IMBOLC RITUAL - 2003
PRE-RITUAL PREPARATION
The fire is prepared, the well opened, the World Tree Offering Bowl placed in position and the following items placed on or near the altar:
Drinking horns, bowl for aspersing, a sea shell with sage for censing, bell, offerings (Olive oil in a bowl with a ladle; corn meal and dry oatmeal in a small bowl; silver for the well; ale in 2 small drinking horns; herbs, flowers and stones in a small bowl; a small wreath of twigs; incense in a censor, Milk), and divination tools.
A small bowl is placed on the side of the Well.
At the place of the procession's beginning, a bowl with two burning charcoals is prepared.
Before the Procession begins, Druid 1 gives the briefing. The Bard teaches the People any new songs and the Seer leads the People in taking a moment to center.
**** PROCESSION ****
Druid 2 carries the bowl of charcoal while the Lead Drummer creates a rhythmic drumbeat and the Bard leads the People in song as they process to the Stone Circle.
The Bard leads the People in singing:
We Approach The Sacred Grove
We approach
the Sacred Grove
With hearts and minds and flesh and bone.
Join us now in ways of old;
We have come home.
(Repeat until Procession is ended)
**** WELCOME ****
Druid
1 rings bell thrice-three times and says:
Welcome to this sacred place. Here we shall establish the Sacred Center of
the Worlds, where the heavens and the underworld touch, connected by the World
Tree. At this Sacred Center we may we open the Gates to the Otherworld, where
our Ancestors, the Nature Spirits and the Gods reside.
Once we have opened the Gates, the Spirits can join us here while we make offerings to them. And then we will ask for their Blessings in return.
**** THE EARTH MOTHER ****
Druid
2 says:
Let us offer to the Earth, who is our mother and bearer of all life.
The People kneel and kiss the Earth.
Druid
2 says:
We build
our fire on her bosom, claiming this place as our own.
Biodh se! So be it!
The
People say:
Biodh se! (bee shay) So be it!
Rhythmic
drumming begins to accompany the Bard.
The Bard leads the People in singing:
Earth Mother
Earth Mother, we honor
your body
Earth Mother, we honor your bones
Earth Mother, we honor your spirit
Earth Mother, we honor your stones
(repeat as necessary)
Druid 1 offers the corn meal and dry oatmeal to the Fire while Druid 2 brings the bowl of burning charcoal to the fire pit.
Druid 2 places one of the burning charcoals in the prepared fire pit, lighting the small fire. He returns the other charcoal to the altar.
**** PURPOSE AND PRECEDENT ****
Druid
1 says:
We gather here on the Feast of Imbolc, the Feast of our Goddess Brigit when
renewal begins for the Earth Mother.
Druid
2 says:
As our ancestors did, so do we now. We are here to offer worship to Triple
Goddess Brigit: the Goddess of Inspiration, the Forge and Healing.
Druid
3 says:
This is the season of the first milk for the lambs and the start of Spring,
when seeds planted begin to take root.
Druid
4 says:
So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in joy and reverence!
Biodh se!
The
People say:
Biodh se!
*** THE AWEN ***
(Welsh for Inspiration; Imbas in Irish)
Rhythmic drumming begins to accompany the Awen.
Druid 2 places incense on the remaining charcoal.
A Woman from the Grove takes incense to the Shrine of Brigit and leaves it on the altar. While this is happening,
The Bard and Druid 1 invoke the Awen, singing in Call & Answer:
Lady Brigit
(Words by Peggy Kaan)
Lady Brigit of the Bards
Blessed Fire of Inspiration
Spark the flames within our hearts
Lead our creative exploration
Lady Brigit hear our song
As we give offerings of praise
Let Your blessings make us strong
That we may serve You all our days.
Biodh se!
The
People say:
Biodh se!
*** EXPRESSION OF UNITY ***
Rhythmic
drumming begins to accompany the Bard.
The Bard leads the People in singing:
Unity In The Three Realms
Beside you I stand, hand
in hand,
On this Sacred Land.
