Midsummer Honeysweet Family Ritual

 Midsummer Honeysweet Family Ritual

August 1, 2024

By Foxlyn Wren

ADF COoR Style

Supplies:

  • Offerings Ideas  (Kids give non-alcohol offerings—I let them pick the offerings before ritual, be it from a list or their hearts):

    • The Melissae: Sugar Water, Flowers, Local Birdseed, Honeycake, Mead

    • Hearth Deities: Herbs from Pantry or Garden, Salted Flour, Cornmeal, Olive Oil, Real Candle Flame

    • Earth Mother: Silver Bead, Water, Birdseed, Local Plant Seeds

    • Shining Ones: White Wine, Food from our feast

    • Nature Spirits: Cornmeal, Birdseeds, Local Plant Seeds, Milk and Cinnamon

    • Ancestors: Rum, Whiskey, Food from our feast, Milk

    • Gatekeeper Bee: Sugar Water (I’ve read that honey from different bees can make other bees sick)

  • Hallows: Yggdrasil, Cup, Candle

  • Lighter

  • Sage

  • Bee Figurine

  • Gatekeeper Bee

  • Elen's Blade

  • Hellenic Prayer Beads

  • Drinking Horn of Water

  • Wooden Offering Bowl for Dry Offerings

  • Ceramic Offering Bowl for Wet Offerings

  • Spirit Staff

  • Summer Blanket

  • Pendulum

  • Greek Alphabet Oracle For the Working: Some sort of Sweet--a honey candy, or whatever a person prefers to eat/drink as a treat.

Kindreds:

  • Ancestors

  • Nature Spirits

  • Shining Ones

  • Beings of the Occasion: The Melissae, Bees, Pollinators

Ritual:

1.  "Today we celebrate Midsummer–the midway point of Summer!  Today we're celebrating Honeysweet and honoring the Bee Spirits, The Melissae!  Goddesses, Priestesses, Oracles, Dancers, Hand-Maidens, and Psychopomps of Ariadne, Demeter, and Persephone.  Many rituals this time of the year may be asking about what you've planted, what's growing, or what you're harvesting, be it good or bad.  For this ritual, I'm going to be asking what kind of honey do you have in your hives?  Are you prepared for the harsh cold darkness of winter?  The work we're going to be doing today is to help sustain us through the dark part of the year.  I want you to take a few breaths at your pace."

Let them breathe.

"Let's begin!"


2.  Invite the Hearth Entities: Light the Candle: "Hearth Deities and Spirits–Hestia, Vesta, Hekate, Frigg, and House Guardians; I light this candle to show my love and gratitude for all that you've done, do, and continue to do for myself, my family, and community.
Hearth Entities, accept this offering!" Sprinkle Salted Flour into the flame.


3.  Purification: 

-         Light the sage. "In the names of my Hearth Entities, I cleanse this sacred space of all unwanted energies and entities. May only love, good health, joy, good prosperity, and peace remain."

OR

-         Drum.  “In the name of our Hearth Entities, this drum’s beat will cleanse this space of all unwanted entities and energies!”  Allow each kid to bang the drum, while we sing Hoof and Horn by Ian Corrigan (3):

Hoof and Horn, Hoof and Horn
All that dies shall be reborn.
Corn and Grain, Corn and Grain
All that falls shall raise again.


4.  Earth Mother: "We call to the Earth Mother. Earth Mother, She from whom we have emerged and to whom we shall return. We ask that you hold and protect us during this Midsummer Honeysweet Rite.

Earth Mother, accept this offering!"

Kids: “Earth Mother, accept this offering!”

Drop the silver bead into the Well.


5.  Let us connect to the Sacred Center:
Without Kids: "Now I want you all to close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Imagine that your feet are tree roots. Plunge those roots into your floor and into the ground. Push them deep into the earth, until they reach the cool waters below. With each inhale, bring those waters up your roots. Up your legs. Into your hips--here there is a cauldron. Fill the cauldron with the waters. Let the cauldron overflow and fill another cauldron in your heart center. Let the waters rise once more, filling your entire body with this cool, cleansing sacred water. Rising up to your head, to fill another cauldron. When you are ready, open your eyes.

