Parts:

• Earth Mother
• Nature Spirits
• Ancestors
• High Ones
• Mabon
• Modron
• Gatekeeper
• Diviner
• Grove Meditation

Props:

• Well and Flame
• Nuts as Offering to Outsiders
• Horn and cider for blessing.
• Grains to offer to nature spirits
• Apples to offer ancestors
• Oil to offer Gods
• Fresh local produce for Modron
• Whiskey for the Mabon
• Ogham for divination.

The Actual Rite:

Procession

Chanting would be nice. “We approach the Sacred Grove”?

Opening Prayers:

Earth Mother

Before all others, we call on the Mother, she who is Earth, she from whom the Rivers spring forth, she who causes the grain to grow, she who causes the trees to rise, she from whose womb we are all born.

Awen

Let the fire of inspiration, the sacred spark of imbas enter our hearts, move our thoughts, drive our words. Give us right speech, right though, and right action. 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.

Purpose and Precedent

Modron: The last year has reminded us that the Earth is a fragile system, balanced on a hair pin, sensitive to a million tiny changes. Close to home and across the world, waters have risen in a tide of destruction. Close to home, floods have hammered our grainfields, and heat has withered plants in the ground. As we bring in the fruits of the fields that have grown this year, we gather together in respect of those fruits, and to seek ways that we might live in harmony with nature’s powerful forces, rather than continuing to be forces of disruption.

Grove Attunement

Grove Attunement. Probably Two Powers.

Fire and Well

High Ones: Spirits of the flame, we offer oil to you. (do so) 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.

Ancestors: Spirits of Water, we offer coin to you. (do so) 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.

Opening the Gates

[** Note: as far as I’m concerned, any gatekeeper who wants to say whatever they feel is appropriate has my full blessing. I don’t really like strongly scripting gatekeepers — feel free to use this as a guideline.]

Gatekeeper: And from the waters, Manawydan, Lord of Gates, open the ways for us. We walk the Sacred Road, we walk the mists. Share your magic with us. Manawydan ap Llyr, 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

Outdwellers: Powers of raw chaos, sweeping in power and yet full of danger, we honour your strength. We make these offerings (do so, outside the circle), and ask that you remain outside the light of our fire.

Nature Spirits: Spirits of the sacred Earth, heart of the mighty River, voices upon the Winds, we call you here between the worlds. We make these offerings (do so), and ask that you speak in the rustle of the leaves, that we may hear your voices.

Ancestors: Spirits of the Dead, those who have gone before, mighty and ancient ones, we call you here between the worlds. We make these offerings (do so), and ask that you speak in the wind through the trees, that we may hear your voices.

High Ones: Shining Ones, mighty Gods, those who were worshipped before and shall be worshipped again, we call you here between the worlds. We make these offerings (do so), and ask that you speak in the sudden breezes, that we may hear your voices.

Key Offerings

Mabon! Lord of Liberation!

You who was stolen as a child,

You who was found, and returned,

You, the Divine Youth!

Come to us as the Dancer of Light

Come to us as the Peace after the Storm

Come to us as the Liberated One

Teach us to stand tall in honour

Teach us when we must fight

Teach us when we must sacrifice all, that we might win.

Mighty Mabon, We Offer to You.

Modron! Mother of the Harvest!

You who tends the wheel of the year,

You who gives birth in abundance,

You, Lady of the Apples!

Come to us as the Mother of All

Come to us as the Lady of Avalon

Come to us as the Bearer of the Harvest

Teach us to use what we are given

Teach us when we must grow

Teach us when we must listen and act, that we might survive.

Mother Modron, We Offer to You.

Modron: As we stand before the powerful Gods, in the presence of the reborn child and the sacred mother, I call forward all who were make their own offerings. [People are welcome to make personal offerings, invocations, prayers, songs, interpretive dance, whatever.]

Sacrifice, Offerings, and Blessings

Mabon: We have made offerings to the Gods and powers, asking them to watch as we prepare enter into the season of darkness, and wait for the return of the light. Let our voices rise through the fire, sink through the well, and let our words pass the boundary to the otherworlds. We send them also our strength and power, that we share as a group, that they may return it when we most need it.

While thinking of sharing the energy in the circle, chant “Hail to the Gods”

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

diviner takes omens, and interprets.

High Ones: 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.

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

All: Shining Ones, give us the waters.

Ancestors: 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.

Nature Spirits pours ale into horn, rises it

Nature Spirits: 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. As we have shared the power and strength we raised here with them, we ask them to share their deep strength with us, giving each of us what we need.

Horn is passed. maybe chant here.

Closing

High Ones: 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.

Modron: Mother Modron, we thank you!

All: We thank you.

Mabon Sacred Mabon, we thank you!

All: We thank you.

High Ones: All Gods of Old, we thank you!

All: We thank you.

Ancestors: Ancestors and Kindred Gone, we thank you!

All: We thank you.

Nature Spirits: Spirits of the Land, we thank you!

All: We thank you.

Gatekeeper: Manawydan, 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

Commission

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