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Tuatha de Brighid - Alban Arthuan - Yule
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Alban Arthuan - Winter
Solstice
Welcome to our celebration! Before we begin... The altar is decorated with holly, mistletoe, chestnuts, and other appropriate greenery. A three branch candlestick (or an ash or birch log fitted) with three white candles symbolizes Brighid, the Triple Goddess, a green candle symbolizes The Dagdha, father of the gods. These two symbolize the day, the time of death and rebirth. And a golden candle for the Divine Child. Also on the altar are cakes and ale., and a Solar Wheel decorated with holly. Also a bowl of grain. White votive candles ring the room, but remain unlit. The Rite begins after dark as Yule is beginning. All wear sprigs of holly and mistletoe in their hair. A large, white pillar candle, a bowl of water, and a small holly tree represent Fire and Well and Sacred Tree. The many candles will enable the transformation of the darkened room into a blaze of light during the rite, symbolizing the returning Sun. All texts are understood to contain the directions "In these or similar words." Preparing ourselves for our time with the Gods and Spirits All gather at a place apart. Chief Druid or Liturgist reviews the rite. Parts are chosen. Senior Druid (SD), Bards (B, B1, B2, etc.), Druids (D1, D2, etc.) [SD] On the night of the Winter Solstice, when our ancestors gathered in the deepest darkness of the year, they sought the return of the Divine Child, the return of the bright and warm Sun, once again to warm the Earth and bring Light and Life. This is the Yule, the Wheel of the Year that turns ever from Light to Darkness, from Darkness to Light. As we prepare for our Rite, lets us spend time in quiet meditation in the cold and dark. Individual prayers and meditations are offered. 1st Phase - Establishing the Groupmind Consecration of Time [SD] rings bell nine times. [SD] On this Dark Night of the Year, when the wheel turns through death and moves anew toward light and life, let us gather to welcome and honor the gods, and the ancestors, and the spirits of earth, and to rededicate our own lives for the coming year. Consecration of Space and Participants All process to the darkened Nematon, which is circled three times Sunwise, as a journey to the Otherworld. The pillar candle is lighted for the Sacred Fire,, and water is poured in the bowl for the Sacred Well. Incense is lighted and may be used to cense the Sacred Tree. The Senior Druid lifts the incense wand or thurible before the altar, saying [SD] By Fire and Well and Sacred Tree Senior Druid moves Sunwise around the Circle censing each Druid, with words like [SD] Pure and hallowed may you be. [D] So be it. [D1] Earth-Mother we honor you and ask your blessing on our rite. All take a bit of grain and place it in the Offering Bowl, with the same words. At the conclusion of the Rite, the offering will be taken outside and given to the Earth. Centering, Grounding, Merging All are seated, and there is silence for a moment. [D2] leads the Two Powers meditation as usual. [B] leads chant, A song of Yule. [B] Let us now sing the Song of Yule. [All] Brightener of Darkness, hail! Joyful be the heart within us, Purpose of the Rite, Naming of the Gods and Goddesses of Yule [SD] At this time do we know the Dark of the Year. The Season of Life is past, and all is cold. Emptiness and bleakness are all about. Let us now give honor to Brighid, the Triple Goddess, Hearth-Mother and Giver of Light and to the Dagdha, All-father, celebrator of Life, that the season may be made better through the birth of the Divine Child, the golden newborn Solstice Sun. [D3] lights the first White Candle for Brighid. [B] Brighid, Goddess of Poetry, [All] So be it! [D3] lights the second White Candle for Brighid. [B] Brighid, Goddess of Smithcraft, [All] So be it! [D3] lights the third White Candle for Brighid. [B] Brighid, Goddess of Healing, [All] So be it! [D4] lights the Green Candle for the Dagdha. [B] Dagdha, God of Life, [All] So be it! [D4] lights the Gold Candle for the Divine Child. [B] Holy Child, Solstice Sun, [All} So be it! The small white candles are now lighted in Sunwise fashion around the circle: [SD] As the light grows about us, so also may the presence of the old goddesses and gods, who come forth now in triumph and glow where we now stand. May magic and mystery and beauty be with us now in this, the season of the Divine Child of Light. So be it! [All] So be it! 2nd Phase - Recreating the Cosmos and raising Power Opening the Portals
