Imbolg 2000

Location: The Outer Grove

1.        CASTING THE CIRCLE - New Technique!

Arch :     Before we begin are all ready to form this temple and perform the Imbolg rites?

All :         We are.

Arch :     I declare fair warning! So Mote It Be!

Arch :     A Gorsedd of the Bards.

                Of the Caer Mabon Faillaich,

                A rampart of protection.

                A shield against all wickedness.

                A container and condenser,

 of all the power we raise within thee.

All:          So Mote it Be!

Arch :     As above, so below!

                Until the sky shall fall upon us,

                The seas rise up and swallow us,

                The earth split and swallow us,

                Grant us thy protection!

                In the names of those we worship,

                I consecrate and bless thee.

All:          The earth is blessed, so mote it be!

Asperger walks deosil around the circle and aspurges the congregation  with salt and water whilst saying :

Asper.    Earth and Water where you are cast,

Let no adverse purpose last.

                Be in complete accord with thee,

            As is our will, so mote it be!

All :         So mote it be!

Censer walks deosil around the circle and censes the congregation, whilst saying :

Cense:    Elements of Air and Fire,

                Hearken now to our desire,

                Be in complete accord with we,

                As is our will, so mote it be.

Pend:      In the EAST lies Finias

Pendragon - raises athame in a salute to the East.

Pend.      [Invoke Sigil]Hail to ye, ye guardians of the East, ye guardians of air.

                Attend this rite and join our circle.

All :         Join our circle.

Pend:      In the SOUTH lies Glorias.

Pendragon - raises athame to the SOUTH

Pend :     Hail to ye, ye guardians of the South, ye Guardians of Fire.

I summon, stir and all thee up.

                Attend this rite and join our circle.

All : Join our circle.

Pend:      In the WEST lies Murias.

Pendragon - raises athame to the WEST

Pend :     Hail to ye, ye Guardians of the West, ye guardians of West.

                I summon, stir and all thee up.

                Attend this rite and join our circle.

Pend:      In the NORTH lies Falias.

Pendragon - raises athame to the NORTH

Pend :     Hail to ye, ye guardians of the North, ye guardians of Earth,

                I summon, stir and all thee up.

                Attend this rite and join our circle.

All : Join our circle.

Arch :     Is there peace in the EAST?

D.of E:    There is peace in the EAST. (Piers)

Arch:      Is there peace in the SOUTH?

D.of S:    There is peace in the SOUTH.

Arch:      Is there peace in the WEST?

D.of W:  There is peace in the WEST.

Arch:      Is there peace in the NORTH?

D.of N:   There is peace in the NORTH.

Arch:      Is there peace in ALL THE LAND?

Mabon : There is peace in all the land. (Watchfire Guardian).

Pendragon sheathes athame.

Pend:      There is peace in all the land.

Arch:      The earth our mother lies at our feet

                The sky above us protects us.

                The circle it is now complete,

                The rite, festival of Imbolg may now begin.

All :         So mote it be / [Cheer] Break the circle and all leave.

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THE IMBOLG Ceremony Proper.

1.        A crown of light- self lighting birthday candles.

2.        A phallic wand.

3.        A brid-ode, or corn dolly.

[Break the circle, all leave.

 Druids arrange themselves in a processional column.

 The arch stands in-front and addresses all.]

Arch:      Before we begin,

                Are all ready to perform the Imbolg rites?

All :         We Are.

Arch re-opens circle, and all process in, greeting with a hug, then wheeling off deocil.  Arch closes circle.

Mabon : Oh, Bard, tell us of the Festival of Breed.

Bard:       Today is the first day of spring,

                This is the time of year that we celebrate the return of the Goddess,

                And the first stirrings of Spring.

                The land is prepared and sown with the first seeds of the year coming.

                As this happens in the world around us, we too do our spring cleaning,

                To prepare our homes for the coming year.

                This is also a festival of birth, the lambing season is upon us.

                And in ancient times, there would have been a great many human births too.

                This is the festival of the Goddess Breed.

                A quiet festival of lights, water and a celebration of the feminine.

                Principle in all her manifest forms.

                Prepare in your hearts a place for Breeds' return.

                And likewise in your home make an altar for she who is one, and is yet three.

