A Solitary Celtic Ritual Template

8/11/2019 A Solitary Celtic Ritual Template

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A Solitary Celtic Ritual Template

This is a generic solitary ritual template for Celtic rituals, adapted from a group ritualtemplate. It's also available as aWord/RTF documentwith the chants filled in. Please

note that while I frequently offer alcohol, you are free to substitute something else if youlike.

Preparation

The participant gathers the following offerings (vegetable oil may be substituted ifnecessary):

Earth Mother Corn meal

Outdwellers Beer

Brighid Oil or alcohol (e.g., Goldschlger)

Fire/well/tree Incense, silver-colored item (e.g., coin), branch

Mannanan mac Lir Apple

Ancestors Food/bread

Nature Spirits Grain

Gods Alcohol

Deity(ies) of the Occasion As appropriate

The participant also fills the Well with fresh water and places the blessing cup andbranch next to it. If necessary, s/he places an offering bowl on the altar as well. He/shethen clothes in ritual garb and performs a brief pre-ritual meditation to quiet the mind.

Gathering

Participantgathers at the ritual area and sounds a musical signal (such as a chime)three times, then says:

I am here to honor the gods.

Honoring the Earth Mother

ine Chliar, daughter of Manannan, woman of the hills and land...Great Earth Mother, my life is nursed from your bounty.You are the food that nourishes me, the wealth that enriches me, even the very ground Iwalk on.O bright goddess, all joy and prosperity comes from you, and it is you who sustains me.ine, I honor you now to thank you for the bounty you bestow upon me.

(ine Chliar is pronounced "awnyeh cleer")
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Pmakes an offering and says:

Earth Mother, accept my sacrifice.

ParticipantsingsBlossom Lifter1x

Bardic Inspiration

Pcalls to Brighid asking for the gift of poetic inspiration:

Bright Brighid, Daughter of the Dagda, Flame of Inspiration,Maker of metal, Maker of good health, Maker of song,With you as my mother I need fear no sickness,With you as my mother I need fear no dull swords,With you as my mother I need fear no empty words.

I am triple-blessed, O shining light of the hearth,and I your child ask you to alight in my heart,Alight in my head, and alight in my voice,That I may give praise to the powers with good skill.

(Brighid is pronounced breezh; Dagda is pronounced dahg'-duh)

PsingsBirgita3x


Brighid, accept my sacrifice.

Grounding and Uniting with the Tree Meditation

Participantperforms theTwo Powers Meditation

Statement of Purpose

(Participant recites the purpose of the rite, lore of the season, and lore of the deities ofoccasion.)

Outdwellers

Ppours a cup for the Outdwellers and takes it out of the ritual space, then says:

You who come from the outer dark,You who stood against the gods and man,You who are cold of heart and cruel of mind,Take this and trouble not my work.
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Establishing the Sacred Grove through Fire, Well, and

Tree

Sacred Fire

Participantsays:

I kindle the sacred fire,Claiming this land and time for my own.The shape-fire burns bright,This is the center of the world,My Meath, Tara, and Uisnech.Let none stand against me,Let the world turn around me,Let me have a good fire,

As I call the Kindred forth.

(Meath is pronounced mathe with a soft th; Tara is tah-rah; Uisnech is ish-nuck)

Plights the sacred fire and places incense into it to hallow the space, then says:

I kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love, and power. Sacred fire, burn within me.

Sacred Well

Participantsays:

I silver the sacred well,From which five rivers of wisdom run,Salmon swimming, hazel hanging high.Bubbling brightly Segais, source of the Boyne,This is the center of the world.Let none stand against me,Let the world turn around me,Let the well be deep with wisdom,As I call the Kindred forth.

(Segais is pronounced sheh-gaish; Boyne is pronounced boin)

Psilvers the well and pours water from the well to the blessing cup, then says:

In the depths flow the waters of wisdom. Sacred waters, flow within me.

Sacred Tree

Participantsays:

I tend the sacred tree,Towering high, hanging heavy with hazel,


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Strength of Taranis, the thunder and wheel,From Tara to nemeton, star-reaching bile,This is the center of the world.Let none stand against me,Let the world turn around me,

Let the tree be tall and strong,As I call the Kindred forth.

(bile is pronounced bill-uh)

Pdresses and censes the bile, then says:

From the depths to the heights spans the world tree. Sacred tree, grow within me.

Opening the Gates Between the Worlds

Pprepares an offering for the gatekeeper and says:

Oh Manannan, powerful son of the sea, holder of the magics of the crane bag, I ask thatyou hear my call. Oh Lord of the Otherworld, bearer of the silvered apple branch, joinwith me this day, so that you may guide me in my workings. Mist-shrouded rider of themaned waves, accept my offering and open the gates between my realm and yours.

