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                                    SALEM REMEMBERED 
                                 by Sandy and Doug Kopf 
                            presented at Pacific Circle XII 
                                       June, 1992 
           This year  is the 300th anniversary  of the Salem Witch  Trials.  This
           ritual was presented in remembrance of  those who died, and a reminder
           that we must be aware  and strong even now.   The  ritual was attended
           by over 100 people and was very moving.  Many wept. 
           It is being shared now, not only because it is  beautiful, but to make
           it available for others who might wish to use it.  Sandy and  Doug ask
           only  that there  be no  charge for  attending the  ritual.   It would
           disturb them greatly to find that such was the case.   
           .     
           The flash powder mentioned in the ritual was simply a mixture of sugar
           and saltpetre  (50/50).  Should you  chose to use this,  be careful to
           "dump" it  rather than pour it.   It will  not only be  more effective
           this  way, but  will prevent  the fire  from   climbing the  stream of
           powder back up to the hand of the person pouring it! 
            .     
                                      = = = =  
           .      
           Quarters are called: 
           .      
           EAST:   Powers of  the East!   Lords  and Ladies  of Greece and  Rome!
           Guardians of the  mysteries and honored dead!   Pagans and witches who
           dwell in the East,  be ye spirit or be ye flesh!   Come!  Come one and
           all who would join  us in our right  of remembrance, affirmation,  and
           protection!  Be with us now, that the Craft 
           shall ever survive! 
           .       
           SOUTH:  Powers of  the South!  Lords and  Ladies of  the two  lands of
           Egypt!   Guardians of  the mysteries  and honored  dead!   Pagans  and
           witches who  dwell in the East,  be ye spirit  or be ye flesh!   Come!
           Come one and all who would join us in our right of  
           remembrance,  affirmation, and protection!   Be with us  now, that the
           Craft shall ever survive! 
           .        
           WEST: Powers of the West!  Lords and Ladies of the Land of  the Celts!
           Guardians of the  mysteries and honored dead!  Pagans  and witches who
           dwell in the East,  be ye spirit or be ye flesh!   Come!  Come one and
           all who would  join us in  our right of remembrance,  affirmation, and
           protection!  Be with us now, that the Craft shall ever survive! 
           .     
           NORTH: Powers  of the  North! Lords  and Ladies  of the  Viking Lands!
           Guardians of the mysteries  and honored dead!  Pagans and  witches who
           dwell in the East,  be ye spirit or be ye flesh!   Come!  Come one and
           all who would join us  in our right of remembrance,   affirmation, and
           protection!  Be with us now, that the Craft shall ever survive! 
           .      
           AT CENTER, PRIEST AND PRIESTESS INVOKE  GOD AND GODDESS AND SPIRITS OF
           THIS PLACE. 
           . 
           ALL SING  'LADY WEAVE YOUR CIRCLE TIGHT' AND 'LORD, LORD GUIDE US' (OR
           OTHER SUITABLE SONG.) 
           .      
 
