June 17th-20th

Strega, A Ritual to Vesta

This year's festival is a celebration of Italian Witchcraft, also known as Stregheria or LaVecchia Religione. We will celebrate Vestalia, the Festival of Vesta, Traditionally held June 7 - 15.

Festival Days: January 15, February 13, March 1, April 28, May 15, June 7-15, June 24

Vesta
Also known as Diana Vesta
Daughter of Saturn
Goddess of the hearth and of fire.
Goddess of Continuity, service to others
Home center of the world
Guardian of innermost things

Sacred Animal: Ass/Donkey
Themes: Home, Hearth, Love, Fertility, Peace
Other Symbols: Fire, Veils, Oven, Bread, Baked Goods
Traditional Offerings to Vesta: Homemade bread and salt cakes
Gem: Black Diamond
Plants: Indian hemp, Orchis root, Thistle
Perfumes/Scents: Musk, Civet

Our circle will be cast and ritual held in the traditional Italian format with the altar in the North and the gate in the Northeast. We will call on Vesta and seek her help and guidance in our efforts to strengthen our community and find land of our own.

During the course of the weekend we will be celebrating and honoring traditions of Italian Witchcraft through workshops and classes on:
History of the Strega
Italian Fairy Magic
The Tuscan Runes
Charms and Talismans of the Strega
The Eightfold Wheel of the Year

On Saturday afternoon, following the opening ritual we will serve a traditional Italian Feast.

Circle Preparation
The circle will be outlined in cornmeal in honor of Vesta and consecrated with water and salt, air and fire prior to the beginning of the ritual.

The gate will be in the Northeast and will consist of two upright pillars with a cross bar. Oil lamps will hang from the ends of the crossbar.

The altar will be set up in the North.

A shrine to vesta will be set up in the center.

Altar Set-up: Spirit Bowls Contain
North = Sand and small rocks
East = Burning Incense
South = A red votive candle
West = Purified Water

A Ritual to Vesta

Faries will lead a procession through the camp and gather participants to the circle.

Drum Beat: As Participants enter through the Northeast gate they will be smudged and anointed with water and salt.

Song: Get Together will begin when most people have entered the circle.

Priestess: Welcome to Sunfest everyone. Today we are celebrating the tradition of Strega, Italian witchcraft. We chose strega because it is an intense, emotionally charged tradition. It's OK to laugh and cry and be expressive. It's OK to feel!

Priest: We will welcome Vesta into our circle. Vesta is the goddess of home, hearth, peace, love, fertility, service to others. She is the home center of the world. Today we are going to work on building and strengthening our community in order to do the work of shaping our future and finding a place of our own. Lets Begin.

Priest / Priestess: ( Light the spirit bowl) Awaken now, Spirit of the Old Ways. We call you to light our way as we walk the path of our ancestors.

Priestess: (Light the green candle) Beautiful Diana, Goddess of the moon and beyond, soul of the flame, consort of Dianus, think even for a moment on we who gather in your name.

Priest: ( Light the red candle) Dianus, God of the sun and beyond, teacher of enchantments, Lover of Diana, think even for a moment on we who gather in your name.

Maiden: ( Approach the altar and ring the bell over each elemental bowl three times) I call out into the mist of Hidden Realms and summon you spirits of Earth and Air and Fire and Water. Join us in this circle and grant us union with your powers.

Priest: ( Place the Spirit Blade into the Spirit Flame, mentally drawing out the blue flame. Beginning in the north, walk the circle while visualizing the blue flame) In the names of Diana and Dianus I cast this circle. May it protect us and contain the power raised within that we may do the work of building community and our land.

To the North: Tago! , steady, solid Watcher of Earth. Watch over our rites and keep us grounded. Be here now.

To the East: Alpena! (al-pay-nah) Elusive Watcher of Air. Bring your calm winds and watch over our rites. Be here now."

To the South: Settrano (say-trah-no), Watcher of the dancing flame. Watch over our rites and bring your transforming fires to aid our work. Be here now.

To the West: Meana (may-ah-nah) Gentle watcher of the west. Come to us with your calm and healing waters and watch over our rites. Be here now.

Six Vestal Virgins carry in the Sacred Fire and stand next to the Temple of Vesta.

