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Open Circle
Submitted By: Dimara Date: 10/13/00
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Open Circle Submitted By: Dimara Date: 10/13/00 |
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"What exactly happens at this thing? I've been going to the open circle at the Awareness Shop since I became a Pagan (3 years ago, near Samhaim) and have heard question this too many times to count. I love looking at the faces in the circle because they reveal so much. I've seen new faces, familiar faces, happy faces, wonder-filled faces and bewildered faces. So, if you will bear with me for a moment, I'd like to explain exactly what this thing called the "circle" is and what goes on in it. Who goes to these things? To begin with, I suppose I should state that most of us (those who I call the Cast of Regulars and Lisa calls Familiars) are really a hybrid. As with most Pagans, we are solitary. This means that we hold circle alone for Sabbats, Esbat, or whenever we feel the need. We hold circle in our homes or outdoors (Pagans love to keep to the Old Ways and have circles outdoors whenever possible). Some Pagans belong to a Coven; a group that bands together to celebrate the Pagan ways and become a sort of Pagan family. But we are also hybrid because the Cast of Regulars or Familiars work both as solitaries and as participants in the Open Circle. We enjoy doing our own thing alone: communing with the God and Goddess privately, invoking the Watchtowers of the four elements in our own style, raising energy to cast a spell, or just reading our prose to the God and Goddess that has caught our fancy As Pagans, we gather together near the Full Moon to celebrate the God and Goddess and honor them for all that they have given us, to raise energy, and to just plain old have a good time with our extended Pagan Family. And, believe me, we do exactly all of that. We also have a box for donations that are given to a local good will agency. We especially push this at Sabbats. But, exactly what is it that goes on in the circle? This is a bit more difficult to explain. We have certain rituals that we do in the open circles, just as in our solitary circles. They include invoking the watchtowers, calling the Sun God and Moon Goddess, performing the rite, and sharing cakes and ale (although ale for us is Apple cider or juice). We often perform healing circles for thosewe care about, including the Earth. This is where the differences between solitary and open circles begin. We are lucky enough to have the most terrific drummers in the world - and drum we certainly make them do! Anyone is free to bring whatever instrument they play and join in as they please and everyone is encouraged to chant and dance around the altar. Some people prefer just to sit in the circle, kick back and enjoy watching. That's great, too. We have a songbook (That some of us call our Pagan Hymnals) to which we constantly add new songs. Most of the songs are about the Earth (our Mother), the Sky (our Father), environmental concerns, and other Pagan beliefs. We sing our hearts out and our throats sore. When the drummers begin playing, the chanters start singing and the dancers swaying. I love to dance in the circle. Those of us that choose to dance in the circle do so around the altar to the beat of the drums and rhythm of the chants. To dance around the altar is to become one with the beat of the drums and rhythm of the chant. It's to loose yourself and melt into the energy going around the altar until you are the energy, the beat, the chant. It's your feet losing their purpose and taking on a life of their own. You are no longer the dancer. What do the drummers feel? Well, I really can't answer that, but I can write what I observe. As I said before, I watch faces. I see the drummers transported in rapture somewhere that I suspect is near the same place the dancers go. I see their hands moving with amazing speed, looking like their bodies and minds are separate. They are amazing. However, one ingredient very important to this open circle is the camaraderie. It's sitting in a circle that's all aglow with candles and energy and howling at the Full Moon. (I said Pagan, right?) It's nudging your neighbor and softly giggling at something, it's the scent of smudge, it's the sense of community of being with people who share your beliefs, it's sharing your stories with the talking stick (say your bit and pass it on), it's planning the next group Pagan outing, it's the fun at the diner afterward and it's the unwavering support you receive for your spirituality. It's all this and so very much more. I hope to see your face at the next Circle. Maybe we can all howl at the Full Moon together? |
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