 
                                                                             1157
 
 
           PRIEST:  Three hundred  years  have gone  by since  that dark  time of
           history we all  remember as the "Salem Witch  Trials," yet, even after
           three hundred years,  we dare not allow ourselves to  forget!  We must
           remember  what can happen wahen  hatred, fear, and  intolerance gain a
           stronghold  over love, sanity, and tolerance.  Innocent people died in
           Salem.  They died horrible deaths, tried and  sentends for the "crime"
           of witchcraft.    They died for the crime of practicing an alternative
           religion, and  they were not even  part of that religion.   They died,
           not for their own beliefs, but for ours!  They died in the name of our
           Gods, yet they did not know Them. 
           .      
           PRIESTESS:   They were not witches, but we ARE!  They were not pagans,
           but we ARE!  It is our task to remember, and to be sure history cannot
           repeat itself  today.   Therefore, we  now call their  names into  our
           circle, to be remembered and honored here. . 
           THE NAMES OF THE VICTIMS  OF SALEM ARE PROCLAIMED,  ONE BY ONE, AND  A
           CHIME IS SOUNDED AFTER EACH NAME. 
           . 
           Rebecca Nurse      
           Sarah Good      
           Sarah Wilde      
           Susanna Martin      
           Briget Bishop      
           John Proctor      
           John Willard      
           George Jacobs      
           George Burroughs      
           Martha Carrier       
           Samuel Wardwell      
           Giles Corey      
           Alice Parker     
           Martha Corey      
           Mary Parker      
           Margaret Scott      
           Ann Pudeator       
           Mary Esty      
           Wilmot Redd      
           Sarah Osborne      
           .      
           PRIESTESS:   Sisters and Brothers!   We will not allow  your deaths to
           have been in vain.  
           .      
           SONG: "BURNING TIMES".  ALL JOIN IN WITH THE CHORUS OF "ISIS, ASTARTE"
           AND THE CHANT BLENDS INTO "WE ARE THE OLD PEOPLE". 
           . 
           WHEN THE SONG HAS REACHED THE PEAK OF ENERGY, THE PRIEST SAYS: .     
           We ARE the old people.  We ARE the  new people.  We ARE getting stron-
           ger  every day.  We are  stronger, and we are no  longer in hiding. We
           are here, and none  need fear us, for our way is love and our ethic is
           harmlessness, but  we say to  the world  that all may  hear:  We  WILL
           stand against hatred!  We WILL stand against intolerance!  We will not
           stand silent  in the face of  harm to others or  to our own.   The few
           have become  many, and our Gods are awake and  strong!  Never more the
           burning!  We won't be burned again! 
           .      
 
 
                                                                             1158
 
 
           PRIESTESS  (LIGHTS FIRE IN CAULDRON):   Let the cauldron burn with our
           love and our faith!  Let it illuminate the world with the light of the
           Old Religion.  Let negativity and  fear be banished in its flames, and
           let  it  kindle love  in the  hearts of  those  who hate  us. (LOUDLY,
           POINTING AT  CAULDRON) Fire!  Burn  high on all planes,  that strength
           and protection come  to us from all directions, as  we join hearts and
           hands to weave a destiny of peace and freedom! (TO CIRCLE) Let us sing
           and dance,  that all  may remember  Salem,  and the  Craft shall  ever
           survive. 
           . 
           SONG: "WE  ARE THE WEAVERS".   ALL  JOIN HANDS AND  DANCE SLOWLY IN  A
           CIRCLE.   ALL WHO ARE UNABLE TO DANCE SHOULD STEP INTO THE CIRCLE, NOT
           OUT OF IT. 
           .      
           THE SONG  SHOULD BE SUNG  FOR SEVERAL ROUNDS,  ENDING WITH A  VERY EN-
           THUSIASTIC "WE ARE THE WITCHES, BACK FROM THE DEAD! 
           .     
           STARTING  WITH THE EAST, THE  REPRESENTATIVE OF EACH  QUARTER WALKS TO
           THE CENTER, POURING FLASH POWDER FROM A BOWL INTO THE  
           CAULDRON, PROCLAIMING: 
           .     
           EAST: From the guardians of the mysteries of the ancient temples, from
           the windswept mountains  of Greece  and Rome, I  bring protection  and
           wisdom!  Remember Salem and the Craft  
           will survive! 
           .      
           SOUTH: From the guardians  of the mysteries of the  towering pyramids,
           from the burning deserts of the Two Lands of Egypt, I bring protection
           and courage!  Remember Salem, and the Craft will survive. 
            .     
           WEST: From the guardians of the mysteries of the Standing Stones, from
           the lakes and groves of the land of the Celts, I bring 
           protection and love!  Remember Salem, and the Craft will survive. 
             .    
           NORTH:  From the guardians of the mysteries of the  sacred runes, from
           the snow and ice of the Viking Lands, I bring protection and strength!
           Remember Salem and the Craft will survive! 
           . 
           PRIEST: Great Lady!  Bright Lord!  Lords and Ladies all! Guardians and
           Honored  Dead!  Spirits  of this place!   All in  flesh and spirit who
           have joined us  here!  We thank  you for attending!   Go if you  must,
           stay if you will!  REMEMBER SALEM! MAY THE CRAFT SURVIVE! 
            .     
           Circle is ended. 
           . 
                                      = = = =  
           . 
           Written by Doug and Sandy Kopf, Coven Ashesh Hekat, Circle of Circles,
           1992 
 
 
                                                                             1159
 


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