The Bear Ritual was attended by 12 people (six GOG people and six guests).
Here's the script, by Nayla and Steve:
Grove of the Other Gods, Ár nDraíocht Féin
Bear Ritual MetaPrompter Outline
Start
3 strikes of the drum.
“We Are Here to honor the Gods, Old ones who give life to all that is,
give to us Your presence.”
Earth Mother Invocation
Artio, cleanse our minds and hearts and prepare us for the work we do.
Statement of Purpose
We have come here to honor our fallen Grandfather and see him off to the Invisible
World in the expectation of his return next winter...
I took off here for a minute or two, I had chills speaking about a sort of
spiritual civic duty and becoming aware of the breaking down of the cycle
of life and death that this dusty old ritual is meant to address when it bids
the bear to return.
Meditation
Totally ad libbed and barely worked for me, but everyone reported it was what
they needed.
Land-Sea-Sky
Welcome each aspect and place its physical representation on the altar. Green
altar cloth for land, blue runner for sea, and light candles on side altars
for sky.
Hillary performed this while Steve set the altar.
Well-Tree-Fire
Assemble the altar piece by piece, passing the pieces through everyone’s
hands and continue with the welcoming theme.
Steve and I did this, the highlight of which was Steve's story about a Russian
village that put down a very deep well only to have a presumed extinct animal
emerge from it sometime later, indicating how literally a gate the well is.
Call to Mannanan/Opening of the Gates
Welcome Manannan to our wake. Come, open the gates for our Grandfather. Let
the gates be opened!
Honor and acknowledge the Outsiders
This was brilliant, Carl donned Steve's childhood tie and addressed human
progress, development, developers, and the corporate spirit. It was like he
was flirting with the Outsiders. When he tore it off and bore it out as an
offering, it felt like an exorcism of the workday from the room. I think he
really, really needed that.
Invocation of a Muse (& Song)
Maria gave this invocation to Jambavantha.
Ancestors Invocation (& Song)
Alex made the point that bears and many animals likely don't recall their
ancestors, but they do recall their last meal which in many ways is a direct
ancestor. We invoked the spirits of the animals and plants we consumed which
have become a literal part of us.
Nature Spirits & Spirits of Place Invocation (& Song)
Alex embodied the bear for a long ten minutes, patrolling the circle we sat
in and looking each of us over. It was an intense interval. As Steve put it,
he looked into Alex's eyes but didn't see Alex.
Goddesses and Gods Invocation (& Song)
Welcome Arthur, Artaios, Cernunnos, Artemis, Math, Andarta, Medved/Mishevi,
Otso, Kim-un Kamui, Ursula, Jambavantha… the sleeping Gods… to our
wake.
Invocation of Main Deity (& Song)
This was magic. A number of volunteers stood on either side of our kitchen
pass through, the room was candle and string lit, most of the light flickering,
and everyone not standing took up drumming, fluting, and even a singing bowl.
The bear skull was removed from the reliquary and handed through the pass
through in remembrance of the custom that the bear never be brought in the
front door. He/she passed from hand to hand among everyone in the room before
being laid on the altar. For a moment, we were in mythic space.
Welcome to our wake, Grandfather!
Welcome to our wake, Grandfather!
Welcome to our wake, Grandfather!
Main Sacrifice (if there is one)
Steve brought out the roast suckling pig and laid it on a bench before the
altar spread with offerings, he addressed the bear directly in a traditional
fashion, which is to explain that the bear was too strong for us to kill,
he had to have seen our need and let himself die, that it was not a specific
malicious act, but the culmination of thoughtless acts that is unchecked development,
and so on.
Praise Offerings
One by one, everyone presented gifts and praise. Points that stand out include
Steve and I sitting in the middle with Eli and helping her "sing"
her favorite song "We're Going on a Bear Hunt," it may sound silly,
but this connected. Everyone joined in, Eli was beside herself, and something
happened that I can't put into words. At another time, Elissa (one of the
non GOG attendees) stood and addressed the bear from her Cherokee background
in the Coyote tribe. She sat and related a story of the bear from her tribe.
Omen Reading
We sprinkled tobacco on a drum head then Elissa, Maria, and Hillary drummed,
watching the dance of the leaves. Everyone read their own personal omen, the
group omen related by Hillary was a dancing bear that morphed through a number
of animals, which was taken as a willingness to go to the Lord of the Forest
now and eventually return.
Catechism of the Waters:
Bless and pass sacred drink of choice, to the beating of a drum.
Pour libation of the remainder to the bear.
Sending of the Bear
You have eaten many berries, you have caught many fish, you have frightened
many people, your ancestors and your comrades have broken many men. Therefore
you must die for it, but we have fed you a great feast, not stinting on the
delicious [suckling pig], we have given you the best [honey wine], we have
[sung you many songs]. We have honored you in our circle, and sheltered you
in a nice warm lodging in the evening, we did not slay you, therefore you
must not complain about us to the Great Lord of the Mountains. <<Adapted
from the Gilyak.>> Grandfather, you were sent into the world for us
to hunt, we revere you, please hear our prayer: We have nourished you and
feted you with a great deal of care and trouble, all because we love you so
much. Now [as you have no place to live], we have sent you to the Lord of
the Forest, when you reach him, please speak well of us, and tell him how
kind we have been. Please return to us and if you must die once more, we will
feast you again! <<Adapted from the Ainu.>>
Thanks
Our Grandfather has gone! Be well, Grandfather!
Be well, Arthur, Artaios, Cernunnos, Artemis, Math, Andarta, Medved/Mishevi,
Otso, Kim-un Kamui, Ursula, Jambavantha… the sleeping Gods…
Be well, bears, foxes, Raritan…
Mi’walatl Grandmothers and Grandfathers!
Be well, Jambavantha!
Thank You Manannan
Our guest goes with you, Manannan, and we are grateful for him. Thank you.
Let the gates be closed!
Thank the Earth Mother
To thee we return this portion of thy bounty, O our Mother, even as we must
return to Thee.
Benediction
Go forth from this ritual, secure in the knowledge that our offerings have
found acceptance in the Bear’s sight, that he has gone with Mannanan
in peace, and that we part ways as brothers (and sisters), not as mortal enemies.
Response
Peace! Peace! Peace!
--
Nayla/Anna