VARIATIONS
ACT OF POWER '>2
Candle Circle
Our second Act of Power is in the nature of a simple Mystery Play, followed by
a candle circle. It should be noted that these can also be done separately.
Change the wording for the candle circle, and it is also quite appropriate for
Candlemas.
For the mystery play you will need three people: one to be the Oak King, one to
be the Holly King, and one to be the Crone Goddess. For the candle circle you
will need one candle for each person present, a lighter, and a fire-resistant
bowl or cauldron.
The candles need not be elaborate: a package of birthday candles will do fine.
You can also use the small white candles commonly sold for emergency use.
Smaller candles are better for this, because they need not burn long.
The play can be enacted very simply. It is permissible for the speakers to read
their parts. Other than the candles, no props are necessary.
Of course it is more spectacular if the speakers can memorize their parts. And
as you can imagine it can be a lot of fun to costume the participants –but this
is not necessary.
Make sure that the person portraying the Crone Goddess already has the lighter
and a candle, as all will be dark when these are needed.
Holly King
“I am the Holly King, Lord of Winter and of Night. I am the Kindly One
-Under my rule the Earth sleeps beneath a blanket of protective snow, and rests
in preparation for coming rebirth. I am the lord of wisdom, and of wealth. I am
the Giver of Gifts -and also the Giver of Visions. I am the Lord of the Gate,
who guards the path between Life and Death –and the magic realm between. I am
Cernunnos. I am Merlin. I am Santa Claus. I am the Sorcerer. I am the God who
fell with the Harvest and rules in death –yet I am not dead for death is an
illusion and spirit but changes its form. I am not sad or woeful. I am the
jolly God of Midwinter celebrations –the joyous God of the Otherworld Feast.
Behold me –the Lord of Midnight, the slain Sun, the Horned God of the Spirit
realm- and know that life is never absent, even in death. With the deepest of
sleep come the most vivid of dreams. Beneath the frozen Earth, the hidden seeds
wait for Spring. Behind the Veil of death, spirits await rebirth. When the
night is darkest, then dawn is near. Just so, when all seems still, it is often
that change is merely waiting for the right moment to happen.”
Oak King
“Indeed! I challenge you, O Lord of Death!
Now let the two Kings engage in a mock struggle. The Kings can grapple with each
other or have a choreographed mock sword fight, or they could use quarter
staves, according or whatever works best for you. At length the Oak King
vanquishes the Holly King, who falls to the floor.
Holly King
“I am wounded! I am struck! In the midst of my greatest power I am cast
down!
Oak King
“It is even so. Now the longest night shall pass, and the days will
lengthen, and the Sun climb high in the heavens. For behold! I am the Sun
reborn! I am life renewed! I am the Oak King, and in my time, I shall rule the
longest day! I shall grow with the plants and crops and renew the life of
Earth. I shall arise with the Ram and melt the snows of Winter -for I am the
heat which nurtures the seed and makes the blood run faster. I shall turn the
Goddess’ head to love, and all things will flower in my name. But that is yet
to come. For now, the Old King shall rule a little longer -but His end is
begun. Days may grow colder for a time, but they will also grow longer, and
Winter will pass away. All things in their turn are reborn: the day, the Earth,
the soul. For the only constant is change, and spirit but changes its form. The
longest night is the moment of the Holly Kings greatest power, but also the
beginning of his end. Go now into the long night with him. What would you
release with him as he passes away? What would you change as the days lengthen?
Think of these things. Meditate upon them now, as we let the longest night come
about us.”
Let the Oak King now extinguish the altar lights so that the room is in
complete darkness. Meditate upon all that you would change or release. Meditate
for about a minute: maybe two. More will be too much if you have people not
skilled in meditation.
Now let the Crone take the lighter and light the candle. The candle should be
held under the face so that the Crone is eerily underlit. This will also
provide light if the Crone’s speech must be read.
Crone Goddess
“Behold, I am the Crone, Queen of the Night, of Winter and the Spirit Realm.
I am old –immeasurably ancient. Bent and gnarled as the bare trees of Winter:
yet I am strong and sure of purpose. Even in this darkest night, I see clearly.
“Once I wore the red veil of the Maiden and danced among the flowers of Spring.
The world was my playground and I rejoiced. The Sun’s rays warmed me and moved
me to love.
“Once too, I wore the white gown of the Mother, and walked among the growing
fields. The world was my child, I nurtured it and gave it sustenance. The Sun
was at my side, my partner and protector.
“Now I wear the black mantle of the Crone and stand strong amidst the wind and
snows of Winter. The world is as one asleep, and I shelter it with my
protective snows. The Sun is my husband and I am now a widow.
“I am the Queen of Witches. I have been all things and learned all secrets. I
know that if we do not find that which we seek within, we can never find it
without. I know too, that perfection is a false goal: for it cannot exist. What
is perceived as perfection is not an ending but a plateau which precedes new
growth: no sooner is it reached than it must be moved beyond.
“When the rose is at its most fragrant, it has already begun to rot. No sooner
is the fruit ripe, than it must fall. When the Sun has reached its greatest
height at noonday or at Midsummer, then it must begin to decrease. So too this
longest night: from this point of greatest power, the reign of night shall
diminish and the powers of the Sun increase. The Old Lord will fade and be
reborn as the Young Lord: All things shall be renewed.
“It is even so in the affairs of humankind. There is no greater surety than
change and growth. The old must give way to the new, outmoded ideas and forms
must be discarded that new and better ways may grow. It is the way of things.
“In token of growth and renewal, let us now each light a candle."
“As we light our candles, let us be mindful of the role of change in our
lives. And let us consider the areas of our life where change and growth are
needed. Even as the light increases, so too may we be renewed and reborn.”
The Crone now uses her candle to light the candle held by the person deosil to
her. She may say something like:
“The light returns –may you be renewed!”
That person will then use their candle to light the candle of the person deosil
to them, saying:
“The light returns –may you be renewed!”
And so forth deosil around the Circle until each person’s candle has been lit.
All Together
“The light returns –we are renewed!”
Now you may wish to sing an appropriate chant such as:
“The Sun is renewed
The Earth is renewed
All life is renewed
I am renewed!
Renewed!
Renewed!
Renewed!”
Now collect all of the candles into your fire-resistant bowl. They may be left
burning in the bowl or extinguished if you prefer.
If you are so inclined the still burning candles in the bowl may be placed in
the center of the Circle and jumped over by each member –perhaps they might
make a silent wish as they do so, or shout out an affirmation such as “Growth!”
Or if you are not up to such athletics you may simply extinguish the candles,
collect them in the fire-resistant bowl and place them upon the altar.
Now continue with the rest of your ritual.
Of course it should be noted that the candle circle need not be done with the
Mystery Play as shown, but can be done by all by itself, or with any other
prolog you prefer.