Imbolc 2009 Grove of the Bay

Altar/Hearth Prep

After preparing the altar, and after pre-ritual announcements, light the hearth candle, saying:

I kindle this flame for the hearth, for the home, for the whole of the People; One flame for light, one flame for warmth, one flame to encircle us all; Earth under Sea, Sea under Sky, Sky down to Earth, this day and every day, may it be so.  May we pray with a good fire.

As the Ancestors have done in times before, we honor the Gods in the old ways, that our hearth and our hearts may give cheer.  May it be so.

Sound bell 3 times 3

Establishing and Protecting the Nemeton

Process 3 times around the perimeter with a torch lit from the hearth candle, chanting: By our will, by our words, by our work, this place is made whole and holy.

Purpose:

The Children of Earth
are gathered in the Grove of the Bay
 To celebrate Imbolc,
and the first awakenings of Spring.

May the Ancestors, the spirits of Nature,
and the Shining Ones
Direct our Purpose
and twine our lives together
like the heather and the bees

We perform this ritual in Honor of Brigid,
Font of Blessing

Brigid above us, Brigid below us,
Brigid in the very air about us

Brigid in our truest heart!

Source:

We now make offering to the Source of All.
Source of All, from whom all flows,
and to whom all returns
in the great way of things, we make offering to you.

Offer water & compost to the land.

Spirits of the bays, may you ever ensure the fertility and prosperity of these lands. 
May it be so.

<Invoking Inspiration>

Goddess of Inspiration, I call to you,
Inspire our sacred words
Fill our loins with your creative spark
Fill our hearts with your sweet breath
And fill our minds with the fire of your generous blessings

Light ritual fire

<Honoring & Uniting with the Land>

Let us be united with you, Lady of the Land, Keeper of abundant blessings
and bitter truths alike. 
Grant us bounty, and the lessons you bear,
as our ways find favor in your eyes.
Offer grain.

<Prayer for Peace>

May there be peace in the east, the ancient land of prosperity.
Powers of East, of prosperity, of earth.
Powers of the Salmon,
the wise one who knows how to return to the source of all things
We welcome you into the circle,
Please be with us now
Offer Juniper berries

May there be peace in the south, the ancient land of harmony.
Powers of South, of the dark mystery, of the waters of the goddess,
of music, of arts, of the great boar and sow
Show us how to root into the dark of ourselves
to find truth and inspiration
Be with us now
Offer juniper berries.

May there be peace in the west, the ancient land of wisdom.
Powers of West, history keepers, poets,
and those who transport us across the nine waves to the otherworld,
in life and in death, in song and in story
Great Stag who heralds the changes of the seasons
be with us now
Offer juniper berries.

May there be peace in the north, the ancient land of strength.
Powers of North, bright spear of Lugh and sword of Nuada
fire from the place where the sun never sets
Mighty eagle who teaches us courage and vision
Be with us in the circle
Offer juniper.

May there be peace in the center, where all the worlds meet.
Now, and in the times yet to be discovered
Powers of the Center, of Sovereignty and firm rulership,
teach us mastery and judgment
Balance and true seeing
be with us in this circle

Offer juniper to the fire.

<Opening to the Otherworlds>

King of the Sidhe,
Lord of the Ways to the Otherworlds,
we call to you now. 
Hold open the way for our worship.
Maintain a passage
between this world and the Otherworlds
that we may intermingle with the powers
and allies who come in peace
and may wish to share this time with us. 

Sidhe King, accept our offerings. 

Make offerings of hazelnuts to the fire.

<Offerings to the Powers>
<Ancestors>

I call to you, Lord of the Dead, first of the Ancestors and to all of the Ancestors who join you in the feast hall;
Ancestors of this place and ancestors of all of those assembled here,
kin of blood and kin of heart,
those who have loved us for always
and will always,
we share with you this cup.
Honored dead, and keepers of the feasthalls,

This offering is for you

For yours should be the first serving

As it has been in the past

So it will be now

Offer Cider and leave the rest on the ground.
Ancestors, accept this offering
and be welcome at our rite.

<Nature Spirits>
I call now to the spirits of Earth,

creatures of land, sea & Sky

And to those of the faire folk

 who live with us here, to all of you.

I ask that you join your might with ours

for this rite.

Spirits be with us today.

Power of Raven be here
Power of Eagle, Power of the Wren

Power of Storm be here

Power of Moon, Power of Sun

Power of Sea be here
Power of Land, Power of the Skies

Each Day Be Joyous
No Day Be Grievous

Honor, Compassion and Love

To All who Walk here!

Offer birdseed to the ground. 
Spirits, accept this offering and join us in this rite.

<Shining Ones>

I call now to all the Shining ones,

Gods & Goddesses not specifically named in this ritual

Deities, highest and mightiest and most worthy of honor,
we honor you here.

You are the wind that blows upon the Sea

You are the Ocean Wave

You are the murmur of the surges

You are Seven Battalions

You are a strong bull

You are an eagle on the a rock

You are a ray of the sunlight

You are the most beautiful of herbs

You are a courageous wild boar

You are a salmon in the water

You are a lake upon a plain

You are a cunning artist

You are a champion

You are the love of a family

Gods and goddesses of this land
and of all of those assembled here,
we share our hearth with you.
offer the cornbread to the fire; then offer whiskey to the fire.
I ask that you join with us today

and give us your aid and

blessings in this working.

