A Stone Creed Grove

Book of Rites
Written variously by members of the Grove,
and edited and prepared
by Ian Corrigan for Yuletide, 2009

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 This book
belongs to

A blessing
on the one that
returns it.

Sharing Blessings
A Stone Creed Grove Book of Rites

Copyright 2009, Stone Creed Grove, ADF

The rights to this material are freely given for all
uses in Pagan Druidry. All other rights remain
equally with the Grove and with the authors.

4
Table of Contents
Part 1: Introduction &
Basics of Druidic Ritual
• Introduction 8
• The Meaning of Druidic Rites 9
• The Gods of the Grove 13
• A Druidic Order of Ritual 15
• Tools and Offerings 17
• A Solitary Self-Blessing 18
• A Small Group Blessing Rite 25
Part 2: The Wheel of the Year
• The Samhain Rite 37
• The Yule Rite 50
• The Imbolc Rite 61
• The Spring Eqinox Rite 71
• The Beltaine Rite 80
• The Midsummer Rite 94
• The Lughnassadh Rite 103
• The Fall Equinox Rite 113
Part 3: Charms, Chants & Invocations
• Rite of Claiming & Saining 125
• A Very Simple Druidic Working 127
• Purification by Fire & Water: 129
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• A Morning Shrine Charm 129
• Two Simple Trances 130
• The Two Powers Induction 131
• Lightening Liturgy 133
• An Ogham 136
• The Elder Futhark 137
• A Simple Divination Charm 138
• Song for the Rites 139
•The Armoring 148
• A Hymn for Virtue 150
• The Death Song 151
• Saining the Baby 152
• A Daily Charm for Power 153
• A Charm Upon Rising 153
• The Great Blessing 154

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 Part 1
Introduction
and
Basics of Druid Ritual

7
Introduction
The book you hold is the sixth edition of a ritual
book for Stone Creed Grove, ADF, created by your edi-
tor as resources for our public ritual work. It is the most
complete and rectified version of rites that we have been
performing for the past two decades. While this volume
is aimed primarily at our own Grove rites, we hope that
others, both Pagan Druids and other Pagans, will get
benefit from it.
This volume is not a complete instruction in the
performance of these rites. We offer some introductory
and explanatory material in this first section. However
there is much more instruction and training in this ritual
form to be had through Ar nDraiocht Fein. Our Dedicant’s
training book, “The Druid’s Path”, is a very complete in-
troduction to this ritual system. Our internet resources
provide a wealth of additional support. [Link] pro-
vides key information, and links to many of our Groves
with their archived rituals and training materials.
The first section begins with introductions to
the outline and meaning of ADF’s unique ritual format, as
practiced in Stone Creed Grove. A short article lists the
Gods and Goddesses most often invoked in these rites. It
then presents two important basic scripts. The Solitary
Self-Blessing is a simple rite done in our full Order of
Ritual. It is an excellent introductory solitary script for
those learning to perform these rites. The Small Group
Blessing Rite has been our Grove’s monthly worship and
magical rite for many years, it also presents the full order
of ritual in a generic script.
However you use this book, may the Gods and Spirits
bless you through it.
Ian Corrigan, Yule 2009

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The Meaning of Druidic Rites
Bright blessings, and welcome! This article is an introduction to the
structure and meaning of our Pagan worship. We hope that you find
our work as uplifting and fulfilling as we do.
The Intentions of our Rites
Any Druidic ritual has as a primary intention the re-weaving of the
links between human-kind, the natural world, and the God/desses
and Spirits who support both. We work to reconnect with the powers
of Land, Sea and Sky, honoring the spirit that is in them as well as
their physical realities.
As with any religious path we also seek blessings for our-
selves, our families and communities. We open our hearts to the flow
of divine blessing that comes from our God/desses. We seek also to
awaken that same divine spark in our own souls, so that we can bless
the world in return.
Ar nDraiocht Fein is a small part of the neoPagan movement,
one of the fastest-growing currents in modern religion. We welcome
Pagans of every tradition and path, as well as those who want to learn
more about Druidry or pagan ways in general. We ask only that you
respect our ways; you can expect the same respect from us.
Principles of Druidic Worship
The form of our worship, like all ceremony, is made up of spoken
prayers, invocations and statements combined with traditional actions.
While we have reclaimed some of these from pre-Christian Europe
we do not grant them the status of revelation or scripture. All ritual
speech is made by humans to help turn our minds more effectively
toward the Divine. Druidry teaches that beautiful speech, poetry or
music pleases and influences the Powers, and so we fill our rites with
these things to the best of our ability.
Central to our rites is the giving of gifts to the Powers. This
is commonly called sacrifice (Latin: to make sacred). We teach that
the God/desses and Spirits are strengthened by our offerings, and
show their gratitude by blessing the givers.
While it is true that the ancients offered animal and even oc-
casional human lives to the Powers, our modern Paganism rejects
any offering that takes life or causes injury. We offer our God/desses
9
flowers, food, drink, incense and scented oil, precious metals and
gems, poetry and song, but never blood.
The soul-skills that bind Pagan worship together are the
techniques of meditation and trance. In every Druidic rite there will
be a series of spoken instructions intended to help induce this trance.
Following these suggestions with an open mind will deepen your
experience. Remember that all such guidance is just that; you are in
control of your state of mind at all times. Yet it is through consenting
to trance that you can know our Magic best.
A Grove member will lead a basic grounding and centering,
just before we process into the ritual space. This attunement helps us
to connect our individual souls with the symbols of Earth and Sky.
Together these powers manifest the Middle World in which we live.
These three principles - ritual, sacrifice and trance - combine
to produce the magic of Druidic worship.

The Outline of Druidic Rites

Part 1: Establishing the Grove
In ancient days Pagans gathered in places hallowed by tradition.
Sometimes these were temple buildings. More often they were groves
and glens in the deep forest, or high places. In our times we recreate
the holy atmosphere of the Sacred Groves by ritual and meditation.
The Procession: In some cases the presiding priest/ess will come
out of the Grove and lead a procession of all the worshippers into the
holy place. Usually this is accompanied by song. At other times the
worshippers are sent to meditate alone then called to the Grove by
horn, drum or song. When approaching the Grove one tradition is to
circle the Center of the Grove three times in the sunwise direction.
Honoring the Mother: The priest/ess usually gives a simple state-
ment of beginning, followed by a prayer and offering to the Earth
Mother who upholds our lives and rites. One common custom is to
bend and kiss, or place a hand on, the earth to honor Her.
Statement of Purpose: The Priest/ess gives a statement of the intention
and purpose of the rite and its precedent in the Ways of the ancients.
Affirming the World Order: Druidic ritual is anchored in the Sacred
Center of the Grove. The Center is conceived as a meeting-place of
the common world with the Otherworlds of the Spirits. We use three
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symbols of the Center - the Fire, the Well and the World-Tree. Fire
connects us with the Sky, the Well with the Underworld and the Tree is
the Boundary Between All Worlds, rooted deep and crowned high.
By affirming these symbols in our rite we acknowledge them
in ourselves, making our own souls a temple in which the God/desses
may dwell.
Opening the Gates: The next part of the rite transforms the simple
symbols of the Center into true Magical gates. First the priest/ess
invokes the Deity that has charge of the Ways Between, in the pan-
theon of the rite. We offer to the Gatekeeper and ask their help in the
work. The symbols of the Sacred Center then function as the Gates
Between. Through these gates we send our love, worship and offer-
ings to the powers and they, in turn, send blessing to us. As long as
the Gates are open our thoughts and impulses can be heard clearly
by the God/desses and Spirits.
Part 2: Offering to the Powers
Three Kindred Offerings: In each of our rites we invoke and offer
to all the Spirits, in three categories. We call these the Kindreds to
reflect their family relationship with one another and with us. The
Nature Spirits are those who ensoul soil and stone, water and wind,
bird and beast. The Dead are our ancestors, both those of actual blood
or those of our heart and affection. The God/desses are the eldest
Children of the Mother, the Brightest, Wisest and Strongest. For each
of these we speak an invocation and make a proper offering.
When these Triad Offerings are made the worshippers should meditate
on and call to those Spirits that are closest to her. Her own Ancestors,
her God/desses, her allies among the Nature Spirits are called to join
us in honoring the Patron Powers of the rite.
Patron Offerings: Each of our rites is commonly dedicated to two
or more of the God/desses. These are usually chosen either for their
connection with the seasonal holiday being celebrated, for their ability
in the area of the work being done or their special relationship with
the mortal focus of the rite.
The Patrons of the rite are first invoked with expressive prose
or poetry, sometimes accompanied by a visualized image of the Dei-
ties. A proper offering is made as the priest/ess invokes.
After the formal invocations, with the Gods present in the
11
Grove, there is a time when members of the company can make
personal offerings. Usually these are ‘Praise Offerings’ - offerings
of art- songs, poetry etc., though they may be thanks to the Powers
for blessings received.
Final Sacrifice and Omen: After the Praise Offerings the priest/
ess gives a final Prayer of Sacrifice and makes a large offering to
the Fire. This is the moment when every worshipper sends her love
and respect, her energy, through the Gates to the Patrons and Pow-
ers. After the Sacrifice the priest/ess seeks an omen, doing a simple
divination to determine what sort of blessing the Powers offer in
return for our gifts.
Part 3: The Blessing
Opening to Blessing: The priest/ess leads a meditation combining the
presence of the powers with the content of the Omen. We also meditate
on our own needs, those of our loved ones, and our community. In this
moment your personal desires should be strongly imagined, held in the
mind and heart, with harm to none and for the good of all.
The Waters of Life: The Blessing of the Powers is commonly given
as a cup or horn of drink. There is always clear water or fruit juice
and sometimes ale, wine or even whiskey (Gaelic: uisge na beatha,
water of life). We contemplate again our needs, and the Omen as we
drink the Blessing. We often sing an anthem or listen quietly during
this most reverent moment. When appropriate, other seasonal customs
may add to the power of the Blessing
Works: If there is any social or magical task to be accomplished it is
done at this time. Healings, weddings, child blessings, workings for
community good may occasionally be part of the rites.
Part 4: Thanks and Closing
After all is done we give proper thanks to all the Powers. The
priest/ess leads us in thanking the Patrons and the Kindreds. We thank
the Gatekeeper and conjure the Gates to close. We renew our ground-
ing, our connection with Earth and Sky, and center the energies of
the rite in our souls. We allow any excess energy to flow away into
the ground as we offer any remains of the rite to the Earth Mother.
The rite concludes with a blessing and we often sing a closing
chant as we leave the Grove.

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The Gods of the Grove
Among the Gaels:
• Aine Mor: Goddess of the Land, Earth Mother and Goddess of our
fresh-water inland sea. The sovereignty of the Grove. She is honored
especially at Beltaine, when she renews her youth, changing from
Aine Ban (white Aine) to Aine Glas (Green Aine).
• Manannan Mac Lir: Lord of Wisdom, Wizard God, Lord of
the Otherworld, Keeper of Gates. Honored at Gaelic rites as Gate-
keeper.
• Donn- Cernunnos: Lord of the Land of the Dead, of Underworld
Wealth and Fertility. Lord of the Crossroads and the Border. Honored
at Samhain as Lord of the Ancestors.
• The Morrigan: Red Queen of Spirits, Goddess of War and female
sexual power. The Chooser of the Slain, prophetess and witch. Hon-
ored at Samhain as Queen of the Dead, and at Lughnassadh as Fate
of Heroes.
• Brigid: Triple Goddess of Poetry, healing & Smithcraft; Lady of
Fire and water, of Hearth and Home. Honored at Imbolc, and at many
rites as the Power of Inspiration.
• The Dagda: The Druid of the Gods, the Fire beneath the Cauldron;
All-Skilled; Stallion, the All-Father; fertility and wisdom. Honored
at Imbolc as the mate of Brigid.
• Aengus Og: The Child of Wonder, the god of Erotic Love and Oth-
erworld Enchantment; the Harper of the Sidhe. Honored at Beltaine
as the King of the Sidhe.
• Lugh Lamhfada: The Champion, Master of All Arts; the Inheritor,
Son of Light and Shadow; Lord of Lightening, Trickster and Lord
of Magic.

Among the Norse:

• Thorr: The Hallower and Protector, the Hammer-wielder, friend
of men and warder of Midgard; invoked to ward the Grove during
rites.
• Odinn: All-father, the One-eyed Seer, Wisest Ase and Wild Hunt’s
Leader. Invoked for inspiration and to guide the omen.
• Heimdall: The White Ase, Father of the Tribes of Mortals, Far-

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sighted Warder of the Bifrost Bridge. Invoked to keep the gate to
Asgard.
• Modgud: The Good Mother, Underworld Goddess and warder of
the Bronze Bridge. Invoked to keep the gate to Helheim.
• Freyja: The Lady of War and Sorcery, Bearer of Brisingamen, God-
dess of Erotic Love, Witch and seeress. Freya and Frey are honored as
the power and blessing of the land, at Summer and Winter feasts.
• Freyr: Summer Sun and Earth Power, Rider of the Golden Boar,
Phallic King of fertility; God of the Mound, King of the Alfs.

The Non-Gods
There are many spirits of the Otherworld that are not of the Eldest
and Wisest, yet are a true part of the sacred Order of the Worlds, and
a great help to Mortals.

• The Mighty Dead - the Ancestors are the foundation upon which
our lives are built, the soil of the past from which our present lives
grow. It is proper to remember the Ancestors of our blood and kin,
and also our heroes, the Ancestors of our Hearts.

• The Other Kins - the Spirits of Land, of the Sky and Sea, the Wild
Clans of beings that interact with humans in the forms of bird and
beast, who indwell stone and stream and herb and tree, all these are
worthy of our worship. The beings remembered as the Noble Sidhe
are also of this class.

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The Druidic Order of Ritual
• Preparation: All participants make certain they know their inten-
tion, and have a clear understanding of the order of the coming rite.
A preliminary entrancement prepares the mind.
Opening the Grove
• Procession: The participants go from ordinary space into ritual
space.
• Opening Prayers: The rite begins with a clear statement of begin-
ning. The most traditional opening prayers include a special offering
to the Earth Mother. An invocation of Bardic Inspiration, and the
offering to the Outdwellers are often added.
• Statement Of Purpose: The intention of the rite is clearly stated.
• The Sacred Center: The most common current pattern uses Fire,
Well and Tree, each of these being honored, or hallowed in this sec-
tion of the rite.
• Completing The Cosmology: Optional work in which other aspects
of the cosmology of the rite are established or invoked - Land, Sea
and Sky; Underworld, Midrealm, Heavens; Wise Ones, Warriors,
Farmers,; etc.
• Opening The Gate: An offering is made to the God who keeps
Gates, in whatever ethnic system is being used, and the image of a
Gate opening is used to bring our Sacred Center nearer to the world
of the Gods and Spirits.
Offering to the Spirits
• General Offerings To And Invocations Of The Spirits: These
invocations bring together the sacred beings. It is common in our
work to describe these as the The Kindreds - the Gods, the Dead and
the Spirits.
• Honoring The Deities Of The Rite: The specific deities under
whom the rite is being worked are invoked and offered to. This may
include any specific customs or traditions associated with the deities,
or with the seasonal or magical intention of the rite. In some cases,
the rite may be worked to all the Kindreds in general, in which case
this step may be omitted.
• Personal Offerings: In group rituals the old tradition is for partici-
pants to bring a personal offering of song, poetry or art, to be done in
15
the Grove in honor of the Gods. In private or small-group rites this
may be omitted.
• The Prayer Of Sacrifice: At this stage all the energy, worship and
aspiration of the participants is gathered up and offered in through
the gate to the honored beings of the rite, along with a physical
sacrifice. This is the hinge of the rite, after which the energy, which
has been being directed into the gate, now turns and begins to flow
back in turn.
Receiving the Blessing
• The Omen: A simple omen is taken, to determine what sort of
blessing the Gods offer in the rite, and to be certain of their aid in
whatever work is planned.
• Calling For The Blessing: Participants express their openness to
the Gods’ blessing, and ask for it to be given.
• Hallowing The Waters: The blessing of the Gods and Spirits is
invoked into a cup of ale, water, cider, whiskey, etc.
• Affirmation Of The Blessing: Participants affirm their recep-
tion of the blessing, stating again the intention for which they have
worked.
• Works: If there are any other specific works, spells, blessings,
etc, for which the blessing has been called, this is the time that they
are done.
Closing the Grove
• Final Affirmation: All again affirm the blessing, and prepare to
end the rite.
• Thanking The Beings: All the beings that have been called on in
the rite are thanked, in reverse order, from the Deities of the occasion,
to the Kindreds, etc.
• Closing The Gates: The Gatekeeper Deity is thanked, and the Gates
are declared closed.
• Thanking The Earth Mother: The Earth Mother is thanked, and
all leftover offerings or blessing are offered to her.
• Statement Of Ending: The rite ends with a clear statement of
ending. Sometimes the participants then process out from the Sacred
Space.

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Tools and Offerings
Tools of the Nemeton:
The Three Hallows:
• Fire: Either a true fire in fireplace, pit or cauldron, or a circle of
candles with a censer in the center.
• Well: A cauldron or vessel to contain the Waters Beneath.
• Tree: A pillar or staff planted to represent the vertical axis

• Offering Bowl: for indoor rites, to receive disposable, non-burnable

offerings.
• Censer & Sprinkling Bowl: For purification.
• Divination Tool: Commonly Ogham, or the Runes.
• Drinking Set: Pitcher(s) and drinking vessels enough for passing
around the assembled group. Individuals may bring their own ves-
sels.
• Useful but optional: chime or bell, decorative cloths, images of
the spirits of the rites, seasonal decorations.

Standard Offerings
• Silver: given to the Well. Stone Creed’s custom is to allow the silver
to be reused, building a trove as members give to the well.
• Oil and/or Incense: given to the Fire. In a live fire it is good to
pour offerings of olive oil. Other circumstances will require incense
offerings in a censer. The oil or incense is a sufficient default offer-
ing for all Deities.
• Corn or grain Meal: For the Earth Mother
• Kindred offerings: Ale for the Dead, Seeds and shinies for the
Landwights, scented oil or incense for the Gods.

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A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite
1: Give nine knells on a bell, then raise hands to the sky, and say:
I am here to honor the gods, and to bless myself in the
Old Way. Be with me, Oh Shining Ones, in my work-
ing; forgive any errors, and grant me, I pray, your
blessing.

2: Offer a pinch of corn meal onto the ground, saying:

Earth Mother, I am your child. Mother of all I pray
you bless and uphold my rite, as you uphold the whole
world. Earth Mother, accept my sacrifice!

Place your hands on your heart and open to the light of inspiration,
saying:
Sky Father, Fire of Inspiration, attend the shrine of my
soul. Quicken my tongue that I may work this rite in
beauty.

Make a small offering to the South of the Fire, saying:

Outdweller powers, ancient ones, all you who dwell
outside the light of my Fire, accept my offering, I pray,
and trouble not my working.

3: State the purpose of the rite, saying:

I have come to do as the wise ancients did, to make of-
fering to the powers and to bless my body, my mind
and my spirit with the blessings of the Gods and Spir-
its. As our forebears did, so do I do now, and so may my
descendants do after me.
I seek the blessing of the Ancestors, of the Landspirits,
and of the Shining Gods and Goddesses. I seek to be
cleansed of ill, and filled with the fire and water of the
ancient blessing, that I may grow in health, and wealth
18
and wisdom, in wisdom, love and power, in service to
the spirits, and to the folk and to my own being. To
those ends, I will hallow this sacred Grove.

4: Offer silver into the cauldron, saying:

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

5: Make an offering to the Fire, saying:

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

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

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

7: Sprinkle and cense all repeating three times:

By the might of the Water and the light of the Fire, this
Grove is made whole and holy

Spread your hands, and encompass the whole shrine in your aware-
ness, saying:
Let the sea not rise, and all ill turn away.
Let the sky not fall and all ill turn away.
Let the land hold firm and all ill turn away.

