Yule 2008 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 keep the rites of Yule, the Winter Solstice,
The Victory of the Growth, the Gathering of the Folk in Peace.
We are nearing the end of the Long Nights, daylight will return,
Growing ever stronger and longer with the crops of next season.
We come to honor the season, and reflect on things past, and look
to the new seasons ahead.

Welcome to you, Cailleach, Old One,
Welcome to the cold rain and snow
the Bitter cloud of your breath,
the pillow-feathered snow
Welcome you in, the this Winter Day

May your blessing hold us,
may your chills avoid us,
May the bright promise
of each clear day
remind us of your gifts

Old one, Cold one, Cailleach
Though we fear your storms,
We welcome you
into our winter hearts,
with your cleansing breath
to blow away the old year
and usher in the new!

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 to the land.

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

<Invoking Inspiration>

I kindle this Midwinter Fire
In the Name of the Ancestors,
and the Shining Ones,
who guard the world;
May its flame warm us all
and may its light remind us
Of the ever-returning sun!

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 usacross 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.

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

<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

Take a sip of a cup of ale 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.

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. Gods and goddesses of this land
and of all of those assembled here,
we share our hearth with you.
offer to the fire; then offer “waters of life” 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)>

<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. 

Cailleach, Bringer of frost & cold, and the winds of winter, we thank you.

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.

Works Cited:

http://www.stonecreed.org/rituals/lughnassadh.htm

http://www.adf.org/rituals/celtic/lughnassadh/lughnassadh.html

FoDLA core ritual template (Rev. Linda Costello)

FoDLA Grove of the Bay ¼ moon liturgy (Rev. Joel Schonbrunn)