Apple Branch Protogrove

Lughnasadh, 2006

Processional

Come we now as a people
To gather at the sacred grove
Come we now as a people
To gather in the warmth and the light of the flame

Opening Prayers

Today we of the Apple Branch Protogrove gather to mark the feast of Lughnasadh, the wedding games of Lugh. On this day we honor Lugh, the many skilled, the young champion of the Gods whose spear brings victory to the blessed. Now is the time when he, guardian of the ripening grain, is wedded to the land from which it springs. Now is the time of the first harvest, the feast of achievement when the land and our own labors begin to bear fruit. Let us celebrate the golden gifts of the earth, the fruits of our efforts, both of body and of mind. Let us honor the Gods and Spirits in the ways of our ancestors, and receive their bright blessings in return.

Outdwellers

You who come from the outer dark
You who stood against the gods and man,
You who are cold of heart and cruel of mind,
Take this offering and trouble not our working.

(Blackberry Schnapps)

Earth Mother

Tailtiu, mighty queen of the Fir Bolg, who with your strength cleared land that the people of Ireland could flourish, who with your labor made the fields fruitful, we welcome you. Great lady, We ask that you bless and uphold our rites on this day, and accept our offerings to you.

(Beer)

Two Powers

Begin, O seeker of wisdom, with your breath... breathe deeply, from your belly... in... and out... make your body comfortable... stretch if you need to, settle in place... and focus on your breath... observe your breath as it flows in and out of your body... and with each breath, allow your body to relax... let your breath carry away tension from your flesh.. relaxing your feet and legs... letting your belly soften and relax... breathing away tension from your shoulders and arms... from your neck... relaxing your face and mouth, your eyes... with each breath your body becoming warmer, comfortable and relaxed... your mind alert and prepared for magic...

Now, with your body still and calm, imagine that from your feet, or the base of your spine, roots begin to grow downward... roots reaching and growing into the earth, down through soil and stone... deepening and spreading... reaching to touch the waters under the Earth... the Earth current... the dark, cool, magnetic power that nourishes and sustains life... as your roots touch this current it is drawn in and up toward your body... your breath draws the Earth power upward... into your body... the invisible, magnetic power fills your legs, energizing and strengthening... waters rise from the earth, into your legs... rising... into your loins... and pooling in your loins, a cauldron of Earth power... You breathe the power upward... rising from the earth, through your loins, rising up your spine... into your heart... pooling and filling a cauldron in your heart with healing, restoring energy... power rising from the deep, through your loins, through your heart... rising up your spine and into your head... filling a cauldron of wisdom and vision behind your eyes... and rising still, filling all your body and flowing out again through the crown of your head... through your hands... flowing out around your body and back into the earth... the power under the Earth flows in you... grounding you in the source of life...

Now imagine the sky overhead... The sun and moon and, far beyond them, the stars... imagine a single star at the center of the sky, shining directly over your head... the center of your inner sky, your own pole-star...see a flash of light shining down from that star... streaming down between moon and sun... gold, silver and blue-white light... the bright, warm, electric power of the sky... the light touches your head, filling and illuminating the cauldron like sun on still water... shining from above... filling your head with warm, awakening power... flowing down into your heart... warming the cauldron... shining down through head and heart, illumining the waters... downward to reach your loins... The cauldron shines with sky power in your loins... Tingling, electrical light in head, heart and loins... the light flows downward into Earth, and you are shining and flowing with the mingled powers of Earth and sky... the raw material of magic... the chaos of potential and the world order...

These powers are balanced in you, churning within your gut, at your solar plexus, giving you power

Now, open your eyes, and let us continue this work.

Three Realms

Sacred fire that consumes and transforms, True and holy light of the Shining Ones, Accept our offering! O sacrificed and sacrificer Let holy flame warm our spirits and our lives.

Sacred fire, burn within us!

Deep well of Annwn, cauldron of birth from which all things arise, accept this offering of ours

Sacred Well, flow within us!

Sacred pillar, boundary of all worlds, Stand at the center of the sky, Stand at the center of the sea, Stand at the center of the land on which we dwell. Let us be deepened to your depths Raised to your heights Strengthened in your strength.

Sacred tree, grow within us!