Contemplate the three worlds and the Shrine, 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 and hallowed.
So be it!

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9: Offer oil or incense to the fire, saying:
I make this offering to the Keeper of the Gates. Gate-
keeper, Lord of the Between, Keeper of Roads and
Opener of Ways, join your magic with mine to guard
and ward the gate of this working. Gatekeeper, accept
my sacrifice!

Make a deosil triskel or spiral over the Fire, saying:

In every place where Triads meet, there is the Center of
the Worlds. Let this sacred center be the boundary of
all worlds, that my voice be carried and my vision see.
Now let the Fire open the Gate
Let the Well open the Gate
Let the Tree hold fast the Way Between.
Open as an eye of seeing
Open as a mouth of speaking
Open as an oaken door,
Between this Sacred Center and the Otherworlds.
By the Keeper of Gates, and by my Will and Word,
Let the Gate be open!

10: Fill the horn or cup with ale and raise it, saying:
Gods and Dead and mighty Sidhe,
Powers of Land and Sky and Sea,
By Fire and Well and sacred Tree,
Offerings I make to thee!
To those who dwell below, to those who dwell above, to
the tribes of spirits in land, sea or sky. Hear your true
worshipper (your name) as I make due sacrifice to the
Dead, the Spirits & the Gods.

• O Mighty Ones, my Ancestors, my kindred; I your

child honor you, and ask you draw near my hearth.
20
You whose life and death creates my life, you whose
wisdom upholds my wisdom, Elder Clans of the Wise,
the Warriors and the Keepers of Land, Here I give you
your due welcome.
O Mighty Ancestors, I honor your presence, offering
my love and worship. Be with me in my grove and in
my heart, and accept this gift in token of my kinship.
“Ancestors, accept my sacrifice!”

• O Noble Ones, my Allies, with whom I share the

worlds, I ask you welcome me in your places. You who
fill the land with wonder, Spirits of Stone and Stream,
Red and Green, Tribes of Spirits, the Peoples of the
Otherworld, Here I give you your due welcome.
O Noble Spirits, I honor your presence, offering my
love and worship. Be with me in my grove and in my
heart, and accept this gift in token of my friendship.
Landspirits, accept my sacrifice!

• O Shining Ones, my Elders, Goddeses and Gods of

All Realms, I ask you to draw near to my spirit. O Wis-
est and Mightiest, loving and comforting, wrathful and
wild, you who sustain all the worlds, First Children of
the Mother, the Tribe of the Goddess, here I give you
your due welcome.
O Shining Deities, I honor your presence, offering my
love and worship. Be with me in my grove and in my
heart, and accept this gift in token of my kinship.
Shining Ones, accept my sacrifice!

Prepare a final offering, and make the final sacrifice, saying:

Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones, Turn your faces to-
21
ward my Fire, and join me now in my Grove! Oh Host
of the Holy, I call you on the Spirit Road; by the Four
Winds and the Nine Waves, by the World Tree’s root
and branch. By Fire’s light and Well’s might, come to
my call, and accept my sacrifice!

13: Take up your divining tool of choice and meditate on the patrons
and on the intention of this rite. Cast for a simple omen, with this
charm:
Spirit of the Gift, Spirit of the Song, Spirit of Destiny
Give me the gift of seeing, let me hear the song of the
Turning of the Worlds. Mighty, Noble & Shining Ones,
I have offered to you. Now let the true sight be in me,
the true speech be mine. Answer me now, O spirits,
what blessing do you offer me, in return for my offer-
ings?

Meditate on the omen, then, compose of all this - the image, the in-
tention, and the omen - into a single gestalt of energy.
14: With the omen in mind, call for the Blessing, saying:
As a Child of Earth, I call for the blessing of the An-
cient Ones.
Holy Ones, give me the waters!
I open my heart to the blessing of the Powers.
Holy Ones, give me the waters!
And as I am blessed, let all the worlds be blessed.
Holy Ones, give me the waters.

15: 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 fill the cauldron of my spirit, with this
drink.
I call upon (patron powers) to give to me as I have giv-
22
en to you, as a gift calls for a gift. Oh Holy Powers,
Gods and Dead and Spirits, hallow these waters! Let
this vessel receive your power, spilled like the Mead of
Inspiration, into my cup and into my spirit and soul
and flesh. I open my heart to the flow of your blessing,
I, your child and worshipper.
Behold the waters of life!

Reverently drink. Affirm the receiving of the Power, saying:

The worlds are in me, and I am in the worlds
The spirit in me is the spirit in the worlds
Touch a bit of the drink to your belly, below the navel,, saying:
Let this blessing be upon me and upon the world –
my hair as the green forests, my flesh as the fertile soil,
my bones as the ancient stones.
touch a bit of the drink to your heart, saying:
Let this blessing be upon me and upon the world –
my blood as the salt sea, my breath the rolling wind,
my thoughts as the grey clouds.
touch a bit of the drink to your forehead, saying:
Let this blessing be upon me and upon the world –
my face as the shining sun, my mind the cool shining
moon, my head crowned in stars
Nine holy things in the world and in my self,
That the Order of the World be True and Whole.

By Gods, Dead and Sidhe; By Fire, Well and Tree;

The blessing flows and shines in me!
So be it!

16: work, meditations, spells etc,

23
17: When all is done, give thanks, saying:
By this work I am blessed, by the power of the Mighty,
Noble and Shining Ones! Secure in their blessing, I go
from the Grove into my life and work. I go with the
blessing of the Gods in my head, and heart and loins.
To all those who have aided me in this holy work, I give
thanks.

Triple Kindreds, Gods, Dead and Landspirits:

I thank you for your presence in my small Grove.
Shining Ones, Mighty Dead, Noble Spirits
I thank you for your aid and blessing.

18: Make a closing triskel over the Fire.

Lord of the gates, lord of knowledge, I give you my
thanks. Now let the Fire be flame, the Well be water,
Let all be as it was before, save for the magic I have
made.
Let the Gates be closed!

19: Recenter and contemplate the entire working, and end, saying:
To the Mother I give thanks,
for ever upholding my life and my work.
The fire, the well the sacred tree
Flow and flame and grow in me!
Peace and blessings to all beings,
The rite is ended!

24
A Group Blessing Rite 2009
The Grove is prepared as usual.
The Sacrificer says: Welcome, friends, to this rite of blessing. We
gather, as always, to remember the Three Kindreds and to work
magic for the good of all gathered here. Let us begin by finding
our center and our power, as the bell is rung nine times.
All work the Two Powers centering with nine full breaths, as the priest/
ess sounds nine knells or knocks. All then say the Opening Prayer:

We come to keep the Old Ways. O Shining Ones, hear

us, we pray you, as Children of the Earth. Let our call
come unto you with honor and truth, as we work the
work of wisdom.
Mighty Mother of all, first Goddess, bless and uphold
this rite, we pray you with love and reverence.

Sacrificer says: Now let us hallow the Sacred Grove.

The Well is elevated, and the silver offered, saying:
Waters of wisdom, Waters of love, Waters of life
O Mother of All,
Be present in these waters and in this Grove.
Sacred well flow within us

An offering is made to the fire saying:

Fire of inspiration, Fire of transformation,
Fire of sacrifices
O Light of Inspiration,
Be present in this fire and in this Grove.
Sacred fire, burn within us.

The Tree is sprinkled and censed, saying:

Pillar of the Grove, Sacred Crossroad,
Tree of the World,
25
Let the Order of the Worlds
Be present in us all and in this Grove.
Sacred Tree, grow within us.

The water is carried around the group each sprinkled with the water,
as all repeat:
By the might of the primal waters
This grove is made sacred.
Let the Sea not rise,
And let no ill or bane
Pass these encircling waters.

The censer is carried around the circle, as all say:

By the light of the sacred fire
This grove is enchanted
Let the Sky not fall,
And let only blessing
Be welcome at this fire

All join hands, or make contact again, saying:

The Fire, the Well, the Sacred Tree
Flow and Flame and Grow in me
The Sacred Grove stands firm and true
In Land, Sea and Sky
Below and on high
Let the Land hold fast beneath us.
Thus is the Sacred Grove
Claimed and hallowed!

The Sacrificer says: Renew your center, friends, and breathe deep.
Feel the Fire and Water in your being, and see them here in our
small Grove. With all these things brought together in this blessed
place, it is proper for the Gate to be opened.
Sacrificer makes offering to the MacLir, as all say:
26
Gray One of the Borders, Lord of the Isle of Apples,
Teacher of the Wise, Fosterer of Heroes
Keeper of Roads and Ways,
Hold open the way between the worlds, we pray.
Gatekeeper, accept our sacrifice.
The Sacrificer makes a deisil triskel or spiral over the fire, as all say:
By the Lord of the Borders, and by our magic,
Let this sacred center
be as the boundary between all worlds
Let the Gate be open!

Kindred Sumbel:
Three passings of a horn of memory and honor, one round for each
of the three kins.
I: The priest or priestess, or a chosen speaker, takes up the horn and
fills it with ale.
She gives a general invocation to the kindred being honored, or it is
spoken in unison.
II The horn passes sunwise. As each receives it he may speak in
honor of the members if the Kindred. For instance he might honor
his own genetic or cultural ancestors, or those heroes that inspire
or guide him. She may name animal or plant allies or her compan-
ions among the sidhe. She will name her patron Deities, and any
other God/desses she wishes. After speaking, each drinks.
III: After all have spoken and drunk, the speaker fills the horn again,
and/or prepares another offering, and speaks the second section,
below:
The Sacrificer says: Breathe deep, and see the Gate in the Grove,
in whatever way is true and real for you... Now, with the gate
open, it is proper for us to give our honor to the Gods, the Dead
and the Spirits.

27
To the Dead
• O Mighty Ones
Our Ancestors, our kindred
We your children honor you.
You whose life and death creates our lives
You whose wisdom upholds our wisdom
Hear us as we name you
And invite you to our fire...
The cup is passed for toasts to the Dead, then:
• O Mighty Ancestors, we honor your presence
Offering our love and worship.
Be with us in our grove and in our hearts
And accept this gift in token of our kinship.
The offering is made.
All cry: “(Ancestors) accept our sacrifice!”

To The Sidhe
• O Noble Ones, our Allies,
with whom we share the worlds
You who fill the land with wonder
Spirits of Stone and Stream, Red and Green
Tribes of Spirits, the Peoples of the Otherworld
Hear us as we name you
And invite you to our Fire...
The cup is passed for toasts to the Landspirits, then:
• O Noble Spirits, we honor your presence
Offering our love and worship
Be with us in our Grove and in our hearts
And accept this gift in token of our friendship.
Spirits, Accept our Sacrifice!

28
To The God/Desses
• O Shining Ones, our Elders, Goddeses and Gods
O Wisest and Mightiest
You who sustain all the worlds,
First Children of the Mother, the Tribe of the Goddess
Hear us as we name you
And invite you to our Fire...
The cup is passed for toasts to the Gods, then:
• O Shining Deities
We honor your presence
Offering our love and worship
Be with us in our Grove and in our hearts
And accept this gift in token of our worship
Shining Ones, Accept our Sacrifice!

After all the kindreds have been offered to, the Sacrificer says: Now
Children of Earth, the Three Kindreds of Spirits are coming, in
answer to our invitation. Find your center and your power, and
envision the presence of the Grove - the Fire, Well and Tree, and
the Gate, and toward the gate and through the gate come the Spir-
its. Let us welcome them!
All say:

Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones,

be welcome at our fire!

A final offering is prepared, along with the bit of sacred Fire. The
Sacrificer says: Now let us gather up all that we offer to the Pow-
ers - our love and reverence, our awe and wonder, our delight and
our honor. Let us join our voices in the Dord Draoi, to bind all this
into one true offering.
All make the Dord Draoi. At the height of the chant all fall into si-
lence, all speak the prayer of sacrifice, and the offering given:

29
Now let our voices arise on the fire
Let our voices resound in the well
Let our call pass the gate to the land of spirits
Holy Kindreds, Gods, Dead and Sidhe
The Children of Earth
send you love and honor with this gift
Holy Ones, accept our sacrifice!

Sacrificer says: Breathe deep, and let your worship flow through
the Gate, to the Holy Ones! See them draw near, and feel their lov-
ing power shining on us, as we divine the Omen.
all say:
Holy Ones, we have honored you
And now, as we prepare our hearts for your blessing,
Reveal to us now what blessing you offer
In return for our sacrifice!
An omen is taken. Sacrificer or seer interprets the omen, and then
adds: So we are offered this blessing, from the Gods, the Dead and
the Sidhe. If it is your will to gain this good, then join us as we
say:
As Children of earth, we call for the blessing of the An-
cient Ones. Together we cry...
Shining Ones give us the waters!
We join our hearts, that each of us be blessed. Together
we call...
Shining ones give us the waters!
And as we are blessed, let all the worlds be blessed.
Together we pray...
Shining Ones, give us the waters!

The Sacrificer pours the Blessing into the horn, as all say:
We draw water from the well of wisdom, we pour the
ale of inspiration.

30
The horn is elevated over the fire or before the Deities saying:
O Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones, we have given to
you, and now we ask you to bless us in turn, as a gift
calls for a gift. Hallow these waters O holy powers.
Grant us the blessing we seek. May the wisdom, love
and power of the Gods, Dead and Sidhe, flow in this
horn of Blessing. Behold the waters of life!
The horn is passed, and all drink.

As the horn passes, a meditation is led to attune all to the blessing.

One such might be:
We take up the cup of Joy and Power.
The cup of Blessing, that fills the soul.
Let us taste the Waters of Wisdom’s Well;
Let us drink the Ale of Inspiration.
Let the worlds be in me, as I am in the worlds
The spirit in me is the spirit in the worlds
Holy Ones I set my eyes upon you –
set your eyes upon me.
Holy Ones I behold your faces –
behold you my face
Holy Ones I behold your hearts –
behold you my heart
Holy Ones I behold your hands –
behold you my hands
May your magic awaken in our blood,
for we are all your children.
Flow in us, Power of Magic
Shine in our Loins,
Shine in our Hearts,
Shine in our Heads
Let there be no part of me that is not of the Gods!

31
All meditate in silence for a short time, then the sacrificer says:
Breathe deep, friends, and find your center and your power. Feel
the blessing in your body, adding its power to yours, flowing
through you as the Fire and Water flow in you. With this power in
us, let us turn our hands to the work of magic.

The Spell: Begin by all saying:

With the Blessing of the Gods in us, we take up the
work of magic. Let those who would ask our aid in
their works, speak now...

Those who wish will have brought candles, talismans or whatever

to be blessed for their personal intentions. Those are now put before
the company, as each person makes a simple statement of their need
or intention.
All speak the intentions of any candles or talismans they’ve brought,
then the Sacrificer says: Children of Earth is it your will that all
these things be done?
All say:
It is our will that all these good things be done! So, may
our magic join with the power of the Gods and spirits,
as we sing...

The company then raises power, usually by a simple, repetitive

chant, such as:
All: We are one, we are one... (repeat ad infinitum)
Descant: In this task we’ve begun,
What we will shall be done...
This should be accompanied by drums, and build well and strong, as
each feels the Blessing in his belly mingle with the energy raised by
the chant and rhythm. If desired, each candle or item may be passed
round the ring to receive the blessing of each, returning it to the
altar after one round.
The Sacrificer gives a signal, and the drums and chant stop sud-
denly. In the silence, all direct their energy to the altar with imagi-

32
nation and breath. Those with needs visualize their goals, as all join
in working for the good of all. The Sacrificer says: Now the power
flows from us and into us. Breathe deep, and let your power flow
into the center. Breathe deep, and draw in all that you need to gain
your goal. Envision your goal, shining with the power of the work,
and see that power flowing into your candle, as we all say:
All say:
By the holy power of the Mighty, Noble and Shining
Ones, and by our Magic... Biodh se abhlaidh!
All recenter in silence for a time.

Closing :
The Sacrificer says: One final time, find your center and your pow-
er. Breathe, and feel the energies flowing in you. The cool Waters...
the bright Fire... the power of the Rite’s Blessing... With all these
things balanced in us, it is proper that we end what we began.
All say:
The Gods have blessed us! Secure in their blessing, we
prepare to go from the Grove into our lives and work.
We go with the blessing of the Gods in our heads, and
hearts and loins.
To all those who have aided us in this holy work, we
give thanks.

The Gatekeeper is thanked and the gate closed, saying:

Keeper of Gates, Lord of Ways
For watching and warding the ways between
We give you our thanks.
Now let the Fire be but flame
Let the Well be but water
Let all be as it was before,
Save only for the magic we have made.
Let the gates be closed!

33
Then all recite the Great Blessing:
We offer our thanks to the Mother of All.
We offer our thanks
to the Gods, Dead and Spirits.
May the Three Sacred Kins
Bring joy to all beings,
and renew the ancient wisdom.
To the Fire, Well and Tree we offer our thanks.
May Wisdom, Love and Power
Kindle in all beings,
and renew the ancient wisdom.
To the Earth, Sea, and Sky we offer our thanks.
May the ancient wisdom be renewed,
And may all beings
know peace, joy and happiness
In all the worlds.
So be it!

34
 Part 2
The Wheel
of the
Year

35
Our seasonal rites are the core of the work of the
Grove. The mission of Ar nDaiocht Fein centers around
the providing of accessible public Pagan worship in the
communities we serve, and Stone Creed Grove has an
unbroken tradition of twenty years of keeping the fires of
the sacrifices throughout the year.
The four Gaelic High Day rites given here have
remained largely unchanged in SCG for over a decade.
We have grown comfortable with them, and good at
them, so that we can produce these fairly complex rites
in an effective and moving way. The Solstice rites are
also fairly venerable, especially the Yule rite, which has
customs that we have kept from our first years. Stone
Creed has always been a primarily Gaelic/Celtic Grove,
with a strong secondary Norse element.
The Equinox rites given here are a kind of stan-
dardized compromise. Because the equinoxes have little
Celtic context and only a little more of Norse, it has been
common over the years to work ‘cultural experiments’ on
these feasts, including Hellenic, Slavic and Baltic rites. A
few years ago we took up the occasional custom of using
those feasts to give special honor to the Earth Mother
and Gatekeeper, while keeping some simple customs. It
is those rites we give here.
These are big rites, meant to be worked by a crew
of no less than three, often more like 6 to 8 voices. They
can be pared down for solitary work by choosing one or
two of the customs and working them simply, adjusting
as your skill allows. Still, these rites are meant to be big
productions, with big props and strong voices.

36
The Samhain Offering
• Pre Ritual Briefing/Claiming & Saining
• Grove Attunement
• Processional:
• Opening Prayers
• Earth Mother: An offering of Grain is made, saying:
Aine Mor, beloved mother of prosperity and plenty,
from whose starry womb the green earth springs; you
who are the bearer of all life, we give this gift to you.
We pray you bless and uphold this rite, as you uphold
all the living.
Aine Mor, Earth Mother, accept our offering!

• Invocation to the Spirit of Bardic Inspiration

O Fire of the Poets, Power of Shaping, Light of Inspira-
tion, kindle in us as you do in the stars. Let the Poet’s
Voice be in us, the Imbas be upon us, the Sun of Wis-
dom shine in us, that these rites may be worked with
elegance and truth. Let truth be on our tongues and in
our hearts, by the Power of Inspiration!

• Outdwellers: An offering is made to the south of the Grove, say-

ing:
Ancient Dark Ones, we make this offering to you. You
who dwell in the outer dark; you who in the first days
stood against the Gods, and by your warring, made the
worlds; we remember you, and ask you take this of-
fering and trouble not our working. Likewise we ac-
knowledge in ourselves all that might separate us from
the blessing of Samhain. We contemplate these ills and
enemies and, for this sacred time, we set them aside!
Outdwellers, accept our offering!
37
• Statement Of Purpose And Precedent
• Welcome friends! We gather here on the Feast of
Samhain, the End and Beginning of the Sacred Year,
the Time of Turning, of Twilight, when the Dark Time
begins. This is the Last Harvest. The fields lie empty,
sinking into Winters Sleep and our larders hold what
gain we have reaped from our labors. As our forebears
did, so do we do now, and so may our descendants do
after us.
• We are here to offer to the Lord of the House of the
Dead and to the Queen of Spirits. We offer to Donn
the Dark One, the Antlered God who offers hospitality
and peace to those bound for the Ancestors’ Country.
We offer to Morrigan, the Great Queen of Battle and
Sorcery, the Old Woman of Death and the Cauldron of
Rebirth. In this Season of Change we honor the Holy
Dead as the ancients did, and seek the a blessing for the
coming year while the Veil between the Worlds is thin.
Now let us Hallow the Grove...