With one breath we cry, you and I,
To the Sacred Sky.
And together we one day will be
Across the Endless Sea.
(Repeat)
**** PURIFICATION ****
Druid
1 lights a smudge stick at the fire, while
Druid 2 draws water at the well.
Meanwhile, Warrior takes a horn of ale and goes to the Outdwellers'
altar, at the south of the Nematon.
Warrior says:
Outdwellers!
You spirits that would hinder us, take now this offering.
Be on your way, and trouble us not.
Warrior
makes an offering of ale to the Outdwellers. As she returns to the circle,
Druid 1 and Druid 2 meet her at the entrance. Druid 1
smudges and Druid 2 asperses her.
Druid 1 uses smudge stick to cense while Druid 2 asperses the
People.
Meanwhile, drums are beating as the Bard leads the People in singing:
The Portal Song
Chorus:
By Fire and by Water, between the Earth and Sky,
We stand like the World Tree, rooted deep, crowned high.
Verse:
Come we now to the Well, the eye and the mouth of Earth.
Come we now to the Well, and silver we bring.
Come we now to the Well, the waters of rebirth.
Come we now to the Well, together we sing.
Repeat Chorus
We will kindle a Fire,
bless all and with harm to none.
We will kindle a Fire, and offerings pour.
We will kindle a Fire, a light 'neath the Moon and Sun.
We will kindle a Fire, our spirits will soar!
Repeat Chorus
Gather we at the Tree,
the root and the crown of all.
Gather we at the Tree, below and above.
Gather we at the Tree, together we make our call.
Gather we at the Tree, in wisdom and love.
Repeat Chorus
**** GROVE ATTUNMENT ****
The Seer leads the 2 Powers meditation to attune the company to the Earth and Sky powers and to join the company in spirit.
**** OPENING THE SACRED CENTER ****
The Lead Drummer starts a moderately fast, rhythmic drumbeat. The other drums in the circle join in. They continue until the Gates are opened.
Druid 4 draws water from the well, using the bowl there, and goes to the Tree. Druid 1 goes to the Well. Druid 3 goes to the Fire.
Druid
2 leads the People in chanting:
Well and
Fire and Sacred Tree, flow and flame and grow in me….(said
3 times)
Druid 1 goes to the well. Whens he raises her arms, the chanting stops. She offers Silver to the well, with these words:
Sacred waters 'neath our
feet,
Unformed powers of the deep,
Elder wisdom, come in fullness,
Sacred Well, flow within us!
The
People say:
Sacred Well, flow within us!
Druid
2 leads the People in chanting:
Well and Fire and Sacred Tree, flow and flame and grow in me……(said
3 times)
Druid 3 goes to the fire. When he raises his arms, the chanting stops. He offers olive oil to the Fire, with these words:
Sacred fire, light of
the Heavens
Warm us as creation wakens.
Show us all our inner brightness!
Sacred fire, burn within us!
The
People say:
Sacred fire, burn within us!
Druid
2 leads the People in chanting:
Well and Fire and Sacred Tree, flow and flame and grow in me…..(said
3 times)
(Druid 1 lights the smudge bowl if the original has gone out).
Druid
1 censes and Druid 4 asperses the World Tree.
Druid 4 says:
Sacred Tree, which joins
together
Powers of chaos and of order,
Timeless magic, help us focus.
Sacred tree, grow within us!
The
People say:
Sacred tree, grow within us!
Druid
2 leads the People in quietly chanting:
Manannan, Manannan, Manannan……….
Seer goes to the fire. When she raises her arms, the chanting stops. As she makes an offering of oil to the fire, she says:
Gatekeeper! We ask in
reverence,
Open now the sacred boundary.
Mánannan mac Lir, come to us,
Ward us as we walk in safety.
Biodh se!
The
People say:
Biodh se!
Druid
2 leads the People in quietly chanting:
Open the Gates; Open the Gates, Open the Gates…….
