Esbat Rituals
Here are some transcripts of esbat rituals that Fieldhaven Coven has performed in the past. These differ from the "ordinary" described on the main esbat page, and give a taste of some of the more diverse things we do.
Dark Moon Ritual from June, 2006
South Caller:
By ash and charcoal, in the dark,
I call the firefly’s brief spark
West Caller:
By magic wise and words of old,
I call the ocean, deep and cold
North Caller:
By memory of drum and song,
I call the mountain’s root so strong
East Caller:
By all the powers gathered here
I call the night air, cool and clear
All:
Hand to hand we pass the spark;
Our Circle celebrates the dark.
Chant:
Hades,
Hecate,
Arawn,
Cerridwen
Dark Father,
Dark Mother
lead us on,
take us in
Hades,
Hecate,
Arawn,
Cerridwen
guide us
Let us
to the dawn.
be reborn
South Caller lights a black floating candle inside a cobalt globe half-full of water.
Unity Spell:
It is the shade that shields us from the sun
And keeps us safe – for light, untempered, slays.
Without the nights, we could not stand the days;
Nor know the light, if darkness were undone.
Behold the sword that cuts, the cord that binds!
Here is our brightness: measure out its length.
Here is our darkness, which gives us our strength.
Know that we would be lost, without both kinds.
Therefore knot them fast, and their powers merge.
We are alloyed of stranger things than these –
The bones of suns, the sacrifice of trees.
From this union, all other things diverge.
Flame and water, death and life, night and star –
This balance of power is what we are.
East Caller:
Power fleets from here to there
I release the cool night air
North Caller:
Rite is over, drum is mute
I release the mountain’s root
West Caller:
Words are silent, magic sleep
I release the ocean deep
South Caller:
Ash is fallen, by and by
I release the firefly
This ritual was designed by Lady Raspberry.
By ash and charcoal, in the dark,
I call the firefly’s brief spark
West Caller:
By magic wise and words of old,
I call the ocean, deep and cold
North Caller:
By memory of drum and song,
I call the mountain’s root so strong
East Caller:
By all the powers gathered here
I call the night air, cool and clear
All:
Hand to hand we pass the spark;
Our Circle celebrates the dark.
Chant:
Hades,
Hecate,
Arawn,
Cerridwen
Dark Father,
Dark Mother
lead us on,
take us in
Hades,
Hecate,
Arawn,
Cerridwen
guide us
Let us
to the dawn.
be reborn
South Caller lights a black floating candle inside a cobalt globe half-full of water.
Unity Spell:
It is the shade that shields us from the sun
And keeps us safe – for light, untempered, slays.
Without the nights, we could not stand the days;
Nor know the light, if darkness were undone.
Behold the sword that cuts, the cord that binds!
Here is our brightness: measure out its length.
Here is our darkness, which gives us our strength.
Know that we would be lost, without both kinds.
Therefore knot them fast, and their powers merge.
We are alloyed of stranger things than these –
The bones of suns, the sacrifice of trees.
From this union, all other things diverge.
Flame and water, death and life, night and star –
This balance of power is what we are.
East Caller:
Power fleets from here to there
I release the cool night air
North Caller:
Rite is over, drum is mute
I release the mountain’s root
West Caller:
Words are silent, magic sleep
I release the ocean deep
South Caller:
Ash is fallen, by and by
I release the firefly
This ritual was designed by Lady Raspberry.
Bear Ritual
This was originally designed as an esbat, although it was later adapted for sabbat use.
Ritual Prep: Lady Raspberry and Rainbow Wolf are planning this event. Themes are dreams, sleep, introspection, preparation for Samhain, caves. Celebrants should bring a small offering which represents dreams. They are encouraged to wear clothes or jewelry featuring bears. Rainbow has a bearskin robe and an apron with a bear on it. Lady Raspberry has a cape with a bear on it. Set up a tent or similar structure in the ritual area. Inside the tent are a candle for light, a bowl for receiving offerings, and another bowl full of bear beads. Light a fire in the firepit. Line up celebrants and process to the ritual meadow.
