Introduction:

This is a much abbreviated and simplified version of the full Rite.  Many of the prayers are meant as a suggestion, that is to be done "in this or similar words", short of some structual "formulas" and traditional pieces preserved from the formal Rite.  This Rite is meant to be more personal and contemplative, with less focus on form, and more on meditation.  In  many instances, a moment (or more) of silent meditation is suggested.  The Offering are limited to a single Communion  form.

ASH - Approaching

Arrival

Dedication:

<first spend some time in silent meditation>

<stand facing the tree which will become the focal point of your Rite, arms up and out, palms up in a Prayer Posture.>

What I do now, I do
     In the eye of the Mother Who bears me,
     In the eye of the Father Who begets me,
     In the eye of the Spirit that indwells me,
In truth and in reverence.
     As my Ancestors have done before me,
     As my Inheritors will do in times to come,
     And to the glory of Brighid of the Triple Flame. 

I come to honor the Kindred Spirits.
In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

Consecration of Time:

<Prayer Posture>

Lo, the time is nigh!

Purification:

<kneel down, kiss the ground, and touch your fingers to it, then stand up and trace a sacred sigil (a triskele, a circle, a cross - whichever symbol you hold appropriate) on your forehead - alternatively, simply touch the fingers to your forehead>

By the body the Earth Mother I am cleansed, purified, and made anew.
Praise and thanks be to the Earth Mother,
This day and every day. 

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

Petitioning the Spirits of the Place:

<Give yourself a moment of silence to really focus on the life about you - note the colors, the sounds, the smells, the feel of it, allow it to touch you and flow with you, and only then say the words.>

Hail Ye, Spirits of this place!
I bless Thee, I honor Thee, I give Thee praise!
Hear the words of this, Thy child and Thy sister:
Know Thee that I come in peace among Thee.
Bless me even as I bless Thee, I pray Thee.
Accept from me this offering as a token of our Kinship.
<pour some tea at the root of the tree>
And grant me a guest-right among You. 

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

 <A simple Omen may be taken here to ascertain if the offering was accepted.>

Consecration of Space:

<walk deosil around the space you will be using, sprinkling tea on the boundary - this defines your temporary Grove-Temple>

<repeat until you come back to your starting point>

I consecrate this place and all contained therein
     Unto All that is Holy,
     Unto the Kindred Spirits,
     Holy it is, pure it is, fitting it is,
For the purpose of Sacred Worship. 

<when you come back to your starting point, stop once again facing the tree>

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

Bargaining with the Outdwellers:

Kindred Spirits (or Patron, or another Deity), aid me, I pray, in this needful task.

<walk to the edge of the sacred space and stop facing outward>

To all ye who would not be Kin to me,
I give this offering as befits to all the children of the Mother. 

<pour some tea outside the sacred space>

 Depart from here in peace, and trouble me not.

 <Turn and walk back>

 In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

Settling:

Affirmation of a TdB Druid:

A Druid is a Seeker of Truth:
     In all places
     In all times,
     In all ways. 

<a brief meditation, or a moment of silence>

Hallowing:

Blessing the Sacred Tree:

Blessed art Thou, the Sacred Tree,
Rooted deep, and crowned high,
Spanning the Worlds of my Kindreds.
As I take my place before Thee,
I am honored by Thy presence.

<kiss the Tree, then put your hand or forehead on it, and meditate on this epiphany of the Divine Order>

Centering:

<While still touching the Tree>

<a moment of silence, as you contemplate your oneness with the Tree and all It represents>

In the center of All grows the Sacred Tree.
In the center of the Grove grows the Sacred Tree.
In the center of my soul grows the Sacred Tree. 

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

OAK - Offering

Offerings/Acceptance/Kinship:

General Invocation:

Hail Ye, Kindred Spirits, great and small,
I bless Thee, I honor Thee, I give Thee praise.
Hear the words of this, Thy child and Thy sister.

