Eclectic Pagan Rituals

— by Chandonn

An Eclectic Pagan myself for several years I've decided to publish my recent "public" eclectic rituals. I call them "Harmonic Rituals" as they are designed to celebrate the Harmony of all things, all peoples, and all religions. My own particular beliefs center on the idea that every religion is simply our own way of attempting to answer the great "WHY?" question of existence. Therefore, I see each religion as having a certain bit of truth in it.

In each of the rituals that follow, I've chosen a specific "theme" for the ritual, generally based on which process of development I find going on at that particular time of the year:

Beginnings in January / February
Meditations in March / April
Reflections in May / June
Teachings in July / August
Compassions and sharing in September / October
Community celebrations in November / December

What follows is also based on the general ritual organization found in religions world-wide. I've edited it from my own ritual guidebooks and included post-ritual notes on how it went, interesting things that happened and so on.

ENJOY! - Chandon

An Introduction to Harmonic Rituals

A Harmonic Ritual is a ritual designed to celebrate our oneness with the universe surrounding us. Harmonic religion is not necessarily a new religion springing up in the Neo-pagan world. Rather, it is a movement I see in all the religions of the world which has grown noticeably pronounced in the past several decades. This new rise in "religious pluralism" is characterized by the way in which people are beginning to realize that every religion is a way of tapping into that great "Something" which we call God, or Great Mother, or Force, Tao, or whatever.

The New Age movement and our own Neo-pagan movement are both currents in this great religious wave. I am "cashing in" on this by attempting to provide a ritual form which recognizes the worth in every belief system, while adhering to the basic ritual structure seen in virtually every religion of the world. I have also utilized what I see as the six great processes to be found in religions. Together, they form the backbone for a Harmonic Ritual.

The Organization of the Ritual:

The Ritual is organized into two groups of three processes:

Learning (initiation)
Thinking (meditation)
Believing (reflection)
Teaching (continuation)
Feeling (compassion)
Celebrating (festival)

The first three processes are individual growth processes: that is, the internal processes we go through in religion / the individual processes. The second three are community processes in which the flower of our (internal) efforts and beliefs is shared with our neighbors.

The Altar arrangement is divided into six parts with a seventh central part containing a flame source (lamp or candle) representing the Source of all Being / the Ultimate Reality. The six parts correspond to the processes listed above:

Starting at the 12 o'clock position we see Learning characterized by Islam: a religion of submission to the Will of Allah, Thinking characterized by Hinduism: a religion of thought and meditation, Belief characterized by Christianity: a religion based on belief and god in human form.

Starting at 6 o'clock we find Teaching symbolized by Judaism, Compassion symbolized by Taoism: which sees the Divine as Cosmic Compassion, and Celebration symbolized by the Neo-pagan traditions: which celebrate life and commune with nature. Also, I see these six processes in everday life, even in the wheel of the year! Starting in mid-winter (as the Julian Calendar goes) January-February conform to Learning, March-April conform to Thinking, and so on until November-December which are Celebration.

HARMONIC RITUAL: First Public Ritual

Winter 1993 focus:

"The Cosmic Sculpey" by Chandon

Note 'Sculpey' is a popular brand of modeling clay available at most craft stores.

gathering of supplies
gathering of participants
pre-ritual discussion
lighting of all flame sources / anointings / etc.
drawing of circle / declaration of Sacred Space / invocations

Opening

Welcome all who are gathered here tonight. Welcome to all those who have come here to celebrate the harmonies of the universe. All who seek harmony are welcome in our circle space tonight. All are welcome, both Seen and Unseen. Friends we are gathered here tonight to celebrate the Great Mystery, the harmony of the Living Universe. Let us celebrate together!

[oddly enough, one member of our local community who is known to create disharmony wherever he can, called during the ritual. Perhaps he was subconciously seeking harmony?]

(The following readings were scattered randomly among the ritual participants)

First Hextant Initiation

We all follow different paths in our individual quests for truth. We each revere our different gods and goddesses. We each have different goals and beliefs. Tonight we will tie our various beliefs together in a gesture of harmony. Tonight we will worship together.

II. Second Hextant Meditation

For many thousands of years humans have sought God. They have looked for the Deity in gods and goddesses, in the rocks and trees, in science, in spirit, in themselves. What they do not realize is that God is in all these places and many more. God surrounds us and binds us! God is found within each one of us for we are all a part of the Great Divine Force.God is the Living Universe and we may recognize and worship the Deity in whatever forms we choose.Let us now make a form for how we each view the deity.

