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 Seasonal Cycles
WINTERTIDE SCENE:
‘Twas a cold dark silent night of barren dirt and frozen scene stark within the snow covered evergreen pine forest white. Deep inside the yawning mouth of hidden cave and womb of Earth resound the rhythms of echoing gnome drums and marching mail clad dwarfs. Cut hay and bed of straw, animal warmth, spiced log fire - bayberry, cedar, pine - wreath ringed rock strewn with mistletoe and oak. Garlanded stone, cradled crest, hollowed within the mother’s egg a black snuffed candle sits (awaits the gift). Kneeling in the cavern’s mouth, hands cupped to hold dormant seeds of precious promise, offerings to a brilliant star beam, shining soul path from above. Enter now the Christmas seed and Yuletide babe into the womb, shield before birth. Dream of hope - Wintertide faith - fire into earth upon a lonely midnight.
WINTERTIDE CHANTSONG:
Days are short and night is long
Let us sing the Wintertide song.
Stars above and Earth below
Holy Midnight that we know.
Silent night within the womb
Here be mating in the tomb.
Link the depths to the high
Drawing magick from the sky.
Om Mom - Mom Oh
Sacred seeds are coming home
Ah Ma - Ma Ah
Om Oh Mom - Ah Moan
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MIDWINTER SCENE:
Clear star night before the dawn, milky way of sparkling light, web of silver thread line weaving upon the lady’s loom to part the gloom cast darkly down beneath the cover of wind swept snows. From the caverns issue dragonbrood fireworks to grace the frozen sky and white forest groves lit shadowlike by dancing candles bright. Within the ring and deepest womb the seed is charged the dream is fed, a candle black lit to link the open air and warmed ground in praying hands clasped. Frankincense, myrrh, benzoin scents waft on sylph breezes high beyond uprisen silver sword carving currents from the stars amidst sparkles. Candlemas plans and Midwinter promise of a warm birth tomorrow.
MIDWINTER CHANTSONG:
Frozen soil melt to touch
As we do - it is such
Deep within the icy land
Warming promise in our hand.
Charging seeds in preparation
green light glowing star connection
Protecting life and the growing scheme
Soon to sprout - living dream.
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SPRINGTIDE SCENE:
Gentle rising dawn in golden hue, sun spawned grasses wave beneath cotton ball clouds above yonder hills rolling. Valley wet with ice-melt runoff glacial lake and bubbling spring, early morn evaporating water into fire warmed vapors, scents of fresh air and peeking flowers on planting day. Springtide turn the rich full soil, spade blade, hoe poke stick hole, sow the womb charged seed like egg of Eostre cracking through. Bunny hop, basket nest, all colors of the rainbow explore upon earthen fields and open arms spread wide in joy of resurrection sure. Faerie laughter singing mirth, grazing beast amongst the trees and early green leaves bitten by windly chill growing still.
SPRINGTIDE CHANTSONG:
Hoe! Hoe! The season has come
Plant the seeds in the Sun
Open Earth and slip them in
Sprout first then trim and thin.
Hoe! Hoe! Now is the time
Plant the seeds to Springtide rhyme.
Grow! Grow! That is our wish
Fulfill the promise just like this!
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MIDSPRING SCENE:
Whole born glory morning bright amongst the countryside, lightning showers, crackling poles erected high to fertilize youthful earth. Streaming, dancing, mating, weaving wildly, prancing through May Day’s special hues. Flowerbeds sprouting fields in the forest in bloom. Beltane dragon and Roodmas cat, birth the currents and send them back again along the old straight track. Garland strung horned bull stamping tamping earth, Midspring freedoms, faerie ringed mushrooms, green man rising, joyful joining of Heaven and Earth, consort, maiden, fertile dirt inscribed with pentacle shield and wedded bride.
MIDSPRING CHANTSONG:
Weaving streamers of the Sun
Twisting strands on the run
Dancing circles, Heaven to Earth
Mating currents giving birth.