With Kids: “I want you to close your eyes and take three deep, slow breaths, in and out.  Imagine that your feet are tree roots.  Grow your roots into the ground—jump if you want to!  Now raise your hands up and imagine those are the branches and leaves of the tree.  Reach up into the sky.  Feel the Sunna’s warmth and see Her rays flowing into your finger leaves, arm branches, and tree trunk body.  Do you feel the sun's energy flowing through you? Open your eyes.”

To All:
"The Waters support and surround us,
The Land extends about us,
The Sky stretches above us.
At our center burns a living flame.

May our worship be true.
May our actions be just.
May our love be pure.
Blessings, honor, and worship to the Holy Ones."

6.  Open the Gates: "We call now to Gatekeeper Bee! Guardian between our world and the Other.   Bee Accept this offering and be welcomed in this rite!

Kids: “Bee accept this offering!”

Give offering.

Gatekeeper Bee, I ask that you guide and protect us, joining your magiks with ours, and help us open the Gates!

(Touch Elen's blade to the Flame) Sacred Fire of the Heavens and Gods, You are the spark of inspiration, the flame of transformation, Burning within us, igniting our spirits with purpose.

May this candle flame become the cosmic fire.

Sacred Fire, burn bright within us!


(Touch Elen's blade to the Well) Sacred Well, cauldron of the Underworld and the Chthonic Ones, Portal to the Ancestors, deep and ancient, Flowing from the womb of the Earth Mother.

May this cup of water become the cosmic well.

Sacred Well, flow deep within us!


(Touch Elen’s blade to the Wood block) Sacred Tree, Portal to all worlds, you are the embodiment of strength and endurance.

May this block of wood become the cosmic tree.

Sacred Tree grow strong within us!

 

Fire, Well, and Sacred Tree,

Flame, flow, and grow in me!

Bee! Let the Gates be Opened!” 

Kids:Let the Gates be Opened!”  Open hands up.

7.  Now we welcome the Kindreds Three.  Who Calls for the Ancestors?
Kid: “I do!  Ancestors of blood and spirit, culture and place, I invite you to this rite.
Ancestors, accept this offering.

Everyone: Ancestors, accept this offering!

Who calls for the Nature Spirits?
Kid:  “I do!  Nature Spirits of land and air, fire and water, I invite you to this rite.
Nature Spirits, accept this offering.

Everyone: Nature Spirits, accept this offering!

Who calls for the Deities?
Kid“I do!  Deities, I invite you to this rite.
Shining Ones, accept this offering.

Everyone: Shining Ones, accept this offering!

8.  Being of the Occasion:Now we welcome the Beings of the Occasion!  The Bee Dancers, Bee Priestesses, and Greek and Minoan Bee Deities–The Melissae!  We also welcome other Bee Entities from other Hearth Cultures, such as Nantosuelta (Nun-taw-swel-taa)–a "Goddess of Rivers, fertility, ravens, and beekeeping" (6); and the  Norse Beyla–servant of Frey and Goddess of Agriculture and Bee Keeping.  We also welcome the great pollinators, the Bees as Spirits and Corporeal Industrious Insects themselves.  Welcome and be honored at this rite.

Melissae and all present Bee Entities, accept this offering!"

Everyone: Melissae and Bee Entities, accept this offering!

9.  Omens: We have made our offerings to the Kindreds and so we shall ask for blessings in return.
Ancestors, what blessings do you offer?
Bee Spirits, what blessings do you offer?
Melissae, what blessings do you offer?

Are the omens good?
Are they accepted?

10.  Hallowing the Waters: Hold the Drinking Horn.  “We ask the Kindreds to bless these waters. May they fill our cups with Their healing, protection, guidance, and compassion; and whatever else They feel we're in need of!

See the omens fill these waters.

Behold the Waters of Life!

Drink deep and know we are blessed by our Kindreds.

11.  The Working:   "Honeysweet is a ritual created by the Wyrd Sanctuary.  Back in 2021, our Sanctuary did a lot of heavy Shadow and Sovereignty work, we needed a break—a balance to that darkness.  From August to the Fall Equinox, we celebrated Honeysweet, and sought the sweetness of appreciation and gratitude in our lives.  We acknowledged what brought us joy, happiness, and comfort—a sweetness that can sustain us through those dark and difficult winter months and those inner shadows, just as honey sustains bees.


