Midsummer Rite 2007

Deities Invoked:
Belenus - As the God of Light or Sun God he reaches his peak at the summer solstice and is honored at this time of his supreme power.

Epona - After much reading it appears that she also plays a large part during the summer solstice as the Feast of Epona. As a fertility Goddess she is honored to ensure the crops that are percolating in Mother Earth will continue to thrive towards a bountiful harvest.

Cernnunos - the reign of the Horned God begins at the winter solstice, peaks at Beltane and ends now at the summer solstice.

Taranis - as the positive to Cernnunos's negative, Taranis takes up the reign until the winter solstice where he pounds his hammer on the earth to reawaken it and then passes the reign back to Cernnunos starting the cycle again. These two are often referred to as the Oak King/Holly King or Light King/Dark King.

Sucellos - the Gatekeeper

The Rite:

Initiating the Rite –

(Ring bell three times)

“I celebrate this day, the Feast of Epona, to mark the time when the Sun has reached its zenith, making this the longest day of the year. It is also the time of year between planting and harvesting, the Earth's bounty is ripening, just as the mother's belly blossoms with her unborn young. The veil between the worlds is thin and it is a time for reflection on how to best move forward and bring desires to fruition or removing those thing which may hamper one from achieving their goals.”

(Honor the Divine Androgyne.)

“Divine Androgyne, eldest and nameless,
You are the Living Path, the Middle Pillar between
The blackness of understanding and
The whiteness of the Crown
You are male and female simultaneously
The in-between, neutral, neither-nor
You transform transgression into transcendence
Infinite, Essential, Eternal
Source of all, the force behind form
You hold the value of duality
Nevertheless, you are One
Primeval, first, before the birth of consciousness
Teach us your divine dance of balance
I pray you, bless and uphold my rite.”

Purification –

(Honor the Outdwellers with a lit candle.)

“Outriders, ancient dark ones,
I make this offering of fire to you.
You who dwell in the outer darkness
Take this offering of light and heat
And trouble not my working.

Likewise, I acknowledge within myself
Weakness and perversity,
Hatred and spite,
Cowardice and ignorance.
I contemplate these ills and enemies
And for this sacred time
I set them aside.”

(Honor the Spirits of the Land with an offering)

“To those of you of this place I ask that I may use this place for my worship. Spirits of this ground please accept my offering and I invite those of you aligned with my purpose to share in my rite.”

(Honor the Kindred and create the Nemeton)

“During this time, when the veil is thin between the world of the living and the world of spirits, I welcome those of my kin who wish to celebrate the old ways with me in this hallowed place. With this water, I claim and cleanse this place in the name of the Kindred.”
(Asperge general area with water from the well, turning clockwise)

”With this fire, I claim and strengthen this place in the name of the Kindred.” (Light the candles on the altar)

”This tree stands at the crossroads between all these Worlds, so that this Sacred place may be established. By the cleansing purity of the water and the strength and light of the fire, this place is made whole and holy.”

Honoring the Earth Mother –

“Oh Great Earth Mother, Midsummer Mother, you are bathed in the warmth, light, and strength of the sun and all nature vibrates with your energy. I call to you Oh Great Mother, with honor and love in my heart, may your spirit engulf me and guide me as I ask for your blessing of my rite.” (Make an offering to the Earth Mother)

“Earth Mother, accept my offering!”

Statement of Purpose –

“I gather here on my own to worship and honor the Kindred and celebrate the power of the longest day of the year. I sacrifice to the Kindred so that they may bless me in return. I keep the Feast of Epona and celebrate the love, life and the expected bounty in the upcoming year. I enjoin all that have gathered with me this eve be welcomed.”

Creating the Cosmos –

“This sacred flame upon the Earth, banishes the darkness and opens the way to the Shining Ones. Gods and Goddesses come to me as you are welcome by my fire.” (Make an offering to the fire.) “Shining Ones accept my offering!”
”This cleansing well, threshold to the Otherworld, opens the way to the Mighty Ones. May the purifying waters of inspiration and rebirth help me reconnect with the Mighty Ones.” (Make an offering to the well.) “Mighty Ones accept my offering!”

