Lughnassadh 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
D-The Fire it burns bright within us,
Feel the flame between you and me,
D-The well it flows deep beneath us,
Feel the waters between you and me,
D-The tree it grows high above us,
Feel the connection between you and me,
D-We are together, our hearts open,
Earth’s children united, as it was meant to be.
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.
Great Mother, accept these offerings.
{All offer a kiss to the earth while grain is placed on the Altar}
Statement of Purpose
Establishing the Sacred Grove
KSS makes an offering of incense: (frankincense)
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.
All- Biodh Se! (“Bee-shay”)
Opening the Gates.
Gatekeeper:
Manannan mac Lyr, kindly bear us in your mystic craft
across the misty waves from this mundane world to the
spiritual realms on the other side.”
(pause)
Many thanks. The Gates are Open!
KSS- High Ones, Ancestors and Mighty Sidhe,
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 stands 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)
KSS- We are here to honour our Gods and to ask for their participation.
Call deities of the occasion.
Lugh
Hero and High King of the distant past,
Lámhfhad (Long armed), Ildánach (skilled in many arts),
and Macnia (boy hero),
We honour you this day with our
Rite and games to remember you and
Your foster mother.
We as you to bear witness to our rite and bestow
Your blessings upon us.
Hail Lugh!
All: Hail Lugh!
Tailtiu
Daughter of the king of Spain and
wife of Eochaid mac Eirc
You who survived the invasion of the Tuatha Dé Danann
and became the foster mother of Lugh
You who died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland and
Who we will honour with our Games, as Lugh installed
We ask you to bear witness to our rite and bestow
Blessings upon us.
Hail Tailtiu!
All: Hail Tailiu!
Personal Offerings and Remembrance
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 if any
KSS- In honouring our Gods, we listen to their Wisdom.
Ogham 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.
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.
Gatekeeping
Manannan mac Lyr,
Many thanks for having borne us here.
Now it is time for us to return, kindly carry us back in your mystic craft
from these spiritual realms to the world of normality.
(pause)
Many thanks. 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.
All: Earth Mother, we thank you.
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.