MIDSUMMER RITUAL - 2003

PRE-RITUAL PREPARATION

In the Henge:
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 (Whiskey in a bowl with a ladle; corn meal and dry oatmeal in a small bowl; silver for the well; ale in a small drinking horn; herbs, flowers and stones in a small bowl; a small wreath of twigs; sage for censing), a taper by the fire, and divination tools.

At the Outdweller's Altar:
A small bowl is filled with water from the Well and taken to the Outdweller's Altar. A bowl of incense is also placed there. A bowl of beer is placed on the Altar.

At the Gathering Place:
At the place of the procession's beginning, a bowl with a burning charcoal is prepared.

Before the Procession begins:
Druid 1 welcomes the people and gives the briefing. This will include creating the Sacred Center and Opening and Closing of the Gates, as well as Praise Offerings.
The Bard teaches the People any new songs.
The Seer leads the People in taking a moment to center.

PROCESSION

Druid 1 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 Outdweller's Altar outside the Sacred Precinct.

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)

PURIFICATION

After the People arrive at the Outdweller's Altar,
The Warrior stands to the east of the Altar, facing the People.

Druid 1 says:
Warrior! Make offering and appease the Outdwellers who will not support our ways.

Druid 2 takes up the bowl of sacred water and stands at the south of the Altar.
Druid 1 takes up the incense and stands at the north of the Altar. He puts incense on the burning charcoal.

Warrior says:

Mighty spirits, dark or light,
You who care not for our way,
Outdwellers! We know your might,
Your forbearance we'll repay!

Holy ground where you can play
We do now establish here.
Have some fun and don't dismay,
Stick around and have a beer!

Warrior makes an offering of ale to the Outdwellers, pouring it on the altar.

Druid 1 smudges and Druid 2 asperses the Warrior.

Druid 1 says:
Children of the Earth! Come forward and be purified as we enter the Sacred Precinct.

Druid 1 and Druid 2 go to the entrance of the sacred precinct.
Druid 1 censes while Druid 2 asperses the People as they Process through the grove towards the Henge.

The Bard leads the People through the grove to the Henge with the Warrior following last.

Meanwhile, drums are beating and as the People are purified,
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.
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

The People find their places in the Circle of the Henge, leaving room for Druid 1 and Druid 2, who enter last. Druid 1 holds the bowl of burning charcoal.

Druid 1 circles the Henge deosil, censing the space, and then returns to his place.

WELCOME

Druid 1 rings bell thrice-three times while saying:
Nature Spirits! (rings bell three times) Ancestors! (rings bell three times) Shining Ones! (rings bell three times)
Subuta! Greetings! We shall meet here at the Sacred Center when we open the gates to the otherworlds.

THE EARTH MOTHER

Druid 1 says:
Earth Mother! Bearer of all life! We show you honor!

The People kneel and kiss the Earth.

Druid 2 says:
Earth Mother! We build our fire on Your bosom, claiming this place as our own.
Buetid Ita! (Boo-AY'-tid EE'-ta) So be it!

Druid 1 offers the corn meal and dry oatmeal to the unlit Fire.
Druid 2 lights the fire.

The People say:
Buetid Ita! (Boo-AY'-tid EE'-ta) 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 sing to your spirit
Earth Mother, we sing to your stones
(repeat as necessary)

PURPOSE AND PRECEDENT

Druid 1 says:
We gather here to celebrate the Feast of Midsummer, and to honor our God, Taranis.

Druid 2 says:
As our ancestors did, so do we now. We are here to offer worship to the Lord of Thunder, Bringer of Storms.

Druid 3 says:
Now the Sun has reached it's strongest point, and will begin its journey back to the darkness of winter.

Druid 4 says:
Summer is at its height! The Land is dry and parched. We will call on Taranis to bring the Monsoon!

Druid 1 says:
So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in joy and reverence!
Buetid Ita! (Boo AY' tid - EE' ta) So be it!

The People say:
Buetid Ita! (Boo AY' tid - EE' ta) So Be It!

* INSPIRATION *

(Awen in Welsh; Imbas in Irish)

Rhythmic drumming begins to accompany the Inspiration.

Druid 1 says:
Brigindo! Goddess also known as Brid! We ask you for inspiration for our Rite!

Druid 2 places incense on the remaining charcoal.

Sanctifier takes incense to the Shrine of Brigindo and censes the image. She returns the incense to the altar. While this is happening,

The Bard and Druid 1 invoke the Awen, singing in Call & Answer:

O, Brigindo
(Words by Peggy Kaan, adapted by Kirk Thomas)

O, Brigindo of the Bards
Blessed Fire of Inspiration
Spark the flames within our hearts
Lead our creative exploration
O, Brigindo hear our song
As we give offerings of praise
Let Your blessings make us strong
That we may love You all our days.

Druid 2 offers whiskey to the fire.

Bard and Druid 1 together say:
Buetid Ita! (Boo-AY'-tid EE'-ta)

The People say:
Buetid Ita! (Boo-AY'-tid EE'-ta)

* THE THREE REALMS *

Druid 1 says:
Let us establish the Three Realms here! The Sky arches over our heads like a great, upturned bowl. The Land is here under our feet, and the Sea surrounds us outside our Nematon.

