GROVE LORE

Much of our Lore is tied to the Wheel of the Year, which is the pattern of holidays that our Grove celebrates. There are 8 major High Days and our Feast of Cernunnos, the Cernunnia, which we celebrate with gusto. In addition, we also hold rituals on most Saturday mornings. But we have other Lore as well!

Grove Milestones

The Sonoran Sunrise Grove, ADF was recognized as an ADF Protogrove on Tuesday, September 12, 2000.
The Grove became a Provisionally Chartered Grove of ADF on Sunday, July 21, 2002, and we became a Fully Chartered Grove of ADF on Wednesday, July 28, 2004!

Vestments

We normally wear white or linen robes, and many celebrants carry staves. In addition, each celebrant wears a color-coded tabbard denoting their position:Celebrant vestments

  1. Orator - Gold
  2. Sacrificer - Khaki
  3. Sanctifier - Brown
  4. Bard - Blue
  5. Seer - Green
  6. Warrior - Burgundy

Offerings

  1. Gods and Goddesses - normally, offerings to the Deities, who dwell in the heavens, are made to the Sacred Fire, which transmutes and transforms. Whiskey, oil and ghee are popular offerings to these Shining Ones. For Chthonic Deities, such as Cernunnos and Donn, offerings of beer or silver to the Sacred Well might be more appropriate.
  2. Earth Mother - we usually offer oats or barley, grains of the Old World, mixed with corn (from the New World) to the Mother of All. This way we tie the traditions of ancient Celtia with our modern homes.
  3. .Ancestors - Ale, pork and apples are appropriate offerings. The revered dead enjoy offering of food, and apples symbolize the Isle of Apples, another name for the summery lands of the dead.
  4. Nature Spirits - these spirits who inhabit our own world and share it with us enjoy offerings of herbs (domesticated, not wild), honey, cream, tobacco (as a nod to our Native American ancestors of this land) and shiny pretties hung on the world tree (for the fairies).
  5. Outdwellers - we usually bribe the Outdwellers, those spirits who are not aligned with our ways, with nice, dark ale.
  6. Waters of Life - After making offerings to all the Powers, we usually ask Them for Their blessings. One way of accomplishing this is to ritually and psychically infuse a liquid with Their essence and blessings, which can then be drunk by the People. This liquid is normally mead, ale, cider or wine, and water is also used as the non-alcoholic alternative. We also often have bread, sprinkled with the Waters, to share as well.

The Lia Fal

The Lia Fal, or stone of truth, stands on the Hill of Tara in Ireland. It is said that the stone would scream out when the rightful King of Ireland would touch it. We have a flat stone in the ground of our stone circle, and any oaths taken by members of the Grove are taken while standing on the stone. Thus the Kindreds (the Gods, Nature Spirits and Ancestors) may take note of the seriousness of the oaths taken by the People.

The Grove's Silver Trove

All the silver offered to the Powers through the Sacred Well is gathered up after each ritual and saved. Each year, just before Samhain, the silver is taken to a remote spot and disposed of, for all gifts to the spirits must pass out of human use. Click here to see a tale about the first trip made by the Grove to dispose of the silver. It's called, "Three Druids in a Boat."

Liminality and the High Days

We normally celebrate the High Days on the Saturday evening closest to the actual date. Most people find going out at night in the middle of the week to be inconvenient, so the Grove decided some time ago to standardize our High Days to the same day of the week to make attendance more convenient for our members and the public. We also hold a potluck dinner after each ritual.

The time of the ritual is quite important. The ancients believed that the veils between the Worlds were the thinnest at certain times and under certain conditions. These liminal periods and places were neither one thing nor another, or perhaps both things at the same time. Examples would be the seashore, which is neither land nor sea; a crossroads, which is neither one road nor the other, or could be both roads at the same time; and sunset, which is neither day nor night.

We hold our rituals beginning about one half hour before sunset, so that the sun is setting just as we open the Gates to the Otherworlds in our ritual.

Below, listed under each High Day, are the traditions our Grove has created and practice each year.

The Samhain altarSAMHAIN - November 1st

This is the Feast of the Dead, and as such is dedicated to the Ancestors.

  1. The past year's ashes from the Sacred Fire are cleaned out and made available to members to take home for their gardens.
  2. This rite is an Irish pantheon rite dedicated to the Daghdha and Mor-Rioghain.
  3. The story told in ritual is that of the mating of Daghdha and Mor-Rioghain over the river Unius and the defeat of Balor and the Formorians at the second battle of Mag Tuired.
  4. The Ancestors portion of the liturgy is expanded and includes remembrances of those who have died in the past year.
  5. The Seer leads the People on a trance journey to the Isles of the Blest where they may encounter their own beloved dead.
  6. A dramatized song about the Great Hunt is enacted.
  7. The Grove's new officers are installed, standing on the Lia Fal.
  8. A piece of the Yule tree from the previous year is burned in the Sacred Fire.

Nora and the FireALBAN ARTHAN (Winter Solstice) - December 21st

This is the Feast of the longest night of the year when the sun is weakest, but poised to return.

