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What is below is an example of how a TdB virtual ritual might go.
The part that are suggested as said (or sung) in common by all are capitalized.
The rest of the ritual is simply indicative of what is possible, and a helping hand to
those who need it - anyone is welcome to use it if they wish, modify it to suit, or do
what they feel is right for them at his point.
The general model of this Rite is based on treating the Kindreds as honored guests,
whom we invite to our house (or call on the phone, or send a nice "thank you for
being my friend" card), and treat in accordance with the ancient customs of
hospitality. Mind ye, the ancient customs of hospitality were sometimes very simple,
and sometimes very complex - but the exchange of ritual gifts, as well as honoring each
other with praises and mutual blessings, is fairly historically common, and a good basis
for a non-culture specific ritual just about anywhere. A strictly Pagan, or a
Christian traditional service can be interpreted that way, as well as many others.
The key concepts of this Rite are
 | making an offering (a
gift) |
| asking for blessings (a return
gift) |
| Kinship bond between us (each
other) and the Kindred Spirits (God/s, Ancestors, Nature Spirits, etc), which is
strengthened by both the ritual exchange of gifts, and simply *talking* to each
other. |
The outline is (this is a slight modification of Oak's
original ritual outline)
ASH - Approaching
Arrival
Settling
Hallowing
OAK - Offering
Offering
Acceptance
Kinship
FIR - Faring Forth
Farewell
Internalizing
Retiring
The sources "raided" for ritual material include:
Carmina Gadelica
Sigrdrifumal
TdB definition of a Druid
Psalms
Star Trek the series
Hearth of Tyr's Hand standard liturgy
ASH - Approaching
ARRIVAL
Consecrate the ritual space, if needed.
I use my altar for this purpose, that is already consecrated. Any place
that you consider sacred will do. If you feel you need to perform a formal
consecration, it may be done by delineating a boundary, purifying the space within
the boundary (by incense, or aspersion), and making a dedication, such as
"I consecrate this place to the Kindred Spirits and for the purposes of Holy
Worship" - or a similar statement, using your own judgement and religious
sentiment.
Consecrate the ritual time
Ring a bell or use another delineating sound that "sings" to you.
Consecrate self
I usually bless myself with water, saying "By the birthwaters of the
Mother I am blessed and purified."
TdB affirmation
A Druid is a Seeker of Truth
In all times,
In all places,
In all ways.
So be it.
SETTLING
IN THE SILENCE OF OUR MINDS, IN THE
MUSIC OF OUR VOICES,
IN THE LABOR OF OUR HANDS, IN THE WEAVING OF OUR CHOICES,
MAY THE BONDS OF KINSHIP HOLD, MAY WE WALK THE SACRED PLACES,
MAY THE HOLY EVER SHINE, IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR FACES.
LADY BRIGHID, BY THY LIGHT, MAY OUR HEARTS AND SOULS
UNITE,
LADY BRIGHID, BY THY LIGHT, MAY OUR HEARTS AND SOULS UNITE,
LADY BRIGHID, BY THY LIGHT, MAY OUR HEARTS AND SOULS UNITE.
HALLOWING
Light Brighid's Fire.
The fire may be a candle, or an oil lamp - I would probably cringe at an electric
lamp, but that's just me. I use a candle in a crystal bowl filled with
water - to me water and fire together are symbolic of Brighid, as the Goddess of
both Sacred Wells and Hearth Fire.
<while lighting the fire>
I kindle the Sacred Fire
In the eye of the Mother who bears us
In the eye of the Father who begets us
In the eye of the Spirit that indwells us
In love, and in peace.
I KINDLE THE SACRED FIRE
AS THE LADY BRIGHID WOULD KINDLE,
AS THE FOSTER MOTHER WOULD KINDLE,
AS THE HEARTH KEEPER WOULD KINDLE,
IN KINSHIP AND AFFECTION.
I kindle the Sacred Fire
As a beacon onto the Holy,
As a ward against the unholy,
As a flame of Holiness in our hearts.
In strength and in faith.
Oh Brighid of the Mantles,
Be thou a bright flame before us,
Be thou a guiding star above us,
Be thou a smooth path below us,
This day and every day,
This night and every night,
By the Sacred Three - Amen.
