Opening Prayer
[OUTDOOR: The folk gather away from the ritual space in preparation for procession.]
[INDOOR: The folk gather in a semi-circle in front of the altar.]
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 and Purification
[OUTDOOR: The celebrant leads the procession into the ritual space, followed by the fire tender, with the Outdwellers offering brought at the rear. All, except the last person, are censed and aspersed as they enter the space.]
[We Approach the Sacred Grove, by Sean Miller]
We approach the sacred grove
With hearts and minds and flesh and bone
Join us now in ways of old
We have come home
[INDOOR: The folk stand in place. All sing:]
[Come We Now As A People, by Ian Corrigan]
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[Two people cense and asperse the folk while all sing:]
[Cleanse Our Spirits, by Deb Hallett]
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 / bowl of grain],
And ask you spare us any [bale / bane].
[The offering is left outside of the ritual space. The person is censed and aspersed before rejoining the folk.]
Honouring the Earth Mother
Earth Mother, we call to you to uphold and bless our rite.
Each day you sustain us, nurturing our bodies and souls with your bounty.
From your body we find the treasures of the world:
Your bones its foundation, supporting the damp soil of your flesh, feeding the nourishing plants of your hair.
Your blood the flowing rivers, changing with the phases of the moon; your breath blows as the wind.
Above us your eye shines brightly, illuminating your clouds of thoughts under the firmament of the stars.
Inside all of us we find you, Earth Mother, beloved,
Praise this rite, as we join together and praise you.
Earth Mother, we welcome you![All] Earth Mother, we welcome you!
[All kneel and kiss or lay their hand on the Earth. If indoors, blow a kiss towards the altar. An offering of grain, cornmeal, etc. is given. All sing:]
[Earth Mother Chant]
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
Lighting the Sacrificial Fire
[The hearth fire is carried up to the altar by the Fire Tender.]
On the body of the Earth we build our fire.
Around its light, the tribe and folk gather.
Around its warmth, we share hospitality.
Bright Brighid, goddess of the hearth, be with us in this place.
[An offering of oil or butter is given to the hearth fire.]
[The sacrificial fire is lit from the hearth fire.]
From our own hearth we build a fire for the gods.
Into its flames, we will give offering.
Upon its smoke, our voices will rise.
May we pray with a good fire.[All] May we pray with a good fire!
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. May the fire of inspiration burn within us, not only for this sacred time, but whenever we call upon it.
Bards of old, guide our voices![All] Bards of old, guide our voices!
Statement of Purpose
[As applicable for the purpose of the ritual.]
Now, let us come together where the Three Realms meet, and open the Gates to the Lands of the Spirits, where we can walk and worship with each other on this holy [day / night].
(Re)Creating the Cosmos – Three Realms
[A triskele sign is made towards the altar as the following words are spoken or sung:]
[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 – Three Realms Song, by Deb Hallett]
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.
(Re)Creating the Cosmos – Fire, Well, 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 grain or water is made to the world tree, or the tree is censed with incense.]
[All] Sacred Tree, grow within us!
[All] The Fire, the Well, the sacred Tree,
Flame and flow and grow in me!
In Land, Sea, and Sky,
Below and on high,
This Grove is made whole and holy!
Opening the Gates
Manannán mac Lir, king of the sea, guardian of the ways between, bringer of the mists, keeper of the path to the otherworld, we welcome you to our rite. Noble king without a throne, the master of Emain Ablach, come to us on your sea-chariot, bringing with you the gifts of the unseen. Manannán, we welcome you!
[An offering is given.]
[All] Manannán, we welcome you!
Now, Manannán, join your magic with ours, as we open the Fire as a Gate, and 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! Let the Gates be open!
[All] Let the Gates be open!
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!
[The folk bring offerings to those gods and spirits that are not the Deity of the Occasion.]
Have all brought offering who wish to do so?
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, accept our sacrifice![Offering Song, by Anthony R. Thompson and Ian Corrigan]
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! Hallow these waters with the gifts of [words that reflect the blessings in the omen]! 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:]
[Option A – Power of the Spirits, by Ian Corrigan]
Power of the Spirits, Flowing through me
Power of the Spirits, Shining in me
Power of the Spirits, Growing with me[Option B – Pour the Waters, by Ian Corrigan]
Pour the waters, raise the cup
Drink your share of wisdom deep
Strength and love now fill us up
As the elder ways we keep[Option C – Blessed Draught, by Thexalon]
Drink the waters here before us
Sing the praises of gods in chorus
Feel the gift in the heart uproarious
This the blessed draughtFire, Well, and Sacred Tree
Honour given to Kindreds Three
By the ancient custom our gifts
Returned in the blessed draught
Workings (if any)
[As applicable for the purpose of the ritual.]
Thanking the Beings
We are blessed by the gods and blessed in friendship. Let us hold this in our hearts for a moment, before we bid farewell to our Kindreds, and close the Gates.
[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.]
[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.]
[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.]
[All] Land-spirits, we thank you!
Closing the Gates
Manannán mac Lir, way-warder, magician and king, we ask you to once again join your magic with ours as we close the Gates. Now, let the Fire be flame, let the Well be water, and let the Tree be branch and leaf. Let the Gates be closed!
[All] 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!
[An offering is given.]
[All] Manannán, we thank you!
Extinguishing the Sacrificial Fire
We smoor the fire of sacrifice
Through which our voices rose to the gods,
Our gifts transformed by the flames.
We have prayed with a good fire.
[The Fire Tender smoors the sacrificial fire.]
Thanking the Earth Mother
Earth Mother, we thank you for sustaining and blessing this rite.
Our worship upheld on the foundation of your body,
We return to you what we have not used,
And continue to honour you as you honour us.
Earth Mother, we thank you!
[The remainder of the grains are offered.]
[All] Earth Mother, 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, by Sable]
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.[Now the Rite is at an End, by Paul Kershaw and Marae Price]
And now the rite is at an end, again we’re parting ways
May truth and honour be your friend, and lucky be your days
I’ll hold you dearly in my heart, I’ll hold you in my mind
And though our branches grow apart, our roots shall be entwined