Priestess: Lovely Vesta, Goddess of home and hearth. guardian of innermost things. Come to us with your quiet strength. Remove the masks that we wear. Unveil our senses to see the bounty which surrounds us and inspire us to share it with those around us who are in need. Come and commune with us. You with whom all prayers and offerings begin and end. Bring your wisdom to our circle. Be here now.

Vesta: I receive your love and honor and the love and honor you give to those in need.
I bless this hearth and these items upon it. I bless this circle and those that are in it, their families and loved ones. I give you feed to fill your bellies and drink to quench your thirst. I give you love to fill your hearts and hope to fill your lives.

Vesta Picks up a hand full of seeds.

These are the seeds of a strong, vibrant community. They are the seeds of pagan land. Take these seeds as a symbol of the journey toward the land of your hearts. A place where you will gather, perform your rites, establish your traditions. A place that will always be there and hold the energies of yourselves and your children.

The time is now to move forward in your journey. You are here to create for yourselves and your children a more loving and nurturing society. It begins with recovery of the ancient traditions of Goddess. Look toward the day when you will all be able to live, work and play in a way that is nurturing to your souls. When you will know that what you accomplish each day is contributing to the health and well being of the Earth and all of her creatures.

Hold these seeds in your hand and think for a moment on how this future will be for you. Think about what you are willing to do to bring this future about. You can begin today by strengthening ties as a community. Begin by listening; to the earth and to each other. by showing compassion for each other and by planning and working toward land that will be your spiritual home.

Plant these seeds with the intention of harmony and progress toward that goal. As the seed grows, so the dream will take root, branch out and flourish. It will grow strong and mature all in it's time.

As Hestia speaks, faries enter and with mischief and playfulness, distribute the gift of the seeds. (more on this later)

Maiden: (Sings) Imagine.

Priest: (Prayer for the Healing of the Earth)

We join with the earth and each other.

To bring new life to the land
To restore the waters
To refresh the air

We join with the earth and with each other.

To renew the forests
To care for the plants
To protect the creatures
We join with the earth and with each other.

To celebrate the seas
To rejoice in the sunlight
To sing the song of the stars

We join with the earth and with each other.

To recreate the human community
To promote justice and peace
To remember our children

We join with the earth and with each other.

We join together as many and diverse expressions
of one loving mystery for the healing of the
earth and the renewal of all life.

U.N Environmental Sabbath Program

Priest and Priestess: Blessing of cakes and wine.

Feast of cakes and wine: Served by the vestal virgins.

Priestess: Thank you Vesta for your wisdom and your gifts. You have honored us by your presence. We release you to return to your realm and we bid you hail and farewell.

To the West: Meana (may-ah-nah) Gentle watcher of the west. Thank you for your presence at our rites. We release you to return to your realm and we bid you hail and farewell.

To the South: Settrano (say-trah-no), Watcher of the dancing flame. We release you to return to your realm and we bid you hail and farewell.

To the East: Alpena! (al-pay-nah) Elusive Watcher of Air. We release you to return to your realm and we bid you hail and farewell.

To the North: Tago! , steady, solid Watcher of Earth. We release you to return to your realm and we bid you hail and farewell.

Priest: (Extinguish the red candle) Dianus, god of the sun and beyond. We thank you for your presence at our rites. You have honored us by your presence. We release you to return to your realm and we bid you hail and farewell.

Priestess: (Extinguish the green candle) Diana, goddess of the moon and beyond. We thank you for your presence at our rites. You have honored us by your presence. We release you to return to your realm and we bid you hail and farewell.

Priest: Point the spirit blade down toward the circle and beginning in the north, walk counterclockwise around the circle, mentally drawing the blue flame back into the blade. Return to the altar and place the tip of the blade into the spirit flame.

Maiden: (Walk over to the altar and snap your fingers three times over each elemental bowl, beginning in the North and moving counterclockwise) Spirits of Earth and Air and Fire and Water. We thank you for your presence in this circle and we release you to return to your realms. We bid you Hail and Farewell.

Priestess: Extinguish the spirit flame while saying:
Sleep, Spirit of the old ways. We thank you for lighting our way on this journey. Sleep soundly until we come again to wake you.

Priest: The circle is open, yet unbroken. May the peace of the goddess be ever in our hearts.

Merry Meet, and Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again.