Suggested Words for Avebury Renewal Ceremony

This article is related to the Avebury Rebirth Ceremony article at this link.

Guide to a Sacred Ceremony of Rebirth at Avebury

1. Gathering & Opening at the Sanctuary (Overton Hill)

Practical:
Meet at the Sanctuary car park (Overton Hill, SN8 1QY). It is best to arrive early for quietude.

Suggested Words/Prayer:
“Great Mother, source of all life,
We gather at this sacred threshold as our ancestors did,
Opening our hearts and intentions to the path before us.
May this journey rebirth us into new wholeness,
With gratitude for the land, the stones, and the living sky.”

While standing within the circles or just beside the posts, invite each person to speak (out loud or silently) one thing they wish to release and one thing they wish to receive on this journey.

2. Procession Along West Kennet Avenue

Practical:
Walk 1.5 miles (2.4km) from the Sanctuary to Avebury along the avenue of stones.

Suggested Words/Prayer Before Walking:
“As we walk the serpent path,
May each step carry us deeper into the mystery;
May we release what no longer serves,
And draw in the power of renewal and transformation.
Guide us, ancestors and spirits of this land,
Through the birth canal of stone and time.”

Encourage silence, song, or humming. If group is comfortable, pause midway for breath or gentle singing, e.g. “We are walking into new life, cradled by ancient stone and earth.”

3. Entering Avebury Henge: The Womb

Practical:
Enter via the avenue or a chosen causeway, pausing at the crossing.

At the Threshold:
“On this threshold,
We step from the world of ordinary time
Into the sacred womb of the Mother.
May we be received, held, and reborn anew.
With each breath, we shed the old and awaken the new.”

4. Within the Circle: Rebirth Ritual & Meditation

Practical:
Gather within the outer circle, or for privacy, at the southern or northern inner circle.

Guided Visualization/Prayer:
“Within this great womb of stone,
We surrender to the deep, dark, creative waters;
Here, what must die will fall away,
And what must live will find shape and voice.
Mother of all, nourish our roots and lift our spirits;
Let new purpose grow in us, as the earth brings forth new life.”

Optional: Invite each person to lie back on the grass, feeling the earth, silently repeating “I am safe, I am held, I am renewed.”

5. Completion: Emergence and Thanksgiving

Practical:
Exit the circle with awareness, heading along Beckhampton Avenue toward Longstones Field, the “tail” of the ritual serpent.

At the Longstones (“Adam” and “Eve” stones):
“At this journey’s end,
We give thanks for guidance, protection, and rebirth.
May the gifts received in this sacred circle be carried into our daily lives,
For healing, for joy, for the good of all beings.
Ancestors, spirits, great Mother, we honor you.
So may it be.”

Take a few final moments of quiet, sharing any words or insights. Leave a small offering—flower, stone, or ribbon (biodegradable)—as a token of gratitude.

Practical Notes

• Timing: The journey from Sanctuary to Avebury, then to Beckhampton, can take 3–4 hours including pauses, prayers, and sharing.

• What to Bring: Water, small natural offering, weather-appropriate clothes.

• To Return: Walk back along country lanes or arrange a car shuttle/taxi from Longstones Field to the Sanctuary parking.

Closing

These prayers and words may be spoken as written or adapted to suit your tradition and the group’s comfort. Their spirit is to open hearts, honor the land and ancestors, and move intentionally through the ancient cycles of letting go, receiving, and renewal—the true rebirth at the heart of Avebury.