Main Ritual
Dramatis Personae:
Bell ringing druid;
Divining druid;
Dagda’s druid;
Morrigan’s druid;
Gatekeeping druid;
High Ones' druid;
Ancestral druid;
Nature Spirits druid;
Meditative druid;
Outdwellers' druid;
Keeper of the Sacred Space Druid;
Dramatis Res:
Bell; Divinatory tools (runes);
Offerings for: Ancestors, High Ones, Nature Spirits,
Dagda and Morrigan; Outdwellers payment; communal
drink; copies of ritual;
Makings of sacred space (Well (dress the well with
representation of the New Year), silver, cup, large
candle, incense and tree. Offering bowl
Making of Arawn’s altar- Book of remembrance, central
candle, tea lights, Pen, Chalice, apple offering
1. Prebriefing.
We run through the coming ritual, so all know what
to expect and everything is prepared.
2. Bell ringing druid rings bell thrice.
3. Meditative druid. Tree Rooting Exercise.
4. Procession into the grove
5. Establishing the Sacred Grove through Fire, Well,
and Tree:
KSS-
As our ancestors once did, so do we do today, and so
will our children do in the future.
"Samhain is one of the original Celtic fire festivals
and means 'Summer's End' - when the sun's power wanes,
and the strength of the gods of darkness, winter, and
the underworld grows great. As Beltaine marks the
beginning of summer, Samhain records its end.
We are here to honour all our Gods. We are here to ask
for their blessings. With our words and praises Dagda
and Morrigan, Gods of death and new beginnings, and
Arawn, Lord of Annwn, we honour you today.
Biodh se.
KSS lights the fire and makes an offering of
incense:
I kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love, and power.
Sacred fire, burn within us.
All- Sacred fire, burn with us.
KSS pours the waters and makes an offering of
silver:
In the depths flow the waters of wisdom.
Sacred waters flow within us.
All- Sacred waters, flow within us.
KSS dresses & censes the world tree:
From the depths to the heights spans the world
tree.
Sacred tree, grow within us.
All- Sacred tree, grow within us.
6. The formation of the vertical axis is completed
with:
KSS -The fire, the well, the sacred tree,
Flame and flow and grow in me!
In land, sea and sky,
below and on high!
Thus is the sacred grove claimed and hallowed.
By the cleansing of water and fire, let all ill
turn away from me and mine.
All- Biodh Se! ("Bee-shay")
7. Opening the Gates.
"O Bee-leh, forest-heart, sacred tree!
O Being reaching to mystery!
O Bridge! lift us now along with Thee.
Let your gateway be opened.?
8. Outdwellers dispatching druid:
"Outsiders, forces of chaos, you who choose not to be
part of our workings,
you dwell beyond our firelight and our gates, in the
dark places between,
you who are primal and unbounded, raw and untamed.
I make you this offering, and ask that you not disturb
us during this rite."
9. Trigger for the offerings:
KSS-
High Ones, Ancestors and Mighty Sidhe,
Powers of Earth and Sky and Sea,
By Fire and Well, by Sacred Tree,
To each, an offering we make to thee.
10. Ancestral druid:
Hear us, Old Ones, kin of heart and kin of blood,
Those whose bones lie in this land
>From you we spring and with you we will grow in
health.
Remember us as we remember you:
Ancestors, accept our offering
11. Natural druid:
Hear us, Spirits of the Land,
Kindreds of fur, fin, and feather,
Of bark, leaf and blossom, of rock, soil, or crystal.
Fair folk, green kin, and totem beasts! .
>From you we learn to live in harmony with our world,
and ourselves.
Aid us as we aid you:
Nature Spirits Accept our offering!
12. High Ones druid:
Hear us, Shining Ones of old,
Gods and Goddesses of this place, known and unknown;
Deities of those gathered here, you who uphold the
worlds.
In you we grow in wisdom, strength, and purity.
Honor us as we honor you:
Shining Ones, accept our offering!
13. Second Prayer:
KSS- We are here to honour our Gods and to ask
for their participation.
14. Morrigan’s Druid-
"Morrigan,The Morrigu, triple Goddess.
Queen of Darkness, Death, and Chaos.
She who holds the secrets to Wisdom,
Bestower of Ageless Powers."
"We call to you Morrigan, Queen of darkness and death.
Come to us covered in the wings of a raven.
Come to us swift as the winds.
Come to us now with your wisdom and knowledge to help
and bless in our workings."
15. Dagda’s Druid-
"Dagda,Ancient God who bore the Tuatha De Danann,
Tribal Chieftain, Father who brings all Order
Bearer of the undry - the Cauldron of Bounty
He who gives according to one's measure."
