Second Harvest Rite to Demeter and Dionysos

The following is a ritual I developed to celebrate the Autumn Equinox by honoring Demeter and Dionysos as the Great Mother and Father of our physical and spiritual sustenance.  Enjoy!

Second Harvest Rite to Demeter and Dionysos
Originally Written for Autumn Equinox 2010

You Will Need:
Hestia candle
Icons of Demeter and Dionysos
A candle for each Demeter and Dionysos
Large bowl
Grapes
Athame
Bell
Feast dishes (provided by participants)

Officiants:
Priestess of Demeter (lady of the house)
Priest of Dionysos (man of the house)
Priest/ess of Hestia
Priest/ess Panagia
Heirophantid of Demeter (youngest girl)
Heirophant of Dionysos (youngest boy)


-all gather in a semi-circle before the altar holding their dish for the feast, except for Priestess Panagia who holds the bowl of grapes for ritual-

-Priest/ess of Hestia approaches altar-

We begin this rite by calling Hestia who is first and last among all the Gods, who is Goddess of hearth and temple fire, of the spiritual center of our world and of all sacred places.

-lights central flame-

Hestia, beloved goddess of the spiritual flame, come and make all that is here holy and sacred in your name. Bring to us the peace and sureness of home and hearth. Bring your purity and beauty to us as we honor you who are the center of the spiritual flame. So mote it be.

-Priestess Panagia approaches the altar and faces the group-

At this time we will make our offerings to the Lord and Lady. Each in your family group place your dish for the feast on the altar with these words: “For Demeter and Dionysos this sacred offering to honor the Mother and Father of all.”

-Priestess Panagia places the bowl of grapes in the center of the altar in front of the Hestia flame. Each group places their feast dish around the table and recites the offertory words-

-Heirophantid of Demeter approaches altar, rings bell and says-

Now we will call the Mother Goddess who is Queen of the golden harvest. She is known as Demeter and by many other names as well.

-Priestess of Demeter approaches the altar-

Lady of all good harvests, our stores are filled again with your generous bounty. O you who are the blessings of earth, who sustains both body and spirit, hail!

-lights the Goddess candle from Hestia’s flame-

Beloved Demeter, you spin out your magic from the mysteries of the seed, bringing us the miracle of life and growth. The riches of the orchard and cultivated field are all born of your power and so we honor the Great Mother of the land. O mother of life, we were born from the infinite seeds of creation and live through the powers of earth. Our spirits rise with your beauty for you are everywhere, in every broad meadow and mountainside, in every lovely field and flower, and in every living and growing thing Today at the blessed Autumnal Equinox, the ending of the second harvest, we honor you, bringing you offerings and praising your name. We thank you for all that you give
and ask that you come and bless this rite with ease and joy. So mote it be!

-Priestess of Hecate approaches the altar, retrieves the athame from the bowl of grapes and turns to face participants-

By Hecate’s blade, the grain was separated from the earth so that the threshing could begin. It is fitting then that at the ending of the second harvest, when seed shall be separated from chaff, for us to note anything we no longer want in our lives and from which we wish to be separated. We approach the altar and raise the blade, praying aloud or silently for whatever it is that might be beneficial for you to be separated from, that it be done so now.

Begin with the words, “By her blade...” When you are done, breathe upon the blade. End with the words “Hail Hecate!” then place the blade back on the altar and return to the circle.

-Priestess of Hecate begins the ritual of the blade which proceeds until all are done-

-Priest of Dionysos approaches the altar-

Now we shall honor the Father God known as Dionysos and by countless other names who, at the Spring Equinox, the time of sacred planting, loved the Mother Goddess in the thrice-plowed field to ensure the bounty of the land.

-lights God candle-

Sacred one of both forest and field, from your own untamed spirit did you receive and then impart the liberation of the wild that lay the foundation for our deepest joy and pleasures, and, as emissary of the Great Mother, from August Demeter did you receive and then impart the arts of agriculture that lay the foundation for civilization. And so we honor you. So mote it be!
-Heirophant of Dionysos approaches altar-

Wise and Wild One, it is with food stores set aside that we may enjoy the luxury of time
in which to pursue our loves with your ecstatic abandon, in which to glorify the museswith your gifts of music, dance, drama, poetry and art, and in which we may honor the Gods with joyous festivals and celebrations. These are the blessings that you, Dionysos, in concord with Her, have given to all of humanity.