• Fire, Well & Tree Silver is offered to the Well, Oil to the Fire,
and Incense and Water to the Bile as the Company sings the Portal
Song.

• Purification: A bowl of water, and incense or fire from the Fire, is

used to asperge and cense all, as all chant:
By the Might of the Waters and the light of the Fire,
This Grove is made whole and holy.

• Opening the Gates:

O 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

38
us as we walk in safety. Manannan Mac Lir, accept our
sacrifice!
• An offering of oil is given to the Fire. The Druid then conjures the
Gates, making an opening triskel on the Fire and Well, saying:
Now, lord of ways, join your magic with mine 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!
All: Let the gates be open!

• The Vision of the Hall (after the ritual opening of the Gates):
• Now let us pause for a moment, and build a vision in our mind’s
eye... make yourself comfortable, straighten your spine, and breath
deep... Renew your center... Earth below and Sky above... and, ris-
ing from the Sacred Center, from the Hallows, a mist... Silver-
grey, warm and shimmering... rising to swirl around us... Filling
our Grove with Magic’s Mist... the Mist of the Between...
• Breathe deep and feel the Mist around you... a tingle of Oth-
erworld power on your skin... Let the Mist open your Inner Eye
to a vision in the presence of the Gates... at the Boundary of All
Worlds... Close your eyes if you wish, or let them focus into the
Otherworld...
• The vision resolves slowly... shapes forming around us where
we sit... your vision focusing into a cavernous room... vast and
deep... perhaps a timbered hall, perhaps a corbeled dome of an-
cient stones... the Hall seems empty of guests, except for we Chil-
dren of Earth, on our benches...
• In the Hall stand a pair of thrones before a huge round hearth...
a fire burns low, and the shadows dance on the walls... As you
watch the shadows you realize that every inch of the walls is cov-
ered with shrines, images and carvings, all depicting some aspect
of the Powers... This is the Feasting Hall of the Gods... the vision
into which we call the spirits... now let us give offering to the Pow-
ers of Blessing, and invite them to our feast...

39
• Kindred Offerings
The druids make proper offerings to each of the kindreds, standing
at the fire.

To The Dead:
• O Mighty Ones, our Ancestors, our kindred, we your
children honor you. You whose life and death creates
our lives, you whose wisdom upholds our wisdom, Hear
us as we call to you and invite you to our Samhain fire.
O Mighty Ancestors, we honor your presence offering
our love and worship. Be with us in our grove and
in our hearts, and accept this gift in token of our kin-
ship.
All: Ancestors accept our sacrifice!”

To The Sidhe:
• O Noble Ones, our Allies, with whom we share the
worlds, you who fill the land with wonder, Spirits of
Stone and Stream, Red and Green, Tribes of Spirits,
the Peoples of the Otherworld, Hear us as we call you,
and invite you to our Fire. O Noble Spirits, we honor
your presence offering our love and worship. Be with
us in our Grove and in our hearts and accept this gift in
token of our friendship. Spirits, Accept our Sacrifice!
All: Spirits, accept our sacrifice!

To The God/desses:
• O Shining Ones, our Elders, Goddeses and Gods, O
Wisest and Mightiest, you who sustain all the worlds,
First Children of the Mother, the Tribe of the Goddess,
hear us as we call you and invite you to our Fire. O
Shining Deities, we honor your presence, offering our
love and worship. Be with us in our Grove and in our
40
hearts and accept this gift in token of our worship.
Shining Ones, Accept our Sacrifice!
All: Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice

Druid says:
• Hail and welcome, to the Gods, the Dead and the Sid-
he. Let us welcome them with song! (Kindreds Song):

• Key Offerings Druid refreshes the vision-of the hall, saying:

• Recall now the vision of the Feasting Hall of the Gods. The
thrones, the fire in the hearth, the shadows dancing on the wall...
The Shining Ones, the Ancestors, and the Sidhe, all coming to join
us in the Great Hall... in their beauty and wildness and strange-
ness... on the honor feast of Summer’s End, we bid you join us in
worshipping the Morrigan and Donn.

Honoring the Patron Deities

The Invocation of Donn
• In the season of darkening, the Lord of the House of
Death receives the Spirits in his Hall. He is Donn the
Dark One, called Cernunnos the Horned One. He is the
First Ancestor, the Torc Bearer, and The Guardian of
the Cauldron of Plenty.
• Hear us now, Horned One! Dark one, Receiver of the
Dead, Granter of Rest, Patron of the Feast in the Land
of the Dead, we your children pray you to come in, to
let your gaze fall upon this Sacred Ground, to indwell
our rite and give us your blessing.
• We make due offering to you. We give you...
Silver, that you grant the wealth of the Underworld,
Source of All Potential. (offering made into shaft or offering
bowl.)
Oil, that the richness of the Land be renewed as our
own lives are renewed. (Offering made to the Fire)
41
Horn, that the beings that know you may bless us in the
Season of Hunting. (Offering placed at the foot of the Tree)
• Be welcome among us, Donn; Dark One, accept our
sacrifice!
The vision-image of Donn is established, present in the Hall-vision,
as a ritualist steps up and assumes the mask and throne.

The Invocation of Morrigan

• As the Earth falls into sleep the Queen of Spirits is
choosing the slain. She is Morrigan, the Great Queen
of Phantoms. She is the Battle Raven, the Red Woman,
the Speaker of prophecy, the Mistress of the Cauldron
of Rebirth.
• Hear us now, Red One, Great Queen, Lady of the
Reaping, Cauldron-Witch of Sorcery and Prophecy.
We your children pray that you be with us, that you
look kindly upon our holy rite, that you come into our
Grove and give us your blessing.
• We give due offering to you. We give you...
Precious stone, that the Bones of the Earth may be
clothed again in life. (Stone given to the shaft)
Red Wine, blood of the land might be renewed through
death and birth... (Wine given to the fire)
Feathers, that your raven Eye watches over us in the
Season of Sleep. (Black feathers given to the tree)
• Be welcome among us Morrigan; Great Queen, ac-
cept our sacrifice!
The image of Morrigan is established in the vision-hall, as a ritual-
ist steps up and assumes the mask and throne.

Honoring the Ancestors

• On the feast of Samhain we call to our Beloved Dead,
the blessed Ancestors, to join our feast and receive due
42
offering.
• Come to the Gates, honored ones; hear our call, we
who remember. We offer you our worship, our rever-
ence and our love. Receive now these offerings, made
in your honor:
• Apples, the Fruit of Life and Death. Pork, the flesh of
the Sacred Sow. Hazelnuts, concentrated meat of wis-
dom. We offer these... (Some of each offering made to the shaft,
as the Dead are invoked:)
• You who in old times were priests and priestesses; you
who were seers and oracles, sacrificers and singers and
keepers of lore, hear us as we call to you. Mighty Dead,
accept our sacrifice!
• You who in old times were warriors and defenders;
sword-folk and spear-folk, you who put your lives be-
tween your folk and harm, hear us as we call to you.
Mighty Dead, accept our sacrifice!
• You who in old times were farmers and landkeepers;
you plow-folk and husbanders, you who bring forth
the wealth of the land, hear us as we call to you. Mighty
Dead, accept our sacrifice!
• To our own Beloved Dead, Grandmothers-and-Fa-
thers, family and friends who have gone ahead, we
honor you and grieve for you. To the honored Dead of
the passed year; those women and men of our folk who
inspired and guided our whole world.
The Roll of the Past Year’s Dead is read from the Grove
Book of the Dead. Then:
• So we make our call to the Mighty Dead.
Let our voices be strong, and our call be clear
By deep root and water’s spring,
By skull and by bone,
43
By the Inward Road and the River Crossing
and the Fire in the Land of the Dead
To all of you we give these fruits and meats that you
may feast in joy in the Land of the Dead. Mighty Dead,
accept our sacrifice!
Vision of the entry of the Ancestors into the Hall of
Feasting.

• Praise Offerings
Note on the Praise Offerings While the Praise Offerings are made,
a wreath is passed among the people and all who wish tie a black
ribbon onto the wreath in commemoration of their own dead. This
wreath is then given to the fire at the Prayer of Sacrifice.

• Sacrifice:
• So we give of our love and our wealth to Donn and the
Morrigan, and to the Mighty and Beloved Dead. Now
let our voices arise on the fire, let our voices resound in
the well, let our words pass the boundary to the Other-
worlds. O Donn, O Morrigan, Ancestors, we give you
our love, our respect, our devotion as we pray you...
All: Holy Ones, accept our sacrifice!
• The Omen (The Druid leads a re-centering, while the omen is
prepared on a tray)
• See again the presence of Donn, Lord of the Dead, seated in the
realm of the Ever Young, and the Morrigan, Queen of Phantoms
and Initiatrix of Heroes. And as they are seated in vision, so they
are seating among us.
Two ritualists have been sitting in chairs, bent over with cloak and
hood about them. They sit up and reveal faces concealed by the
masks of the Donn and Morrigan.
• The Morrigan speaks:
On this night that stands at the rim of dark and light,
the veil between the worlds is thin. Know that on this
night above all others the Shining Ones and Ancestors
44
hear the prayers of mortals and on this night the ken-
ning of their will is most easily obtained. A gift calls for
a gift! Offerings and sacrifice you have made. Learn
now the wyrd of the folk who have come to this hall
seeking the blessings of the mighty.
The omen tray is placed before Donn and the Omen is drawn. A
Druid reveals the results with very basic, simple meanings. The
Druids make brief speculation as to the results.
• Donn speaks:
Hear now the nature of the blessing the Gods see fit to
bestow upon us.
“Donn” (or the Druid) continues with an interpretation of the Omen.
When done, he says:
What use have you for: ________________? What use
have you for: ________________? What use have you
for: ________________? Meditate now on how you will
receive this blessing.
The Morrigan speaks:
The blessing of the Gods is poured from the cauldron
of mystery, the cauldron of plenty, the cauldron of re-
birth.
Do the Children of the Earth desire the blessing? (All
respond)
Do you come in honor to the Elder Ways? (All respond)
Do you desire that every one of us be Blessed? (All re-
spond)

The Donn and Morrigan bow their heads and resettle themselves. As
the Druid leads the Cauldron meditation they slip out of the chairs
leaving the masks on them and blend in with the crowd once more.
Meanwhile, the Druid speaks:
• The Blessing
The cauldron is unveiled, between the Two Thrones, arranged so
that three candles can be placed around it for the Blessing.
• The Powers offer us their Blessing!... here and now it
45
is proper for the Cauldron of Blessing to appear... For it
is the Cauldron of blessing that gives and is replenished,
promotes and is enlarged, nourishes and is given life, the
Cauldron that offers each of us our proper drink.
• See in your minds eye, the Cauldron of Blessing in the
Hall of the Gods... It is exalted and ennobled, round and
deep... light and dark are so blended in it that none could
say if it were gold or blackest iron... It is graven with ru-
nic signs, and humans and animals cavort about its sides
in a dance of life and death... It seems supported only by
the light and heat of the flames...
• Children of the Earth, in this season of magic you are
offered a drink from the Cauldron of Blessing! Open
your hearts to The Power of the Gods and Spirits, let
your own spirit rise in the presence of the High Ones, as
we heat the Cauldron of Blessing.

• Hallowing the Waters: The Druid lights a each of the three can-
dles in turn, saying:
O Mighty, Noble and Shining ones we have honored
you. Now we ask for a Blessing as a gift calls for a gift.
Now we enchant the Cauldron, so that we may live our
lives in truth, joy and honor. Let none drink of this ves-
sel holding ill will to any here in their hearts!
• Let the cauldron be warmed by the Fire of Blessing.
Let Healing be in it, strength, growth and gain.
• Let the cauldron be warmed by the Fire of Blessing.
Let Wisdom be in it, vision, inspiration and magic.
• Let the cauldron be warmed by the Fire of Blessing.
Let Rebirth be in it, whether of body or of spirit or of
all the world.
• So, O Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones, hear and an-
swer us! Hallow these waters Donn and Morrigan! Be-
46
hold the Waters of Life!
Druid draws drink from the Cauldron, saying:
• We draw water from the magic cauldron; we bring
the Blessing to the folk.
• Let this be the outpouring of Blessing from the Mighty
Ones, from all the Powers, from the Cauldron of Won-
ders!
• Drink we now the draught of the Gods. Drink in Wis-
dom, Wealth and Strength.
The cup is passed in the usual way, perhaps singing (Blessing
Song)

• Final Blessing: When all have drunk, the Druids lead a final medi-
tation:
• The Ale of Blessing flows in us, the magic of Morrigan and
Donn. As the year turns, let us welcome the quiet of the Dark. Let
the stillness of the land calm and satisfy our spirits, that we may
receive the Harvest’s Bounty. Let the gain of the passing year be
ours, to fill our lives with contentment.
• Let us welcome the Dead who return to the living world, even as
we remember those who depart. May we rest content as we pass the
threshold of new beginnings... Now let us rest in silence, with the
Power of the Between in us, and know the blessing as it manifests
itself in our lives... (Silence, for a time)

• Works (if any) are brought before the Grove; Investiture of Officers
for the coming year

• Closing
When all is done, the druids lead a resettling, then begin to close the
grove, saying:
• We have been blessed by Donn and Morrigan, offer-
ing given and Blessing received. Now it is time to end
what we began, to leave behind the place of the Caul-
dron... Remember the Hall of Donn... the presence of
47
Morrigan... of the Ancestors and the Spirits... the shin-
ing inheritance of the Cauldron... remember the Mist
of Vision... that brought us to this place...
• Now it is time for the Mist to flow away... You feel
it around you... the vision of the Cauldron dims... The
Mist settle into the well, into the earth... Remember the
Fire, the Well, the Tree... your vision returns to the Sa-
cred Grove where we began...The Mist dissolves... and
we are together... returned truly and well to the com-
mon world... with the Blessing of the Gods in us all.
• 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 be come 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.
• O Morrigan and Donn, All: We thank you!
• O Gods and Goddesses of elder days! All: We thank
you!
• O spirits of this land! All: We thank you!
• O ancestors, our kindred! All: We thank you!
• To all those powers that have aided us, we say
again...
All: We thank you!
Druids renew the company’s centering once more:

The druids go to the center, bearing the wand. They speak:

• O Gatekeeper, Warder of the Ways, for your presence
and power, your guiding and guarding we say... All: We
thank you!
Druid makes the closing sign over the hallows with the
wand, saying:
• Now by the keeper of gates and by our magic we end
48
what we began. Now let the fire be flame; Let the well
be water; Let all be as it was before. Let the gates be
closed!
All: Let the gates be closed!
Then any unused offerings, return flow, incense, water etc. is given
to the earth, saying:
• Mother of all, to you we return all we leave unused.
Uphold us now in the world as you have in our rite. All:
We thank you!

• Go now, children of the earth, in peace and blessings.

The rite is ended!
The bard leads a proper chant as the company processes out of the
Grove.

49
The Yule Offering 2008
• Pre Ritual Briefing/claiming & Saining
• Grove Attunement
• Processional

• Hammer Rite
A priest/ess goes to the four quarters and makes the Hammer sign.
saying:
Hammer in the North, hallow and hold this holy stead.
Hammer in the East, hallow and hold this holy stead.
Hammer in the South, hallow and hold this holy stead.
Hammer in the West, hallow and hold this holy stead.
then goes to the center and makes the sign overhead saying:
Hammer above us, hallow and hold this holy stead.
and then toward the ground saying:
Hammer below us, hallow and hold this holy stead.

• Opening Prayers
• Welcome to all who come to keep the Old Ways. We
are here to honor the Gods, to keep the feast of Yule.
Let us begin by remembering the Earth Mother.

• Earth Mother
An offering of Grain is made to the offering bowl, saying:
We give welcome to the wife of Odinn
And make offerings to the mother of Thorr.
Daughter of Night we name you near
And ask to be given your blessing.
Bring your bounty to your children in this time of
change.
Mighty Jordr, Mother of all, Gaze upon our work with
gracious eyes and fill our hall with hope and joy.

50
Call to Odinn for Inspiration
A horn of mead or wine should be lifted saying:
We give welcome to the granter of wishes, the wander-
ing god, the giver of wisdom,
All-father, Odinn, who won Odroerir, the magical mead
that inspires men.
With hallowed horn we hail you. Grimnir and pray you
pour us poetry’s drink.
Grant us the gift you won from Gunlod, the wisdom of
word-wit ‘til worship is done.

• Outdwellers
An offering is made to the south of the grove. saying..
Hear me all you wights unhallowed,
etins trolls and all the Outgarth,
Ravers, enemies of Asgard,
here we give you proper honor.
Take this gift here freely given,
bring not woe to holy workings
For our hall is here well-warded,
by the brawn of the bold Redbeard.

• Purification by Fire and Water: Draw water from the Well and
light a censer from the Fire. Quickly cense and asperge the com-
pany, while the company intones or chants.

• Fire, Well & Tree:

Silver is offered to the Well, oil to the Fire, and Incense and Water to
the Bile as the company sings the Portal Song..

• Statement of Purpose and Precedent

• We gather here on the Feast of Yule, the end of the
Sacred Year and the beginning. It is a time of turning
and for the nights of the Yuletide it is a time out of time.
51
The nights have grown longer for this past season and
the Solstice night is the longest of the year. From the
night before, the Mother-Night, and for twelve nights
after, we are in the time between years; the holiest time
of the year.
• Our larders hold what gain we have reaped from our
labors and in this desolate time we thank them for what
we have and ask their blessing for what is to come. Ev-
ergreen trees and holly, which remain green through-
out the long nights and bitter cold, are a promise that
life is not fled, but will return to the land and bounty
return to our folk.
• Yule is the most holy of the ancient Feasts. The Gods
themselves are called Jolnir, the Yule-beings, and on this
day we honor all of the Aesir and the Vanir, the Gods
and Goddesses. The Gods and Goddesses are closer at
this time, as are the Dead, Trolls, Etins, Wights and
other powerful and risky beings. Yule is a time to rec-
ognize boundaries, between future and past, ours and
theirs, realized and unrealized. On this day, we take
joy in our Tribe, make Oaths for the coming year and
sing the Yule carols to drive the cold winter away from
our hearts!
Now let us open the Ways Between...

• Opening the Gates

• Yggdrasil stands before us, the World-Tree, the axis of
all. Beneath one of its mighty roots is Urdabrunnr, the
Well of Wyrd. Stretching from our grove here in Mid-
gard to the dwellings of the gods in Asgard is Bifrost,
the rainbow bridge that is all aflame. And stretching
to Hel, the land of the dead, is the Gjallar-bridge that
52
is thatched with gold and clangs under the footsteps of
the living.
Oil is poured onto the fire saying:
• Heimdall we hail. High-minded Ase in Himinbjorg,
we ask you to hear us! Guardian of the gates to Asgard,
watch and ward us as we work the elder ways. Lend us
your might and main, so that we may open the ways
between.
OiI is poured onto the fire, saying:
• Modgud we hail. Etin-maid who guards Gjallarbru
we ask you to hear us. You who keeps the way to Hel-
la’s halls, permit our praise and offerings to pass and
blessings to return. Lend us your might and main, so
that we may open the ways between.
• Heimdall, Modgud, we ask you to open the Gates...
Let the Gates be open!

