The final full moon of 2019 will usher in the Geminids; a spectacular meteor shower that will peak between December 13th and 14th. The 2019 full cold moon will be at its peak on Wednesday, December 11th at 10:14 PM (MST) – you can find all the moon phases across different time zones using this chart.
Tonight’s ritual will be the last opportunity for cleansing and clearing negativity before the Yule celebration and the Winter Solstice on December 21st (Northern Hemisphere). This year, we are incorporating an amazing celestial event into our ritual; the great annual meteor shower known as the Geminids. This meteor shower happens annually, but we’ve never spent time analyzing it’s spiritual meaning before today. We can learn so much from simply observing and processing the many events of the natural world; it’s a classroom of the highest order.
This ritual uses the cleansing flames from a naked fire for the clearing process. We encourage people to bring anything they wish to permanently release from their lives to the circle where it can be committed to the flames. If something is too large, non-flammable, or a living being, then the participants can write them on paper and burn the paper symbolically. This process constitutes a pact each person makes with themselves; a no-turning-back decision to permanently rid themselves of things or people which are holding them back in any way shape of form.
You’ll need the following items:
Quarter Candles (yellow, red, blue, green)
Goddess Candle
Paper and pencil for each participant to write things down to burn
Fire pit or cauldron suitable for safely burning small objects and paper
Altar – decorations for this full cold moon can be seasonal greens (holly, ivy, mistletoe, pine boughs, etc.) or pure white to symbolize the illumination of the moon
Ritual Begins
Darkest night and full moon light, an energy source both light and right, we gather round to cleanse our souls, shake the things of false control, I conjure now this sacred space where all are welcome and all are safe !
Calling of the quarters
East
Freezing winter winds from the East demonstrate the power of AIR – Invisible and yet more powerful than anything we could imagine – we welcome the refreshment, the invigoration, and the reminder that things are not always as they seem. <light yellow candle>
South
Bright flames from the South demonstrate the power of FIRE – Destructive but also necessary; hot but also dangerous; light but also a source of great darkness – we welcome the lesson of dichotomy as it helps us to understand the balance of the universe. <light red candle>
West
Cold waves from the West demonstrate the power of WATER – Constant and never-ending tides, flowing springs, and necessary precipitation – the great cycle provides benefits to all living creatures and provides us with a template for perpetual grounding. <light blue candle>
North
All matter, both organic and inorganic originate in the North, where the power of EARTH is evident in every vision, with every sound, and in each sensory action – we are humbled as all things are provided to us, freely and without the need for payment, each night and day as the great wheel turns. <light green candle>
Great Goddess, we ask for your continued blessings and protection in all aspects of our lives. As we take our places in the great circle of life, we know it is you who sits at the center; guiding us, teaching us, and providing for our needs; both the ones we can see and the ones we cannot. We, who are worthy of your blessings, ask for your presence tonight in this circle. <light Goddess candle>
Music – Geminid Meteor Shower (December 13, 2017) | Sleeping At Last
I found this short instrumental from a few years ago – seemed the perfect choice for this ritual.
Opening Statement
Tonight we gather under the light of the full cold moon. This full moon is known by many names across many cultures. It’s also called the Bitter Moon, the Big Winter Moon, the Oak Moon, or the Long Night Moon. Each name different, but each also a reminder that winter is here to stay and will be that way for a long time.
Lesson of the Session – The Geminids and What Can We Learn From Them
The Geminids are without a doubt, one of the most amazing cosmic events known to man. During the peak viewing times, it is possible to view 120 meteors per hour. The Gemenids are one of the nine annual meter showers that can be seen each year. This year the best times to view are between December 13 or 14, depending on your time zone. This meteor shower owes its name to the constellation Gemini, as the falling meteors seem to originate from within the star group overhead. Scientists and stargazers flock to watch the event annually to gather empirical data. We respect what science we can learn from the Geminids, but rarely look at what spiritual meaning we can glean from this spectacular meteor shower.
In ancient times, anything moving in the night sky would be treated with great respect by people across the world. A meteor would be called a sign or an omen, but a meteor shower would often be considered a direct communication from one of the Gods or Goddesses. Some interpreted the falling lights as an act of anger while others saw them as angelic gifts being spread across the land. Many Native American tribes saw meteors as signs of trouble, famine, or the death of a great leader. A smaller consensus was that the meteor was a new Shaman being born. Regardless of which ancient belief you study, they all pointed toward a celestial or Higher Being interacting with those of us on earth, in one way or another.