  1. This is a Welsh pantheon rite dedicated to Lleu Llaw Gyffes and his uncle, Gwydion.
  2. The story told is of the near-fatal wounding of Lleu, a solar deity, and his rescue and restoration by Gwydion.
  3. The return of the Sun is celebrated with the small Sacred Fire built up to grand proportions.
  4. The last of the previous year's Yule tree is burned.
  5. A new Yule tree is placed on the altar for the ritual, and afterwards it is cut up and pieces of it are added to each Sacred Fire for the coming year.

Julian consecrates the WellIMBOLC - February 1st

This is the Feast of the first signs of spring. The word Imbolc comes from Oimelc which refers to the first lactations of the ewes.

  1. The women of the Grove spend the night before the ritual in vigil, lighting the Sacred Fire and keeping it burning through the night and the next day, like the ancient Priestesses of the Goddess Brigit.
  2. The Celebrants for this ritual are drawn from the women of the Grove.
  3. The Rite begins with a candlelight procession of the Grove women.
  4. This ritual is an Irish pantheon rite dedicated to Brigit alone.
  5. Offerings include milk and whiskey.
  6. A Brideog (a doll made of corn husks) is taken by a maiden and shown to the People.
  7. Milk is used for the Waters of Life.
  8. Wildflower seeds are distributed to all participants.
  9. A piece of the previous year's Yule tree is burned in the Sacred Fire.

Kirk sanctifies the WellALBAN EILIR (Spring Equinox) - March 21st

This is the Feast of the balance of spring, when the days and nights are of equal length, but the light is growing.

  1. This is a Welsh pantheon rite dedicated to the Goddess Rhiannon and her husband, Pwyll, Lord of Annwfn.
  2. The story is told of the coming of Rhiannon to Dyfed, her marriage to Pwyll, the theft of their son and his return.
  3. The theme is of the coming of the Goddess of Sovereignty out of the underworld into our middle world, and a harbinger of spring and good days to come.
  4. Balance is stressed.
  5. A piece of the previous year's Yule tree is burned in the Sacred Fire.

Dancing the May PoleBELTAINE - May 1st

This is the Feast of the coming of summer, of the Nature Spirits and of the fertility of all things.

  1. This is a Scots Gaelic rite dedicated to Bel and Danu.
  2. The story is of the creation of all things by the mating of Bel, God of Heavenly Light and Danu, Goddess of the Waters of the Earth.
  3. The Celebrants are clad in tartan plaidhes and may have blue designs painted on their faces.
  4. The Earth Mother is addressed as Scotia.
  5. The Nature Spirits portion of the liturgy is expanded and a Dance of the Nature Spirits is held, open to all.
  6. Hal An Tow is sung by the Bards.
  7. A May Queen and May King are chosen by the Senior Druid from the children attending.
  8. A May Pole is danced, led by the newly crowned May King and Queen.
  9. Two Bel Fires are lit at the eastern gate and the People recess out of the Circle between the fires, and are purified of the vestiges of winter.
  10. A piece of the previous year's Yule tree is burned in the Sacred Fire.

Mark as TaranisMIDSUMMER - June 21st

This is the feast of the coming of the Monsoon, and of the longest day of the year.

  1. This is a Gaulish pantheon rite dedicated to Taranis, God of Thunder.
  2. The story is told of how Taranis heard the pleas of the Grove and came to Tucson from Gaul.
  3. Special offerings and magic workings are dedicated to Taranis that He might bring a wet monsoon season to Tucson.
  4. A piece of the previous year's Yule tree is burned in the Sacred Fire.
  5. The night after the ritual, Grove members are invited to sleep in the Stone Circle and rise at dawn for a special sunrise offering to Lugh Lamfada for the solstice.

The warriors cry hurrah!LUGHNASADH - August 1st

This is the Feast of Lugh, who held games in honor of his foster mother. It is also the first harvest of the year.

  1. The Grove Warrior Games are held the afternoon of the ritual, and the Grove Champion is announced in the rite. The Champion shall have the right to wear a special silver torq to all Grove events for the coming year.
  2. This is an Irish pantheon rite dedicated to the God, Lugh Lamfada, the Samildanach.
  3. The men of the Grove perform a Warrior Dance to open the rite, and the Celebrants are all men of the Grove.
  4. The story is told of how Lugh came to Tara and was welcomed by the Gods and Goddess into their ranks.
  5. The various skills of the People are recognized.
  6. A piece of the previous year's Yule tree is burned in the Sacred Fire.

Dennis treats with the OutdwellersALBAN ELFED (Autumn Equinox) - September 21st

This is the Feast of the balance of autumn, when the days and nights are of equal length, but the dark is growing.

  1. This is a Welsh pantheon rite, dedicated to Manawydan fab Llyr and Pryderi.
  2. The story is told of how Manawydan discovers the cause of the evils affecting the Land, and how He manages to bring justice through the unwilling participation of a fat, little mouse.
  3. A piece of the previous year's Yule tree is burned in the Sacred Fire.

The HallowsCERNUNNIA - Early October

This is the Feast of the God Cernunnos, and the great Sumbel of the People.

  1. This rite is dedicated to Cernunnos, God of the Underworld and of prosperity.
  2. The Great Sumbel of the People is held. Praise offerings, oaths, boasts and toasts abound. This rite is restricted to Grove members only.
  3. This is also the Grove Annual Meeting.
  4. Grove Officers for the coming year are elected.
  5. A piece of the previous year's Yule tree is burned in the Sacred Fire.

And now the Wheel of the Year begins anew!

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