Lughnasadh Ritual 2002

LUGHNASADH RITUAL 2002

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, branch or sage sprig for aspersing, a sage smudge stick, 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; perfumed oil, whiskey in a small bowl or container; a small wreath of twigs; a loaf of bread; hard cider or apple juice), a Corn Dolly dressed in green, Lugh's spear, a green and flowered rope, and divination tools.

At the place of the Procession's beginning, a bowl with burning charcoal 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)

OPENING PRAYERS

Druid 1 rings bell thrice-three times and says:
Welcome to this sacred place. We shall establish the Sacred Center of the Worlds here, 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.

Druid 2 says:
But first, let us now offer to the Earth, who is our mother, bearer of all life, so that we may honor and revere her.

The People kneel and kiss the Earth.

Druid 1 takes corn meal and dry oatmeal to fire pit while Druid 2 brings the bowl of burning charcoal.

Druid 1 offers the corn and oat meal to the fire pit, saying:
We build our fires on the breast of the Earth;
On her our hearths are formed.
Let us now make our offering here
And make this place our sacred space.
Mother of All, receive this gift!

The People say:
Mother of All, receive this gift!

Druid 2 places the burning charcoal in the prepared fire pit, lighting the fire. When the fire is burning,
Druid 2 says:
We build our fire here, claiming this place as our own. May the Kindreds bless us and all our endeavors. Biodh se!

The People say:
Biodh se!

The Bard invokes the Awen, singing:
Power of inspiration, attend to us;
Come into our hearts' shrine.
Guide our rite in the way of truth.
O power of inspiration in this holy place,
O power of inspiration at this holy time.
Biodh se!

The People say:
Biodh se!

PURIFICATION

Druid 1 lights a smudge stick at the fire, while
Druid 2 draws water at the well.
Meanwhile, Seer takes a horn of ale and goes to the Outdwellers' altar, at the south of the Nematon.
Seer says:

Outdwellers!
Ancient spirits of the Outer Dark,
You that would hinder us, take now this offering.
Be on your way, and trouble us not.

Seer makes an offering of ale to the Outdwellers. As he returns to the circle, Druid 1 and Druid 2 meet him at the entrance. Druid 1 smudges and Druid 2 asperses him.

Druid 2 says:
We purify you from the Outsiders' influence.
We cut you off from them, that you might return to the people.

Druid 1 uses smudge stick to cense while Druid 2 asperses the People.

Meanwhile, 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.

FIRE, WELL AND TREE

Offerings are made to the Sacred Center.

Druid 1 goes to the well. He offers Silver to the well, with these words:
Sacred waters that flow and swirl beneath all being,
power of the underworld, accept our offering!
Let us know the depths within ourselves, the source of all,
the well of elder wisdom.
Sacred Well, flow within us!

The People say:
Sacred Well, flow within us!

The Bard offers oil to the Fire, with these words:
Sacred fire that consumes and transforms,
True and holy light of the Shining Ones,
Accept our offering! O sacrificed and sacrificer
Let holy flame warm our spirits and our lives.
Sacred fire, burn within us!

The People say:
Sacred fire, burn within us!

Druid 2 draws water from the Well.
Druid 1 hands lit smudge stick to the Seer (the Seer lights a smudge stick from the Fire if the original has gone out).

The Seer censes and Druid 2 asperses the World Tree.
The Seer says:
Sacred pillar, boundary of all worlds,
Stand at the center of the land on which we dwell.
Let your roots grow deep into the earth
And your branches embrace the heavens.
Let us be deepened to your depths,
Raised to your heights, and
Strengthened in your strength.
Sacred tree, grow within us!

The People say:
Sacred tree, grow within us!

Seer gives smudge stick to Druid 1.

PURPOSE AND PRECEDENT

Druid 1 says:
As our Ancestors did, so do we now.
May the Mighty Ones, the Noble Ones and the Shining Ones join with us today.

The Sun is declining from the heights of Midsummer as it begins its journey to the south.

Druid 2 says:
We are here to celebrate the Feast of Lughnasadh, the holy day of Lugh, the God of the Sun. And we will celebrate the marriage of Lugh with Eriu, the Goddess of Sovereignty over the land.

Biodh se!

The People say:
Biodh se! (bee shay) So be it!

OPENING THE GATES

Druid 1 says:
We are here in the Sacred Center where the Underworld, Midworld and Starry World all touch. Here the Gates Between The Worlds may be opened.