Opening the Gates

O Manannan, Lord of the Gates, Lord of Wisdom, open the ways for us. We walk in your holy ways; we walk the Sacred Road. Share your magic with us; ward us as we walk in safety. Manannan Mac Lir, accept our sacrifice!

(Apple)

Kindred

A Dheithe! Shining Ones! Highest and mightiest, First among the Kindreds, worthiest of honor, Ancient of the Tuatha De Danann, we would offer to you in this place. Join us at our fire, o Shining Ones. Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice!

Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice!

(Whiskey)

Hail & Welcome, Noble Ones - Spirits of leaf & stone, fur & feather. Be with us in our celebration of the Sun's vigour, and accept our offering on this day. Noble Ones, accept our sacrifice!

(Honey)

Noble Ones, accept our sacrifice!

Ancestors, come to us now! You Mighty Ones, kin of heart and kin of blood, Those whose bones lie in this land, We call you to our sides! Come to our fire, spirits; meet us at the boundary. Ancient Ones, accept our sacrifice!

(Bread)

Ancient Ones, accept our sacrifice!

Myth/Central Work

Hail the Sun of Summer - Golden One, Brightest, Warmth of the Green Earth
Hail the Sun of Summer - Crown of Striving, Gem of the Heavens, First among Lights
Hail the Sun of Summer - Father of Earth, Eye of Burning, Fire of Noontide

Yet now is the Season of Darkening, the Time of Ripening, when the night and the moon call the Earth to fruit. It is the time of the tender Goddess, the Maker of heroes, the Old One's Daughter. Who can tell of the fate of the Earth?

If the Sun does not die, the green turns to gray!
If the Sun does not die, red turns to black!
If the Sun does not die, the earth will burn dry!

So the Gods' man mated with a woman of the Giants, in magic and courage. And of Their union was born the Child of Light and Shadow - Lugh, whose name means light. Fostered in the Isle of Apples, he learned every skill - thus is he called Samildanach - Master of All Arts.

How like a Spear is the Ray of Dawning
How like the dawn is the Rising Light of Victory
How like Victory is the Joy of Wisdom

So it was that in the last battle of the Gods and Demons it was Lugh who struck down the Baleful Eye of Burning. When the Sun's Fire becomes poison to the earth, when the Maiden of Bounty is imprisoned in the Tower of Day, it is Lugh of the Long Arm who strikes the blow. It is Lugh who struck down the Poison Eye, who defended the Holy Earth against hail and flood and drought and blight.

The Sun must die That the earth may live
The Darkness rise - The Land freely give
Milk and Honey, Ale and Corn

Thus do we join the Shining Ones' Prince to the Lady of the Earth. By this joining may Lugh be the Ward and Guardian of the earth. By this joining may the Earth be the Throne of Joy and Delight. May the grain, and our lives, grow green and golden as the hair of the Goddess. May the ray of the westering sun be as the Spear of the Champion.

Lugh hear us Your children!

(Red wine)

Blessing

Now I shall draw three staves, that we may receive the advice of the Gods.(For the divination I'll use your Ogham sticks and draw three.)

Let us now drink, and share the blessings of the Kindred. (I'll pass the cup around. I have an earthenware chalice that I could use as the blessing cup. Were you going to provide the liquid, or shall

(Blessing cup is passed around - red wine)

Closing

Let us now give thanks to those we have honored here.

Nature Spirits, you who hide in the bushes and the rivers. We thank you for your presence.

Noble Ones, we thank you!

Ancestors, our kith and kin. You watch us from across the centuries. We thank you for your guidance.

Ancient Ones, we thank you!

Gods and Goddesses, those who are wiser than us by far. We thank you for your blessings.

Shining Ones, we thank you!

We call once more on Manannan Mac Lir to close the gates!

A Mhanannain! Gatekeeper and Sidhe King! We thank you for guiding our prayers to the Otherworlds. We thank you for guiding and warding our steps in all the Worlds. Let the Fire now be but flame. Let the Well now be but water. And let the Tree now be no more than the true heart we carry forth from this place.

Let the gates now be closed!

Brothers and Sisters, friends, loved ones, we have come together today in honor of the ancient ways. Our praises have been heard, and blessings received. Once again we enter the mundane world. Go now in peace and blessings.