In modern times, we have a better understanding of the cosmos and how things move in space. We can use the event to self-reflect and for some of us, realize a few truths. The Geminids biggest contribution to spiritual learning is “awareness.” The event reminds us that we are not the center of the universe, but also that there are always bigger things happening all around us. So many people get caught up in their everyday lives, focusing on small and unimportant things. Many people, especially our young adults, believe that the world revolves around them – hence the “need” for attention, likes, followers, and minions. It seems everyone wants to be an influencer or trend setter, but in the bigger picture, it doesn’t bring anyone peace, calm, or spiritual learning.
Also, the Geminids meteor shower is showy and glamorous for a short time, but as with so many things, it will quickly fade and return to normal. It’s an epic flash-in-the-pan that only dazzles and provides nothing else. Our lives are filled with similar things, albeit not as glamorous. We binge-watch television shows, surf the internet for hours upon hours, and play video games until we fall asleep some nights. Entertainment has a place and time, but it shouldn’t consume our daily lives. So many of us are caught up in the “look something shiny” syndrome rather than the “look I’m learning something or I’m growing as a person” syndrome.
And lastly, almost everyone fails to see that a meteor shower is actually an energy transfer. Universal energies are released as the meteors burn up and disintegrate while travelling through our atmosphere, releasing a blanket of rejuvenating and healing power for all humankind to enjoy. Just as many natural and energy healers transfer their energies to others for healing, the Geminids and the collective universe is healing the planet.
Cleansing
Use this time to focus on your magickal workings; the full cold moon is a great time to perform spells which need a little extra boost of power. Things to focus on are spells that focus on travel, communication, writing projects, clearing the air, illuminating, grounding, and centering. All of these in addition to cleansing and clearing.
We honor the Great Guardians of the South as they have provided us with cleansing flames to consume that which is old, negative and no longer valid in our lives. When we choose to burn the things which no longer serve our higher good, we are making a conscious choice to improve. When we carry things with no value, bad energy, or confusion, it places limits on our ability to grow spiritually, emotionally, and in some cases physically.
<Offer each person paper/pencil to write things down>
Each of you may approach the fire, and when you are ready, cast the unwanted things, vowing to release them permanently from your existence. By doing so, you essentially create an open space to fill with things that are positive and have real meaning. As you burn each item, state the following, “I give up freely that which is no longer serving me”
<Once everyone has burned their items, have the group join hands and say the following>
“We gather tonight by the light of this full cold moon. Each of us can feel the chill of the winter wind on our faces. We see the snow covering our fields and pastures. Days are shorter and the darkness is heavy and deep across the land. And even so, we refuse to surrender to the winter. We celebrate the season, and rejoice, for our bodies and minds are now cleansed. Now, more than ever, we are prepared to fill those empty spaces with those things which strengthen our spirits and provide us with direction to grow and flourish. May the next turn of the Wheel bring us love and compassion, abundance and prosperity, fertility and life – As the moon above, so the earth below. So Mote it Be!”
<Depending on your particular beliefs, you can either take this time to share cakes and ale among those gathered, pass a talking stick and share thoughts on the future, or you can skip it altogether and go right to the closing>
Closing the Circle
North
Immense and unmatched power of the earth; your gifts are too many to number and your abundance beyond comparison – we are honored by your presence tonight. <extinguish Green candle>
West
Healing waters of life; leave us with the relaxing calm of the never-ending tides and the stillness of a mountain pond – we are blessed by your presence in this circle tonight. <extinguish Blue candle>
South
Cleansing flames from the great fires; we’ve surrendered all that is unwanted for your consumption and ask that they are transported far from us – we are thankful for your presence in our circle tonight. <extinguish Red candle>
East
Whispering winds; we feel your great power but also your soft caresses on our skin – we are humbled by your protective strength and offer you praises and thanks for your presence in our circle tonight. <extinguish Yellow candle>
Center/Altar
Great Goddess, as we continue to face the challenges of the cold of winter, we offer you our gratitude; for your abundance, your guiding wisdom, your continued blessings, and your unconditional love. <extinguish Goddess candle>
This full cold moon circle is open but never broken!
Huzzah!
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