Calling down the consort’s blessing
Lifting up the maiden’s dresses
Chasing beauty ‘round and ‘round
Making love upon the ground
As May Day calls in all delight
Romanitc courting, morning light
Flowers blooming in the Spring
As we frolic, dance, and sing!
Springtime fever calling strong
Pulsing waves of passion long
Joining, moving, dance as one
Bathing Mother Earth in Sun.
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SUMMERTIDE SCENE:
Longest day and shortest night, light the fires of Summertide upon the hills and ancient mounds, noontime spirits soon abound. Sunfire, balefire, bonfire, St John’s madness, flame leaping, wheel rolling, jumping ash sprinkling upon the soils of growing garden beds. Vervain, mugwort, holy Solomon herbs, fennel, thyme, rue, straw man torches, fire by friction produced, resin pitch smudging smoke house blessing. Garden weeding, forest wandering, hill tumbling downward beneath the blazing sky of a seriously fun Summertide.
SUMMERTIDE CHANTSONG:
Ra! Ta! See the Sun
Crickle crackle fiery one
Lift the plant folk oh so high
Branches reaching to the sky.
Ra! Ta! Jump the fire
Fertile fields of desire
Growing green ‘twix high and low
Rooting deep those seeds we sowed.
Ra! Ta! Protect our crop
Little rootlet to leafy top.
Hoe! Hoe! Banish weeds
This is the way we feed our needs!
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MIDSUMMER SCENE:
Afternoon heat beats down on the land, across the fruiting fields lion fire burning, rod oven kiln baking bread making grain feast celebration. Loaf mass Lammas and a Lugh light loving lazy day, first harvest in, glowing golden skin, burnished sweathouse field water, plant care weed again and pray for rain. This season moisten, balance, sunfire clouds shade the day heat, roll in the mud, swim, hot feet.
MIDSUMMER CHANTSONG:
Yum! Yum! The leaves are full
Pick the beans and eat your fill
Yum! Yum! Herbs and roots
Hoe those weeds while picking fruit.
Water the plants, water yourself
Reach for the Sun and feel the elf
Growing deep into the soil
Cauldron calling in a boil.
Hoe! Hum! Under Sun
Cultivate until it is done.
Hum! Hoe! Take a break
Grinding grain, bread to bake.
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AUTUMNTIDE SCENE:
Fruit and nut, fields of corn, squash, potatoes, beets, turnips, carrots, tomatoes, onions, the stew kettle is on, the dusk feast is waiting by setting Sun. The work is done, cut, sifted, lifted from the ground while cookfires blaze the scarecrow passes into the flames with symbols of attachments from by-gone days now released with tree leaf falling. Give thanks for the horn of plenty, friendship feast roasting maturely by firelight, we love as one complete. Burning torches and heavy herbs, patchouli, mullien, thorn apple, breathing Autumn smoke, dancing, drinking heady root beer and feasting until full, rested we party in thanksgiving on a sunset Autumntide.
AUTUMNTIDE CHANTSONG:
Harvest time is finally here
Roast the corn, brew the beer
Fill the cellar, plan with reason
The menu of the winter season.
Slice and dry, cook and fan
We lay up stores when we can.
Feast and fatten for months to come
Over eat then run run run!
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MIDAUTUMN SCENE:
Evening has come upon the lands, darkness reigns before the Sun, goblins rustle through bare branches scratching, wind swept hours ‘til all is gone, lit by dancing candle flickers, black cat jitters, reaper passes overhead opening doors to the dead and witches divine at the coven stead. Enter how the season of death, the depths of sleep, the time of rest, the final phase of the now dormant seed. Release all troubles, place your needs in the bubbling cauldron of regeneration. Eat cold crisp apples and pomegranate seeds, wear spirit masks to scare and tease, the tomb awaits, a trick or treat. So pass this way beyond the mists and once each year wear orange and black, an old crone’s nose, a pointed hat.
MIDAUTUMN CHANTSONG:
The night is long, the breeze is cool
Forget that dip in the freezing pool
The final harvest is safe in store
Dress warm this night to keep the core
Of the mysteries welcome at the door.
With ancestor wisdom, bones to the floor
Remember the wheel and ask for more! |
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