The chanting, drums and rattles continue. They increase in speed and volume.
Druid
1 holds the bottom of her staff, pointing the top of it at the top of
the World Tree. She begins to spin widdershins, faster and faster. When her
staff first passes the Fire, Druid 1 says:
Let the Fire open as a Gate!
She continues spinning at least one full revolution.
As
her staff passes over the Well, Druid 1 says:
Let the Well open as a Gate!
She continues spinning at least one full revolution.
As
her staff passes by the Tree, Druid 1 says:
Let the Tree connect the Worlds!
There
is a loud drum roll ending in a strong stroke.
The chant, drumming and rattles stop.
Druid 1 stops spinning, holds both hands (and staff) in the air and
shouts:
Let the Gates be open!
The
People shout:
Let the Gates be open!
**** KINDRED OFFERINGS ****
NATURE SPIRITS
The drums begin again, pounding out a moderate beat.
Druid 2 makes offerings of herbs, flowers and/or trinkets scattered around the Nemeton's edge or hung on the World Tree, while:
The
Bard says these or other words:
All you spirits of the land, come to us now!
You Noble Ones of fin, fur and feather; of skin, leaf and stone;
We call you to our sides!
Come to the fire, spirits; meet us at the boundary.
Land-spirits, accept our offering!
The
People say:
Land-spirits, accept our offering!
ANCESTORS
Druid 2 makes an offering of ale into the Sacred Well, while:
The
Seer says:
Ancestors, come to us now!
You Mighty Ones, kin of heart and kin of blood,
Those whose bones lie in this land,
We call you to our sides!
Come to our well, spirits; meet us at the boundary.
Ancestors, accept our offering!
The
People say:
Ancestors, accept our offering!
DEITIES
Druid 2 makes an offering of olive oil to the fire, while:
Druid
1 says:
Shining Ones! Hear us, eldest and brightest.
Gods and Goddesses of this place, known and unknown;
Deities of those gathered here, we offer you welcome!
Come to our fire, Shining Ones; meet us at the boundary.
Shining Ones, accept our offering!
The
People say:
Shining Ones, accept our offering!
The Bard leads the People in singing:
Hail All The Gods
Hail all the Gods, Hail
all the Goddesses,
Hail all the holy ones we've brought together!
Powers of the sky, Powers of the sacred earth,
Powers of the underworld we've brought together.
Hail all the Gods! Hail all the Goddesses!
Hail all the Gods and Goddesses!
(repeat)
**** KEY OFFERINGS ****
Druid 1 invokes the Goddess. Druid 2 offers scented oil to the fire as Druid 1 stands in the west, facing Brigit's altar in the east, and sings:
Invocation of Brigit
(From Muin Mound Grove)
Come, Daughter of Eternity
Come, Brigit of the Flame
Come, Sister of Infinity
Bring healing to the lame.
Come, Mother of the Waters
Come, Brigit of the Well
Come, Muse of many Daughters
Ring inspiration's bell!
Come, Lover of the Anvil
Come, Brigit of the Hammers
Come, Artisian Most Able
Sing of sparks and glimmers
Brigit, we invoke thee
Known to many ages
Healer, bard and artesian she
Many names to call her own.
Midwife, War chief, Goddess
Come into our Nemeton
Our hearts we offer guileless
Come into our Nemeton!
The Brideog
Druid 2 rings the bell three times.
A maiden enters from the east carrying the Brideog. She goes deosil around the circle, showing the Brideog to all in turn, ending up in front of the altar. She places the Brideog in the bed and then returns to the edge of the circle.
Druid
1 places the wand in the bed with the Brideog, saying:
May the blessing of the Lady Brigit be upon us and on this place.
**** PRAISE OFFERINGS ****
Druid
2 says:
Now is the time for anyone here to make offerings of praise to the Kindreds,
to the Gods and Goddesses of this rite, or to their personal patrons. You
may make an offering of song, poetry, or praise. You may make a physical offering
to the World Tree or the Fire. You may make a donation to the Grove. You may
make an offering of silver to the well. All offerings to the well will be
collected and thrown into a lake as property of the Gods.