('Sculpey' is distributed among the participants. Each participant is asked to make an image representing the first thing to pop into their mind when someone says the word "Deity", "God", or "Goddess".)

III. Third Hextant Reflection

Science provides us with the explanations and definitions for all the things in the universe. It tells us that the universe is made up of all things which exist. It tells us that the universe has a definite beginning, and a definite end, although we do not as yet know what. The universe is an enclosed system, like a living body. It sustains and maintains balance within itself. Nothing is created nor destroyed; all is transformed and re-used. All things which exist in the universe should exist in harmony in order to provide the most efficient survival of this great body.

IV. Fourth Hextant Teaching

Now let us share our thoughts on deity, using the forms we have created.

(each person tells about his/her god image, and then combines it with those created by the previous persons. In the end there is a single great conglomerate god image. A friend of mine described it as "God designed by committee" !)

We now have a symbol of the unified nature of the Deity.

Reading: Gods

Gods may come and go
following the winds in mid-spring's full bloom
Lords of compassion;
Lords with strong fists
Ladies of creation;
and those of jealous fits!
Those who dance out life
and who destroy
to create again!
Powerful deities forms for the infinite!
Shadows of the One
forever capturing our glances.
— Chandon 1993

V. Fifth Hextant Compassion: The Simple Feast

VI. Sixth Hextant Celebration: Singing, Dancing, Chanting, & Merry-making

Closing

I now thank all who have gathered here tonight. All forms, both Seen and Unseen, are thanked for their presence. Please go as you wish -- in peace. Thank you also, friends, for gathering in this circle tonight. Let the harmony of our circle be a pattern for all paths to find!

thank all / "erase" Sacred Space/extinguish all flame sources / etc.post-ritual discussion (optional)

HARMONIC RITUAL 1st Hextant (January) 1994 focus

"Initiation / New Beginnings" by Chandon

Gathering of supplies
Gathering of participants
Pre-ritual discussion
Lighting of all flame sources / anointings / etc.
Drawing of circle / declaration of Sacred Space / invocations

I. First Hextant Initiation: The Cosmic Hymn

There is something in nature.
Some Force which cannot be understood.
It shapes and drives,
It sings and dances,
And through it all things are made complete!

Where is this something?
It is all around us.
It shines and draws us closer,
It sings and dances before us,
And through it all things are made compete!

When did it begin?
It has always been!
Why did it begin?
Only it knows!
How did it begin?
With a Bang and a Whimper.

Who is this something?
I am all that have been!
I am the Father,
the Mother,
the Son,
and the Daughter!
I am the pool of water,
and the immovable mover;

I am "That Which Is!"'

— Chandon 1991.

Tonight, we worship the Deity in its many forms.
Tonight, we worship all gods and goddesses,
all Forces and Powers,
Tonight, we worship all Creation as a whole,
Tonight, we worship in Harmony!

II. Second Hextant Meditation

(Guided meditation focusing on connecting with nature, led by a participant)

III. Third Hextant Reflection

("God Designed by Committee" [see "The Cosmic Sculpey" ritual above] is brought out and discussed, each member sharing his/her contribution. Meanings of Deity are discussed)

IV. Fourth Hextant Teaching

("A Communion of Beliefs" each member of the group discusses his/her religious beliefs and how they are influenced by them. Then each person discusses how the views of the others in the group affect them; each person discusses what they can learn from the traditions of the others in the group.)

V. Fifth Hextant Compassion: The Simple Feast

VI. Sixth Hextant Celebration: Singing, Dancing, Chanting, & Merry-making

thank all / "erase" Sacred Space

extinguish all flame sources / etc.

post-ritual discussion (optional)

HARMONIC RITUAL 2nd Hextant (Beltane/March) 1994 focus

"Meditation"by Chandon

This ritual was based as an expansion on the above ritual, and a re-tread of the above ritual with a different group and limiting the participant's talks to one or two sentences [as the above ritual dragged on for three hours!]

gathering of supplies
gathering of participants
pre-ritual discussion
lighting of all flame sources / anointings / etc.
drawing of circle / declaration of Sacred Space / invocations

I. First Hextant Initiation; The Cosmic Hymn

There is something in nature.
Some Force which cannot be understood.
It shapes and drives,
It sings and dances,
And through it all things are made complete!

