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This is the time when we can name our fear and once we have named it our fear loses its power over us. When we face the death of our fear we go through a process of transmutation; a process to renew and restore our soul and like a Phoenix rising from the ashes we will surrender ourselves into our true spiritual essence. Tonight we connect with the ancient Greek Gods of Fire: Hestia - the oldest daughter of Greek Cronus and Rhea. One of the twelve Olympian gods, her name means the heart, and relates to the place in the house where the fire is maintained. She is also associated with the earth's central fire. She was the keeper of the sacred fire on Mt Olympus. Hephaestus - god of fire, arts and smiths. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, he is not an Olympian god. Hephaestus is a cripple. Being a smith he has strong mighty arms but his legs are weak. The purpose of this ritual is transcending our limitations. During the ritual, each participant writes down their single most pressing fear on a piece of paper. This is later burned in the Fire in keeping with the old belief that prayers and requests are carried to the Gods on the smoke of the altar fire. This ritual allows deep communion with the spiritual essence of fire on the divine level; it also confers a sense of renewed purity and vitality. Our quarters will be guarded by the ancient four winds. How many of us have heard the voices of the winds, have felt their power and their magic? How many have responded to that voice? Men have heard the aeolian voice and called it by name. Homer spoke of the four winds: Boreus, Euros, Notos and Zephyros as the flowed from the north, east, south and west, respectively. East Eurus, Come you now, Eurus, Wind of Air. Come to us like the gentle breath of Dawn. Eurus! I call you to this Ritual - be here now! So Mote It Be North Notus Come you now, Notos, Wind of Fire. Come to us like the Phoenix, who rises from his own ashes. Notus I call you to this Ritual - be here now! So Mote It Be West Zephyrus Come you now, Wind of Water. Come to us like the surging of the tides. Zephyrus, I call you to this Ritual - be here now! So Mote It Be South Boreus Come you now, Boreus, The Wind of Earth. Come to us like the night rolls over the River Styx. Boreus I call you to this Ritual - be here now! So Mote it Be Goddess Oh mighty Hestia Keeper of the Sacred Flame, Come join us here tonight Look with favor upon the fires of this temple, And bless us with your presence Hail & Welcome God Oh might Hephaestus forger of the eternal flame, Come join us here tonight Assist us in rising above our limitations And bless us with your presence Hail & Welcome Intent The darkest time of the year is drawing near. Thus we must prepare ourselves for the dark times. This is the time of cleansing before the dawning of new light. We must purge ourselves of all dark deeds and thoughts, That no fear or imbalance may taint our sowings. Now think for a moment of what fear you need to overcome, of that, which darkens your lives, write it down and prepare to cast it into the cleansing fires of Hestia & Hephaestus. One by one, all place their pieces of paper in the cauldron. When all have been burnt, all pray facing the central altar: Prayer Great Gods of fire, purify us with your holy power. Banish this fear forever, and show us new ways of understanding. Let the dusts of journeys fall from our bodies, Cleansed let us rise from the ashes, and be pure again! So Mote It Be The priestess walks around the circle with the blessed water. O blessed water, where you are cast Let no evil or adverse purpose last. Be ye cleansed and pure again! She then purifies each person, saying: I purify with water. Closing Goddess Oh mighty Hestia Keeper of the Sacred Flame, Guide us with your wisdom Thank you for joining us here tonight Hail & Farewell God Oh might Hephaestus forger of the eternal flame, Guide us with your strength Thank you for joining us here tonight Hail & Farewell South Boreus, Wind of Earth. like the night rolls over the River Styx. I release you from this Ritual Thank you for joining us here tonight Hail & Farewell West Zephyrus, Wind of Water. Like the surging of the tides. I release you from this Ritual Thank you for joining us here tonight Hail & Farewell North Notos, Wind of Fire. Like the Phoenix, who rises from his own ashes. I release you from this Ritual Thank you for joining us here tonight Hail & Farewell East Eurus, Wind of Air. Like the gentle breath of Dawn. I release you from this Ritual Thank you for joining us here tonight Hail & Farewell May this circle be open but unbroken May the peace of the Goddess be ever in our hearts. Merry Meet and Merry Part And Merry Meet again. Back to top Phoenix image from http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/Paranada/paranada.htm * This ritual is a combination of the author's original ideas and information obtained from various books and/or internet sources.		SOL Featured Events The next full moon circle is on: Friday 24th September 2010 The next meditation is on: Sunday 19th September 2010 PAN Featured Events More SOL Websites...