East Caller: “From the east I call to you Great Panda. Through your black and white fur you bring the mists of the morning and the lessons of discernment. With my life force I call to you to enter and be welcome. Come to me now Dawn Dreamer and teach me to see clearly the path that lies before me! We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
South Caller: “From the south I call to you Spectacled Bear. Through your dappled fur you bring the light of the tanning sun to teach me to walk my talk, and be fearful of nothing the light brings. With my life force I call you to enter and be welcome. Come to me now Sun Gazer and teach me to reach and grow on the journey before me. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
West Caller: “From the west I call to you Great Toklat Grizzly. Through your dark fur with its bright star you bring the twilight to teach me the me the mysteries of the Dreamtime and the skill of walking between the realms. With my life force I call you to enter and be welcome. Come to me now Star Hunter and bring fruit to the path of my Earthwalk. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
North Caller: “From the north I call to you Polar Bear. Through your silvery fur that blends with spirit you bring the moon's light to teach me communion and wholeness with all that is. With my life force I call you to enter and be welcome. Come to me now Ice Dancer and teach my spirit the steps to a new dance. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
Lady Raspberry: Delivers statement of intent.
Rainbow Wolf: Leads the Bear Dance to attune people to bear energy. Drummers play a slow rhythm. Dancers move with a shuffling, swaying step. They can hold out their arms to mimic bear paws, and growl like bears. A rattle may signal new motions. The dance moves in a spiral around the firepit, then unwinds as Rainbow Wolf leads everyone into the cave. Bear chant while entering the cave:
Yona
tohido
degvya daniliga
kiya haga Yona
“Bear, peace and joyful welcome, come in Bear.”
Upon entering the cave, Rainbow Wolf lights the candle lantern.
Lady Raspberry: After everyone is inside the cave, invites everyone to place their dream symbol into the offering bowl. Gives a talk about dream magic.
Rainbow Wolf: Talks about Bear Medicine, how it relates to dreams, sleep, and caves. Passes the bowl for everyone to take a bear bead, providing a link to the power of the ritual.
Lady Raspberry: Leads people out of the cave, back into a circle around the fire. “Guided by these spirit beings, we dream the bear dream. Great Spirit Bears, we ask your presence as we journey in search of wisdom. We dance for all dancers, we dream for all dreamers, that our path may be honorable and in harmony with all things. Dance with us as we dance the wheel. Dream with us as we rest in the great bear cave. Dawn Dreamer, Sun Gazer, Star Hunter and Ice Dancer, we honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
North Caller: “Ice Dancer, Polar Bear, thank you for hearing us. Stay if you will, go if you must. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
West Caller: “Star Hunter, Great Toklat Grizzly, thank you for hearing us. Stay if you will, go if you must. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
South Caller: “Spectacled Bear, Sun Gazer, thank you for hearing us. Stay if you will, go if you must. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
East Caller: “Great Panda, Dawn Dreamer, thank you for hearing us. Stay if you will, go if you must. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
Closing: Rainbow Wolf and Lady Raspberry exchange a bear hug, then part and each hug the person next to them. The bear hug passes around the circle until it comes back to Rainbow Wolf and Lady Raspberry. Then the circle disperses.
* * *
Supply List
Rainbow’s bearskin robe or apron with a bear on it
Lady Raspberry’s cape with a bear on it
A tent or similar structure in the ritual area
Candle and lighter
Bowl for receiving offerings
Bowl full of bear beads
Drum(s)
Rattle(s)
Offerings that symbolize dreams
This ritual was designed from scratch by Rainbow Wolf and Lady Raspberry, inspired by Cherokee and Eclectic Pagan traditions, October 2006.
