GAIA SPEAKS: Ritual

Awaken, beloved child of mine!

Daughter of Earth, Son of the Sun.

Open your eyes to the East and greet the rising light.

Open your breath

Expand your heart in gratitude…

For you are reborn,

Each day,

Anew.

Awaken to the throb of life within you,

To the beat of your heart.

Your dreams as seeds in the fertile darkness of

The Great Mystery.

You are young, beloved,

Inspired and ready

For the glorious day,

For the ripeness of the year,

For your magnificent life,

Which holds more surprises than you could

Ever dream of.

Stretch into your sweetness,

Greet your body arising in the morning light

With fresh eye of admiration and words of welcome.

Each day a new beginning,

Each morning the start of Spring,

Each Spring, the energy of the Maiden,

The innocence of youth

That pulses life into dreams unfolding…

Welcome the song of birds,

The blossoming of flowers,

The hum of bees

Collecting dripping nectar as I,

The Great Mother, awaken each spring,

Oozing my fertile love juices of renewal and rebirth.

Let them wash away the stillness of Winter,

Cleansing your inner spaces,

The darkest rooms of your being.

Release the old into my composting flesh.

Be light and free!

Delight in desire and ecstasy!

For the night of Winter

Washes away with the light of dawn.

The cold of the night

Melts into the softness of a Sun reborn.

The seeds that were planted

Penetrate the surface of my soil skin

And you, my child, are

Blossoming…

Becoming…

More fully your Self.

-Marysia Miernowska

Background: This ritual honors Faery and its connection to Paganism. There are four elemental clans: Sylphs of Air, Salamanders of Fire, Undines of Water, and Gnomes of Earth. The four Quarter Callers lead the ritual, each representing one of the elemental clans with various activities.

Preparation:  The altar is made from five log sections stacked together and draped with a cloth. It is set with four figurines to represent the four clans. Also on the altar are the materials needed for each of the elemental activities: a bowl of bubble rings for Air, tinder and incense (with magnesium starter to light it) for Fire, May dew for Water, and stones for Earth. Twigs of Oak, Ash, and Thorn stand in a vase to represent the Faery Triad.

Attendees should bring a small offering to hang on a tree, such as a tiny mirror, ribbon, cloth banner, or bell. Dress code for this ritual is white and/or silver for Sylphs, red/yellow for Salamanders, blue/violet for Undines, and green/brown for Gnomes; each attendee should wear the color of their favorite element. The four Callers each wear a glittering cape appropriate to their Quarter and clan.

West Caller: “Let the clans of the Fair Kingdoms be called!”

East Caller:
“Eastern realms! Clan of the Sylphs,
Spirits of the Air, of winds, clouds and sky;
We summon you, lend of your playfulness.
We invite you to our Beltane rite.
Hail and welcome!”

All: “Hail and welcome!”

South Caller:
“Southern realms! Clan of the Salamanders,
Spirits of the Fire, of blazing heat and burning light;
We summon you, lend of your passion.
We invite you to our Beltane rite.
Hail and welcome!”

All: “Hail and welcome!”

West Caller:
“Western realms! Clan of the Undines,
Spirits of the Water, of sea, river and raindrop;
We summon you, lend of your beauty.
We invite you to our Beltane rite.
Hail and welcome!”

All: “Hail and welcome!”

North Caller:
“Northern realms! Clan of the Gnomes,
Spirits of the Earth, of the field, mountain and cave;
We summon you, lend of your stamina.
We invite you to our Beltane rite.
Hail and welcome!”

All: “Hail and welcome!”

East Caller:  Casts the circle.

North Caller:  Leads the guided meditation:

“Close your eyes. Breathe deep and relax. Focus on the world around you. Feel the grass beneath your feet and the breeze against your cheeks. Feel the energy of this magical place. Breathe and relax. Let all your tension flow out of your body and down into the earth. You feel refreshed and alive.

Now awaken your subtle senses,
The eyes and ears of your spirit.
Become aware of the flowers
And the grass. Notice how the sunlight
Glimmers through the green canopy
Of leaves overhead.
With each breath you become
More aware of the magical world.
Look. Listen. Feel.
Do you see a dancing mote of light,
Or a shadow that moves on its own?
Do you hear the flutter of wings,
The chime of bells, or distant laughter?
Do you feel tiny feet scampering
Over your skin, or invisible fingers
Plucking at your sleeves?
Such signs as these indicate
The presence of faeries.
If you sense nothing, be patient,
And reach inside for your younger self,
Who remembers them well
And can reintroduce you to faeries.
If a faery makes itself known to you,
Then greet it as a friend, and ask
Whether it has a bit of wisdom to share.
Finally, open your eyes, and remember
That you can always return to this place
Where the magic lives. For the faeries
Can teach you many things – but
Some things must be believed to be seen!”

