Summer Solstice Ritual 2016
Bell ringing druid rings bell thrice.
Processional Chant:
We approach the sacred grove,
With hearts and minds and flesh and bone,
Join us now in ways of old,
We have come home.
Outdwellers
Outsiders, forces of chaos, you who have chosen to not be part of our workings,
you who dwell, fierce and untamed beyond our lands in dark places to civilization unknown,
I give you this offering and ask you to stay behind the gate and do not disturb us during this rite.
(OFFERING OF RAISINS)
Purification
KSS- Purifies with sage
Grove Attunement
Feel yourself reaching down, down into the earth
Down, down, like the roots of a tree
Down to the eternal water
The potential, the essence behind the Well
Down, down, down until you reach the water
Draw the water up, up like the roots of a tree
Draw the water up into you.
Feel yourself reaching up, up into the sky
Up, up, like the branches of a tree
Reaching up to the Sun, to the eternal fire
The spark that brings potential to fruition
The essence behind the Fire
Up, up, up until you reach the fire
Draw the fire down, down the branches of the tree
Draw the fire down into you.
Feel yourself becoming a tree
Feel _us_ becoming a tree
Feel us becoming the World Tree
Spanning the Nine Worlds
Joining the folk
Bringing the fire and the water together
Growing together, growing ever stronger
Feel us all becoming the Tree.
By Fire and by Water, between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the World Tree, rooted deep, crowned high
By Fire and by Water, between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the World Tree, rooted deep, crowned high
Honoring the Earth Mother
From our first breath, to our last sigh,
Our Mother is with us.
From our first laugh to our last cry,
Our Mother will hold us.
She is our body, She is our Home.
We thank you, Great Mother
For all that we have been given.
May we always remember to step lightly upon you,
and to honour your gift of life.
Hail Nerthus!
All: Hail!
Great Mother, accept these offerings.
{All offer a kiss to the earth while grain is placed on the Altar}
Statement of Purpose
As our ancestors once did,
so we do today,
and so our children will do in the future.
We are gathered here today to honour Sunna,
the shining Norse sun goddess,
on this high day, Summer Solstice.
It is appropriate to honour Sunna,
the goddess of brightness and warmth,
as she gives us energy and light
on the longest day of the year.
So let us join together as one folk,
and make our offerings to Sunna,
and the other Kindreds with joy and reverence.
Establishing the Sacred Grove
KSS makes an offering of incense:
I kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love, and power.
Sacred fire, burn within us.
All- Sacred fire, burn with us.
KSS makes an offering of silver:
In the depths flow the waters of wisdom.
Sacred waters flow within us.
All- Sacred waters, flow within us.
KSS dresses the world tree:
From the depths to the heights spans the world tree.
Sacred tree, grow within us.
All- Sacred tree, grow within us.
KSS-The fire, the well, the sacred tree,
Flame and flow and grow in me!
In land, sea and sky,
below and on high!
Thus is the sacred grove claimed and hallowed.
By the cleansing of water and fire, let all ill
turn away from me and mine.
Svo skal vera
All: Svo skal vera
Opening the Gates
Hail! Heimdall, we call to thee
Heimdall, golden-toothed, rider of Gulltopp
Heimdall, nine-mothered, fairest and brightest
Heimdall, keeper of Bifröst, the bridge spanning the worlds
Heimdall! We ask your aid now
Open for us the ways between
Open the ways, that we may be transported
That this place may be a sacred place, a place meet for the Kindred
Hail! Heimdall, join your magic with ours, that the ways may be opened.
Let the ways be opened!
The gates…are open.
First Prayer
KSS- High Ones, Mighty Alfar, Disir and landvaettir
Powers of Earth and Sky and Sea,
By Fire and Well, by Sacred Tree,
To each, an offering we make to thee.
Ancestors
Hear us, Old Ones, our ancestors and kin,
You, whose blood flows in our veins,
You, who have built the foundations our people stand upon
Our respected parents, ancestors, teachers and guides
From you we spring and with you we will grow in health.
Remember us as we remember you:
Ancestors, accept our offering
All: Ancestors, accept our offering
(OFFERING OF BREAD)
Nature Spirits
Hear us, Spirits of Nature
Kindreds of fur, feather,scale, fin, bark, leaf and stem
Spirits of the forest, mountains, rivers and sky
From you we learn to live in harmony with our world,
and ourselves.
Aid us as we aid you:
Nature Spirits, Accept our offering!
All: Nature Spirits, Accept our offering!
