Sonoran Sunrise Grove, ADF - Mabon Ritual 2001

PRE-RITUAL PREPARATION

To hallow the Sacred Grove, the Celebrants light the Fire, bless the Tree, and prepare the Well or Offering Shaft/Bowl.

The following items are needed for the rite: Wand or staff, chalice, well, a branch or sage sprig for aspersing, a censer with two charcoals and incense, an offering bowl or cauldron, offerings (fragrant oil in a bowl with a ladle, silver coins, apple juice, sliced apples in a small bowl, nuts in a small bowl, grapes in a small bowl, cookies in a small bowl, milk in a small bowl, bread in a small bowl, wine in a flask, flowers and herbs in a small bowl), Druid egg, Divination tools.

Before the Ritual, Pagans take a moment to center. The Bard or other musician creates a shamanic drumbeat and leads the Pagans in song as they process to the Sacred Grove. Participants are smudged as they enter, single file, into the Sacred Grove.

The Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Come We Now As A People

Come we now as a people, to gather at the Sacred Well
Come we now as a people, to gather in the warmth and the light of the Flame.
(Repeat three times or until Procession is ended)

OPENING PRAYERS

Druid:
We are here to honor the Shining Ones!

Pagans:
Biodh se! (bee shay) So be it!

Druid:
We revere the nature spirits, our ancestors, and the Gods and Goddesses of our tribe and this place. Through the magic of the sacred fire, the holy well, and the great tree, we offer our rites.

Druid speaks briefly on the significance of the day, then says:
Let us now reverence the earth who is our mother, our home, and indeed the substance of our very bodies.

Pagans kneel and kiss the earth. Druid speaks:
Beloved mother of all, from whose starry womb the green earth springs; you are the bearer of all life. Bless and uphold this rite.

The Bard invokes the Awen, saying:
Power of inspiration, attend to us.
Voice of the fire of wisdom,
Voice of the well of inspiration,
Come into our hearts' shrine.
Make us aware of every good or ill.
Guide our rite in the way of truth.
I call you to make our hearts clear within us,
Power of inspiration in this holy place,
Power of inspiration at this holy time.

Pagans:
Biodh se!

AFFIRMING THE WORLD ORDER

Seer leads a brief grounding and centering, helping the Pagans to connect their individual souls with the Two Powers. The Earth Current or Underworld Power carries the dark, mixed elements from which all forms arise. The Sky Current, or Starry Power is the ordering pattern that crystallizes forms out of the Underworld potential. Together these powers manifest the Middle World. This may conclude with an intoning chant.

THE SONG OF AMERGIN

Pagans say in unison:
I am the wind on the sea, I am the wave of the sea,
I am the bull of seven battles, I am the eagle on the rock,
I am a flash from the sun, I am the most beautiful of plants,
I am a strong wild boar, I am a salmon in the water,
I am a lake in the plain, I am the word of knowledge,
I am the head of the spear in battle,
I am the god who puts fire in the head.

FIRE, WELL, AND TREE

Druid or other members of the grove make offerings to the Sacred Center. Silver is offered to the well, with these words:
Sacred waters that flow and swirl beneath all being, accept our offering. Let us know the elder depths within ourselves the source of all, the well of elder wisdom

Pagans:
Sacred well, flow within us!

An offering of oil is made to the Fire, with these words:
Sacred fire that consumes and transforms, true and holy light of the Shining Ones, accept our offering. Sacrificed and sacrificer, let holy flame warm our spirits and our lives.

Pagans:
Sacred fire, burn within us!

The Tree is censed and sprinkled, with these words:
Sacred pillar, boundary of all worlds, stand at the center of the sky, stand at the center of the sea, stand at the center of the land on which we dwell. Let us be deepened in your depths, Raised to your heights, Strengthened in your strength.

Pagans:
Sacred tree, grow within us!

The Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

The Portal Song

By Fire and by Water, between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the World Tree, rooted deep, crowned high

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)

CELEBRATING THE TRADITION

The Bard tells the story of Mabon, son of Modron.

HONORING THE PATRONS

Bard or other appointed leader may honor the Patrons of the High Holy Day of Mabon, the Goddess Modron and Her Son, Mabon.

Bard Invokes Modron:

The Invocation of Modron

We make offering to the Great Mother of abundance
Modron of the Harvest
Modron, Lady of the Apples
Modron, Mother of the Mabon

Great Mother, at the time of balance,
We entrust the end of our year to Your care.
We entrust the ends of our lives to Your care
You Who have brought forth great plenty

You are here so kind, that just to tickle You
With a hoe and You laugh with a harvest.

Come to us as the Great Mother
Come to us as the Lady of Avalon
Come to us as the Bearer of the Harvest

O beloved Modron
Accept our sacrifice!

