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Tuatha de Brighid - Lughnasadh
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"The Lammas Feast" A Ritual for Two People for the Celebration of Lugh by Good Folk
Before we begin... This is the yearly celebration of the First Harvest, the Harvest of the Grains. It is also a time of sorrow, for the season of growth is over, and the year must surely die. * A small loaf of whole grain bread (corn or other grains) is placed on the altar. The Priest should have a crown of Holly and Grains, for the power of the Holly King is now waxing. Others may wear a chaplet of grains. The altar should be adorned with sheaves of grain, corn, apples, wild berries, and season flowers. The cauldron, decorated with grain and flowers, is by the East Quarter - the direction of New Birth. * A new Corn Mother should be made and placed on the altar with the old one. The old Corn Mother will be symbolically burned in symbolism of the death of the God/Goddess, and the new one saved for the coming year’s prosperity. * In the three branch candlestick, Three yellow candles are placed, symbolizing the fading greenery of late summer, and the God and Goddess of Lughnasadh, Danu and Lugh. * The white candle, a bowl of water, and a branch represent Fire and Well and Sacred Tree. * Bannocks and Ale are prepared. * Offering bowls and grain offering. * Musk oil offering. * Silver offering. * Participants may wear crowns of summer flowers. * All texts are understood to contain the directions "In these or similar words." * [B and G] represent the two participants in the original rite. Divide roles as appropriate for you. The rite may be adapted for a larger group.
The Procession Process to the Sacred Grove and travel around it three times deosil. Light the center Yellow candle on altar, and the altar incense.
adapted from Celtic Devotional by Caitlin Matthews [G] Lady of the Land, open the door, Lord of the Forest, come you in. [B] Let there be welcome to the bountiful compassion, Let there be welcome to the Autumn of the Year. [G] In fruit and grain you are traveling, in ferment and bread you will arrive. [B] May the blessed time of Lughnasadh nourish the soul of all beings, [G] Bringing love and healing to all hurts. [B] From the heights to the depths, from the depths to the heights, [G] To the wounds of every soul, [B] Blessed Lughnasadh, come ye now!
Earth-Mother now we honor thee; May we be hallowed one and all That you may hear us when we call.
Then cense one another with words like: [B] Pure and hallowed may you be. [All] So be it.
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. An offering is made to the Outdwellers according to your own practice, and placed outside the Nemeton..
She goes to each candle and lights it with fire from the altar, with these words. [B and/or G] Light of Lugh, Bosom of Danu, surround us with your love.All are seated , and there is silence for a moment. One leads the Two Powers meditation as usual.
Naming of the God and Goddess of Lughnasadh [G] Lughnasadh begins the harvest time of the year, when light begins to give way to dark, when warmth begins to yield to cold. We make offerings to Danu, and to Lugh. [G] lights a Yellow Candle for Danu, and makes an offering of oil. [G] Danu, Mother of all, birth-giver and nurse,River of Life, to you we call: Receive the honor of our verse! [All] So be it! [B] lights a Yellow Candle for Lugh, and makes an offering of oil. [B] Greetings, Lugh, ancient God of Light,Reaper of corn, and harvest herald: Join us now in skill and might! [All] So be it!
in this place between the worlds, to give honor to Danu, and Lugh. Offerings make we now, that the portals may be opened. [G] offers silver into the well, saying: In the deeps flow the waters of wisdom, Sacred Well, flow within us. [B] lights the White candle, saying, I kindle the Sacred Fire in wisdom, love and power, Sacred Fire, burn within us. [G] sprinkles well water on the tree on the altar, saying; World Tree with roots in the earth, and arms in the skies, Sacred Tree, grow within us. [All] So be it!
Gods, and Dead, and Spirits all, Receive our offering, hear our call. By Fire, and Well, and Sacred Tree, From Land and Sky, and from the Sea, Now come, we pray you, to this Grove, And bring your wisdom, strength, and love! [G] Ancestors, Old Ones, remember us as we remember you; Ancient Ones, hear our prayers and accept our offering of love. Hoof and horn, leaf and stone, aid us as we aid you; Earth Spirits, hear our prayers, and accept our offering of love. Gods and Goddesses, Shining Ones, honor us as we honor you; First-Born of Earth Mother, hear our prayers and accept our offering of love. All sit and meditate upon the hosts of Spirits they have called. All speak in their hearts to whichever spirits present themselves to them.
