What's Going On Here, Anyway?

A First-Timer's Guide to Druidic Ritual

SHINING LAKES GROVE, A.D.F

Welcome to Our Celebration!

We would like you to enjoy this ritual, and we expect that knowing what's going on will help alot. If you have any questions about anything, please ask!

Before we begin...

Enjoy the antics of the Fool(s) and other entertainments, meet some new folks, grab a Songsheet and Order of Service, and check out the Raffle items before the Briefing (the Raffle raises money to cover the cost of using the site). And read through these pages for a better understanding of what we are doing.

The Briefing will explain (briefly!) the significance of this particular rite, and will clue you in to some of the specific things we will be doing. The Order of Service for the day will also help you keep track of things.

1. Preparing ourselves for our time with the Gods and Spirits

We begin with a processional, a slow walk together to the Nemeton ("sacred grove"), singing a chant as we walk (words are provided on the songsheet). At three points along the path we receive a purification, one for each of the Three Realms of Land, Sea, and Sky. The Land of physical reality, the Sky-home of the Gods, and the Otherworld realm of the Sea comprise our universe, and as we approach the Nemeton, we approach a point where all three will converge.

When all have reached the Nemeton, a Bard will call upon the spirit(s) of Bardic Inspiration to grant us eloquence and to assist us in our communication with the gods and spirits. We then welcome the Allies, the spirits of the people and their gods who lived in this land before us, to come sit at our hearth and share in our rite as our guests, since it is with their forbearance that we are welcome here.

The first deity we welcome is our mother-goddess, Ana, the spirit of the Huron River in whose watershed we live, work, or worship. We use the large stone on the edge of our Nemeton as a shrine to her, and often we sing her welcome.

The next three steps prepare us to actually be in the presence of the spirits. A guided meditation helps us to connect with our surroundings and the season, and singing a song together affirms our unity with each other and the world around us. Finally we are reminded of the purpose of our celebration as we prepare to open the gates between the worlds.

2. Opening the ways

The central magical act in druidic ritual is the creation of center and the opening of magical portals between the worlds. The Tree, or Bilé (pronounced "BEE-lay" or "BILL-yuh") (the pole in the center of the Nemeton) is aligned with the "World Tree," the center of our cosmos and the axis connecting all three Realms. The Fire when opened as a "gate" or portal carries our words throughout the realms on its smoke; and the Well or shaft becomes the portal to the Underworld and the connection with the primal waters of life.

3. Inviting our honored guests (invocations)

Immediately after opening the gates we acknowledge the Outsiders, the forces of chaos and change. We give them an offering and a place and thank them for withholding their troublesome tendencies for this time. We invoke Manannan mac Lir, our Lord of the Dead, to guide and protect us in the Otherworld. We then invite the Three Kindreds: the Ancestors, the spirits of those who have gone before us; the Nature Spirits, the spirits of the land and its creatures; and the Deities or Shining Ones who are the gods of our tribe: Lugh, Father of our tribe; Bríd, goddess of our hearth; Aren, god of freedom and lust; and Danu and Bel, Primal Mother and Father. At this time feel free to offer a silent welcome to your own gods. We acknowledge the presence in ourselves of the Archetypes of the three Indo-European societal functions (producer, warrior, and sage). Finally we invoke the Deity of the Occasion, the god or goddess to whom this rite is specifically offered.

4. Giving and receiving (interacting)

This section is comprised of three parts: the Praise Offering, or sacrifice; the Omen; and the Return. In praise we offer the best we have for the pleasure and benefit of those we have invited. Praise offerings may be physical objects, short prayers of thanksgiving, or performances such as songs, poems, or dances, and may be made by anyone during the time provided. Please remember that these performances are for the Deities and Spirits, and not for us. Respectful silence is requested during these performances, and as applause dissipates the energy, please instead direct your pleasure and energy outward for the enjoyment of the spirits. Our final offering is usually a song or dance performance by the whole group, so that all have a chance to participate.

In the spirit of reciprocity, we offer first and only ask for blessings if the offering has been accepted, thus the Omen is taken before the Return is received.

The Return blessing takes many different forms, but is usually shared food or drink, or a small item charged in the rite to take home. The Grove takes a few minutes at this time to welcome new members and bestow other honors. We traditionally finish the Return with the Cauldron Blessing. Our Grove has a special stone that we charge and use in healing and other magical workings. The stone and the water it is immersed in has the power to grant the three blessings of health, wealth, and wisdom. If you desire any of these gifts, you are welcome to take some of the charged water from the cauldron when it is offered.

5. Unwinding and closing

We finish our celebration by thanking the entities that have joined us and wishing them well as they journey onward. We then close the portals (fire, well, and tree), returning the Nemeton and ourselves to ordinary space and time. Before we end the ritual and go our separate ways we take a moment to ground and center, leaving behind any excess energies. We wish each other well while singing a final song together.

And afterwards... Join us for a potluck and socializing, and feel free to ask questions about the rite.

Web Hosting · Blog · Guestbooks · Message Forums · Mailing Lists
Allwebco Web Templates · Build your own toolbar · Free Talking Character · Audio, Fonts, Clipart
powered by bravenet.com