June 18th-21st

The Horned Ones

A procession will begin the ritual event led by the Horned One puppet, HP and HPS, drummers, then banner bearers. Participants will gather behind and follow the procession into the ritual circle thru the gate in the XX. Four people are positioned at the gate, cleansing and blessing with the elements chanting:
"Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
Cleanse, Bless, Heal, Change,
Earth, Earth, Earth, Earth
(Air,... or whatever element one is wielding)"

Puppet goes to the head of the gate dancing behind offering basket. HP & HPS go to center of circle near fire pit, drummers go to XX, banner bearers go around circle and take their place at appropriate quarter establishing their their banner. As paricipants enter they place offerings to the Horned One in the offering basket. Once all have entered the circle the drumming either softens or stops, the Horned One turns to face the fire, and elemental blessers go once around the perimeter with their elements still softly chanting. A short meditative circle casting takes place followed by guided visualisation quarter invocations each ending with "Be Here Now" (to be repeated by the circle).

Now the HPS goes into a Goddess invocation to ask for Her attention and blessing on the rite. Then HP goes into the God invocation:

"Horned One!
We call you
Herne, Cernunnos, Pan, Pashupati
(circle may also shout names)

"O Sun!
We call you
Light-bringer, Apollo, Ra, Surya"
(again circle is encouraged to call names)

"Cum!
Dance with us in our Sacred Circle
Dance in our hearts and enliven the spark
that burns there!
(drums come up and Horned One begins deosil dance)

"He is with us!
The SunChild born in the depth of Winter, grown into a King!
The Wild One of the Greenwood who sports with our Lady
He who begets us and is us
He is Son and Lover, Hunter and Hunted.
He is the Sower, That which is Sown and That which is reaped at Harvest.

"It is Love, Love of Life and Love with the Goddess that drives His Dance
That Love is our very Life's Breath!
Born-one! Lord of the Dance of Life and Love and Death!
We welcome and thank you!

"As you burn brighter so much the brighter we shine
You born in darkness, bring light to our world
You in your Boat of a million years
Crowned with horns and guised in a million faces
Ride high in the sky on your juorney to your pinnacle of power
Brilliant and splendorous like no other
Center that is everywhere
Seated on your airy throne
Burning with Celestial Flame
And like the Phoenix...DIE!!!"
(Drums stop abruptly and the Horned God is laid back over shoulders with arms crossed. Drums pick up a funeral march and HG is processed widdershins. Shadow follows with offering basket.)

The White Goddess, who has been outside of circle to the South , comes rushing in with a Shriek when the God falls and gives Her lamentation:

"Beautiful One, We cannot see you!
Beautiful One, Lord of Time, who grows except for this hour.
Oh Lord, how much more wonderful you are than your father,
First-born son of my womb
Come back to us, in your natural form; Let us embrace you!
Do not depart from us, beautiful of face, dearly beloved, Lord and Lover
Come in peace...We would see you!

"How will my body be warm without your touch?
How will the planets stay in their tracks without your dance to guide them?
How will our children, the bright rain of spirits, live without their father?
I am your sister, darling of your heart
Because of my love for you, even as you are absent, I water the Earth with my tears
While you travel, we will sing for you, pray for Life to spring up from your nothingness

"Hail, prince! Come in peace, drive away the sorrow which is in our house.
I traverse the roads, that your love may come to me,
I fly over the Earth, I rest not seeking you.
Your Love is a flame to me, the perfume of your body like myrrh.

"Our Children cry out for you,
and make offerings for you,
The crone weeps for you with Her voice
She collects your bones
And I, your mother, make Holy offerings of them
in the Sacred Fire of Rebirth.

"I, Throne of the King, Great in Majik, Mistress of the World,
Call on you!
Our feet now trace the steps of His Dance
And together our Love will conjure Him again!"

HG is disassembled and set next to the fire pit with the offering basket. Drums come up and WG begins spiral dance that will go in and out twice while all chant:

"Horned One, Lover, Son
Leaper in the Corn,
Deep within the Mother,
Die and be reborn!"
(This should start slow and come up as the dance progresses.)

When the second spiral has completed, HP & HPS chanting:
"Horned One Come!"

Place the puppet and offerings on the fire. Then fleshy Horned One needs to be watching closely so that when the puppet hits the fire he rushes in from the North:

"IIIAAAOOO!!!
(This should climax the chant. HG addresses WG and the circle.)
Love calls me
and in Love I return
again and again to you!

"I am the White Stag in the Wood,
I am the ruddy Sun in the Sky
I am the Gentle Father,
the Lusty Lover,
I bear the crook and the flail,
I am the compassionate caretaker of the Dead,
I am He Who looks both ways.

I eternally walk the road of birth and death and rebirth,
When young deer feed on spring greens
I am consumed and nourished.
When the deer is struck down,
It's blood is my tears invigorating the land.
When New Wheat sprouts,
I am reborn
when the wind drives the wheat from the shaft I fall again
And every day at Dawn, I rise,
Brilliant and fresh,
My own begotten, born again
From the Mothers watery womb.

"Know Me in your minds,
Be keen as the athame's blade,
Feel Me in your hearts,
I am the flame that dances there in joy and lust for life,
Express Me with your hands,
Grow in strength through compassion."

(Cakes and wine are presented to the HG & WG.)
White Goddess:

"Horned One, Son and Lover,
I have known your face since before Time,
Wild and beautiful, stern and ruddy
I in you and you in me
The Mystery of Life,
As I give Life to the universe,
so let this wine give Life to this circle."

Horned One:

"O Throne of the King, Mistress of the World,
I am a wave and you are the sea,
Deep and flowing, strong and fertile,
I in you and you in me,
The Mystery of Life
As I am sustenence to the universe,
so let this bread be sustenence to this circle."

Cakes and wine are passed and drumming comes up.....chant here? When all have partaken drumming stops HP and HPS address WG and HG to thank and devoke. Quarters are hailed and the circle is opened.

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