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 twice)

THE THREE WORLDS AND ATTUNEMENT

Druid 1 says:
We establish the Three Worlds of the Heavens, Midworld and Underworld when we attune ourselves with their powers, and magnify them within us.

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

Druid 1 says:
Druids! Let us open 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.

The following actions take place simultaneously until everyone is in position.

Druid 1 takes silver and goes to the Well. He stands to the SW of the Well and faces the center of the circle.
Seer goes to the SE quadrant of the circle, getting a ladle of oil from the main altar on the way. He stands in the East facing the altar of Cernunnos in the West.
Druid 3 goes to the Fire, getting a ladle of whiskey from the main altar on the way. She stands to the SE of the Fire, facing the center of the circle.
Druid 4 draws water from the well, using the bowl there, and goes to the Tree.
The Bard lights a smudge stick at the fire and goes to the Tree.

Druid 2 moves widdershins around the circle, leading the People in quietly and slowly chanting:
Well and Fire and Sacred Tree, flow and flame and grow in me….

Druid 2 continues moving widdershins around the circle during the entire working, until he opens the Gates.

The chanting continues, only interrupted by the People saying the final line of each of the three following invocations.

Druid 1 offers Silver to the well, with these words:

Sacred waters 'neath our feet,
Unformed powers of the deep,
Fountain upwards now to fill us,
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….

Druid 3 offers whiskey 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…..

(Bard lights the smudge bowl if the original has gone out).

Bard 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:
Lord Cernunnos, Lord Cernunnos, Lord Cernunnos……….

Sanctifier takes incense to the Altar of Cernunnos and censes the image, then returns incense to the main altar. Meanwhile,

Seer makes an offering of whiskey to the fire, saying:

Gatekeeper! We ask in reverence,
Open now the sacred boundary.
Lord Cernunnos, please, come to us,
Ward us as we walk in safety!

The People say:
Ward us as we walk in safety!

Druid 1 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 2 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 2 says:
Let the Fire open as a Gate!

He continues spinning at least one full revolution.

As his staff passes over the Well, Druid 2 says:
Let the Well open as a Gate!

He continues spinning at least one full revolution.

As his staff passes by the Tree, Druid 2 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 2 stops spinning, holds both hands (and staff) in the air and shouts:
Badentir Duorica! (BAH'-den-TEER' Doo-or-EE'-ka)
Let the Gates be open!

The People shout:
Let the Gates be open!

KINDRED OFFERINGS

Druid 1 says:
Druids! Make our Offerings to the Kindreds - the Noble Ones, the Ancient Ones and the Shining Ones.

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 sings these or other words:

All you Spirits of the Land
Come and hear from us firsthand.
Fin and feather, fur and skin,
Come and hear our mighty din!
Leaf and stone and Fairies, too,
Let our Sacred Pact renew!

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 sings these or other words:

Ancestors, you Mighty Ones,
Witness now our humble actions.
Kin of heart and Kin of blood,
Ancient Ones, we call you Sacred!
Come unto us now, we pray,
Join us at the Well this day!

Ancestors, accept our offering!

The People say:
Ancestors, accept our offering!

DEITIES

Druid 2 makes an offering of whiskey to the fire, while:

Druid 3 says these or other words:

Shining Ones, O Great and Boundless;
Gods and Goddesses, come to us!
You are welcome by our fire,
Let us know what You desire.
Known and unknown Deities
Meet us at the Boundaries!

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 says:
Taranis, God of this Rite, we call upon You!

Druid 1 invokes the God.
Druid 2 offers whiskey to the fire and
Sanctifier takes incense to Taranis' Altar and censes the image, returning the incense to the main altar.

Druid 1 stands in the northwest, facing Taranis' altar in the southeast, and says:

Invocation of Taranis

The day is hot, the sky is clear,
The sun slips to the west;
But o'er the Rincons clouds appear -
The mountain tops caressed.

A distant rumble now is heard
Like hoof beats in the night,
The sky grows dark, the air is stirred,
The birds all round take flight.

You come, Taranis! You are here.
The Season's Wheel You turn.
We see the lightning in your beard
And watch the dark clouds churn!

The Heavens then shall open wide;
The rain shall cascade down.
Dry soil shall drink what Gods provide
And plants no more be brown.

Taranis, Lord! Don't lose Your touch,
And make some wet storms brew.
We need the rain, (though not too much!)
Before you bid adieu.

Buetid Ita! (Boo-AY'-tid EE'-ta)

PRAISE OFFERINGS

Druid 1 says:
Children of the Earth, as the spirit moves you, come forward and hold the wreath and make your Praise Offerings to Taranis, the Kindreds, your Patrons, or the Well, Fire or Tree.

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:
Seer, have our offerings been accepted by the Kindreds?

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

Druid 1 says:
Please stand and hold hands while we prepare the Waters Of Life.

The People all stand and hold hands in a circle.

Druid 1 pours mead into the large drinking horn.
Druid 2 fills another horn with waters from the Well. They are hung on their hangers.

