The Sabbat of Bron Trogain is held to celebrate the harvest of the first fruits and grains. Others call it Lammas, or Lughnasadh. I call it Bron Trogain because it is a pilgrimage to commemorate the travail, or labor, of the Great Goddess in bringing forth the harvest child. The Harvest Child is the Harvest, personified. Her consort is present as her support, as a husband supports his wife in her labor.
In British antiquity, the ceremonies were held on a harvest hill such as Silbury Hill in Wiltshire. I have no hill, but I can construct a ritual pathway to serve the same function. I can make a labyrinth for my pilgrimage.
Advance Preparation
First! Construct your labyrinth! The best, and even very appropriate material to use for the season and not permanently mark the ground was determined to be flour. What better? Any visible grain would also work: wheat flour, cornmeal, barley flour, oat flour, etc. Good directions for making a seven-circuit labyrinth can be found online at the Labyrinth Society (http://www.labyrinthsociety.org).
The center of the equal-armed cross, the original beginning point for constructing the seven-circuit labyrinth, should be set up with an altar, either on the ground or on a table or stump. If another labyrinth form is used, the altar should be in the center. A seasonally colored and decorated cloth may cover the altar. Lay out the ritual implements on the cloth: pentacle (a vessel with an inscribed star form) or dish for the bread or cakes, incense with thurible or other incense holder, candles, a wand or athamé, and a vessel or shell of water. Salt or sea water is always lovely for the season. Place crystalline salt, for the earth, in the dish or use stones or dirt. Think about the colors for the candles: deep gold, orange, yellow, green, and white are right for harvest. Indeed, consider every element, each facet of setting out the circle. In this way, you will satisfy deep connections between yourself and the spirits of the celebration. The correct orientation to the compass points should be maintained. Earth should be to the north, incense to the east, candle in the south, and water in the west. Other candles should be set on either side of the center of the altar. Flowers of the season, such as sunflowers, dahlias, Queen Anne’s lace, wildflowers, and early fruits and vegetables are placed on or around the altar. A loaf of bread or cakes, and a chalice of ale/beer, wine, or water should be there as well. A “neck,” or corn dolly, would be a lovely addition to the altar.
The Quarters are located, and candles or lanterns placed at the periphery of the labyrinth, along with flowers. Again, the elements of the directions are placed at the Quarters, as on the altar. A basin of pure water and a towel should be put outside of the labyrinth circle for ritual bathing before the ceremony begins. We placed ours in the roots of a grand old beech tree.
Our coven, Synergy, developed an order of ritual over the thirteen years we celebrated together. It was quite basic, but could be elaborated upon, to make a very complex ritual, or kept simple and quiet. The order ensured that no important element was forgotten, and that the ritual built toward the climactic point, then reversed to ground the energies raised. (“And as for witches, this be the Law, from where they enter in, from there they must withdraw!”) This ensured that all members, especially the High Priestess (HPS) and High Priest (HP) remained well. Illness can occur if the energies are not properly released. This is a crucial point! A group hug is excellent for grounding energy at the finish of the ritual.
The Ritual Begins
All participants ground, center, and then line up for ablutions or washing of hands. The third eye can be laved with water too. Grounding and centering is a practice common to most Pagan rituals. It involves making yourself quiet, without and within. A mental connection is made with the Earth through the feet, bare if possible. Touching the Earth with the hands will accomplish the same thing. Any extra energy is channeled into the earth until you feel the stillness. Now you’re ready for ritual.
Led by the High Priestess and High Priest (we took turns being in charge; that was part of the Way of Synergy), the celebrants circle around the outside of the labyrinth, and stop. Music can be played or sung for the procession, or it can be done in silence. The circle is drawn, asperged, or sprinkled with salted water, and censed with incense and fire.
HPS: I call forth this circle, to preserve and contain the power we shall raise within its blessed sphere.
Repeat three times while walking around the circle.
The HPS draws the circle around the outside of the labyrinth with a wand or athamé. The circle is then blessed with water and incense. These actions can be performed by the HPS, or by others.
