Pre-Ritual Briefing:
Explain the basic format of the ritual for those who haven't been to an ADF ritual before. Mention specifically what we do with divination. Let people know well ahead of time about the tale, oath and boast, and let them know that they are under no obligation to make any of the above if they don't feel the need. Figure out who is doing all of the individual parts, and pass offerings around. Let people know when the appropriate time to make personal offerings is.
Entry into Sacred Space:
Open with the chime, and process towards the tree ring. Chant while processing. As processants approach the tree ring, they are asperged and daubed. The asperger says "May the strength of the land protect you", while the dauber says "May the waters of life heal you." Processants circle the ring deosil three times, and form a half-circle with the tree in the centre. At this point, Ian will lead the group in meditation.
Statement of Historical Purpose:
Leinster: Another summer has come and almost gone, slipping quickly past in the middle of our busy lives. But now, we take time to contemplate the powerful joy of summer, but also to prepare for the darkness to come. For our ancestors, this was a time of much meaning. The harvest had to be brought in, and a harsh winter had to be survived. Even for us, the end of summer brings changes, and we must be ready to deal with them.
Acknowledgement of the Centre:
Ulster: We stand once again at this ring of trees, to worship the Gods. This is a sacred space and a holy space, which bridges the three realms, and the tree is at its centre. Its roots reach far down, drinking from the waters of the sea. It stands here, in the heart of the land. And it reaches up, into the skies above.
Through this conduit, our prayers, our offerings, and our words can reach the spirits of all realms, and so we stand here and call to them.
Invocation of the Gatekeeper:
Gatekeeper: (Optionally, do Mannanan chant. It depends who is gatekeeping, and whether they're comfortable with chanting.) Mannanan Mac Lir, Son of the Sea, Keeper of the Hidden Ways, we call you yet again, and ask your presence and aid. Lend your strength to ours, and bring the mists closer to this centre of the worlds.
We offer these coins (place coins in centre of tree ring) as our passage fee. Accept them, watch us, and let the gates be opened.
Kindred Offerings and Outdweller Recognition:
Connachta: I speak from the west, from the land of Connachta, the land of Druids, of teaching, even sometimes of madness. I speak now to the Gods - those whose names are known to us, and those whose names are unknown. If you would greet us in peace, if you would come with respect, then we honour you, welcome you, and make offering to you. Biodh Se.
Ulster: I speak from the north, from bloody Ulster, and I speak to the spirits that have gone. To those who have crossed the boundary of death, to the mighty heroes of the past, to the ancestors of our families, I speak now. We do not forget, and your names live on. If you come in peace and respect, then we honour you, welcome you, and make offering to you. Biodh Se.
Leinster: I speak from the east, from fertile Leinster, home of the artisans and the crafts, and of huge fields of grain. I speak to the spirits of this place, those who cause the land to grow. To the spirits of the river, to the spirits of the trees, to the winds and breezes, and to all the powers of nature, I speak now. If you come in peace and respect, we honour you, welcome you, and make offering to you. Biodh Se.
Munster: And finally, I speak from the south, from hidden Munster. In all of the old tales, Munster has always been where newcomers have entered the land, for good or for ill. Today we are prepared. For those who greet us in peace, then we welcome you and let you pass. But for any who might seek to trouble us, out of spite or confusion, we set this aside for you, and as a gift demands a gift, we ask that you leave us alone.
Calling of Medb:
Connachta: And as guest of honour this day, in the height of summer, in the company of friends, we invite Medb, warrior-queen of Connacht, to join us in our ritual. Come Medb, share our drink and our company. (Drinks from chalice). Join us Medb, Our lady of sweet intoxication, Our lady of rampant desire. Join us Medb, Our lady of madness, our lady of wild abandon. On this day, come to us with your power, your pride, your wild insatiable and unquenchable lust for life at its fullest, and share it with us. Let us drink in the blessings of this summer, and celebrate it in our day to day life. Give us your... (Somewhere around here Connachta gets interrupted. Keep improvising in this vein if necessary.)
Lugh Call:
Ulster: Enough. Celebration is fine, but there are preparations to be made for the winter. There are changes that will come whether we are ready or not. And in this vein, we invite Lugh of the Long Hand, craftsman and planner. Lugh, help us to prepare mentally and physically for the winter to come. Watch us in the harvest of our own lives.
Offerings to the Gods:
Ulster: Lugh, we welcome you as a guest, and we share with you this bread. Let us reap as we sow. (Bread is broken and the first portion is placed in the centre of the tree ring. It is then passed around the half circle of participants.)
Connachta: Medb, as your guest, we share with you this cup. Let your wild spirit flow through us when we need it. (Mead is poured from the cup into the centre of the tree ring, and the cup is then passed around the participants.)
Tale, Oath, and Boast
Leinster: This time of summer has always been a time of gathering, of games before the harvest. And, as our ancestors did, we gather before the Gods. One of the oldest traditions of gatherings has been that of story telling, and so we shall tell stories for our distinguished guests.
The cup will be passed three times, and when each person receives the cup, they may tell a short story. On the first round, a tale of bold exploits, of courageous daring, or of mad victory over the odds. On the second round, a plan for future exploits, an acknowledgement before the Gods of a deed that you will do in the next year. And on the third round, a mad boast for the Gods, of crazy exploits that you will achieve in time with their aid. (The cup is passed three times as described.) If anyone has offerings to make to the Gods, they may do it during their stories, too.
Omen:
Connachta: We have told many stories ourselves, but we have not yet heard from our distinguished visitors.
Ulster: Lord Lugh!
Connachta: Lady Medb! We ask a tale from you too, that you might share with us. We ask that you give a tale that we can interpret, of the future of our Grove.
(Divination goes here. If necessary, we make further offerings for clarification - but hopefully not. If omens are really bad, we close off ritual here, and try and figure out what happened.)
Affirmation of Success and Blessings:
Connachta: We have spoken to the Gods, and they have spoken to us. We have shared their food and drink, and we have learned from them. But as we offer to the Gods, they also become stronger, and more aware of our needs. As we prepare to leave this place, let us carry its strength into our day to day life.
Thanking of the Kindred:
Connachta: Lady Medb - we will not forget your presence. Thank you for your wild power. Keep us ever able to appreciate the mad beauty of life.
Ulster: Lord Lugh - we will not forget your words. We thank you for your strong presence and for your wisdom. Watch over us in the time to come.
Connachta: And to all the Shining Ones, Radiant Gods, we thank you for your presence today. We honour you as you have honoured us. Go if you must, stay if you will.
Ulster: Ancestors, we thank you for your presence, for your example, for everything that you have left us. We thank you for the words you have left us, and for the insights you have given us. We honour you as you have honoured us. Go if you must, stay if you will.
Leinster: Spirits of the land, we thank you for your presence too. You are the face of the land that gave us birth, and we honour you as you have honoured us. Go if you must, stay if you will.
Closing of the Gates:
Gatekeeper: Mannanan, Lord of the Mists, we thank you for easing the journey of our words, for aiding the return of blessings. But now, by your strength and our words, let us end what we began. Let the tree be simply a tree, let the mists roll back, and let all be as it was before. Let the gates be closed.
Regrounding:
The original meditation is somewhat reversed, to try and bring people back.
Recession:
Participants circle the tree three more times, and then walk away from the tree. When we have walked away from the tree, the chime is rung once again.
Submitted by Ian Clysdale on Sun, 30/07/2000 - 7:13pm.