Priest of Dionysos:

Treasured God Dionysos, we thank and honor you as we bless this sacred place in your name. So mote it be.

-Priest of Dionysos uncovers the grapes, faces the group and gestures to them-

Grapes, warmed by solar light and nourished by the bosom of the Earth, have long been a symbol of wisdom and passion combined. It is fitting then that at the time of the second harvest, when we enjoy this sacred fruit in its abundance, that we note the abundance in our own lives and pray for abundance in harvests yet to come.

Now we will each approach the altar praying aloud or silently in thanks for what we have and supplication for what we desire, that it be done so now. Begin with the words “By his vigor...” When you are done, choose a single grape. End with the words, “Hail Dionysos...” then pass the grape over His flame before partaking of it.

-Priest of Dionysos begins the rite and each participant follows until all are finished-

-Heirophant of Dionysos fills a cup for each person and offers a toast-

Raise your glasses! Filled with gifts, the chalice of plenty overflows with good fortune. How blessed are we who love and honor the Goddess and God. May we drink from the royal cup! So mote it be.

-Priestess of Demeter and Priest of Dionysos approach altar and face the group-

Priestess of Demeter:

These are the rites of the second harvest and they are now complete in grace and joy.

Priest of Dionysos:

May her blessings proceed unto all. Now, on to the feast!

-Heirophantid of Demeter rings bell joyfully-

Is It Really Possible to Offend the Gods?

I’ve noticed that offending the Gods isn’t something I’ve ever worried a whole lot about. Even when I flirted with Religio Romana, I would often take the piacular offering out of rituals--the one that says, essentially, "I give you this gift so you won’t squash me if I accidentally got a word wrong and pissed you off." 

In general I have never been a big fan of squash-happy Gods. Isn’t that one reason I fled Christianity? 

Anyway, I tend to look at it like this: 

As far as the Gods are concerned we are very much like little children. We demand a lot, have a great capacity for love and learning but also a great capacity for crankiness and temper tantrums when we don’t get exactly what we want when we want it. And just as loving parents must correct the bad behavior, they certainly aren’t going to abandon or harm the child because it was naughty. In fact, after correcting the behavior, they are more likely to look at each other with knowing smiles and remember, ah, we were once like that ourselves. 

But there’s another level to this. A good deal of reconstructionists aren’t even worried about offending the Gods when they’re spiritually naughty--their main concern is offending the Gods while they’re attempting to be spiritually upright. They worry that somehow by not doing a ritual or saying a prayer just so, the Gods will, as I said, begin to get squash happy, thunder will roll, and every good connection to that deity they’ve worked for will be immediately cleft in twain.

Really?

Imagine if you will a young child makes you a gift of a clay ashtray they made at summer camp and they present it to you with all the open-hearted love and personal pride they can muster. Now, you don’t smoke and the thing looks like an autopsy in fluorescent pink Play-doh, but do you smash the ashtray, smack the child, admonish and abandon them? No. You probably get all misty, take the ashtray into your own hands and heart as the sacred object of love’s bond that it represents and display it proudly in your dwelling long after the child even remembers making it. 

It is the same with Gods--or it must be if they are the ascended paragons we hold them out to be. We offer whatever we can with our best effort, love and intention and they receive it exactly in the spirit it was intended. They are happy with it, we are happy with them and the mighty soul swells.

Blessed by the Mystery,

-M. Ashley

Circle Casting for the Hellenic Witch

After performing my last few rituals without casting a circle or having much buildup at all, I have begun to realize the importance of doing it--less I think for creating sacred space in the physical plane--as I believe all the world is automatically sacred space--but more for creating sacred space in your own mind, body and spirit--to give you a bit of a running start before making the leap into the sacred work. In that vein I offer here a Hellenic circle casting incorporating the Orphic Hymns. Enjoy!