We set up the roles each member was to play beforehand. The Quarters are acknowledged, saluted, and welcomed, East first and last.
East: Powers of the East, we welcome you to our circle! Bring us your wisdom and understanding! Hail!
South: Powers of the South, we welcome you to our circle! Bring us your warmth and joy! Hail!
West: Powers of the West, we welcome you to our circle! Bring us your love and peace! Hail!
North: Powers of the North, we welcome you to our circle! Bring us your ingenuity and determination! Hail!
Salute East again to close the circle. A salute is usually kissing the hand, or pointing the wand or athamé.
The Good People are called and welcomed. This practice was unique to us, as far as we know. We based it on a verse in The ABCs of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente:
Black Spirits and White, Red Spirits and Gray! Mingle, mingle, mingle, ye that mingle may! Firedrake and Pucky, make it lucky! Liard and Robin, ye must bob in! Around, and around and around about … all Good come running in. All ill—keep out!
Stamp feet!
The Goddess and God are invited and welcomed. The family or couple in charge of the sabbat chose the deities for Synergy rituals, often Cerridwen/the pregnant Goddess and Lugh for the Harvest ritual. (There are many possible choices—research!)
HPS holds arms up to the heavens, and says: Great Goddess of the Harvest, Cerridwen (or your choice), Mother of the Harvest Child, we welcome You to our circle! Be with us and lend us Your Grace and Wisdom this day (night)! Hail!
HP hold up arms to the heavens, and says: Great Lord of the Harvest, Lugh (or your choice), Father of us all, we welcome You to our circle! Be with us and lend us your strength and benevolence this day (night)!
After a chant (All that dies shall rise again!) or dance to imbue the labyrinth with the energy of the Harvest season, there is a period of magical working, concentrating on bringing forth the harvest through labor. All point, with finger, wand, or athamé, to send the energy that was raised in the chant or dance into the labyrinth.
The labyrinth is now walked, slowly, in contemplation of the Goddess’s birthing of the new grain and first fruits. All achieve the Center, one at a time. Each celebrant blesses the food and drink there, welcomes the Harvest Child with whatever words come to mind, or in silence. When done, the celebrant slowly retraces the labyrinth to the outside. Children can then be encouraged to walk/run/dance the labyrinth again, as many times as they might wish…and cross it too … no harm done.
The High Priestess and High Priest walk the labyrinth again, to the Center, to ritually consecrate the bread/cakes and ale/wine/water. One holds the Cakes and Cup; the other, the Wand or Athamé. They speak together:
Blessed be the New Grain! Blessed be the Harvest! Blessed be the Gods whose fruitfulness provides Life!
They carry the “cakes and wine” out to serve the members. Each person makes an appropriate libation, or toast, to the Harvest, the Goddess and the God. All then are seated on the grass to enjoy their repast.
After the pause for cakes and wine, a lively circle dance is done to show happiness and joy for the birth of the Harvest Child. Gwyddion Pendderwen wrote a lovely “Harvest Dance,” perfect for the occasion. This can be found on YouTube: (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bMDffg9E_WA)
The circle is withdrawn, in reverse, of course, starting with thanking the Goddess and the God for their presence:
Great Goddess, and Loving Lord, we thank You for bringing us Your Wisdom and Strength. Hail, and farewell!
Then the Good People are thanked:
Black Spirits and White, Red Spirits and Gray, we thank you merry spirits well! As you depart to your pleasant and lovely realms, we bid you Hail and farewell!
Finally the Quarters are thanked, moving in the opposite direction: East, North, West, and South. And then East again:
Great (Eastern) Powers, we thank you for bringing us your (wisdom and understanding). Hail and Farewell! Salute, as before.
The circle is withdrawn by the person who cast it:
The circle is no more. (Repeat three times) All things are as they once were, from the beginning of time.
All participants ground, center, and hum together. All energies raised by the ritual are carefully grounded and balanced, usually by the High Priestess:
All energies are grounded, and in healthful balance.
The feast is served! Potluck! Outside, if the weather permits.