A Gathering of the Tribe

Our lives are centered upon ritual. The Saturday night date is a romantic ritual, knitting circles are a

growing trend, and doing yoga is replacing going to the gym as a spiritual and physical workout.

People need ritual to inform and enrich their lives, to deal with stress, and to create meaning in their

lives. Family time should be a ritual too, whether it’s a Wednesday night pizza, or more memorable

events where every generation is present. A Shirley Temple Mocktail that everyone can enjoy is perfect

for these special times! Enrich these moments further by adding a spiritual aspect—perhaps

children could share the highlight of their week so far, and photos or memories could be added to a

family album to be treasured for generations to come.

Libations for Ritual Gatherings

Whether it is a high holiday or a humble family get-together, festive beverages add to the celebratory aspect of the occasion and bring people together in joy and appreciation of each other. How many times have you been to an event where, after you were introduced to a food, dessert, or drink that was completely new to you, you loved it and were asking for the recipe? Parties and group rituals are a wonderful way to share delightful treats with the special people in your life. These gatherings make our lives meaningful and will become memories you will treasure.

Gem-Magic Get-Together

Forget the Tupperware party and have a gem-magic party with your girlfriends instead. Make popcorn, eat pizza, drink champagne, and, most importantly, make magic together. What could be more fun? All you have to do is pick a night and assign everyone two ingredients to bring—one snack and one batch of crystal beads. You provide the thread, tools, glue, and good vibes.

Think about beginning the night by making brooches. A brooch worn over the heart is a symbol of loyalty and love among friends. You’ll need to get some flat-circle brooch pins at a craft store. Give each person at the party a brooch and ask her to choose a partner. Using glue, each gal will encrust the front of her brooch with as many crystals as possible in a color and an array that best represents the personality of her partner. Then, the partners exchange brooches. Your gaggle of girlfriends will be forever bonded by their love brooches, not to mention the glue!

Here are a few other festive and fun projects you can whip up together: birthstone bracelets, bewitching barrettes, pendulum pendants, true-love tiaras, blessing bracelets, bodacious bobby pins, and nights-of-enchantment necklaces. The possibilities are endless; let your imagination (and your friends) run wild!

Lady of Silver Magic: Full-Moon Circle Gathering

The full moon is the most powerful time of the month and the perfect time to celebrate with special people in your life. This ritual will heighten your spirituality, your friendships, and your connection to the powers of the universe.

As I write this, it is a full moon in Pisces, and I look forward to getting together with some of the sisterhood, some fellow spiritual seekers, and kicking up our heels in celebration of life and asking for what we need from the universe. We will wait until midnight, the traditional witching hour. We will gather in one of our favorite spots near water under the magical moonlight.

Here is our recipe for ritual: We place the biggest crystal we can—usually a geode, an amethyst chunk, or a big quartz or rock crystal—in the middle of the altar. We place a goblet of wine before an image of the Goddess. We all bring candles in sturdy, tempered- glass votives to light our way, and we perform a rite we learned from our elders. Each of us holds a crystal that is our touchstone.

You can perform this ritual in your home or garden or a sacred place of your choosing. Designate a leader who will perform all the incantations as the group forms a circle. Begin with the appropriate chanting:

Oh, lady of silver magic, we honor you here, 
In this place, sacred and safe.
This circle is in your honor. 

The person in the northern point of the circle places her candle and her crystal on the ground as the leader chants: 

Blessed one, all earth is yours. 
May we all heal,
May we all draw strength, May we grow. 

The person in the eastern point places her candle and her crystal on the ground while the leader chants: 

Oh, lady of laughter and joy, so is the sky yours, too. 
May the air be clear and pure,
And the clouds sweet with wind and rain. 

The person at the southern point lays down her crystal and candle while the chanter speaks: 

Oh, lady of summer, each season is yours.
May each spring bring flowers and crops for all. 

The person at the western point lays down her candle and crystal while the chanter speaks: 

Goddess of the waters,
The rivers and the ocean are yours.
May they once more flow crystal clear.
Lady, we have built this circle in your honor.
Be with us here now.

Now each member of the circle goes to the altar and kneels, placing her candle and crystal on the altar. Each takes a sip from the goblet of wine and says: 

 

I toast thee, bright lady, In your honor. Blessed be. 

Then, all members pick up rattles and drums and sing and dance under the sparkling crystals in the sky. If you are able to observe every full moon with a ritual gathering, your life will be very rich, indeed.