"We call to you Dagda, father of Tribes, protector,
and provider.
Come to us now with your great club that takes life
with one end and bestows life with the other.
Come to us with your great cauldron of bounty and
rebirth.
Come to us now with your wisdom and knowledge to help
and bless us in our workings."
16. Individual Offerings:
Past:
Judith:
Samhain is regarded as the Celtic New Year and also
the 'Festival of the Dead.' It is believed that at
this time of year the souls of the dead can walk
amongst the living. On the night of Samhain, the door
to realms beyond mortal comprehension is opened, the
veil between life and death is at its thinnest, and
the revolving wheel guarding the gates of the Spiral
Castle has stopped for a brief moment.
Arawn, Lord of Annwn, let those who have passed to
your Summerland return if they chose to bless us with
their presence and wisdom.
Judith-Make an offering of apple then open the Book of
Remembrance and read the title page.
But may you yourselves, O Gods of life,
Be at my breast, be at my back,
You to me as a star, you to me as a guide,
>From my life's beginning to my life's closing.
That my name may be remembered…
Judith- Place the book opened to the names on Arawn’s
Altar and each person takes a turn lighting a candle
for those whom they wish remembered.
Present:
Michael:
Who now wishes to declare himself to the Kindred and
the Gods?
Wally steps forward and says his thing, then declares
himself to each of the three Kindred Druids
Future:
Lee:
Now, with the blessings of the Gods, the Ancestors,
and the Spirits of Nature in us on this night of
rebirth, and their presence all around us, we seek to
honor that which will come anew.
Now let the new officers of our Folk come forth and
make their oaths of Office for the coming year.
(The new Scribe, Purse warden, and Senior Druid of the
Grove each place their hand upon the World Tree and
take their oath of office, one at a time.)
Lee:
With our new officers in place, let our Folk and our
Grove be blessed in the coming year. Biodh Se!
All: Biodh Se!
17. Third Prayer:
KSS- We are here to honour our Gods and to ask for
their wisdom.
18. Divining Druid does that ogham thing.
"We have asked and been answered.
Are we satisfied, or would we know more?"
19. Sharing the Blessings:
Both the communal cup and the chalice on Arawn’s Altar
are filled.
Michael:
"We have been blessed by favourable spirits and by our
Deities, especially by Dagda and Morrigan, God and
Goddess of the Land of our people. Let us now rejoice
as we share this drink together and as we share with
our guests from the otherworld.
20. Trigger for Thanking the Powers:
KSS-
Each time we invoke the Powers they become stronger
and more
alert to the needs of the Folk. But the time has come
to end our
Working, and it is proper to give them thanks.
21. Bidding Fare Well:
Morrigan’s Druid-
Morrigan, have we welcomed you this day to our grove.
May you go from here refreshed and made more joyous,
as your blessing has renewed and uplifted us!
We're grateful you were here today
As pleases you, go now or stay.
22. Dagda's Druid-
Dagda, have we welcomed you this day to our grove.
May you go from here refreshed and made more joyous,
as your blessing has renewed and uplifted us!
We're grateful you were here today
As pleases you, go now or stay.
23. High Ones druid:
O Lords and Ladies, lofty, high,
To our ancient ones ever nigh,
Thank you for joining us today.
As pleases you, now go or stay.
24. Natural druid:
O You around of earth, lake, air,
O You of nature everywhere,
Thank you for joining us today,
As pleases you, now go or stay.
25. Ancestral druid:
O Old Ones, our ancestors and kin,
You whose blood flows within.
Thank you for joining us today,
As pleases you, now go or stay.
26. Gatekeeping Druid:
"O Bee-leh, forest-heart, sacred tree!
O Being reaching to mystery!
O Bridge! Who brought us back through Thee.
Let your gateway be closed.
27. Final closing:
KSS-
By the Walker of the Ways, and by our magic, we end
what we began. Let the Fire be flame, and the Well be
water, and the ways between be shut. We have done as
our ancestors have done, and as our children will do
and the Powers have answered. Let us go out into
the world secure in the knowledge that our offerings
have pleased them and that we go forth under their
protection. May those who have come from the
Otherworld enjoy their visit, and when it is time;
find their way home to the Summerland as this night
ends and a new dawn breaks.
The ritual is at a close.
All- Biodh Se! ("Bee-shay")
28. Procession through the gateway
"Walk with wisdom"
Walk with wisdom, from this sacred place
Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall ever embrace
Let strength be your brother, and honour be your
friend
And luck be your lover, until we meet again.
29. Meditative druid
Tree Uprooting Exercise.
30. Bell ringing druid rings bell three times
Submitted by Ian Clysdale on Sat, 29/10/2005 - 6:45pm.