Parts:

• The Four Corners:
  
  
  
  • Connachta – The Druid
    
  • Ulster – The Warrior
    
  • Leinster – The Creator
    
  • Munster – The Outsiders
  
  
• Gatekeeper
  
• Diviner
  
• Grove Meditation Person

Props:

• Well
  
• Flame
  
• Rice as Offering to Outsiders
  
• Coins to offer to the well — several.
  
• Oil or incense to offer to the flame.
  
• Chalice and mead/ale for blessing.
  
• Ogham for divination.

The Actual Rite:

Procession

Given that it’s in my apartment, we’re not going to be processing very much.
But we can do an opening chant, that’s Puck’s business.

Opening Prayers:

Earth Mother

Leinster: Danu, mother of All, from whose womb the rivers flow, bearing forth
life, we bless you and ask you to uphold this rite.

*Leinster offers grain to the Earth mother.*

Awen

Connachta: Sacred voice, from the well of inspiration, enter our hearts. From
the fire of wisdom, burn in our hearts. Guide us in truth, lead us in wisdom,
place the clear heart in all of us. May the power of inspiration live in this
holy place, at this holy time. I have spoken.

Purpose and Precedent

Connachta: As our ancestors once did, so we do today, and so our children
will do in the future. We are here to pay homage to the Lady Brigit, who has
endured for thousands of years. We are here to pay homage to the rising light of
the year. We are here to strengthen Brigit, the healer, to help her as midwife
of the sun. We are here to strengthen Brigit, the smith, to help her stoke the
forge of the heavens. We are here to strengthen Brigit, the dreamer, to help her
imagine the joys of summer. Through the union of fire and water, the ancients
worked their magic to call in the spring. So let us join together as one folk to
make our offerings in joy and reverence.

Grove Attunement

Ian: I’m actually going to try an ADF style grove meditation, two powers, all
that jazz. I’m trying to fully understand it as part of the dedicants work, so
it’s good practice for me. Unless anyone screams a lot, in which case we can
change this part. I’ll probably actually write it out, but I probably won’t use
the script. 🙂

Fire and Well

Ulster: Spirits of the flame, we offer oil to you. Let our praise rise with
you, and bridge between the worlds! Eternal flame, stand at the center of our
circle, and stand at the center of our world! Let the boundaries be so.

* Ulster puts oil/incense in fire *

Munster: Spirits of Water, we offer coin to you. Let our praise sink down
into your fathomless depths, and bridge to all there who might hear it. Wild
waters, surround our circle, as you surround our world! Let the boundaries be
so.

Munster puts coins in water.

Opening the Gates

Gatekeeper: And from the waters, Mannanan, Lord of Gates, open the ways for
us. We walk the Sacred Road, we walk the mists. Share your magic with us.
Mannanan mac Lir, accept our sacrifice.

*Gatekeeper puts more coins in the water*

Gatekeeper: Lord of hidden ways, join your magic with mine, let the fire open
as a gate, let the well open as a gate. Open a road for our voices and spirits.
Let the gates be open!

Kindred Offerings and Outdweller Recognition

Connachta: I speak from the west, from the land of Connacht, of the Druids,
of the teachers, and I speak first and foremost to all the Gods, whose names are
known or not known. If you come in peace, if you come to aid, if you come in
respect, than we honour you in all your forms. I have spoken. *make offering to
well*

Ulster: I speak from the north, from bloody Ulster, where the clash of arms
and strife still continues to this day. We warriors mark the boundaries, and we
know well the final boundary. It is to those who have crossed that boundary that
we call. Ancestors, spirits of the Dead, if your intentions are pure, than we
honour you and invite you here this day. I have spoken. *make offering to fire*

Leinster: I speak from the east, from fertile Leinster, home of artisans, of
grain, of mead. We honour this day our allies, those of the fields, those of the
rivers, who cause our land to grow. To the growing trees, we honour you. To the
spirits of the animals, we honour you. Nurture us and guide us. I have spoken.
*make offering to well*

Munster: And finally, I speak from the south, from hidden Munster. In the old
tales, Munster has always been where newcomers have entered into the Land, for
good or for ill. Today, we are prepared. Those who come for good, we welcome you
with hospitality. Those who might think to trouble us, we offer a gift, and
request that you accept it, and honourably leave us alone. *throw rice outside
of circle*

Key Offerings

Leinster:
Radiant flame of gold, noble mother of dreams,
Bride the
daughter of Dugall the brown,
Son of Aodh, son of Art, son of Conn,
Son
of Crerar, son of Cis, son of Carmac, son of Carruin,

We call you by
name, and praise you.
We call you by name, and honour you.
We call you
by name, and bring these gifts to you,
gifts of your own poetic fire.

*the folk present their offerings.*

Sacrifice, Offerings, and Blessings

Connachta: We have given works from our hearts and our wealth. Let our voices
rise through the fire, sink through the well, let our words pass the boundary to
the otherworlds. Brigit, we give you our love, our respect, our devotion as we
pray to you.

All: Brigit, accept our gifts.

*all quietly try to send energy to the powers, meditating silently*

Connachta: Having prayed and offered, let us open to them, asking blessings
in return.

*diviner takes omens, and interprets. puck.*

Ulster: Ancient Spirits, Gods of Old, we have honoured you. We pray you
honour us in turn, as a gift calls for a gift. Hear us, your chidren.

All: Shining Ones, Give us the waters.

Connachta: We thirst for waters of wisdom, of bounty, of rebirth. Hear us,
your children.

All: Shining Ones, give us the waters.

Ulster: We open our hearts and await blessing. We stand in pride, honour, and
friendship with all the powers of the worlds. Hear us, your children.

All: Shining Ones, give us the waters.

*leinster pours ale into chalice, rises it*

Leinster: We draw blessing from the cauldron. We pour the ale of inspiration,
the holy cup of magic, the blessing from the mighty ones. We share this draught,
and drink in the wisdom, love, strength and power of the old ones, to serve
their will.

*chalice is passed. maybe chant here.*

Closing

Connachta: We have been blessed by the Old Powers. As we walk away from this
place, let us carry that strength into our lives and work, nurturing it every
day. As we offer to the powers, they become stronger, and more aware of needs.
As we go, let us give thanks to those who have aided us.

Leinster: Lady Brigit, we thank you!

All: We thank you.

Connachta: Gods of Old, we thank you!

All: We thank you.

Ulster: Ancestors and Kindred Gone, we thank you!

All: We thank you.

Leinster: Spirits of the Land, we thank you!

All: We thank you.

Connachta: To all spirits, named and unnamed, who have been here this day and
have aided us, we thank you!

All: We thank you.

Gatekeeper: Mannanan, we thank you for easing our way on the hidden paths,
for lending your strength to our journey. We thank you.

All: We thank you.

Gatekeeper: Now, by your strength and our magic we end what we began. 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.

Demeditatytunything – Ian.

Commission

Connachta: Go now, children of the Earth. This rite is ended.

*chant. if i can get the green man grove recessional, we’ll use it.*