(words by Ian Corrigan)

PsingsGatekeeper Open the Portals3x


Manannan mac Lir, accept my sacrifice.

(Manannan mac Lir is pronounced mah-nah'-nahn mak leer)

P says:

Let the fire open as a gate, let the well open as a gate, and let the tree connect all theworlds as Manannan walks with me in all ways. Let the gates be open!

Honoring and Inviting the Three Kindreds

Ancestors

Psays:

Great ancestors, you who have come before,A child of the Earth calls out to you.You whose blood flows in my veins,

You who I hold close to my heart and thoughts,You who were heroes of the ancient world,
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I offer you welcome.Mighty Ones, you who reside in the house of Donn,I remember you, and will not forget, for it is you who gave me life.O Ancestors of blood and heart, I call you forth!

PsingsMothers and Fathers of Old1x


Ancestors, accept my sacrifice.

Nature Sprits

Psays:

Great nature spirits, you who frolick in the wild world,A child of the Earth calls out to you.You who change shapes with the wind,You who pass between the worlds as I walk through air,You who for whom day is night, and night is day,I offer you welcome.

Noble Ones, you who reside in the hills and sidhe mounds of the land,I honor you, for you are the spirits in the earth I live by.O Spirits of the natural world, I call you forth!

(sidhe is pronounced shee)

PsingsFur and Feather1x


Nature spirits, accept my sacrifice.

Gods and Goddesses

Psays:

Great gods, you who are mightiest in all things,A child of the Earth calls out to you.You who are the people of the goddess Danann,You who count among you the spear of Lugh,

the sword of Nuadha, and the cauldron of the Dagda,You who brought the Lia Fal and cast out the Fir Bolg and Fomoire,I offer you welcome.Shining Ones, you who rule this world and the other,I praise you, for it is you who provide sustenance and guidance in my life.O Shining ones of magic and might, I call you forth!

(Danann is pronounced dah'-nawn; Lugh is loo; Nuadha is noo'-ah; Dagda is dahg'-duh; Lia Fal is lee-uh fahl; Fir Bolg is feer'-bulug; and Fomoire is fo'-moor)
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PsingsHail All the Gods1x


Gods and goddesses, accept my sacrifice.

Meditation of Merging the Energies and Re-Centering

(A meditation of merging and re-centering is done.)

Honoring the Spirits of the Occasion

(Participant makes appropriate offerings to the spirits of the occasion.)

General Praise Offerings to the KindredsPsays:

I have called the Kindreds here today and it is right to give them praise: A round for theancestors, a round for the nature spirits, and a round for the gods.

(Three rounds of praise offerings: Ancestors, Nature Spirits, and Gods.)

Psays:

Shining Ones, Noble Ones, and Mighty Ones, I have given you praise and honor! A giftcalls for a gift, and I pray to you as I offer up these sacrifices. Accept them, open myheart, and give to me of your blessings.

Omen for the Blessings

Pquietly chantsCome Druids All(1x)

Pthen takes the omen, interprets it, and records it.

Receiving the Blessings of the Gods and Spirits

Praises the blessing cup high and says:

Shining Ones, Noble Ones, and Mighty Ones, I have praised you and received yourblessings. Hallow these waters and give to me of your power and inspiration andvitality. Seo iad uisci na beatha! Behold the waters of life!

("Seo iad uisci na beatha" is pronounced "shee ahd ishka nah bah-hah", meaning"behold, the waters of life")

PsingsPour the Waters1x
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Pthen drinks a draught from the blessing cup.

Thanking the Kindreds and Spirits

Psays:

I have called upon the Kindreds and they have answered! With joy in my heart I carrytheir magic into my life and work. Each time I offer to the powers they be comestronger and more aware of my needs and worship. So as I prepare to depart let me givethanks to those who have aided me.

, Go raibh maith agait!Brigid, Go raibh maith agait!Manannan mac Lir, Go raibh maith agait!Gods and Goddesses, Go raibh maith agaibh

Nature Spirits, Go raibh maith agaibh!Ancestors, Go raibh maith agaibh!Aine, go raibh maith agait.

("Go raibh maith agait" is a singular thank you and is pronounced "gora mah ahgit";"Go raibh maith agaibh" is plural and is pronounced "gora mah ahgeev")

Meditation of Regrounding and Recentering

(A meditation of regrounding and centering is done.)