"This year has been a heavy year for many folks--lots of stress, anger, and fear is in the air. This rite we're doing something a little different and fun! We're going to be doing some candy magik and eating or drinking our Honeysweets." Teach them how to charge a piece of candy/food with what they're grateful for and another piece with what they want to attract, realistic short and/or long goals. Work it a little differently for those with drinks and provide options for those who'd rather write/color. Eat/drink after the Bee Prayer below.


"When you're all ready, hold your honeysweets to your heart center.  Close your eyes and breathe at your own pace."


Bee Prayer 

by Travis Bowman
Winged Spirit of Sweetness,

I call on you.

Teach us the ways of

Transformation and Fertilization,

The path from pollen to sweetest honey.

Teach us to taste the essence

Of each place we light,

Carrying that essence with us

To continue creation’s cycle.

Teach us the ways of hope,

Reminding us that what seems impossible

May yet be achieved.

Flitting tears of the Gods,

Draw us ever closer to the wisdom

Hidden within beauty.

Give us flight and sunlight,

Passion and productivity,

Cooperation with those around us

And sharpened strength to defend our homes

May we ever spiral out from our hearts,

Searching for What we need,

And return there once again

To turn those lessons into nourishment.

Bee Spirit, I call to you! (2)

Hear our gratitude and our joys!

Bless our hives!


"You may open your eyes and eat your sweets.  It's time to end this rite."


12.  Thanking the Kindreds: Melissae, Kindreds and Spirits All! We thank you for attending this rite and lending us some love, protection, and guidance. Hail and Farewell!

13.  Closing the Gates:Gatekeeper Bee! Thank you for guiding us and mixing your magiks with ours. Help us now to close the gates!

(Touching Elen’s blade to the Tree) May Sacred Tree be but a block of wood.


(Touching Elen’s blade to the Well) May this cosmic well be but a cup.


(Touching Elen’s blade to the Flame) May this cosmic fire be but a candle flame.

May the Gates be closed!” Close hands.

14.  Thanking the Earth Mother:Earth Mother we thank you for your support this day and every day. Our thanks and blessings. Hail and farewell, Earth Mother.”

15.  Thanking the Hearth Entities: Hearth Entities, We thank you for attending this rite, and helping to light the way with inspiration, warmth, and love.” Blow out the candle.

16.  Closing the Rite: This Midsummer Honeysweet rite has ended. Go in peace and in fellowship.”

_______________________________________________________

Resources

  1. Ar nDraiocht Fein: Our Own Druidry. 2024. https://ng.adf.org/ (newer site); https://www.adf.org/about (older cite)

  2. Bowman, Travis.  Bee Prayer.

  3. Corrigan, Ian.  Hoof and Horn.  February 19, 2022.  https://www.adf.org/rituals/chants/nature-spirits/hoof-and-horn.html

  4. Dangler, Michael.  A Fire on Our Hearth: A Devotional of Three Cranes Grove, ADF.  Second Edition.  2010.  Page 68.

  5. Dangler, Michael.  The ADF Dedicant Path Through the Wheel of the Year.  5th Edition.  2016.  Page 18.

  6. Dangler, Michael.  A Crane Breviary and Guide Book: Rituals for the Cranes of ADF, when they must kindle their own Good Fire.  2017.  Page 57.

  7. Serith, Ceisiwr.

  8. Stone Creek Grove, ADF. Standard Liturgy. November 22, 2021. https://stonecreed.org/rituals/standard-liturgy/

  9. Tackett, Kristy.  A Wandering Fox: Honeysweet Ritual with Pagans of Delaware County.  August 6, 2023.  https://druidhearthfox.blogspot.com/p/honeysweet-ritual-with-pagans-of.html

  10. Three Cranes Grove, ADF. Ritual Scripts. https://threecranes.org/category/ritual-scripts/

  11. Wyrd, Serendipity. Wyrd Sanctuary: Summoning Sweetness, celebrating Honeysweet. 2021. https://serendipitywyrd.com/wyrd-musings/summoning-sweetness

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