Ritual Prep: Lady Raspberry and Rainbow Wolf are planning this event. Themes are dreams, sleep, introspection, preparation for Samhain, caves. Celebrants should bring a small offering which represents dreams. They are encouraged to wear clothes or jewelry featuring bears. Rainbow has a bearskin robe and an apron with a bear on it. Lady Raspberry has a cape with a bear on it. Set up a tent or similar structure in the ritual area. Inside the tent are a candle for light, a bowl for receiving offerings, and another bowl full of bear beads. Light a fire in the firepit. Line up celebrants and process to the ritual meadow.
East Caller: “From the east I call to you Great Panda. Through your black and white fur you bring the mists of the morning and the lessons of discernment. With my life force I call to you to enter and be welcome. Come to me now Dawn Dreamer and teach me to see clearly the path that lies before me! We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
South Caller: “From the south I call to you Spectacled Bear. Through your dappled fur you bring the light of the tanning sun to teach me to walk my talk, and be fearful of nothing the light brings. With my life force I call you to enter and be welcome. Come to me now Sun Gazer and teach me to reach and grow on the journey before me. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
West Caller: “From the west I call to you Great Toklat Grizzly. Through your dark fur with its bright star you bring the twilight to teach me the me the mysteries of the Dreamtime and the skill of walking between the realms. With my life force I call you to enter and be welcome. Come to me now Star Hunter and bring fruit to the path of my Earthwalk. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
North Caller: “From the north I call to you Polar Bear. Through your silvery fur that blends with spirit you bring the moon's light to teach me communion and wholeness with all that is. With my life force I call you to enter and be welcome. Come to me now Ice Dancer and teach my spirit the steps to a new dance. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
Lady Raspberry: Delivers statement of intent.
Rainbow Wolf: Leads the Bear Dance to attune people to bear energy. Drummers play a slow rhythm. Dancers move with a shuffling, swaying step. They can hold out their arms to mimic bear paws, and growl like bears. A rattle may signal new motions. The dance moves in a spiral around the firepit, then unwinds as Rainbow Wolf leads everyone into the cave. Bear chant while entering the cave:
Yona
tohido
degvya daniliga
kiya haga Yona
“Bear, peace and joyful welcome, come in Bear.”
Upon entering the cave, Rainbow Wolf lights the candle lantern.
Lady Raspberry: After everyone is inside the cave, invites everyone to place their dream symbol into the offering bowl. Gives a talk about dream magic.
Rainbow Wolf: Talks about Bear Medicine, how it relates to dreams, sleep, and caves. Passes the bowl for everyone to take a bear bead, providing a link to the power of the ritual.
Lady Raspberry: Leads people out of the cave, back into a circle around the fire. “Guided by these spirit beings, we dream the bear dream. Great Spirit Bears, we ask your presence as we journey in search of wisdom. We dance for all dancers, we dream for all dreamers, that our path may be honorable and in harmony with all things. Dance with us as we dance the wheel. Dream with us as we rest in the great bear cave. Dawn Dreamer, Sun Gazer, Star Hunter and Ice Dancer, we honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
North Caller: “Ice Dancer, Polar Bear, thank you for hearing us. Stay if you will, go if you must. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
West Caller: “Star Hunter, Great Toklat Grizzly, thank you for hearing us. Stay if you will, go if you must. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
South Caller: “Spectacled Bear, Sun Gazer, thank you for hearing us. Stay if you will, go if you must. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
East Caller: “Great Panda, Dawn Dreamer, thank you for hearing us. Stay if you will, go if you must. We honor you!”
All: “We honor you!”
Closing: Rainbow Wolf and Lady Raspberry exchange a bear hug, then part and each hug the person next to them. The bear hug passes around the circle until it comes back to Rainbow Wolf and Lady Raspberry. Then the circle disperses.
* * *
Supply List
Rainbow’s bearskin robe or apron with a bear on it
Lady Raspberry’s cape with a bear on it
A tent or similar structure in the ritual area
Candle and lighter
Bowl for receiving offerings
Bowl full of bear beads
Drum(s)
Rattle(s)
Offerings that symbolize dreams
This ritual was designed from scratch by Rainbow Wolf and Lady Raspberry, inspired by Cherokee and Eclectic Pagan traditions, October 2006.