Pagans:
Accept our sacrifice!

The Bard or other appointed leader makes an offering of apples to the shaft, and oil to the sacred fire.

The Seer invokes Mabon:

The Invocation of the Mabon

We make this offering to the Great Lord of Liberation
Mabon who was stolen as a child
Mabon who was found and returned
Mabon the Divine Youth

O Great and mighty Mabon
Who drives away the dark and storm,
You bring light to the darkness.

May we always remember Your gifts of the vine,
The later harvest of the grape and the wine
Which You bestow on the children of the Earth.

Come to us as the Bringer of Light
Come to us as the bringer of peace after the storm
Come to us as the Liberated One

O Great and Mighty Mabon
Accept our sacrifice!

Pagans:
Accept our sacrifice!

The seer makes an offering of grapes to the shaft and an offering of wine to the sacred fire.

PURIFICATION

Seer makes an offering to the Outdwellers, at the south of the Grove, saying:
Ancient dark ones, we make this offering to you. You who dwell in the outer dark, You who stood against the gods, You twisted and misshapen, You cold of heart and dim of mind, Take this offering and trouble not our working.

Seer makes an offering of milk and cookies to the Outdwellers.

Likewise we acknowledge in ourselves those qualities - fear, rage, weakness, hatred, cowardice, and ignorance - that undermine our potential, sabotage our honor, and keep us from being who we truly are. We contemplate these ills and enemies, and for this sacred time, we set them aside.

FIRE AND WATER

Druid or other appointed Grove members draw water from the Well and light a censer from the Fire. The Druid quickly censes and the Seer asperses the Pagans, as they meditate quietly on their own personal harvests from this year.

OPENING THE GATES

Seer leads the Pagans in briefly envisioning the Sacred Center as the Gates Between The Worlds. Through the Gates, Pagans send love, worship and offerings to the Powers, and they send blessings in return. When the Gates are open, thoughts and impulses can be heard clearly by the Three Kindreds.

Seer makes an offering to Manannan, saying:
Manannan, Lord of the Gates, Lord of Wisdom, open the ways for us. We walk in your holy ways, we walk the Sacred Road. Share your magic with us, ward us as we walk in safety. Manannan mac Lir, accept our sacrifice.

Seer makes an offering of oil to the Fire. Druid then opens the Gates, making an opening triskele on the Fire and Well, saying:
Now, Shining Ones, join your magic with ours and let the fire open as a gate, let the well open as a gate, let the tree be the crossroads of all worlds. Open as a road to our voices and to the spirits. Let the gates be open!

Pagans:
Let the gates be open!

The Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Gatekeeper Open the Portals

Gatekeeper open the portals
Between the Gods and Mortals
Power freely flows
As our magic grows
(Repeat three times)

KINDRED OFFERINGS

The Druid or other appointed Pagans make proper offerings to each of the Kindreds, standing at the fire.

ANCESTORS

Seer speaks:
We children of the earth call out to the mighty dead. Hear us, our ancestors, our kindred.

To all those whose bones lie in this land, whose hearts are tied to it, whose memory holds it; ancient tribes of this place, we offer you welcome.

To all of our grandmothers and grandfathers, our own beloved dead, blood-kin and heart-kin; ancient tribes of our blood, we offer you welcome.

To all those elder wise ones who guide their people, poets and seers, judges and magicians; wise women and men of ancient days, we offer you welcome. So, mighty ones, we call to you as our kin, in the love of the earth mother, to join in our magic. Come to our fire, spirits; meet us at the boundary. Guide and ward us as we walk the elder ways. Ancestors, accept our sacrifice.

An offering of bread and wine is made onto the ground or into the shaft.

NATURE SPIRITS

Druid speaks:
The children of earth call out to the spirits of this land. Hear us, companions and teachers.

To all our allies, kindreds of stone and stream, crystal and fertile soil, pools and every water; kins of the earth, we offer you welcome.

To all our allies, kindreds of the growing green, herb and flower, shrub and mighty trees, root and stem and fruit. Green kins, we offer you welcome.

To all our allies, kindreds of fur and feather and scale, all who walk or fly or swim or crawl, we offer you welcome.

So, Noble Ones, we call to you as our allies, in the joy of life upon earth, to join in our magic. Come to our fire, spirits; meet us at the boundary. Guide and ward us as we walk the elder ways. land-spirits, accept our sacrifice.

An offering of leaves and flowers is scattered around the nemeton's edge by the Druid.

DEITIES

Bard speaks:
The children of earth call out to the Shining Ones. Hear us, eldest and brightest.

To all the Shining Ones, first children of the mother, wisest and mightiest, loving and comforting; Gods and Goddesses, we offer you welcome.

To the gods and goddesses of this place, ancient and powerful, known to us or unknown; Gods of this place, we offer you welcome.

