ADF Ritual

The Shadow Weaver Grove, ADF

The Following is an ADF Yule Ritual, designed by the members of 'The Shadow Weaver Grove, ADF', for presentation on 16-DEC-89. For further information on ADF, or the Shadow Weaver Grove call Wonderland BBS 508-663-6220 [Billerica MA] and leave mail for Bob Beecher, or write him via Snail mail at : Shadow Weaver Grove, PO Box 5451, Billerica MA 01821.

1. Starting The Ritual
   • Processional:
   1. To enter the circle, each person must pass through four "gates" representing each of the Three Worlds and Fire; Land, 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 then given or left unspoken, and the person is marked by the 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.
   2. When everyone is in the circle, the chant "Hoof and Horn" is begun as the Guardians come into the circle and prepare their selves in like form.
   • Statement Of Purpose and Casting of Circle:
   • Senior Druid :
     • This is the time called Yule. As we Mourn the death and re-birth of the Belemos the SUn King. Also we celebrate the Magda -- Mother of Gods; for bringing forth the promise of renewed life.
     • Also we meet tonight in this time and place to seek wisdom and guidance from those who have gone on before us, and to bring light and learning to those who should ask it of us.
   • Gatekeeper of Sea:
     • We greet you, Brother Wabun, Golden Eagle of the East. We ask that you watch over us this night, and share with us your wisdom, Let your keen vision guide us 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.
   • Gatekeeper of Air:
     • We greet you, Cougar 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.
   • Senior Druid:
     • All Spirits here tonight, Grace us with your prescence and aid us in our quest for wisdom. Guard us from harm and help our minds to open to the wonders around us.
   • Centering Meditation:
   • Group Meditation and collective consciousness:
   • 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.
2. The Active Ritual:
   • Invoking the Gate Keeper
   • Invocation of Ogma the Gate Keeper, or Mannanon in English : (visualization of the gate is a traingle shaped iris opening above the fire).
   • 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 sease, 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 thee 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.
   • Individuals Invoke:
   • At this point, all present are asked to invoke a spirit or god(dess) which they feel is appropriate. If they wish to invoke or thank a particular diety, they should step forward and do so.
   • Consecration of the Waters:
   • Druid of the Gate of Earth:
     • 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 Laughter, 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 your 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 blessings, share with us the bonding of essance and our existance upon your sphere of life. Remember us and speak to us in opur 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")
   • Individual offerings and prayers:
   • At this point, all present that wish to make an offering or offer prayers. The Guardian of the East goes sunwise around the circle, stopping at each person. If they have an offering or a prayer they would like to make, they step forward and do so. Set up the order before the ritual.
   • 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.
   • Gatekeeper of Fire:
     • 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 Belemos, O Magda, 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.
   • 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, offerings are made again. If they are rejected thrice the circle is broken immediately, and the ritual ended.
   • The Fourth Consecration:
   • A fourth cup is consecrated.
   • Induction of Receptivity (Catechism of the Waters)
     (d1= Gate of fire, D2=group responses)
     • D1: Of what does the Earth-Mother give, that we may know of the continual flow and renewal of life?
     • D2: The water 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 the waters of life.
     • D1: Has the Earth Mother given forth her Bounty?
     • D2: She has.
     • D1: Then give me the waters!
   • Final consecration and sharing:
     • D2: O Belemos, O Magda, 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!
   • Chant: ("Blood of the Ancients")
3. The Work of the circle.
   • Somebody explains what we are going to do and why we are doing it. ANy magic working to be done will be done at this time.
   • Affirmation of Success:
     • D1: Belemos and Magda 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.
4. Closing
   • Thanking of the Gods and Goddesses:
• Senior Druid:
  • Gods and Goddesses of old times, spirits of the old times and of this place, people of the old times and of our ancestors, our kindred, we thank you.
• Gatekeeper of Fire:
  • Brother Hawk, we thank you and honor you for the messages you carry and the lessons you teach. Your medicine is strong and brings us clarity of vision and understanding in our everyday lives. We learn by you that none is greater, and all are equal in the eyes of the Great Spirit. We learn that all have gifts of value that they should not let sit in disuse.
  • We thank you for carrying our prayers and gifts, and we ask you to fly in our dreams that we hear and remember the messages you carry, go in peace and guide our steps.
• Gatekeeper of Air:
  • We thank you, great Cougar of the North. You have guided our prayers and shown us your boundless generosity. You have led us toward inner growth and taught us the prayers to heal our spirits and our minds. Your path is clear to us, and we thank you for walking with us again. We will remember your lessons.
  • We thank you brother Mudjekeewis, Great Bear of the West. Once again you have kept our feet on the safe path, and held the light of your wisdom before us. We are grateful for your guidance this night, and we ask you; go in peace as you came in peace; that we may walk together again another time.
• Gatekeeper of Sea:
  • We thank you, Wabun, Golden Eagle of the East. You have given us your light with unstinting generosity, and helped us to see the world within ourselves as well as the world outside. Your dawn has brought, as ever, new light to our hearts and we are grateful. Blessed Be!
  • We thank you, Shawnodese, Coyote of the South. Again you have turned our eyes within us, that we may see the knowledge hidden there. You have opened our ears to the music of our souls, and we hear its beauty. We ask you to please return now, to your home in the desert, and to remember us, that we may walk together again.
• Senior Druid:
  • All spirits that have been with us tonight, we thank you for your strength and blessings. THough you now return to your own places in the worlds, we hold you always in our hearts, and are stronger for your prescence Go now with our love and our blessings. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.
  • The circle is open.
• Closing the Gate:
• Gatekeeper of Fire:
  • O Ogma, Lord of teh Gates, Lord of Knowledge, we thank you. O Mhanannon, we thank you. Now let the Gates between the Worlds be closed!
• Return from the group-mind, grounding and centering. reversing the Tree Mediation. This is when the wards and such are relaxed.
• Libation:
  • D1: To thee we return this portion of thy bounty, O Magda our Mother, even as we must someday return unto thee.
• Everyone leaves, Gate keepers start out, everyone follows.