Spring Equinox 2004 Order of Service

Welcome to Our Celebration!

Before we begin...

Enjoy the antics of the Fool and other entertainments, greet each other, and check out the Raffle items before the Briefing. Words to the songs we will be singing are on the back of this sheet.

Preparing ourselves for our time with the Gods and Spirits

Processional and purification - We Are the Walking Breath of Spring
Bardic Invocation for our eloquence and inspiration
Welcoming the Allies, the spirits of the people and their gods who lived in this land before us
Unity chant - We Are One With the Mother
Statement of purpose - We honor our mother Ana, and welcome her awakening as spring begins.

Declaring Center and opening the Portals

Tree, Fire, and Well - Portal Song
Acknowledging the Outsiders - the forces of chaos and change
Invocation of Manannan mac Lir, our Lord of the Dead, to guide and protect us in the Otherworld

Acknowledging and honoring our guests

Ancestors - our beloved dead
Nature Spirits - the spirits of the land and its creatures
Deities: Lugh, Bríd, Aren, Danu, and Bel (feel free to offer a silent welcome to your own gods)
Archetypes - acknowledging the three societal functions within us
Deity of the Occasion: Ana, the spirit of the Huron River, the goddess of this land

Giving and Receiving

Passing the basket of eggs: Direct your praise and energy to the baske to build a group offering. While you hold it, you may give praise or thanks to the gods silently or in the form of a vocal or physical offering. When you finish, pass the basket to the person next to you.
Group praise - group dancing - Ana Come Be With Us
Main Sacrifice: offering the eggs
Omen of return: runes
Return blessing: blessing of the seeds - Seed Blessing Song
Cauldron blessing
Welcoming new members, officers, and guild members, and bestowing other honors

Unwinding and closing

Recessional - Now The Rite Is At An End

And afterwards... Join us for a potluck and socializing, and don't forget to get your Raffle Tickets!

Song Sheet - Spring Equinox 2004

Processional:

We Are the Walking Breath of Spring

We are the walking breath of spring
We are the spirits of Ana's Land
We are alive and dancing, dancing
Where we are is beautiful.

Unity:

We Are One With the Mother

(trad. ADF)

We are one with the Mother,
We are one with the earth,
We are one with each other,
By our lives, by our birth.

Opening the Portals:

Portal Song

CHORUS:
By Fire and by Water
Between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the Worldtree
Rooted deep, crowned high.

Come we now to the well....
...The eye and the mouth of Earth
...And silver we bring
...The waters of rebirth
...Together we sing:
CHORUS

We will kindle a fire
...Bless all and with harm to none
...And offerings pour
...A light 'neath the Moon and Sun
...Our spirits will soar.
CHORUS

Gather we at the tree
...The root and the crown of all
...Below and above,
...Together we make our call
...In wisdom and love.
CHORUS

Group Praise:

Ana, Come Be With Us

by the Shining Lakes Grove Bardic Guild

Ana, come be with us,
May your blessings ever flow,
Ana, still and quiet,
Take our love beneath the snow.

Blessed Mother, Ancient and renewing
Blessed Mother, take our love below.

Return Blessing:

Seed Blesing Song

Seeds hold my dreams,
Carry them to earth
That they may root and grow and blossom,
Blessed by the Sun,
Watered by our mother,
That our harvest be great and full.

Recessional:

Now the Rite Is At an End

And now the rite is at an end, again we're parting ways
May truth and hour be your friend and lucky be your days.
I'll hold you dearly in my heart, I'll hold you in my mind,
And through our branches grow apart, our roots shall be entwined.

Note to Parents: Children are welcome to stay and attend the ritual with you, but only if they are supervised.

Rob Henderson, SLG Webmaster

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