• Offering to the Landvaettir

The horn is filled and elevated saying:
• We welcome the kin of stone and stream, of field and
forest, of furrowed earth, of bird and beast, and sky
above, all wights of weal we welcome you.
• Landvaettir come to the light of our fire, we honor
and hail you with horn of drink and ask you to share
the feast with our folk so blessings may be between us.
The horn is passed as the folk sing a chant to the Nature Spirits.
When this is done the remnant of the horn is poured into the offering
bowl. saying:
• Let all the earth and sea and sky receive with us the
blessing of Yule!
Landvaetir accept our sacrifice!

53
• Offering to the Alfar and Disir
The horn is filled and elevated saying:
• Hail to the holy howe-folk forefathers of flesh and
spirit, mighty men of the grave-mound.
Alfar we give you welcome! Hail to the holy mothers of
men, honored women who ward our luck, bright maids
of birth and blessing, Disir, we give you welcome!
Forebears come to the light of our fire, we honor and
hail you with horn of drink and ask you, ancestors, to
share the feast, so blessings may be between us.
The Horn is passed the folk sing a chant to the ancestors.
When this is done the remnant of the horn is poured into the offering
bowl, saying:
Hail to the Alfs, all ringed round us,
the Fathers of our folk.
Hail to the Dises, all ringed round us,
the Mothers of our might.
Hail to our kin in the hidden lands,
Hail the ancestors on this holy Yule!
Ancestors, accept our sacrifice!

• Offering to the Aesir and Vanir

The horn is filled and elevated saying:
• Hail to the High Ones, the Holy Regin, goddesses and
gods who grant us blessing, Ases awesome and wise
Wanes, Yule-folk, we welcome you! Elder kin come to
our Fire; we honor and hail you with horn of drink and
ask you, Shining Ones, to share the feast, so blessings
may be between us.
An offering of oil is poured on the fire as the horn is passed and the
folk sing a chant to the gods.
When this is done the remnant of the horn is poured into the offering
bowl.
• We now make special offering to the Aesir.
54
Offering is made to the whole company of the Aesir. The
Yule log bears 9 candles which are lit as each Deity is honored
Thorr:
Hail to the Hallower, the Hammer-wielder, friend of
men and warder of Midgard. Hail Thorr!
Sif:
Hail to the goddess with golden hair, wife of Vingthor
and warder of frith. Hail Sif!
Odinn:
Hail to the All-father, the One-eyed, Wisest Ase and
Wild Hunt’s Leader. Hail Odinn!
Frigga
Hail to the Asa-Dis, Asgard’s queen, Spindle-goddess
and Great Mother. Hail Frigga!
Heimdall:
Hail to the bright one in Himinbjorg, Wrangler of Loki
and teacher of Runes. Hail Heimdall!
Freyja:
Hail to the bright maid of Brisingamen, Fensalir’s Lady
cloaked in falcon feathers. Hail Freyja!
Freyr:
Hail to the god who gives us Frith, God of the mound,
full of might. Hail Yngvi-Freyr!
Gerd:
Hail to the beautiful bride of Freyr, Goddess of the fro-
zen earth made fruitful. Hail Gerd!
Idunna:
Hail to the goddess of golden apples, Wife of Bragi who
brings renewal. Hail Idunna
To all the Aesir, we make this offering – Shining One’s
accept our sacrifice!

55
• Descent into Darkness (optional)
The hall is darkened save for the light of the fire and of the candles
on the Yule log.
• Sunna is ever chased by the wolf, her wain always just
ahead of it. Tonight is her darkest stead when the wolf
is closest to catching her. The Land lies cold and white,
at the deepest moment of the dark. Yet all is not lost,
for the light of the Shining Gods remains with us.

• Key Offerings
• Let us offer now to the Powers who bring life and
light to our folk in the dark times.

Invocation of Freyr
• We give welcome to the Vana-god, God of the World,
giver of wealth, Antler-armed, the Lord of Alfheim,
Frodi gives us faith fulfilled. On this Yule-night, Yngvi-
Freyr, greet our grove on Gullinbursti, with strength
of stag, of steed and boar Ward against grim winter’s
chill.
Invocation of Freyja:
• We welcome the wise Vanadis, goddess weeping gold-
en tears Lady of life, of love and battle, the mistress
of magic and fiery might. On this Yule-night, fly to us,
Freyja, hasten to hallows on Hildisvin, for speed and
strength we call you, Syr, your beauty warms the bitter
night.

• Praise Offerings: A Yule-boar made of bread shall be passed to

the folk while the praise offerings are taking place. Before the praise
begins, the godi says:
• During the Yule feast it was custom for a boar to be
brought to the gathered folk. They would each in turn

56
lay their hands upon his bristles to make an oath or ask
him to carry their prayers to the gods.
While the boar is being passed people should come forward as they
normally would When the boar has passed and the praise offerings
finished lift the boar high and say:
• We send you now to join Freyr and Freyja and all of
the Aesir, carrying to them our love and worship.
The boar should be placed in the fire as a final offering.

• The Omen
• It is time to sing on the sage’s seat at Urdabrunnr,
I saw but was silent, I saw and thought, I listened to
men’s lore, Of runes I heard reckoning, their rede was
not silent, at the hall of Har, in the hall of Har, thus I
heard them say:
The runes are now cast to determine the wyrd of the rite.

• The Blessing
The blessing bowl is lifted saying:
• A gift calls for a gift. As we have offered to you, Holy
Ones, we ask for your blessing in return. Freyr and
Freyja, Aesir and Vanir, Goddesses and Gods - give us
your blessing, let this drink become the holy draught.
The Hammer-sign is made over the blessing bowl then the horn is
filled and passed while everyone sings Sharing Blessings:

• Works - The return of Sunna (optional)

A sun-wheel (made of wood) or a wreath is lifted saying:
The Sun has fallen to darkness; the wolf has almost overtaken
her. With the blessings of the gods within us, we turn our atten-
tion to the holy goddess and send her our love and our strength
to help her return.
The company then raises power, focusing on the sun-wheel, with a
chant (and perhaps drumming). At the leader’s signal the drums and
chant stop suddenly. In the silence, all direct their energy to the sun-

57
wheel with imagination and breath. The sun-wheel is then placed on
the fire and as it burns the leader and folk say:
Leader: We call you to come forth,
All: Rise up, radiant goddess!
Leader: from the depths of darkness.
All: Rise up, radiant goddess!
Leader: and return to the hall of heaven.
All: Rise up, radiant goddess!
The lights should be relit as the leader says:
Sunna, we welcome you and hail your returning.
• Final Blessing:
Priest/ess leads a re-centering and focuses on the presence of the
Blessing in the souls of the worshippers. She says:
• Now let us rest in silence, Before the sacred Center
with the power of the blessing in us, and know the pow-
er of the work as it manifests itself in our lives...
Silence for a time...

Closing
When all is done, lead a resettling and begin to close the grove, say-
ing:
• We have been blessed by the Aesir, by Freyr and by
Freyja. Offering we have given and blessings we have
received from the Landvettir, Alfar and Disir, Gods
and Goddesses.
• But now it is time to return to our common world, to
continue our holy feast here in our hall in Midgard, al-
ways remembering that we mirror the halls of the Holy
Ones when our love for them is in our hearts and our
bellies are full with their Blessing!
• 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
58
aware of our needs and our worship.
• Now as we prepare to depart let us give thanks to
those who have aided us.
Freyr and Freyja, all: We thank you!
Aesir! All: We thank you!
Alfar and Disir, Blessed Ancestors! All: We thank you!
Landvaettir, spirits of nature and of this place!
All: We thank you!
To all those powers that have aided us, we say again...
All: We thank you!
Renew the company’s center once more.
Go to the center and say:
• Heimdall, warder of the ways, for your presence and
power, for guiding and guarding, we say...
All: We thank you!
• Modgud, warder of the ways, for your presence and
power, for guiding and guarding, we say....
All: We thank you!

Make the closing sign over the Hallows, saying:

• Now by the keepers of gates we end what we began.
Now let the fire be flame,
Let the well be water,
Let all be as it was before,
Save for the blessings we have received.
Let the gates be closed!
All: Let the gates be closed!
• Odinn, All-father, for giving us inspiration and lending
us word-wit, we say...
All: We thank you!
Then any unused offerings, return flow, incense, water etc. is given
to the earth, saying:

59
Mother Jorth, to you we return all we leave unused.
Uphold us now in the world as you have in our rite.
All: We thank you!
So, let us go to the Feast, in Frith and Fellowship!
This rite is ended!

60
The Imbolg Offering
Feast day of Brighid
• Pre Ritual Briefing/Claiming & Saining
• Grove Attunement
• Processional

• Earth Mother:
An offering of Grain is made to the offering bowl, saying:
Great Danu, beloved ancestral mother of prosperity
and plenty, from whose starry womb the green earth
springs; You who are the bearer of all life, we pray you
bless and uphold this rite.
Earth Mother, Accept our sacrifice!

• Invocation to Brighid for Inspiration:

Brighid, O lovely lady of the green mantle, Goddess of
poetry, of bards, of fire and fertility, Brighid, we pray
you; as our thoughts form words from inspiration and
flow into melodies - let your flame flicker in our hearts
and inspire us in our work.

•Outdwellers:
An offering is made to the south of the Grove, saying:
Ancient dark ones, we make this offering to you.
You who stood against the gods
And in your striving made the worlds
Beautiful or terrible, ancient chaos powers,
Take this offering and trouble not our working.
Likewise we acknowledge in ourselves
All that might separate us
From the Blessing of the Holy Ones
We contemplate these ills and enemies and for this sa-
cred time, we set them aside!
61
• Statement of Precedent:
• As our ancestors once did, so we do today, and so our
children will do in the future. We are here to pay hom-
age to the Brigid, Lady of fire and to Dagda, the all
father, to the Gods, dead and the sidhe and to the ris-
ing light of the year. Now is the time of stirring when
the earth begins to soften and the waters to flow. While
frost still bites and winds blow, and the light is growing
stronger, and life begins to wake.
• This is the feast of Brigid, the Goddess of Fire and
Water. She is the year’s midwife who births the sun.
Also we make offering to Dagda, the lord of perfect
knowledge. Through the union of fire and water, the
ancients, our forbearers, worked magic to call in the
spring. So let us join together as one folk to make our
offerings in joy and reverence.

• Triads: Fire, Well & Tree

Silver is offered to the Well, Oil to the Fire, and Incense and Water
to the Bile as the Company sings the Portal Song.

• Purification by Fire and Water: Druids draw water from the Well
and light a censer from the Fire. They quickly cense and asperge the
company, while the company intones or chants.

• Opening The Gates:

• O 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!
An offering of oil is given to the Fire. The Druid then conjures the
Gates, making an opening triskele on the Fire and Well, saying:
Now, Lord of Ways, join your magic with mine and let
the fire open as a gate, let the well open as a gate, let the
62
tree be the crossroads of all worlds. Open as a road to
our voices and to the spirits. Let the gates be open!
All: Let the gates be open!
• So the Gates between the worlds are open, and the
Gods and Spirits draw near. With the Ways open the
Holy Ones hear our thoughts and know our hearts, so
let only Truth be present therein.

• Kindred Offerings
The druids make proper offerings to each of the kindreds.
• We make offerings to the kindreds with whom we
share the 3 worlds of Land, Sea and Sky:

Ancestors
• The children of the earth call out to the mighty dead.
Hear us, our ancestors, our kindred. To all 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 grandfa-
thers, 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, o mighty ones,
we call to you as our kin, in the love of the all-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 food and/or drink is made)

63
Nature Spirits
• The children of earth call out to the spirits of this
land. Hear us, companions and teachers. To all our al-
lies, kindreds of stone and stream, crystal and fertile
soil, pools and mighty seas, 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 wel-
come. So, o 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, ac-
cept our sacrifice!
(An offering of herbs, flowers and/or trinkets is scattered around the
Nemetons’ edge or hung on the tree)

Deities
• 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, o patrons and matrons, we offer you welcome. So,
O 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!
(An offering of scented oil is poured on the fire)
64
•See these beings now coming to our fire. See them
ringing our Grove, mingling their energies with ours.
The Gods, Dead and Sidhe, coming to join us in the
worship of Brigid and the Dagda. Let us welcome them
with song!

• Key Offerings
• Imbolg is the time of the hearth fire, and the thawing
and stirring of earth’s waters. First we will offer to the
red god, the hungry God, the best of the Gods, Dagda.

The Invocation to the Dagda

• Dagda most honored to you we make sacrifice
To Eochaid the All Father
You, the Fire Beneath the Cauldron
Hear us, Old Giant, God with the Great Staff
Ruad Rofessa, Lord of Perfect Knowledge
Fire of the Sacrifice, Great in Appetite
To you we do honor, Excellent God
Mate of the great queen, Fergus the mare’s son
Chieftain of Danu, bountiful giver
Flame in the belly that sustains life,
Flame in the eye that comprehends life
Be in us as we are in you
Boiled in the cauldron upon the sacred fire
O harper of the seasons, taker of sacrifice
Druid of Oak and Hazel
Dagda Mor-Great good God
Accept our sacrifice
Porridge offered into offering bowl
Sound three knells

65
Invocation of Brigid
• Behold the lightener of the stars
Brigid of the mantels
She comes on the crest of waves
With harpers of the sidhe praising her
Arising in splendor
From the mighty one below
Brigid of the auguries
Song and the voices of the Bards for her
Brigid of the waters
Brigid of the kindling
Brigid thou source of joy and life
Healers and artisans honor your spirit
Brigid, woman of wisdom
Thou mid-wife of sweet wisdom
Of bright beauty shining like stars
Joy were it to those who behold you
O Brigid the skillful
O Brigid of the triple spirit
O Brigid who comes in light and shadow
Thrice blessed be your flaming path.
Brigid accept our sacrifice
Ale is offered into offering bowl. Druid says:

• O triple one, Lady of fire and water, Goddess of poets,

healers and smiths, we give you the gift of welcome.
Come into our temple and bless our rite.
The door to the hall opens, and a maiden carries in the Brideog
(Bree-Og), once around the center as a Hymn to Brigid is sung.
Brideog is placed in the bed and bannock offering is made. Sur-
round Brideog with 9 candles. Wand is placed by her side, and she
is given offerings-bannocks, milk, & beer.

• Praise Offerings
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• Payer of Sacrifice:
All are led to send their energy through the gates to the powers,
meditating on the deities and the nobles. The druids prepare the
final offerings (Oil, milk, bannock) and say:
• So we have given of our love and our wealth to the lord
and lady. Now let our voices arise on the fire, let our
voices sound in the well let our words pass the bound-
ary to the otherworlds. O Brigh, O Dagda, we give you
our love, our respect, our devotion as we pray you...
All: Brigh and Dagda, accept our sacrifice!

• The Omen
The Omen is cast:
What use have you for: _______?
What use have you for: _______?
What use have you for: _______?
Meditate now on how you will take this blessing…

• Calling for the Blessing

Do the Children of the Earth desire the blessing?
(All respond)
Do you come in honor to the Elder Ways?
(All respond)
Do you desire that every one of us be Blessed?
(All respond)

• Hallowing the Waters

The Druid pours the blessing and elevates it, saying:
• We draw water from the magic cauldron; we pour
the Ale of Inspiration. O Mighty, Noble and Shining
ones we have honored you. Now we ask for a Blessing
as a gift calls for a gift. Now we enchant the Blessing
Cup, that our work may bear true fruit. This is the out-
pouring of Blessings from the Mighty Ones, from all the
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Powers, from the Cauldron of Wonders! Drink we now
the draught of Blessing. Pass we now through the Girdle
of Brigid, that, as the ancients said, our lives might be
seven times better by its power
• So, O Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones, hear and an-
swer us! Hallow these waters Brigh and Dagda!
Behold the waters of life!

• The Girdle of Brigid

The Girdle is set up before the Bridog, held by a man and a woman.
As the company sings a hymn to Brighid, each comes forward, and
is given a drink of the Blessing cup. They pass through the Girdle,
men stepping through, and women having the girdle passed down
over their head, and each is given a candle as they emerge. All re-
turn to their places and hold their candles.

• Final Blessing:
This may be read as the blessing cup is passed or after all have
drunk, as a meditation.
Brigid of the mantles, Brigid of the hearth fire,
Brigid of the twining hair, Brigid of the auguries
Brigid of the fair face, Brigid of the calmness
Brigid of the strong hands, Brigid of the kine
Brigid, friend of women, Brigid, fire of magic
Brigid the foster mother, Brigid woman of wisdom.
Brigid the daughter of Danu, Brigid the triple flame.
Each day and each night I call the descent of Brigid.
That the power of healing be within us,
That the power of poetry be within us,
That the power of shaping be within us,
In earth, sea and sky and among all kindreds.
Kindle your flame in our heads, hearts and loins,
Make us your cup, your harp, your forge,
That we may heal, inspire and transform,
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All in your honor, Brigid font of blessing.
Brigid above us,
Brigid below us,
Brigid at every airt about us.
Brigid in our truest heart.

• Receiving the Fire

The Fire is used to light candles, and they are passed to each of the
folk, as all sing a chant to Brigid’s Fire. When all have the flame,
the Seer leads a meditation to draw the flame into each of the folk.
It might flow in this order:
• Renew the center
• Feel the presence of the Blessing in the belly. Recall the
nature of the omen, and open to the potential for mani-
festation. Feel the Drink as water, flowing through the
whole self. Allow the Flame to be reflected in the wa-
ter within. Reflected in the loins, in the heart and in the
head. This is the Fire of quickening, of warming, of il-
lumination. When it shines into the Water of Blessing
it stirs it, and brings the future out of the winter’s past.
May it bring to each of us the inspiration of the poet, the
strength of the smith, the compassion of the healer.
• Now moisten your fingers and snuff this outer flame...
Draw the Fire into yourself, the warmth of your own heart’s
hearth... Take home the candle, and may the Fire of Brigid
see you through til spring.

• Closing
When all is done, the druids lead a resettling, then begin to close the
grove, saying:
• We have been blessed by Brigh and Dagda, offering
we have given and Blessings we have received by the
Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones. But now it is time to
return to our common world, with joy in our hearts

69
let us carry the magic from our sacred grove into our
lives and work. Each time we offer to the powers they
be come 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.
O Brigh and Dagda,
All: We thank you!
O Gods and Goddesses of elder days!
All: We thank you!
O spirits of this land!
All: We thank you!
O ancestors, our kindred!
All: We thank you!
To all those powers that have aided us, we say again...
All: We thank you!
Druids renew the company’s centering once more:
The druids go to the center, bearing the wand. They speak:
• O Gatekeeper, warder of the ways, for your presence
and power, your guiding and guarding we say...
All: We thank you!
Druid makes the closing sign over the hallows with the wand, saying:
• Now by the keeper of gates and by our magic
We end what we began.
Now let the fire be flame, let the well be water;
Let all be as it was before.
Let the gates be closed!
All: Let the gates be closed!
Then any unused offerings, return flow, incense, water etc. is given
to the earth, saying:
• Mother of all, to you we return all we leave unused.
Uphold us now in the world as you have in our rite.
All: We thank you!
Go now, children of the earth, in peace and blessings.
The rite is ended!
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The Spring Equinox Offering
• Hallow and bless ,
• Ground and center , & Procession

• Opening Prayers
9 knells on a bell (or a tone , or drum ) When the populace is in
place say:
• We are here to honor the gods. Aine and Manannan
bless us, oh shining ones, here on this our Hallowed
Ground

• Earth Mother
a stone (?) and the trove is offered to the well for the Earth Mother,
saying:
• Land Mother, Aine Mor, we your children welcome
you to our work , accept this our offering and bless and
uphold our rite . Aine mor, accept our sacrifice!
All reply

• Brighid - Spirit of Bardic Inspiration:

• Brighid, O’ lovely lady of the green mantle, Goddess
of poetry, of bards, of fire and fertility, Brighid, we pray
you; as inspiration forms our thoughts into words, and
flow into melodies - let your flame flicker in our hearts
and inspire us in our work.

