COMFORT NOTCH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
REMEMBER THE RITUALS
Comfort Notch Citizens:
As the Autumnal Equinox and Celebration approaches, it’s important that that we, as a community, come together to remember the rituals of the season. We’ve made the effort to capture the entire celebration here, for your review and reinforcement. For our newest participants, please take the time to learn what preserves and reinforces our community bonds and the promise of our continued prosperity into the future.
As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Jenny Green, Mayor Hardy, or Harrison Cole III (President of the Comfort Notch Historical Society).
· For the Night (Opening chant/ritual)
Instructions: Participating townsfolk encircle the elevated, grasping hands with one another. Ensure that the Elevated does not leave the circle.
Come close, then closer still
Bind our hearts, and minds, and will
Together we rise
Together we fall
For the Night
She heeds our Call
By Earth
By Fire
By Wind
By Rain
We stand together
In Fire’s light
For prosperity’s gain
No matter fear
The time draws near
Sacrifice another’s pain
So Comfort Notch remains.
This opening chant and ritual goes directly into the next. Circle draws in closer to the Elevated Honored Person. Fire Tender lights the Autumnal Bonfire with the leaves collected over several weeks
· Raising the Witch (recitation/chant)
Instructions: Starts as a whisper, builds in crescendo!
Blades of scarlet
Glades of green
The Witch in Leaves
Power flows in flight unseen
Life in limbs
Sap of blood
To her we plead
as we execute our deed
Keep us safe
Keep us whole
Keep us prosperous
As you did on old
Hear us now
Accept our bait
The Honored goes willingly
To their Fate
With lights ablaze
Darkness fades
Your spirit, your power
We now raise.
Townspeople raise their clasped hands into the sky, drawing down the power of the forest, and of the elementals alive with the ritual. The townspeople now close in upon the Honoree, forming lines on other side of that person, as to usher them into the forest.
· Change (ritual/recitation/chant)
Instructions: As the chant is recited, the Honoree is gently guided towards the woods.
By the light of the Moon
By the rays of the Stars
The Autumnal calls
When the first leaf falls
Season of change
Colors ablaze
Towering trees of magic
Capture the gaze
What is necessary
What must be
Continues our existence
Because of she within the trees
Of bark
And limb
Of blood
And bone
Keep it alive
Comfort Notch our home
When the leaves turn
Our souls burn
Change must happen
Time must churn
*By the end of the chant, the Honoree must be in the dark of the woods*