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dcseainIt's that time of year again. I'm writing an opening for a ritual at my church. First italic bit is for emphasis, the second as a placeholder. Thank you in advance for your input.
Pagan: a heathen; one who does not believe in the Abrahamic God; not a person of The Book. So, who’s a pagan? Everyone neither Jew, nor Christian, nor Muslim. Among those heathens are the Zoroastrians, from whom, some scholars believe, the Jews got the concept of monotheism.
The Zoroastrians worship Ahura Mazda, also called Ormazd - the one, uncreated, creator of all, by focusing on pots of fire, not unlike our Unitarian Universalist chalice. Our chalice has shed light unto the World for 400 years or so. There are Zoroastrian fires that have been shedding light unto the World for a millennium or longer, enlightening the World by symbolizing the energy of the Creator.
[Pause]
Wood. Metal Fire. Air. Water. Earth. These are the core elements of the universe according to Chinese Tradition.
Magic. Ether, comprising Fire and Air. Solid, comprising Water and Earth. These are the core elements of the universe according to Norse Tradition.
Fire. Water. Air. Earth. These are the core elements of the universe according to most other Northern European, Native American, and Neo-Pagan traditions.
What is the sun, but of Fire; purifying, bleaching. What are the summer winds, but of Fire; eroding, transforming. What is passion, but of Fire; unbridled, transfiguring…
Fire in the core of the Earth keeps the Earth healthy and vibrant and living. Fire from the core of the earth burns and buries and blots out the sun. Fire from the core of the Earth flows and lumbers, and creates new land.
Fire warms us, when we are cold. Fire dries us, when we are wet. Fire cooks our food,when we are hungry. Fire pierces the night, that we may see in the dark.
Fire honours the Sun, which warms our environment. Fire honours the Sun, which dries puddles, that most things do not rot. Fire honours the Sun, which provides the energy for our food to grow, Fire honours the sun, Fire honours the Sun, that it stay with us and shorten our nights.
[Pause]
Fire and the Sun - both enduring, radiant, pure, and life- sustaining. Today, as you may have surmised, it’s all about the Fire, right down to the casting of the circle. Last year, flower petals of the Earth made our circle. This year, I will smudge the circle with fire and smoke in the Cherokee tradition with this bundle of sage, [and other herbs yet to be determined]. We ask you to sing the calypso chant you’ll find in your Order of Ritual while circle is smudged.
We come from the mountain living in the mountain
Go back to the mountain, turn the world around
We come from the fire living in the fire
Go back to the fire, turn the world around
repeat!
Pagan: a heathen; one who does not believe in the Abrahamic God; not a person of The Book. So, who’s a pagan? Everyone neither Jew, nor Christian, nor Muslim. Among those heathens are the Zoroastrians, from whom, some scholars believe, the Jews got the concept of monotheism.
The Zoroastrians worship Ahura Mazda, also called Ormazd - the one, uncreated, creator of all, by focusing on pots of fire, not unlike our Unitarian Universalist chalice. Our chalice has shed light unto the World for 400 years or so. There are Zoroastrian fires that have been shedding light unto the World for a millennium or longer, enlightening the World by symbolizing the energy of the Creator.
[Pause]
Wood. Metal Fire. Air. Water. Earth. These are the core elements of the universe according to Chinese Tradition.
Magic. Ether, comprising Fire and Air. Solid, comprising Water and Earth. These are the core elements of the universe according to Norse Tradition.
Fire. Water. Air. Earth. These are the core elements of the universe according to most other Northern European, Native American, and Neo-Pagan traditions.
What is the sun, but of Fire; purifying, bleaching. What are the summer winds, but of Fire; eroding, transforming. What is passion, but of Fire; unbridled, transfiguring…
Fire in the core of the Earth keeps the Earth healthy and vibrant and living. Fire from the core of the earth burns and buries and blots out the sun. Fire from the core of the Earth flows and lumbers, and creates new land.
Fire warms us, when we are cold. Fire dries us, when we are wet. Fire cooks our food,when we are hungry. Fire pierces the night, that we may see in the dark.
Fire honours the Sun, which warms our environment. Fire honours the Sun, which dries puddles, that most things do not rot. Fire honours the Sun, which provides the energy for our food to grow, Fire honours the sun, Fire honours the Sun, that it stay with us and shorten our nights.
[Pause]
Fire and the Sun - both enduring, radiant, pure, and life- sustaining. Today, as you may have surmised, it’s all about the Fire, right down to the casting of the circle. Last year, flower petals of the Earth made our circle. This year, I will smudge the circle with fire and smoke in the Cherokee tradition with this bundle of sage, [and other herbs yet to be determined]. We ask you to sing the calypso chant you’ll find in your Order of Ritual while circle is smudged.
We come from the mountain living in the mountain
Go back to the mountain, turn the world around
We come from the fire living in the fire
Go back to the fire, turn the world around
repeat!
