As Samhain approached in 2004, the American Presidential elections were in full frenzy. As a citizen who has been appalled by the way our government has been run in the previous four years, concerns about illegal campaign tactics and voter suppression had me seriously alarmed about the status of our cherished democracy. I felt a certain desperation to take action, and the occasion of a lunar eclipse just days before Samhain and the election seemed the perfect opportunity.
At the Witches’ Voice, the premiere online community resource for Pagans world wide, an article was posted by Raven Grimassi urging people to consider the ancient practice of the “needfire”. A needfire was an opportunity for a community to cleanse itself of misfortune and to cosmically "reset" imbalances within the land. All of the family hearth fires were extinguished, and a sacred fire was kindled anew from fresh ingredients. This newly lit fire was then brought back to relight each hearth fire, restoring life and light to the community. As American Pagans, we were urged to revive this ancient practice, and restore light to American democracy.
I had planned on doing my own working with the eclipse anyway, but I modified it so that I would be working in accord with others across the US and the rest of the world. I love working with lunar eclipse energy. It's good for revealing that which is hidden, clearing the shadows from things, and aligning ourselves with powerful forces. Eclipses can be potent times, indeed. I think the American people have been misled by the current administration, and I had hoped to harness the energies of the eclipse to help realign American politics with our higher ideals. I crafted a lunar eclipse ritual that blended the ancient practice of the Needfire with current political events.
By the light of the full moon, I gathered wood for my “needfire” from the trees on my land. I consecrated each wood while invoking the following properties:
Birch - New Beginnings
Maple - support, getting what we need to sustain us
Cherry - honesty
Oak - Wisdom, strength
Pine - peace, healing
Willow - flexibility in harsh times
Each piece of wood was attached to a slip of paper that named the above quality.
Staring into the full, unshadowed face of my Lady, I connected with Her and asked for Her aid. After anointing my chakras and performing a self blessing, I drew down the moon.
Concentrating on the full brilliance of the moon, I lit the stub of an old altar candle (previously consecrated, but used up and nearly spent) and allowed it to burn as the shadow began to make it's way across Her. This candle represented my current hearth fire, and the current energy of the land. I brought the lit candle into my sacred space and cast circle.
Staring at the shadow of the earth that was swallowing the light, I focused on the issues and problems that have been poisoning the land physically, spiritually, intellectually, and politically. I spent the time of growing lunar darkness in meditation, and contemplated the tarnish that has shadowed the American reputation. I watched the shadow of the earth slowly darken the face of the moon, consuming the light.
The candle guttered and extinguished itself by the time the last glowing crescent of white disappeared. The totality of the eclipse found my circle in darkness. During the totality, the waxing moon crested to full. While it did, I meditated on the changes I wish to see in my nation and in the world.
In this shadowy, full moon darkness I blessed and consecrated a box of 18 utility candles to be used as vigil candles. Each candle was anointed and empowered with the words “We the People, In order to form a more perfect union: With Liberty and Justice for All: (and in honor of the recently deceased Christopher Reeves, who embodies the archetype of Superman) Truth, Justice, & the American Way.”
At the moment of full, in the heart of totality, I lit my needfire, fed by the sacred woods and blazing with the qualities that I sought. From these flames, I lit a freshly consecrated vigil candle, and awaited the coming of the light.
When the shadow began to pass and the light returned, I ended my rite. I brought the consecrated vigil candle, lit from the needfire, to my altar. I pledged to keep it lit during my waking hours in vigil until the election was over and the last voter cast their ballot.
I prayed that the shadow of fear that has deceived the American voter would be lifted. I prayed that we could break free of the puritanical attitudes of the past, and begin traveling forward once again. To my bitter regret, it seems that we must continue on this course at least for some time to come. I grieve for the America we might have been, and I’ll strive endlessly for an America that yet might be .
The heart of a democracy is the idea that true strength and sovereignty lie with the people, not the government that serves them. United, the people are powerful, which is the most potent magic of all. To that end, we must continue to assert “We the People, In order to form a more perfect union, With Liberty and Justice for All...” So Mote it Be.
~Flame RavenHawk
November 6, 2004