An open invitation is extended to the Pagan Community to come celebrate the following Baltic Autumn tradition. Even if you know little or nothing about this Feast, come along anyway and join in. You'll be in for a new wonderful Pagan experience with a great group of friendly people. These events are organised to foster the Pagan community no matter what path/tradition you follow and just might add to your own awareness of this divine and beautiful world in which we live.
Description
Agricultural celebration of the coming of Autumn and regeneration of nature.
Ritual to bless grasses and flowers, to later be used for healing and purification smudging.
Honour is given to the Goddess of great fertility and abundance, the Goddess of Earth and the Goddess of Bees.
Gathering program outline
· Everyone who passes through the "Green Gate" is greeted with a jug of blessed water which is poured into your hands; with this blessed water you then wash your hands and face. Moving along you will find another person with a towel with which to dry yourself. The two-fold meaning of this ritual is similar to Wiccan smudging. One meaning is to cleanse or purify oneself before ceremony and also, that those who partake of this ritual agree that they are willing participants in this celebration. In the Baltic tradition most, if not all, gatherings begin this way.
· Participants then split into two groups. One group walks clockwise in a circle through the gate and the other group walks anti clockwise in a circle through the gate greeting each other as you pass. This continues three times or until all participants have greeted each other. Everyone then enters the building or festive area where the celebration is to take place.
· A greeting is given by the host who briefly explains why we have gathered.
· The Fire Rite is performed where an elder or volunteer fire woman or fire man lights the fire on the altar. Meanwhile, without speaking everyone just observes and watches as the fire grows strong. In the ancient Baltic faith, fire was not from this earth but from the heavens in the sky and through fire we may communicate with our Gods and Goddesses. Most of us know the mesmerising effect of fire, this is surely a great aid to meditation and connection to the Divine, which can be found in the leaping flames.
· When the fire is strong an elder or a volunteer help mate approaches the altar and sprinkles salt into the fire three times each time saying “Hearth Goddess be satiated”.
· The same person or another volunteer then makes an offering of water to the Goddess of Water saying “here is some water for you to bathe yourself, if needed”.
· The same person or another volunteer then addresses the Goddess of Fire saying ”we make a bed for you here, please do not wander about this house (area)”.
· The elder or another volunteer then addresses Mother Earth; after kissing the earth, offerings to Mother Earth are then poured/placed into the fire. All participants then are free to make their own offerings to Mother Earth by placing flowers, bread, beer or whatever each participant chooses.
· A ritual called “Strengthening by Fire” is carried out; where, one at a time, each person draws the heat from the fire to their face (like splashing water on the face).
· The Gods/Goddesses who represent the cause for our gathering are then honoured; one by one each person gathers their bouquet, holds it over the fire and then places it by the altar.
· Everyone walks around the altar 3 times while chanting.
· The Fire Rite is concluded and all participants move onto the feast. No one may put out the fire during the gathering and care must taken to treat it with honour e.g. no spitting or urinating on the Fire (not that anyone would).
· Various simple rituals may be carried out throughout the feast e.g. it might entail offering food to the ancestors on a separate plate such as at the Autumn feast for the Dead, toastings (blessings) are commonly practiced, various divinations may be conducted.
· After the activities around the feast table have concluded, people may continue to socialize, dance or sing. Telling of folk stories are also encouraged at this time. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to lead a song, perform a song or just join in. Joy of community is the main focus of these gatherings.
· The fire is extinguished at the end of the Feast.
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