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       IMBOLG (CANDLMASS - BRIGIT'S DAY) Ritual  3-FEB-1990
       ----------------------------------------------------
 
I. STARTING THE RITUAL
 
  A) Processional : Processional Chnt (Grove Fire)
 
     To enter thhe circle, each person must pass through four "gates",
     representing each of the Three Worlds and fire; Lad, 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 given or left unspoken, and the person
     is marked by teh 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 changes to "Hoof and

     Horn", as the Guardians come into the circle and prepare
     themselves.
 
  B) Call to the Four Directions and Statement of Purpose:
 
     Druid #1:
     We greet you, Brother Wabun, Golden Eagle of the East.
     We ask tat you watch over us this night, and share with us your
     wisdom, Let your keen vision guard 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.
 
     We greet you. Sister Waboose, White Buffalo 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.
 
             ---Statement of purpose---

     Senior Driud:
        This is the Imbolg, Brigit's Day. We honor Her as Patron of
     Bards, Teacher of Wisdom and Poetry, and as a Healer of the
     World. We honor Angus Og; Known as The Young Sun, protector of
     the Dawn Goddess, and a helper to all of Mankind. We honor the
     Goddess and God who bring us the promise of renewed Warmth and
     Renewed Life.
 
  C) Centering Meditation:
 
     Group meditation and collective unconsciousness:
 
     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 is a triangle shaped iris opening)
 
     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 seas,
     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 theee 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
          (repeat nine times)
 
  B) Consecration of the Waters:
 
     Druid of the Gate of Land:
         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 laugter,
     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
     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 your
     blessings, share with us the bonding of essence and our existance
     upon your sphere of life. Remember us and speak to us in our
     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')
 
  C) Individual Offerings & Prayers:
 
     AT this point, all present that wish to may make an offering or
     offer prayers. The Gatekeeper of Earth starts and the next
     person sunwise around the circle picks it up. If they have an
     offering or a prayer they would like to make, they step forward
     and do so, the individual offerings to specific personal deities
     is done here. Set up the order before the ritual.
 
  D) 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.
 
     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 Angus Og, O Brigit; 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.
 
  E) 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,
     offerinsg are made again (II.D.) If they are rejected thrice,
     the circle is broken immediately, and the ritual ended.
 
  F) The Fourth Consecration:
 
     A fourth cup is consecrated.
 
     Induction of Receptivity: (Litany of the Waters)
     (D1 can be the Gate of Fire, and D2 can be the group response.
     If group doesn't know responses, have a second person give them.
 
     D1: Of what doe sthe Earth-Mother give, that we may know of
         continual flow and renewal of life?
     D2: The waters 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 teh waters of life.
     D1: Has the Earth-Mother given forth of her bounty?
     D2: She has.
     D1: Then give me the waters!
 
         Final Consecration and Sharing:
 
     D2: O Brigit, O Angus Og, 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!
 
     Passing sing/chant: (Grove Fire)
         
III. The Work of the Circle.
 
   Somebody explains what we are going to do and why we are doing it.
 
   Affirmation of success:
 
     D1: Brigit and Angus Og 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:
 
     Druid:
     Gods and Goddesses of the old times, spirits of the old times
     and of this place, people of the old times and of our ancestors,
     our kindered, we thank you.
 
   B) Closing the Gate:
 
     Gatekeeper of Fire:
 
     O Ogma, Lord of the Gates, Lord of Knowledge, we thank you.
     O Mhannon, we thank you. Now let the Gates Between the Worlds
     be closed!
 
   C) Return from the group-mind, grounding and centering. Reversing
     the Tree Meditation.
 
     Libation:
 
     D1: To thee we return this portion of thy bounty, O Danu our
         mother, even as we must someday return unto thee.
 
     Final Benediction:
 
     D1: Let us gou out into the world, secure in the knowledge that
         our sacrifices have pleased the Goddess and God, and that
         we go forth upon the Earth under their protection.
     (This is when the wards and such are relaxed.)
 
     D2: We have finished this ceremony!
     D1: So be it!
     ALL: Biodh se!
 
     (Get back in and warm up)
 
**************************** CHANTS USED IN RITUAL *****************
 
      GROVE FIRE
Grove fire, burn bright
Kindled for the Gods delight
Burn fire, rise higher
Fire, guide us through the night.
 
      HOOF AND HORN
Hoof and horn, hoof and horn
All that dies shall be reborn
Corn and grain, corn and grain
All that falls shall rise again.
 
     MOTHER NATURE WAITS
Mother Earth provides
Mother Earth provides
Mother Earth provides all for us to survive,
Mother Earth Provides
 
Mother Nature waits
Mother Nature waits
Because life never ends, she always begins again
Mother Nature Waits
 
     BLOOD OF THE ANCIENTS
It's the blood of the Ancients
That runs through our veins
And the forms pass,
But the circle of life remains
 
     FUR AND FEATHER
Fur and Feather and scale and skin
Different without but the same within
Great of body but one soul
Through all creatures are the Gods made whole
 
     MOTHER I FEEL YOU
Mother I feel you under my feet
Mother I feel your heart beat
Mother I feel your heart beat
 
Father I see you where the eagle flies
SPirit gonna carry me higher and higher
SPirit gonna carry me higher and higher
 
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Transcribed into computer media by Joseph W. Teller, unofficial
Grove Communications Liason and SYSOP at Wonderland BBS @5803 in
WWIV Net, 508-663-6220, with permission of the Senior Druid.
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