East Caller:
“I am the Speaker for the Sylphs.
Within every butterfly flapping its wings,
Every winter rose, every child’s laugh,
The tinkle of a silvery bell,
Beats the heart of a Sylph.
They ride the breeze
On saddles of thistledown
Chasing the scent of lilacs.
Frolicking within a drift of glimmering globes,
We revive the child who lives inside.”

East Caller removes the cloth from the bowl of bubble-rings. She claims one ring for herself and blows bubbles with it. Then she distributes a ring to each attendee, and finally returns the bowl to the altar.

“May the wind always bring you whimsy and joy;
May you never be far from the sound of laughter;
And play like no one’s keeping score.
In the name of the Sylphs, so mote it be!”

All: “So mote it be!”

South Caller:
“I am the Speaker for the Salamanders.
When you feel a flash of heat,
See flames and dying embers dance,
Or feel the charge of lightning in the air;
When your heart races, your pulse quickens,
Your passions grow;
When inspiration sparks,
And a flare of creativity lights your way,
Know that Salamanders
And brethren of the Fire Clan are near.
Gaze into the flame
And look them in the eye.
Here you can learn
The power of creation and destruction.

South Caller removes the cloth from the bowl of tinder and incense, and passes around incense cones to the attendees. Then he kindles the fire using flint and steel.

“May your passion always grow;
May you always savor the spice of life;
May the Eternal Flame always light your way.
In the name of the Salamanders, so mote it be!”

All: “So mote it be!”

West Caller:
“I am the Speaker for the Undines.
When you see unexplained ripples in water
Or tracks on frosted windows, when you hear
Mysterious music along the shores, then
You will know my kinsfolk are near.
You may attract them with fountains,
Glass fishing floats, seashells, or mirrors.
Undines bring the gift of Beauty – not merely
The beauty of the body, but of the spirit.
Legend tells that the first dew of May
Enhances loveliness, magical power,
And the subtle sight. Behold!”

West Caller removes the cloth from the Water bowl, goes around the circle to sprinkle everyone with May dew, then returns the bowl to the altar.

“May your inner Beauty always show,
May magic leap in your hands as a fountain,
And may you see the unseen marvels of the world.
In the name of the Undines, so mote it be!”

All: “So mote it be!”

North Caller:
“I am the Speaker for the Gnomes.
When you hear the sound of hidden hammers,
See grass bend with no foot near,
Or taste blackberries in bleak December,
Know that the hands of Gnomes are hard at work.
From oak above we gather strength;
In the stone we make our homes below.
We provide patience and endurance,
Willpower and won’t.
A well-kept house shall draw us in,
And generosity bid us stay.”

North Caller removes the cloth from the bowl of stones and distributes one stone to each attendee. Then he returns the bowl to the altar.

“May the land be bountiful,
May your health never fail,
And may your Will be steel.
In the name of the Gnomes, so mote it be!”

All: “So mote it be!”

West Caller: “On the altar stands a vase with sprigs of Oak, Ash, and Thorn. Legend tells that wherever you see these three trees growing together, they mark a place where faeries meet. Yet trees of all kinds are magical as well, each in their own way.

We have listened to the lore of the faeries, and now it is time to show our thanks. In many traditions, people leave gifts for the Faery Folk by tying small adornments to a tree. This is called ‘The Dressing of the Tree.’ Take now the offering you have brought with you and hang it from a tree somewhere around this meadow.”  West Caller demonstrates by tying her offering to a tree. “Thus we give thanks for what we have received. Blessed be!”

All: “Blessed be!”

North Caller:
“Northern realms! Land of the Gnomes,
Spirits of the Earth, we thank you
For lending of your stamina.
Remember us always as your allies.
Hail and farewell!”

All: “Hail and farewell!”

West Caller:
“Western realms! Land of the Undines,
Spirits of the Water, we thank you
For lending of your beauty.
Remember us always as your allies.
Hail and farewell!”

All: “Hail and farewell!”

South Caller:
“Southern realms! Land of the Salamanders,
Spirits of the Fire, we thank you
For lending of your passion.
Remember us always as your allies.
Hail and farewell!”

All: “Hail and farewell!”

East Caller:
“Eastern realms! Land of the Sylphs,
Spirits of the Air, we thank you
For lending of your playfulness.
Remember us always as your allies.
Hail and farewell!”

All: “Hail and farewell!”

North Caller:  Releases the circle.All: “Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!”

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Necessary Tools & Supplies

Altar cloth
Five log sections for altar
Figurines of a Sylph, Salamander, Undine, and Gnome
Four elemental bowls
Four cloths to cover bowls: white, red, blue, green
Vase and water for twigs
Oak, Ash, & Thorn twigs
Bubble rings for Air
Tinder, charcoal, and incense for Fire
Magnesium lighter (and regular lighter for backup)
May dew/Pagan holy water for Water
Stones for Earth
Bells, ribbons, cloth banners, tiny mirrors to dress the tree