Rituals
I am still not comfortable with giving a great deal of detail about our
rituals, but will give an idea of simple structure here. Please note, there
is no circle casting being "left out" as we do not do it.
Our rituals our outside from Bealtuinn through Samhuinn, only An Fhéill
Bhride is indoors. Our Samhuinn feast, however, usually is also indoors,
as is Bealtuinn many years, and Lùnasda is almsot always outside,
under a tarp if the weather requires. Therefore An Fhéill Bhride is
set up a bit different and is pulled almost completely from the Carmina
Gadelica.
The fire is built. At Samhuinn and Bealuinn the fire of the old season is
extinguished and a new fire built.
Procession on to the hill after a symbolic cleansing with spring water of
each participant.
Offering is made to our Hearth Goddess and the fire --into the fire
Offering is made to our Land Goddess ---onto the land around us
Offering is made to our Guide Between the Realms --into the fire
Offering is made to the Bíle or World Tree as we open ourselves up
to seeing it ---around the base of the Tree
Offering/treaty token is taken out to the Outsiders, those beings we do not
worship and which may chose to be disruptive if They refuse the treaty; this
includes many of the Sìth or Folk, as well as other people's Gods
---this is taken to the nearest border to our neighbors
Offering is made to the Folk who may be friendly to us, this is a departure
from what those who are more "inside" the society would do, but we too are
Outsiders and have a peace with some of Them. ----at the west side of our
ritual space and all cold metal is put away at this time.
Offerings are made to the Nature Spirits --spread upon the land
Offerings are made to the Ancestors ---in the fire or votive pit
Offerings are made to all our Deithe (Gods) first to the three already
offered to then the others ---into the fire, some onto the land or votive
pit if appropriate
Personal offerings are made by anyone who wishes to ---usually into the fire,
these may also include song, dance or other performance, however
Some seasonal act will be performed at an appropriate point
Omens are sought for the upcoming season
Sharing of a "blessing" ---some form of food or drink amongst ourselves,
if the feast is in a different location (usually Samhuinn, sometimes Bealtuinn)
We thank Everyone.
We feast
Devotions
An altar is a place where we make offerings to the Kindred (Gods, Nature
Spirits, Ancestors), not a table upon which we put tools of magic or such
as some people mean it. We do keep things upon them that are relevant to
Who they are for and that we hope will please Them. Yet the main purpose
is to extend Hospitality upon them, to place food, drink, flowers, and other
items for Them. Exact designs and schedule of offerings will vary from person
to person. Some might keep more than one altar for different Kindred groups
and/or even particular Gods or other Kindred. Some might maintain the same
look, keeping all items on it year round and adding to it when they find
something new, while others might decorate it for the season.
Along with personal altars we maintained a Household Hearth Altar as well.
This is designed for three areas, one for the Gods, one for Nature Spirits,
and one for the Ancestors with appropriate items on them. If we had a fire
place or wood stove (which we WILL someday soon) that would be our Fire,
but we must for now be content with a Hearth Candle and three candles for
each of the Kindred. We also have a place in our kitchen where we make offerings
to our House Spirit.
We have found, since moving here, that we do most of our offerings now outside.
We have started to establish outdoor shrines and are looking for more. We
also go up to our ritual area and leave offerings there from time to time.
As time goes on, we really find we use our indoor altars less...except for
the House Spirit's corner.
If you have access to Wild Places or other appropriate outdoor locations
might wish to use these instead or as well. It might be one spot or you might
find different ones that you make offerings to different Gods, Nature Spirits,
or Ancestors. Of course, offering to your Ancestors at the cemetery they
are buried at is practical (within the limits of the cemetery regulations,
of course) is certainly an option. Offering to local Nature Spirits by feeding
local animals (for safety and to keep from putting wild animals into dangerous
situations it is best to limit this to birds and squirrels, and to protect
native plants do near your home or in a park...please do not leave bird seed
in wild places as it can introduce non-native plants that can be ecologically
devastating). Also taking care of a wild place, cleaning it up and then making
offerings makes it even more substantial (please do not use bird seed as
we have seen recommended as an offering in a wild place as not all seeds
will be eaten and you may introduce foreign species that will over run the
native ones).
Apart from obvious devotions, many of us have daily things we do that may
seem "mundane" to many but which we feel we do for the Gods. For those on
Bardic paths every song, poem, or other creation is an offering. Seers may
always be looking for omens, reading them in the direction of the wind or
the song of a bird. Warriors may see their work out program as an offering
and every movement a meditation. We live our religion, everyday as much as
possible. We may give Hospitality in volunteering at a local food bank or
honor the Nature Spirits by working for the environment or animal welfare.
As we do not believe that we can ever "disconnect" from the spiritual, then
everything we do is spiritual and nothing is mundane.
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