Preparation:
Offerings to gather:
Earth Mother: herbs
Outdwellers: beer (to be placed in a separate bowl)
Earth: salt
Sea: water
Sky: incense
Manannan (Gatekeeper): beer
Nature Spirits: bird seed
Ancestors: fruit (apples?)
Gods: Whiskey
Brighid: Token I made
An Dagda: Token I made
Return offerings: Oil
Additional Needs:
Ogham for the omen
Wine for the return flow
A ring for the oath
Before the Ritual: I will purify myself with water and incense.
- Processional
We Approach The Sacred Grove
(Words and music by Sean Miller)
We approach the Sacred Grove
With hearts and minds and flesh and bone
Join us now in ways of old
We have come home.
2. Opening Prayer / Statement of Purpose
I am here today to honor the Kindreds and to make an oath to the ways of Druidism, Irish polytheism, the Old Ways, and the Old Gods.
- Purification
[Prayer and offering to be made in the south where an offering bowl will be placed]
Outdwellers! Powers of chaos! Although I recognize your purpose in the world, I desire peace for my ritual. I respectfully ask that you leave me and my rite in peace. Please accept this beer and let us be.
- Honoring the Earth Mother
[I will call to and honor the Earth Mother with a chant]
Earth Mother (Author Unknown)
Earth Mother, we honor your body
Earth Mother, we honor your bones
Earth Mother, we sing to your spirit
Earth Mother, we sing to your stones
[I will then give the Earth Mother a kiss.]
Earth Mother, you are the source of all life. I am grateful for the many blessings you have bestowed upon me and I give you this offering of herbs in thanks. Earth mother, I honor you!
- (Re)Creating the Cosmos
- Establish the Sacred Center
[This will be done with the Two Powers meditation. I will speak it aloud.]
-
- Acknowledge the three realms
May the Earth not open up and swallow us! [Chanted while an offering of salt is given.]
May the Seas not rise up and drown us! [Chanted while an offering of water is given.]
May the Sky not fall down upon us! [Chanted while an offering of incense is given.]
-
- Establishing the Vertical Axis:
[I will chant and make the offerings simultaneously.]
Portal Song (Words by Ian Corrigan) –
Come we now to the well
The eye and the mouth of earth
Come we now to the well
And silver we bring
Come we now to the well
The waters of rebirth
Come we now to the well
Together we sing
Chorus:
By fire and by water between the earth and sky
We stand like the world tree ,
Rooted deep, crowned high
By fire and by water between the earth and sky
We stand like the world tree ,
Rooted deep, crowned high
We will kindle a fire
Bless, all and with harm to none
We will kindle a fire
And offering pour
We will kindle a fire
A light ‘neath the moon and sun
We will kindle a fire
Our spirits will soar
Chorus
Gather we at the tree
The root and the crown of all
Gather we at the tree
Below and above
Gather we at the tree
Together we make our call
Gather we at the tree
In wisdom and love
Chorus
- Opening the Gates
[I will call to Manannan Mac Lir as Gatekeeper.]
I call to Manannan Mac Lir, he who walks between the worlds! He who rides the waves like horses! He whose cloak separates the realms!
Manannan, I humbly ask that you allow me to reach the Other World so that I may make offerings and give honor to the Kindreds. Please protect me as I walk the path and aid me in my rite! I give you this offering of beer to thank you for your help.
Manannan Mac Lir, I ask that you join your magic with mine, and when our magic is joined: let the fire open as a gate to the upper world; let the bowl open as a gate to the under world, and let the wand grow into the World Tree which connects the upper, middle, and lower worlds.
Let the Gates be open! [I will say this loudly while gesturing with my hands that the Gates have been opened.]
- Inviting the Three Kindreds
Nature Spirits
Nature spirits, you have always been with me. From the beginnings of my life, you have inspired me to be creative and imitate you. I have always wanted to be one with you, to shape shift into you. I will forever try to channel your energy so that I can emulate you, my brothers and sisters. I know that our relationship is imperfect, but every day I try harder to live in better harmony with you.
