IPAN : Iowa Pagan Access Network

"Rituals of the Seasons"

Winter Meditation by Ariendel
A Brigid Ritual by Ariendel
Imbolc Ritual '99 by RCPC
A Solitary Oestara Ritual by Ariendel
A Garden Meditation by Sherry Lore
A Beltane Ritual by Sherry Lore
A Public Midsummer Ritual by Sherry Lore
Litha Ritual by I.C. Women's Circle
Lammas Ritual by Sherry Lore
Mabon Ritual by Trish
Samhain Public Ritual by RCPC
Solitary Samhain Ritual by Ariendel

Taken from "A Public Samhain Ritual" by RCPC

Guided Visualization: Leader
(A Journey through the Year)
A paper is offered to each participant to “leave” behind in the cauldron.Take this paper, and as you go through the meditation, wrap in it all you wish to leave behind with the old year or put into it all you wish to gain in the new.

Sit or lie down and make yourself comfortable.

Let yourself slip back in time to the dark time of last year.
Red & gold leaves, pumpkins.
As you crossed into the year that was
What did you know then?
What were your dreams? Your fears?
What did you take with you into the year?

The days turn colder.
The nights longer.
Snow and ice.
Yule
Evergreens, hot cider.
The longest night of the year.
Singing up the sun.

The days grow longer
But colder still.
The depth of winter
To Brigid’s fire.

Spring struggles with Iowa snows
To bring us the first greens
The first flowers
Oestara
Eggs and new life.

Wheel turns forward toward
Beltaine.
The snow has melted and the grass is green
The air still chilled some days
But the passionate union conintues.

Summer finally comes with rains
And green grass.
The air is warm
The longest day is upon us.
Midsummer reaches it’s mark.

The summer deepens as the world ripens.
First fruits ripen and the grain is heavy.
Lammas festival celebrates the last of summer
And the beginning of the harvest.

Summer lasts longer than usual,
Bringing us to Mabon harvest with mild days
The leaves begin to turn golden and red
The grain is cut down.

Until once again the year has turned full circle,
The pumpkins grin
Night grows colder and darker
This is the time when the old year is left behind,
When we step over the gap to the new.
In this moment, all is possible.
All time and space are one.
We are between the worlds
And in the world.
Here we make choices for the new year.

What did this year bring you?

Who did you say goodbye to? Who did you meet for the first time?

What did you lose? What did you gain?

When did you fail? When did you succeed?

What drained you? What sustained you?

What did you forget? What did you learn?

What did you destroy? What did you create?

What are your fears? What are your hopes?

What will you leave behind? What will you take with you?

What will you make of your life in this new year?

Let go of the pain and grief.
Let go of the mistakes and regrets.
Let them go, let them go.
Release them into the void, allow them to pass with the year.
Empty the old that the new may have a place to grow.

"Rituals of the Seasons"

Table of Contents:

Taken from "A Public Samhain Ritual" by RCPC