LUGHNASSA

A Simple Rite of Offering

(Based of the ADF Simple Rite and the StoneCreed Grove Lughnassa Rite and performed by Kirk Thomas and Steve Sampson on Windmill Hill, near Avebury, UK)

ITEMS NEEDED:  Small bell, firepot or candle, matches, censer with incense, cauldron with blessed water, a stone to represent the Earth, world tree motif or wand or staff, images of patron deities, a horn for pouring and drinking, a divining tool, an offering bowl (if the rite is indoors), offerings (corn meal or bread, silver, olive oil or essential oil) and ale for offering and drinking.

Light the charcoal fire first, before starting!

1.         Give 9 knells on the bell, then walk three times sunwise around the central hallows.  End in the south, facing north.  Raise hand to the sky and say:

I am here to honor the gods.  Bless me, O Shining Ones, in my workings.

2.         Place the Earth-stone in the offering bowl if indoors.  Offer a pinch of corn meal into the bowl or on to the ground, saying:

Earth Mother, I am your child.  Mother of all, accept this offering and bless my rite.

Place your hand on your heart and open to the light of inspiration, saying:

Power of inspiration, attend the shrine of my soul.  Quicken my tongue that I may work the rites in beauty.

Pour a bit of ale to the south of the fire, saying:

All you of the outer dark, any who abide beyond the light of this work’s fire, accept this offering and trouble not my working.

3.            Ground and center.  Perform the Two Currents meditation.

4.         State the purpose of the rite, saying:

I have come to do as the wise ancients did, to keep the rites of Lughnassa, the First Harvest, The Victory of the Growth, the Gathering of the Folk in Peace.

Now is the beginning of the Time of Ripening, when the labor of the Folk brings the Land to bear, when the Power of the Sun gives itself to the Power of the Earth.

I come to make offerings to the powers, to honor the Lady of Sovereignty, the Great Queen.  In this season she is the Earth Woman, the Red Goddess, the Flower Woman whose embrace binds, whose love is fate.

I honor especially Lleu, the Shining Young Hero, the Sacred King.  He is the Master of All Skills, the Holy Champion who turns aside drought and storm, protecting the earth.  On this day the Golden Rod is wed to the Blossom Goddess, that the earth may come to fruit.

So be it!

5.         Offer silver into the cauldron, saying:

In the deeps flow the waters of wisdom. 
Sacred well, flow within me.

6.         Light the fire and incense.  Make an offering of oil into the flame, saying:

I kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love and power.
Sacred fire, burn within me.

7.            Sprinkle and cense the world-tree, wand or self, saying:

            From the deeps to the heights spans the world-tree.
Sacred tree, grow within me.

8.            Sprinkle everything with sacred water, saying:

By the cleansing of water let the primal sea be the boundary of the grove.  Let the sea not rise, and all ill turn away.

Raise the incense and cense everything, saying:

By the light of the fire let the shining sky be the roof of the grove.  Let the sky not fall and all ill turn away.

Circle the grove once, saying:

By fire and water let the blessed land be the founding of this sacred grove.  Let the land hold firm and all ill turn away.

Contemplate the three worlds and the grove, saying:

The fire, the well, the sacred tree, flow and flame and grow in me!  In land, sea, and sky, below and on high!  Thus is the sacred grove claimed hallowed.  So be it!

9.         Offer oil into the fire, saying:

I make this offering to the keeper of the gates.  Join your magic with mine and let the fire open as a gate, let the well open as a gate, let the tree carry the spirit to my sacrifice.  By this offering and my magic, let the gates be open!

10.       Fill the horn with ale and raise it, saying:

I make my offerings to the kindreds of the worlds, to those who dwell below, to those who dwell above, to the tribes of spirits in land, sea or sky.

Hear your true worshipper, Kirk, as I make due sacrifice.
Old ones, my ancestors, remember me as I remember you!
Ancestors, accept my sacrifice!

Pour a quarter of the ale into the bowl or on the ground.  Raise the horn again, saying:

 Spirits of this land,
Aid me as I aid you!
Spirits, accept my sacrifice!

