sword and The Staff….”
Celebrant lowers the Sword till it touches the Flame of the Candle:
“Sword of Truth - Justice - Honour.
Sword of the Ancients.
Sword of the Decendants.
In Fire’s Flame You were Born.
In Fire’s Flame You were Consecrated and Sanctified.
In Fire’s Flame You are Greeted and Welcomed.”
Celebrant moves slowly in a clockwise circle with the Sword to each of the four
table/altars. Celebrant moves first to the table/altar of the East:
Candle of the East - Out of the Flames of the Forge came the Sword.
Heated and Forged by The Ancients.
Celebrant moves to the table/altar of the South:
Candle of the South - Hammered and Shaped by The Ancients.
Celebrant moves to the table/altar of the West where BMK dips the tip of
the Sword into a small Wooden Bowl of Water:
Water of the West - The Sword was Cooled in Your Water.
Celebrant moves to the table/altar of the North:
Earth of the North - Out of the Earth came the metals to Forge the
Sword. From the Earth came the Ancients to Forge, Hammer, Shape and Cool The
Sword. From the Earth comes the Spirit and Soul of the Sword. The Sword of the
Ancients. The Sword of Today. The Sword of Tomorrow. The Sword of the
ALL….
Celebrant sets down the Sword and picks up the Staff:
Staff of the Truth - Justice - Honour.
Staff of the Ancients.
Staff of the Decendants.
From the Ancient Tree You were Symbolicly Born.
From the Ancient Tree You were Consecrated and Sanctified.
From the most of Ancient of Days till this Day You are Greeted and
Welcomed.
Celebrant moves slowly in a clockwise circle with the Staff to each of
the four table/altars:
From the Ancient Sacred Tree that links the Realms comes symbolicly
the wood to make this Staff. From You - Ancient Living Symbol and
Element of all that is Living and Green - comes the wood to make
this Staff. This is for Walking - when Walking is difficult. This
is for the Festival’s Parade - when Blessings and Honours are Given
and Shared. This is for Magick & Mystery for the ‘Workings’. This
is the Staff….
Celebrant moves to the table/altar of the East:
East - From the Ancient Tree and all that is Green and Living….
Celebrant moves to the table/altar of the South:
South - Life and Source of Life on the Mother World….
Celebrant moves to the table/altar of the West:
West - Fruits, Vegetables, Roots, Flowers and Herbs for Health,
Healing and Living.
Celebrant moves to the table/altar of the North:
Earth of the North - Out of the Earth came the Ancient Sacred
Tree’s Wood’s to Form the Staff. From the Earth came the Ancients
to Form and Shape the Staff. From the Earth comes the Spirit and
Soul of the Staff. The Staff of the Ancients. The Staff of Today.
The Staff of Tomorrow. The Staff of the ALL….
Celebrant places the Staff back at the table/altar. Celebrant picks up a small
wooden bowl with herbs and vitamins:
“From the Earth -
From the ALL -
The Staff of Life.
Food and Nutrition.
Life, Health and Healing.”
Celebrant sets down the bowl and picks up another with water.
“From the Earth -
From the ALL -
The Water of Life.
Life, Health and Healing.”
Celebrant sets the bowl down on the table/altar.
Celebrant picks up a small wooden whistle & ‘toots’ three times.
Celebrant moves to each of the four directions, pauses at the table/altar
and ‘toots’ three times.
Celebrant sets wooden whistle down on table/altar.
Celebrant picks up small wooden drum.
Celebrant taps drum three times.
Celebrant moves to each of the four directions, pauses
at the table/altar and taps drum three times.
Celebrant sets wooden drum down on table/altar.
Celebrant picks up tambourine.
Celebrant taps tambourine three time.
Celebrant moves to each of the four directions, pauses
at the table/altar and taps tambourine three times.
Celebrant set down tambourine and picks up besom.
Celebrant ’sweeps’ three times first left and then right side of
table/altar.
Celebrant then moves to to each of the four directions, pauses
at the table/altar and then ’sweeps’ three times first left and
then right side of table/altar.
Celebrant sets besom back down and picks up pentacle.
“Four Directions - East, South, West, North.”
“Five Elements - Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Spirit.”
“Life, Health & Healing.”
“Survival and Endurance”
“Knowledge, Learning and Sharing.”
“Serving, Preserving, Protecting, Defending".
“Doing No Harm".
Celebrant sets down pentacle and picks up bell.
Celebrant rings bell three times.
Celebrant moves to each of the four directions, pauses
at the table/altar and rings bell three times.
Celebrant sets down the bell and picks up a wooden cup.
Celebrant pours tiny bit of water into a small wooden bowl.
Celebrant sets the wooden cup down and crumbles up a single salad crouton.
“Food and Water.”
“Life, Health & Healing".
“Of the Earth - Back to the Earth…..”
Celebrant pours water and crumbled crouton back onto the ground. {IF
done indoors a larger wooden bowl with some leaves and dry earth can be
used.}
Celebrant picks up Staff and taps it three times upon the ground.
Celebrant goes counter-clockwise and taps staff three times at each of the
table-altars.
Celebrant sets Staff down and picks up small candle snuffer.
Celebrant goes counter-clockwise from North putting out the candles.
After the four ‘circle’ candles are extinguished Celebrant pauses at the
fifth candle.
“This candle is lit.
This candle is Light unto the Darkness.
May the Darkness be dispelled and dispersed….
This Circle is Sacred and Sanctified.
May This Moment between Moments be Consecrated and Sanctified.
This Moment between Moments is Sacred and Sanctified.”
Celebrant extinguishes the fifth candle.
“This candle is extinguished.
This candle was Light unto the Darkness.
The Darkness was Dispelled and Dispersed.
This Place - This Space remains Sacred and Sanctified.
This Moment between Moments remains Consecrated and Sanctified.
This Moment between Moments is Concluded.”
Celebrant covers the table/altar with the grey cloth.
Celebrant picks up the Staff and the Sword and steps back into the mystic
grey mists….