return of the maiden kore
Written by grandma white whitch wcndol@aol.com
The mother wears a green robe, a floral crown with poppies and grain on her head. Each quarter wears colorful robes according to their station and a full floral crown. Real flowers if possible. These should be created by that covener. Along side the alter is a basket of parsley floweretts tied with ribbons. This is blessed when the tools of the alter are blessed. The “dark maiden” wears a white robe with flowers pinned on the bodice and skirt. She also wear a full floral crown with many ribbons floating from it. She wears over this, a dark robe with a large hood so her face is hidden. She wanders around the outside of the circle during the consecration of the circle .
She stands behind the red priest who cuts a door to let her in when she is called, he also blesses her.
When she enters she throws off the dark robe.
I DO CHARGE THAT THIS BE A LIVING BREATHING SPACE.
WHERE EACH SHALL, WITH JOY, THE GODDESS EMBRACE.
A CIRCLE OF POWER, OF PEACE AND OF LOVE,
A SEEKING OF UNITY WITH THE PRESENCE ABOVE.
I DECLARE THIS SPACE SACRED BEYOND DATE OR CLIME
WHERE WE WELCOME IN DANCE ANOTHER SPRINGTIME.
I CALL ALL WHO ARE PRESENT TO JOIN AS WE SING,
FOR THE QUEEN OF THE WITCHES AND HER MIGHTY KING.
A CONE OF PROTECTION WE NOW DO PLAN,
TO CONDUCT OUR AFFAIRS IN A MANNER PAGAN.
I COMMAND YOU ATTEND, HARKEN TO ME.
FOR AS I DO WILL IT, SO MOTE IT BE.
EAST:
Warm breezes bring scents of springtime flower,
new life emerging from still forest bower.
Bird song from branches amid budding leaf
and hes seeking shes from forest to reef.
This time of year all the earth is reborn,
each maid weaves a crown her king to adorn.
We gather here now the spring to invite.
Guardians of the Eastern sphere.
Now we seek your presence here.
Come East Come, be here this night.
SOUTH:
Each face greets with joy the sun's warm rays
and life is reborn on another spring day.
All things do bask in your life giving light
the warm blood of love is stirring this night.
This time of year all the earth does renew.
Each maiden is seeking her mate to pursue.
We gather here now the spring to invite.
Guardians of the Southern Sphere
Now we seek your presence here.
Come South, Come, be here this rite.
WEST:
The warm rains of spring fall gently down
Through misty views new life does abound.
An echo of laughter, song rings in the hills
a flicker of silver form a bubbling rill.
This time of year the earth will resume.
Each maiden is seeking her virile bridegroom.
We gather her now the spring to invite.
Guardians of the Western Sphere
Now we seek your presence here.
Come West Come, be here this night.
NORTH:
A host of new seedlings from spring warmed earth.
The forest glades and meadows welcoming birth.
Harsh winter snow melting from each mountain peak
as young hare and fawn play hide and seek.
This time of year the earth comes alive.
Each maiden is seeking a love to revive.
We gather here now the spring to invite.
Guardians of the Northern Sphere
now we seek your presence here.
Come North Come, be here this night.
CALL TO THE GOD:
YOUNG LORD, UNTRIED, COME LUSTY KNIGHT.
WE SEEK YOUR PRESENCE, AWAKEN IN LIGHT.
ONCE MORE IT IS SPRINGTIME, ALL THINGS COME ALIVE
BRING US YOUR POTENT TOUCH THAT NATURE MAY THRIVE
EACH FERTILE MAIDEN IS CALLING TO YOU.
COME JOIN IN THE DANCING, THE EARTH TO RENEW.
WE GATHER IN WORSHIP, THE RITE IS BEGUN
COME LORD OF LIFE, WE BID YOU COME.
GODDESS CALL:
BELOVED LADY OF THE EARTH AND ALL THING AGROWING,
ABUNDANT LADY, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS ARE FLOWING.
THE EARTH REAWAKENS WITH YOUR TENDER CARE,
AND NEW LIFE ABOUNDS AS YOUR GIFTS YOU SHARE.
JOIN IN OUR SPRINGTIME SINGING AND DANCE,
SON AND CONSORT COMES SEEKING ROMANCE.
WE GATHER IN WORSHIP, THE RITE IS BEGUN
COME FRUITFUL LADY, WE BID YOU COME.
DEMETER: ( she walks slowly around the circle)
AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING, BEFORE WRITTEN HISTORY,
TAUGHT BY MOTHER TO DAUGHTER THE LORE OF ANCIENT MYSTERY.
THROUGH THE DARK TIMES, THE SECRET TIMES, THE TIMES OF FEARFUL MEN
SO IT WAS IN YEARS GONE BY, AND SO IT WILL BE AGAIN.
I AM THE LADY OF BOUNTIFUL LIFE AND HARVEST.
THE TIME HAS COME, NO MORE MAY I REST.
FOR MANY LONG MONTHS I HAVE MOURNED
`AND MY PLEAS TO THE MIGHTY ONES ALL HAVE BEEN SCORNED..
IN THE DAYS WHEN GODS AND GODDESSES WALKED FREELY AMONG THE MORTAL.
MY BELOVED KORE, KNOWN ALSO AS PERSEPHONE, WANDERED NEAR HADES PORTAL.
THE GOD OF DARK, THE GOD OF DEAD DESIRED THIS PURE MAID.
WITHOUT A WORD ABDUCTED HER IN A STEALTHY MIDDAY RAID.
