by Eilís Moonbrook

OPENING MEDITATION

Before the ritual begins, each person should take a few minutes to relax and quietly meditate. When everyone feels prepared and is seated in the agreed-upon place, one celebrant should lead the group through a tree meditation for centering and group attunement (someone can lead it, reading it straight from Spiral Dance if necessary).
 

PROCESSION

When the meditation has ended, the group should stand up, hold hands, and proceed in a line to the ritual area. Inside the room, move together deosil around the circle's boundary nine times, chanting:

All:        "We are a circle within a circle
         With no beginning and never ending"
 

IMBOLC STATEMENT  
(From an Imbolc ritual by Ian Corrigan  http://www.adf.org/rituals/celtic/imbolc.html)

Leader:
As our ancestors once did, so we do today, and so our children will do in the future. We are here to pay homage to the Brigid, Lady of fire and to Dagda, the all father, to the Gods, dead and the Sidhe and to the rising light of the year. Now is the time of stirring when the earth begins to soften and the waters to flow. While frost still bites and winds blow, and the light is growing stronger, and life begins to wake. This is the feast of Brigid, the Goddess of Fire and Water. She is the year's midwife who births the sun. Also we make offering to Dagda, the lord of perfect knowledge. Through the union of fire and water, the ancients, our forebears, worked magic to call in the spring. So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in joy and reverence.
 

OFFERINGS TO THE REALMS AND KINDREDS

L:        "We now show our respect to the realms of this world, and to all the kindreds who dwell within or without."

A:
Place an offering on the stone in one corner of the room:
        "O Land, our firm foundation, our visible pattern--please accept our offering. May our roots grow deep within you as you sustain us."

All: "Land, may we feel your strength within us!"

B:
Place a silver coin within the fountain/well:
        "O Sea, the waters that ebb and flow beneath us all—please accept our offering. May we know your depths of wisdom and potential."

All: "Sea, may we feel your flow within us!"

C:
Light some incense in the third corner and blow on it:
        "O Sky, source of Light and Shadow, boundless realm that covers us all—please accept our offering. May we know your vastness and that of the Shining Ones."

All: "Sky, may we feel your scope!"

Honor Brigid as the sacred fire at the center of all things. (Three-wicked candle is placed on the altar, at the center of the triangle formed by the symbols of the three realms):

All:        O Bright Lady,
Firey arrow,
Mother of us all,
Undying flame in the hearts
of all the Gael,
and of all those you foster.

A:        Keeper and dweller
of the hearth fire,
without and within us,
the warmth of home and family
without which we surely
would be cold and dead.
(Light first wick.)

B:        Mother of the spark
we carefully tend,
the germ of imbas,
the fire in the head,
gift to poets and musicians
and to all who would know your heat.
        (Moving sunwise, light second wick.)

C:        Heart of the flame
which drives the forge,
the fire of shaping,
of knowledge,
of forming the world
around and within us.
        (Moving sunwise again, light third wick.)

All:        You of the triple flame,
please be with us now.
Stay and witness
from these tongues of fire,
as we honor you
in this, your season.

[Place some food in a dish and say:]
(Last sentence is from an Imbolc ritual by Danielle Ní Dhighe)

D:        "To all the kindreds--to the Shining Ones, to our ancestors, to the many-colored spirits of the world around us, to all of those who have gone before us and who walk with us now—we honor you! Come those who wish to come; stay those who wish to stay; and fare those who wish to fare."
 

HONORING THE DAGDA  
(From an Imbolc ritual by Ian Corrigan http://www.adf.org/rituals/celtic/imbolc.html)

L:         Imbolc is the time of the hearth fire, and the thawing and stirring of earth's waters. First we will offer to the red god, the hungry God, the best of the Gods, the Dagda.

All: Dagda most honored
{Dahg'-dah}
To you we make sacrifice
To Eochaid the All Father
{Yock'-kesh}
You, the Fire Beneath the Cauldron
Hear us, Old Giant, God with the Great Staff
Ruad Rofessa, Lord of Perfect Knowledge
{Roo'-ah Roe-fess'-ah}
Fire of the Sacrifice, Great in Appetite
To you we do honor, Excellent God
Mate of the great queen
Fergus the mare's son
Chieftain of Danu, bountiful giver
{Dah'-noo}
Flame in the belly that sustains life,
Flame in the eye that comprehends life
Be in us as we are in you
Boiled in the cauldron
Upon the sacred fire
O harper of the seasons, taker of sacrifice
Druid of Oak and Hazel
Dagda Mor--Great good God
{dahg'-dah more'}
Accept our sacrifice

(Porridge ladled into offering bowl)
 
 

THE IMBOLC MYSTERY
(Inspired and sometimes paraphrased from articles on Highlands folklore by Lorraine MacDonald, "The Other Face of Bride" and "The Cailleach Bheare" from http://www.dalriada.co.uk)

A:        In this the time of the little sun,
the sharp Hag of Winter reigns.
Since Samhain she has grown
ever more gigantic and fearsome,
her one-eyed, gnarled blue-black face
chilling all of Nature as she passes.