 Casting the Circle:

• Gather all objects and implements necessary for the ritual or magic that is to be performed and lay them on the altar according to the plan shown in this book.
• With the besom, sweep an area large enough to lie down and stretch out in. Visualize all negativity being removed from the space, leaving the area you are to use for your circle clean, pure, and glowing. 
• Light the Hestia candle or lamp which is placed at the center of the altar

Daughter of Rhea, Venerable Guardian of the Unwearying Flame,
this supplicant come before you now is yours-
-a mystic much blessed and holy.
The Gods have fixed their dwelling place in you,
strong, stable basis of the mortal race,
many-formed, eternal, laughing, blessed, lovely Queen, ever Scarlet One.
Accept these rites,
accord to each of us our just desires, gentle health, and needful goodness.
Hail Hestia!

• Place elemental representations at each cardinal point of the circle. At north, a bowl of salt; at east, a censer with lit incense; at south, a lit red candle; and at west, a bowl of water.
• Turn to the east, to the incense, and touch the point of the athame to it,

By the power my beloved Theoi, the Spirits of Nature, my ancestors and myself, 

I bless this incense. Esto!

• Repeat this blessing for all four elemental representations, moving from one to another in a clockwise direction.
• Stand facing east, athame at waist level, point facing out. Turn to the right and create the circle by walking around its perimeter and saying:

Here is the boundary of this sacred circle.
Naught but light shall enter herein,
naught but light shall emerge from within.
By the power of my beloved Theoi, the Spirits of Nature,
My ancestors and myself, Esto!

• Having returned to the east point, take up the incense and cense the perimeter of the circle, walking deosil and returning the censor to its place.
• Turn to the south and walk the candle around the circle deosil, then the water, and finally the bowl of salt, sprinkling just a bit around the perimeter. Sense the purifying of the circle, sense the creation of energy and sacred space.
• Standing at the east point of the circle and facing east, hold your hands up to the heavens and say:

Hail and welcome spirits of Air,
Chief among you Zephyros,
sweet West Wind who grants rest to weary labor,
A scent of grass and gentle song,
Oh vernal Wind, You bring to the delighted ships,
Impelled by You through the profound Sea, 
perusing with prosperous Fate Their destined course,
Zephyrs, unseen, formed from Air with wings of light,
With blameless breath regard Your supplicant's prayer.
I call upon you now
and ask you to attend this circle,
to give to it of your light and will,
to witness, to protect, and to consecrate
the work done herein.
Charge it by your power I pray.
Esto!

• Turn to the south, hold your hands up to the heavens and say:

Hail and welcome spirits of fire
Chief among you the Primal Fire.
O Primal Fire, ascend to us and rule the sky.
Aethereal Fire, radiant heat that inspires life,
Light Bearer, Power of Stars, 
Cause now the blooming of the iris and the rose,
And to the grain be kind,
Hear our prayer of supplication,
And be thou ever innocent, serene, and gentle to our Land.
 call you now
and ask you to attend this circle,
to give to it of your light and will,
to witness, to protect, and to consecrate
the work done herein.
Charge it by your power I pray.
Esto!

• Turn to the west, hold your hands up to the heavens and say:

Hail and welcome spirits of water,
Chief among you Leucothea
Powerful Goddess in the mighty deeps,

the profound sea Your home,

Reveling in the waves.
Guardian of mankind who delivers ships from the fury of the storm 


when all is lost and strength is gone,


When tempests overwhelm the mariner with rushing waters,


Your heart is touched with pity,


And You hear the supplicant's prayer,


Sparing the lives of those who run upon the sea.
Be present Goddess, and bring prosperity to the ships, 

defend Your mystics upon the stormy oceans,


And conduct them safely to their destined end.
I call you now
and ask you to attend this circle,
to give to it of your light and will,
to witness, to protect, and to consecrate
the work done herein.
Charge it by your power I pray.
Esto!

• Turn to the north, hold your hands up to the heavens and say:

Hail and welcome spirits of Earth,
Chief among you Gaia
Source of Gods and Mortals,
All-Fertile, All-Destroying Mother of All,


Who brings forth the bounteous fruits and flowers,


All variety, Maiden who anchors the eternal world in our own,


Immortal, Blessed, crowned with every grace,


Deep bosomed Earth, sweet plains and fields fragrant grasses in the nurturing rains,


Around you fly the beauteous stars, eternal and divine,

Come, Blessed Goddess, and hear the prayers of Your child,


And make the increase of the fruits and grains your constant care,

with the fertile seasons Your handmaidens,

Draw near, and bless your supplicant.
I call you now
and ask you to attend this circle,
to give to it of your light and will,
to witness, to protect, and to consecrate
the work done herein.
Charge it by your power I pray.
Esto!