OAK - Offering
OFFERING
Parted, yet never parted,
I honor Thee, Kindred Spirits.
General (to all the Spirits that hold themselves as Kin to us):
<bow> I bow before my Ancestors, may They be blessed.
<bow> I bow before the Nature Spirits, may They be blessed.
<bow> I bow before the Shining Ones, may They be blessed.
Personal (Spirits/Deities of choice):
Brighid:
Hail Brighid, Spirit Mother of our Clan!
Hear the words of this, Thy child and Thy sister.
Fiery Arrow,
Lady of Wisdom,
Healer of ills,
Be Thou ever blessed, Exalted and Shining One.
(other Deities/Spirits may be named in similar fashion)
<Lighting the incense>
Kindred Spirits, great and small,
Hear the words of this, Thy child and Thy sister,
Bless us even as we bless Thee, I pray Thee,
Accept from me this offering as a token of our Kinship.
<sung>
Thine own of Thine own do I offer unto Thee
On behalf of all, and for all.
<after the incense is lit, with hands lifted up>
<sung>
May my prayers arise in Thy sight as incense,
And may the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
ASKING/ACCEPTANCE
Prayer:
OH BRIGHID, AND (all
ye Kindred Spirits)
I ASK THAT YOU BLESS MY CLAN AND I
WITH INSPIRATION,
WITH GUIDANCE,
WITH PROTECTION
NOW AND HENCEFORTH, AND FOREVER MORE.
We are Thy Clan, oh Brighid,
Thy spirit-children, Thy folk.
We need Thee on this journey,
That we might not stumble,
That we might not be lost,
That we might not fail.
Bless us, or Great One,
That Thy Clan may grow in Thy name
And walk in harmony with the Great Mystery.
(Prayers for special needs included here as necessary)
So be it.
As we have offered, so shalt we receive,
Blessing for blessing, a gift for a gift.
So be it.
KINSHIP
Hail ye Day, and sons of Day,
Hail ye Night, and Night's Daughters,
Look upon us with unrwathful eyes
And grant us victory in our struggles.
Hail ye Goddesses, Hail ye Gods,
Hail to ye, oh much-giving Earth,
Grant us love, fruitfulness, wisdom,
And healing hands during life.
This is pretty much a free-format section. Sometimes I might share a ritual
meal with the Kindreds (bread and wine, for instance), or offer extra praises - a poem, a
song; or meditate silently. This section may be very long (for instance, when we do
a full winter Hearth ritual, this section would include a lengthy ritual meal, with toasts
and boasts and stories, etc), or quite short, consisting of a silent meditation.
Either way, the purpose here is to celebrate the ties between the folk and the Spirits.
FIR - Faring Forth
FAREWELL
<Bowing before the altar>
All-Parents, Shining Brighid, Great Kindreds,
I thank Thee for Thy Kinship and Thy blessings - now and always.
As I prepare to go forth from this Rite,
Know Thee that Thou art ever welcome at my fire.
INTERNALIZING
<sung>
IN THE SILENCE OF OUR MINDS, IN THE MUSIC
OF OUR VOICES,
IN THE LABOR OF OUR HANDS, IN THE WEAVING OF OUR CHOICES,
MAY THE BONDS OF KINSHIP HOLD, MAY WE WALK THE SACRED PLACES,
MAY THE HOLY EVER SHINE, IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR FACES.
DARK OF NIGHT AND LIGHT OF DAY, LADY BRIGHID, BLESS OUR
WAY.
DARK OF NIGHT AND LIGHT OF DAY, LADY BRIGHID, BLESS OUR WAY.
DARK OF NIGHT AND LIGHT OF DAY, LADY BRIGHID, BLESS OUR WAY.
As I have been blessed, so may I carry forth the blessings.
As I have walked with Kindreds, so may I walk with the Folk,
As I have Seen within, so may I see without.
So be it.
RETIRING
<Blowing out the candle>
The Sacred Fire is out, yet forever does it burn in my heart.
Ring the bell.
(If the ritual space is temporary, it should be returned to what it was at this
point. When outside, for instance, I would say something like this "I
thank this place for allowing me to use it for the sacred rites, and I now return it unto
itself and it's own purposes" <an offering given to the earth would not be out of
order as well>)
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