As the spirit moves you, come and hold the wreath and make your offering.
Druid 2 stands quietly holding the wreath. As a person comes forward to make a Praise Offering, he hands the wreath to that person. When the Praise Offering is done, he takes back the wreath and silently holds it until the next person comes forward. After a time when no more people come forward, he takes the wreath to the Fire.
**** THE OMEN ****
Druid 2 offers the wreath to the fire, and any other offerings to the fire or World Tree Offering Bowl, while:
Druid
1 says:
While our offerings burn, meditate on your own needs, those of loved ones,
and those of the community.
During
the meditation, while the wreath offering burns,
The Seer takes the Omen. She interprets it, discovering if our Rite
and our offerings are pleasing to the powers. While the Seer is preparing
to read the omen, the Druids prepare the Waters of Life.
**** BLESSINGS ****
The Return Flow
The People all stand and hold hands in a circle.
Druid
1 pours milk into the large drinking horn.
Druid 2 fills another horn with waters from the Well.
Both are elevated.
Druid
1 says:
O Beautiful Brigit! O Noble, Mighty and Shining Ones! As we have given you
gifts and sacrifices, so we ask you for gifts in return in accordance with
the laws of hospitality. Give us the Waters of Life!
The
People say:
Give us the Waters of Life!
Druid
2 says:
Again we ask You, mighty Kindreds. Give us the Waters of Life!
The
People say:
Give us the Waters of Life!
Druid
1 says:
O you mighty Kindreds! Hallow these waters! Bless our lives with love, magic
and bounty as we drink these sacred waters. Again we ask, give us the waters
of life!
The
People say:
Give us the waters of life!
The People let go of each other's hands and the drinking horns are passed. All drink from one or the other while the Bard leads the People in singing:
Pour The Waters
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.
(Repeat until all have drunk from the horns)
**** CLOSING THE GATES ****
Druid
1 says:
The Mighty Ones have blessed us! So as we prepare to depart, let us give thanks
to those who have aided us.
A drum beat begins and rattles fill the sound.
Druid
2 says:
O Beautiful Brigit, we thank you!
The
People say:
We thank you!
Druid
3 says:
Gods and Goddesses of elder days; mighty Ancestors; noble Spirits of the Land;
our Kindreds, we thank you!
The
People say:
We thank you!
Druid
4 says:
Gatekeeper, warder of the ways,
for your presence and power,
for your guiding and guarding, we say:
We thank you!
The
People say:
We thank you!
Druid
1 says:
Now we end what we began.
The
drums begin to play and the People chant, starting quietly and building
in speed and intensity:
Close the Gates…. Close the Gates….. Close the Gates…..
Druid 2 holds the bottom of his staff, pointing the top of it at the top of the World Tree. He begins to spin deosil, faster and faster.
As
the staff passes the fire,
Druid 2 says:
Let the fire be flame!
As
the staff passes the well,
Druid 2 says:
Let the well be water!
As
the staff passes the World Tree,
Druid 2 says:
Let all be as it was before!
There
is a loud drum roll ending in a strong stroke.
The drumming and rattles stop.
Druid
2 stops spinning, holds both hands (and staff) in the air and shouts:
Let the Gates be closed!
The
People say:
Let the Gates be closed!
Druid
1 says:
Walk with wisdom, children of the Earth.
The Rite is ended!
Biodh se! So be it!
The
People say:
Biodh se! So be it!
Druid 1 then rings the bell thrice-three times.
The Bard leads the singing as the People recess out of the Grove:
Walk With Wisdom
Walk with wisdom,
from this hallowed place;
Walk not in sorrow,
Our roots shall 'ere embrace.
May strength be your brother
And honor be your kin;
And luck be your lover
Until we meet again!
(Repeat until Recession is ended)
At
this point, a party/potluck is held for the assembled people.
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