Waking the Dragon
By Staff Writer: Paganus Greybeard
Drums.
Drums playing Call to Quarters tattoo.
Drums playing softly in distance then coming ever closer.
Darkness before dawn.
Solitary Figure stands.
No altar. Just a single candle-stand at circle center and at each
station of the circle.
Celebrant steps to candle-stand and with burning taper lights single white
candle.
Drums ever slowly closer .
At North point Celebrant walks slowly the circle.
At each station of the circle Celebrant lights the candles in the
candle-stands. All stations lit. 5 stations lit.
Celebrant now extinguished taper into water filled wooden bucket.
Celebrant stands at circle center.
Circle is enlightened.
Circle is ready.
Circle is waiting.
Drums approach.
Four {4} groups slowly approach the circle each lead by a drummer and a
banner bearer.
There is also a sword-bearer, a scholar/herald and a healer. There
are four {4} groups of five {5}.
One group for each direction, guardian and element.
One: Groups approach from four {4} directions lead
by their drummer and banner-bearer and take station
in the circle.
Two: Groups approach in standard parade order with
N., E., S., W. taking station.
Groups take station.
Banner-bearers place and unfurl flag-banners into
prepared stands or holes. Each flag-banner is in the
directions colour with a symbol of that directions
element.
In the distance a fifth {5th} drummer is now heard.
Group- Five {5} now approaches from the parade route.
Lead by a drummer, banner-bearer, flute-player, with the
sword-bearer, scholar/herald, and healer.
Only when the 5th group is in circle centre and on station with Celebrant do
the drummers all 5 increase tempo then
after a rufflles and flourishes creshendo conclusion -
- stop
with only the single flute player of group 5 playing.
As the flute player plays Celebrant walks the circle and at each station
stops and taps the ground three {3} times with staff.
Back at circles centre Celebrant hands staff to banner-bearer and takes
sword from sword-bearer. Celebrant again walks
circle and stops at each station. Tip of sword is placed
just above each candles flame. Sword is held there for
a moment then raised and held vertically in a salute to
the direction, flame, element, guardian and group.
Back at circles centre Celebrant returns the sword to the
sword-bearer.
The scholar/herald of the North group opens the book
and begins to read….
In turn from E., S., and W., the scholar/heralds read
from their books….
Norths Reading:
In the beginning there was only Darkness.
Upon the Eternity of Infinity there was only Darkness.
Then out of that Infinite, Eternal, Empty Darkness
comes a Flash of Light.
Out of the Infinite and Eternal Darkness of Nothing comes the Creator.
With the Creator comes the Whole of Creation.
Upon the Darkness comes the Light
and the Creator was well pleased.
Now that Light has moved upon the Infinite and dispelled the
Darkness The Hand of the Creator passes over the Empty Infinity
and from the Empty Infinity comes worlds and lives upon the
worlds. As the Creators Hand continues to move across the
Infinity it pauses over a tiny, unremarkable blue and brown world.
Upon that little blue and brown world in the oceans and upon
The drying land life appears. Aeons pass upon this little world.
Aeons of civilizations and cultures rising and falling.
In the fullness of time a Circle is Cast. From each point of the
Circle part of the Story is told. From the North The Elemental
Guardian of the Earth has spoken
..
Souths Reading:
Upon the Centuries
when the dry land had appeared and life first walked instead
of swam
the energies and elemental forces of the little brown and blue
world first began to appear.
The Creators Hand continues to move across
the tiny, unremarkable blue and brown world.
Upon that little blue and brown world in the oceans and upon
the drying land life appears. The Salamanders and the FireDrakes
first make their entrance of fire and flame.
Aeons pass upon this little world.
Aeons of civilizations and cultures rising and falling.
In the fullness of time a Circle is Cast. From each point of the
Circle part of the Story is told. From the East The Elemental
Guardian of Fire and Flame has spoken
..
Easts Reading:
Soon after the Beginning
when the dry land had appeared and life first walked instead
of swam
the energies and elemental forces of the little brown and blue
world first began to appear.
The Creators Hand continues to move across
the tiny, unremarkable blue and brown world.
Upon that little blue and brown world in the oceans and upon
The drying land life appears. The Sylphs, Zephyrs, and the Fey
first walk and fly across and upon the firmament of this tiny new
world.
Aeons pass upon this little world.
Aeons of civilizations and cultures rising and falling.
In the fullness of time a Circle is Cast. From each point of the
Circle part of the Story is told. From the East The Elemental
Guardian of the Air has spoken
..
Wests Reading:
The Centuries pass
when the dry land had appeared and separates the dry lands from one
another -
the energies and elemental forces of the little brown and blue
world first began to appear.
The Creators Hand continues to move across
the tiny, unremarkable blue and brown world.
Upon that little blue and brown world in the oceans
life appears. The Nymphs, Undines and the Mer-people first make
their aquatic entrance of water and mist..
Aeons pass upon this little world.
Aeons of civilizations and cultures rising and falling.
In the fullness of time a Circle is Cast. From each point of the
Circle part of the Story is told. From the West The Elemental
Guardian of Mist and Water has spoken
End of Part One.
This Working To Be Continued……