Apple Branch Protogrove

Mabon, 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

The summer has come to an end, and harvest is upon us. We have seen the brightest days, and now we welcome the darkest. It is the end of the year, but with all endings, we approach a new beginning. And so at this final festival of the year, we come together to accept what has been, and welcome what will be.

Today we call upon the son of Modron, Mabon, who was stolen from his mother when he was only three days old, and who was imprisoned in Annwn until rescued by Arthur's knights.

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.

Modron, great mother, beloved ancestral mother of prosperity and plenty
From whose starry womb the green earth springs
You who are the bearer of all life
We pray you bless and uphold this rite.

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!

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!

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!

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!

Ancient Ones, accept our sacrifice!

Main Offering

At a mere three days old, the child Mabon was torn from his great mother, forced to live as a prisoner in the underworld. As a lad, he was rescued by great nights and, out of gratitude, helped them in their quest. But his time in the underworld left its mark on Mabon, who can now never grow old.

We have reached the zenith of the year, and past it. Just as soon as we become used to the light and the warmth, it is taken away from us. This too happened with Modron and her son; for this reason we recognize them on this day.

Mabon, we ask for the protection of your hounds as we approach the new year. We ask for the guidance of your stallion as we enter the dark half And we ask your blessings for the harvest, and the coming winter.

Mabon, accept our sacrifice!

Blessing

Let us now share in the blessings of the kindred.

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.