July 19, 2015 my grove got together to pay tribute to Lugh. The main offering were items from our gardens. Here is the ritual we (will be) used. Our ritual was held at Gladsheim Hof, so we feel it appropriate to gift a gift to the God host of the hall, we do this right after we honor the land itself.
Gathering
A bell is tolled three times calling the folk to the nemeton.
GO/SD/GP – The tribe is called together for Lá Lúnasa (Law Loonuhsuh.) Let us gather at the center.
Inviting the Patron:
GO/SD/GP – Manannan Mac Lir old and deep we invite you to join us this day as our tribe gathers to
celebrate Lá Lúnasa (Law Loonuhsuh.) We offer you libations after your journey.
celebrate Lá Lúnasa (Law Loonuhsuh.) We offer you libations after your journey.
GO/SD/GP:
makes an offering and says: Manannan Mac Lir, accepting this offering.
makes an offering and says: Manannan Mac Lir, accepting this offering.
All:
Manannan Mac Lir, accepting this offering.
Manannan Mac Lir, accepting this offering.
Honoring the Local Land Goddesses
Druid 2: We honor the Five Rivers, the goddesses of the land; Potomac, Patapsco, Susquehanna, Gunpowder, and Patuxent. Givers of life that flow from the mountains and form estuaries of the Chesapeake.
We honor you and make this offering to you in gratitude for your waters that nourish this land.
Druid 2: makes an offering and says: Mighty goddesses of the land accept this offering.
All:
Mighty goddesses of the land accept this offering.
Mighty goddesses of the land accept this offering.
Host Offering
GO/SD/GP: We now make an offering to Odin. The All-Father, lord of this
hearth and land. We are gracious for the hospitality shown to us and return a gift with a gift.
hearth and land. We are gracious for the hospitality shown to us and return a gift with a gift.
GO/SD/GP: makes an offering and says: Odin, accepting this gift.
All:
Odin accept this gift.
Odin accept this gift.
Statement of Purpose
Druid 1:
Imagine if you will it is The Second Battle of Moytura, Lugh has slain his grandfather Balor of the Baleful Eye and now he and his men have found the vile King Bres who wished to negotiate being
spared.
spared.
Bres said: ‘It is better to give me quarter than to slay me’.
‘What then will follow from that?’ says Lugh.
‘If I am spared the cattle of Erin will always be in milk’.
‘I will ask our wise men of this” , says Lugh.
Hence Lugh went to the brehon, and said to him: ‘Shall Bres have quarter for giving constant milk to the cattle of Erin?’
‘He shall not have quarter’, saith Maeltne; ‘he has no power over their age or their (offspring) though he can milk them so long as they are alive’.
Lugh returns to Bres saying: ‘That does not save you, for you have no power over their age and their (offspring) though you can milk them’.
‘Is there aught else that will save you Bres?’ asked Lugh.
‘There is in truth. Tell your brehon that for sparing me the men of Ireland shall reap a harvest in every quarter of the year’.
Said Lugh to the brehon: ‘Shall Bres be spared for giving the men of Ireland a harvest of corn every quarter?’
‘No, this will suit us, the spring for ploughing and sowing, the beginning of summer for the strengthening of corn, and the beginning of autumn for reaping of it. Winter for consuming it.’
Returning to Bres, Lugh says: ‘That offer does not rescue you, but less than that may,
‘What?’ says Bres.
‘How shall the men of Ireland plough? How shall they sow? How shall they reap? After making known these three things thou wilt be spared’.
‘Tell them’ says Bres ‘that their ploughing be on a Tuesday, their casting seed into the field be on a Tuesday, their reaping on a Tuesday.’
With that, the men of Erin learned agriculture.
So now comes the harvest and we tell this story as a reminder of the magic that is the cultivation of food and howman had to learn to harness the power of the land and the sun. We give thanks to the gods for the guidance in making the harvests possible.
Opening PrayerAll:
By the land beneath us
By the sea surrounding us
By the sky above us
We come unto the gods and ungods.
May they light our way and
Bless our days
GO/SD/GP:
May the rains sweep gentle across the fields,
May the rains sweep gentle across the fields,
May the sun warm the land,
May every good seed planted bear fruit,
And late summer find us among fields of plenty.
Centering Meditation
A guide is selected to lead this guided meditation. Going through it with a calm voice and steady voice.
