[H&L] Mighty Dead of the Craft

[M. Macha NightMare]

At this time of year we remember all the dead, and in particular one
Œcategory¹ of dead that we in the Craft call the Mighty Dead of the Craft.
Not all Craft trads have such a concept, but we do.  In 2001 I wrote this
for Witchvox:  
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=holidays&id=3673

In 2004 I was solicited for the 25th anniversary of the Spiral Dance to
summon the Mighty Dead.  At that point I¹d never heard anyone actually name
the Mighty Dead, and I felt that an effective invocation should address
those being invited by name.  This is what I wrote, and I wrote it with
Reclaiming only in mind.  You may not know everyone of the six I named.
Some are unknown beyond Reclaiming, or even within Reclaiming, and some are
not Reclaiming at all but are individuals I feel have contributed to both
Reclaiming and Craft in general.

Your choices for Mighty Dead of the Craft might be different, but these are
six I feel should be honored within our trad, so I offer them to you to
consider, to use or not, to revise or not.  Food for thought at this season.

Blessings,
Macha

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Calling the Mighty Dead of the Craft
 
            Mighty Dead of the Craft, we call you.  We know you¹re standing
with us.  We feel your gaze, and your breath tingles our skin.

            I call Doreen Valiente.  You gave us the precious words that
every Witch holds dear:  ³I am the soul of Nature that gives life to the
universe.²  ŠŠ  May these words carry meaning beyond our lives.
 
            I call the bard Gwydion Penderwen.  In your too-brief life, you
composed our ³Pagan national anthem.²  ³We won¹t wait any longer.  We are
stronger than before.  We won¹t wait any longer.  We are stronger Š.² [note:
this is sung by celebrants and me, not the whole song, just those last two
lines.]   We come together to do strong work tonight.
 
            I call Raven Moonshadow, the conjure man.  Help us conjure up a
just and joyful world for all.
 
            I call Judy Foster.  Your legacy lives in the glorious North
altars, and your spirit walks with us in the streets.  I call you by the
name Calypso Iris.  Come dance with us tonight.
 
            I call Victor Anderson, grandfather to many.  You once said,
³White magic is poetry, and black magic is anything that actually works.²
We want your help to make pitch black magic tonight.
 
            I call Alison Harlow.  Your passion for fostering Pagan
solidarity has made us stronger. Bring us your optimism tonight, Tana.  Hear
us and come.
 
            Mighty Dead of the Craft, I call all of you.  Come to the edge
of the veil.  Reach out.  We¹re here.  Join with our hands and hearts, and
let us dance the endless spiral of renewal together.
 
            Blessed be.

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