Sunday, July 28, 1996 in Glendale Park, Iowa City, Iowa

It was a warm, muggy day with partial clouds. His parents spent the day cleaning house and writing his ceremony -- as well as caring for and playing with Rowan. Our friends began arriving at 4 PM, and we began the ceremony just after 5 PM.

Next to the creek we gathered in a grassy field surrounded by trees. We set small tables in the four directions and a center altar. The altars had on them.

East -- A green and yellow scarf with birds on it, a vase with feathers and the image of a bird and a fan.

South -- A red and gold scarf, a brass candle holder with a red candle, amber incense and a wood holder, matches, and several pumice stones.

West -- A scarf in several shades of blue, a blue ceramic bowl with spring water, a conch and abalone shells.
North -- An earth tone scarf, a basket containing dried corn and antlers, a ceramic bowl with earth from our garden.
Center -- The altar cloth was a quilt made by Grandma Terri, there was a flower arrangement from Grandma White, a card from Grandma Mary, baby was wrapped in blanket from Grandma McKee, a vase of flower oil (the oil made by Marius), chalice with sparkling apple cider, platter with apple-cinnamon cake, basket for his gifts.

Ground & Center: We gathered outside the circle and were led in a Tree of Life visualization by Carl Scheit.

We all began singing "We All Come From the Goddess"

Broom & Bells Banishing: Walking round the circle with bells and a broom, Mike, Norma and Joe Eiler-Bounk performed a banishing in the circle.

Bubble Aspirging: Using soap bubbles, Joe cleansed us as we entered the circle singing.

East: Called by Kevin Johnson.

Hail guardians of the East, powers of Air,
Powers of thought, language, meaning,
Baby's first drawn breath,
Sound of young laughter,
Join us in our celebrations
Join us in welcoming this new one.

South: Called by Cathy Marston.

Hail guardians of the South, powers of Fire,
Powers of passion, light and transformation,
Warmth of a baby's smile,
Spark of new life
Join us in our celebrations
Join us in welcoming this new one.

West: Called by Dave Dudziak.

Hail guardians of the West, powers of Water,
Powers of birth, healing, and comfort,
Waters of the womb,
Flow of mother's milk,
Join us in our celebrations
Join us in welcoming this new one.

North: Called by Sherry Lindley.

Hail guardians of the North, powers of Earth,
Powers of body, strength, and stability,
Weight of babe in arms,
Young body growing strong,
Join us in our celebrations
Join us in welcoming this new one.

Center: Invoked by Lon.

The circle is cast, we are between the worlds.
In a place that is not a place, in a time that is not a time.
We have come here to welcome Rowan Ashley
Into our circle, our lives and our community.
Because we believe in the right of each to chose their own path,
We have not come here to bind Rowan to any one way,
But rather to bind ourselves to his care and support
In perfect love and in perfect trust.

Goddess: Invoked by Dawn.

Mother of us all, mother of all life,
Who is called Quan Yin, Innanna, Demeter,
Danu, Isis, Cornmother
We ask your presence for our celebration
Your blessing and guidance for our child.

God: Invoked by Troy.

Father protector, son of the mother,
Who is called Lugh, Cernunos, Green Man,
Osiris, Horned One
We ask or presence for our celebration,
Your blessing and guidance for our child.

Each of Rowan's parents then took him in their arms and make vows to him:

Tina:

I, Tina, am the mother who gave you birth.
And who nurtures you with milk from my body,
I promise to dedicate my life
to caring for and guiding you along your way,
with love and a gentle heart.

Troy:

I, Troy, promise as your father
to teach you and learn with you,
to guide you and explore with you,
to help you up when you fall,
to encourage you when you excel,
to be there throughout your life.

Dawn:

I, Dawn, am your mother
who holds you while you sleep,
I promise to be there to comfort you,
to teach you, to cry with you and
to laugh with you all the days of our lives.

Lon:

I, Lon, am your father
To you I promise
To protect you,
To listen to you,
To teach you
To learn from you
All the days of our lives.

Blessing: Rowan was then laid on the center altar and unwrapped. With the flower oil, his parents in turn blessed each part of his body saying:

Blessed be your mind that you grow in wisdom and knowledge,
Blessed be your eyes that you see clearly and with wonder,
Blessed be your ears that you hear music in all things,
Blessed be your mouth that you speak with honesty and conviction,
Blessed be your heart that you may know love, joy and compassion,
Blessed be your hands that you may work wonders in the world,
Blessed be your belly that you may know your center and the peace that comes with it,
Blessed be your loins that you may know passion and restraint.
Blessed be your legs that you may have the strength to stand up for yourself and others,
Blessed be your feet that you may carry you far on your chosen path.

Tina: Reading poem from "Earth Prayers" p. 301.

Wiccaning from the Four Directions: Rowan was then rewrapped in his blanket and taken to each of the four directions.

East: Kevin waved him with fan saying:

Guardians of the East, Spirits of Air
We Wiccan you in the name of the powers of life, death and rebirth.

South: Cathy waved him with incense saying:

Guardians of the South, Spirits of Fire
We Wiccan you in the name of the powers of life, death and rebirth.

West: Dave anointed his head with water saying:

Guardians of the West, Spirits of Water
We Wiccan you in the name of the powers of life, death and rebirth.

North: Sherry anointed his head with earth saying:

Guardians of the North, Spirits of Earth
We Wiccan you in the name of the powers of life, death and rebirth.

Wishes:

We now invite Rowan's friends and family to offer a wish for his future.
What gift do you have for Rowan?

Each friend and family member stepped forward with a token to symbolize a wish for his future. They spoke their wish and laid the token in the basket. Their wishes are recorded in his scrap book.

Cakes & Ale: Taking the cake and cider, Trish blessed them.

All life is your own
All fruits of the earth
Are fruits of your womb,
Your union, your dance,
Goddess and God
We thank you for blessings and abundance.
Join with us, Feast with us, Enjoy with us!
Blessed Be!

She poured some on the ground as an offering to the Goddess and God.

Blessing for Rowan: She then gave Rowan his first taste of the food of the world.
May you never hunger that you are not fed. (Put in mouth a grain of bread).
May you never thirst that cannot find drink. (Put in mouth a drop of apple juice).
She then passed to each in the circle the cake and cider with the blessings "May you never hunger" and "May you never thirst."

Dismissal of Goddess: Dawn led the circle in singing "The River is Flowing"

Dismissal of God: Troy led the circle in singing "Hoof and Horn."

Dismissal of Directions:

East: From Kevin:

Guardians of the East, Powers of Air,
Thank you for joining our celebrations,
Go if you must, stay if you will.
Hail and farewell.

South: From Cathy:

Guardians of the South, Powers of Fire,
Thank you for joining our celebrations,
Go if you must, stay if you will.
Hail and farewell.

West: From Dave:

Guardians of the West, Powers of Water,
Thank you for joining our celebrations,
Go if you must, stay if you will.
Hail and farewell.

North: From Sherry:

Guardians of the North, Powers of Earth,
Thank you for joining our celebrations,
Go if you must, stay if you will.
Hail and farewell.

All joined hands and sang:

May the circle be open yet unbroken,
May the love of the Goddess be ever in our hearts,
Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again.

Afterwards we all gathered in our home for a potluck meal while family and friends gave gifts for Rowan. These are recorded in his baby book.

This page last revised 5/15/2000.