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Making the Old Ways New: The
Silent Supper
by Sunfell
Samhain is the traditional Celtic
New Year, and Feast of the Dead. The prevalence of these rituals
after the arrival of Christianity in the Celtic lands was so powerful
that the Church created a feast day to eclipse the old rites. Of all
the purloined Holy Days of the Celtic calendar, Samhain has been the
only one that has survived fairly intact through the ages. Death and
the honoring of the dead is a sacred and powerful life ritual, and
even the Church could not entirely erase the Old Ways of observance.
But ways do change, as
enlightenment and understanding have trickled down from the
once-cloistered elite to the common people. Never has this been truer
than in this century, where high-speed communications, universal
education and literacy, and the sharing of once rare and difficult to
obtain books and rites have become the norm rather than the
exception. We can now read facsimile copies of old tomes online, and
download ancient grimoires and books written by the old sages. New
scholars busily translate these hoary old writings into language that
is understood by 21st Century minds. Old truths, once universally
accepted as unshakeable, are smashed to powder in the light of deep
research and the nearly instant method of peer review that is the way
of things today. Other understandings, once brushed aside as utter
nonsense, are being reexamined in the light of parallel discoveries,
and set in their rightful places in the light of scientific and
spiritual understanding.
In the light of these discoveries
and microscopic examinations of our past, changes can be, and are
made to gently correct the course of understanding onto a more
accurate heading. Ancient rites and rituals that may have made great
sense to our agrarian ancestors have little or no meaning to our
suburbanized lives. Adjustments need to be made, steps changed to
bring the ritual more in line with our way of seeing things.
Purists may protest that this
demeans and diminishes the rites. My argument is that they do not-
and in fact, a properly applied change makes a ritual more powerful
and meaningful to those who celebrate it. Ritual has no meaning if it
confuses, offends, or bores the participants. The Catholic Church
understood this when it changed the ritual to the local language
(vernacular) with Vatican II- the Latin was beautiful, but the priest
faced away from the congregation, alienating it from participation,
and the dead language of the ancient Romans put a further distance
between the congregation and its communion. Catholic purists
protested (and still do) that turning the priest around to face the
congregation and having him speak English demeaned the rite, but
instead, it has deepened the faith of many Catholics.
The many Pagan sects and
practices, although rooted in the shards of the ancient rites, are
still new and flexible enough to adapt changes that make sense for
the participants. There are the beginnings of a proto-Orthodoxy in
some circles, but the independent nature of most Pagans makes
establishing a central body of accreditation and ritual adherence
nearly impossible. As long as the practice maintains its roots in the
deep reverence for the planet and all its creatures, the surface
content and language of the rituals can be as flexible and changeable
as the participants require.
So, where does this lead us to in
this essay? In the light of the events of September 11th, it would
seem that an old, nearly forgotten ritual of the time, the "Dumb
Supper", might be brought out,
dusted off, and carefully retooled to help us all regain our
equilibrium in the light of this tragic event.
The sudden transition of so many
souls to the Other Side has been a violent shock to those of us who
are sensitive to these things. To see their deaths played out over
and over again is to add pain to pain, and sorrow to sorrow. To those
of us who can discern these things, the transition of these souls
appeared like reverse lightning bolts- from tower to sky- filling the
air with flashes of transition even as the towers containing them
collapsed. It would have been easier to see this phenomenon with
'bare' eyes- physically at the site itself, but the application of
discernment makes it obvious even when viewed as a video image. They
are gone. But they are not forgotten. And this is where the ritual of
the Dumb/Silent Supper comes in.
The traditional purpose of the "Dumb
Supper" was to communicate with
the deceased person and receive messages of comfort and wisdom from
them. And in this ritual, we can still obtain these messages and reassurances.
But a shift has occurred, and an
extra dimension to this lovely rite needs to be added- perhaps only
for this particular 2001 observance- perhaps permanently. First of
all, it needs a new title to fit in with our language changes. Today,
"dumb" generally means stupid or idiotic, instead of silent
or speechless. The word "silent" might make a better title,
thus "Silent Supper". We need to send comfort and
reassurance to those who have suddenly made their transition- those
who might be lost, confused, or unable to accept that they are gone.