Please join me as I perform this oath rite. Nature spirits, please accept this offering of bird seed. Nature spirits, I honor you!
Triad Chant (Words by Phoenix)
Earth child, Wild one, born of the Earth
Call to us, and sing to us, creatures of the Earth
Ay ya, Ay ya Oh
Ay ya, Ay ya Oh
Ancestors
Ancient Ancestors! The more I study your homelands, the more I honor and respect you, Ancestors, and oh how I long to set my feet upon your homelands so that I can be closer to you. Every day, I feel your old ways and thought patterns entering into my own. I am grateful for your lessons. Recent Ancestors! As my connection to our older kin grows, I learn to value you more and more, especially those of you who I knew in this realm. I know that death is not an end and that we are ever entwined. Rest assured that I will continue to honor you, and that you will always have a bite to eat at Samhain.
Please join me as I perform this oath rite. Ancestors, please accept this offering of fruit. Ancestors, I honor you!
Triad Chant (Words by Phoenix)
Ancestors, Spirit, Blood, one with the Earth
Call to us, and dream with us, teach us of our worth
Ay ya, Ay ya Oh
Ay ya, Ay ya Oh
Gods
Shining Ones! Since I was very young I have felt a connection to you. Mighty Tuatha de Dannan, it took me awhile to find you, but your pull kept me searching. I never gave up. You inspired me to question the status quo, to learn, to create, and to grow as an individual. You gave art a greater meaning, you gave love a greater meaning, and you gave life a greater meaning. I will continue to ponder our connection all my days, but rest assured, I will never turn my back on you. I have felt you too strongly. Even Gods of other tribes, I have felt them too – felt their arms around me, felt their care for humanity, felt their desire for contact, and felt their existence. Great Ones, I believe that you inspire me and bless me. I believe that you protect me and guide me when you feel that I need it. I believe that I am a part of your tribe in the mortal realm and that, as elders and powerful Druids, you deserve honor, respect, and love.
Please join me as I perform this oath rite. Great ones, please accept this offering of whiskey. Mighty Gods, I honor you!
Triad Chant (Words by Phoenix)
Shining one, wisdom filled, healers of the Earth
Call to us, and be with us, show us what we’re worth
Ay ya, Ay ya Oh
Ay ya, Ay ya Oh
- Offerings to my Patrons
Brighid
Brighid: Goddess of hearth, home, and healing well; Goddess of poetry, crafts, and divination – I call to you! I invite you here to witness my oath rite.
Brighid, I feel you in the art that I create, in the food that I cook, and in poetry and song. I feel you in fire and water. You inspire me to create. Every day, I strive to honor you and emulate your sacred ways. I hope that our relationship grows. Brighid, I give you this offering in thanks for your many blessings. Brighid, I honor you!
An Dagda
An Dagda: laughing God of magic; God of life and death; God of abundance; God of virility – I call to you! I invite you here to witness my oath rite.
I have felt your presence much this past year. You always seem to be watching over me, protecting a member of your mortal tribe. I feel you when I receive gifts, in the cycles of life, and in the arms of my mate. Every day, I strive for your attitude and humor. Every day, I strive to honor and emulate your sacred ways. May our connection grow. An Dagda, I give you this offering in thanks for your many blessings. An Dagda, I honor you!
- Omen
[I will chant while drawing ogham. Once the ogham has been drawn, I will stop chanting and meditate on the meaning.]
Speak To Me (Words by Phoenix)
Speak to me,
Speak to me Goddesses.
Speak to me,
Speak to me all the Gods.
- Return Flow
Kindreds, I have given my gifts to you. And as my tribe says, a gift calls for a gift. As I have given to you, I know you will send greater blessings to me. I am forever grateful for them.
[I will hold up a glass of wine and visualize the Kindreds who have gathered standing with me. I will see their blessings flow into the glass.]
Behold – the waters of life!
[I will drink.]