Where is this something?
It is all around us.
It shines and draws us closer,
It sings and dances before us,
And through it all things are made compete!

When did it begin?
It has always been!
Why did it begin?
Only it knows!
How did it begin?
With a Bang and a Whimper.

Who is this something?
I am all that have been!
I am the Father,
the Mother,
the Son,
and the Daughter!
I am the pool of water,
and the immovable mover;

I am "That Which Is!"
Chandon 1991.

Today, we worship the Deity in its many forms.
Today, we worship all gods and goddesses,
all Forces and Powers,
Today, we worship all Creation as a whole,
Today, we worship in Harmony!

II. Second Hextant Meditation

( a brief discussion on how pagans view deity. That is some pagans view all gods as various aspects of the same one [these people are called "lumpers"] and others view gods as distinct and separate entities ["splitters"]. I discussed the value of being a "lumper" as it explains how all deity comes from the same place [i.e. "The Cosmic Sculpey" ritual above]. Then I explained the value of being a "splitter", namely that each personality of deity can minister to a different need.)

III. Third Hextant Reflection

(Now I discussed the diversity of life. I talked about the "splitter" concept as it applies to life -- that is, all life forms are different beings. I then talked about the "lumper" concept -- the interconnected web of life. Then I went further and discussed Deity [the Ultimate "lumped" Deity together with all else which exists in order to make the Universe, which I call a "The Living Universe" and "The Universal Organism".)

IV. Fourth Hextant Teaching

V. Fifth Hextant Compassion: The Simple Feast

VI. Sixth Hextant Celebration: Singing, Dancing, Chanting, & Merry-making

thank all / "erase" Sacred Space
extinguish all flame sources / etc.
post-ritual discussion (optional)

HARMONIC RITUAL 3rd Hextant (Beltane/May) 1994 focus "Reflection"by Chandon

gathering of supplies
gathering of participants
pre-ritual discussion
lighting of all flame sources / anointings / etc.
drawing of circle / declaration of Sacred Space / invocations

Opening

"God's mind is not only in his Word, but also in everything he created. God's mind exists wherever we go in heaven or on earth." Unification Church. Sun Myung Moon,12-13-59

I. First Hextant Initiation: Hindu Hymn

"You are the fire
You are the sun
You are the air
You are the moon
You are the starry firmament
You are Brahman Supreme;
You are the waters
- You, the Creator of all!

You are woman, You are man,
You are the youth, You are the maiden,
You are the old man tottering with his staff;
You face everywhere.
You are the dark butterfly,
You are the green parrot with red eyes,
You are the thunder cloud. the seasons, the seas.
Without beginning are You; beyond time and space.
You are He from whom sprang the three worlds."
Hinduism. Svetasvatara Upanishad 4.2-4

II. Second Hextant Meditation

"God created the seven heavens in harmony." Islam. Koran 71.15

"I look at all the major religions of the world as one big family." Unification Church. Sun Myung Moon, 1-1-87

"And I [Jesus] have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd." Christianity. John 10.16

"In the Great Beginning, there was non-being. It had neither being nor name. The One originates from it; it has oneness but not yet physical form. When things obtain it and come into existence, that is called virtue (power which gives them their individual character). That which is formless is divided (into yang and yin), and from the very beginning going on without interruption is called destiny. Through movement and rest it produces all things. When things are produced in accordance with the principle of life, there is physical form. When the physical form embodies and preserves the spirit so that all activities follow Their own specific principles. that is nature. By cultivating one's nature one will return to virtue. When virtue is perfect. one will be one with the Beginning. Being one with the Beginning, one becomes vacuous, and being vacuous, one becomes great. One will then be united with the sound and breath of things. When one is united with the sound and breath of things, one is then united with the universe. This unity is intimate and seems to be stupid and foolish. This is called profound and secret virtue, this is complete harmony." Taoism. Chuang Tzu 12

"There is not a single place in all the corners of the world where God is absent." Omou, Kyo. Michi-no-Shiori

Hindu Hymn

"You are the fire
You are the sun
You are the air
You are the moon
You are the starry firmament
You are Brahman Supreme;
You are the waters
- You, the Creator of all!

