Supplies needed:

As people enter, Maiden smudges everyone and says:

"I cleanse and purify thee."

When everyone is in place High Priestess says:

"All who are gathered here know that this circle is a temple, a place of worship, and a place where all come in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust."

East (fire):

"We ask the element of fire to witness our rites and to protect our circle. We connect the direction of the morning sun to new beginnings, to new adventures. We ask for the qualities of passion, creativity, thought and action."

South (earth):

"We ask the element of earth to witness our rites and to protect our circle. We call on the sprites and faeries to bring the subtle energies of earth into our circle. We ask that the spirit of joy and happiness be brought into this circle."

West (water):

"We ask the element of water to witness our rites and to protect our circle. We recognize water's cleansing powers and its ability to find its way around obstacles and to take us on journeys from one place to another. We ask that it take us to that place of quiet darkness to prepare for the coming cool breezes of autumn and winter."

North (air):

"We ask the element of air to witness our rites and to protect our circle. We ask for the flowing of the air and soft breezes and for our minds to be able to move freely during this circle, and the the wind may clear away all vestiges of negativity here."

High Priestess reads the Tenets of the Faerie Faith:

"Dear Mother - we of the Faerie Faith do gather in ancient rite and renewal of spirit. We do now reaffirm ourselves to the tenets of our faith...

There should be a sensitivity, a belief, of the spiritual reality behind what we refer to as "Nature."

There should be a sincere love of Earth Herself and a desire to communicate with Her other children.

There should be a belief in the individual life of this planet and a certainty that it permeates the whole world."

Speakers at the four corners:

N: What is this night?

S: It is the night of Lugnassad.

E: What is the meaning of this night?

W: It is the feast of bread.

N: What do we honor on this night?

S: We honor the fruits of the Earth, our ongoing sustenance.

E: After this feast of bread, what will we do?

W: We will tend and store our harvest, preserving what is necessary to life.

N: How do we recognize our part of life on this night?

S: We knead the rough dough. We bake the earth's bread. We call upon the Mother, the giver of nourishment.

E: Who helps us?

W: Our Goddess helps us.

N: What is our Goddess?

S: She is the benevolence of our mother planet, the rich gifts of her soil, the fruits of her pains for the nourishment of our bodies.

E: Who is our Goddess?

W: She is the Virgin of Light, the Crone of Darkness, the Mother of Time.

N: Where is our Goddess?

S: She is in our hearts in all seasons of the turning year. She surrounds us, she holds us, we live within her.

E: Who is our Goddess?

W: Behold, she is all the universe, but we find her in ourselves.

High Priestess:

High Priestess:

"Goddess of the Grain, Harvest Mother, giver of life and plenty. Join with us on this festival of Lugh, and give to us, as of old, thy joy, and beauty, and power."

High Priest:

"I call upon the Corn King, Lord of the Harvest, Sacred King, giver of riches and protection, to be with us this night. Give to us, as of old, thy strength, and laughter, and power."

Corn King steps out, with corn side showing.

HP:

"The corn stands ripe in the fields. We give thanks for the fruitful earth. Now is the time for the reaping of the Corn King. We sorrow for his dying, yet we rejoice in his coming again."

"To honor your virility, we worship your fertility. We sorrow in your dying, yet rejoice in your coming again."

HPs and/or Corn Mother takes up sickle, and dances around the Corn King, while chanting:

Corn Mother stops near Corn King and holds up sickle.

Corn Mother:

Have everyone in circle come up to hug Corn King and say goodbye.

HPs:

"Corn King, we have honored you. Corn King, we have loved you. Corn King, go now to the underworld."

Corn Mother makes cutting motion at the Corn King. He falls down 'dead.' (He should fall behind something, so he can flip his poster board around.) He is covered with a black cloth.

HPs:

"Corn King, we grieve for you. Rest now in the underworld until the time comes for your return."

Maiden:

Corn Mother:

Maiden:

HPs:

"So mote it be."

HPs holds up bread and shows it to all.

HPs:

Corn King rises up, with his bread side facing out. He dances joyfully about, maybe tossing bread to the audience. Or HPs shares bread around circle.

Corn King:

HPS:

"Share of my water, and know that as the rain, It is the bringer of life."

"Share of my water, and know that as the oceans and seas it is the womb of life."

"Share of my water, and know that as the clouds, It is the seeker, the traveler with a mission."

"I share of the water, and may all know that as the streams and rivers, it is the shape changer, the destroyer of old, and at the same time, through change, the creatrix of new."

"Knowing well that water is the essence of life, We have shared and become one, And now as one, we offer our lives to She who is the Mother of all life, In service and in love."

(Do Freddie, ring bell)

HPS:

"It is done!"