We must let them know that we saw what happened, that we are mourning
their loss, but our lives shall continue as we seek to the root of
the problem. In giving them this reassurance, we are handing their
power back to them, and are permitting them to assume their lives on
the other side. We enable them to return to their paths, and if this
includes bringing messages to us, this is good.
There are many ways of conducting
a Silent Supper, all equally valid. The major components of the
ritual are the creation of Sacred Space, an honored placed for the
deceased, and reverent silence during the meal itself, to permit the
impressions of the departed to be made upon us.
I have outlined a Silent Supper
below so that those of you who wish to perform this ritual can do so.
Preparation:
Plan the meal to be served,
(potluck is fine) and send out invitations. For the purpose of the
2001 service especially, gold and/or white tablecloths, napkins, and
service would be appropriate. Some rituals call for black service,
but in this case, we are calling Light for the departed. Use your
best china, crystal and silver, if you have it.
The meal should be conducted by
candle or lamplight. Make sure that there are plenty of candles in
white or gold on the table. The candles should be properly blessed
and dressed with a mixture of frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood
oils. These are sacred to a whole slew of pantheons, and myrrh, in
particular, was used in funeral rituals of many ancient cultures. Be
sure not to use too much oil in their preparation- you do not want
the fragrance to overshadow the meal. Make sure that there is a
special candle to place in the plate of the empty place. The chair of
the deceased may be decorated or shrouded in whatever manner best
suits the group.
A bell can be added to signal the
beginning and ending of the silent part of the ritual. Other items
that can be included with the meal can be: slips of paper and writing
instruments for writing prayers, wishes, and messages to the
deceased; and a small cauldron or other fireproof container for
burning them. Scrying equipment may be included for discerning any
messages from the deceased, or paper for those who want to jot down
any impressions they receive.
The room should be cleaned from
top to bottom, and all dinnerware should be washed (preferably by
hand) before the rite. For this observance in particular, the
participants should observe a daylong fast, abstaining from all food,
and only drinking water that is properly charged and blessed. They
should take time to take a purifying bath or shower before the
ceremony, and wear their best (or new) ritual garb or mundane clothing.
Photos of the departed may be
placed in the seat that will be their place at the table. If this is
a general rite for all those who transitioned on September 11th, a
photo of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a picture of an aircraft
can serve. Or a list of the names of the deceased from one of the
websites performing this service, placed into an envelope at their
place at the table. An offering of a single white rose or lily or
favorite flower may be put at their place, or an arrangement of them
may be in the ritual space. Since this is a Silent Supper, music
during the rite itself may not be played, but before, and especially
afterwards, music loved by the deceased, or music fitting to the
group, may be played.
Prepare the meal, taking especial
care to make sure all the ingredients are fresh, clean, and blessed.
Set out the table in such a way that any condiments are within easy
reach of the participants. If served buffet style, make sure that the
buffet area is included in the sacred space that will be created.
When it is time to serve the meal,
make sure that all food, beverages, and service items are in their
places, and nothing is forgotten. The HP/S or leader of the group may
then call all participants to the room to prepare it in a sacred
manner- working from East to North, and utilizing the methods of
Circle construction familiar to your group.
Cast the circle, and charge it
with the Light of the Creator/s, the One/s who is/are Compassionate,
and who guides the deceased to their new lives. The leader or
designate may say a prayer to open the ritual and give any
instruction needed, then the bell is rung to begin the silent portion
of the meal.
Serve the meal and eat in reverent
silence, listening within to discern any messages from the deceased.
Jot them down on the paper provided. Also jot down any prayers or
messages you may have on another page.
When all have eaten and the last
fork has been put down, the leader can ring the bell signaling the
end of the silent portion of the meal. At this time, a prayer of
gratitude may be said, and the messages and impressions may be read
and shared with one and all. Before the ritual ends and the circle is
broken, the prayers and messages to the deceased may be read and then
burned in the cauldron provided.
Break the circle, inviting all who
came In Spirit to depart in peace and Light, and finish the evening
in the usual manner.
The rite of the Silent Supper can
be a very profound and healing occasion. In this time of loss and
uncertainty, it will provide a way to rebalance, communicate, and continue.
Blessings Be
Sunfell |