• Outdwellers Offering
A cup of ale is placed in the south saying:
Ancient dark ones, we make this offering to you.
You who stood against the gods
Lovely or terrible, powers of chaos-dark,
Who in your striving join in the Making of Worlds,
Take this offering and trouble not our working.
Likewise we acknowledge in ourselves
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All those things that might separate us
From the blessing of the Gods.
Weakness and foolishness, hatred and spite,
cowardice and ignorance
We contemplate these ills and enemies
And for this sacred time, we set them aside!

• Fire, Well and Tree

all sing the Portal Song, as the offerings are made to the Hallows

• Water & Fire Purification

All is sprinkled and Censed (With the priest/ess saying)
• By this water and this fire may all be cleansed,
And all ill will turn from us and this hallowed place!
(priest/ess leads all to contemplate the three powers present in the
grove and says)
• The well the fire and the sacred tree
Flow and flame and grow in us
In land ,sea and sky , below and on high
Thus is the sacred grove claimed and hallowed.

• Statement of Purpose
• We all come here to this hallowed place to do as the
ancient wise ones did, to keep the ways of old, to offer
our sacrifices to the gods and spirits, to honor the Earth
Woman, Aine the Great , to honor the Keeper of Roads
and Ways, Manannan mac Lir. Each time we make the
Gate, we ask these two mighty powers to aid us - today,
in the time of the rising light, we give them our special
offerings, and seek their blessings for the coming season
for ourselves and the world.

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• Gatekeeper & Gate
oil is offered to the fire (incense if indoors) 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, to keep the Old Ways. Manannan mac
Lir , accept our sacrifice
An offering is made to the fire . Conjure the gates making triskel
opening on the fire well saying
• Now, Lord of Ways , join your magic with mine and let
the fire open as a gate; let the well open as a gate; let the
tree be the crossroads of all the worlds. Open as a road
to our voices and to the spirits. Let the gates be open

• Kindred Offerings
Ancestors
• The children of 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 o mighty ones we call to you as our kin, in the love
of the all 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!

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Nature Spirits
• 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 , O Noble Ones, we call to you as our allies, in the joy
of life upon earth, t o join in our magic. Come to our fire,
spirits, meet us at the boundary. Guide and ward us as we
walk the elder ways. Landspirits, accept our sacrifice!

Deities
• 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 and unknown, gods of this place we
offer you welcome.
To all the deities to all those here gathered, you whom we
worship, you who bless our lives, o patrons and matrons,
we offer you welcome.
So , O 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

74
as we walk the elder ways. Deities accept our sacrifice

• Key Offerings
Druid Says:
• Welcome to the god/desses, the dead and the sidhe! To
all of you who have gathered at our fire , we pray you
join in or worship of the mac Lir and the Mother, here
in our sacred grove.

Invocation of Manannan
• I send my song into the west, to the place of the
setting sun, to the shore of the blessed isle, to the ear of
Manannan mac Lir. Let the birds who wing over the
wave carry my word to the mighty one. Mac lir, we call to
you; son of the boundless sea, we call to you, uncrowned
king, we invite you to our fire.
• We offer you apples, fruit of your trees of delight and
nourishment.
We offer you (honey) (mead), that the power of
inspiration flow in the worlds.
We offer you hazel-nuts, to give honor to your
wisdom.
O Manannan of the silver branch, you who nurture the
wise, we set this feast for you. Hoster of the feast of age,
we give you this welcome.
• To you, o Husband of the Apples of Emain Ablach, we
give due honor. You hold open for us the boundaries of
Tir Na nOg, You teach us the Old Ways, as you taught
the Wise Ones of old, and you guide and ward the spirits
as they come to us in love and honor. So come into our
grove we pray, Son of the Boundless, and receive our
thanks for these deeds you do!
Manannan Mac Lir, accept our sacrifice!
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Invocation of Aine Mor
• I invoke the mother of the land
Thrice-coursed be thy fertile waters,
Fertile be thy fruit-strewn shores,
Fruit-strewn be thy showery wood,
Showery be thy rivers of waterfalls,
Of rivers be thy deep pools,
Deep-pooled be thy high holy places,
A place of tribes for the assembly,
The assembly of the folk of the grove,
The grove be the circle of thy tribes,
The tribes of the children of earth,
The children of the old ways,
Let their lofty work be blessed
Blessed land-mother, darkly sung,
An incantation of great cunning,
I invoke thee Aine Mor!.
O Mighty Mother of this land, giver of its fruitfulness,
bestower of peace, fount of the waters of wisdom, we
offer these gifts to you in thanks. Corn we give you, and
apples, milk we pour for you, and ale. Fire we kindle for
you, flowers we give, and incense. Take these offerings,
great Aine, with our love and gratitude. Aine Mor, accept
our sacrifice!

• Praise & Personal Offerings

(all should place their eggs into the offering bowl for the eggs to be
taken back later)

• Prayer of Sacrifice and Omen

When all have placed their eggs into the basket, and all personal
offerings are done, Druid says:
• So, Aine Mor, Manannan, we make all these offerings
76
to you, gifts of food, the seeds of life, made into the food
of our own life. So we give also of our love and of our
wealth to the Lord of Wisdom, and the Mother of Waters
now let our thanks and praise arise on the fire, let our
voices sound in the well, let our words and praises pass
the boundary to the otherworlds.
O Lord , O Lady, we give you our love our respect our
devotion.
Aine Mor & Manannan, accept our sacrifice!

The omen is taken as usual saying

• Holy ones we have honored you and now we pray you
bless us in turn, as a gift calls for a gift. Reveal to us now
what blessing you offer in return for our sacrifice.
Seer interprets the omen

• Calling for the Blessing

The populace call for the blessing saying :
Children of earth , we call for the blessing of the ancient
ones, together we cry .....
All: Shining ones give us the waters
We join our hearts, that each of us be blessed
Together we call
All: shining ones give us the waters
And as we are blessed, let all the worlds be blessed.
Together we pray
All: shining ones , give us the waters

• Hallowing the Waters

(ale is poured into the horn and elevated saying)
• We draw blessing from the Cauldron of Blessing .
We pour the Ale of Inspiration. Behold the holy cup of
power, the outpouring of blessing from the Mighty Ones.
77
When we share the draught of the Gods we drink in
wisdom, love and strength to do as we will in the worlds
in service to the Shining Ones.
• Hear us, O Aine, O Manannan; hallow these waters!
We your children rejoice in your gift . Bless our spirits
and our lives with love, magic and bounty as we drink
these Sacred Waters. Behold the Waters of Life!
All: Behold the Waters of Life
• And likewise, we pray that you bless these eggs (and
seeds), the symbol of new life, with the power of growth,
to be as seed for our spirit, to grow blessing in us, to fill us
with strength and joy in the time of springing green.
all sing Pour the Waters, as the cups are shared.

• Closing
Recenter the populace and begin thanking all called to the sacred
space:
• 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 Now as
we prepare to depart let us give thanks to those who
have aided us
• Manannan, Gray One of the Borders , keeper of roads
and ways , for this blessing, and for all your aid in our
holy work, we thank you.
All: we thank you
• Aine , Earth Women , Lady of the Land of Youth, for
this blessing, and for all your aid in our holy work, we
thank you.
All: we thank you
Thank each of the Kindreds
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• To all those powers that have aided us we say again ,
we thank you. All; we thank you
Renew the center, place all unused offerings in their places,
saying:
• Gatekeeper , warder of the ways for your presence and
power , your guiding and guarding, we thank you.
All: We thank you
•Now by the keeper of the gates and by our magic we
end what we began. Now let the fire be flame; Let the
well be water; let all be as it was before, save only for
the Blessing we have gained. Let the gates be closed !
All: Let the gates be closed!
• Mother of all to you we return all we leave unused.
Uphold us now in the
world as you have in our
rite. We thank you
All: We thank you

• The rite has ended

go in peace with the
blessings of the gods
All should come forward and
take the egg they placed on
the altar, and can then be
eaten

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The Beltaine Offering 2007
• Opening Prayers
• Earth Mother:
An offering of Grain is made to the offering bowl, saying:
• Danu, beloved ancestral mother of prosperity and plenty
From whose starry womb the green earth springs
You who are the bearer of all life
We pray you bless and uphold this rite.
Earth-Mother, accept our sacrifice!

• Invocation to Brighid - Spirit of Bardic Inspiration:

• Brighid, Oh lovely lady of the green mantle,
Goddess of poetry, of bards, of fire and fertility,
Brighid, we pray you; as our thoughts form words from
inspiration and flow into melodies - let your flame shine
in our hearts and guide us in our work.

• Outdwellers
An offering is made to 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
Lovely or terrible, powers of chaos-dark,
Who in your striving join in the Making of the Worlds,
Take this offering and trouble not our working.
Likewise we acknowledge in ourselves
All those things which might separate us from the
Wholeness of Things.
We contemplate these ills and enemies and for this
sacred time, we set them aside!

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• Purpose and Precedent
• Slainte agus failte! Welcome to Bealtainne, the Hinge
of Summer, the Day of Blessings. The earth grows
green again, warmed by the power of the Sun and the
Waters’ cool strength. Shoot has become bud and bud
is flowering as all life burns with the kindling of love’s
fire. Now we rejoice in the warmth of May, and look
forward to the greater heat of summer.
• As the ancients did before us, so we do now, and so our
descendants may do in the future. We are come into the
Grove to worship as they did, to honor Aine, the Queen
under the Mound, the erotic power of renewal, and the
Mac Oc - Aengus the Harper, the enchanting life of the
Earth. To offer to the King and Queen of the Sidhe clans
and all the Noble Spirits.
• Today we kindle new flame in ourselves as we dance
among the Bealtainne fires. And tonight, may we practice
the Rites of Love in whatever way our spirit may guide
us, to sustain the Power of Life.
Ta go maith!
Now let us open hallow the Sacred Grove...

• Fire, Well & Tree

Silver is offered to the Well, Oil to the Fire, and Incense and Water
to the Bile as the Company sings the Portal Song

• Purification by Fire and Water

Druids draw water from the Well and light a censer from the Fire. They
quickly cense and asperge the company, while the company says:
• By the Might of the Water and the Light of the Fire
This Grove is made whole and holy.

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• Opening the Gates
• O 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!
An offering of oil is given to the Fire. The Summoner then conjures
the Gates, making an opening triskel on the Fire and Well, saying:
• Now, lord of ways, join your magic with mine 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!
All: Let the gates be open!
• Hold to your center, Children of Earth, and see, arising
from the Well, shining in the Fire, centered on the Tree,
the shining Gate… bright and shadowed, the Door of the
Otherworld. See it as a door, perhaps a bridge, a subtle
opening in the fabric of life, enhancing our awareness
of the otherworlds.
• Now let us give offering to the Powers of Blessing, that
our work may be made strong...

• Kindred Offerings
The Druids make proper offerings to each of the kindreds, standing
at the fire.

Ancestors
• The children of the earth call out to the mighty dead.
Hear us, our ancestors, our kindred.
To all 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
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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, o mighty ones, we call to you as our kin, in the love
of the all-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 food and/or drink is made onto the ground or into a
shaft)

Nature Spirits
• 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 mighty seas, 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, O 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 herbs, flowers and/or trinkets is scattered around the
nemetons edge or hung on the tree)

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Deities
• 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, o patrons and matrons,
we offer you welcome.
So, O 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!
(An offering of scented oil is poured on the fire)

• See these beings now at our fire. See them ringing our
Grove, mingling their energies with ours. The Gods,
Dead and Sidhe, joining us as we sing to them (Kindreds
Song):

• Key Offerings
A cloaked woman emerges, stands to the north of the Hallows with
head bowed and cloak closed. Druid speaks:
• In elder days in Erin, the goddess was the mother of
clans, called Aine, queen of the tribes of the sidhe. Aine
the mighty mated with mighty men and from them she
bore many peoples. As each of those grew old she would
renew her youth and love again. So for us the living earth
goddess grows old with the winter and renews her youth
84
in this merry, magical time.
• With each of her renewings she brings the flow of new
life, the erotic blossoming of every kin, not just for the
continuing of clans, but for the delight and regeneration
of all beings. So we call her Aine Glas - Green Aine!
Invocation of Aine Glas
• Aine the ancient
Calleach the mighty
Bones of the Earth
Answer your children
• Mother to maiden
Winter to summer
Root into blossom
Answer us, changer
• Flow now the waters
All hearts rejoicing
Laughter and loving
Bounty and blessing
• Now in the hinge-time
Wise ones are calling
Show us your wonder
O maiden of May!
All: Aine, accept our sacrifice!

An offering of scented oil is made to the Fire. The woman removes

her cloak to reveal a young maiden, erotically dressed.
All cry: Hail the queen of the May!
Druids speaks, saying:
• Surely it is true that when the maid of May appears in
any place or any heart the delight of love cannot be far
behind. In Erin the power of love’s joy was worshipped
in Aengus Og, the son of Dagda and Boann.
•He is the golden harper, whose music wakens longing
85
and fulfillment in mortal hearts. He is the silver voice,
calling all to come away from earthly care and join in
the joy of May. Now let us welcome the young lord.
Invocation of Aengus Og
•The young son Maponos
Aengus the harper
Son of the Dagda
Whose staff is the strongest
• Born of enchantment
The son of the Mother
Sing, O enticer
Delighter of maidens
• Sap in the branches
All making merry
Bee to the blossom
Hie to the Maying
• Raise now the May-rod
Aengus we name you
Wonder child rising
Come to our calling
All: Aengus Og, accept our sacrifice!
An offering of scented oil is made to the Fire. The May Rod, decked
with ribbons and flowers is given to the May Queen.

• Dressing the Well

The May Queen speaks, saying:
• Let the goddess of Earth hear our call, as I hear it!
Blessings upon all who do honor to the Shining Ones.
In this season of renewal we do honor to the Goddess of
the Wells, for the sacred well is the eye of the earth. Aine
Glas is the Water of Spring, the giver and receiver, the
gate of the Sidhe! Now let the well be dressed, honoring
our simple symbol of all the worlds’ sacred wells.
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May Queen sets out in a circle, bearing the May Rod before her. All
sing ‘Way to the Well’. Nine men come forward behind her, bearing
flowers, follow her as she turns in toward the Well. May Queen
stands before the Well and the men dress the Well, surrounding it
with flowers.
May Queen plants the May Rod at the Well, saying:
• Awake, O King-To-Be! Enter now the maiden Earth
and bring joy and blessing to us all! Beannachtai!

• Offering to the Sidhe

The Druids walk to the Tree. Clouts of many colors, sparklies and
amulets are available to hang on the Tree. Druid speaks:
• In the elder days, Aine the goddess was a queen of the
Sidhefolk, ruling from her mound. Likewise Aengus
was a king of the gentle people, making the faery music
beneath the World. Now we call to them to open the way
to the people of peace.
• On the feast of Bealtainne the veils between the worlds
are thin. Now we honor the noble clans of the otherworld,
the spirits of Earth to join our dance and receive due
offering. Come to the gates, gentle and lovely ones.
Hear our call, we the children of Earth, who remember
you. We offer you our worship, our reverence and our
blessing.
The druid will recite the various Powers of the Sidhe, and one of the
folk will tie a ribbon or clout or whatever to the Tree for each. This
should go on for Nine items:
• You who rule in the wildwood, who give luck or bane,
you who teach us the hidden ways and aid the wise,
receive now these offerings made in your honor:
• To the queens under the hill — Oonagh the Lovely,
Cailleach the Ancient, Medb the Mighty and all...
• To the kings under the hill — Finvarra the Handsome,
Bodb the Red, Eochaid the Stallion and all...
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• To all the Sidhe-folk of magic and wisdom — Inspirers
and singers, enchanters and lawgivers, you who grant
wisdom.
• To all the Sidhe-folk who are warriors, wardens
and keepers, champions and hunters, wrathful
protectors...
• To all the Sidhe-folk of the makers, iron Sidhe and
gold Sidhe, wood Sidhe and clay Sidhe and the folk in
the loom...
• To all the Sidhe-folk of the soil, tillers and reapers,
cattle Sidhe and arbor Sidhe and folk of the hearth...
• To all the Sidhe-folk of the Earth, stone and soil, stream
and pool, bird and beast...
• To all the Sidhe-folk of the sea, merrow and selkie, of
sunlit shallows and the deeps...
• To all the Sidhe-folk of the air, trooping sidhe and the
voices on the wind...
• To all of you we give these gifts and ornaments, asking
you to bless us in the joy of the living...
All: Noble Sidhe, accept our sacrifice!

• Praise Offerings
The company is instructed that if they do not have a praise offering
they may come quietly to the Tree through the rest of the rite and make
their offering. The Tree will be planted in the country after the rite.

• Prayer of Sacrifice
All are led to send their energy through the gates to the powers,
meditating on the deities and the nobles. The druids prepare the final
offerings and say:
• So we have given of our love and our wealth to the lord
and lady. Now let our voices arise on the fire, let our
voices sound in the well let our words pass the boundary
to the otherworlds.
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O Aine Glas, O Aengus Og, we give you our love, our
respect, our devotion as we pray you...
All: Aine and Aengus, accept our sacrifice!

• The Omen, and Preparation for Return

(The Druid leads a re-centering, while the omen is prepared)
•To you we have given, and from you we would receive.
Reveal to us now, our Blessing...
Seer speaks:
• Hear now the nature of the blessing the Gods see fit to
bestow upon us.
Seer continues with an interpretation of the Omen. Druid speaks:
• The blessing of the Gods is poured from the cauldron
of mystery, the cauldron of plenty, the cauldron of
rebirth.
Do the Children of the Earth desire the blessing?
Do you come in honor to the Elder Ways?
Do you desire that every one of us be Blessed?
• Children of the Earth, in this season of magic you are
offered a boon! Choose now, and hold this prayer in your
mind and heart as we draw at last, the Blessing. Let none
drink of this vessel holding ill will to any here in their
hearts! Let this be the cup of peace and fellowship!

• Hallowing the Waters

The Druid fills the pitchers of ale and water and elevates them, saying:
• We draw water from the magic cauldron; we pour the
Ale of Inspiration. O Mighty, Noble and Shining ones
we have honored you. Now we ask for a Blessing as a
gift calls for a gift.
Now let us enchant the Blessing Cup, that our work
may bear true fruit. This is the outpouring of Blessings
from the Mighty Ones, from all the Powers, from the
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Cauldron of Wonders!
Drink we now the draught of the Gods. Drink in
Wisdom, Wealth and Strength, so that we may live our
lives in truth, joy and honor. So, O Mighty, Noble and
Shining Ones, hear and answer us! Hallow these waters
Aine and Aengus!
Behold The Waters Of Life!

• Beltainne Fire Dance

The cup-bearers go to stand between the Rite’s Fire and the South Fire,
and the Druids enchant the South Fire. Sacred woods are available
as in the charm. One man and one Woman bring fire from the Fire.
Fires conjured, saying:
• We kindle these magic fires
In the presence of the mighty ones
By oak — grant strength
By rowan — grant magic
By hazel — grant wisdom
Spring from darkness into light
Rise as the warmth of summer’s sun this Beltaine day
Kindle within each of our hearts a flame of love and wit
and might, to friend and foe and all beings
Bring peace and beauty to the land, as life begins anew.
So be it!
• Now come to the Fire, Children of Earth. Take your
draught of the power of Aine Glas and the Young Son.
Now let us drink, as we pass for the first time between
the Beltainne fires to drive away ill and bring us luck in
the coming summer. Drink, and then join hands all...
• Step lightly in the dance and leave your winter cares
behind. Receive the blessing of the shining ones as you
pass between the faery fires.
Drink now and dance, in the merry joy of May!
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Music is struck up and a line dance led by one of the Druids, dancing
between the two Fires, maybe doubling back for kisses. All finally
spiral into clump with a roar/om. Druids deepen trance one last time,
then speaks:

• Final Blessing
Bless, O great ones true and bountiful
Ourselves, our kind and our friends
Our work and our wealth.
May the Waters of Life sustain us
May the Fire of Passion enliven us
From day to day through every turning moon
From season to season
Through all the sacred year.
Druids renew the company’s centering once more:
May the ancestors strengthen us
May the Sidhe-folk open our ways
May the goddesses and gods grant us wisdom.
Let the seeds of spring shoot and bud
And let our lives blossom with the May.
By our magic and by the blessings of the old ways
Let all our blossoms come to fruit!
Ta Go Maith!

