VENUS RITE

(Venus is concealed by a cloak of sea blue, after she is revealed she begins
to dance to ancient Greek music, "--- " indicates pauses for the dance)

THOU ART VENUS- (CLOAK OPENS, CONCH BLOWS)
AND FROM THY ESSENCE ARE FED
ALL STARS AND STREAMS, THE LIVING AND THE DEAD,
ALL SHOWERS AND SUNS,MOON-TIDES THAT WAX AND WANE;
(ACOLITE TAKES CLOAK)
THE MYSTERIES EARTHLY, OF PLEASURE AND PAIN.---

THOU ART THE MAIDEN AND THE MOTHER!
THOU ART THE SPEAKING SEA!
THOU ART THE EARTH AND ITS FERTILITY!
LIFE, DEATH, LIGHT, DARKNESS, RETURN TO THEE--

TO THEE!---

THOU ART LOVE, 
AND TO THY BEAUTY SOULS ARE DRAWN
LIKE THE CHALICE, THE STAG AND THE RAIDIANT DAWN,
ALL GLORIES OF THE UNIVERSE TO THEE BOW DOWN,
LIKE THE FLOWER BLOSSOM AND MAIDEN BLUSH, DO THEE WEAR CREATION'S CROWN.---

THOU ART THE PRIESTESS, THE SACRIFICE, THE SHRINE,
THOU ART THE SACRED FIRE AND LIFE OF THE DIVINE!---

GODDESS ART THOU,
 THE STAR OF LIGHT UPON THE BROW
THE FLAME AND FUEL OF THE BREAST;
THOU ART THE MOON, ENRAPTURED AND POSSESSED.---

HIDE THEE SWEET RIVER; WELCOME TO THE SEA,
OCEAN OF LOVE THAT ENCOMPASS THEE!
BLESSED BE VENUS APHRODITE!
(VENUS STEPS FORWARD TO SPEAK- ACOLITE BLOWS CONCH)


 VENUS SPEAKS:
"OF EARTH -THE FAIREST FLOWERS ARE GIVEN UNTO THEE"
(MAIDEN HANDS VENUS BASKET, SHE TOSSES FLOWER PETALS)
"OF WATER - THE  SHELL,THE WOMB OF THE SEA"
(ORATOR HANDS LARGE CLAM SHELL TO VENUS, SHE PASSES COWRY SHELLS TO ALL)
"OF FIRE - SWEET SMOKE TO INSPIRE PASSION  AND LOVE"
(MAIDEN HANDS CENSER AND INCENSE TO VENUS,HOLDS CENSER WHILE VENUS PUTS ON
INCENSE AND FANS IT)
 "OF AIR - HEAVEN'S MESSENGER,THE WINGS OF THE DOVE..."
(ORATOR BRINGS FORWARD THE BASKET WITH THE LIVE DOVE AND HANDS IT TO
VENUS, ALL WALK OUTSIDE, START CHANTING AND DRUMING-"WE ALL COME FROM THE
GODDESS")
(VENUS ANNOINTS DOVE WITH ROSE WATER AND RELEASES IT TO FLY AWAY)
SAYING:
"BLESSED BE THE GODDESS OF LOVE'S FERTILE POWER-
HEIROS GAMOS! THE MYSTIC BOWER"
ACCEPT THEE NOW THIS OFFERING OF LOVE
RECEIVE OUR PRAYERS ON THE WINGS OF THE DOVE!
SO MOTE IT BE!


PROPS:

- FIRE FAN - INCENSE - CENSER - CHARCOAL
- CLAM SHELL - COWRIES - CHALICE - ROSE WATER AND SALT
- LARGE BASKETS (2) AND ROSE PETALS 
- BASKET FOR DOVE
- DRUMS FOR CHANT AND PROCESSION
- VEIL OR CLOAK TO REVEAL VENUS
- SCRIPTS - MUSIC TAPE

COSTUMES:

- VENUS IN TRANSPARENT BLUE/GREEN TUNIC, BEADED SHELL KETIS GIRDLE AND ROSE
HEADDRESS, 
- WOMAN ORATOR IN WHITE TUNIC WITH ROSE WREATH 
- MAIDEN IN WHITE TUNIC HOLDS TORCH