[G] leads the coveners in a spiral or circle dance sunwise around the altar, all singing three times: Oats and wheat and barleycorn,Let resound the harvest horn! Peas and beans and rye and maize, Blessed be these harvest days!
Mother of all things. As thy laws are, so shalt they be. Great is the Mother who has given us tools to till the Earth. Great is the Mother who makes us grow with her knowledge, and breath while we are alseep. [B] I do hereby invoke thee, O nurturing Lugh, Lord of the Harvest. Hear, O my people, The ploughland is heavy with the golden wheat of life, The cattle are bound, good substance fills the house, Fair women and men are in their homes, The boys go gladly with the girls in flowing dances! All: As it always has been, so it is, and so mote it be!
The time of the First Harvest. Let our thanks be known to the Lady and Lord By welcoming them into our hearts That they may fully appreciate our offering! Goddess of the ripening fields, Great Corn Mother, Grant us the understanding of your self-offering As you prepare to deliver yourself Under the Sickle of the Goddess (the constellation Corona Borealis) And journey to the lands of the Eternal Summer. All: The old must die, that the new be born. [G] takes a piece off the old Corm Mother, wraps her in a cloth, and sets the cloth aside. She places the piece in the fire of the cauldron, and continues . . . [G] Goddess of the Dark Moon,Teach us the secrets of rebirth! As the Sun loses its strength, And the nights grow cold. She holds up the new Corn Mother for all to see and says: Blessed Be! All: Blessed Be!The Corn Mother is given a place of honor at the South Quarter to view the rest of the rite.
[G] picks up the small Lammas Loaf from the altar and holds it momentarily just above the bowed head of the [B]. She then passes it to all, each of whom holds it momentarily above their head. It is returned to the [G], who holds it high above the altar, and invokes: [G] O Mighty Mother of us allbringer of all fruitfullness, O Great Father of us all harbinger of the harvest, We do thank thee for thy abundant gifts of fruit and grain, flocks and herds, and children to the tribe, that we grow to be mighty. All: So mote it be. [B] I am the battle-waging spear; I am a salmon in the pool; I am a hill of poetry; I am a ruthless boar; I am a threatening noise of the sea; I am a wave of the sea; Who but I knows the secrets of the uncarved dolmen? --The Song of Amergaine [G] gives the [B] a piece of the Loaf, and takes a piece herself; They both eat, and she replaces the Loaf on the altar. They lead a Ring Dance, all chanting: All: Hoof and horn, hoof and horn,All that dies will be reborn! Vine and grain, vine and grain, All that’s cut shall rise again! They build up the pace, more and more joyous, until the Priestess says: [G] All in the Circle, Down!Everyone sits.
One seeks the Omen through means of choice (rune, ogham, tarot, etc.) and interprets the Omen.
Sit. Holding hands, all express needs, either silently or aloud, followed by a period of silent meditation. Other workings as needed may be done at this time, making use of the energy raised.
At the conclusion of this joining, all share the Bannocks and Ale, and the remainder of the Lammas Loaf. [B] Join we now in chant of Communion and Praise. [All] I bind unto myself todayThe virtues of the Starlit Heaven, The glorious Sun’s life-giving Ray, The whiteness of the Moon at Ev’n; The Flashing of the Lightning free, The whirling Wind’s tempestuous Shocks, The stable Earth, the deep salt Sea, Around the old, eternal Rocks. (from "Patrick’s Breastplate")
we thank thee for thy bright presence here. We have been honored to have your Spirit among us. Farewell, and Blessed Be! [All] farewell, and Blessed Be! [B] O Mother Danu, River Lady, we thank thee for thy bright presence here. We have been honored to have your Spirit among us. Farewell, and Blessed Be! [All] Farewell, and Blessed Be! [G] The Goddess, the God have been honored. This Rite of Lughnasadh is done. Fire and Well and Sacred Tree, and Gatekeeper of these portals three, we offer thanks and praise to thee! With praises to the waning Sun, may gates be closed, and rite be done! [B] Now our Rite of Lughnasadh is done. Blessed peace on everyone, and may we keep the light of Sun! [B] leads others three times counter-Sunwise around the circle, in a journey back from the Otherworld. [G] rings the bell three times. The Rite is done.
Copyright 1998, by Good Folk
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