arts:

D1
Diviner
D2 – Ancestors
D3 – Nature Spirits
D4 – Gods
GK
Outdweller person (chosen by lots, see below)

Ideally, this ritual should be done on a beach. If that’s not possible, then beside a river or lake. As long as it is by a body of water, it’s cool.

Before the rite, the place is prepared – the offerings are laid out, the bucket of grain is placed near the water, the seddlings/seeds are set to one side and covered with a cloth. The cauldron is brought to the centre of the area and a fire of nine woods is kindled. As we are near water, someone should go around and look for any droppings that are about, as we don’t want anyone stepping into that. 🙂

When it is nearly time to start the rite, the participants are gathered and we go over the rite to ensure everyone know what is is what. The chants that are to be performed are practiced. Everyone is then left to mentally prepare themselves, either by silent meditation or by whatever means they employ.

The celebrants process to the ritual site, chanting, where they are greeted by D2, D3 and D4.

D2: “Have you come to honour the gods in Truth, honour and love?”

If the celebrants answer in the affirmative, they are then purified three-fold: smudged by D4, ausperged by D3 and marked with dirt on the forehead by D2. The three pronounce blessings as such:

D2: “Strength of the Land to you.”

D3: “Power of the Sea to you.”

D4: “Voice of the Sky to you.”

Celebrants then circle the grove thrice, chanting all the way.

When all have settled, D1 kneels and kisses the Earth thrice.

D1: “Danu, wife of Bel, mother of the Tuatha de Dannan, in this time and ever, we honour You. Danu, first and foremost of all the Gods, Earth Mother, bless and uphold our rite tonight.”

The group is led through a meditation to ground, centre and create the group mind.

D1: “It is a time of planting. The Earth warms at the caress of the sun. Already, we see the land newly awaken with Spring, pushing forth new life, scenting the air with fragrant blossoms. We feel the Land, now fully awaken, stretch out to us and stir within us the desire to run beneath the trees, to squish mud between our toes, to work the land with our hands. We hear the sounds of spring – songbirds in the trees, the rustling of new leaves, the rushing of waters, freed from the ice.

We have come to ask the blessings of the Kindred, to ask for success of our endeavours this summer, to reach out to Them and celebrate the height of Spring. Let us celebrate tonight, for tomorrow begins our labours.”

(Note: I did the Outdwellers recognition differently. It’s inspired by of one of Ceiswir’s rites and traditional activities done at this time, i.e., the Beltaine bannock and the “scapegoat”.)

D1 picks up the bannock and burns a portion of it with charcoal. D1 then shows the mark to all and breaks the bannock up by tearing it into enough pieces for each one of the celebrants, making sure the mark falls only on one piece. D1 then places the pieces in a bowl and covers it with a cloth. The bowl is then passed around the celebrants, with each taking a piece from the bowl. When it is passed completely and all have taken the piece, the celebrants then examine their pieces. If they have the marked piece, then they are the ones who deal with the Outdwellers.

The one chosen then collects all the pieces of the bannock in the bowl for offering. They leave the group and present the offering to the Outdwellers. When they have presented the offering, they return to the group, D2, D3 and D4 greet them and re-ausperge, smudge and mark them with earth. If one of those three has been chosen, then D1 takes their place.

D2, D3, D4 (or D1 if one of the others have been chosen): Returned from your journey, we greet you as our own. Be welcomed once again.

When welcomed back to the group, the Outdweller person rejoins the circle.

The Portal song is sung to acknowledge the gates. When finished, The Gatekeeper walks to the edge of the water and if possible, places one foot in the water and keeps the other foot on the land. GK then addresses Mannanan mac Lir:

"I stand,
One foot on land, one foot in the sea,
My voice uplifted to the sky.
Mannanan mac Lir, son of the waves,
I call to You tonight.
At this time and this place
I ask for Your aid,
I ask for You permission
To open the Gates to Your realm,
So we may celebrate with the Gods.
Let the gates be opened."

GK then offers silver (not coins, but silver if possible. I’ve got some) to the waters.

D2 approaches the waters and holds out bread to the waves

D2:”Mighty Ancestors, Your footsteps ring in the past. We honour You tonight and ask that You honour us by celebrating with us tonight. Accept this offering and be with us tonight.”

D2 then offers the bread to the waves.

D3 approaches the waters and holds out flowers and herbs to the waves

D3: “Spirits of Nature, voices of the land. We honour You tonight and ask that You honour us by celebrating with us tonight. Accept this offering and be with us tonight.”

D3 then offers flowers and herbs to the waves.

D4 approaches the waters and hold a bottle of wine to the waves

D4: “Mighty gods, children of Danu. We honour You tonight and ask that You honour us by celebrating with us tonight. Accept this offering and be with us tonight.”

D4 then pours the wine to the waves as an offering.

A bowl/bucket of last year’s grain – mixed oats, barley, spelt, corn – is placed near the water’s edge.

D1: “Last year’s harvest was plentiful, and this year, we seek the same. Let us bring offerings to the Kindreds, asking for their blessings during our labours this summer.”

D2 takes a handful of grain and walks to the water’s edge.

D2: “For comfort in our homes, we offer to the Ancestors”

D2 offers the grain to the waters.

D3 takes a handful of grain and walks to the water’s edge.

D3: “For a time of plenty, we offer to the Spirits of the Land”

D3 offers the grain to the waters.

D4 takes a handful of grain and walks to the water’s edge.

D4: “For the success of our labours, we offer to the Gods”

D4 offers the grain to the waters.

D1 takes a handful of grain and walks to the water’s edge.

D1: “To All who protect house and home, family and friends; to All who give Us their blessings in our endeavours; we offer to You All.”

D1 offers the grain to the waters.

Celebrants each take a handful of grain and offer to the water, asking the Kindreds for their blessings.

D1: “With the grain of last year, we make these offerings.”

The remaining grain is offered to the waters.

The celebrants then make praise offerings to the waters. (suggested offerings – food, spirits, silver/gold, pottery, paper boats, pottery, poetry, song – try to stay away from coins as they contain zinc and may be harmful to the aquatic life)

When all of the offerings have been made, the diviner takes an omen on whether or not the Kindred have accepted the offering. If so, go on to the next part. If not, make more offerings and ask for clarification.

Seedlings or seeds are brought forward to receive blessings.

D1: “Oh Spirits of the Land, mighty Gods and noble Ancestors, we ask that You bless the crops this year so that the harvest may be bountiful, our grainhouses full; bless our work in the fields, the fields of earth and the fields of our heart. Let our labours, let our works bear fruit as we tend to our crops and to ourselves. Oh Kindred of ours, grant us Your blessings.”

Water is taken from the river/lake and sprinkled upon the plants/seeds. They are then distributed among the celebrants to plant in their own homes, spreading the blessings.

The diviner then takes another omen to determine the possible success of the crops.

The horn is then passed with the first drink given to the Kindreds.

Any announcements or recognitions, oaths or toasts, may be done here

The Kindred are then thanked, in reverse order, by D4, D3, and D2. The Gatekeeper thanks Mannanan mac Lir and then closes the Gates. Whoever led the meditation leads a regrounding.

D1: “We have greeted the height of spring and are ready for the labours that lie ahead. Let us all go make merry.”

Celebrants then process out, chanting. When done, all are checked to make sure they have returned okay, and then we go and do that pot-luck thing.