Dancing Lights Grove, ADF Standard Liturgy
Opening Prayer
We have gathered here at this time and this place to honour the Gods. We pray that our words, actions and sacrifices shall be heard and accepted by the High Ones. May we stand as one, and walk the path upon which countless ancestors have gone before us.
Processional
[option A]
We approach the sacred grove
With hearts and minds and flesh and bone
Join us now in ways of old
We have come home
[option B]
Come we now as a people
to gather at the sacred Well
Come we now as a people
together in the warmth and the light of the flame
Purification
[After celebrants have entered the ritual space, they are censed and asperged as all sing.]
Cleanse our spirits in the name of the Shining Ones
Let no ill thought follow as we enter our Grove
Let our hearts be open, let our voices ring
We stand between the Earth and Sky as we sing
Outdwellers
[The person performing this offering walks to an outer edge of the ritual space, and speaks facing away from the group.]
Ancient ones of shadowed might,
You who dwell without the light,
Who would not join our work today,
But rather, would stand in the way.
We offer you this mug of ale,
And ask you spare us any bale.
[Offering of ale is placed outside the ritual space, often in the southwest. This person is censed and asperged again before rejoining the people]
Honouring the Earth Mother
Earth Mother, You sustain us with your gifts, we welcome you.
You nurture us with your bounty, we welcome you.
You honour us with your treasures of the sky, waters, and wheat, we welcome you.
Our beloved who praises this rite, we welcome you.
[All kneel and kiss or lay their hand on the Earth. An offering of grain, cornmeal, etc. is given.]
Earth Mother, we honour your body
Earth Mother, we honour your bones
Earth Mother, we sing to your spirit
Earth Mother, we sing to your stones
Bardic Inspiration
We call now upon all the Bards of old, and those Gods and Goddesses who grant us the power of imbas. We ask that we receive your inspiration to allow our words to flow with honeyed sweetness.
[option A – musical invocation]
Powers of inspiration, come to our nemeton
We hear the muses on the breeze, come to us, oh Lady Bhríd…
[option B - poetic invocation]
Powers of Inspiration, we call to you on the breath of the blowing breeze.
Join us at our sacred hearth, that we may hearken to your spirit, and awaken to your sight. Lady Bríd, grant us your presence and be our muse.
May the fire of inspiration burn within us, not only for this sacred time, but whenever we call upon it.
Statement of Purpose
[As applicable for the purpose of the ritual.]
(Re)Creating the Cosmos (Three Realms, Fire/Well/Tree)
[As the realms are being spoken of, the Druid Egg, salt water, and incense are passed around the circle clockwise to the participants.]
[option A - spoken]
The Land supports us, our home among the Cosmos.
The Sea surrounds us, teeming with Otherworldly life.
The Sky stretches above us, displaying the Order of the Gods.
Where these three meet is our Sacred Centre, the place of flowing together,
Where the sacred Fire burns by the Well of Wisdom,
Beneath the branches of the World Tree.
[option B - sung]
The Land, it supports us, our home among the Cosmos.
The Sea, it surrounds us, teeming with Otherworldly life.
The Sky, it stretches high above, displaying the Order of the Gods.
Sacred Centre, where these three meet, place of flowing together…
Where the sacred Fire burns, and the Well of Wisdom churns,
All ‘neath the twining branches of the World Tree.
The fire is kindled in wisdom, love, and power.
Let this fire become the gate to the Gods,
Rising up to the Shining Ones above.
Sacred Fire, fill us with the light of the heavens,
Climbing into the sky with our offerings.
Sacred Fire, burn within us!
[An offering of oil is made to the fire.]
[All] Sacred Fire, burn within us!
In the well flows the waters of wisdom.
Let these depths become the waters of Connla’s Well,
Flowing with otherworldly knowledge.
Sacred Well, fill us with the swirling waters,
Bubbling up from the base of the world tree.
Sacred Waters, flow within us!
[An offering of silver is made to the well.]
[All] Sacred Waters, flow within us!
The World Tree stands at the centre of our worship.
Let this tree be the bridge between the heavens and the earth,
Spanning from the depths below to the heights above.
Sacred Bilé, show us the myriad pathways,
Guiding us along branches to the other realms.
Sacred Tree, grow within us!
[An offering of cornmeal is made to the world tree, or the tree is censed with incense.]
[All] Sacred Tree, grow within us!
The Fire, the Well, the sacred Tree,
[All] Flame and flow and grow in me!
Opening the Gates
Manannán mac Lir, king of the sea, guardian of the Gates, bringer of the mists, keeper of the path to the otherworld, we ask you now to open the Fire as a Gate, to open the Well as a Gate, and let the Tree extend as a bridge between the worlds, carrying our voices to the Kindred on this holy day! Manannán, let the Gates be opened!
[Offering of oil.]
[All] Manannán, let the Gates be opened!
Inviting the Three Kindreds
The children of the earth call out to the spirits of the land,
Nature spirits, kindred, we welcome you to this rite.
You, Noble Ones of fin, fur and feather; of skin, leaf and stone,
Those who inhabit the soil and stream, the trees, flowers, and herbs,
We offer you welcome!
Come to our nemeton, spirits; join us at our hearthside,
Land-spirits, accept our offering!
[Offering of cornmeal, flowers, etc. given to the Nature Spirits.]
[All] Land-spirits, accept our offering!
The children of the earth call out to the mighty dead,
Ancestors, kindred, we welcome you to this rite.
You, Mighty Ones, kin of heart and kin of blood,
Those whose bones lie in this land, the ancient blood of our tribe,
We offer you welcome!