[Enter the Hag. Her body is shrouded in dark fabric, with her head and face mainly concealed. In her hand she holds a staff or wand. First she is kneeling, hunched—and then she rises up and seems to grow.]

B:        Holding her staff, she has leapt about,
blasting all the green with frost and ice.
After all these years and in spite of
all our preparation and "modern advances",
her ferocity can still strike fear in us.
Her season feels eternal.

[She moves and jumps around, waving her staff and pointing it at things.]

C:        It is still the time of sharp and biting winds,
of frost and snow and deceptive ice.
But, though this is the cruelest month,
the Hag's reign is swiftly reaching its end,
as it does every year, on this day.
Our sweet Lady Brigid replaces her.

D:        Today the Hag goes to the Well of Youth,
washing her face in its waters…

[She goes to the fountain/well representation, turns her back to the group, and makes as to wash her face.]

and comes away bearing a bright face and mantle.

[She removes the dark cloak and turns around to face the group, completely changed.]

For Brigid's face has two very different sides,
one young and lovely, the other old and wizened.
Winter and spring, hag and maiden, yet one—
this is her mystery.

E:        And as when her people first came to Ireland,
Brigid begins to hear the song of the sleeping Earth.
She looks about her and finds the proper place, saying:

Brigid:         "I am going to put my mantle around the Earth because it has dreamed of beauty."
(From the traditional tale "The Earth Shapers" in Celtic Wonder Tales  by E. Young (1988 reprint, Floris Books) )

E:         And she spreads out her green mantle over the land,
and with it slowly come the sighs and laughter of spring
soon to be heard throughout the land.
("sighs.." quoted from the tale above)
 

WELCOMING BRIGID
(Offerings/blessings adapted from an Imbolc ritual by Danielle Ní Dhighe)

["Brigid Song" (attached) should be playing. Sing through it a couple of times, if you like. Bring out the sweet bread (Bairin-breac), butter, ale, milk, and anything else to offer or eat.]

All:        A thousand welcomes to you, Brigid!
Come to visit us, to inspire us, to heal us, to prosper us, to bless us with good luck.
We offer this humble food to you.

[Place a good portion of each type of food on a plate for Brigid, and set it aside. It should be placed outside the front door later on.]

[Fill chalices with ale and milk, if there is anyone who chooses to avoid alcohol.]

All:        May this drink be filled with the brightest blessings of Brigid. [Drink.]

[Eat and drink. The main feast will come after the ritual.]
 
 
 

THANKING BRIGID

All: Thank you for joining us today, Bright Lady, and thank you for your many blessings.

(E.M.’s  further adaptation of "Brigid of the Mantles", adapted by Breanda Ní AnDhá from pieces in the Carmina Gadelica)

All: 

Brigid of the mantles,
Brigid of the peat-heap,
Brigid of the poet's flame,
Brigid of the auguries.

Brigid of the white feet,
Brigid of the smith's fire,
Brigid of the shining palms,
Brigid of the kine. {cattle}

Brigid, woman-mentor,
Brigid of the harvest,
Brigid, goddess-helper,
Brigid, woman-mild.

Brigid, daughter of Dagda,
Brigid, Nurse of All -
Each day and each night
That I call the descent of Brigid
May the power of healing be with me
May the power of poetry be with me
May the power of shaping be with me
In all the realms and among the kindred.

Kindle your flame in my head, heart, and loins,
Make me your cauldron, your harp, your forge,
That I might heal, inspire, and transform
All in your honor, Brigid, Triple Fire
Brigid above me,
Brigid below me,
Brigid in every way about me,
Brigid in my truest heart.

[Extinguish her flame in the candle.]
 
 

THANKING THE KINDREDS

All:

Dagda, the Good God,
Spirits of this place, of the ancestors, and of all the realms,
Thank you for joining us tonight.
Go with our blessings if you must, stay if you will.
Blessed be!

ENDING THE RITE

[Join hands again and walk around the circle nine times counterclockwise. Try to ground any excess energy.]

All:

The rite is ended,
the gates are closed.
Merry we met,
merry we part,
and merry we meet again!