                Although this is a fire festival we are celebrating fire in its aspect of light.

                The heat of the year is not yet with us, but the light grows stronger everyday.

                The first ploughing shows a confidence in and preparation for future abundance.

                 And we offer encouragement to the sun, by acknowledging that light and

warmth are now returning.

This simple act shows that the sun is welcomed

As this is the time for growth from within the goddess.

We will begin our Imbolg rites by invoking growth in our immediate environment.

The world of plants and growing things.

Arch :     'Tis the quickening of the year,

                The time to bid farewell to fear

                Seed and root grow to the air.

                That is our most heartfelt prayer.

                Grow up into a brighter light.

                As the year itself doth grow in might.

As leaves on trees speak with the air,

                And wood contains the seed of fire,

                Hearken now unto our prayer,

                Fulfil our will as we desire.

                Be in complete accord with we,

                As is our will - so mote it be.

All :         So mote it be!

Arch :     That is well done, and a fitting start.

                Let us continue these rites by joining hands and saying the Universal Druids prayer.

                I Shall say each line in turn, repeat each line after me.

                GRANT OH GODDESS THY PROTECTION

                AND IN PROTECTION - STRENGH

                IN STRENGTH - UNDERSTANDING

                IN UNDERSTANDING - KNOWLEDGE

                IN KNOWLEDGE - THE KNOWLEDGE OF JUSTICE

                IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF JUSTICE - THE LOVE OF IT

                IN THE LOVE OF IT - THE LOVE OF ALL EXISTANCES

                AND IN THE LOVE OF ALL EXISTANCES, THE LOVE OF THE GOD AND GODDESS

                GOD AND GODDESS AND ALL GOODNESS

                SO MOTE IT BE!

All :         So mote it be!

Arch stands to the South in the Osiris position

Arch :     Oh, thou hidden sun

                Lord of death and re-birth.

                Giver of life - Lord provider

                Thou light within.

                Whose name is mystery of mysteries.

                Encourage our hearts

                Let thy life crystalise itself in our hearts

                Fulfilling of us resurection

                For there is no part of us that is not divine.

                Descend we pray and be amongst us.

Arch walks deosil - scourging all once on the breast.

(Silence and Meditation).

Arch :     Are all ready for the invokation of Bride?

Druids :  We are, as is our will, So mote it be!

Arch : Takes crios bride and a bunch of rushes from by the centre fire and moves to the Fire Quarter.

Arch : lhig da Vrede cheet staigh! (Let Bride come in !)

Circle member impersonating Bride moves to the South of the circle, and stops.  They carry a large candle and a Bride's cross.

Bride :     I call on all within to welcome me, are you prepared to receive me?

Druids : We are.

Bride enters the circle and uses the large candle to light the centre fire.  Then moves around to each of the quarters and confers a blessing upon them.

Eg.          To the west an increase in inspiration.

                To the North an increase in the protection of both physical and spiritual weapons.

                To the East she extends her knowledge as a healer.

                To the South she extends a blessing to the land itself.

A basin of water is taken from the South by Bride, and presented to the Arch, who stands to the East of the watchfire.  Bride holds the water while the Arch washes his hands and face, then the basin is passed to the Deocil, each member holding the bowl while then next washes.  Eventually the bowl will end up back at the start, where it is placed in the West by Bride.

Bride returns to the Watchfire, and stands just to the SW of it, forming a processional column, with Bride at the head, and the Arch at the tail.  Then following Bride, all move around the circle and jump the fire that is now burning in the centre.  This is repeated 3 times.  Then all stop in their original positions.  This dance should be undertaken at slow speed.

At this point Bride leaves the circle to the South.  The impersonator moves into the outer darkness,and removes the crown.  Then returns to the circle, where it is broken and they are allowed back in.

The ceremony and receipt of gifts is now over, and all a goblet of wine will be passed around the circle to feast.  The final portion being offered to the four quarters, but especially the fire quarter.

The circle is then taken down, all the fires are extinguished in the usual order, except that the candle brought in by Bride is allowed to remain burning after the watchfire is extinguished, all should gather round the candle and meditate on the purpose of the ceremony for a few moments, before the candle is finally extinguished by the Arch.  

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