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Shining Lakes Grove Liturgists Worksheet: Imbolc 2008

(Webmaster's note: This is the worksheet used by the folks running the ritual. Italics indicate an action, bold indicates the person performing the action (or a ritual prop, or a song title), and plain text is spoken during the ritual. The blanks ( _____________ ) indicate a ritual role which will be filled by a lucky volunteer chosen at the ritual. It could be you!)

Preparing ourselves for our time with the Gods and Spirits
Processional and Purification: _____________ / _____________ / ______________
Come We Now As a People
Come we now as a people
Together, to gather at the sacred well.
Come we now as a people
To gather in the warmth and the light of the flame.

Bardic invocation for our eloquence and inspiration: ___________
Welcoming the Allies, the spirits of the people and their gods who lived in this land before us: _____________
Honoring our Mother Ana: Rod
Unity Chant: Single Threads
Single threads entwined in weaving
Are our hearts and minds and souls
As the branches weave the forest
So our joining makes us whole.

Statement of purpose: Rob

Declaring Center and opening the Portals
Well, Fire, and Tree: Tree: _______________ Fire: _______________Well: ____________
Portal Song

By Fire and by Water
Between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the Worldtree
Rooted deep, crowned high.

Come we now to the well....
...The eye and the mouth of Earth
...And silver we bring
...The waters of rebirth
...Together we sing:
CHORUS

We will kindle a fire
...Bless all and with harm to none
...And offerings pour
...A light 'neath the Moon and Sun
...Our spirits will soar.
CHORUS

Gather we at the tree
...The root and the crown of all
...Below and above,
...Together we make our call
...In wisdom and love.
CHORUS

Acknowledging the Outsiders-the forces of chaos and change: ________________
Invocation of Manannan mac Lir, our Lord of the Dead, to guide and protect us in the Otherworld: ____________
Mannanan Invocation
We stand at the border and watch the mist close in.
Waves rolling, rolling,
Where shore meets the ocean, where land meets sea and sky,
We call to you, Manannan,
Manannan, Manannan,
We welcome you as you one day will welcome us.

Acknowledging and honoring our guests
Archetypes - acknowledging the three societal functions within us: ____________
Ancestors - our beloved dead: Rob
Nature Spirits - the spirits of the land and its creatures: ____________
Deities: Lugh, Aren, Danu, and Bel (feel free to offer a silent welcome to your own gods): Rod
Deity of the Occasion: Bríd (Rob) (process and with dolly, light candle)
Note: After we welcome Bríd to be with us we will all kneel and say:
"Bríd, Bríd, come to our house, come to our house tonight!"

Giving and receiving
Passing the Bríd Cross with the knife- To direct praise and energy; to build a group offering

Group praise: cutting and offering bread

Main Sacrifice: offer the cross to the brazier

Omen of return: runes (Rod)

Return Blessing: Brat Bríd / tempering the knife

Cauldron blessing: Newest mother

Welcoming new members, officers, and guild members, and bestowing other honors

Unwinding and closing
Recessional:
Walk With Wisdom
Walk with wisdom, from the hallowed place
Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall ere embrace
May truth be your brother,
And honor be your friend,
And luck be your lover until we meet again.

Questions? Comments? Please contact Rob Henderson, SLG Webmaster. All content copyright Shining Lakes Grove, ADF, or the individual author(s), all rights reserved.