Come to our nemeton, spirits, join us at our hearthside,
Ancestors, accept our offering!
[Offering of ale, bread, etc. given to the Ancestors.]
[All] Ancestors, accept our offering!
The children of the earth call out to the Shining Ones,
First children of the mother, kindred, we welcome you to this rite.
Gods and Goddesses of this place, known and unknown,
Deities of those gathered here, eldest and brightest, wisest and mightiest,
We offer you welcome!
Come to our nemeton, Shining Ones; join us at our hearthside,
Shining Ones, accept our offering!
[Offering of oil, etc. given to the Shining Ones.]
[All] Shining Ones, accept our offering!
Folk Offerings for the Kindred
At this time, we pause to give personal praise and offerings by the folk.
Come forward, friends!
Key Offerings – Deities of the Occasion
[Invitation of deities or beings of the occasion, and appropriate offerings.]
[Seasonal customs, and/or praise offerings as brought by the folk.]
Prayer of Sacrifice
Now, let our voices arise on the fire,
Let our voices resound in the well,
Let our call pass the Gates to the lands of the spirits.
Holy kindreds: Gods, Ancestors, and Nature Spirits,
The Children of Earth send you love and honour with these gifts.
Holy Ones, [names of deities of the occasion], accept our sacrifice!
[A libation is poured and/or offering given.]
Let our voices arise on the fire,
Let our voices resound in the deep,
May the spirits accept what we offer,
As we honour the old ways we keep.
Omen
Holy Ones, we have honored you, and now we pray you bless us in turn, as a gift calls for a gift. Reveal to us now what blessings you offer in return for our sacrifice!
[The omen is taken, usually using a culturally specific form of divination. The omen can be interpreted by the person who takes it, or interpretation can be open for other members of the Grove to contribute. Usually the person taking the omen, after interpretation will ask those present if we are satisfied, or if we wish to hear more. If Grove is satisfied, we move on to the Litany of the Waters.]
Are the folk satisfied?
Litany of the Waters
(Calling for the Blessing/Hallowing the Blessing/Affirmation of the Blessing)
[The empty cup is elevated.]
As we have given, we pray we might receive. Behold the vessel we share in together! Ancient and Mighty Ones, hear your children!
[All] Shining Ones, grant us the waters!
We reach out for bright knowledge from the well of wisdom, Connla’s Well, for bounty from the spring of renewal, for rebirth from the bosom of the Earth Mother! Hear your children!
[All] Shining Ones, grant us the waters!
We open ourselves to share in honour and friendship with all the Powers – to share in the Waters of Life and the blessings of the Shining Ones! Hear us!
[All] Shining Ones, grant us the waters!
[The chalice is filled with mead/wine/beer and elevated.]
We draw from the cauldron of blessing, and pour the ale of inspiration. Behold the holy cup of magic, the outpouring of gifts from the heavens. When we share the draught of the Shining Ones, we drink in wisdom, love and strength.
Hear us, Shining Ones; hallow these waters! We, your children, rejoice in your gift. Bless our lives with love, magic and bounty as we drink these sacred waters. (An t-uisce beatha seo!) Behold the waters of life!
[All] Behold the waters of life!
[The chalice is passed and all drink, singing:]
Power of the Spirits, Flowing through me
Power of the Spirits, Shining in me,
Power of the Spirits, Growing with me
Workings (if any)
[As applicable for the purpose of the ritual.]
Thanking the Beings
[The deities of the occasion are thanked first.]
Gods and Goddesses of this place, known and unknown,
We thank you for joining our rite and giving your blessings.
As this rite is ending, we give you this gift in parting,
Given out of love, with nothing asked in return.
Shining Ones, we thank you!
[An offering is given, usually oil or alcohol.]
[All] Shining Ones, we thank you!
Ancestors, kin of heart and kin of blood,
We thank you for joining our rite and giving your blessings.
As this rite is ending, we give you this gift in parting,
Given out of love, with nothing asked in return.
Ancestors, we thank you!
[An offering is given, usually beer.]
[All] Ancestors, we thank you!
Spirits of this land, of fin, fur and feather; of skin, leaf and stone;
We thank you for joining our rite and giving your blessings.
As this rite is ending, we give you this gift in parting,
Given out of love, with nothing asked in return.
Land-spirits, we thank you!
[An offering is given, usually cornmeal, etc.]
[All] Land-spirits, we thank you!
Closing the Gates
Manannán mac Lir, god of the waves, we thank you for your divine assistance, and ask you to close the Gates. We ask you to once again let the Fire be flame, let the Well be water, and let the Tree be branch and leaf. Manannán, let the Gates be closed!
[All] Manannán, let the Gates be closed!
Manannán, we thank you for guarding the Gates and watching over our rite. We give you this gift in parting, given out of love, with nothing asked in return. Manannán, we thank you!
[Offering given.]
[All] Manannán, we thank you!
Thanking the Earth Mother
Earth Mother, you sustain us with your gifts, we thank you.
You nurture us with your bounty, we thank you.
You honour us with your treasures of the sky, waters, and wheat, we thank you.
Our beloved who praises this rite, we thank you.
[All kneel and kiss or lay their hand on the Earth.]
Closing the Rite / Recessional
As this rite comes to a close, we remember to uphold our practices and keep them. As our forebears did, so we do now, and so may our descendants do in time to come.
The rite has ended!
Walk with wisdom, from this hallowed place,
Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall e’er embrace,
May strength be your brother, and honour be your friend,
And luck be your lover, until we meet again.
