Solitary Ritual by Dawn "Belladonna" Thomas

First Harvest Solitary Ritual

By Dawn "Belladonna" Thomas

The Feast of the First Fruits

Ripening

Items Needed for Ritual:

Green, yellow, and orange candles (representing the changing seasons)

Small loaf of bread

Cauldron

Wicker basket with fruits and grains

Chalice with grape juice, wine or mead

Salt and water to cleanse and cast the circle

Relaxing music

Preparations for the Ritual:

Prepare to answer the following seasonal questions for yourself during the ritual.

What can be, or needs to be, sacrificed for my harvest?

How do I share my abundance with others?

How do I manifest my power?

How do I support myself and others in attaining or manifesting our life goals?

Altar:

The altar is decorated with fruits and grains. There is a cauldron with a candle at the center of circle. At the edge of the cauldron is a loaf of bread. Candles representing the changing seasons will be placed in a triangle shape.

Cleanse the area with salt water and incense as you cast the circle.

Calling the Goddess

Hail to Demeter, the Earth Mother and Goddess of the Harvest. You have provided for us with your abundant harvests. Please join me today.

Calling the Elements

Hail to the Element of the East, Ancient Spirit of Air. The warm breeze cools and cleanses me in the summer heat. Please join me today.

Hail to the Element of the South, Ancient Spirit of Fire. The sun warms the earth during the long summer afternoons. Please join me today.

Hail to the Element of the West, Ancient Spirit of Water. Your warm rains provide nourishment to the harvest. Please join me today.

Hail to the Element of the North, Ancient Spirit of Earth. The earth is full of golden fields full of ripe fruit and grain. Please join me today.

Reflection and Affirmation

The harvest season is here and with it come the first fruits. This is a time to be thankful for the labor and struggles needed for the harvest. This is the height of the year. May the bounty of this season keep me strong in body, mind, and soul.

What do I ask of the harvest? What did I begin earlier in the year that has grown and is ready to come fully into my life? What can be or needs to be sacrificed for my harvest? How do I share the abundance of my harvest with others? How do I manifest my power? How do I support myself and others in attaining or manifesting our life goals?

I sacrifice to the Goddess the behaviors and attitudes that will hinder the completion of my own personal harvest. I will weed out anything not essential that might impede it coming to fruition. I will change my priorities so that they are what I want or need and I will make any changes necessary to achieve my goals. I give thanks for the gifts around me and for the good fortune in my life.

Meditation and Crafts

Meditate on my personal harvest: growing prosperity and accomplishing the needs or goals for the good of all.

While making a corn doll or making a braid with onion and garlic bulbs, say the Song of the Corn Maiden (by Carol Christ).

There's plenty to eat, plenty to drink,

Plenty to keep us toasty warm

Plenty to clean, plenty to heal,

Plenty to keep us from harm;

The power is ours to work and share

Our mother's plenty is everywhere!

There's plenty to say, plenty to sing,

Plenty to dance, and dare to do;

Plenty to weave, plenty to unwind,

Plenty for me and you!

There's plenty of work, plenty of play,

Plenty of rest when day is done;

Plenty of corn in the Maiden's hands.

Enjoying the Feast of the First Fruits

Wine is from the fruit of the season. It is a symbol of the earth's abundance, and represents all the elements of summer and fall, the elements that mature the grapes and grain. This is a time of turning inward toward the darkness, of inner and individual work, a time of maturing and aging, of experience, growing wisdom, fulfillments past and to come.

The First Harvest is a time for change. The transformation of grapes into wine, or grain into baked bread, of summer into winter, the Mother into Crone, of life into death and back again.

"She changes everything she touches, and everything she touches changes."

Great Goddess of Mother Earth, Goddess of the Harvest, accept my thanks for my growth, insights, accomplishments, and the food you have given me.

Drink from the chalice. Offer a toast to the coming harvest and give thanks to the Goddess. Bless the food and enjoy the feast. Set a portion of food is set aside for the Goddess and leave the rest of the food and drink out for the wildlife.

Closing the Circle

Element of the North, Ancient Spirit of Earth, your harvest will sustain me. Thank you for joining me today. Hail and farewell.

Element of the West, Ancient Spirit of Water, your rains are gentle on the harvest. Thank you for joining me today. Hail and farewell.

Element of South, Ancient Spirit of Fire, the warmth of the sun has helped in the prosperous harvest. Thank you for joining me today. Hail and farewell.

Element of the East, Ancient Spirit of Air, your warm breeze has helped cool the heat of the summer sun. Thank you for joining me today. Hail and farewell.

O Great Goddess, the bounty of your harvest has provided for me. Thank you for joining me today. Hail and farewell.

The Circle is opened by never unbroken.

Blessed Be.