Red Maple Grove held its own midsummer ritual on the 20th and in addition conducted the midsummer ritual for the Temple of the Sacred Grove on the 19th.
Omen from the ritual of the 19th:
Past: Queirt (Apple) Choice of Beauty. What our Gods are drawing to our attention about the influences from the past is that things were pretty good and going fairly well.
Present: Tinne (Holly) Balance. What they are indicating about the present is balance, moderation, equilibrium, being harmonious and on an even keel.
Future: Straiph (Blackthorn) Fate: What our Gods are communicating about our future is that we have to go through it. This is something we need to get through. There is no avoiding it.
Our omens include a ritual question: “Our Gods have spoken to us. Are we satisfied or would we hear more?” Usually, the response is that we are satisfied. This time before that question could be asked, there was a request to hear more.
Explanatory few drawn: Ailm (pine) Awareness: Our Gods are telling us to be mindful of the bigger picture, to take the long view, to keep our gaze focused on the distant horizon as we proceed through what is directly ahead of us.
Omen from the ritual of the 20th:
Past: Coll (Hazel) Inspiration: What our Gods are drawing to our attention about the influences of the past is the inspiration we have received, the bright ideas that have formed in our creative minds, the gleaming concepts that have carried us forward.
Present: Muin (Vine) Weaving. Our Gods are indicating to us that now we are weaving our past influences, characteristics and aspects into a fit garment worthy to be worn in the future.
Future: Straiph (Blackthorn) Fate: Our Gods are communicating to us that the future is something we have to go through. We have to get through this. There is no avoiding it.
It was noticed that this was the same future omen as had been given to us in the ritual the previous day. The question arose as to whether to draw another few or to go with the explanatory few drawn then. It was agreed that we draw a separate explanatory few, though afterwards the guidance received then was also mentioned.
Explanatory few drawn: Fern (Alder) Protection. Our Gods are informing us that they are watching over us. They are safeguarding us. They are protecting us, as we advance forward into the future. It was mentioned that the specific Goddess for this ritual was Epona, one of whose functions was as a patron guardian to Celts in the Roman cavalry, and that the specific God for this ritual was Oghma, who besides being God of Wisdom was Champion Defender.
A visitor to the ritual mentioned that there had been a tradition in a previous Ottawa Pagan group for individuals attending a ritual to draw one personal rune at the divinatory portion of the ritual and requested permission to do this here. We agreed and individuals now drew one few each. As these are individual, they are not mentioned here.