(OFFERING OF NUTS)
Shining Ones
Hear us, Shining Ones of old, you who uphold the worlds.
You who taught us the mysteries of life, wisdom, love and strength
Guides and guardians of our people, our divine mentors
In you we grow in wisdom, strength, and purity.
Honor us as we honor you:
Shining Ones, accept our offering!
All: Shining Ones, accept our offering!
(OFFERING OF STRAWBERRIES)
Second Prayer:
KSS- We are here to honour our Gods and to ask for their participation.
Call deities of the occasion
A Prayer to Sunna
The sun is high above us
shining down upon the land and sea,
making things grow and bloom.
Great and powerful Sunna
we honor you this day
and thank you for your gifts.
You are known by many names.
You are the light over the crops,
the heat that warms the earth,
the hope that springs eternal,
the bringer of life.
We welcome you, and we honor you this day,
celebrating your light.
Hail Sunna!
All: Hail Sunna!
(OFFERING OF AN ORANGE)
Personal Offerings
KSS- Now, with the blessings of the Gods, the Ancestors and the Spirits of Nature upon us this night of rebirth, and with Their presence all around us, we seek to honour that which has come anew.
Workings
ELECTION – Pursewarden and Scribe
All- We honour you!
KSS- In honouring our Gods, we listen to their Wisdom.
Runic divination
“We have asked and been answered. Are we satisfied, or would we hear more?”
Calling for the Blessing
KSS- As in the ways of old we have given our gifts freely
We will drink deep of the Cup of Inspiration.
Mighty Kindred, your blessings upon us!
All: Kindred, your blessings upon us!
We gather with you between Earth and Sky. We are proud to call ourselves your people.
Once again, Mighty Kindred, your blessings upon us!
All: Kindred, your blessings upon us!
Hallowing of the Waters
KSS- Shining Ones, Noble Ones, and Mighty Ones, We have praised you and received your blessings. Hallow these waters and grant us your strength and inspiration.
Affirmation of the Blessing
KSS- We open our hearts to the flow of your blessing;
We, your children and worshippers.
We drink in wisdom, love and strength
To do as we will in the worlds
In service to the Shining Ones.
We shall drink deep the blessings of the Kindred!
Prayer of Sacrifice
KSS-This eve we gather upon the Earth as one tribe;
To worship and Honour the Kindred as one people;
We gather kin and clan beneath the Sky;
To make offerings to the Kindred in hopes of
Receiving their blessings in return.
Let our voice arise on the flame
Let our voice resound in the well
We call once more through the Gates and deep within
The Otherworld that all shall know our love and respect
Beloved Kindred, We Honour you!
Communal Sharing
Thanking the Powers
KSS- Each time we invoke the Powers they become stronger
and more alert to the needs of the Folk. But the time
has come to end our Working, and give them proper thanks
Thanking the deities of the occasion.
Sunna
Thank you for witnessing this rite and
thank you for your many blessings.
Go if you must, stay if you wish.
Hail and farewell.
All: Hail and farewell!
Shining Ones
O Lords and Ladies, lofty, high,
To our ancient ones ever nigh,
Thank you for joining us today.
As pleases you, now go or stay.
Nature Spirits
O Spirits of earth, river and sky,
Brothers and sisters of fur, feather, fin, bark, leaf and stem
Thank you for joining us today,
As pleases you, now go or stay.
Ancestors
O Old Ones, our ancestors and kin,
You whose blood flows within.
Thank you for joining us today,
As pleases you, now go or stay.
Gatekeeper
Heimdall, keeper of the ways
Heimdall, foreknowing, keen of eye and ear
Hear us now. We thank you for your aid
But the time has come to end this rite
We ask that you join your magic to ours once again
And withdraw the rainbow bridge
Return to Himinbjörg and resume your watch
And let us return to Midgärd, as we were
And let the ways between be shut.
Let the ways be shut!
The gates…are closed.
Thanking the Earth Mother
Earth Mother, May we continue to learn from your being
to persevere with faith, to balance with grace
to embrace with love and walk in beauty.
Earth Mother, we thank you.
Hail Nerthus!
All: Hail!
Final closing
KSS- By the Walker of the Ways, and by our magic, we end
what we began. Let the Fire be flame, and the Well be
water, and the ways between be shut. We have done as
our ancestors have done, and as our children will do,
and the Powers have answered. Let us go out into
the world secure in the knowledge that our offerings
have pleased them and that we go forth under their
protection. The ritual is at a close!
Bell ringing druid rings bell thrice.