Suggestions for Ceremonial Observances
Jan and Johnny Mirehiel

Introduction

Thank you for checking in with us for our suggestions for your Harmonic Concordance Ceremony/Meditation.  As members of the “Tribe of Modern Mystics,” through our collective intent, we have the opportunity to do something that has never happened in the annals of recorded history.  By participating with others of like mind, we will generate and facilitate a massive shift of consciousness into a higher state of spiritual awareness.  

We have the universal language of astrology that points us to a very specific moment during which to focus our conscious intent upon such a higher vision.  We have a global community that is intent upon uniting in this effort.  And we have the unprecedented medium of the Internet with which to link this worldwide effort. 

We have gathered together some suggestions for creating your own ceremonies…these are generally geared to group activities, but can easily be adopted for the solitary participant.  We ask you to keep in mind, however, that ceremonies are only outer representations of the Sacred.  If you do nothing else but sit quietly with a pure heart and pure intent during the moments of the eclipse, you will have brought the most essential elements of all to the observance of this time, your own Sacred Self, in your own sacred space.

Ideals of the Moment

There are many ideals that might offer themselves for contemplation and prayer during the moments of the ceremony and the eclipse, when our upward reaching energies merge with the descending Divinity of All That Is.  During those times we would ask that you offer prayers for the realization of Peace, Love, Joy, and Healing around and for the Planet.  In addition, we suggest that you focus on enfolding these prayers into a request for:

◊  The activation of Unity Consciousness: Experience being one
      with All Creation.  We are One.

◊  The Ascension of Mother Earth: Visualize her expansion into a
      higher state of awareness, in which she is able to create a
      harmonious ecological balance that benefits her well-being and 
      that of all of her children.

◊  The Self Realization of all Hu-manity: that each of us, in this
      moment and beyond, realizes our inborn divinity and and that
      we live as the Godlings we are - 24/7.

Suggestions for putting together a formal Concordance Ceremony:

When it comes to Ceremonial preparations, it is important to remember that preparation for the Ceremony is the Ceremony.  As we come down to these few remaining days  before the Concordance, let all that we do between now and then be part of that Ceremony.   From this consciously chosen perspective, we feel and give gratitude, in that ever present moment of NOW,  for the moment of concordance that has come and gone - with an outcome far grander than that which we might have created for ourselves.  It is in that consciousness that we offer the following suggestions.  

Once again, please understand that while we do encourage you to join us in observance of the Concordance,  we do not offer our suggestions as codified ritual.  There is one destination, and many sacred pathways that can take you there.  We encourage you to follow the tradition that suits you best in your Ceremony.

To Do Ahead of Time:  

Mark a circle, with the positions the Six Planets demarked on it.  If you wish to honor the Four Directions in your ceremony, mark those as well.  Gather some sage, incense, holy water, or whatever you will use for the  ceremonial cleansing of the participants.   

If you are going to set up a Sacred Altar in preparation for Ceremony, decide how you will incorporate it.  For example, you might use it as part of the actual ceremony, or  participants might place a object for blessing on the altar beforehand.  

Decide if you want to have formal readings and recitations.  If so, prepare the material and make sure that those who will be reading it have a chance to preview it before the ceremony.  If your group wishes to enact an astro-drama, please see Maria Kay Simms' Concordance Ritual on the website.

If you intend to designate specific individuals to represent The Four Directions, and/or The Six Concordance Planets, you might suggest that each Role-player carry something symbolic of the energy that they represent, such as an appropriate gemstone or a prop.  These individuals might also dress in a costume representing their part, if they wish.

The Ceremony

1.   Ask participants to form a Sacred Circle.  Ask them to cleanse themselves with smoke, or water or thought, before they step into the circle, or have one someone else smudge, sage or sprinkle them s as they enter.  In instances where space permits, and participants are numerous, they may wish to align themselves along the lines of the Concordance Hexagon or Grand Sextile Pattern.  Whether you form in a circle or along the lines of the hexagram, you might want to give the participants candles so that together you are creating a Circle of Light.

2.  The designated ceremonial leader should open the ceremony with a prayer acknowledging “The Great Mystery,” giving gratitude to that ONE who answers to all names.  Feel free to insert that which represents Divinity in your belief or culture.

3.  At this point in our personal ceremonies, we always gratefully acknowledge, “Father Sun, the Light we are made of” and “Mother Earth, the ground we walk on and the feet we walk with.”

4.  If you wish also to acknowledge the energies of the four Directions, there are many different systems and interpretations of them…use which ever feels right for you.  You might ask the representatives of the Directions to read or say a few lines about the energy They represent. 

5.  If you have incorporated representatives of the Six Planets into your ceremony then ask them to read their parts, in the following order.  This could be a good place for other participants to join in by repeating the lines aloud.  The planets might be represented in the following way, but again, feel free to substitute any text you so choose:

Sun – I am The Sun, the Will and the Light of Spirit; the archetypal masculine; I am the Father; the primal energy and cause for being; the vitality that inspires life; I bring the conscious aim that expresses the best of who We are to this moment.

Moon – I am The Moon – our Emotions and Needs; the archetypal feminine.  I am the Mother, the shelter of home and the avenues of habit and instinct.  I bring the personal subconscious mind, memory and imagination to this moment

Mars – I am Mars – the Courage, Impulse, Desire, Energy and Willingness to Act.  I am the stimulation of Passions.  I am the Spiritual Warrior and I am active in this moment.

Jupiter – I am Jupiter, the God Concept and Her Vision.  I am the king of the gods and I bring beneficence, good fortune and expansion.  I bring the higher mind, wisdom and enthusiasm, generosity and optimism as well as the publication of ideals to this moment.  May they increase on all levels.

Saturn – I am Saturn – Physicality, the bones of Mother Earth and our bodies; I am the disciplinarian and 'tester' of our metal; I speak of the limitations of the physical world, and bring endurance, perseverance, and stability to this moment.

 Chiron – I am Chiron - the Healer and the wounded healer.  I am the Crystal Rainbow Bridge between the inner and outer planets, between physicality and Spirit.  I bring the Christ consciousness to this moment of initiation, joining God and Godling as one.

6.  If you wish, at this point you might sing Let There be Peace on Earth, and/or have a collective reading of  any spiritual document that is meaningful to your group.

8.  Enter into a period of silent prayer and meditation.  

9.  Close the ceremony with Gratitude, acknowledging that this collective work of Spirit has accomplished more Joy, Love and Peace, than we could ever have imagined.  At this point we end the ritual, but not the Ceremony, by saying: “The Circle is open, but never broken,” grounding the changes and releasing the energies of our Divine Selves into the field of Creation.

Into the ONE Heart,
Jan and Johnny Mirehiel
October 11, 2003