Bell ringing druid rings bell thrice.
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.
Purification
KSS- Purifies with sage
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
KSS- The Spring Equinox is also called: Alban Eilir, Eostar, Eostre, Festival of Trees, Lady Day, NawRuz, No Ruz, Ostara, Ostra, Rites of Spring. The Dagda uses his magic harp to order the seasons to change and controls the earth’s abundance. It is the time when day and night are equal in length. Crops were typically sown at this time. The equinoxes and solstices are seen as a time of transition. This rare balance in nature made these days a powerful time for magic.
Establishing the Sacred Grove
KSS makes an offering of incense:
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:
“O Bee-leh, forest-heart, sacred tree!
O Being reaching to mystery!
O Bridge! lift us now along with Thee.
Let your gateway be opened
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,
First Prayer
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
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!
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!
Second Prayer:
KSS-
Epona
Epona, our protector, shield, defender,
welcome are you to
join us in our celebration of this attainment on the wheel of the year.
Let the dark, cold times be past.
Let us embrace the warm, bright days,
balanced, harmoniously, healthily,
peacefully, prosperously.
Dagda
Dagda most honored
You, the Fire Beneath the Cauldron
Fire of the Sacrifice, great in appetite
To you we do honor Excellent God
Flame in the belly that sustains Life
Flame in the loins that continues Life
Flame in the eye that comprehends Life
Oats of the Stallion we give you
Boiled in the Cauldron upon
the Sacred Fire
O Harper of the Seasons
Great Good God!
Personal Offerings and Remembrance
Prayer-
But may you yourselves, O Gods of Life,
Be at my breast, be at my back,
You to me as a star, you to me as a guide,
From my life’s beginning to my life’s closing.
That my name may be remembered…
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
All- We honour you!
Third Prayer
KSS- In honouring our Gods, we listen to their Wisdom.
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!
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!
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
Epona
Epona, protector, shield, defender,
thanks for joining us today.
We’re grateful you were here today
Go, if you must. Stay, if you will.
Dagda
Dagda, we have welcomed you this day to our grove,
Leave with us your song of the season,
Oh wise, learned, potent, patron of druids, thanks for
joining us today. We’re grateful you were here today
Go, if you must. Stay, if you will.
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
“O Bee-leh, forest-heart, sacred tree!
O Being reaching to mystery!
O Bridge! Who brought us back through Thee.
Let your gateway be 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.
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!