The Ritual - John to consecrate the water and salt
Cast the circle.
(Hold aloft the photograph of Doreen)
“Spirits of the East, Powers of air, we call you into our circle. Bring us clarity of vision, bright memories of our beloved Doreen and the knowledge of sunrise and new beginnings. Remember then this face of a small girl fresh to the world full of the joys of springtime and innocence. Blessed be.”
South: (Hold aloft the photograph of Doreen)
“Spirits of the south, powers of fire, we call you into our circle. Bring us the courage we need to face the reality of death, keep our passion alive even in our sorrow, and bring us the warmth of the hearth and the cleansing power of fire. Remember then this the face of a young lady passionate and principled. A student and the wife of a Spanish freedom fighter. Blessed be.”
West: (Hold aloft the photograph of Doreen)
“Spirits of the west, powers of water, we call you into our circle. Open our hearts and let our tears and our love flow. Bring us healing and renewal. Remember this then the face of a lady now fully matured a wise woman. A writer and teacher. Her openness, grace and faith paving the way for the Old Religion, so misunderstood, to become acceptable again. This is the time of Doreen’s life when she was at her happiest. She has found the love of her life. She was content. Blessed Be”
North: (Hold aloft the photograph of Doreen)
“Spirits of the North, Powers of the Earth, we call you into our circle. From you we come; to you we return. Bring us strength, nurturing and the knowledge that all that dies becomes a part of you again. Remember this then, the face of an older Wise Woman, an honoured Crone. This time is the short winter of her life separating the loss of her beloved Ron and her own passing. For those hat remain, this winter was too short. Blessed Be.”
John : The Address
“We meet here today in both sadness and joy. Sad because a chapter has closed, yet we are joyful because, by the closing a new chapter may begin. We meet to mark the passing of our beloved sister, Doreen Edith Valiente, for whom this incarnation is ended. We meet to commend her to the blessing of the God and Goddess, that she may rest, free from illusion or regret until the time shall come for her rebirth to this world. And knowing that this shall be so, we know too, that the sadness is nothing and that the joy is all.”Emrys and Sara: The Cord of Life
Poetry, Messages and Memories about DoreenChant:
The river is flowing
Flowing and growing
The river is flowing
Down to the sea
Please Mother carry me
A child I will always be
Please Mother carry me
Down to the sea
John:
“Now we will hear the legend of the descent of the Goddess into the underworld
(Raise the coffin)Ralph: Descent of the Goddess.
In ancient times our Lord Cernunnos, the Horne’d one, was (and still is) the Consoler ,the Comforter. But men still knew him as the dread Lord of Shadows, lonely, stern and Just. But our Lady, the Goddess would solve al mysteries, even the mystery of death; and so she journeyed to the Underworld.
The Guardian of the Portals challenged her, ” Strip of thy garments, lay aside thy jewels; for naught mayest thou bring with thee into this our land.”
So she laid down her garments and her jewels and was bound, as all living things must be who seek to enter the realms of Death, the Mighty One. Such was her beauty that death himself knelt, and laid his sword and crown at her feet, and kissed her feet saying “Blessed be thy feet that have brought thee in these ways. Abide with me; but let me place my cold hands on thy heart.”
And she replied “I love thee not. Why dost thou cause all things that I love and take delight in to fade and die.”
“Lady,” replied Death,” It is age and fate, against which I am helpless. Age causes al things to wither, but when men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace and strength, so that they may return. But thou, thou art lovely, return not and abide with me. But she answered “I love thee not.”
“Then” said Death, “An thou receivest not my hand on your heart, thou must kneel to Death’s scourge.” “It is fate better so.” she said, and she knelt. And Death scourged her tenderly. And she cried “I know the pangs of love” And Death raised her and said, ” Blessed Be” And gave her the five fold kiss, saying ” Thus only mayest thou attain joy and knowledge.”
And he taught her all his mysteries and gave her the necklace which was the circle of rebirth. And she taught him the mysteries of the sacred cup, which is the cauldron of rebirth.
They loved and were one for there be three great mysteries in the life of man and magic controls them all. To fulfil love, you must return again at the same time and at the same place as the loved ones and you must meet, and know, and remember, and love them again.
But to be reborn you must die, and be made ready for a new body. And to die, you must be born and without love you may not be born. And our Goddess encircleth to love, and mirth, and happiness, and she guardeth and cherish her hidden children in life. And in death she teaches the way to her communion and even in this world she teacheth them the mysteries of the magic circle, which is placed between the worlds of men and the realm of the mighty ones.John: The committal
The legend completed, let us now share, as the Goddess has taught us, in the love feast of wine and cakes. as we do this let us remember our sister Doreen, with whom we have shared this communion in the past, and as we do so we lovingly place our sister in the hands of the Goddess. So mote it be.Elgar (Close curtains)
“Goddess of fire,
sun’s fire, lightening,
flame on the hearth,
fire that cleanses and destroys,
fire that purifies,
now take our beloved Doreen
let her become flame and ash,
from Doreen’s spirit
a pure flame will arise.
When we warm our hands
at the fireside on Samhain’s frosty night,
let us join again with our loved one and remember
the joy and knowledge she gave .~Go in Peace Doreen Valiente~
Banishing the Quarters.
North:
Spirits of the North, powers of the Earth, thank you for the land that Doreen walked upon, for sustaining the harvest that fed her, for the beauty in the plants and trees that gave her so much pleasure.
For Doreen this lifetime is over an therefore I dismiss you of your responsibilities towards her. Depart now to your fair and lovely realms. Hail and farewell.West:
Spirits of the West, powers of Water. Thank You for quenching Doreen’s thirst – For bathing her – for filling her spirit with understanding – for allowing the creative writing to flow. For Doreen this lifetime is over and therefore I dismiss you of your responsibilites towards her. Depart now to your fair and lovely realms.Hail and Farewell.
South:
Spirits of the South, powers of Fire, thank you for warming Doreen in her lifetime. For the warmth of the summers that she enjoyed and for the spark that we will always remember as Doreen Valiente.
For Doreen this lifetime is over an therefore I dismiss you of your responsibilities towards her. Depart now to your fair and lovely realms. Hail and farewell.
East:
Spirits of the east, powers of Air, thank you for supporting Doreen with every breath she took, and may the last breath that she took in this life become the first that she took in the next.
For Doreen this lifetime is over an therefore I dismiss you of your responsibilities towards her. Depart now to your fair and lovely realms. Hail and farewell.
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