The Following is an ADF Yule Ritual, designed by the members of 'The Shadow Weaver Grove,
The Following is an ADF Yule Ritual, designed by the members
of 'The Shadow Weaver Grove, ADF', for presentation on 16-DEC-89.
For further information on ADF, or the Shadow Weaver Grove call
Wonderland BBS 508-663-6220 [Billerica MA] and leave mail for Bob
Beecher, or write him via Snail mail at : Shadow Weaver Grove,
PO Box 5451, Billerica MA 01821.
I. Starting The Ritual
A) Processional:
To enter the circle, each person must pass through four
"gates" representing each of the Three Worlds and Fire;
Land, Sea, Sky and Fire. As a bell is rung, each person
steps to the first guardian, and is asked, "What do you
ask of the Gate of Earth (Sea) (Air)?" An answer is then
given or left unspoken, and the person is marked by the
Guardian (with mud, water and brush with a feather) and
proceeds to the next Gate and is questioned again. The
Guardian of the last Gate, Fire, smudges the person
before they enter the circle. The Bell is held by Fire.
When everyone is in the circle, the chant "Hoof and Horn"
is begun as the Guardians come into the circle and prepare
their selves in like form.
B) Statement Of Purpose and Casting of Circle:
Senior Druid :
This is the time called Yule. As we Mourn the death and
re-birth of the Belemos the SUn King. Also we celebrate
the Magda -- Mother of Gods; for bringing forth the
promise of renewed life.
Also we meet tonight in this time and place to seek
wisdom and guidance from those who have gone on before
us, and to bring light and learning to those who should
ask it of us.
Gatekeeper of Sea:
We greet you, Brother Wabun, Golden Eagle of the East.
We ask that you watch over us this night, and share with
us your wisdom, Let your keen vision guide us over the
obstacles before us.
We greet you, brother Shawnodese, Guardian of the South,
great Coyote. We ask that you walk with us this night,
and guide us as we walk this path of learning.
Gatekeeper of Air:
We greet you, Cougar of the North. Grace us with your
company, and walk with us this night as we seek the
wisdom that surrounds us.
We greet you Brother Mudjekeewis, Great Bear of the
West. Walk with us this night, and aid us in our journey
to wisdom.
Senior Druid:
All Spirits here tonight, Grace us with your prescence
and aid us in our quest for wisdom. Guard us from harm
and help our minds to open to the wonders around us.
C) Centering Meditation:
Group Meditation and collective consciousness:
All present are brought together with a group
meditation, to form a "group mind"; to help everyone
center and bring themselves together to work in accord.
It will be in the tree meditation that the wards are
activated.
II. The Active Ritual:
A) Invoking the Gate Keeper
Invocation of Ogma the Gate Keeper, or Mannanon in
English : (visualization of the gate is a traingle
shaped iris opening above the fire).
Gatekeeper of Fire:
O Ogma, Lord of the Gates, Lord of Knowledge, open the
ways for us.
O Mannanon, master of the realm beyond the sease, grant
us passageway to your kingdom.
O great God of knowledge, we wish to walk your roads.
Reveal to us your teachings, reveal to us the safe path.
Come wash the nighttime clean;
Come close the gap of darkness in between.
We praise you for the brightness of your power.
We praise you for the gift of knowledge.
Guide us to the place we seek.
Walk with us Ogma!
Walk with us Mannanon!
Chant:
We invoke thee Ogma, Opener of every Gate
We invoke Mannanon, Opener of every Gate.
You shall reach us, You shall teach us and reveal our
fate.
You shall reach us, You shall teach us and reveal our
fate.
B) Individuals Invoke:
At this point, all present are asked to invoke a spirit
or god(dess) which they feel is appropriate. If they
wish to invoke or thank a particular diety, they should
step forward and do so.
C) Consecration of the Waters:
Druid of the Gate of Earth:
Spirits of nature, of the trees and rocks, of the
animals and Earth, give us your favor and your
companionship, share with us the bond of spirit and of
life on Earth. Remember us and speak to us in our
hearts. Give us your teachings and Laughter, become one
amoung us here tonight. Consecrate these waters.
Behold The Waters of Life!
(All Chant "Fur and Feather")
Druid of the Gate of Sea:
Ancestors of long ago, be with us, give us your favor
and your wisdom, share with us the bond of kinship and
of life upon Earth. Remember us and speak to us in our
hearts. Give us your knowledge and your blessing, become
one with us here tonight; Consecrate these waters.
Behold the Waters of Life!
(All chant: "Blood of the Ancients")
Druid of the Gate of SKy:
Gods and Goddesses, be with us, give us your favor
and blessings, share with us the bonding of essance and
our existance upon your sphere of life. Remember us and
speak to us in opur hearts. Give us your strength and
your peace, become one amoung us here tonight.
Consecrate these waters.
Behold the Waters of Life!