Pour a quarter of the ale into the bowl or on the ground.  Raise the horn a third time, saying:

 Gods and Goddesses of elder days
Honor me as I honor you!
Shining Ones, accept my sacrifice!

Pour a quarter of the ale into the bowl or on the ground and set the horn aside.  Say:

 Gods and dead and spirits three,
Powers of earth and sky and sea,
By fire and well and sacred tree
Offerings I make to thee!

So be it!

11.       Make offerings to the patron powers of the rite.

            Invocation of Epona (offering of water and wine or ale)

Epona, Rhiannon, Great Queen of the Earth, a Child of the earth offers you welcome.  I call to you in the ripening grain.  I call to you in the fruiting branch. I call to you by the white mare and by the singing birds.  I call you forth from the beauty of blossom, thorn and sea foam.  I offer you clear water, gentle as rain.

Pour out some water into the bowl or on the ground.

Holy One, patient one, Prophetess, Enticer, Flower Bride, Lover, Devourer, Rigatona, Great Queen, I call to you.  In the season of ripening you are the fruits and bounty of the land, arrayed in desirable beauty beneath the sun.

Great Queen, come into the Grove of the Wedding.

            Invocation of Lleu (offering of ale and bread)

Thou Llew Of The Steady Hand, I make my Grove under your shield, O Llew, the Falcon of May, You the Great Archer, You who won Arms, a Name, and a Wife, You who died, became an eagle and was restored, be in my midst.  Accept this ale in welcome, Thou champion, King of All.

Pour out some ale into the bowl or on the ground.

May we be at peace, and in taking joy in the feast Of the Wedding Day of Lleu, I offer this bread, that the harvest may flourish by the hand of the ploughman.

Crumble up some bread and put it in the bowl or spread it on the ground.

            Light of the Sky, come into the Grove of the Wedding.

Visualize both Epona and Llew entering the nematon.

Thus do I join the Shining Ones’ Prince to the Lady of the Earth.  By this joining may Llew be the Ward and Guardian of the earth.  By this joining may the Earth be the Throne of Joy and Delight.  May the grain, and our lives, grow green and golden as the hair of the Goddess.  May the ray of the westering sun be as the Arrow of the Champion.        
Llew and Epona, hear your child.

12.       Finally, offer the last of the ale and bread, making an offering of oil to the fire.  Now is the time to speak a heartfelt prayer, asking the spirits, especially the patrons of the rite, to grant a boon.  It might include:

            Let my voice arise on the flame

            Let my voice resound in the well

            O honored ones, Llew and Epona

            Hear me now as I offer up this sacrifice.

            Accept my worship and reverence.

            Grant (state purpose) and give me your blessing!

13.       Take up your divining tool of choice and meditate on the patrons and on the intention of this rite.  Cast a simple omen.

Meditate on the omen, seek to understand what blessings the powers offer in return for the sacrifice.  Then, compose of all this – the image, the intention, and the omen – into a single gestalt of energy.

14.       Refill the horn and breathe the combined energy current into the drink, saying:

            I pour the ale of inspiration,

            I draw water from the well of wisdom

            I call upon Llew and Epona

            To give to me as I have given to you.

            O Llew, O Epona, hallow these waters,

            I open my heart to the flow of your blessing;

            I, your child and worshipper.

            Behold the waters of life!

Reverently drink the ale, perhaps sprinkling any object to be consecrated in the work as well.  Meditate on the influx of magical current.

15.       If you have any remaining work, such as spells in pursuit of the intention, they should be completed at this time.

16.       When all is done, give thanks, saying:

Shining Ones, mighty dead and noble ones,
I thank you for your aid and blessing.

Llew and Epona, I give you my thanks!

Triple kindreds, gods, dead and nature spirits:
I thank you for upholding my magic.

Lord of the gates, lord of knowledge, I give you my thanks.
Now let the gates of the worlds be closed!

Make a closing triskel by circling the grove once in the opposite direction from beginning.

17.       Re-center, and contemplate the entire working, and end, saying:

            The fire, the well and the tree

            Flow and flame and grow in me!

            Peace and blessings.

            The rite is ended!

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