Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Elemental Blessings for an Interfaith Thanksgiving

Elemental Blessings for an Interfaith Thanksgiving

Last updated on: November 23, 2017 at 2:48 pm by Heron Michelle

Elemental Blessings for an Interfaith Thanksgiving 2017-11-23T14:48:53-04:00 Heron Michelle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Once again, our Coven joins the Interfaith Alliance for a Thanksgiving service, alongside members of many religions. Yes, the Christians, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus, Unitarian Universalists, Baha’i and Witches, can all come together in a place of worship, and respectfully share examples of how our traditions create sacred space, and then express gratitude for our abundance.

Cornucopia CC0 Creative Commons – Pixabay

The service typically begins with the folks from the Jewish temple blowing the shofar, then the Muslim mosque will sing the call to prayer. Having once lived in a Muslim country, nothing quite stirs my soul like the beauty of a well-sung Adhan, which means “to listen.” Next, our circle contributes with Evocations. We call them Elemental Blessings – its like “calling the quarters,” without actually opening the gateways, because there isn’t a properly cast circle to contain their energies, and I doubt our host church would appreciate renegade sylph or salamanders hanging about. <snicker>

Of course, we pagans celebrated the Mabon Thanksgiving sabbat and feast back in September, but I’m happy to join my neighbors during this time our nation sets aside for gratitude. Plus, we all share a meal together afterward in their fellowship hall, and that always brings back the best memories from my childhood in the southern baptist church. These events are an affirming and enjoyable experience, and I make sure to take my children, so they can experience first hand the beautiful pluralism of our nation.

I offer the following Thanksgiving Elemental Calls and Releases that we’ve used in the past. Should you ever get the chance to participate in an event like this one, I welcome you to put them to good use once more.

Happy Thanksgiving, and many blessings of abundance to you all!

~Heron

Elemental Calls of Thanksgiving

~By Heron Michelle

Creating Sacred Space

Blessings of the East and of Air!
Welcome amber twilight and crisp autumn chill,
reddening the cheeks and painting the hills.
As the harvest ends, we greet you in this sacred space.
Open the gates of thought and inspire us.
Let there be wonder and wisdom as we gather in Thanksgiving.
Welcome, Powers of Air!

Autumn Dawn with Migrations of birds

Autumn Air: CC0 Creative Commons – Pixabay

Blessings of the South and of Fire!
Welcome crimson sun and hearth fire burning,
warming heart and home this autumn turning,
As the nights lengthen, we greet you in this sacred space.
Open the gates of action and revitalize us.
Let there be generosity and justice as we gather in Thanksgiving.
Welcome Powers of Fire!

Autumn Hearth Fire

Autumn Hearth Fire CC0 Creative Commons – Pixabay

Blessings of the West and of Water!
Welcome silver rains and dark evenings,
Frosty blanket settles over nature’s sleeping.
As the tides ebb, we greet you in this sacred space.
Open the gates of emotion and stir our hearts.
Let there be compassion and benevolence as we gather in Thanksgiving.
Welcome Powers of Water!

Frosty Autumn Water

Frosty Autumn Water CC0 Creative Commons – Pixabay

Blessings of the North and of Earth!
Welcome russet fields and harvest reaping
feeding body and soul from platters heaping.
As the feast is celebrated, I greet you in this sacred space.
Open the gates of growth and nurture us.
Let there be abundance and fulfillment as we gather in Thanksgiving.
Welcome, Powers of Earth!

Autumn Harvest Field of Grapes

Autumn Harvest Field CC0 Creative Commons – Pixabay

Blessings of the Center, Great Spirit!
Welcome Mother and Father, Nurturer and Provider.
Dark fertile earth and flaming sun,
brought forth as the bounty that sustains us.
As we assemble with our greater family, we greet you in this sacred space.
Open the gates of Spirit and unite us.
Let there be acceptance and peace as we gather in Thanksgiving.
Welcome, Spirit!

Father Sun, Mother Earth Pentacle Graphic by Heron Michelle

Releasing Sacred Space

Blessings of the Center, Great Spirit!
From this sacred space we send the light of acceptance and peace.
With gratitude and reverence, we walk in Spirit.
Blessed be!

Blessings of the North and of Earth!
From this sacred space we send the light of abundance and fulfillment.
With gratitude and reverence, we bid you farewell.
Blessed be!

Blessings of the West and of Water!
From this sacred space we send the light of compassion and benevolence.
With gratitude and reverence, we bid you farewell.
Blessed be!

Blessings of the South and of Fire!
From this sacred space we send the light of generosity and gratitude.
With gratitude and reverence, we bid you farewell.
Blessed be!

Blessings of the East and of Air!
From this sacred space we send the light of wonder and wisdom into our community.
With gratitude and reverence, we bid you farewell.
Blessed be!

Previous Post

November 16, 2017

Lessons of Autumn's Holy Mess

Next Post

November 27, 2017 Here We Come A-Wassail-ing: a Yuletide Drink of Good Cheer

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Arts, Crafts & Cooking Business Cermony and Liturgy Columns Comedy Community Death Elemental Witchcraft Health and Wellness Holidays Interfaith Life Love, Sex & Relationships Magic or Magick Nature Politics Prayers, Poems, Blessings & Stories Recipes Rites of Passage Ritual and Practice Science and Research Shopkeeper Saga Technology Theology, Ethics, Philosophy Uncategorized Witch on Fire

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 November 2025 September 2025 August 2025 May 2025 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 September 2023 August 2023 May 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 April 2022 March 2022 December 2021 November 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Select your answer to see how you score.

Isaiah Job David Jesus