PRIEST:
NONE DID SEE BUT HELIOS IN HIS SKY CHARIOT OF GOLD.
THE BRIGHT SUN GOD SPED ON HIS WAY. DEMETER MUST BE TOLD.
THE LADY OF THE SHEAVES OF GRAIN CRIED OUT IN GRIEF AND SORROW.
(MOURNFULLY) AND ABANDONED THE CHILDREN OF THE EARTH WITH NO HOPE FOR THE MORROW.
EAST: (MOURNFULLY)
The winds were bitter, cold
SOUTH:
the sun was pale and dim.
WEST:
The waters of the earth did freeze
NORTH:
The earth became.. (long pause, accent firmly) BARREN!
PRIEST:
A COLD AND HUNGRY MANKIND MOURNED AS ALL LIFE LAY ASLEEP.
UNTIL MIGHTY ZEUS TO HADES CALLED, (forcefully) SEND THE BRIGHT ONE FROM YOUR DEEP.
DEMETER:
RETURN TO ME MY DAUGHTER, THAT EARTH MAY LIVE ONCE MORE
COME FROM THAT DARK PLACE, THAT PLACE OF DEATH
RETURN MY PRECIOUS KORE.
The coveners around the circle begin to chant. The men loudly and forcefully alternate with the women, pleading and softly.
RETURN!
Kore enters the circle through a door cut by the red priest, she throws off the cloak and says.
`I AM HERE!.
DEMETER:
WELCOME CHILD OF THE DARK, WELCOME TO THE LIGHT
AT YOUR MOTHER'S SIDE YOU MUST BE, NOW, AS IS YOUR RIGHT.
THE GUARDIANS OF THE QUARTERS WOULD GIVE A GIFT FOR YOU TO SHARE.
AMONG THE ONES WHO WELCOME YOU ON THIS SPRINGTIME DAY SO FAIR.
Each of the quarters come forward to address KORE as she stands at the side of the alter.
EAST: ( embraces and kisses Kore)
I give to you a balmy breeze with dancing butterflies,
the song of birds, floral perfumes,
and white clouds in the skies.
SOUTH: ( embraces and kisses Kore)
I give to you warm sunlight which calls the seeds to grow,
the hot blood of life, loves embrace and hearth fires all aglow.
WEST: (embraces and kisses Kore)
I give to you life bringing rain, which falls upon the earth,
swift flowing streams, a mothers' touch and the life fluids of birth.
NORTH: (embraces and kisses Kore)
I give to you firm earth to tread, with bounty she has blessed us.
The deep green forests, fields of grain and numerous wild faunas.
PRIEST:
MY LADY KORE, COME WALK WITH ME TO GREET THOSE AWAITING YOUR RETURN
WE MAKE YOU WELCOME AND BID YOU TO RELATE THE MYSTERIES YOU HAVE LEARNED.
KORE” ( walking around the circle on the arm of the priest)
I AM THE YOUNG SEED AND FLOWER OF THE EARTH.
IN SPRING I RETURN TO BRING LIFE REBIRTH.
I AM ENCHANTMENT, THE FRESH LIGHT OF DAWN
A MAIDEN PURE, THE SWIFT GRACE OF THE FAWN.
I SWEEP AWAY WEARINESS WITH THE GIFTS I BRING.
WITH THE PROMISE TO RETURN EACH YEAR TO LEAD IN THE SPRING.
I REST IN THE UNDERWORLD WHILE THE EARTH SLEEPS
UNTIL YOUR CALL BRINGS ME FORTH FROM MY STAY IN THE DEEPS.
FOUR SEEDS OF THE POMEGRANATE I DID EAT WHILE IN HELL
SO I MUST LEAVE YOU IN THE FALL, AND WITH MY KING TO DWELL.
THE QUEEN OF THE UNDERWORLD HE HAS NAMED ME WITH LOVE
AND I REIGN BY HIS SIDE WHILE CHILL WINDS BLOW ABOVE.
THROUGH WINTERS DARK DAYS ALL MANKIND DOES YEARN
FOR I BRING JOY TO THE WORLD, LIFE AWAITS MY RETURN.
THOUGH I AM WITH YOU BUT PART OF THE YEAR.
I GIVE YOU BRIGHT RAINBOWS AS A SIGN I AM HERE.
AND THIS GREEN HERB PARSLEY A SYMBOL OF WEALTH. K
KEEP IT SAFE IN YOU MAGIC PLACE, OR EAT IT FOR HEALTH.
The maiden joins the priest and priestess at the alter for the rite. The maiden and mother's hands both hold the athame.
The cakes and wines are blessed. The priestess carries the cakes, the priest the wine and the maiden carries the herb. She bids all who take the flowerette good health and happiness.
DEMETER:
Let all who drink and all who eat, make a wish for what is wanted.
This time of year, this magic time, all wishes will be granted.
Closing:
DEMETER:
WITH JOY I WISH TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, TO CELEBRATE THE SPRING.
WITH THIS RITE WE OPEN OUR HEARTS TO THE WONDER THE SEASON BRINGS.
AS YOU LEAVE THIS PLACE, TAKE HOPE, TAKE LOVE, REMEMBER ALL YOU LEARN.
LISTEN WELL FOR EACH NEW SPRING YOU WILL HEAR ME CALL, MY CHILD-------RETURN.
The Lord and Lady are thanked and the candles blown out.
The quarters are thanked and dismissed with...
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE, THE GIFTS YOU GAVE AND MORE.
JOIN WITH US AGAIN NEXT YEAR AS WE WELCOME BLESSED KORE.
The circle is closed.
Rituals
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