Closing the Gates and Ending the Rite

Psays:

Now by the keeper of the gates and by my magic I end what I began.Let the fire be flame,Let the well be water,Let all be as it was before.Let the gates be closed!

I have done as my ancestors have done, and as my children will do, and the Kindredshave answered. I go now, a child of the Earth, in peace and blessings. The ritual is at aclose. Biodh s amhlaidh!

("Biodh s amhlaidh" is pronounced "bee shay ow-lee", and means "so be it")

A Rite for Brighid

This is a ritual to invite Brighid into your home to be your hearth guardian, or to renewyour acquaintance with her if she is already that. It may also be used to ask Brighid forfavors, or simply to enjoy her presence.


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If you have an image of Brighid, put a candle or oil lamp in front of it. (An image is notnecessary; the flame itself is an image.) If you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace,lay a fire in it instead, but do not light it. In front of your fire source, put a bowl. Next toit put a pitcher of milk. Stand or sit so you are at a comfortable level with respect to thefire. Extend your arms, bent up at the elbow with your palms facing forward. This is

called the "orans position," and is a common one for Pagan prayer. Nod your head orbow to the fire source and then say:

I invite you into my home,you who are the Queen of the Hearth,you who are the fire's bright flame,you who are the burning shining.I call to you, Brighid, to come to me.I ask you, Brighid, for your bright presence.

Light the fire source, saying:

The fire of Brighid is the flame on my hearth.

Pick up the pitcher in your right hand. Hold it up before the fire (you may put your lefthand under it to steady it if necessary), and say:

A gift for you, Brighid of the Cows, A gift for you, Brighid of the Blessings.

Pour the milk into the bowl, saying:

My prayers are poured out with this milk My words and deeds flow straight to Brighid.

Put down the pitcher, and, if you have a request, make it now. (I usually pray to Brighidfor healing, inspiration, or home protection). If you are not making a request (and it isgood to just commune with the goddess for a while from time to time), sit or stand inmeditation on the flame. A good mantra to use is, "The fire of Brighid is the flame inmy heart," while visualizing a fire burning in your heart. This mantra may be used atother times, to renew or establish a relationship with Brighid, or just to feel hercomforting presence. It may be considered an offering to her in and of itself. When youare done, extinguish the candle or oil lamp, saying:

She ever burns, Lady of Fire, in my heart, in my home, on my family hearth (or "everyhearth" if you live alone.)

Take up the orans position again, nod or bow, and the rite is done.

If you are using a fireplace, use the same words and the nod or bow, but leave the firegoing. Spend some time by it, especially as a family. Brighid likes that.

Leave the bowl of milk in place for 24 hours, and then put it outside for the land spirits.

Author Information

David Fickett-Wilbar (Ceisiwr Serith)


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Articlesby David Fickett-Wilbar (Ceisiwr Serith)

oddess of the new year, purification, and wellbeing. She had a shrine and

grove at the top of the Via Sacra in Rome, and her shrine was set in the

place where all religious processions begun. Her name is also associated

with strengtheningbeing the goddess who made a man strenuus

vigorous, strong.

The Italian Befana actually has a German counterpart,

Mother Bertha! She flies about on her broomstick to all the homes of little

boys and girls everywhere, and it is she who loads stockings with presents

on Twelfth Night. But she will leave you a lump of coal if you are naughty.

The idea reminds me of how the Disir and the Mothers alike bring

nourishment and replenishment. It also reminds me of the way that the

Mother of the Hymiskvida brings a horn of ale to Thor which gives him the

strength to succeed in his mission to get a cauldron large enough to contain

all the mead of Aegir the Ocean Lord. When the Mother Witch is associatedwith the New Year and with the starting point of all processions, it may

have something to do with an ancient tradition of how the Mothers, the

goddesses and the Sun herself brought the strenghtening, invigorating,

fertilizing power of new, growing light on Earth.

The Night of the Mothers is also related to the Viking Age celebration

called the dsabltsacrifice to the goddesses, although the date of this

celebration is disputed. Some sources suggest February, others October.

Thus it does not appear as if the Anglo-Saxon Night of the Mothers and theNorse Sacrifice to the Goddesses were exactly the same celebration, yet

they are clearly related, and there may certainly have been a similar Night

of Mothers in Scandinavia:

That the ladies were in charge of midwinter and of the turn towards lighter

days is a natural thingfor theirs were the still lands of death, in which the

Judgment of the Norns (Norna Domr) took place at the end of a life or a

year cycle. Theirs was also the carvings of the fate of a new life or year

cycle. Theirs the midwiferyin this case of the new Su
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A Solitary Celtic Ritual Template