Ritual in Theory and Practice

Page 20

VARIATIONS

Here follow several other possible Acts of Power which you might use for a Samhain ceremony. It is our goal, as we have said, to give you some idea of the scope and variety which may be in ritual practice. Potential Acts of Power are innumerable, and creativity and reverence should guide you in building a wide repertoire to use in your own rituals. Variety in ritual is desirable -it helps to keep people interested and engaged: there are few worse flaws in ritual style than stagnation.

 

 

ACT OF POWER 2: Totentanz

 

Our second Act of Power for Samhain is a Totentanz, or Dance of Death. Also called La Danse Macabre, it is a theme arising from the late Middle Ages, here offered with a distinctly Pagan turn of thought.

 

The Totentanz takes its origin from a major artistic motif of the late Middle Ages: the image of Death leading people of all social strata into the Otherworld in a kind of dance. This Grand Guignol image became prominent after the Black Plague had decimated the population of Europe. The image remains a potent one today, its most famous modern version being the famous Ingmar Bergman film “The Seventh Seal.”

 

For many people today the Totentanz is an unsettling, even horrifying image. But to the people of the times –overwhelmed by the reality of the Plague- the Totentanz seems to have been rather reassuring, as it can be to the modern Pagan for whom Death is not a fearsome ending but merely a Spiritual transformation.

 

In the Totentanz we are reminded that all in their turn must die, and that Death can and should be viewed as a natural part of life rather than as a terror to be avoided.

 

For this Act of Power you will need one person to portray Death. Costuming Death can be as simple as a skull facemask or can be as creative as you might like. If you prefer a less macabre Death, think in terms of the Horned God as Guardian of the Gate. But however simply or elaborately Death is costumed, Death must carry a cane, staff, or even a scythe to represent the Staff of Life and Death.

 

It can also be fun to have everyone wear costume for this ritual. Using the Totentanz as a theme, each person can dress as a representative of a different kind of person or as different professions. This can be very creative and entertaining for people.

 

For this enactment of the Totentanz, begin with everyone in a circle, holding hands, except Death who should be to one side of the altar. Have Death address the group. Death might say something along these lines:

 

“Samhaintide is the season of Death. The crops in the field have died –felled to feed the world in the hungry months to come. The leaves on the trees have turned color and are dying too. The Sun which once burned so brightly now sinks into the death of Winter: shadows lengthening, days shortening. The Liturgical Year dies. We too must die, in our turn. It is the nature of life.

 

“Death is the Great Leveler. Whomever you may be –High Priestess, Elder, Paladin, rich, poor –it matters not: all in their turn must die. A rich banker –Death will come. A loving mother –she too must die. A poor beggar –in death all are equal.

 

“I carry the Staff of Life and Death. One touch of the staff ends life. A touch from the other end, and a new life begins. All who are touched by my staff are transformed.

 

“I am the Guardian of the Gate to the Otherworld. All must come through me, no matter who they are. Beyond the Gate is happiness in the Land of Youth. Loved ones are reunited. Illness and pain are forgotten. Questions are answered. But first one must pass through Death.”

 

Begin a chant. An appropriate chant might be:

 

“Nunc ubi Aradia, multum mirabilis?

Aut ubi Ursula, vox invincibilis?

Vel Caroline ubi est, Magistra nobilis?

Est ubi gloria nunc -vita amabilis?”

 

(“Where now is Aradia, the most miraculous?

Or where is Ursula, of invincible voice?

And Caroline where is she, noble teacher?

Where is your glory now –Beloved life”)

 

As the group chants, Death dances tuathail around the circle. After going all the way around the circle once, Death then begins randomly picking people out of the Circle –tapping them on the shoulder with the staff. As each person is tapped, they stop singing and join Death, dancing with Death tuathail around the rest. Gradually the chanters dwindle, until at length only one person remains singing, all the rest of the people dancing tuathail behind Death in silence. Then Death takes the final person. Now all join hands in a circle with Death and continue silently dancing tuathail. After a few more times around Death stops the dance and cries out something to the effect of:

 

“Fall down! Fall down in death and rest in peace!”

 

Everyone -except Death- now sinks down to the floor, lies down and closes their eyes. Death continues with a meditation. The meditation should not move too fast, so that everyone can keep up with it –but not too slow either, so that no one gets lost. It might be done like this:

 

“Go now within yourself! Deep within yourself. Leave this moment behind. Go deeper, deeper. See yourself in a new place –a fair land. Let the image come to you. Here all is beauty and peace. Here are the birds of Rhiannon –the messengers of Spirit. Here are the Beloved Ones –the Ancestors. Here is the Goddess: Mistress of the feast. Look around and you will see Her in the distance –the Goddess, Queen of Spirits. Go to Her. She is the origin and destination of all things. Give Her greeting. How does She appear to you? Hold out your hands to Her –for She has a gift for you. Receive it from Her…

 

“Behold the gift you receive. What is it? How does it make you feel? Is there a message with it?

 

“Accept the gift and give thanks for it. Thank the Goddess for all Her gifts and for all She does for you. O Fountainhead of Life –You Who were with us before birth and Who awaits us after death –we thank You for the gift of life! We thank you for all the opportunities You afford us! Help us we pray, always to see the gifts of abundance which are before us and to make the most of the lessons each precious life affords our Soul!

 

“Now take leave of the Goddess and contemplate the gift you have received from Her…”

 

Give the people a few seconds to contemplate the gift which they have hopefully received in meditation. Again, this should not last too long, or people will become unfocused and restive. After the ritual if people wish to discuss what they received in the vision, you can help them to interpret what the gifts mean, as the meaning is likely to be symbolic in nature.

 

Then Death continues:

 

“One touch of my Staff brings instant death. But a touch of the other end of the Staff brings rebirth! All who are touched by the staff are reborn, cleansed and rejuvenated from their rest in the Otherworld! Return then when you are touched by the Staff: filled with peace and joy, invigorated and refreshed!”

 

Death now moves deosil around the Circle, touching each person with the other end of his staff. After touching them, Death should then assist each person to stand, until one-by-one all are again standing.

 

“Death is inescapable for all! But death is not an end. Rebirth follows Death as surely as dawn follows night! As surely as Spring follows Winter! Death is a time to rest and to regroup before continuing on. Be joyful therefore and remember the words of the Bard: ‘Death has no power the immortal soul to slay!’”

 

Now begin a sprightly chant and dance deosil around the Circle in token of rebirth –a good chant might be:

 

"Unbroken Circle of Forever

Starting always: ending never!

 

"What a joyful happenstance

Is Life and Death's eternal dance"

 

Now continue with your ritual.