[trystan830]

so the main thing was with this one, we invited the directions (Air, Fire, Water, Earth), sang a few songs, lit a candle and passed it around the circle, and then released the directions and opened the circle.

the previous ones were: invite the directions, and include Spirit, and other Gods and Goddesses, sometimes based on the season, the weather (Persephone was usually called on in the Spring and Fall).... and we'd sing a song or chant, and then some kind of talking relating to the ritual.

i got the order of service for the one that i would have gone to if i were back where i lived, i'm still on the email list, and there was what they call "popcorn style" to answer "in the darkness i feel..." and anyone can just 'pop' in and say what the darkness makes them feel. and there's also a Talking Stick. a topic would be set - the darkness, the harvest, planting things - and then the Stick would go around the circle, and people could relate the topic to their own lives, and whoever had the stick could talk until they were done. or you could pass.

and then there'd be a chat that would end in raising energy - healing, warming, loving, whatnot - that at the end of the chant would be pushed out into the universe. we'd finish by releasing the guests, Spirit, and the directions, and open the circle.

BUT, to be fair: i thanked the woman who had led the service and asked if there had been/will be others, and she said this was the first one that she did. and while there was a CUUPs chapter (Covenant of UU Pagans) at the church in the past, there isn't a chapter there now, so we shall see. so it makes sense that this was more simplistic than i'm familiar with.