Guide: Close your eyes clear your mind and focus on your breathing. Breathe in and out slowly visualizing the spiral of the cosmos around you.
Guide: We are at the center of An Thríbhís Mhór. ah-heeveesh-vohr
Guide: Inhale and as you exhale visualize your feet firmly planted on the earth.
Guide: We stand firmly upon the Sacred Land.
Guide: Inhale again and as you exhale imagine you are surrounded by the great calm ocean.
Guide: The Eternal Sea always surrounds us.
Guide: Inhale and exhale seeing the great blue expanse above you.
Guide: The Endless Sky spreads itself above us.
Guide: Inhale while visualizing the great spiral around you, with you at its center.
Guide: We are at the center of An Thríbhís Mhór. ah-heeveesh-vohr
Guide: And breath, open your eyes when ready.
Establishing the Sacred Grove
Sacred Hearth Fire
Druid 3:
I make sacred the fire,
The first fire born of lightning
from which all fires are lit.
The hearth fire which warms our homes
and binds our people.
I stand in the grove at the center of the realms,All:
Let the flame be the hearth fire,
Let the water be the Well of Knowledge
I make sacred the fire,
The first fire born of lightning
from which all fires are lit.
The hearth fire which warms our homes
and binds our people.
I stand in the grove at the center of the realms,All:
Let the flame be the hearth fire,
Let the water be the Well of Knowledge
Let the tree be the bile,
(bill-uh)
I stand in the grove at the center of the realms,
Druid 3 : puts butter on the fire, then says:
I light the sacred fire of
inspiration. Sacred fire, burn within us.
inspiration. Sacred fire, burn within us.
All:
Sacred fire, burn within us.
Sacred fire, burn within us.
Well of Segais
Druid 3 says:
I make sacred the well,
From which the five rivers flow,
Salmon swimming, hazels hanging high.
Bubbling brightly Segais, source of wisdom,
I stand in the grove at the center of the realms,
From which the five rivers flow,
Salmon swimming, hazels hanging high.
Bubbling brightly Segais, source of wisdom,
I stand in the grove at the center of the realms,
All:
Let the flame be the hearth fire,
Let the water be the Well of KnowledgeLet the tree be the bile,
Let the flame be the hearth fire,
Let the water be the Well of KnowledgeLet the tree be the bile,
(bill-uh)
I stand in the grove at the center of the realms,
Druid 3: dips the apple branch into the well then says:
In the depths flow the waters of
wisdom. Sacred waters, flow within us.
wisdom. Sacred waters, flow within us.
All:
Sacred waters, flow within us.
Sacred waters, flow within us.
World Tree
Druid 3 says:
I make sacred the branch/tree,
Towering high, hanging heavy with hazel,
Spanning and connecting the Three Realms,
The mighty bile of the grove,I stand in the grove at the center of the realms,
Towering high, hanging heavy with hazel,
Spanning and connecting the Three Realms,
The mighty bile of the grove,I stand in the grove at the center of the realms,
All:
Let the flame be the hearth fire,
Let the water be the Well of KnowledgeLet the tree be the bile,
Let the flame be the hearth fire,
Let the water be the Well of KnowledgeLet the tree be the bile,
(bill-uh)
I stand in the grove at the center of the realms,
Druid 3 : dresses (takes water from well and pours it or rubs it on
the tree) the bile, then says:
the tree) the bile, then says:
From the depths to the heights spans
the world tree. Sacred tree, grow within us.
the world tree. Sacred tree, grow within us.
All:
Sacred tree, grow within us.
Sacred tree, grow within us.
Druid 3: raises arms
Druid 3: With the Flame of the Hearth, the Well of Knowledge, and the
Sacred Bile the grove is erected and hallowed.
Sacred Bile the grove is erected and hallowed.
Parting the Mists
Druid 1: prepares an offering for the gatekeeper and says:
Druid 1: says: We request Mongan, re-incarnated Finn, wild god of
the wood and hunt, son of Manannan, Patron of the warriors.
We ask you to part the mists on behalf of Manannan and allow the
ancestors to pass through.
the wood and hunt, son of Manannan, Patron of the warriors.
We ask you to part the mists on behalf of Manannan and allow the
ancestors to pass through.
