Our group Exploring Earth-Centered Spirituality met on Saturday to consider the neo-Pagan holidays centered around May Day. My own Swedish-heritage family marks Valborgsmässoafton (usually shortened to Valborg), a version of the Germanic St. Walpurgis Eve, on April 30. We light a bonfire at Little Rhody Vasa Park and celebrate the complete end of winter—and sometimes do some play with children that includes driving the winter out of the community.
For our practice this weekend, we opened our time by lighting five candles and reciting these words:
Casting the Circle in a Time of Changing
Come ye spirits of Air,
the Breath that all living things breathe,
One planet, one air, one breath.
We breathe away fully the staleness of winter.
Be with us this day.
Come ye spirits of the Earth,
the Mother who holds all that lives
Bring summer’s warmth to all fertile places,
and fully tend to all that we must change.
Be with us this day.
Come ye spirits of Water,
let ours overflow with the vitality you bring,
seeds sprouting, mammals birthing, rocks eroding,
all that water touches brings change.
Be with us this day.
Come ye spirits of Fire,
the sun whose lengthening return most fully holds us,
the sun whose presence connects us to many solar systems,
to the whole Universe, to our community fire,
and to the inspiration of our own consciousness,
Be with us this day.
Great Spirit, known by many names,
we bless you and ask you to bless us
with courage in a time of change,
with protection from the personalities of the other side,
and wisdom here, as we join in this sacred circle.
Great Spirit, be with us this day.
After lighting the Chalice of Unitarian Universalism, we then shared poetry and thoughts about the spring, including a selection by Jim Peters from Patricia Montley’s book In Nature’s Honor. We went outdoors to the Art Gallery patio where we lit a small fire in a fire pit, and allowed people to toss into the fire things from their personal winters that they wanted to leave behind.
We then received, on behalf of the congregation, a special gift from HOLI, the Hindu Group of Long Island, who recently celebrated their Holi Festival of Colors in the Veatch House. It was a tree! We unpacked a weeping cherry tree and blessed it by bringing it close to the fire. We then danced around the fire pit singing a favorite UU song, “Come, come whoever you are.”
After appreciating the fire—and the earth upon which we stood—we returned to the Art Gallery. We shared a “pot luck” meal of food brought by many people, and had a time of community building and gratitude.
At the end of our ceremony, we released the circle which we had cast at the top of our time together. These are the words that we used and the “good luck” blessing that we shared with one another. We hope that the love the Goddess sends resides in all our hearts.
Releasing the Circle
Great Mother, I ask that your blessings remain in my heart,
and that I live in harmony with all that dwell on this earth.
Thank you for your presence this day.
Stay if you will; go if you must.
We bid you farewell.
Spirits of Fire that provides new beginnings,
thank you for your presence this day.
Stay if you will; go if you must.
We bid you farewell.
Spirits of the Waters that nourish the land,
thank you for your presence this day.
Stay if you will; go if you must.
We bid you farewell.
Spirits of Earth that brings forth new life,
thank you for your presence this day.
Stay if you will; go if you must.
We bid you farewell.
Spirits of Air and precious breath,
thank you for your presence this day.
Stay if you will; go if you must.
We bid you farewell.
As all good things must sometimes end,
Go forth with the love the Goddess sends.
For if your heart is always true,
This circle will come back to you.
Submitted by Rev. David Carl Olson
