To present this ritual you will need:
a table covered by a cloth (white, or patriotic print), an image or picture of the Statue of Liberty, tall tape or votive candle in glass, cedarwood incense, copies of readings and songs for participants. Readings and Roles may be divided among participants.
INTRODUCTION:
Leader explains the purpose of the ritual, such as protecting the Election or influencing Congress.
On October 28, 1886, Pres. Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty as part of the celebration for the US centennial. ____ years later she is one of the best-known icons of our national mythology.
Any alien archaeologist looking at America would conclude that the statue of Liberty is an image of the tutelary goddess of our land. Certainly to the immigrants peering through the mists of New York harbor for the first glimpse of their promised land she was a powerful image of freedom. The celebrations in NYC during her centennial and the attention paid to reopening her after 911 display the need that people have to honor such archetypes.
I believe that it is possible to reinforce and strengthen the principles upon which our nation was founded by focusing on the statue of liberty to empower her image as an group mind, or artificial elemental, which will have reality on the spiritual plane, and whose power we can draw on now. Every election is important, but many of us feel that tomorrow’s vote will be critical for the future of America. Some of the issues at stake include national security, world peace, environmental protection, women’s rights and religious freedom.
What are the issues that you all consider most crucial today? Allow 5-10 minutes for discussion.
This rite is an act of positive magic, intended to work with and for the good of the people of this land while harming none, in cooperation with and support for the purposes for which our government was established. It is essential, however, that everyone who participates understands and is willing to give his or her energy to this way of working for the common good. Anyone who feels uncomfortable with it is free to go.
According to the 20th century British occultist Dion Fortune,
“An artificial elemental is a thought-form ensouled by Elemental essence. That essence may be drawn directly from the Elemental kingdoms or it may be derived from the magician’s own aura. A thought-form built up by continual visualizing and concentration, and concerning which a strong emotion is felt, becomes charged with that emotion and is capable of an independent existence outside the consciousness of its creator….
Exactly the same process…takes place when a number of people concentrate with emotion on a single object. They make an artificial Elemental, vast and potent in proportion to the size of the crowd and the intensity of its feelings….
To build up a group mind of any endurance some method of ensuring continuity of attention and feeling is essential. Whenever such continuity of attention and feeling has been brought about, a group mind, or group Elemental, is formed which with the passage of time develops an individuality of its own, and ceases to be dependent for its existence upon the attention and emotion of the crowd that gave it birth….
When this process has been repeated regularly over considerable periods, the images that have been built up remain on the astral in exactly the same way that a habit-track is formed in the mind by the repeated performance of the same action. In this form the natural force remains permanently concentrated. Consequently subsequent worshippers need be at no great pains to formulate the simulacrum; they have only to think of the god and they feel his power.” (“The Group Mind”, Applied Magic, 19??)
It is as a thought-form, energized by the belief of the millions Lady Liberty has welcomed to this land, that we honor the Lady today.
RITUAL
Behold the Torch of Liberty— (light candle) As it circles this space, may its light fill the land! (carry candle around room)
Powers of the East, illuminate our thinking that we may understand what the words on our ballots really mean…
All: BE WELCOME!
Powers of the South, kindle our courage that we may address the issues free of fear.
All: BE WELCOME!
Powers of the West, clarify our emotions that we may act with pure hearts.
All: BE WELCOME!
Powers of the North, keep us steadfast and strong. Help us understand the roots of our liberties.
All: BE WELCOME.
We have come together to honor the Lady of Liberty, but who is She? This is how the sculptor Bartholdi described his statue, which he titled, “Liberty Enlightening the World”–
(1st Reader)
“Make the statue a woman because the symbol for Liberty has always been a woman. Women often represent great ideas. The Torch is a symbol of Freedom. It lights the way for people who love Liberty. The seven rays of her crown will enlighten the seven seas and the seven continents. Use mother, Charlotte, as a model for her face. Mother’s face shows strength and suffering. Model the statue’s arms after my fiancee’s beautiful arms. Give her clothes from ancient Greece, the Birthplace of democracy. Make her walk forward to show her progress toward freedom. The date of American independence, July 4th, l776, will be on the tablet. The broken chains at her feet will show her escaping bondage. Make her really huge! Liberty is a big idea.”
Hear now the simple statement upon which our freedom depends. These are the words of the First Amendment, the foundation of our liberty. May they be honored and remembered by those who govern and those who choose the governors.
(2nd Reader)
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
And hear also the words of “The New Colossus,” which Emma Lazarus wrote to be inscribed on the pedestal of the Lady of Liberty–
(3rd Reader)
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed sunset-gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name,
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows worldwide welcome, her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp,” cries she
with silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore;
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
At this point you may insert a song, such as “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”
Let us praise the Lady of Liberty with this litany, whose response is, ” Let there be Light!”
