The Temple of the Free Spirit

This was Temple Free Spirit's first every gathering and group ritual. We gathered in celebrate the Winter Solstice! We held a ritual (which follows), had a potluck and had lots of fun! As with all Temple events, we also had a food drive and received several large bags of food for Second Harvest!

Type of Ritual: Celebrating the return of the Sun
Date and Time: Saturday, December 22nd, 2007
Location: Spokane's South Hill, Shannon and Robb's home
Length of Ritual: 15 minutes
Attendees: About 25 Temple Free Spirit member and their friends and family

Introduction

Jaspenelle: The twilight of the Winter Solstice is here,
As we await the dawn of the Returning Light.
This is not the beginning but it is a beginnings,
As we move through the wheel of the year.

Robb: We gather here on this Longest Night,
To welcome back the Golden Sun.
He who gives light and life to our home, the Earth.
Together they sustain us, may their circle forever be unbroken.

Quarters

Jaspenelle: Hail guardians of the East, spirits of Air, powers of Communication. To you comes the Returning Sun. We call upon you to lend your essence to this rite and welcome you on this Solstice Eve.

Michelle: Hail guardians of the South, spirits of Fire, powers of Will. To you comes the Warming Days. We call upon you to lend your essence to this rite and welcome you on this Solstice Eve.

Shannon: Hail guardians of the West, spirits of Water, powers of Empathy. From you passes the Wanning Year. We call upon you to lend your essence to this rite and welcome you on this Solstice Eve.

Dee: Hail guardians of the North, spirits of Earth, powers of Stability. From you passes the fallow times. We call you to lend your essence to this rite and welcome you on this Solstice Eve.

Robb: We caste a Circle of Light to be our temple between the worlds. In the name of the Sun and Earth we bless and consecrate this place, so shall it be.

Invocation

Robb: Father Sun, you who are the freedom of the wild things that roam under the sun that lights the day. We invite you to come join us in this rite. You who are the mysteries of the forests and the resolve in the community, we honor you, for you are the soul of nature that gives life to the Universe.

Jaspenelle: Mother Earth, you who are the beauty of the snowy winter shimmering in the light of the silver moon. We invite you to come join us in this rite. You who are the mysteries of the deep oceans and the inspiration in the community, we honor you, for you are the soul of nature that gives life to the Universe.

Guided Mediation

Jaspenelle: The Winter Solstice is the time of the Labyrinth, a time for learning to trust your intuition and journeying within yourself to find your inner light, your star.

I would like everyone get into a comfortable meditation position. Gently close your eyes. Begin to breathe slow and relaxed breaths from your belly up. Feel yourself becoming wonderfully relaxed. Feel your feet relax, then your legs and your thighs. All your lower body completely relaxed. Relax your abdomen, your chest, let your heart release its worries for this time. Relaxed, calm and relaxed. Now flex and release your hands, your arms and your shoulders, all tension flowing out of you, all relaxed. Relax your neck, your face, your thoughts, all relaxed. All physical and mental stress drifting away, like falling snow. Feel at ease with your surroundings, calm and relaxed.

Take a moment to enjoy this wonderful feeling of being completely relaxed, surrounded by peace.

Imagine the dark night sky vaulting high over your head. The moon has set and only the stars twinkle above. One star in particular catches your eye and you feel yourself drawn towards it, this is your star. You feel wonderfully free as you weave your way through the night sky towards your star. As you near it, beautiful radiance permeates your being cleansing your every cell, its energy fills you, until you too shine. What color is your light? You are one with your star, shimmering in the night sky, comfortable in your balance between the light and dark and knowing these two healing forces are always within you, to guide you. Take a moment to appreciate this radiance that is you.

Look towards Earth, she calls you home. You feel yourself being to float back towards her, leaving your star, but knowing it's light is always within you. The Earth is a precious jewel, shinning in the light of the life-giving Sun. You gently touch down on your home, your Earth and feel at peace in the star-filled night.

Now slowly and gently, being to return to the here and now. I am going to begin to count from one to five, when I reach five you will be wide awake and in perfect health and ready to meet life's challenges. One, two, three, your eyes are now opening, four, five, you are now wide awake and feeling wonderful and in perfect health.

Song

Lily: "Silent Night" (by Ellen Reed)
Silent night, Solstice night
All is calm, all is bright.
Nature slumbers in forest and glen
Till in Springtime She wakens again.

Sleeping Spirits grow strong
Sleeping Spirits grow strong

Silent night, Solstice night
Quiet rest, ‘til the light.
Turning ever the rolling wheel.
Brings the Winter to comfort and heal.

Rest your spirit in peace
Rest your spirit in peace.

Silent night, Solstice night
Silver moon, shining bright
Snowfall blankets the slumbering Earth
Yule fires welcome the Sun's rebirth.

Hark, the Light is reborn
Hark, the Light is reborn.

Evergreen Spell

Dee: (hands out slips of paper and pens) Everyone write 3 wishes on your piece of paper: one for yourself, one for someone you know, and one for the world. (Wait for people to finish and hand out holly leafs.)

Wrap your piece of holly in your paper and twist it up. Now light your wishes aflame and drop them in the cauldron, while you do this visualize your wishes being fulfilled.

Group chant while wishes burn: We are one with the infinite Sun, forever and ever and ever.

Releasing

Jaspenelle: Guardians of the East, we thank you for your presence here and for your gift of clarity. Stay if you can, go if you must.

Michelle: Guardians of the South, we thank you for your presence here and for your gift of purity. Stay if you can, go if you must.

Shannon: Guardians of the West, we thank you for your presence here and for your gift of empathy. Stay if you can, go if you must.

Dee: Guardians of the North, we thank you for your presence here and for your gift of stability. Stay if you can, go if you must.

Jaspenelle: Thank you, Mother Earth for attending these rites and sharing with us your mysteries. Stay if you can, go if you must.

Robb: Thank you, Father Sun for attending these rites and sharing with us your mysteries. Stay if you can, go if you must.

Dee: May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door and happiness be guided into your home by the candle of Yule! The circle is open, yet never broken. Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again!