“Noble Oak with roots running deep within the Underworld, you are the sacred middle pillar connecting what is above to what is below. You are the great pillar joining Earth and sky and thereby spanning the three worlds, a road to all realms. Wise teacher and keeper of sacred knowledge, show me the path so I may walk in your wisdom.” (Asperge the tree with water.)

“The fire, the well, the sacred tree,
Flame and flow and grow in me!
In land, sea, and sky
Below and on high,
Thus is the sacred grove claimed and hallowed!
By the light of the fire,
By the might of the water,
This grove is whole and holy.
So mote it be!”

Open the gates –

“Sucellos, Keeper of the Gates, Lord of the Otherworld, aid me to open the Ways. As I travel between the worlds of man and the Kindred may you part the mist before me.” (Make an offering to the Gate Keeper) “Sucellos accept my offering and merge your magic with mine as the gates open!”
(Trace a triquetra over the fire), saying: “Let the fire burning towards the sky open as a gate that I may follow the way to the Shining Ones.”

(Trace a triquetra over the well), saying: “Let the well whose depths reach the Underworld open as a gate that I may follow the way to the Mighty Dead.

(Trace a triquetra on the Tree of Life), saying: “Let the tree, pathway between earth and sky, be open to me.”

(Turn once clockwise), saying: “So the Way is opened and this place is claimed. Let no ill or harm come to me and mine, and Wisdom, Love and Power flow to me through this gate. So mote it be.”

Invite the Three Kindred –

”Noble spirits of leaf and stone grant me the inspiration and knowledge of your sacred ways. Noble spirits of fin and feather, fur and skin, guide me with your strength and wisdom. I welcome you all and let us renew our ancient pacts.” (Make an offering to the Noble spirits) “Noble spirits, accept my offering.”

”Oh Mighty ones, ancient and most recent, kin of heart and blood, know you continue to live in my heart and memories. I invite you to gather and rejoice with me during this sacred time.” (Make an offering to the Mighty Ones) “Mighty Ones, accept my offering.”

”Shining Ones, great and timeless, whose might and charity know no bounds. Gods and Goddesses that I know and have yet to meet, Shining Ones of this place and season of celebration, I welcome you to my fire.” (Make an offering to the Shining Ones) “Shining Ones, accept my offering.”

Key Offerings –

“Oh Great Belenus, God of Light, on this day you are at the height of your power, the waxing of the year is over. I ask that your energy fill and guide me to complete those things I desire and burn away those things which stand in my way.

“Epona, Goddess of fertility and abundance, protector of the tribe, purify me so that I may forget past cares, do away with the non-useful and enjoy your future bounty.

“I also offer thanks to Cernunnos for his blessings this past year. With Belenus at the height of his power, the waning of the year begins and so ends the reign of Cernunnos.

“As Cernunnos fades away a new God arises, all hail Taranis, Keeper of the Wheel. Taranis you are the ruler of the Earth until the Wheel turns again and you, in turn, are replaced by Cernunnos. Thus goes the never ending cycle. Oh great Taranis, I ask for your blessing, bestow upon me your power of sky and thunder to that I may cleanse away those aspects which hinder the progress I desire.

“Hail to the Gods, Hail to the Goddess! Hail to all the Holy Ones gathered here with me this midsummer's eve! We celebrate the zenith of Belenus, the abundance of Epona and the endless cycle of Cernunnos and Taranis in this time of expectancy! Powers of the Sky, Powers of the Sacred Earth and Powers of the Underworld all brought together this eve to celebrate this sacred day. I give thanks for all that was and all that will be. Hail all the Gods and Goddesses!”

Prayer of Sacrifice –

“The wheel has turned yet again and so ends another season and a new one begins. This new season signals a time of the constant growth and change, and with your help, Holy Ones, I will work on growing and changing. With my love, thanks, and respect I bring this my final offering; for the season past and what will come. Noble spirits of leaf and stone, fin and feather, fur and skin along with my ancestors the Mighty Ones accept my sacrifice. Shining Ones of limitless bounty and might, accept my sacrifice.” (Make an offering)

”No longer day shall pass this year,
No brighter sun did ere appear.
No wish or want can be denied,
The sun's retreat hath been scried.”