Druid 1: makes an offering and says: Mongan, Finn, accept our
offerings and gratitude as you part the mists. (mah-nuh-nahn’ mak leer)
offerings and gratitude as you part the mists. (mah-nuh-nahn’ mak leer)
Druid 1: Let the mists be parted!!
All: Let the mists be parted.
Inviting the Gods and Ungods
An Sinsear (en shen-shoor)
Druid 2: Mighty dead, you who have come before,
Ancestors of our blood, Heros of our people
We offer you this gift with love and loyalty and invite you to witness this
rite.
Ancestors of our blood, Heros of our people
We offer you this gift with love and loyalty and invite you to witness this
rite.
Druid 2: makes an offering and says: Ancestors, accept this
offering.
offering.
All:
Ancestors, accept this offering.
Ancestors, accept this offering.
Aos Sí (ees-shee)
Druid 2: Great nature spirits, you who frolic in the wild world,
Spirits of this place,
We offer you this gift in friendship and invite you to witness this rite.
Spirits of this place,
We offer you this gift in friendship and invite you to witness this rite.
Spirits of family and the people
that came to this land from faraway lands.
We offer you this gift in friendship and invite you to witness this rite.
that came to this land from faraway lands.
We offer you this gift in friendship and invite you to witness this rite.
Druid 2: makes an offering and says: Aos Sí (ees-shee),
accept this offering.
accept this offering.
All:
Aos Sí (ees-shee), accept this
offering.
Aos Sí (ees-shee), accept this
offering.
Gods of the Tribe
Druid 2: Great gods, you who are mightiest in all things,
Deities of our faith,
We offer you this gift with reverence and honor and invite you to witness this
rite.
Deities of our faith,
We offer you this gift with reverence and honor and invite you to witness this
rite.
Druid 2: makes an offering and says: Gods and goddesses accept
this offering.
this offering.
All:
Gods and goddesses accept this offering.
Gods and goddesses accept this offering.
Key Offering
D1: Lugh,
Master of all trades, King of the gods
You who slew Balor and defeated Bres.
You who through victory brought us ploughing, sowing and reaping.
Hear us.
Master of all trades, King of the gods
You who slew Balor and defeated Bres.
You who through victory brought us ploughing, sowing and reaping.
Hear us.
Mighty Lugh we give thanks for the gifts you have given mankind
and come with an offering of the fruits of our work. We bring you this harvest, from our own
fields and the fields of our community.
and come with an offering of the fruits of our work. We bring you this harvest, from our own
fields and the fields of our community.
D1: makes an offering and says: Lugh accept this offering.
All:
Lugh accept this offering.
Lugh accept this offering.
The Augury
Seer: Ritually washes their hands then forms the left hand into a
tube, blows through the tube then says:
tube, blows through the tube then says:
I am going within
To the doorstep of the sí
in the name of Finn
Stronger in sight then all.
To the doorstep of the sí
in the name of Finn
Stronger in sight then all.
The augury made by Finn to his men,
That Bride blew her palm,
Message of truth without a message of falsehood
That I myself shall see
The semblance, joyous and mild
Of all that is hidden to me
That Bride blew her palm,
Message of truth without a message of falsehood
That I myself shall see
The semblance, joyous and mild
Of all that is hidden to me
Good spirits and gods of my people,
Give me the sight to see all I need,
With vision that shall never fail, before me,
That shall never quench nor dim.
Give me the sight to see all I need,
With vision that shall never fail, before me,
That shall never quench nor dim.
Tell me what I need.
Seer: then takes the omen, interprets it, and records it.
Receiving the blessings of the Gods
and Ungods
and Ungods
Druid 1: raises the blessing plate/cup high and says:
Tuatha de Danaan (tooah-de-danyan), Aos Sí , (ees she) and An Sinsear
(en shen-shoor), we have praised you and made offerings and now a gift
calls for a gift. We pray to you and ask that you give us your blessings.
Make sacred these apples and infuse them with your vitality, strength and
inspiration.
(en shen-shoor), we have praised you and made offerings and now a gift
calls for a gift. We pray to you and ask that you give us your blessings.
Make sacred these apples and infuse them with your vitality, strength and
inspiration.
Lo, the blessings of the Gods and
Ungods are upon us.
Ungods are upon us.
All:
Lo, the blessings of the Gods and Ungods are upon us.