Through the world’s darkness we struggle toward safe harbor, and the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
In the darkness of despair we seek for hope and courage, and the Lady says-
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
In the darkness of ignorance we seek for understanding, and the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
In the darkness of danger we seek deliverance, and the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When humans in their darkness fear to see words written, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When humans in their darkness fear to hear truth spoken, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When humans in their darkness fear to find themselves mistaken, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When humans in their fear forbid the livelihood of others, then the Lady says-
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When humans in their fear forbid the self-defense of others, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When humans in their fear forbid the love of others, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When humans in their fear forbid the faith of others, then the Lady says-
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When humans in their fear forbid the free movement of others, then the Lady says-
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When fear of the forbidden denies all other definitions, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When fear of the forbidden denies all right to difference, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When fear of the forbidden denies all others freedom, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When fear of danger makes men attack others, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When fear of danger makes men imprison others, then the Lady says-
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When fear of danger makes men deny freedom to others, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When fear of poverty makes men greedy, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When fear of the future makes men grab all they can in the present, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
When fear of weakness makes men seek to control others, then the Lady says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
Though the fearful forbid it, we struggle still for liberty,
and the Lady of Liberty lifts her torch above the shadows
and says–
All: LET THERE BE LIGHT!
We have praised the Lady. Let us now use the power of our own minds to transform her from an image to a reality–
Describe the specific problem to address, for example an Election–
[It is election eve. All over the US, people are making final decisions about how they will vote tomorrow. Some have thought deeply about the candidates and the issues, and already made their decisions. Others are still trying to make up their minds. It is a difficult time. Conflicting claims and information confuse many. It is those who are confused and uncertain who are in most need of enlightenment now.]
Close your eyes, relax, breathe, ground
Visualize NY harbor, the Statue of Liberty facing out across the Atlantic, torch raised high.
She glows more and more brightly, and changes from a green statue to a living goddess, and her torch bursts into real flames.
She turns, and lets her light flood the land,
See her stride southward along the coast, then westward until she has visited every state, moving clockwise around the land. Everywhere her light shines, pockets of darkness disappear.
Wherever her light falls, issues become clear, people are able to see beyond their own fears, consider consequences, remember the basic liberties on which America was founded.
Bring to mind each of the issues with which you are most concerned.
See Lady Liberty’s light pouring into the minds of those who are motivated by fear or greed. See that light illuminating every state and town, especially the Swing States, showing people the choices that will lead to the greater good of all.
* * *
The Lady has completed her circuit of the country, and returns to her pedestal, goddess of a land renewed. The flame is contained in her torch. Once more she faces the rest of the world.
Sink back into your bodies, let the air of that place become the air of this place, sigh and stretch, open your eyes and return..
All: sing “America the Beautiful”
A prayer for Election Eve:
Oh Lady of Liberty, Mother of Exiles,
We call upon you as an aspect of the Great Mother,
to send forth your light to pierce the darkness of ignorance and
oppression until liberty enlightens this land and the world.
Dear Goddess, with body of copper and soul of fire,
Lady of our homeland, reach out and renew the promise
of freedom on which this nation was founded.
Comfort those who are afraid, and grant them clarity that transcends fear.
Shine your light into every voting booth in the land.
Protect the rights of those who vote,
And strengthen the guardians of Law to report the results honestly and accurately.
Inspire the citizens of this land to vote for those candidates and issues
that will preserve our liberties and bring true prosperity and peace to America and the world.
We ask you now to join with the Goddesses from other lands
and accept our worship and our love.
The Lady lives, and will endure for as long as we honor her. Though we say farewell to her now, when darkness threatens, if we call upon her she will lift her torch to bring light and uphold the liberties which are the foundation of this nation.
Powers of the North, through the hours of darkness when the light seems hidden, may earth, our foundation, support and preserve our liberty.
HAIL AND FAREWELL!
Powers of the West, as shadows gather, let inner light remain. May the waters of the ocean purify the hearts of those who govern this land.
HAIL AND FAREWELL!
Powers of the South, as the sun sends light throughout the land, may its radiant fire burn fear from our spirits.
HAIL AND FAREWELL!
Powers of the East, as the rising sun illuminates Lady Liberty, may the wind from the sea blow confusion from our minds.
HAIL AND FAREWELL!
The circle that is open is unbroken,
The light that was put out will always live,
We keep the truth though we release the token,
As we receive the same love that we give!
(carry flame widdershins around room and put out)