I bow <bow>
     Before the Mother who bears me,
     Before the Father who begets me,
     Before the Spirit that indwells  me.
In kinship and in reverence.

I bow <bow>
     Before the Bright and Shining Ones,
     Before the Honored Ancestors,
     Before the Spirits of this Land,
In kinship and in reverence.

I bow <bow>
     Before All that is Holy,
     Before the Kindred Spirits,
     As my Ancestors have done in elder days,
In kinship and in reverence.

I lift up my hands,
     I lift up my voice,
          I lift up my soul before Thee.
Hear me, my Kindred, See me, my Kindred.
Look upon me with kindness and benevolence.

<specific requests may be included here>

Hail, Ye, Kindred Spirits, great and small,
Bless me even as I bless Thee, I pray Thee,
And be with me now, and in times to come. 

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

Blessing the Waters:

<meditate silently on what blessing you would like to give to the Kindred Spirits>

<hold the canteen of tea in front of you>

I bless these Waters unto All that is Holy
     With the reverence of my Spirit
     With the thirst of my Spirit
     With the affection of my Spirit                        
<additional blessings may be given if desired>
In truth and in kinship. 

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

Prayer for the Blessings (Waters of Life):

<lift up the canteen with the water>

I lift up this cup.
In friendship and affection,   
     Kindred Spirits, bless these waters,
     That I may partake of Thy gifts.
Bestow upon me in the fullness of Thine abundance:
     The blessings of Honor,
     The blessings of Wisdom,
     The blessings of Love,
That I may do in the world of the Three
As the Ageless Ones do in the Otherworld.
     Each shade and light,
     Each day and night,
     Each time in kindness,
Grant Thou me Thy Blessing. 

<hold the waters up silently for a moment>

 <Divination may be performed at this time>

Reception and Sharing of the Blessings:

<now hold the waters in front of you>

As I have offered, so do I receive,
Blessing for blessing, a gift for a gift. 

Blessed is the giver and the receiver,
Blessed is the given and the received,
     As it was in the beginning,
     Is and ever shall be,
     Life from life everlasting.
For all things are of the Divine
     Flesh of the flesh,
     Bone of the bone,
     Blood of the blood,
And of the Spirit Eternal. 

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

 Behold:  The Waters of Life!

<meditate silently>

As we share the Waters, so do we share the blessings.

<pour some of the blessed waters onto the ground at the root of the Tree>

<drink some of the Waters>

To Life!

FIR

Farewell:

General Thanksgiving Prayer:

I thank Thee, Kindred Spirits,
            For Thy presence I thank Thee,
            For Thy care I thank Thee,
            For Thy gifts I thank Thee,
In friendship and affection. 

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.           

Internalizing:

The Blessing:

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.                               

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

The Armoring:

I bind unto myself this day
            The blessings of the Kindred Spirits
            The protection of the Kindred Spirits,
            And the presence of the Kindred Spirits.
This day and every day,
This night and every night, 

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.

Retiring:

De-Consecration of Space:

Hail Ye, Spirits of this place!
I bless Thee, I honor Thee, I give Thee praise.
Hear the words of this, Thy child and Thy sister!
     I had come in peace, and now I shall go in peace.
     I had come in honor, and now I shall go with gratitude.
     I return this place unto it's own with my blessing.
Hail Ye, Spirits of this place!.
May all be well with you until we meet again. 

In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.           

De-Consecration of  Time:

Lo, the Time is done!

Recessional:

What you need:

v     This ritual takes place outside, with a tree as a focal point - so find yourself a nice clearing with a beautiful tree that calls to you, and go for it.

v     A canteen of specially brewed tea (this should be done with some though, using herbs appropriate symbolically for the occasion;  additionally, do not use hot tea, as it may damage plant life when you pour it on the ground) - make it a pretty canteen, if you can.

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Page updated:  Wednesday, February 27, 2008