"Any and everything of this universe is all the body of God." Tenrikyo. Ofudesaki 3.40

III. Third Hectant Reflection

Reflections of the Deaity as seen in the natural world around us; our connection with the reality surrounding us. (Silent Nature Walk)

IV. Fourth Hextant Teaching

Sharing our observations from the Third Hextant Nature Walk (above) and learning from the observations of others.

V. Fifth Hextant Compassion

The Simple Feast

VI. Sixth Hextant Celebration

Singing, Dancing, Chanting, & Merry-making; "Dancing with Nature

"Music expresses the harmony of the universe, while rituals express the order of the universe. Through harmony all things are influenced, and through order all things have a proper place. Music rises to heaven, while rituals are patterned on the earth... Therefore the Sage creates music to correlate with Heaven and creates rituals to correlate with the Earth. When rituals and music are well established, we have the Heaven and Earth functioning in perfect order." — Confucianism. Book of Ritual 19

Closing

"Those who see all creatures within themselves And themselves in all creatures know no fear. Those who see all creatures in themselves And themselves in all creatures know no grief. How can the multiplicity of life Delude the one who sees its unity!" — Hinduism. Isha Upanishad 6-7

"Who seems to see a difference here ?" Hinduism. Katha Upanishad 2.1.10-11

thank all / "erase" Sacred Space
extinguish all flame sources / etc.
post-ritual discussion (optional)

HARMONIC RITUAL 4th Hextant (July/August) 1994 focus "Continuation/Teaching"

NOTE: This ritual focused on the many varieties of religious paths found in my local pagan community. As this was the Fourth Hextant ritual (and therefore a Ritual of "Teaching") I asked each of the participants to choose a dramatic way of explaining their religious tradition.

gathering of supplies
gathering of participants
pre-ritual discussion
lighting of all flame sources / anointings / etc.
drawing of circle / declaration of Sacred Space / invocations

I.First Hextant Celtic Cycle

Focus on the following energies of air:
beginnings
initiation
submission
learning

(A Celtic Myth was told (as first person) regarding a learning experience)

II.Second Hextant Hindu Cycle

focus on the following energies of fire
meditiation
thought
consideration
weighing

(A Hindu myth was recited)

III. Third Hextant Greek Cycle

focus on the following energies of god personified or present in nature:
reflection
spiritual acceptance
God in human form
nature

(a Greek story was dramatically told)

IV. Fourth Hextant Norse Cycle

focus on the following energies earth
teaching
community
outward living
guiding humanity

(the Norse story of Odin's search for the runes was told)

V. Fifth Hextant Feast Cycle

focus on the following energies water
compassion
feeling
communion / communing
community

(we ate)

VI. Sixth Hextant Wiccan Cycle

focus on the following energies of no god form (transcendant):
celebrating
festival
nature in harmony / diversity
one-ness

(a Goddess dance was performed)

thank all / "erase" Sacred Space
extinguish all flame sources / etc.
post-ritual discussion (optional)

HARMONIC RITUAL 5th Hextant (Samhain/October) 1994 focus "Compassion"by Chandon

gathering of supplies
gathering of participants
pre-ritual discussion

lighting of all flame sources / anointings / etc.
drawing of circle / declaration of Sacred Space / invocations

I. Initiation: The Process of Learning

Cree Hymn
The Sky blesses me,
the Earth blesses me;
Up in the Skies
I cause to dance the Spirits;
On the Earth.
the people I cause to dance.
Native American Religions. Cree Round Dance Song

II. Meditation: The Process of Thinking: "The Mystery"

"I believe the universe is alive.
I believe the universe is God.

The name universe means 'one word'.
It is the _one word_ which describes all things which exist.
It includes all worlds, all stars, all galaxies.
It includes all plants, all animals, all people.
It includes the faeries, the spirits, the gods.
And these gods are merely parts of it --- by definition!
It includes the things known to be, the imagined, and the unknowable.
It is an interdependant web of choch all things are a part.
It is filled with life and it is life itself.

The universe is alive!"
Chandon

III. Reflection The Process of Believing

"Any and everything of this universe is all the body of God." Tenrikyo. Ofudesaki 3.40

"There is only one God; all the 'gods' are but His ministering angels who are His manifestations." Omoto Kyo. Michi-no-Shiori

"...wherever you turn, there is the face of God..." Islam. Koran 2.115

"Nothing whatsoever exists without me or beyond me ..." Hinduism Srimad Bhagavatum 11.10

Hindu Hymn

"You are the fire
You are the sun
You are the air
You are the moon
You are the starry firmament
You are Brahman Supreme;
You are the waters
- You, the Creator of all!