Works (if any) are brought before the Grove

• Closing
When all is done, the druids lead a resettling, then begin to close the
grove, saying:
• We have been blessed by Aine and Aengus, offering we
have given and Blessings we have received by the Mighty,
Noble and Shining Ones. But now it is time to return to
our common world, With joy in our hearts let us carry the
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magic from our sacred grove into our lives and work.
• Each time we offer to the powers they be come 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.
O Aine and Aengus,
All: We thank you!
O Gods and Goddesses of elder days!
All: We thank you!
O spirits of this land!
All: We thank you!
O ancestors, our kindred!
All: We thank you!
To all those powers that have aided us, we say again...
All: We thank you!

• Finally, see the Gate begin to fade away, the Well, Fire
and Tree becoming the common tools they were before,
and remember that while our grove closes, the vision
and memories of our rite are there always for you to use,
and to carry with you in our common world.
The druids go to the center, bearing the wand. They speak:
• O gatekeeper, warder of the ways, for your presence
and power, your guiding and guarding we say...
All: We thank you!
Druid makes the closing sign over the hallows with the wand,
saying:
Now by the keeper of gates and by our magic we end
what we began.
Now let the fire be flame
Let the well be water;
Let all be as it was before.
Let the gates be closed!
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All: Let the gates be closed!
Then any unused offerings, return flow, incense, water etc. is given
to the earth, saying:
• Mother of all, to you we return all we leave unused.
Uphold us now in the world as you have in our rite.
All: We thank you!

• Go now, children of the earth, in peace and blessings.

The rite is ended!

The bard leads a proper chant as the company processes out of the
Grove.

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The Midsummer Offering 2007
• Pre Ritual Briefing/Claiming & Saining
• Grove Attunement
• Processional
Upon arrival:
• Hammer Rite
A priest/ess goes to the four quarters and makes the Hammer sign,
saying:
• Hammer in the North, hallow and hold this holy stead.
Hammer in the East, hallow and hold this holy stead.
Hammer in the South, hallow and hold this holy stead.
Hammer in the West, hallow and hold this holy stead.
then goes to the center and makes the sign overhead saying:
Hammer above us, hallow and hold this holy stead.
and then toward the ground, saying:
Hammer below us, hallow and hold this holy stead.

• Opening Prayers
• Welcome to all who come to keep the Old Ways. We are
here to honor the Gods, to keep the feast of Midsummer.
Let us begin by remembering the Earth Mother.

• Earth Mother
An offering of Grain is poured around the Nemeton, saying:
• We welcome Jorth,
Mother of Thor,
Daughter of Nótt and Ónar.
From fertile fields,
We name you near,
And ask your blessing.
Bring bounty to your children in this time of change,
Earth Mother, gaze on our work with gracious eyes,
And bless our stead with harvest’s joy.
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• Call to Odinn for Inspiration
A horn of mead or wine should be lifted, saying:
• We give welcome to the granter of wishes,
The wandering god, the giver of wisdom,
All-father, Odinn, who won Odroerir,
The magical mead that inspires men.
With hallowed horn we hail you, Grimnir,
And pray you pour us poetry’s drink.
Grant us the gift you won from Gunlod,
The wisdom of word-wit ‘til worship is done.

• Outdwellers
An offering is made to the south of the grove, saying:
• Hear me all you wights unhallowed,
Etins, trolls and all the Out-garth,
Thurses and outlaws, enemies of Asgard,
Here we give you proper honor.
Take this gift, here freely given,
Bring not woe to our holy working;
Our hold is hallowed and here warded,
By the brawn of bold Redbeard.

• Fire, Well & Tree

• Purification by Fire and Water

• Statement of Purpose and Precedent

• We gather here on the Feast of Sunna, the turning of
Midsummer towards the harvest season. This Solstice
day is the longest of the year. We look to reap bounty
from our labors to fill our larders for the coming cold.
• We honor Sunna, who is chased by the wolf Skoll.
At Ragnarok, the Fenris wolf will swallow the sun,
plunging the world into darkness. We will also honor

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Tyr, who sacrifices his hand to the mouth of the Fenris
wolf so that the Aesir can bind Fenrisulfr with Gleipnir,
a dwarf-made magic ribbon that is strong enough to
hold the wolf.
•This feast is also the funeral of Baldur, whose death
signals the beginning of Ragnarok, when Mulspelheim’s
fire giants hie forth to fight the Aesir. Yet it is through
Mulspelheim’s fire that Baldur will be reborn to restore
world order. We will sacrifice a Viking ship as a praise
offering symbolizing Baldur’s funeral ship.
Now let us open the Ways Between...

• Opening the Gates

• Yggdrasil stands before us, the World-Tree, the axis of
all. Beneath one of its mighty roots is Urdabrunnr, the
Well of Wyrd. Stretching from our grove here in Mid-
gard to the dwellings of the gods in Asgard is Bifrost,
the rainbow bridge that is all aflame. And stretching
to Hel, the land of the dead, is the Gjallar-bridge that
is thatched with gold and clangs under the footsteps of
the living.
Oil is poured onto the fire saying:
• Heimdall we hail. High-minded Ase in Himinbjorg,
we ask you to hear us! Guardian of the gates to Asgard,
watch and ward us as we work the elder ways. Lend us
your might and main, so that we may open the ways
between.
OiI is poured onto the fire, saying:
• Modgud we hail. Etin-maid who guards Gjallarbru
we ask you to hear us. You who keeps the way to Hel-
la’s halls, permit our praise and offerings to pass and
blessings to return. Lend us your might and main, so
that we may open the ways between.
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• Heimdall, Modgud, we ask you to open the Gates...
Let the Gates be open!

• Kindred Offerings

Landvaettir
The horn is filled and elevated, saying:
• We welcome the kin of stone and stream,
Of field and forest, of furrowed earth,
Of bird and beast, and sky above,
All wights of weal we welcome you.
Landvaettir come to the light of our fire,
We honor and hail you with horn of drink
And ask you to share the feast with our folk
So blessings may pass between us.
The horn is passed as the folk sing a chant to the Nature Spirits.
When this is done the remnant of the horn is poured into the offering
bowl, saying:
Let all the earth and sea and sky receive with us the
blessing of Midsummer!
Landvettir, accept our sacrifice!

Alfar and Disir

The horn is filled and elevated, saying:
• Hail to the holy howe-folk,
Forefathers of flesh and spirit,
Mighty men of the grave-mound,
Alfar, we give you welcome!
Hail to the holy mothers of men,
Honored women who ward our luck,
Bright maids of birth and blessing,
Disir, we give you welcome!
Forebears come to the light of our fire,
We honor and hail you with horn of drink
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And ask you, ancestors, to share the feast,
So blessings may pass between us.
The Horn is passed as the folk sing a chant to the ancestors.
When this is done the remnant of the horn is poured into the offering
bowl, saying:
• Hail to the Alfs, all ringed round us,
the Fathers of our folk.
Hail to the Dises, all ringed round us,
the Mothers of our might.
Hail to our kin in the hidden lands,
Hail the ancestors on this sacred Summer Solstice!
Ancestors, accept our sacrifice!

Aesir and Vanir

The horn is filled and elevated, saying:
• Hail to the High Ones, the Holy Regin,
Goddesses and gods who grant us blessing,
Ases awesome and wise Wanes,
To our Fire and Well we welcome you!
Eldest and Mightiest come to our fire,
We honor and hail you with horn of drink
And ask you, Shining Ones, to share the feast,
So blessings may pass between us.
An offering of oil is poured on the fire as the horn is passed and the
folk sing a chant to the gods.
When this is done the remnant of the horn is poured into the offering
bowl, saying:
Ases and Wanes, your weal we ask
Grant us growth and goodly harvest
Inspiration, wit and wholeness
By your shining solstice blessing.
Shining Ones, accept our Sacrifice!

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• Key Offerings
• Let us offer now to Sunna and Tyr:

Invocation of Sunna
Frau Sunna, long sought by Skoll,
Borne by Alfrodull’s steeds,
Alsvid and Arvak, whose sleek manes
Shine this sunlit solstice,
Shift course slightly
Before summer’s sweet bounty
Bears fine fruits for
Bleak winter’s welfare.
oil is offered to the Fire, all say:
Hail Sunna!

Invocation of Tyr
Trustworthy Tyr, just judge,
Single-handed sacrificer,
Wolf’s leavings, Prince of Temples
Hero of Asgard
Bold hearts and bright deeds
Decide this season’s harvest
Fearless acts feed famished foes
But bring forth worldly order
Hand of Tyr is offered, all say:
Hail Tyr!

• Praise Offerings
The Priest instructs the folk on giving silent offerings while songs
are sung and poems recited. Baldur’s funeral ship, is filled with
burnt offerings and saved until the end, whereupon it is placed on
the fire:

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• Prayer of Sacrifice
Let this ship bear this burden, a blessing, a giving,
From Midgard to Asgard and Vanaheim shining.
Let Fire lift our voices and Well echo deeply,
That Holy Ones hear us, from over the boundaries.
We send you now sailing, you ship of our sacrifice
to go to the Aesir, Bearing our gifts.
Carrying to them our love and our honor,
As bright as the sun of this midsummer feast.
Holy Ones accept our sacrifice!

• The Omen
• It is time to sing on the sage’s seat.
At Urdabrunnr, I saw but was silent,
I saw and thought, I listened to men’s lore,
Of runes I heard deeming, their rede was not silent,
At the hall of Har, in the hall of Har,
Thus I heard them say:
The runes are now cast to determine the wyrd of the folk.

• The Blessing
• A gift calls for a gift. O children of Earth, do you desire
to receive the Blessings of Summer?
The blessing bowl is lifted, and the Hammer-sign is made over the
blessing bowl saying:
• Then as we have offered to you, Holy Ones, we ask
for your blessing in return. Sunna and Tyr, Aesir and
Vanir, Goddesses and Gods - give us your blessing, let
this drink become the holy draught.
The horn is filled and passed while everyone sings Sharing
Blessings.

• Final Blessing
Priest/ess leads a re-centering and focuses on the presence of the
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Blessing in the souls of the worshippers. She says:
• Now let us rest in the presence of the Holy Ones, of
shining Sunna and stalwart Tyr, with the power of the
between in us, and know the blessing as it manifests
itself in our lives...
Silence for a time...

• Closing
When all is done, lead a resettling and begin to close the grove,
saying:
• We have been blessed by the Aesir, by Sunna and
Tyr. Offering we have given and blessings we have
received from the Landvettir, Alfar and Disir, Gods and
Goddesses. But now it is time to return to our common
world, to continue our feast here in our holy stead in
Midgard, always remembering that we mirror the halls
of the Holy Ones when our love for them is in our hearts
and our bellies are full with their Blessing!
• 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. Now as we prepare to depart
let us give thanks to those who have aided us.
Sunna and Tyr,
All: We thank you!
Aesir!
All: We thank you!
Alfar and Disir, Blessed Ancestors!
All: We thank you!
Landvaettir, spirits of nature and of this place!
All: We thank you!
To all those powers that have aided us, we say again...
All: We thank you!
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Renew the company’s center once more.
Go to the center and say:
• Heimdall, warder of the ways, for your presence and
power, for guiding and guarding, we say...
All: We thank you!
• Modgud, warder of the ways, for your presence and
power, for guiding and guarding, we say....
All: We thank you!

Make the closing sign over the Hallows, saying:

• Now by the keepers of gates we end what we began.
Now let the fire be flame,
Let the well be water,
Let all be as it was before,
Save for the blessings we have received.
Let the gates be closed!
All: Let the gates be closed!

• Odinn, All-father, for giving us inspiration and lending

us word-wit, we say...
All: We thank you!

Then any unused offerings, return flow, incense, water etc. is given
to the earth, saying:
Mother Jorth, to you we return all we leave unused.
Uphold us now in the world as you have in our rite.
All: We thank you!

• Go now, Heimdall’s Kin, in peace and blessings. The

rite is ended!

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The Lughnassadh Offering
Feast Day of Lugh Samildanach
• Pre Ritual Briefing/Claiming & Saining
• Grove Attunement
• Processiona
• Opening Prayers

•Earth Mother
An offering of Grain is made to the offering bowl, saying:
Great Danu, beloved ancestral mother of prosperity
and plenty, from whose starry womb the green earth
springs; You who are the bearer of all life, we pray you
bless and uphold this rite.
Earth Mother, Accept our sacrifice!

• Invocation to Brighid
Brighid, O lovely lady of the green mantle, Goddess of
poetry, of bards, of fire and fertility, Brighid, we pray
you; as our thoughts form words from inspiration and
flow into melodies - let your flame flicker in our hearts
and inspire us in our work.
• Outdwellers
An offering is made to the south of the Grove, saying:
Ancient dark ones, we make this offering to you.
You who stood against the gods
And in your striving made the worlds
Beautiful or terrible, ancient chaos powers,
Take this offering and trouble not our working.
Likewise we acknowledge in ourselves
All that might separate us
From the Blessing of the Holy Ones
We contemplate these ills and enemies and for this sa-
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cred time, we set them aside!
Statement of Purpose and Precedent:
• The Children of Earth are gathered in the Sacred
Grove to keep the rites of Lughnassadh, the First Har-
vest, 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.
We gather in a moment of rest and pleasure, before the
labor of the harvest.
• We come to the Sacred Grove 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.
We honor especially Lugh, the Shining Young Hero, the
Sacred King. He is the Master of All Skills, the Holy
Champion who turns aside drought and storm, protect-
ing the earth. On this day the Golden God is wed to the
Blossom Goddess, that the earth may come to fruit.
• As our forebears did, so do we now, and so may our
descendants do after us. Now let us keep the Old Ways.
Let us honor the Powers and work our Magic that we
may gain bounty and wealth in this season.

• Fire Well & Tree

• Opening the Gates
O 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!
• An offering of oil is given to the Fire. The Druid then conjures the
Gates, making an opening triskel on the Fire and Well, saying:
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Now, lord of ways, join your magic with mine 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!
All: Let the gates be open!

• Kindred Offerings
The druids make proper offerings to each of the kindreds, standing
at the fire.
To The Dead:
• O Mighty Ones, our Ancestors, our kindred, we your
children honor you. You whose life and death creates
our lives, you whose wisdom upholds our wisdom, Hear
us as we call to you and invite you to our Samhain fire.
O Mighty Ancestors, we honor your presence offering
our love and worship. Be with us in our grove and in
our hearts, and accept this gift in token of our kinship.
All: Ancestors accept our sacrifice!”

To The Sidhe:
• O Noble Ones, our Allies, with whom we share the
worlds, you who fill the land with wonder, Spirits of
Stone and Stream, Red and Green, Tribes of Spirits,
the Peoples of the Otherworld, Hear us as we call you,
and invite you to our Fire. O Noble Spirits, we honor
your presence offering our love and worship. Be with
us in our Grove and in our hearts and accept this gift in
token of our friendship. Spirits, Accept our Sacrifice!
All: Spirits, accept our sacrifice!

To The God/desses:
• O Shining Ones, our Elders, Goddeses and Gods, O
Wisest and Mightiest, you who sustain all the worlds,
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First Children of the Mother, the Tribe of the Goddess,
hear us as we call you and invite you to our Fire. O
Shining Deities, we honor your presence, offering our
love and worship. Be with us in our Grove and in our
hearts and accept this gift in token of our worship.
Shining Ones, Accept our Sacrifice!
All: Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice

Druid says:
• Hail and welcome, to the Gods, the Dead and the Sid-
he. Let us welcome them with song! (Kindreds Song):

• Key Offerings
• Slainte agus Failte to the Triple Host of Spirits. Join
us now, we pray you, as we call to the Blossom Queen
and the Sacred King.

Invocation of Morrigan
• Red Woman, Great Queen of the Earth, the Children of
Earth offer you welcome. We call to you in the ripening
grain. We call to you in the fruiting branch. We call to
you by the reddened spear. We call you forth from the
beauty of blossom and thorn.
We offer you clear water, gentle as rain. (Water poured)
• Holy One, Raging One, Prophetess, Enticer, Joy and
Bane of Heroes, Flower Bride, Lover, Devourer, Great
Queen, we call to you. In the season of ripening, you are
the fruits and bounty of the land, arrayed in desirable
beauty beneath the sun.
We deck you in blossoms to welcome you to our Grove.
(Red blossoms are placed in a basket before the Well)
• Descend in Beauty, Arise in Might, O Throne of Sover-
eignty! You whose hair is the Golden Grain; you whose
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flesh is the firm sweet soil, we offer you the Seat of Honor
in our Sacred Grove. Bring to our Grove the Blessings
of your bounty, and delight.
We pour red wine for you, who drink up the love of the
sun
(Wine poured)
• Great Queen, come into the Grove of the Wedding.

• Dressing the Queen

A corn dolly is brought out and carried once around the ring. Nine
flowers are used to twine in the corn dolly. A charm for the nine
flowers:
• Lady, accept this gift of raiment We adorn you for the
Rite of Joining We robe you in flowers, O Lady of Sov-
ereignty With garments of red, the hue of life’s blood
With garments of crimson, the hue of magic’s might
With garments of scarlet, the Rose of Summer’s Perfec-
tion We offer you welcome, Queen of the Summer We
offer you welcome, Mead of the Sweetness We offer you
welcome, O Morrigan the Mighty.
The Dolly is then placed at the foot of the Bile.

Invocation of Lugh
•Thou Lugh the Victorious, We make our Grove under
your shield, O Lugh of the White Horse And the Bril-
liant Blades. You of the Perfect Form, Child of Light and
Shadow, Slayer of Balor, be in our midst. Accept this ale
in welcome Thou Champion, King of All (ale poured)
• We may our circuit in the joy of the Samildanach The
Clever One, the Sure Hand The Bard and the Smith.
May we be at peace Under the hand of the Chieftain of
Danu, Taking joy in the feast Of the Wedding Day of
Lugh We offer this bread, That the harvest may flourish
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by the hand of the plowman. (Bread offered)
• By the Sacred Three of Glory Hear now your people’s
call By the Spear and by the Raven Come, we pray,
among your folk O Lugh the Victorious Our Light and
our Guide O Lugh the Victorious Accept this offering of
fruit And be present in your strength. (Fruit offered)
• Light of the Sky, come into the Grove of the Wedding

• Laving the Spear

A Spear is brought into the Grove, decked with greenery and blos-
soms. It is carried once round the ring, then stretched over the Fire.
It is held there for a time, then brought out and laved nine times with
water, saying:
• May the strength of Lugh be over us, May the beauty
of Lugh delight us, May the skill of Lugh be upon us.
Be welcome, Shining One, and behold your bride Be
welcome, White-Silver One, and succor the earth Be
welcome, Hand of Striking, and drive away the hail. In
the Grove of the Old Ways In the ring of your people In
the hearts of all who honor the earth.

