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UU Faith Works Summer/Fall 2003 Administration
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Autumn Deity Festival
Reprinted with permission from the Blessed Bee, A Pagan Family NewsletterWhich Goddess or God presides over your family? In India, many homes have shrines to honor special deities, places where family members can place flowers, food, or other offerings, light incense and candles, and spend time connecting with Spirit. Most villages and towns hold yearly festivals to honor the deities of that place, with flower-garlanded statues paraded through the streets and a great deal of music, singing, and celebration. We can create beautiful, meaningful festivities with our own families to honor the aspect of Mystery that speaks most clearly and deeply to you. As the cold and dark begin to gain strength in the waning time of year, it can be heartening to make a little joyous celebration, a blessing on our homes to charge and prepare them for the winter time we'll spending indoors together.
First, have a family meeting to choose the Goddess or God you want to honor (and if consensus can't be reached, just celebrate more than one). If your house is like mine, images of the deities abound: there is a Kali night-light in the bathroom and a carved soapstone Sheela-na-Gig on our kitchen altar. A magnetic monkey-faced Hanuman opens his heart on the fridge, and a brass Shiva dances on the windowsill, while Kwan Yin sits serenely on the bedroom chest of drawers and Demeter smiles from a vase on the bookshelf. But beautiful Irish Brigid of the triple fire is the Goddess in charge here. A friend living nearby says the Green Man, Lord of the Wild Wood, is the guardian of her family, while another honors Artemis in her woodsy home. Cuddle up with your family and talk about your favorite choices and why they are special to you: reflecting on the myriad aspects of Mystery is a lovely way to spend an autumn evening, and our children's preferences tell us a lot about the nature of their deepest selves. Next, create an image of your deity of choice. Here is a chance for everyone to get involved, painting, sculpting, and decorating. The point is not to produce a great work of art, but to have some family fun expressing yourselves, and your affection for the festival. It can be fun to wear special costumes for it, but they don't need to be elaborate; the Green Man family could simply wear green clothes or string leaves together as crowns, while we might paint Brigid's crosses on our hands.
Decide on an altar-space where your image can stay, preferably a place that is somewhat out of the way to allow for quiet time to be spent there, with some room in front of it for individual offerings (a chest or small table is ideal). Now the festival can begin! Starting at your altar, make a grand procession carrying your image all through the house, singing as you go, celebrating the magical presence of this powerful face of the Mystery in your home. Those who aren't actually carrying the image could drum or rattle, play a musical instrument or clash pots and pans together. Make lots of noise! When you end up back where you began, place your image on its altar. Light a candle (being mindful if there are very young children in your family) and make an offering of flowers or autumn leaves; each person may want to say a few words. Afterwards, feast on foods sacred or appropriate to your Goddess or God.
Many blessings on you and your family, and joyful praise to the countless faces of Mystery that are reflected in our own.
- Cait Johnson is the author of Witch in the Kitchen, and Celebrating the Great Mother (co-authored with Maura D. Shaw), a handbook for earth-honoring parenting.
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