As a Sophian, I have a deep desire to connect with the Spirit as Holy Wisdom (Lady Sophia), and to pray specifically for the healing of the Earth and all her creatures. Some churches occasionally move in this direction, but many do not. So our family has begun a tradition of celebrating a full moon ceremony. If you are in our neck of the woods, we would welcome you to be part of this circle, this Grove of Sophia, and join us on the full moon (or thereabouts) for an evening of embodied meditation, spiritual sharing, and intercession on behalf of the planet. Please contact me (Shawn) at greenpriest@hotmail.ca to find out more details about where and when we meet.
If you are not in our area, perhaps you might consider starting your own Grove of Sophia. Or perhaps you would like to simply try out the ceremony on your own, and celebrate as a solitary Sophian.
Here is the basic liturgy (ritual structure) for a full moon ceremony. But don’t feel bound by it … this is the way we do it in our Grove, but you may want to adapt it … feel free! The whole point is to connect with Sophia and pray for the healing of creation, not to follow slavishly someone else’s pattern. In any case, here it is:
Full Moon Ceremony
For the first part of the ceremony, we gather in the back yard, under the full moon.
God is Love
And Her Body is All Creation
She is a Tree of Life +
Who Gathers Her Children in Love
Welcome and Introduction of the Theme
Tree of Life meditation: this is an exercise done using the body, the breath, and the imagination to “draw up” energy from the earth, and “draw down” energy from the sky, stars, and moon. Standing in a circle, each person becomes a tree, connecting heaven and earth, and together we form the “grove”.
Invocation (sung to the tune of Kingsfold)
O Abba, Father, Mother God, O Source of all that is.
O Jesus, Mary, Lord and Lady, Light of all that lives.
O Spirit of the Living God, Sophia, Wisdom, come.
O Holy Three, Eternal One, your sacred name is Love.
Blow from the east on the morning breeze, O Holy Spirit, come!
Shine from the south in the blazing sun, O Holy Spirit, come!
Flow from the west as the river flows, O Holy Spirit, come!
Rise in the north with the strength of the land, O Holy Spirit, come!
Come trees, birds, plants, and the animals, come earth and sky and sea.
Come sisters, brothers, family all, a web of life are we.
Come Ancestors and those to come, all creatures of the grove.
Come worship now the Living God, Her sacred name is Love.
Opening Prayer: O Love Divine, unto you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Holy Sophia, that we may perfectly love you, and heal the earth in your name, through Christ our Lord and our Love. Amen.
At this point, water is poured into a bowl, and a prayer of blessing is said over it. Then the bowl is passed around and each person is invited to touch the water and sign themselves with the sign of the cross, or another meaningful symbol. After this, we make our way back into the house, and get comfortable in the living room.
Body of the Word: this is where we use a talking stick and have a series of sharing circles. The first circle is for people to introduce themselves and say a bit about how they are doing, and where Sophia (Wisdom) has encountered them lately. Then there is the sharing of scripture or another story, followed by some form of meditation or reflection on the story, with an opportunity for everyone in the circle to share wisdom and prayer. After this, the focus turns to the bowl of water which has been brought in from outside and placed on a central table.
Prayer of Consecration
Sophia be with you. And also with you.
Open your hearts. We open our hearts to Love.
Let us give thanks to the Source of Compassion. Blessing and Praise to the Spirit of Life!
Behold, O God of Love, your people here before you, and all creation gathered in your presence. We thank you for the gift of life, and we bless you for your goodness. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. Above all, we thank you for the enduring presence of your Spirit, Sophia, the Wisdom of God in our lives.
O Tree of Life, your heartwood is the mystery of redemption, and your leaves are for the healing of the earth. Enfold us and empower us, as we hold before you all who need your care.
We call to mind and heart those in our lives, our families and friends, who are hurting…
We call to mind and heart those in our world, and especially the children, who suffer from war, disaster, poverty, or injustice of any kind…
We call to mind and heart the wounded Earth, the plants, trees, animals, the waters and winds, the beloved creatures who are in danger of destruction…
In the Name of the Cosmic Christ, we bind the powers and principalities which desecrate the Earth, we name them and bind them in peace…
Holy Source of Life, in the midst of creation, show forth the strength of your love. Shield and protect all the creatures of this broken, beloved world, and send your Spirit to heal and renew the earth. Remember for good those who love us, and those who hate us, and those who have asked us to pray for them. Remember especially, O Mother God, those who have been forgotten. For you are Love, and your body is all creation. You are a Tree of Life, and you gather your children in Love. Amen.
And now, as we gather round this pool of water, let your Spirit flow through us for the healing of the earth … (at this point we gather closely around the bowl of water, and the talking stick is placed gently into it. Each of us holds onto the stick, and we pray for the Spirit to flow through us, through the stick, and into the water, consecrating it with God’s healing energy. This is a good time for a quiet chant or some drumming, to help open our hearts and let Sophia flow through. When this is complete, the presider holds up the bowl and the prayer continues…)
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ,
in union with Holy Sophia,
all glory and honour is yours,
Creator and Mother of All,
world without end.
Amen.
… Behold: living water, water of blessing, for the healing of all creation. Thanks be to God.
And now, gathering all our prayers and praises into one, let us pray as Jesus taught us: Abba, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power , and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
The peace of God be always with you. And also with you. (Sharing the peace)
Cakes and Ale: at this point we bless food (crackers or cookies or something simple) and drink, then pour a bit of drink into the bowl of water and have the younger ones distribute a bit of food for the other creatures, taking some crumbs to scatter outside. We then share the food and drink reverently but informally. Conversation may happen during this “feasting time”.
Blessing and Dismissal
And now may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep you safe in the Love of Christ and Sophia. And may the blessing of God be upon you, in the name of the Mother, and the Child, and the Holy Spirit (+), this day and always. Amen.
By the air that is His breath and by the fire of His eyes,
by the waters of Her womb and by the earth that is Her flesh,
we go in peace to love and serve, thanks be to God.
(Directly after the service, people can take some water home with them, to be poured out along the way, or in their own yards; the remaining water in the bowl is poured onto the earth.)
[…] 16, 2009 by ecosophian Well, so far here at Rivendell we have had three “full moon ceremonies“, small gatherings where we come together to reflect on Sophia (Lady Wisdom), and pray for […]
Seems just a touch heretical. Which is OK, I guess. I want to look further into this.
Just heterodox, not quite heretical!
Hmmmm. Or Hmmmm?
I had never read a Sophian ceremony before and this is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.
Glad to hear that it’s meaningful for you. Every blessing on your own adventure in the Spirit!