Lo, the blessings of the Gods and Ungods are upon us.
Druid 1: Slices and eats the blessed apple and passes it around.
Thanking the Gods and Ungods and
Closing the Mists
Closing the Mists
Druid 1: We have given gifts to the gods and ungods and received gifts in
return. Take these blessings into the
world and use these them to live fruitfully and with honor. At this time we have come to the closing of
this ritual and will give thanks to those who have come to aid us.
return. Take these blessings into the
world and use these them to live fruitfully and with honor. At this time we have come to the closing of
this ritual and will give thanks to those who have come to aid us.
Druid 1: Lugh, mighty warrior, king. Thank you for your blessings. Hail Lugh.
All: Hail
Lugh.
Lugh.
Druid 2: Blessed ancestors, are honored by your attendance and welcome you to our
table as honored guests and wish you well if you depart. Hail the mighty dead.
table as honored guests and wish you well if you depart. Hail the mighty dead.
All: Hail the
mighty dead.
mighty dead.
Druid 2: Tuatha de Danaan (tooah-de-danyan),
gods of our tribe, we thank you for your presence and blessings. Hail
the gods.
gods of our tribe, we thank you for your presence and blessings. Hail
the gods.
All:
Hail the gods.
Hail the gods.
Druid 2: Aos Sí (ees-shee),
these are your lands and here you shall remain. We thank you for
attending and accepting our offerings of peace and respect. Hail the spirits.
these are your lands and here you shall remain. We thank you for
attending and accepting our offerings of peace and respect. Hail the spirits.
All:
Hail the spirits.
Hail the spirits.
Druid 1: Manannan, we thank you for your attendance and ask that you
watch over our ancestors as they travel back through the veil.
watch over our ancestors as they travel back through the veil.
Druid 1: Let the mists return and the veil be whole.
All: Let
the mists return and the veil be whole.
the mists return and the veil be whole.
Druid 2: Mighty Rivers, these are your lands and here you shall
remain. We thank you for attending and accepting our offerings of peace
and respect. Hail the goddesses.
remain. We thank you for attending and accepting our offerings of peace
and respect. Hail the goddesses.
All: Hail the goddesses.
Druid 1: Manannan,
as we prepare to end this ritual, we again give you thanks for the wisdom to
bring to our tribe. Hail Manannan.
as we prepare to end this ritual, we again give you thanks for the wisdom to
bring to our tribe. Hail Manannan.
All: Hail
Manannan.
Manannan.
Taking down the Sacred Grove
Druid 1: And now the Sacred Grove must be taken down. We honor
the Hearth Fire and restore it to flame. We honor the Well of Segais and
restore it to water. We honor the bile and restore it to branch. All is
as it was and the Sacred Grove is dismantled. The ritual is ended.
the Hearth Fire and restore it to flame. We honor the Well of Segais and
restore it to water. We honor the bile and restore it to branch. All is
as it was and the Sacred Grove is dismantled. The ritual is ended.
May love and laughter light your
days,
days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be
yours,
yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your
world
world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!All: Biodh Se! (bee-shay)
Items
List:
List:
Bell or
gong for calling the folk to the temple space.
gong for calling the folk to the temple space.
Juniper
bundle for saining the attendees.
bundle for saining the attendees.
Representations
of the Hearth Fire, Well of Wisdom and Bile.
of the Hearth Fire, Well of Wisdom and Bile.
Bowl with
fresh water and ogham staves for the seer.
fresh water and ogham staves for the seer.
Butter for
the consecration of the fire
the consecration of the fire
Apple
Branch for consecration of the well
Branch for consecration of the well
Cup for
water from the Well of Wisdom to consecrate the tree.
water from the Well of Wisdom to consecrate the tree.
Offerings
to the gods and ungods (see list at the end)
to the gods and ungods (see list at the end)
Apples for
the blessings on the folk.
the blessings on the folk.
Basket or
bowl to collect offerings during indoor rituals.
bowl to collect offerings during indoor rituals.
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Local River Goddesses
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Corn meal
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Manannan Mac Lir
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Alcohol, water grasses, yellow
flower |
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Mighty Dead
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Food/bread
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Spirits of Place
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sage smoke
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Tuatha de Danaan
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Alcohol
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Ancestors
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A meal
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The folk
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Apples
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