"God's mind is not only in his Word, but also in everything he created. God's mind exists wherever we go in heaven or on earth." Unification Church. Sun Myung Moon,12-13-59

"How can the multiplicity of life Delude the one who sees its unity!" Hinduism. Isha Upanishad 6-7

IV. Continuation The Process of teaching: "WATER-WEAVING"

LEADER (Holds Sacred Vessel containing Water)

I hold in my hands a vessel of water. But this is not a simple vessel. It is a question asked by all persons --- an important question! In fact, it is the most important question ever asked by humanity !

Inside this vessel is Sacred Water. It is healing water for the entire human race. And it is the answer to the question of the vessel.

The title of the water is "religion" and it goes by many names:
It is Taoism, Shinto, Buddhism, and Hinduism,
It is Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam,
It is Hopi, Aztec, and other New World belief systems,
It is African, Australian, Old World,
In every corner of the world it has a unique name.
Even in this circle it has many names.
As I now disperse this sacred water,
I ask each of you to give it the name
you choose for your path.

LEADER (Disperses Sacred Water into cups among the congregation)

Each of you now has given the water a name. When it was in the vessel it answered the question of the vessel. Now, in your cup, it answers the question in your cup.

Each answer of yours is but a partial answer to the great question --- but each answer is a correct answer and will take you where you need to go. You may change cups of water many times in your life --- or hold several of them at once --- but each one will be as useful to you as the past ones.

Now let us reunite the Great Answer.

LEADER (Carries vessel around circle as congregation fills it with water)

Now the answer is again complete. Notice the many religions in this vessel do not disagree or cloud the water; rather, they all make the Answer more complete. So also it is in the real world. Only ignorance can create disharmony.

V. Compassion: The Process of Feeling

the simple feast using the water from the vessel above as the drink (I used flavored mineral water and Hershey's Kisses --- it worked great!)

VI. Celebration: The Process of Festival

Singing of Unity (various songs from Paganism and Unitarian/Universalism speaking of oneness/Mother Earth/the cycle of life/etc.)

Closing: "The Cosmic Hymn"

There is something in nature.
Some Force which cannot be understood.
It shapes and drives,
It sings and dances,
And through it all things are made complete!

Where is this something?
It is all around us.
It shines and draws us closer,
It sings and dances before us,
And through it all things are made compete!

When did it begin?
It has always been!
Why did it begin?
Only it knows!
How did it begin?
With a Bang and a Whimper.

Who is this something?
'I am all that have been!
I am the Father,
the Mother,
the Son,
and the Daughter!
I am the pool of water,
and the immovable mover;

I am "That Which Is!"
Chandon 1991.

thank all / "erase" Sacred Space
extinguish all flame sources / etc.
post-ritual discussion (optional)

HARMONIC RITUAL 6th Hextant (Yule/December 1994) focus "a Celebration Together"by Chandon

gathering of supplies
gathering of participants
pre-ritual discussion
lighting of all flame sources / anointings / etc.
drawing of circle / declaration of Sacred Space / invocations

I. First Hextant Initiation

Paths and Peace: An interactive community discussion of religious integration perspectives on the peaceful harmony of various traditions.

II. Second Hextant Meditation

Looking Back over the past year. A Discussion of the local community in transition over the past year.

III. Third Hextant Reflection

Looking ahead: Where Can We Go? Scrying in various objects / divination as members of the community wish, and community discission/dialogue concerning our course

IV. Fourth Hextant Teaching

Transitions Our individual Paths During the Past Year looking back at our triumphs and failures

V. Fifth Hextant Compassion A Gift Circle

VI. Sixth Hextant Celebration A Yule Feast (Potluck)

thank all / "erase" Sacred Space
extinguish all flame sources / etc.
post-ritual discussion (optional)

This ritual was put together with community celebration in mind, and is therefore kept as loose and flexible as possible. Nothing is "scripted". No long readings -- in fact, no readings at all. The lively discussions have been arranged in order to help strengthen the community and encourage people to work together on community goals, forgetting their religious differences.

Tryskelion