[SD] Let us now open the portal to the Otherworld, in Tree and Fire and Sacred Well. Come we now to this sacred grove [D5] offers silver into the well, saying: In the deeps flow the waters of wisdom, [D6] lights incense from the Pillar Candle and places in stand, saying, I kindle the Sacred Fire in wisdom, love and power, [D7] sprinkles well water on the holly on the altar,saying; World Tree with roots in the earth, and arms in the skies, Gaining Assistance, Preventing Interference [B] Fire, Sacred Tree, and Well, Senior Druid takes some of the Grain Offering and sprinkles it in a place apart from the gathering, saying, [SD] All you spirits who dwell outside the Light of our
gathering, [All] So be it! Invocation of the Three Kindreds [SD] We welcome now the Three Kindreds to our Rite: Gods, and Dead, and Spirits all, [D9] Ancestors, Old Ones, remember us as we remember you; [D10] Hoof and horn, leaf and stone, aid us as we aid you; [D11] Gods and Goddesses, Shining Ones, honor us as we honor
you; All sit and meditate upon the hosts of Spirits they have called. All speak in their hearts to whichever spirits present themselves to them. 3rd Phase - Sending Power to the Yule Deities [B1] The Song of Brighid: Triple Goddess, One in Three, [B2] The Song of the Dagdha Lord of hunt, and feast, and mirth, [B3] The Song of the Divine Child: Silent Night, Holy Night, Now is born the Divine Child of Light, [SD] takes the Solar Wheel and says Now does the Wheel of the Year turn again to the Light. The Wheel is passed Sunwise around the circle. Each person take it in her/his hands, and directs their own prayers and energy into it. When it returns to SD, the SD says: [SD] Let us now celebrate the birth of the Divine Child! Music is played. All hold Wheel in right hand and dance Sunwise, raising Power. As the music comes to an end, SD says [SD] All hail, Divine Child of Light, Solstice Sun! The Wheel is then hung above the altar as an offering. After the Rite it will be taken outside, and hung in a high tree. A Druid acting as an Ovate seeks the Omen through means of choice (rune, ogham, etc.) and interprets the Omen. 4th Phase - Receiving and Using the Returned Power Preparation All sit. [SD] Let us now in silence or aloud express our personal and group needs. All express needs, either silently or aloud. SD leads group into period of silent meditation. SD leads guided meditation of receptivity. After a period of silence, SD says: [SD] Join we now our hands in communion and agreement, Reception of Power from Brighid, the Dagdha, and the Divine Child New incense is lighted and pass around the circle, Sunwise, each Druid censing the other, in token of Divine Blessing. SD invites others to share insights, blessings, omens received. At the conclusion of sharing, all join in chant: [B] Join we now in chant of Communion and Praise. [All] I bind unto myself today Other workings as needed may be done at this time. 5th Phase - Unwinding and Ending [B] O joyous Dagdha, father of the gods, [All] farewell, and Blessed Be! [B] O magnificent Queen Brighid, [All] Farewell, and Blessed Be! [B] O radiant and warm Solstice Sun, Divine Child, [All] Stay now, and Blessed be! [SD] Extinguishes the Candles of Brighid and the Dagdha, leaving the Candle of the Divine Child burning. The Goddess, the God, and the Child have been honored. For draining of excess power and restoration to the world, cakes and ale are offered and shared according to local custom. Deconsecration and Ending [SD] Now our Rite of Yule is done, SD leads others three times counter-Sunwise around the circle, in a journey back from the Otherworld. SD rings the bell three times. The Rite is done. Remaining candles are extinguished. Copyright 1997, Good Folk |
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