• Turn clockwise until you are standing facing the altar. Hold your hands up to the Heavens and say (You may replace this general invocation with one specific to the deities of the ritual):

I call to the Theoi, all the Goddesses and Gods!
Eos, Helios, and Silver Selene,
all the Powers of the shining sky.
Thetis, Triton, and Amphitrite Queen,
all the Powers of the salty seas,
Khloris, Ploutous, and the Horai of Time,
all the Powers of the growing world.
To the Khthonioi who rule below:
Hekate, Persephone, and the Lord of the Dead.
To the Titanes who stood with Order:
Themis, Leto, and Mother Rhea.
To the Apotheothenai whose deeds won divinity:
Heracles, Asklepios, and Beloved Ariadne.
And to the Olympians, the Greatest of all:
Royal Hera, Heaven’s Queen; Goddess of Sovereignty;
Protectress of Women and Blesser of Marriage,
Lord Poseidon, ruler of the seas,
Earthshaker, Horse Tender, Securer of Safe Voyage,
Rich-haired Demeter, Goddess of Grain; Nourishing, Bountiful;
Sender of Gifts and Bringer of Seasons,
Golden Aphrodite, Ruler of Night;
Shapely, Heavenly Goddess of love and fertility;
Mistress of passion and needful desire; Lover of laughter and festivity,
Brazen Ares, Spear-Wielding, Shield-Piercing Destroyer;
Bloody, Mighty, Courageous God of Battles,
Beautiful Artemis, Untamed Huntress, Queen of the Beasts, Warrior of the Wilds; Goddess of Girlhood and Leader of the Dance, Helper in Childbirth,
Shining Apollon, Leader of the Muses;
Far-shooting, Far-seeing God of Oracles;
Brilliant Healer and Protector of Youths,
Grey-Eyed Athene, Maiden of War and Wise counsel,
Defender of Cities; Weaver, Worker and Goddess of Industry,
Renowned Hephaistos, Master of Fire and Shaper of Metals,
Resourceful, Ingenious God of many Crafts,
Glorious Hermes, Divine Messenger and Guide of Souls,
Eloquent, Crafty, God of Travel and Trade;
Patron of Athletes;  Protector of Herds and Flocks,
Ivy-Crowned Dionysos, Lord of the Vine,
Frenzied and Howling, Twice-born Giver of ecstasy, release, and primal catharsis,
God of Indestructible life,
Beloved Hestia, Keeper of the Hearth, Mistress of the Flame of family and sacrifice; Sacred center of home and community—Receiver of offerings both first and last.
To all the Theoi, Great Goddesses and Gods, Deathless Blessed Ones.
Theoi, I call you now
and ask you to attend this circle,
to give to it of your light and will,
to witness, to protect, and to consecrate
the work done herein.
Charge it by your power I pray.
Esto!

• The circle is now cast, consecrated, empowered, and sealed.

Releasing the Circle:

• Once the rite is ended, face east, hold your hands up and say:

Hail and farewell spirits of air
and beloved Zephyros
I thank you for your presence here.
Go in power and in peace,
And know that you are always welcome here.

• Repeat this formula for each cardinal point, substituting the appropriate names and directions.
• Turn clockwise until you face the altar. Hold you hands up to the heavens and say:

Hail and farewell
Beloved Theoi all.
I thank you for your presence here.
Go in power and in peace,
And know that you are always welcome here.
Esto!

• Take up the athame. Stand at the east point and, holding the athame at waist level, pierce the wall of the circle with its blade. Move deosil around the circle visualizing its power being sucked back into the knife. Literally pull if back into the blade and handle.
• When you arrive at the east again, the circle is no more. Stand at the center of what was your circle and say:

May this circle be open
but never broken
Esto!

• Clap your hands. The circle is now open.