- Oath
Nature Spirits, Ancestors, Gods, and Patrons: I have called you here so that you may hear this oath that I make to you.
Kindreds, I declare to you my devotion to the ways of Druidism and Irish Polytheism. I declare myself a Pagan, a walker of the old paths, a seeker of the old knowledge. I worship the Old Gods and honor my ancestors and the spirits of nature. I believe in the sanctity of life and the value and spirit of Nature. I swear to the Gods my tribe swears by to keep the sacred ways and maintain the holy rites.
This ring symbolizes my spirituality. In the center is the holy spiral, symbolic of the cycles of life. From childhood through adulthood, I have always been attracted to the spiral. I would doodle them in notebooks, spin them on the lawn, and trace them in foggy windows. On either side of the spiral is a triquetra, a symbol of the three realms, the three Kindreds, and many other triads.
This ring is symbolic of my spirituality, and by placing it on my finger, I declare my devotion to my path. Let it be known that Grey Catsidhe is a follower of Druidism, a priestess to the Tuatha de Dannan, and a child of the Earth.
If I should ever fail you by bringing shame to my path or my tribe, may the Earth open up and swallow me, may the Sea rise up to drown me, and may the sky fall down upon me.
Kindreds, witness my devotion!
[I will place the ring on my right middle finger. My right hand is my most used and thus I pay more attention to it. The index finger wears a ring from my mother and my ring finger wears a birth stone from my parents. My middle finger, as the longest finger of my most used hand, becomes a suitable seat for the symbol of my spirituality. I will end by chanting.]
I Am Of the Earth – by Grey Catsidhe
I am of the Earth
I am of the Earth
I am of the Earth
Oh I am of the Earth…
- Thanking the Beings
An Dagda
An Dagda, I am grateful for your joining me. I hope that you have enjoyed my gifts and that you accept my oath. Please accept this offering of oil. I give it to you in love while asking nothing in return. An Dagda, I thank you!
Brighid
Blessed Brighid, I am grateful for your presence. I hope that you have enjoyed my gifts and that you accept my oath. Please accept this offering of oil. I give it to you in love while asking nothing in return. Brighid, I thank you!
Shining Ones
Great Gods, I thank you for your presence today. I hope that you enjoyed my gifts and that you accept my oath. Please accept this offering of oil. I give it to you in love while asking nothing in return. Gods, I thank you!
Ancestors
Mighty Dead, I thank you for joining me. I hope that you have enjoyed my gifts and that you accept my oath. Please accept this offering of oil. I give it to you in love while asking nothing in return. Ancestors, I thank you!
Nature Spirits
Beings of land, sea, and sky, I thank you for joining me. I hope that you have enjoyed my gifts and that you accept my oath. Please accept this offering of oil. I give it to you in love while asking nothing in return. Nature spirits, I thank you!
- Closing the Gates
I call to you once more, Manannan Mac Lir, guardian of the veil! I thank you for your protection and aid to me as I made my oath rite. I hope that the offerings I made were to your liking and that you accept my oath. Please accept this offering of oil in thanks. I give it to you in love while asking nothing in return. Manannan, I thank you!
[Offering is made.]
Manannan, son of Lir, I ask that your join your magic with mine. When our magic is joined, let the gate to the upper world be but a candle. Let the gate to the under world be but a bowl. And let the tree that connects the upper, middle, and lower worlds be but a branch. Let everything be as it once was.
Let the Gates be closed!
[The closing of the Gates will be accompanied by a hand gesture.]
- Thanking the Earth Mother
Earth Mother, source of life, I thank you for your blessings as you witnessed my rite. I hope that my gifts and my oath have been acceptable. To you, I give all remaining offerings as it is your due. Earth Mother, I thank you!
- Closing the Rite
Walk With Wisdom (Words by Sable)
Walk with wisdom, from this hallowed place.
Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall ere embrace.
May strength be your brother, and honor be your friend,
And luck be your lover, until we meet again.
Author M. A. Phillips 