Flaming chalice basic lesson
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- Listening at the Veil
- Closing Words
- Retelling the story to yourself “ Nature Says …” Game Pumpkin candles
- Retelling the story independently
- Nature Says …” Game
- Pumpkin Candles
Casting the Circle Have the children form a sitting circle with their pictures of relatives and pets who have died. Our worship service today is about the celebration that our Wiccan ancestors and friends have at the end of the growing season. The Wiccans are people who believe in the healing power of nature. Wiccans celebrate the power of nature at many times of the year. Whenever they meet, they cast a circle and sit or stand inside the circle. When they are in circle, they believe they are protected from sadness, fear, and pain. We are going to cast such a circle. I will make it with this salt. We will all sit inside the circle while we have our worship service. Pour some salt from the container into your hand and pour it in a line around the outside of the children’s circle One of these times is when the summer harvest is in and the plants begin to wither and die back into the earth. At that time, it is believed that the spirits of our ancestors and relatives and pets who have died are very near us and may want to let us know that they are at peace. The time of year of this ceremony is called Samhain (Sow –wain) and it is usually on November 1st following the night of Hallowe’en. Hallowe’en means the night before the spirits can speak to us. Take out the big black felt underlay and carefully lay it out in the circle I wonder what this black paper represents. Allow responses. Take out stars and lay them on the black felt. It must be the night sky because there are these stars. Have everyone lay their pictures on the black underlay of loved ones who are no longer living. Take out the big black veil and carefully lay it over of the pictures. All year round, Wiccans believe, the spirits of their loved ones are on the other side of a veil. The spirits are nearby, but separated from the living world. At Samhain they believe that the veil is very thin, so thin that if you concentrate hard you can even lift it and be very close to the spirits – even talk to them and tell them what is in your heart. Take out the golden cloth and lay it in the center on top of the veil. This is the golden cloth that represents the mystery of life. The mystery that some people call God, some people call the Holy Spirit, and some people call the spirit of life that creates and takes away all things. Take out the web and lay in the center of the golden circle. This is representative of the web of life. We are all connected to everything there is and ever was, for all come from the same star dust. We are all connected to our ancestors and our loved ones who have died, for we carry the memories; we have many of their characteristics – hair color, facial features, etc. Take out the fall leaves, the withering plant, the harvest fruits and veggies, and the druid figures with the little veil. Lay them as follows: Fall leaves on one arc of the golden cloth Withering plant amongst the fall leaves Harvest foods on another arc of the golden circle Druid figures concentrically placed around the small veil Jack-‘o-lantern with lit tea light in the center of the web Point to and touch each display as you explain: These are the leaves that lose their green color with the receding light of the sun. They show their many inside colors now – golden, red, brown, and orange. This is the once robust plant that grows whose stems grow thin and flowers are no longer abundant. These are the fruits of the harvest that have grown from seed and now must return to seed. These are the Wiccans who dress as their ancestors did in simple capes the color of their beloved earth. They are standing around the thin veil that separates them so softly from their loved ones who have died. This is the jack-‘o’-lantern that was carved from a pumpkin to bring light to the dark night as the Samhain ceremony is begun. Let us sit quietly now as I sing you this Wiccan song: Sing song three times, each time softer. Listen, listen, listen to my heart’s song. Listen, listen, listen to my heart’s song, I will never forget you, I will never forsake you. I will never forget you, I will never forsake you. (x3) Listening at the Veil Everyone dies. Those who came before us no longer are living, and one day it will be our turn to die. It is a mystery what gives us our life, and what takes our life away. It is good to remember our dead ancestors. They are with us still - in our memories, in the stuff of our bodies. We even move and think like some of our ancestors. Today we celebrate Samhain - the time when the mystical membrane which separates the living realm from that of the dead grows thin and we can talk to our ancestors. As we enter into the silence of meditation, listen at the veil. Remember your dead. Hear what they would tell you of their lives. Ring the chime several times for one minute Sing together: Listen, listen, listen to my hearts song Listen, listen, listen to my hearts song I will never forget you, I will never forsake you. I will never forget you, I will never forsake you. Lift the ceremonial objects carefully off the veil and place them to the side in a pile inside the cast circle. One of the children speaks: Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again Who do I wish to meet? Who do I miss with a great ache in my being? Lift the veil and fold it in four and lay it carefully on the other objects. Place the tray of tea lights in sand in the center of the black underlay. Names remembered and names forgotten, names