WINTER SOLSTICE 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; lamp oil in a small bowl; 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; gold; sprig of holly; incense), and divination tools.
A VERY SMALL fire is prepared in the fire pit and is left unlit.
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 the World Tree Offering Bowl while
Druid 2 brings the bowl of burning charcoal to the fire pit.
Druid 1 offers the corn and oat meal to World Tree Offering Bowl, saying:
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 small
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! So be it!
The
People say:
Biodh se! (Bee shay) So be it!
Rhythmic
drumming begins to accompany the Bard.
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 she returns to the circle,
Druid 1 and Druid 2 meet her at the entrance. Druid 1
smudges and Druid 2 asperses her.
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, 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
**** PURPOSE AND PRECEDENT ****
Druid
1 says:
We gather here on the Feast of the Winter Solstice. This is the time when
the day is shortest and the night is the longest.
Seer
says:
The sacred fire is small and weak. Just as now the sun is so small and weak.
Bard
says:
We offer to Belinus, the Great Lord of Divine Fire.
Druid
2 says:
In this season of hope we honor the Sun as He grows strong again.
Biodh se!
The
People say:
Biodh se! (bee shay) So be it!
**** 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
2 leads the People in quietly chanting:
Sacred Well, flow within us; Sacred Well, flow within us; Sacred Well, flow
within us………..
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!
Druid
2 leads the People in quietly chanting:
Sacred Fire, burn within us; Sacred Fire, burn within us; Sacred Fire, burn
within us………..
The
Bard offers olive oil to the Fire, with these words:
Sacred fire that consumes and transforms,
True and holy light of the Shining Ones,
Accept our offering! Let holy flame warm our spirits and our lives.
Sacred fire, burn within us!
The
People say:
Sacred fire, burn within us!
Druid
2 leads the People in quietly chanting:
Sacred Tree, grow within us; Sacred Tree, grow within us; Sacred Tree, grow
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 1 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 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!
Druid
2 leads the People in quietly chanting:
Manannan, Manannan, Manannan……….
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 offering!
Druid 1 makes an offering of olive oil to the fire.
The
People say:
Accept our offering!
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:
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:
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 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 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 God:
Invocation of Belinus
He who is
known as Belinus, The Great Lord of Divine Fire,
He who is known as Angus Mac Og, Son of the Young,
He who is known as Maponis, the Divine Child;
Known are you by many names by many peoples,
Yet always the same in your countenance.
'O Shining, Radiant, Lovely One,
We behold your rebirth this day
In awe and reverence.
We make offering
to you of gold,
The shining tear of the sun.
Druid 1 makes the offering of gold to the Cauldron of the Waters.
We make offering
to you of the sacred Holly,
The ever green and ever growing.
Druid 2 makes the offering of holly to the World Tree offering bowl.
We make offering
to you of oil and incense,
So your flame may grow in strength and brilliance.
Druid 1 offers olive oil and Druid 2 offers incense to the Sacred Fire.
'O beloved,
newborn son of the Great Mother,
Accept our worship and our praise,
And grant us your blessings.
Grow strong, 'O newborn Sun!
The
People say:
Grow strong, 'O newborn Sun!
**** PRAISE OFFERINGS ****
Druid
1 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 1 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 Druid 2 at the altar.
STRENGTHENING THE LIGHT
Druid
1 says:
Like the Sun on this day, our Fire is small and cold. Let us now dance this
part of the Wheel of the Year and bring back our Sacred Light to its full
power!
The
Lead Drummer begins a strong, fast-paced beat and is joined by all
the other drums.
The Seer leads the People in a snake dance around the Nemeton, raising
power, while
The Warrior and Druid 2 build up the fire into a roaring blaze.
When the power is raised and feels just right, the Warrior makes a personal offering to the fire.
The Warrior throws her arms into the air. The Drumming stops and the dancers fall to the ground.
The
Warrior shouts:
Belinus! Kindreds! Take this offering of the stuff of life! Keep chaos at
bay and bring blessings to us all! Biodh se!
**** 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 alcoholic Waters of Life into the large drinking horn.
Druid 2 fills another horn with waters from the Well.
Both are elevated.
Druid
1 says:
O Bright Belinus! 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 Bright Belinus, we thank you!
The
People say:
We thank you!
Druid
1 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
2 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 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.
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