To all the deities of those here gathered, you whom we worship, you who bless our lives; patrons and matrons, we offer you welcome.

So, Shining Ones, we call to you as our elders, in reverence and love, to join in our magic. Come to our fire, shining ones; meet us at the boundary. guide and ward us as we walk the elder ways. deities, accept our sacrifice.

Bard pours an offering of scented oil on the fire.

After all offerings have been made, the Celebrants re-center the Pagans and the Druid leads an attunement to all the spirits that have been called, recalling the Two Currents.

PATRON INVOCATIONS AND OFFERINGS

Druid says:
Welcome to the Gods and Goddesses, the Ancestors and the Nature Spirits! To all of you who have gathered at our fire, we pray you join us in worshipping the patrons of this place, attending this holy rite, here in our sacred grove.

Druid or other appointed leader now offers oil to the fire, saying:

Spirits of this place, accept our offerings!

Druid then passes the Druid Egg around the grove, inviting each person to share their personal harvest from this year, if they wish.

SACRIFICE AND OMEN

The Celebrants prepare the final offerings. Druid says:
We have given of our love and our wealth to our patron deities. Now let our voices arise on the fire, let our voices sound in the well, let our words pass the boundary to the otherworlds. Shining Ones, we give you our love, our respect, our devotion as we pray to you.

Pagans:
Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice.

Druid requests that all in the Grove send energy through the Gates, meditating on the Kindreds.

After a pause, the Bard leads the Pagans 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 three times)

Druid says:
Having prayed to the powers, let us open to them, asking what blessings they offer us in return.

The omen is taken. Seer interprets the omen, leading all in contemplation of the things they would ask of the Powers, especially as suggested by the omen.

Pagans meditate on their own needs, those of loved ones, and the community. In this moment each person's own desires may be strongly imagined, held in mind and heart, with harm to none, for the good of all.

THE LITANY OF THE WATERS

The Bard speaks:
Ancient and Mighty Ones, we have honored you. We pray you honor us in turn. Hear your children.

Pagans:
Shining Ones, give us the waters.

Bard:
We thirst for the waters of wisdom, of bounty, of rebirth from the well of wisdom, from the spring of renewal, from the bosom of the earth mother. Hear us.

Pagans:
Shining Ones, give us the waters.

Bard:
We open our hearts to the Great Ones' blessing. We stand in honor and friendship with all the Powers. Hear us.

Pagans:
Shining Ones, give us the waters.

HALLOWING THE WATERS

Apple juice is poured into the chalice and elevated.

Druid speaks:
We draw blessing from the cauldron of blessing. We pour the ale of inspiration. Behold the holy cup of magic, the outpouring of blessing from the mighty ones. When we share the draught of the Shining Ones, we drink in wisdom, love and strength.

Hear us, Shining Ones; hallow these waters! We, your children, rejoice in your gift. Bless our lives with love, magic and bounty as we drink these sacred waters. Behold the waters of life!

Pagans:
Behold the waters of life!

The chalice is passed and all drink. After all have taken the waters of life,
The bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Power Of The Spirits

Power of the Spirits, Power of the Spirits
Power of the Spirits, Power of the Spirits
(Refrain)
Flowing through me
Shining in me
Growing with me
(Repeat three times)

WORK OF THE RITUAL

The Druid will call for a time of healing, and will ask each person there if they wish to ask for healing, or to offer healing. Each person in the Grove may answer if they wish.

THANKSGIVING AND CLOSING

Pagans stand and re-center. Druid offers the Druid’s Prayer.

CLOSING THE GATES

Druid says:
The Mighty Ones have blessed us. With joy in our hearts let us carry the magic from our sacred grove into our lives and work. Each time we offer to the powers they become stronger and more aware of our needs and our worship. So now as we prepare to depart let us give thanks to those who have aided us. Modron and Mabon, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid:
Gods and Goddesses of elder days, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid:
Spirits of this land, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid:
Ancestors, our kindred, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid:
To all the powers that have aided us, we say again, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid may call for a moment of silence. Then, any unused offerings are given to the earth with these words:
Mother of all, to you we return all we leave unused. Uphold us in the world as you have in our rite. We thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

The Celebrants stand in the center. Bard says:
Gatekeeper, warder of the ways, for your presence and power, your guiding and guarding we say, we thank you.

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid makes closing sign over the hallows with wand, saying:
Now we end what we began. Let the fire be flame, let the well be water; let all be as it was before. Let the magic gates between the worlds be closed.

Pagans:
Let the gates be closed!

Druid:
Walk with wisdom, children of the Earth. The rite is ended!

Pagans:
Biodh se!

The Bard leads a chant as the Pagans 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 three times or until Recession is ended)