honored and names unspoken, rise up flame in the memory of our hearts. Now we light white candles to remember those who came before us, those who used to walk with us. We quiet our hearts and still our minds that they might speak. Say the name of the person or persons who you are remembering, if you wish, and you may also want to say something about that person, who they were to you, or what you learned from them. Allow each child to light at least one candle. If any participant would rather not share, encourage him or her to light a candle anyway, without sharing. Closing Words The remembered and forgotten, names honored and names unspoken, you are acknowledged here among the living. We have honored you and heard about you. What we do now with this knowledge is up to us, for it is the role of the living to choose to act. When the veil closes again, go in peace. Place the veil over the photographs of the ancestors and replace the earthly objects as they were. The Circle is open but unbroken may the peace of our loved ones who are now in spirit be with us in our hearts. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again. Our circle is now open. You have come the circle in good faith. May you part in joy that we have talked together about these important things. Ask some of these Wondering Questions (as time and interest allow): I wonder if you have ever seen or heard any of this before? I wonder which part of this ceremony is the most important? I wonder which part you like the best? I wonder where you might be in this ceremony? I wonder if there is someone here who has not had someone or a pet die in their life yet? I wonder how you felt when we spoke about our dead loved ones? I wonder if any of you know a person who is Wiccan? I wonder if any of us have been to a Wiccan ceremony before? I wonder what it was like to only have fire to light up the night? I wonder what you think happens when we die? I wonder if Samhain is the only time of the year that we can be in touch with the spirits of our loved ones? I wonder if all people believe that our spirit lives on after we die? I wonder why we have to die? I wonder what one of our Unitarian sources this ceremony honors? I wonder what was your favorite part of this ceremony? I wonder where the Spirit of Love and Mystery is in this ceremony? I wonder which of our Unitarian Universalist Promises this ceremony reminds you of? Choices Say something like: In this classroom you are able to choose what you would like to do with your time here after the story and before class is over. Today’s choices are: Retelling the story to yourself “Nature Says …” Game Pumpkin candles Or other activities you have chosen as the teacher. Note: this story is longer than many, so carefully consider how much time you will have for activities when selecting them. It is up to you whether to give totally free choice to each child individually (this will work best when you have enough adults to assist any child who needs help with a chosen activity without too much waiting) or whether to help the class as a whole decide on one or two activities to do together. Whichever you decide, be sure to let the children know clearly what choices they have (and do not have). Activity Directions Retelling the story independently: Coach children to take turns, and to treat the materials with respect so that they will be available for other children and teachers to use in the future. For older/reading children, provide a copy of the script (above). For younger/non-reading children, provide a photo of the finished storyboard. “Nature Says …” Game Acorns, pine cones, rocks, seeds, leaves, twigs, or any other natural item. Have the children gather acorns, pine cones, rocks, seeds, leaves, twigs, or any other natural items outdoors. Assign an action to each type of item, such as Rock = Jump, Twig = Hop, etc. Start by showing one object, and the children calling out the associated action, then acting it out. As they catch on, start laying out the items in "sentences" on the ground. Watch the silliness and laughter grow. You may want to mention to the children that until very recently – and still in many places around the world – children made up games with only natural materials. There were no tablets, TVs, plastic toys, bikes, etc. Remind them that nature is not only beautiful, but fun, too. Adapted from http://wicca.com/celtic/akasha/samhainchildren.htm. Pumpkin Candles You will need mini-pumpkins or turnips, a sharp knife, spoons (serrated or melon-ballers work well), soy wax, candle wicks, and access to a microwave. Help each child cut the top off of his or her mini-pumpkin. Some children may be capable with a sharp knife; most will not and this task should be done for them by an adult. If you are using turnips instead (which would be more traditional to Wiccan culture as these symbols originated in Europe, where pumpkins were not known until about 600 years ago), cut the bottoms of the turnips off flat as well. Each child can work independently to scoop the seeds (or flesh in the case of turnips) out of the rind. Meanwhile, melt the soy wax. The dry chips will melt to about half their original volume, and you may need about 1 cup of melted wax for each mini-pumpkin or turnip. Simply put the wax into a microwave proof bowl and nuke it. Help each child stand a wick in the bottom of his or her hollowed out gourd. An adult should probably pour the hot wax into each one. Adjust the tops of the wicks to stand straight up and set pumpkins aside to cool. Of course, if this sounds too complex or like it will take too long, painting mini-pumpkins or turnips is a good alternative! 
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