• Praise Offerings as usual. The last praise offering is:

• The Tale, and the Wedding

• Hail the Sun of Summer - Golden One, Brightest,
Warmth of the Green Earth.
• Hail the Sun of Summer - Crown of Striving, Gem of
the Heavens, First among Lights
• Hail the Sun of Summer - Father of Earth, Eye of
Burning, Fire of Noontide.
• Yet now is the Season of Darkening, the Time of Ripen-
ing, when the night and the moon call the earth to fruit.
It is the time of the tender goddess, the Maker of heroes,
the Old One’s Daughter.
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• If the Sun does not die, the green turns to gray.
If the Sun does not die, red turns to black
If the Sun does not die, the earth will burn dry!
• So the God’s man mated with a woman of the Giants,
in magic and courage. And of their union was born the
Child of Light and Shadow - Lugh, whose name means
light. Fostered in the Isle of Apples, he learned every skill
- thus is he called Samildanach - Master of All Arts.
• And so it was that in the last battle of the Gods and
Demons it was Lugh who struck down the Baleful Eye
of Burning. When the Sun’s Fire becomes poison to the
earth, when the Maiden of Bounty is imprisoned in the
Tower of Day, it is Lugh of the Long Arm who strikes
the blow. It is Lugh who struck down the Poison Eye,
who defended the Holy Earth against hail and flood and
drought and blight.
The Eye Loaf is brought out and a simple ‘dance’ between the spear
and loaf holders leads to the spear being driven into the loaf.
All chant:
The Sun must die that the earth may live
The Darkness rises in its turn
That the Land may freely give
Milk and Honey, Ale and Corn

The loaf is then set aside, and the Spear and Corn Queen are brought
to the center, and a rope of blossoms is used to bind the doll to the
spear, saying:

• Thus do we join the Shining Ones’ Prince to the Lady

of the Earth. By this joining may Lugh 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.
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May the ray of the westering sun be as the Spear of the
Champion. Lugh and Morrigan, be present in these im-
ages, hear us your children.

• Prayer of Sacrifice - as usual

• Calling for the Blessing - as usual

• Hallowing the Blessing

The drink is blessed as usual, but before the cup is passed, bring out
the Loaf saying:
• Bright Lugh, Queen of Phantoms, here is the Head of
the Grain, the Body of the Shield of the Sky. Let this be as
the First Loaf of Harvest, shared between us and you.
Half the Loaf is broken and put into the Offering Shaft or Bowl.
• Now Shining Ones, we pray you, hallow this bread.
Let it be the bounty of the Earth, the Generosity of the
Mother, the Strength of the Hero to us. Let it be the
growth of wealth, the soundness of flesh, the delight of
wisdom to us. Let it be the food of our bones, of our flesh,
of our lights. Behold, the Bread of Life!
The Loaf is shared and the Ale and Water are passed behind it.

• Final Blessing
After the Loaf and Cup, before closing, renew center, and say:
• The Blessings of Lugh and Morrigan be in us here.
May the Life of the Earth be in us.
May the Strength of the Earth be in us.
May the Wisdom of the Earth be in us,.
Until the Harvest is brought in. So Be It!
Rest in silence for a while

• Closing
Recenter the populace and begin thanking all called to the sacred
space:
• The mighty ones have blessed us . With joy in our hearts
110
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 Now as we prepare to depart let us give thanks
to those who have aided us
• Lugh of the Long Arm, for this blessing, and for all
your aid in our holy work, we thank you.
All: we thank you
• Morrigan, Queen of Spirits, for this blessing, and for
all your aid in our holy work, we thank you.
All: we thank you
• Thank each of the Kindreds
• To all those powers that have aided us we say again,
we thank you. All: we thank you
Renew the center, place all unused offerings in their places,
saying:
• Gatekeeper , warder of the ways for your presence
and power ,
your guiding
and guarding,
we thank you.
All: We thank
you
•N ow by the
keeper of the
gates and by
our magic we
end what we
began. Now
let the fire be
flame; Let the
well be water;
111
let all be as it was before, save only for the Blessing we
have gained. Let the gates be closed !

All: Let the gates be closed!

• Mother of all to you we return all we leave unused.
Uphold us now in the world as you have in our rite. We
thank you
All: We thank you

• The rite has ended go in peace with the blessings of

the gods

112
The Fall Equinox Offering
• Hallow and bless ,
• Ground and center , & Procession

• Opening Prayers
9 knells on a bell (or a tone , or drum ) When the populace is in
place say:
• We are here to honor the gods. Aine and Manannan
bless us, oh shining ones, here on this our Hallowed
Ground

• Earth Mother
A stone (?) and the trove is offered to the well for the Earth Mother,
saying:
• Land Mother, Aine Mor, we your children welcome
you to our work , accept this our offering and bless and
uphold our rite . Aine mor, accept our sacrifice!
All reply

• Brighid - Spirit of Bardic Inspiration

• Brighid, O’ lovely lady of the green mantle, Goddess
of poetry, of bards, of fire and fertility, Brighid, we pray
you; as inspiration forms our thoughts into words, and
flow into melodies - let your flame flicker in our hearts
and inspire us in our work.

• Outdwellers Offering
A cup of ale is placed in the south saying:
Ancient dark ones, we make this offering to you.
You who stood against the gods
Lovely or terrible, powers of chaos-dark,
Who in your striving join in the Making of Worlds,
Take this offering and trouble not our working.
Likewise we acknowledge in ourselves
113
All those things that might separate us
From the blessing of the Gods.
Weakness and foolishness, hatred and spite,
cowardice and ignorance
We contemplate these ills and enemies
And for this sacred time, we set them aside!

• Fire, Well and Tree

All sing the Portal Song, as the offerings are made to the Hallows

• Water & Fire Purification

All is sprinkled and Censed (With the priest/ess saying)
• By this water and this fire may all be cleansed,
And all ill will turn from us and this hallowed place!
(Priest/ess leads all to contemplate the three powers present in the
grove and says)
• The well the fire and the sacred tree
Flow and flame and grow in us
In land ,sea and sky , below and on high
Thus is the sacred grove claimed and hallowed.

• Statement of Purpose
• We come here to this hallowed place to do as the an-
cient wise ones did, to keep the ways of old, to offer our
sacrifices to the gods and spirits, to honor the Earth
Woman, Aine the Great, to honor the Keeper of Roads
and Ways, Manannan mac Lir. Each time we make the
Sacred Grove, we ask these two mighty powers to aid
us - today, in the time of the Reaping, we give them our
special offerings, and seek their blessings for a good
gathering season for ourselves and the world.

• Gatekeeper & Gate

Oil is offered to the fire (incense if indoors) saying:·
114
• 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, to keep the Old Ways. Manannan mac
Lir , accept our sacrifice
An offering is made to the fire . Conjure the gates making triskel
opening on the fire well saying
• Now, Lord of Ways , join your magic with mine and let
the fire open as a gate; let the well open as a gate; let the
tree be the crossroads of all the worlds. Open as a road
to our voices and to the spirits. Let the gates be open

• Kindred Offerings
Ancestors
• The children of 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 o mighty ones we call to you as our kin, in season of
falling, to bless those who fall. Come to our fire, spirits,
meet us at the boundary. Guide and ward us as we walk
the elder ways. Ancestors, accept our sacrifice!

Nature Spirits
• The children of earth call out to the spirits of this land.
Hear us companions and teachers.
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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 wel-
come.
So , O Noble Ones, we call to you as our allies, as green
kins and red kins fall into sleep. Come to our fire, spirits,
meet us at the boundary. Guide and ward us as we walk
the elder ways. Landspirits, accept our sacrifice!

Deities
• 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 and unknown, gods of this place we
offer you welcome.
To all the deities to all those here gathered, you whom
we worship, you who bless our lives, o patrons and ma-
trons, we offer you welcome.
So , O Shining Ones, we call to you as our elders, in the
rise of the dark and the fall of the light. 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!

116
Key Offerings
Druid Says:
• Welcome to the god/desses, the dead and the sidhe! To
all of you who have gathered at our fire , we pray you
join in or worship of the mac Lir and the Mother, here
in our sacred grove.

Invocation of Manannan
• I send my song into the west, to the place of the
setting sun, to the shore of the blessed isle, to the ear of
Manannan mac Lir. Let the birds who wing over the
wave carry my word to the mighty one. Mac lir, we call to
you; son of the boundless sea, we call to you, uncrowned
king, we invite you to our fire.
• We offer you apples, fruit of your trees of delight and
nourishment.
We offer you (honey) (mead), that the power of
inspiration flow in the worlds.
We offer you hazel-nuts, to give honor to your
wisdom.
O Manannan of the silver branch, you who nurture the
wise, we set this feast for you. Hoster of the feast of age,
we give you this welcome.
• To you, o Husband of the Apples of Emain Ablach, we
give due honor. You hold open for us the boundaries of
Tir Na nOg, You teach us the Old Ways, as you taught
the Wise Ones of old, and you guide and ward the spirits
as they come to us in love and honor. So come into our
grove we pray, Son of the Boundless, and receive our
thanks for these deeds you do!
Manannan Mac Lir, accept our sacrifice!

117
Invocation of Aine Mor
• I invoke the mother of the land
Thrice-coursed be thy fertile waters,
Fertile be thy fruit-strewn shores,
Fruit-strewn be thy showery wood,
Showery be thy rivers of waterfalls,
Of rivers be thy deep pools,
Deep-pooled be thy high holy places,
A place of tribes for the assembly,
The assembly of the folk of the grove,
The grove be the circle of thy tribes,
The tribes of the children of earth,
The children of the old ways,
Let their lofty work be blessed
Blessed land-mother, darkly sung,
An incantation of great cunning,
I invoke thee Aine Mor!.
O Mighty Mother of this land, giver of its fruitfulness,
bestower of peace, fount of the waters of wisdom, we
offer these gifts to you in thanks. Corn we give you, and
apples, milk we pour for you, and ale. Fire we kindle for
you, flowers we give, and incense. Take these offerings,
great Aine, with our love and gratitude. Aine Mor, accept
our sacrifice!

• Praise and Personal offerings

(All should place their harvest tokens into the offering basket to be
given to the Fire)

• Prayer Of Sacrifice And Omen

When all have placed their tokens into the basket, and all personal
offerings are done, Druid says:

118
• So, Aine Mor, Manannan, we make all these offer-
ings to you, gifts of food, the harvest of our labor, given
in gratitude to the Mother of Bounty and the Lord of
Skills. So we give also of our love and of our wealth to
the Lord of Wisdom, and the Mother of Waters now let
our thanks and praise arise on the fire, let our voices
sound in the well, let our words and praises pass the
boundary to the otherworlds.
O Lord, O Lady we give you our love our respect our
devotion. Aine Mor & Manannan, accept our sacrifice
The basket is given to the Fire, with a hurrah

• Having offered to the powers , let us open to them ,

asking what blessing they offer us in return
The omen is taken as usual saying
• Holy ones we have honored you and now we pray you
bless us in turn, as a gift calls for a gift. Reveal to us now
what blessing you offer in return for our sacrifice.
Seer interprets the omen

• Calling for the Blessing

The populace call for the blessing saying :
Children of earth , we call for the blessing of the ancient
ones, together we cry .....
All: Shining ones give us the waters
We join our hearts, that each of us be blessed
Together we call
All: shining ones give us the waters
And as we are blessed, let all the worlds be blessed.
Together we pray
All: shining ones , give us the waters

119
• Hallowing the Waters
(Ale is poured into the horn and elevated saying)
• We draw blessing from the Cauldron of Blessing .
We pour the Ale of Inspiration. Behold the holy cup of
power, the outpouring of blessing from the Mighty Ones.
When we share the draught of the Gods we drink in
wisdom, love and strength to do as we will in the worlds
in service to the Shining Ones.
• Hear us, O Aine, O Manannan; hallow these waters!
We your children rejoice in your gift . Bless our spirits
and our lives with love, magic and bounty as we drink
these Sacred Waters. Behold the Waters of Life!
All: Behold the Waters of Life
• And likewise, we pray that you bless this bread, the
symbol of success and bounty, with the power of growth,
to be as food for our spirit, to fill us with blessing, with
strength and joy in the time of ripening corn.
All sing Pour the Waters, as the bread and cups are shared.

• Closing
Recenter the populace and begin thanking all called to the sacred
space:
• 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 Now as
we prepare to depart let us give thanks to those who
have aided us
• Manannan, Gray One of the Borders , keeper of roads
and ways , for this blessing, and for all your aid in our
holy work, we thank you.
All: we thank you
120
• Aine , Earth Women , Lady of the Land of Youth, for
this blessing, and for all your aid in our holy work, we
thank you.
All: we thank you
• Thank each of the Kindreds
• To all those powers that have aided us we say again ,
we thank you. All; we thank you
Renew the center, place all unused offerings in their places,
saying:
• Gatekeeper , warder of the ways for your presence and
power , your guiding and guarding, we thank you.
All: We thank you
•Now by the keeper of the gates and by our magic we
end what we began. Now let the fire be flame; Let the
well be water; let all be as it was before, save only for
the Blessing we have gained. Let the gates be closed !
All: Let the gates be closed!
• Mother of all to you we return all we leave unused.
Uphold us now in the world as you have in our rite. We
thank you
All: We thank you

• The rite has ended go in peace with the blessings of

the gods

121
122
 Part 3
Charms, Chants
&
Invocations

123
In this section we compile some short but useful
material relevant to Grove ritual but also to the indi-
vidual Druidic Pagan’s practice. Once again, there is a
variety of this sort of material available in other Dru-
idic publications. Here we present a few items that have
proven useful over time.
We do not present any full system of divination, but
we do provide simple ‘cheat sheet’ guides to the Ogham
and runes. ADF ritual has always been characterized by
song and chant, and we give lyrics for our most common
ritual songs. Melodies and many more chants can be found
in our Grove musical CD, also called Sharing Blessings.
Personal Druidic practice centers around the per-
sonal or home shrine. We give a couple of very simple daily
personal rites, and other even shorter charms to encour-
age us all to keep even the simplest daily practice. Trance
and mental focus play an important role in our work, and
we give a full script for a ‘Two Powers’ meditation suit-
able for pre-ritual use.
The Claiming and Saining is used by the working
priests of a public rite, to prepare the Nemeton for the
arrival of the folk. The Lightening Liturgy is my script
for a very short full order of Ritual working. It is suitable
for those occasions when you want to set a spell-casting
iside a Druidic working. The Armoring is a charm of
power and protection that has gotten good reports on its
effectiveness from a number of places. Charms for blessing
an infant and for guiding and comforting the spirit of the
dying or recently dead round out the collection.

124
Rite of Claiming and Saining
1 Grounding and centering.
2. Give nine knocks or knells, saying:
Let us begin this holy work together.
As we are linked with earth and sky,
So let us call these powers into this place,
That it might be hallowed to holy magic.
3: Bless the waters, saying:
•You are the gate of the earth
The deep way, the holy mouth
Anu’s cunny
Chorus: By the ladies of waters
By the lords of waters
By the powers under the earth
We thank you for the sacred waters.
•You are the eye of the earth
Mirror of seeing, gate of visions
Spring of wisdom (repeat chorus)
•You are the mouth of the earth
Sustainer of life, receiver of gifts
Giver of blessings (repeat chorus)
The sprinkling bowl is filled from the well.
4. Light the fire, saying:
We kindle the sacred fire
In the presence of the shining ones
In the presence of the gods of fire
In the presence of the goddesses of fire
Without malice, without envy,
Without jealousy, without fear,
Without terror of anything under the sun
And the holy son of the mother to shield us.
O sacrificed and sacrificer
125
Kindle you in our hearts
A flame of wit and heart and strength
To bear our offerings and our words
To the gods, the dead and the sidhe
O you who aid us all
Friend and foe, high and low
We call you to be with us
And bring to us your blessing.
The censer is kindles from the fire
5. All the nemeton is sprinkled and censed, saying:
By the might of the waters
And the light of the fire,
This grove is made whole and holy.
6. Druid stands at the bile and turns once around deasil, saying:
Let every light and every shadow proclaim it;
Let the kindreds of Land,
Sea and sky acknowledge it,
Let it be known among the mighty dead,
Among the noble ones,
Among the gods themselves:
By magic’s might we claim this ground
As holy ground
By fire in the three worlds
In honor to the shining ones
The sacred grove is established
Let the spirits of the (east) wind
Hear and aid us
(Repeat with south, west and north winds)
Let all good be welcomed
Let all ill be turned away
Thus is the nemeton claimed and hallowed.
So be it!
126
A Very Simple Druidic Working
You will need a flame, a bowl of water with a piece of silver and a
cup of drink. Place the flame and the bowl next to one another, with
the cup between them. Drop the silver into the water, and say:
The bounty of the Deep

Light the flame, and say:

The rising of the Light

Place a drop of water on your forehead. Keeping your body relaxed,

concentrate on the feel of the water on your skin. Let it fill your
awareness.
Focus your gaze on the flame. Let the form and light of the fire be
the concentration of your vision. Take three deep breaths, holding
the concentrations on the feeling of the water and the vision of the
fire, then say:
Between Fire & Water, I find my balance.

Take up the cup, and raise it in salute to the Holy Powers of the world,
saying:
I drink to the Holy Powers of the world
I drink to the Ancestors (sip the drink)
I drink to the Landspirits (sip the drink)
I drink to the Shining Goddesses and Gods
(sip the drink)
To all the beings, in all the worlds
In Land, Sea and Sky, below and on high
I drink this cup of fellowship. (drink the rest of the cup)
Pause in silence for a time. When you are ready, place a drop of wa-
ter on your forehead. Focus your gaze on the flame, then say:
Between Fire & Water, I find my balance.

Extinguish the flame, and say:

The Light rises in me.
127
 Take the silver from the water and say:
The Deep flows in me.
This work is complete!
The Heavens shine above me,
The Deeps flow below me.
I stand amidst all realms,
And go forth with the blessing of the Kindreds.

Purification By Fire And Water

Sprinkle the object with water from the Well. Cause the Deep Power
to flow over and through it as you say:

By the holy Power of the Deep

The Waters of the Dark, the secret Well,
Be free of every ill or every bane
Washed clean by magic’s might, as I do will.

If you can, have an open flame in your Fire, more than just a candle-
flame. Make a large offering of incense, hold the object in the smoke,
and fill it with the light of the Sky, as you say:

By the shining Power of the Sky

The Fire of Sorcery, the Heaven’s Light
Let every ill or bane now flee away,
By my word and will, and magic’s might.

Hold the object in your hands and let the Two Powers flow
through your hands, and through it. When you are satisfied, say:

Biodh Se Abhlaidh!

128
Morning Blessing & Open Meditation
Begin your breathing pattern and basic trance.
Give silver to the Water and incense or an offering to the Fire, as you say:

The Fire, the Well, the Sacred Tree

Flow and Flame and Grow in me
In Land, Sea and Sky, Below and on High,
Let the Water be blessed and the Fire be hallowed.
Sprinkle and cense yourself, as you say:

By the Might of the Waters and the Light of the Fire

Cleansed of ill and bane am I
By the Might of the Waters and the Light of the Fire
Blessed in Land and Sea and Sky
Make an offering of incense, and open your to all the Holy Beings. Say:

Gods and Dead and Mighty Sidhe

Powers of Earth and Sky and Sea
By Fire and Well, by Sacred Tree
Welcome I do give to ye.
If you wish to add special offerings to any other Deities or Powers, do so now.
At this time you may pause in open meditation for as long as you wish.

The blessings of the Holy Ones be on me and mine

My blessings on all beings, with peace on thee and thine
The Fire, the Well, the Sacred Tree
Flow and Flame and Grow in me
Thus do I remember the work of the Wise.

129
Two Simple Ritual Trances
Bone, Breath & Blood
• Stand firm, and take three complete breaths. Find and
release tensions in your body as you breathe.
• Keep your breath rhythmic, and focus on the feeling of your
feet touching the ground or floor. For a moment, let your whole
attention be on the place where your feet touch the world.
• Close your eyes, and find the pulse of your heart; in your
chest, in your veins, feel the salt flow of your life.
• Breathe deep, and feel the air flow through you, connect-
ing you with the whole world.
• Stand firm, on the land. Feel the beating of your heart,
and breathe deep. Finally, imagine that a cool white light is
shining from your forehead.
• With your attention focused on these things, open your
eyes. Maintain these concentrations, and begin your ritual.

The Two Powers

This is a basic meditation intended to link the Druid’s spirit and flesh
to the currents of Earth and Sky. It is based on methods that have be-
come known in Pagan work as ‘grounding and centering’. All these
methods are meant to connect the student to spiritual powers in the
cosmos, and to encourage balance in the personal soul. Some form of
this technique should precede almost any work of worship or magic.