Shining ones be with us today!

Today, we are dedicating ourselves

to the ways of old,

and to a new way of honoring them,

through FODLA.

We ask for your guidance

and support in the journey

amidst others

already on this wondrous path.

Hail to you, Might ones of old

From ancient times till now

your splendor endures

We, your children,

call out to you again;

As in the childhood of our race

 we acknowledge our debts

Deities of light and deities of darkness

Both gods and goddesses:

we praise you

Not forgetting one,

not leaving any out,

We send our prayers to all of you

Listen to our words;

you will find them sweet

Your children pray to you here

<(Michael’s Tale is told here)>

<Major Calling to Brigid>

Come, Daughter of eternity

Come, Brid of the Flame

Come, Sister of Infinity

Come, Mothers of the Waters
Come, Brid of the Well
Come, Muse of Many Daughters

Come, Love of the Anvil
Come, Brid of the Hammers
Come, Artisan, Crafter Most Able

In the Name of Brigid, in the name of the Three,

In the name of all the Powers together

Cast off every Harm and Be well!

Brigid Candle Lighting Ritual:

May you be blessed all your days by Holy Fire
May you be blessed all your days
by the Shining Sun

May you be blessed all your days
by the glistening waters

In the name of Brigid, nine blessings of water upon you

Light candle 1
A blessing on your form, that it be strong and beautiful to behold

Light candle 2
A blessing on your voice, that it be melodious

Light candle 3

A blessing on your speech, that it be eloquent

Light candle 4

A blessing on your means, that you may never want

Light candle 5

A blessing on your generosity, that you may always be hospitable

Light candle 6

A blessing on your appetite, that it be hearty

Light candle 7

A blessing on your on your wealth, that you be prosperous

Light candle 8

A blessing on your life, that it be long

Light candle 9

A Blessing on your health, that it be constant

Virtues of Brigid

From the Town of Kildare, SW of Dublin is a holy well dedicated to Brigid.  There are 5 standing stones leading to the well, which according to local custom symbolize 5 virtues associated with Brigid

Take a moment of inner reflection as I discuss each of them, and see if you are honoring Brigid already in your daily life, or if there are ways that you can incorporate some of these aspects into your daily life.

Protecting the Earth
The 1^st Stone symbolizes care for the natural world and living in balanced harmony with our environment.  As a Goddess, Brigid stands for appropriate ways of interacting with the natural world.  This can mean practical matters like composting, recycling, and reducing our levels of consumption, as well as spiritually relating to the earth as a gift from the Goddess.

Peacemaking

Brigid represents the energy of peace.  Brigid Reminds us that even when we must fight, to keep in mind what we are fighting for—That peace in which all being may thrive.

Befriending the Poor

Many tales are told of how Brigid would take valuables from the wealthy and sell them to buy food for the Poor.  The Path of Celtic Wisdom means extending a helping hand to those who have less than we do, both in literal ways such as the truly needy, and in social ways, such as those who are victims of discrimination or prejudice.

Sheltering the Stranger

The 4^th stone is the stone of Celtic hospitality.  This stone calls us to make our home a sanctuary where others can find peace, quiet and love.  This virtue doesn’t mean that you should turn your home into a homeless shelter per se, but it does mean that your home ought to be a place where celtic spirituality isn’t just talked about, but lived.  The Celtic path is one where the home becomes a place of renewal, not only for you but for others as well.

Meditation

The 5^th and last stone at Brigid’s well symbolizes meditation.  The can mean contemplation, or prayer, Zenlike silence, or deep shamanic trance.  Whatever level you understand Meditation to be, meditation means a serious engagement with practical spirituality. Celtic Spirituality or Druidism isn’t only something you think about or read about or talk about.  It’s something you do.  And meditation represents the most basic foundation of spiritual work.

<Group Offerings>

If anyone has any praise offerings they would like to share with any of the powers, please do so now as one folk.

<Closings>

I call once again to the Shining Ones.

I thank you for joining with us today.

Go if you must, but stay if you able.
Please accept this oil from our tables

<pour olive oil in the fire>

I call again to the spirits of

all that dwell in the Land,

the sea and the Sky.

This is your place,

Thanks to all for sharing it

 with us on this fine day.
Spirits of this place, thank you for your presence here
and for your many blessings to us in our time of need
Please accept this oil from our tables

<pour olive oil in the fire>

I call again to the Ancestors.

Thanks for sharing your guidance,

and knowledge of what has come before us.

 Go if you must, but stay with us if you are able.
Please accept this oil from our tables

<pour olive oil in the fire>

We have been blessed this day, so as we prepare to depart, let’s thank those who have aided us. 

Brigid, of the Hearth, the Well and Forge, we cherish you and keep you in our hearts always. 

Mighty Ancestors, Sacred Shining Ones, and Noble Spirits,
for joining us at our fire, we thank you.

Lady of the Land, for the union we share with you, we thank you.

Sidhe King, for keeping open the ways between the worlds,
we thank you.

Goddess of Inspiration, for our honey sweet words, we thank you.

To the Source of All from which we came and to which we return,
 we thank you.
<Pour all unused offerings on the ground at the base of the circle>.

<Chime 9 times>
Brothers and Sisters of the Fellowship, By Earth, Sea & Sky,

As we have given honor today to the old ways, so will we do again in the Future!

May it be so!
Go in peace to the Feast!  The rite is now ended.