Dramatis Personae:
Ancestral Druid-
Bellringing Druid-
Divining Druid-
Gatekeeping Druid-
High Ones Druid-
Lugh’s Druid-
Maeve’s Druid-
Meditative Druid-
Natural Druid-
Druid keeping away Outdwellers-
Dramatis Res:
Bell
Divinatory tools (ogham)
Offerings for:
Ancestors, High Ones, Lugh Maeve, Mannanan, Nature Spirits;
Payment to the Outdwellers
Thanksgiving community drink
1.Prebriefing. We run through the coming rit, so all know what to expect and everything is prepared. Those presenting offerings know what they are to offer and that they are to say their piece and then make the offering. People also practice chants and know about the mementos being handed out just before the ritual ends.
2.Bellringing druid rings bell thrice.
3.Procession to the location of the ritual. A chant could be sung here. “We are walking to the grove” Circling the sacred centre three times deasil.
4.Gatekeeping druid
Manannan, Lyr’s son, welcome be.
Misty ferryman, guide us all,
Receive our gift and heed our call,
Bear us across to mystery.
5.Meditative druid does tree rooting meditation
6.Statement of purpose:
Maeve’s Druid:
Long past when solar wheel swung here,
Our tribes arrived from far and near,
To honour Lugh, and Maeve and all,
Favouring Gods, spirits recall.
Lugh’s Druid:
Again the spinning wheel is here,
Our people come from far and near,
To honour Maeve and Lugh and all,
Favouring Gods, spirits recall.
7.Invitation of the Three Kindred
Ancestral druid:
To you ahead on life’s highway,
Abiding here in times before,
Receive this gift, favour us more,
Attend again, welcome today.
Natural druid:
Favouring ones around us near,
O you of earth, air, tree, and stream,
Natural ones we so esteem,
Receive this gift and join us here.
High Ones druid:
O lofty lords and ladies high,
Now you’re invited by our tribe,
Come join this feast, partake, imbibe,
Receive this gift, in fun let’s vie.
8.Keeping away Outdwellers:
Be there any entities unfavourable to this gathering,
Take you this offering and take your leave of us.
9.Invitation of Main Deities
Maeve’s druid:
O mighty Maeve, O shield of Lands,
Enfolding us within your hands,
O birthing earth, exceeding worth,
Receive this gift and join our mirth.
Lugh’s druid:
O long armed Lugh, so skilled in all,
O Lord of Light, we send our call.
Receive our gift, responsive be,
And join with us most cheerfully.
10.Individual Offerings: These could be made in an orderly way, beginning in the east and moving sunwise around the circle.
Maeve’s druid:
Now may each person so wishing
Lugh’s druid:
Present the Gods an offering.
11.Divination:
Diving druid does the ogham reading:
We have addressed this day our deities; now it is our turn to listen to them.
Draw three oghams, one at a time, from the bag: past, present and future. Name them and say a few words about their meaning. Than a ritual question is asked:
Our Gods have spoken to us.
Are we satisfied, or would we hear more?
If the reading is especially challenging, then an additional explanatory ogham may be drawn from the bag. Each seer has a valid individual way of doing this. The Gods know whom it is they are addressing and speak accordingly.
12.Communal Sharing. Here is passed around our communal drink. This would be a good time for a lively chant. It could be Lugh’s druid and Maeve’s druid who pass this around starting in the east and moving sunwise.
13.Thanking the Main Deities
Lugh’s druid:
O skilled in all, O long armed Lugh,
So gratefully we welcomed you,
If you desire, be on your way,
Or stay with us longer today.
Maeve’s druid:
We’re grateful Maeve, O shield of lands,
Enfolding us within your hands,
O birthing earth, exceeding worth,
Depart or stay extending mirth.
14.Thanking the Three Kindred
High Ones’ druid:
O deities we knew before,
O Ladies, Lords of ancient lore,
Receive our thanks in bright array,
For being here in joy today.
Natural druid:
O nature spirits we esteem,
O you of air, earth, tree and stream,
Receive our thanks in bright array,
For being here in joy today.
Ancestral druid:
To you ahead on life’s highway,
Abiding here in times before,
Receive our grateful thanks and more
For being here in joy today.
Manannan’s druid
Manannan, Lyr’s son, thanked Thou be.
Misty ferryman, thank we all
For favoured gifts and heeded call.
Now guide us please from mystery.
15.Meditative druid does Tree Uprooting Exercise.
16.Closing Statement
Lugh’s druid:
As thanked our guests divine have been,
Let’s thank the mortal guests we’ve seen.
Maeve’s druid:
To each and all, let good extend.
This could be the time when the wooden disks or other memento of the ritual are passed out. Maeve’s druid and Lugh’s druid walk around deasil starting in the east handing these out. When they are finished, Maeve’s druid says:
Let all be well and rit now end.
Bellringing druid rings bell thrice.
There is an opportunity to process away from sacred space perhaps singing a nifty chant.
As this is Lughnasadh, it would not be unfitting for there to be at least a symbolic race, if not more extensive celebratory games.