Alban Arthan - The Light of Arthur
Full Moon in Sagittarius
Ritual written* and led by Janine Donnellan(June 13, 2008)
Alban Arthan means the Light of Arthur. Some believe this means the Light of King Arthur Pendragon who is symbolically reborn as the Sun Child at the time of the Winter Solstice. Others see the Light belonging to the star constellation known as the Great Bear - Arthur, or Art, being Gaelic for Bear.
Alban Arthan, represents a time when we can open ourselves to the forces of inspiration and conception. All about us is darkness and on this night our guiding beacon is Arthur, rising forth from Avalon. In the stillness of night our intuition is heightened; thus the energies of the night make it a potent time to open ourselves to the fertilising power of the Great Source, so that we may give birth to our creativity.
This Full Moon in Sagittarius represents the union of the physical and the spiritual in the search for knowledge. Sagittarius wants to understand the totality of existence through "journeying" in all its forms. The bright fire of knowledge is at its apex on a Full Moon in Sagittarius.
Everyone walks in single file with beat of the drum entering the circle from the Southern Quarter.
Sound Awen three times. AA--OO--WEN
A circle is cast around about, spirit stay in, world stay out; a circle is cast around about, a world within a world without; the circle is cast around and around, in spirit and power we are now bound.
You find yourself in a fog bank as you move through it you feel yourself going through a shift in time. You hear muffled in the distance war cries and a clash of swords. As the fog dissipates you find Merlin standing there leaning against his staff. "There you are, I was wondering if you were going to miss the event. Follow me". You trail behind Merlin who leads you up a pathway out onto a rock face overlooking a lake. In the centre of this lake there is a small island, a mist rises from the water and as it moves apart you can see the reflection of the moon leaving a silvery trail of rippled light. Watch intently Merlin says - you will see an end of an era and a beginning of another.
As you gaze upon the waters you notice a barge moving slowly towards the island. A man lays on a platform and three women hover over him attending to his needs. It is the fallen Arthur and the three women are Vivien, The lady of the Lake, Morgaine & Brigid. This is the last journey of the dying King who is moving from this world to the other world Avalon. As the barge moves closer to the island the clouds begin to cover the illumination of the moon. It feels as if the light of the world is slowly expiring. Vivienne looks up towards the rock face seeking Merlin and your eyes meet. You feel within her eyes her anguish, as she realizes that those of the Fey and the old religion are receding into the darkness. The light of Arthur and the dragon line have been vanquished. A lonely horn heralds Arthur's passing and the warrior's sword Excalibur lies now in the murky depths of the lake where it had first been forged.
The sadness of Arthur's passing encompasses you, tears well within your eyes. All is transient Merlin murmurs. Gone from this world but lives within another; nothing is truly lost only forgotten. Camelot was a time of great hope, of great battles and the search for the purity of spirit. Don't despair; it still lives within the hearts & souls of those who thirst for knowledge & truth.
Merlin takes you by the hand and you feel a rush of wind around you. You arms are wide open and you realize you have morphed into a bird. Merlin has shape shifted into an owl and flies before you. You both fly high in the sky towards the other world, towards Avalon.
You both land on a branch of an apple tree near the spring well, a woman is kneeling staring into the water in quiet contemplation. Vivienne rises to greet you and you resume your normal persona. She bows her head to Merlin and then in silence she leads you to a procession of people; all moving around a stone circle. 12 stones are before you, a knight of the round table stands beside each stone. Arthur sits on a crystal throne in the centre a chalice in one hand & Excalibur in the other. A young maiden beckons you & Merlin to the centre of the circle and Merlin immediately takes his rightful place beside Arthur.
You stand before Arthur, he smiles at you. There comes a time when we must search for our inner most truth, now is such a time he says. Within this circle is someone that can aide you to find that truth. Go seek them out; they are ready to receive you. You turn and move towards the companions of Avalon. Seek out your truth and when it is time I will call you back.
The maiden beckons you back to Arthur. Come kneel before me, says Arthur, the maid brings the chalice to you and offers the contents. The maiden says - In this place and time each must face our self if we would drink from the Cup which overflows with the Light drawn from the Source of Life. You sip from the grail and you taste its nectar.
Arthur speaks. You shall be granted three wishes, one for a friend, one for the earth and one for your self. Don't waste them on foolishness. Arthur then raises Excalibur high above your head. You feel its energy & light penetrate your crown chakra. The energy rushes through your body, you feel it surge through your third eye, your throat chakra, your heart, you feel its vibrant energy in your solar plexus, your sacral chakra & then you base chakra. The energy then diffuses through out your body.
Vivienne steps forward and touches your head with the spring water. You have been given an attunement; tonight you have received the Light of Arthur. And now your quest begins. You have come to this place for a reason and now you will journey back to the place you came from. We bid you adieu. You bow to Arthur & Vivienne & the companions of Avalon. Merlin steps forward raises his staff around you and you are transported back to the rock face overlooking Avalon. Merlin bids you farewell, don't despair I am close at hand if you should need me. You turn and move through the fog bank. You notice a shift in the darkness and then a light appears and you find yourself back in this room. You see yourself sitting on the chair and you move back into your body. You feel you chest moving with each breath, you stretch your arms and you feel totally grounded and invigorated and you open you eyes.
 The Cauldron  |
 Samantha |
 Sam in the Mist |
 Simon & Jenni |