(All chant "Mother I feel you")
D) Individual offerings and prayers:
At this point, all present that wish to make an
offering or offer prayers. The Guardian of the East goes
sunwise around the circle, stopping at each person. If
they have an offering or a prayer they would like to
make, they step forward and do so. Set up the order
before the ritual.
E) Sacrifice with the willow branch:
The Gatekeeper of fire makes a final offering of a
willow branch to send off the energy to the deities of
the occasion.
Gatekeeper of Fire:
Our praise goes up with thee on the wings of eagles;
our voices are carried up to thee on the shoulders of
the winds. Hear now, O Belemos, O Magda, we pray thee,
as we offer up this sacrifice of life. Accept it we pray
thee, and cleanse our hearts, giving to us of your peace
and life.
F) Divination:
A scrying is done with crystal/flame, to find if the
gods have accepted our prayers and will be with us. If
the omen is bad, offerings are made again. If they are
rejected thrice the circle is broken immediately, and
the ritual ended.
G) The Fourth Consecration:
A fourth cup is consecrated.
Induction of Receptivity (Catechism of the Waters)
(d1= Gate of fire, D2=group responses)
D1: Of what does the Earth-Mother give, that we may know
of the continual flow and renewal of life?
D2: The water of Life.
D1: From whence do these waters flow?
D2: From the bosom of the Earth-Mother, the ever
changing All-Mother.
D1: And how do we honor this gift that causes life?
D2: By partaking of the waters of life.
D1: Has the Earth Mother given forth her Bounty?
D2: She has.
D1: Then give me the waters!
Final consecration and sharing:
D2: O Belemos, O Magda, hear us and answer us! Hallow
these waters! We your children have praised you,
and now we ask from you healing, blessing, power
and inspiration...Behold the waters of Life!
Chant: ("Blood of the Ancients")
III. The Work of the circle.
Somebody explains what we are going to do and why we are
doing it. ANy magic working to be done will be done at this
time.
Affirmation of Success:
D1: Belemos and Magda have Blessed us!
D2: Every time we invoke them, they become stronger and
more alert to the needs of their people.
D1: With joy in our hearts, let us return to the realm
of mortals, to do the will of the Gods and our own.
D2: Yet, before we leave, we must give thanks to those
whom we invited here today.
IV. Closing
A) Thanking of the Gods and Goddesses:
Senior Druid:
Gods and Goddesses of old times, spirits of the old
times and of this place, people of the old times and of
our ancestors, our kindred, we thank you.
1) Their Messenger:
Gatekeeper of Fire:
Brother Hawk, we thank you and honor you for the
messages you carry and the lessons you teach. Your
medicine is strong and brings us clarity of vision and
understanding in our everyday lives. We learn by you that
none is greater, and all are equal in the eyes of the
Great Spirit. We learn that all have gifts of value that
they should not let sit in disuse.
We thank you for carrying our prayers and gifts, and we
ask you to fly in our dreams that we hear and remember
the messages you carry, go in peace and guide our steps.
Gatekeeper of Air:
We thank you, great Cougar of the North.
You have guided our prayers and shown us your boundless
generosity. You have led us toward inner growth and
taught us the prayers to heal our spirits and our minds.
Your path is clear to us, and we thank you for walking
with us again. We will remember your lessons.
We thank you brother Mudjekeewis, Great Bear of the
West. Once again you have kept our feet on the safe
path, and held the light of your wisdom before us. We
are grateful for your guidance this night, and we ask
you; go in peace as you came in peace; that we may walk
together again another time.
Gatekeeper of Sea:
We thank you, Wabun, Golden Eagle of the East.
You have given us your light with unstinting generosity,
and helped us to see the world within ourselves as well
as the world outside. Your dawn has brought, as ever,
new light to our hearts and we are grateful. Blessed Be!
We thank you, Shawnodese, Coyote of the South. Again
you have turned our eyes within us, that we may see the
knowledge hidden there. You have opened our ears to the
music of our souls, and we hear its beauty. We ask you to
please return now, to your home in the desert, and to
remember us, that we may walk together again.
Senior Druid:
All spirits that have been with us tonight, we thank
you for your strength and blessings. THough you now
return to your own places in the worlds, we hold you
always in our hearts, and are stronger for your prescence
Go now with our love and our blessings. Merry meet, merry
part, and merry meet again.
The circle is open.
2) Closing the Gate:
Gatekeeper of Fire:
O Ogma, Lord of teh Gates, Lord of Knowledge, we thank
you. O Mhanannon, we thank you. Now let the Gates between
the Worlds be closed!
B) Return from the group-mind, grounding and centering.
reversing the Tree Mediation. This is when the wards and
such are relaxed.
Libation:
D1: To thee we return this portion of thy bounty, O Magda
our Mother, even as we must someday return unto thee.
[Everyone leaves, Gate keepers start out, everyone follows]
#30
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