Druid 1 takes Sacred Water in a horn, held in one hand,
and the Bread from the Altar, in the other hand. He stands in front of the Altar and elevates both.

Druid 1 says:
O Mighty Taranis, Lord of Storms! O Noble, Ancient and Shining Ones! We have offered to you, so we ask for your gifts in return.

Hallow these waters! Bless our lives with love, magic and bounty as we drink of your essence.
Kindreds, we ask you, give us the waters of life!

The People say:
Give us the waters of life!

Druid 1 gives the bread to the Sanctifier. Druid 2 takes the horn of water and Druid 1 takes the horn of mead.

Druid 1 pours holy water in each horn and a few drops on the bread.

The People let go of each other's hands and the drinking horns and bread are passed. All drink from one or the other horn 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)

* THE WORKING *

Druid 1 says:
Magicians, show our need to mighty Taranis!

A working to bring on a successful Monsoon is performed.

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 Taranis, Bringer of Storms, 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 2 says:
Now we end what we began.

The drums begin to play and Druid 2 leads the People in chanting, starting quietly and building in speed and intensity:
Close the Gates…. Close the Gates….. Close the Gates…..

Druid 1 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 1 says:
Let the fire be flame!

As the staff passes the well,
Druid 1 says:
Let the well be water!

As the staff passes the World Tree,
Druid 1 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 1 stops spinning, holds both hands (and staff) in the air and shouts:
Clausontir Duorica! (CLOW'-sun-TEER' DOO'-or-EE'-ka)
Let the Gates be closed!

The People say:
Let the Gates be closed!

* THE GROUNDING AND CLOSING *

Druid 1 says:
Great energy has been raised within us this day! Let us be grounded once more.

The Seer leads the People in grounding.

Druid 2 then rings the bell thrice-three times.

Druid 1 says:
Walk with wisdom, children of the Earth.
The Rite is ended!
Buetid Ita! (Boo-AY'-tid EE'-ta) So be it!

The People say:
Buetid Ita! (Boo-AY'-tid EE'-ta) So be it!

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.

********************

Later in the evening, those wishing to may sleep overnight in the Stone Circle. Just before sleep,

Druid 2 says:
We sleep tonight in this sacred place. Tomorrow begins the Season of Lugh Lamfhada. May the Ancestors, Nature Spirits and the Gods and Goddesses grant all of us their communion in sweet dreams. Buetid Ita!

About ½ hour before dawn, all rise and have coffee and bathroom breaks. The fire is re-kindled.

The following takes place just before dawn breaks over the mountain:

INVOCATION TO THE SUN

Druid 2 rings the bell 9 times.

Druid 1 says:
We are here to greet the Midsummer Sun!

The People say:
Bíodh sé amhlaidh! So be it.

The Seer says:
This is the time of year when the Sun begins its long retreat to the south and the days begin to shorten. But this is also the height of summer! Thus begins the Season of Lugh Lamfhada, and we honor Him! So let us sing our praises to Him and all the Gods and Goddesses of the Sun.

The Bard leads the People with rattles in singing:

Hail All The Gods

As the Sun appears over the top of the mountain, the singing stops at the end of the verse.

The People chant together (from the Carmina Gadelica):

Hail to thee, thou sun of the seasons,
As thou traversest the skies aloft;
The steps are strong on the wing of the heavens,
Thou are the glorious mother of the stars.

Thou liest down in the destructive ocean
Without impairment and without fear;
Thou risest up on the peaceful wave-crest
Like a queenly maiden in bloom.

Druid 1 says:
Walk with wisdom, children of the Earth.
The Sun is risen and the song is ended.
Bíodh sé amhlaidh! (BEE'-uh SHAY' ow-LEE')

The People say:
Bíodh sé amhlaidh! (BEE'-uh SHAY' ow-LEE')

MIDSUMMER RITUAL - 2003

PRE-RITUAL PREPARATION

**** PROCESSION ****

**** PURIFICATION ****

**** WELCOME ****

**** THE EARTH MOTHER ****

**** PURPOSE AND PRECEDENT ****

*** INSPIRATION ***

*** THE THREE REALMS ***

**** THE THREE WORLDS AND ATTUNEMENT ****

**** OPENING THE SACRED CENTER ****

**** KINDRED OFFERINGS ****

NATURE SPIRITS

ANCESTORS

DEITIES

**** KEY OFFERINGS ****

**** PRAISE OFFERINGS ****

**** THE OMEN ****

**** BLESSINGS ****

*** THE WORKING ***

**** CLOSING THE GATES ****

*** THE GROUNDING AND CLOSING ***

INVOCATION TO THE SUN

PROCESSION

PURIFICATION

WELCOME

THE EARTH MOTHER

PURPOSE AND PRECEDENT

* INSPIRATION *

* THE THREE REALMS *

THE THREE WORLDS AND ATTUNEMENT

OPENING THE SACRED CENTER

KINDRED OFFERINGS

KEY OFFERINGS

PRAISE OFFERINGS

THE OMEN

BLESSINGS

* THE WORKING *

CLOSING THE GATES

* THE GROUNDING AND CLOSING *