(Meditate on the Kindred)

”I have offered hospitality and sacrifice to the Kindred on this day. I pray my gifts will be accepted by the Kindred. I ask for your guidance and blessing upon my hearth, home and family.”

Omen –

The Omen is taking by drawing three Runes, one for each of the Kindred (Noble spirits, Mighty Ones and Shining Ones). The Omen will reveal if the rite and offerings are pleasing to the Powers.

Calling (asking) for the Blessings –

“As in the days of old, a gift given freely will bring a gift in return. I have given my gifts freely this day and seek a blessing in return. I will drink deeply the Waters of Life so that the blessings of health, wealth and wisdom will be mine.

”Shining Ones your blessings upon me!

”I gather here with you between Earth and sky, to celebrate the power of love, the power of midsummer and proudly declare myself as a follower of the old ways, having brought my offerings and made sacrifice.

”Shining Ones your blessings upon me!”

Hallowing the Blessing – (Raise glass and salute the fire, well and tree)

“Behold the Waters of Life! Shining Ones hear and bless me and hallow these Waters of Life!”
(Drink of the Waters)

Affirmation of the Blessing –

“Now the blessing of this High Day fills us
We carry it with us into our lives.
The worlds are in me, and I am in the worlds
The spirit in me is the spirit in the worlds
By Fire, Well and Tree; By Gods, Dead and Sidhe;
The blessing flows and shines in me!”

Thanking the Beings –

”Now as I prepare to depart, I give thanks to those who have aided me here today.

”Shining Ones, bright as the fire, may you continue to guide me along this path I walk and bless me with your wisdom. To the Gods and Goddesses, both known and unknown, I thank you for your blessing today. May there be peace between us till we meet again at my hearth fire. Shining Ones I thank you!

”Mighty Ones, ancestors both known and unknown, I thank you for the wisdom that you have shared with me today. You inspire me and guide me in my life and may there be peace between us till we meet again at my hearth fire. Mighty Ones I thank you!

”Noble Spirits, of land, sea and sky, I thank you for your knowledge and protection and continued aid in my journey. May there be peace between us till we meet again at my hearth fire. Noble Spirits I thank you!”

Closing the Gate(s) –

“Sucellos, Keeper of the Gates, thank you for your protection and guidance this day. I ask that you now close the gate, blocking the way between the worlds once again. May there be peace between us till we meet again at my hearth fire. Sucellos, I thank you!

”Sucellos, let the Gates be closed!

”Let all be as it was before, well to water, fire to flame so they may continue to support and sustain me.”

Thanking the Earth Mother –

“Great Earth Mother, thank you for your blessing this day and continue to guide me along this path, the path of the old ways!”

Ending the Rite –

“As is has been done in the past, as we have done now, as will be done in the future; we have again forged a link in the chain of tradition and the Gods have answered. Let us go out into the world secure with the knowledge that our ritual has pleased the gods and we go forth with Their blessings.

“I am a Child of the Earth,
May the sacred presence remain within me always,
I go now in blessings and peace
My rite has ended.

(Ring the bell three times.)

Take the offering dish outside and leave the contents near a tree. Say:

“Mother of All, to you we return all we leave unused.
Uphold us now in the world as you have in our rite.”

Eidolon Moon's Notes:

All credit for this ritual goes to the orginial author, David Michael, as he did all the work. I only added in my parts to the Divine Androgyne and (IIRC) I changed the wording on the Outdwellers section. I might have done something else, but I honestly don't remember.

I chose to use a ritual that had been written by someone else because I never fully understood how the ADF rituals worked and I was hoping that seeing/using a ritual that had everything in it's corect place. It did help me get a better idea of the structure but it also pointed out that there were areas that I really didn't understand how they worked or what they represented. Again, I think that if I could work with an ADF group a lot of my problems and questions would be taken care of.

Even though I was still feeling my way through ADF and being a little off with the liturgy, I still enjoyed the ritual. I kind of miss the Outriders offering, maybe I'll end up working that back in to my practice. =) After this ritual I was very relaxed and refreshed which was rather welcome as I was kinda stressed out. So the lesson learned is that it helps to do a ritual written by someone competent who knows the system in and out.