• Find your seat or your stance, and begin with one of the
above exercises.
• Envision dark, rich power that flows like water under
your feet. Take three deep, complete breaths and imagine
that Underworld Water flowing up into your body
• Envision bright, inspiring power that shines like Fire
above your head. Take three deep, complete breaths and
imagine that Power of the Heavens shining down into your
body.
• Take three deep breaths and envision the Light and the
Dark, mingling in your blood, in your breath, in your heart.
• Proceed to your work.
130
A Full Induction for Calling the Two Powers
•Begin, O seeker of wisdom, with your breath... breathe
deeply, from your belly... in... and out... make your body
comfortable... focus on your breath... observe your
breath as it flows in and out of your body... and with
each breath, allow your body to relax... let your breath
carry away tension from your flesh.. relaxing your feet
and legs... letting your belly soften and relax... breathing
away tension from your shoulders and arms... from your
neck... relaxing your face and mouth, your eyes... with
each breath your body becoming warmer, comfortable
and relaxed...

• Now, with your body still and calm, imagine that

from your feet, or the base of your spine, roots begin
to grow downward... roots reaching and growing into
the earth, down through soil and stone... deepening
and spreading... reaching to touch the waters under the
Earth... the Earth current... the dark, cool, magnetic
power that nourishes and sustains life... as your roots
touch this current it is drawn in and up toward your
body... your breath draws the Earth power upward...
into your body... the invisible, magnetic power fills your
legs, energizing and strengthening... waters rise from
the earth, into your legs... rising... into your loins...
and pooling in your loins, a cauldron of Earth power...
You breathe the power upward... rising from the earth,
through your loins, rising up your spine... into your
heart... pooling and filling a cauldron in your heart with
healing, restoring energy... power rising from the deep,
through your loins, through your heart... rising up your
spine and into your head... filling a cauldron of wisdom
131
and vision behind your eyes... and rising still, filling all
your body and flowing out again through the crown of
your head... through your hands... flowing out around
your body and back into the earth... the power under
the Earth flows in you... grounding you in the source of
life...

• Now imagine the sky overhead... The sun and moon

and, far beyond them, the stars... envision a single star
at the center of the sky, shining directly over your head...
the center of your inner sky, your own pole-star... see a
flash of light shining down from that star... streaming
down between moon and sun... gold, silver and blue-
white light... the bright, warm, electric power of the sky...
the light touches your head, filling and illuminating the
cauldron like sun on still water... shining from above...
filling your head with warm, awakening power... flowing
down into your heart... warming the cauldron... shining
down through head and heart, illumining the waters...
downward to reach your loins... The cauldron shines
with sky power in your loins... Tingling, electrical light
in head, heart and loins... the light flows downward into
Earth, and you are shining and flowing with the mingled
powers of Earth and sky... the raw material of magic...
the chaos of potential and the world order...

• These powers are balanced in you... yours to shape

and use... always with you in some degree... But for now,
return your awareness to you body... with the Fire and
Water still flowing in you... you are filled with the power
of Earth and Sky, ready for the work of the wise...

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Lightening Liturgy
Arrange simple Hallows as you wish, with a good seat for vision-
work before them, where you can reach them to make offerings.
Have the usual offerings.

Open the Grove:

• Find your basic trance, and attune to the Two Powers

• Offer to the Fire, Well & Tree, saying:

Mother of All, Let this Well be blessed.
First Father, kindle magic in this Fire.
Let this Tree be the Crossroads of All Worlds,
That the Sacred Grove may be established.

• Sprinkle all from the Well, and cense from the Fire, saying:
By the might of the Waters and the Light of the Fire,
This Grove is made whole and holy.

• Make an offering into the Fire, and say:

Keeper of Gates, aid me to open the Ways.

• With your work hand make a welcoming triskel over the Fire, say-
ing:
By Land, Sky and Sea;
By Gods, Dead & Sidhe;
By Fire, Well & Tree;
Let the Gate be open!

• Turn once deasil, saying:

So the Way is opened and this place is claimed. Let no
ill or harm come to me and mine, and Wisdom, Love
and Power flow to me through this gate. So be it!

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Kindred Offering Charm
• Now to my Sacred Fire I call
The Threefold Kindreds, spirits all
All my allies among the Dead
Mighty and Beloved Ones
Stand strong with me in my work,
and receive this offering.
(Make the offering)
All my allies among the Sidhe
Red blood, green sap or Spirit Folk
Join me on my work’s journey,
And receive this offering.
(Make the offering)
All my allies among the Gods
Wisest and Mightiest Ones
I pray that your power burn and flow in me
So, receive this offering.
(Make the offering)
Hear me, my kin, my allies, my elders, I pray, and make
your wisdom open to me, your love flow with mine,
your power strong in me, that I may do the work of the
Wise. Be beside me, Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones,
and (state intentions) for I am (your name), your true
worshipper!
In the Mother’s Love be welcome.
In the Joys of Life be welcome.
In this Sacred Grove be welcome.

Key Offerings: additional invocations and offerings as required.

Prayer of Sacrifice: as proper to the rite.

The Omen and the Blessing

Take up your divining tool of choice and meditate on the patrons and
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on the intention of this rite. Cast for 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 spirits, the intention,
and the omen - into a single gestalt of energy.
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 (patron powers)
to give to me as I have given to you.
Oh Holy Powers, Oh Elder Wise, 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,. Meditate a moment on the influx of magi-
cal current.

Additional Works, as needed.

A Short Closing
• Let bound be bound and wound be wound;
Thus all is done, and done, and well done,
And thus I end what was begun.
Make a banishing triskel over the Fire, saying:
• The sacred center has held firm,
Now, by Tree and Fire and Well,
Let this gate be closed!

• To the Three Holy Kindreds I give my thanks.

To the Keeper of Gates I give my thanks.
To the Mother of All I give my thanks.
Let wisdom, love and power kindle in all beings…

• The rite is ended!

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A Simple Divination Charm
• Work this charm before your personal Hallows at your Shrine.
• Take a clean white cloth and lay it before you, then hold your bag
of lots in your hands. Make your link with the Two Powers, and ex-
tend your awareness into the Water and the Light.
Make a small offering into the Fire, and say:

Danu of the Gift, Danu of the Song, Danu of Destiny

My gift I give to you.
Give me the gift, let me hear the song
Of the Turning of the Worlds
(Name and nature of the beings one is asking)
I have offered to you, as I seek your wisdom.
Now let the true sight be in me, the true speech be mine,
Answer me now, Oh spirits,
(State question)

• Shake the bag of lots and let it fall into your lap or onto the cloth.
Close your eyes and clear your mind as you reach into the bag and
draw three lots.
• Place the three lots in a row before you on the cloth. Carefully
identify each symbol, and contemplate the meanings of the signs.
Listen to your own inspiration or the voices of the spirits to help you
understand the traditional meaning in relation to your question.
• If the omen seems good then you should record or clearly remem-
ber the omen and proceed to the next phase of your work.
• If the omen seems ill or uncertain, or if you wish to clarify some
point, you may frame a second question and draw a second triad of
symbols. Some choose to replace the first three lots in the bag before
drawing the second three; others leave the first three before them.
• If there is a need you may go so far as to frame a third question and
draw a third triad. A nine-symbol reading of this sort should provide
sufficient detail to reach a conclusion even in complex questions.

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 Songs For The Rites
Processional Chants
1: Come we now as a people
To gather together at the Sacred Well
Come we now as a people
Together in the warmth and the light of her Flame

2: We approach the Sacred Grove

With Hearts and Minds and Flesh and Bones
Join us now in ways of old
We have come Home

3: Come we merrily, join us, join us

On this hallowed night
Come ye merrily join us, join us
On this hallowed night
To join us now in ways of old

Earth Mother Chants

4: Earth Mother we sing to your body
Earth Mother we sing to your stones
Earth Mother we honor your body
Earth mother we honor your bones

5: O Earth Mother
We praise thee
That seed springeth
That blossom bloweth
That corn groweth
We praise thee
For winds that whisper
Through the lively pine
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Through the shining birch
Through the mighty oak
We praise thee
For all things
O Earth Mother
Who giveth life!

6: Earth Mother, Blossom Lifter

Bloom with the wheat
Bloom with the rye
Bloom with barley
And bloom with all grain
Earth Mother, Blossom Lifter
Bless what we eat
Bless what we drink
Bless what we harrow
And bless what we sew
Earth Mother, Blossom Lifter
With all these things
Let us rejoice
We give to you
And you give to us

The Portal Song

7: Come we now to the well
The eye and the mouth of the 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
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 chorus:
By fire and by water between the earth and sky
We stand like the world tree
rooted deep crowned high
We will kindle a fire
Bless all, and with harm to none
We will kindle a fire
And offering pour
We will kindle a fire
A light neath the moon and sun
We will kindle a fire
Our spirits will soar
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
chorus

Gatekeeper Chants
8: Manannan open the portals
Between the Gods and mortals
Power freely flows
As our magic grows
9: We invoke Manannan, opener of every Gate
We invoke Manannan, opener of every Gate
You wiill reach us, you will teach us and reveal our fate
You will reach us, you will teach us and reveal our fate
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 10: The Keepers of the ways between
The world of Gods and mortal kin
From common land to otherworlds
Throw wide the Gates for us again

Kindreds Chants
11: Gods and dead and mighty sidhe
Powers of earth and sky and sea
By fire and well
By sacred tree
Offerings we make to ye

12: Fur and feather and scale and skin

Different without but the same within
Many of body but one of soul
Through all creatures are the Gods made whole

13: From far beyond this mortal plane

Mothers and Fathers of Old
We pray that you return again
Mothers and Fathers of Old
To share with us the mysteries
And secrets long untold

14: Elder teachers heal and nurture

All we need we find in you
Mothers fathers, Lovers Teachers
Soul of Magic, Hearts so true
From the clan of Gods to the mortal kin
We give to you, you give back again

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15: Hail all the Gods, Hail all the Goddesses
Hail all the Holy Ones, we dwell together
Powers of the Sky, Powers of the Sacred Earth
Powers of the Ancestors, we dwell together.

Drinking the Blessing

16: 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.

17: All sing, ad infinitum:

Power of the spirits
descant:
Flowing Through Me
Shining In Me
Growing With me

Final Blessing
18: Walk With Wisdom, from this hallowed place
Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall e’er embrace
May strength be your brother
And honor be your friend
And luck be your lover
Until we meet again.

19: The Blessings of the Holy Ones

Be on me and mine
Our blessings on all beings
Witch peace to thee and thine
The Fire, the Well, the Sacred Tree
Flow and flame and grow in me.
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Songs for the High Days:
For Samhain
A Charm for the Elder Wise
We call through the Mist to the Ancient Wise
To Poets, Magicians and Priests
We too keep the Fires of the Ancient Ways
We have honored you well at our feasts.
Wisdom and love we have gained in the work
But greater from you we now seek
The Voice of the Wise has been stilled for too long
And with it we now hope to speak
So lead us and speak to us, open our eyes
Guide us in mind heart and hand
Teach us, we pray you, the Ways of the Wise
For the Gods, for the Folk, for the Land

For Imbolc
1: The Hymn to Brighid
A Bhrid, ár gcroí, an-gheal Bheanríon;
lo de thoil é beannachta sinn.
Is sinn bhur leanaí, is tu ár mamaí;
bí ag isteacht dúinn mar sin.
Is tu an coire, anois inár doire;
a Bhean-Feasa tinfím orainn.
A thine ghrá, a thine bheatha;
lo de thoil é ag teacht Bhrid dúinn!

O Bridget, our heart, o brightest Queen;

cast your blessings unto us.
We are your children, you are our mother;
so hearken unto us.
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You are the cauldron, now in our grove;
Wise Woman inspire us.
O fire of love, o fire of life;
please Bridget, come to us!

2: Brigid Triple Flame be within me

Tonight, tomorrow, and forever,
Tonight, tomorrow, and forever.

For Beltaine
1: Hal an Tow:
Take the scorn and wear the horns
It was the crest when you were born
Your father’s father wore it
And your father wore it too

Chorus:
Hal-an-Tow, jolly rumbelow
We were up long before the day-o
To welcome in the summertime
To welcome in the May-o
For summer is coming in
And winter’s gone away
Robin Hood and Little John
Have both gone to the fair-o
We shall to the merry green wood
To hunt the buck and hare-o

What happened to the Spaniards

That made so great a boast-o?
They shall eat the feathered goose
And we shall eat the roast-o
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Oh bless us Gods and Spirit
With all your power and might-o
Send us peace and bounty
Send us peace by day and night-o

2: The Way to the Well:

We will never, never lose the way to the well
Of her memory
And the power of her living flame it will rise
It will rise again
Like the grasses through the dark
to the dawn to the sunrise
We will live again
We are thirsting for the Waters of Life
We are moving
We shall rise again

3: Stone Creed May

Rise up, Rise up you merry folk
Rise up and greet the day
We sing the blossom and the bud
for this is our Stone Creed May, our May
This is our Stone Creed May!

Red breast Robin now appears,

And the Greenwood is in bloom,
And brings an end to cold and frost
And the winters passing gloom, the gloom
And the winters passing gloom.

Naught would be without the Gods,

And to them we sing praise,
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To lovely Aine and Mac Oc
Who brighten all our days, our days
Who brighten all our days.

We’ve been up before the dawn

To light the fire of day,
And welcoming the Summer in,
This is our Stone Creed May, Our May
This is our Stone Creed May!

Now our song is nearly done,

And you’ve heard our Stone Creed May
Please give to us a May Day draught
And we will go away, away
And we will go away!

For Lughnasadh
The sun must die that the earth may live
The Darkness rises in its turn
That the land its bounty give
Milk and honey, ale and corn.

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 The Armoring
I gird myself with the Two Powers
The Deeps of the World’s Chaos
The Height of the World’s Order
And I between them, like the World Tree.
I gird myself with the power
of the Magic Cauldron,
With the inspiration
of the Fire of Magic,
With love to draw all good to me.

I gird myself with the power of the Spirits

The might of the Shining Ones,
The wisdom of the Ancestors,
The joy of the Elder Tribes,
All meet in my soul.
Today I gird myself with the Elements of the World.
The stars behind my eyes
My thoughts the clouds
The sun my face,
Cool moonlight my mind,
My breath the wind,
The sea my blood
My hair the green bounty,
My flesh the warm soil,
Eternal stone my bones.
All the world is in me,
and I am in the world.

I gird myself
With my Goddess’ power to direct me,
With my God’s wisdom to bear me up
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 Their eyes to watch over me
Their ears to hear me
Their voices to speak to me
Their hands to open my ways
Their shield to ward me
From the snares of spirits,
From peril by Land,
from peril by Sea,
from peril by Sky,
From all who wish me near,
far or near.
Let these Powers be upon me and in me, to make me
equal to any challenge, to come between me and all that
threatens my body or my spirit; that I may have the
wisdom of the Wise, the Love of the Loving, the Power
of the Powerful; that I may be known, and with honor,
in the Inner Realms. Know me, O Mighty, Noble and
Shining Ones, for my name is _______.
Power above me, Power below me,
Power on my right hand,
Power on my left hand
Power before me.
In every eye, In every ear,
In every mouth, in every heart,
My magic is established.
I gird myself with ninefold magic,
The Fire, the Well, the Tree,
The Land, the Sky, the Sea,
The Gods, the Dead, the Sidhe
Dwell with me and in me, forever.
So be it!
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 A Hymn For The Virtues
Honor is due to the Ways of the Old Ones.
I affirm the Way of Virtue, to do right and live well.
I remember the Way of the Wise.
I seek reason, memory and detachment,
Yet I seek vision and intuition and compassion.
I keep the Old Ways, honoring the cycles
and working the work of my soul.
I remember the Warrior’s Way.
I will strengthen my body, mind and spirit,
And keep my honor bright,
with true words and honest deeds.
I seek courage in my heart,
To stand firm in the face of fear.
I remember the Farmer’s Way
Let my hearth be a door of welcome,
My bounty, the fruits of my diligent labor,
A blessing to my folk,
I honor the joy of the land, of the senses, of the flesh.
The Ways of the Old Ones are worthy of honor.
Let all these virtues be in me,
that I may live well, and do right.
Biodh se abhlaidh!

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 The Death Song
You go home this night to your home of winter
To your home of fall, of spring, of summer
You go home this night to the Turning House,
To your pleasant rest in the House of Joy.
Rest you, rest, and away with sorrow
Rest this night in the Mother’s breast
Rest you, rest, and away with sorrow
Rest, O beloved, with the Mother’s kiss
In the Many-colored land
In the Land of the Dead,
In the Plain of Joy
In the Land Beneath the Wave
In the Land of Youth,
In the Land of the Living
In the Revolving Castle, the House of Donn
Rest in seven lights beloved
Rest in seven joys beloved
Rest in seven sleeps, beloved
In the Grove of the Cauldron, Morrigan’s Shrine
The shade of death is on your face, beloved
But the Cauldron of Rebirth awaits you
The Threefold turning of your fate
When your rest has given you your peace
So rest in the calm of all calms
Rest in the wisdom of all wisdoms
Rest in the love of all loves
Rest in the Lord of Life and Death
Rest in the Lady of Life and Death
‘Til the Season of Turning
‘Til the Time of the Returning
‘Til the Mystery of the Cauldron
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 Saining The Baby
This is the blessing of the Mother on her child
Protection from death, protection from wound
Protection from head to heart
Protection from heart to foot
Blessing of the Three Powers,
Blessing of the Seven Powers
Blessing of the Nine Powers
From the crown of your head to the sole of your foot
So blessing on your feet
Blessing on your (womb) (phallus)
Blessing on your heart beloved
Blessing on your hands
Blessing on your mouth
Blessing on your eyes
And blessing on your radiant brow, O Child of Earth
From the crown of your head to the soles of your feet
To preserve you from behind
To preserve you from before
To preserve you on every side
Be the Light of Wisdom in your eyes
Be the warmth of Love in your heart
Be the Fire of Strength in your flesh
To aid you and shield you all your life
Health, wealth and wisdom be yours
The Gods’ power close to ward you
The Spirits power all around you
East to South and South to West
West to North and North to East
In the whole circle of the world.

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 A Daily Charm for Power
By deep Well and bright Fire
By the World Tree’s root and branch
I come before the Gods
May I be the Kin of the Mighty Dead
May I be the Ally of the Noble Spirits
May I be the Blessed Child of the Shining Gods
Power be above me
Power be below me
Power on every hand around me
And Wisdom, Love and Power
in my truest heart.

A Charm Upon Rising

To gain the blessing of the day, take fresh water to the eastern door
of your home, and pour it outside the doorstep, saying:
Thou Shining Ones of Moon and Sun
Oh Mighty Ones who guide our way
Oh Noble Spirits, every one
Guide and ward me on this day

Let me walk in wisdom’s light

By virtue, strength and love’s own way
My word and deed be true and right
Keep and teach me on this day

Oh Fire and Water shine and flow

By Sun and Earth I greet the day
Take you this gift now, as I go
Along my road, my path, my way.
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 The Great Blessing
I offer my thanks to the Mother of All.
I offer my thanks
to the Gods, Dead and Spirits.
May the Three Sacred Kins
Bring joy to all beings,
and renew the ancient wisdom.
To the Fire, Well and Tree
I offer my thanks.
May Wisdom, Love and Power
Kindle in all beings
and renew the ancient wisdom.
To the Earth, Sea, and Sky
I offer my thanks.
May the ancient wisdom be renewed,
and may all beings
Know peace, joy and happiness
In all the worlds!
So be it!

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Notes and Additions

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Ritual Reminder & Checklist
Procession & Greeting
Earth Mother Preliminary Offerings
Inspiration
Outdwellers
Purpose & Precedent Opening the Grove
Trance & Centering
Fire, Well & Tree
Purification
Gate Offering & Opening
Ancestors The Three Kindreds
Landspirits
Deities
Deities o/t Occasion Key Offerings

• Invocations
• Offerings
• Specal customs
Additional Offerings
Omen The Blessing
Calling for the Blessing
Hallowing & Drinking
Final Blessing
Closing Affirmation Closing
Thanks to DotO & Kindreds
Gate Closing
Earth Mother
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