Circle of Goddesses
by Selena Fox
Every Goddess is a facet of the Great Goddess, also known as the All-Goddess,
or simply, The Goddess. Each particular Goddess form can show a way of communion
and union with the Great Goddess. Each Goddess form has Her own cultural roots,
symbols, qualities, forms, lore, and style. Each has Her own lessons to teach.
Like threads of different colors, sizes, compositions, and textures, Goddess
forms combine to weave a multi-colored tapestry that is the Great Goddess.
The ritual below incorporates work with a variety of Goddesses, as well as the
All-Goddess. Since group energy is an essential component, it is not suitable
as a solitary rite. The ritual works best with small groups, and between five
and thirteen participants is ideal. The ritual can aid in group bonding and
development, as well as in the spiritual growth of participants. It also helps
the participants and the group as a whole deepen connections with the Goddess
as Unity as well as in some of Her many forms.
I developed this ritual through my Circle Craft teaching and group facilitation
work with women and men in the 1970s. In the 1980s, it was a regular part of
the priestess training that I did through Circle Sanctuary. Over the years,
I also have facilitated this ritual at various women’s spirituality conferences
and retreats across North America, and for Goddess spirituality groups composed
of all women and those with both men and women. For grammatical convenience,
I present the ritual here in its form for a women’s Goddess spirituality
group. However, by changing pronouns, such as her to her/him, or her to him,
this transcript can be adapted for use by groups of women and men and for men’s
Goddess spirituality groups.
Everyone in a group that is planning to do this rite should have some previous
experience with grounding, centering, and energy raising before doing it. Advance
preparation specifically for this rite is also important. Each participant needs
to select a suitable Goddess form with which to connect. The group needs to
plan how it will do the ritual. And, if the group has not had much experience
working together before, it is best to precede the Goddess alignment part of
the ritual with additional group chanting, drumming/rhythm making, and/or other
group attunement activities.
It is important to choose a suitable location in which to do this rite. The
site can be either outside or indoors, but it must be a place where loud chanting
and other ritual energy work will not disturb others or cause interference by
outsiders. An excellent time to do this ritual is on the night of a Full Moon.
The Ritual
To prepare for the ritual, participants need to make their Goddess selections.
Pick a Goddess whose energies and qualities you wish to connect with more fully
and manifest more strongly in yourself and in your life. For example, to embody
and express more compassion, work with Kuan Yin. To feel more sensuous and attractive,
pick Venus, Oshun, Erzulie, or Aphrodite. To aid in creative expression and
inspiration, choose Brigid, Sarasvati, or the Greek Muse appropriate to your
creative work.
Before the ritual, do some research on the Goddess you have selected, even if
you have already formed an alignment with Her. Read about what forms She takes
and what symbols are associated with Her. Learn about Her qualities and familiarize
yourself with Her legendary actions. Once you have done this, reflect on whether
or not it still feels right to work with Her. If not, begin the process again
until you find a suitable Goddess with which to work.
Participants should gather together at least an hour before the ritual. After
exchanging social greetings, discuss plans for the ritual and make final decisions
about ritual format and logistics, such as how to create sacred space, what
beginning and ending chants to use, and what ritual items are needed.
When everyone is ready, go to the ritual site. Once there, stand or sit in a
circle and do a silent centering meditation, while a purifying incense such
as sandalwood, rosemary, cedar, mugwort, or sage is passed around. Each participant
should cleanse herself with the incense as well as the area around her. When
the incense has gone completely around the circle, it should be placed in the
center.
The group next makes sounds together to enhance attunement of
the participants with each other. This can be chanting an Aum
together on a single note, singing a favorite All-Goddess chant,
doing improvised chanting, making rhythms together with drums and
rattles, or some other group music-making agreed upon in the planning
session.
Once the group is attuned, it is time to dedicate the place of the rite as sacred
space. The group should do this in its customary manner or in the way decided
upon during planning. One common method for creating sacred space is by honoring
the sacred directions.
Now, all join hands and stand in a circle facing center. Together, visualize
a ring of radiant white light encircling the group. Experience this
living circle of light as the Great Goddess, the All-Goddess. Sing
a chant together, such as: We are the Circle, We are the Goddess.
Having connected with the Goddess as a whole, it is time to work with different
forms of Her. Each participant in turn comes to the center of the circle and
speaks the name of her Goddess and the qualities she wants activated within
herself. The group responds to each one by chanting the Goddess name and the
qualities in an improvised energy chant. As the group chants to her, the person
in the center should call to her mind images of her selected Goddess and should
feel herself merging and becoming one with the Goddess. Then, when she senses
the energy has built enough, she raises her hands skyward to signal the group
to peak the energy. The group releases the energy raised into her and falls
silent. The person slowly moves her hands to her heart as she drinks in the
energy and feels the power of the Goddess flowing throughout her whole being.
When she feels complete with this integration, she steps out of the circle,
and another person enters the center.
The energy chanting done for each person can take a variety of forms. The person
should express her preferences to the group after she steps into the center.
The Goddess name and qualities can be whispered, shouted, and/or sung. Group
members can take turns chanting the Goddess name and qualities as the chant
builds. The chant is enhanced when done as an affirmation, such as "You
are Isis, you are strong, you are caring, you are beautiful." Speaking
the person’s name as part of these affirmations is especially powerful.
When everyone in the group has taken a turn in the center, it
is time to focus on the All-Goddess again. The group joins hands
to do a group energy dance. All take two steps inward, while still
holding hands, and then several steps backward. This is repeated
over and over as a Goddess chant is sung, such as We are the
Goddess, Goddess flows through Us. When the group senses it
is time to end the chant, all move inward. Instead of holding hands,
each places her arms around the backs of the women by her side.
This group hug formation helps the group as a whole assimilate the
power of the ritual, as well as aids individual members in grounding
and centering. While in this position, women speak thanks to the
Goddesses they worked with, and the group as a whole gives thanks
to the All-Goddess by singing a note in unison.
The group then ends the ritual in its customary or planned manner. Divine forces
invoked in creating sacred space are thanked. The circle is uncast. The group
departs. It is a good idea to share and consume food and juice at the end of
the ritual, since this can help in grounding and the return to waking daily
consciousness. Doing some form of post-ritual feasting together also can be
a time to share and process experiences with other group members.
Participants should take some time out soon after the ritual is over to record
their experiences in their personal journals. They also should pay close attention
to their dreams and meditations in the days and weeks following this ritual,
since they often are vehicles for receiving guidance from the Goddess in one
or more of Her many forms.
Selena Fox is high priestess of Circle Sanctuary. She presents
Circle Craft workshops on speaking travels, and at Circle Sanctuary
at festivals and at the monthly Craftway Circle (www.circlesanctuary.org/craftway).
This ritual is among those in her book, "Goddess Communion
Rituals and Meditations."
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