A drum beat begins and rattles are used to fill the sound.
The People begin to chant, over and over:
Open the Gates. Open the Gates. Open the Gates……

When the chants, drums and rattles are well established,
Druid 1 says (over the chants):
Gatekeeper! Manannan mac Lir, open the ways for us. We walk in your holy ways; we walk the Sacred Road. Share your power with us; ward us as we walk in safety.
Gatekeeper, accept our sacrifice!

Druid 2 makes an offering of oil to the fire.

The chanting, drums and rattles continue. They increase in speed and volume.

Druid 1 holds the bottom of his staff, pointing the top of it at the top of the World Tree. He begins to spin widdershins, faster and faster. When his staff first passes the Fire, Druid 1 says:
Let the Fire open as a Gate!

He continues spinning at least one full revolution.

As his staff passes over the Well, Druid 1 says:
Let the Well open as a Gate!

He continues spinning at least one full revolution.

As his 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

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:
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 sacrifice!

The People say:
Land-spirits, accept our sacrifice!

ANCESTORS

Druid 2 makes an offering of ale to the ground at the side of 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 sacrifice!

The People say:
Ancestors, accept our sacrifice!

DEITIES

Druid 2 makes an offering of 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 sacrifice!

The People say:
Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice!

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

Invocation of Eriu

Druid 1 says:
Eriu! Holy One, daughter of the Dagda, come to us now! O Eriu whose prophecies foretold the winning of the land by Amergin and the Sons of Mil, be in our midst! Accept this perfumed oil in welcome!

Druid 2 offers perfumed oil to the fire and then goes to the Corn Dolly.

Druid 1 says:
Goddess of Sovereignty, sister of Banbha and Fodla, come into the Grove of the Wedding!

Druid 2 brings the Corn Dolly, dressed in green, and places it on the Altar.

Invocation of Lugh

Druid 2 says:
Lugh! Great Lord of the Sun, Lugh the Victorious, come to us now! O Lugh of the Spear that never misses, of the Sling that slayed Balor, be in our midst! Accept this whiskey in welcome!

Druid 1 offers whiskey to the fire and then goes to Lugh's Shrine.

Druid 2 says:
Chieftain of Danu, Clever One, we take joy in the feast of the Wedding Day of Lugh. Light of the Sky, come into the Grove of the wedding and behold your bride!

Druid 1 brings Lugh's spear, decorated with greenery and blossoms, into the Circle and places it on the altar.

PRAISE OFFERINGS

Druid 1 passes a wreath around the People, asking that as the wreath passes, each person name their personal Patrons, if any, and make a praise offering of any kind to the Kindreds.

Should any wish to renew their wedding or handfasting vows, they may do so now. A green, flowered rope will be wound around the hands so pledging.

The last praise offering is the Wedding of Lugh and Eriu.

Druid 1 takes up the spear, and Druid 2 takes up the Corn Dolly.
The Seer stands to one side, holding the Loaf.

Druid 1 says:
By this marriage, may Eriu, Goddess of Sovereignty, reaffirm the Kingship of our God, Lugh!

Druid 2 ties the Corn Dolly to the Spear with a green and flowered rope while
Druid 1 says:
Thus do we join the Shining One's Prince to the Lady of the Earth. By this joining, may the grain, and our lives, grow green and golden as the hair of the Goddess.

Seer comes forth with the loaf.
Druid 1 stabs the loaf with the Spear.
Druid 2 says:
Thus is the Sacred Marriage consummated.

Seer breaks the loaf into two pieces. He then puts one piece in the fire and the other on the altar.

Druid 1 says:
May this loaf be as the First Loaf of Harvest, shared between You and us.

SACRIFICE AND OMEN

The Celebrants prepare the final offerings.

Druid 1 says:
We have given of our love and our wealth to the Kindreds and to our Patron Deities.
Noble Ones, Mighty Ones and Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice!

The People say:
Accept our sacrifice!

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 offering burns, 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. He 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 mead or apple juice into the large drinking horn.
Druid 2 fills another horn with waters from the Well.
Both are elevated.

Druid 2 says:
O Lugh! O Eriu! 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.

Druid 1 says:
O you mighty Kindreds! Hallow these waters! Bless our lives with love, magic and bounty as we drink these sacred waters. Behold the waters of life!

The People say:
Behold the waters of life!

The People let go of each other's hands. The bread from the wedding of Lugh and Eire is distributed 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! With joy in our hearts let us carry the blessings of the Kindreds from our Grove into our lives and work. Each time we offer to the powers they become stronger and more aware of our needs and worship.

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:
Lugh and Eriu, we thank you!

The People say:
We thank you!

Druid 2 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 1 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 1says:
Walk with wisdom, children of the Earth.
The Rite is ended!
Biodh se!

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 process 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.