LLWYN SWYNEDIG
CEREMONY OF LUGHNASADH

(a ritual for a party of five) 

Welcome to the Grwp Hadau o'r Gwarcheidwad Dderwen Canion o'r Llwyn Swynedig ar bwys y Fortecs yn y Cwm, the Seed Group of the Guardian Canyon Oak of the Enchanted Grove near the Vortex in the Valley.  We are pleased and honored that you have chosen to celebrate this important occasion with us.  We hope that your experience of Lughnasadh will be joyful and uplifting.

LIVING THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR

Lughnasadh is a time of the beginning of the harvest and an awareness that Summer will not last forever.  This is a turning point in the year — a time of culmination, when you begin to reap the fruits of your actions as you move into the six week harvest period between now and Alban Elfed.  Here we come to know the paradoxical nature of sacrifice:  that in letting go, we receive — that the harvest is both a time of death, but also a time of reaping of rewards, of achievement.  Seen as such, Lughnasadh becomes a Festival of Transformation.

LUGHNASADH CEREMONY

Preparation:

Place at Center:    Central Candle
-Candle at each quarter
-Matches / lighter
-Water can (with water!)
-Sage or incense
-Bluestones
-Basket for corn
-Wine & cup
-Drum or horn

Roles:

East:    Participant One
South:    Participant Two
West:    Participant Three
North:    Participant Four
SW:     Participant Five
Guests in between

THE OPENING

Each Person enters from the West and circles sunwise to take their place in the circle.

Participant One: 
    By the power of star and stone,
    By the power of the land within and without,
    By all that is Fair and Free,
    We welcome you to this rite of Lughnasadh,

In the Grwp Hadau o’r Gwarcheidwad Dderwen Canion o’r Llwyn Swynedig ar bwys y Fortecs yn y Cwm.

Participant Five:  O Spirit of this place, O Spirit of this circle, we ask for your blessings, your guidance and your inspiration on this our ceremony.

    Let us begin by opening the quarters.
   
Participant Three:  (Facing West) In the name of the Salmon of Wisdom and the Element of Water, we call upon and welcome the powers of the West.
    (Lights candle as Participant One calls for the blessing of the Water Dragon Welsh)

Participant Four:  (Facing North) In the name of the Great Bear of the starry heavens and the Element of Earth, we call upon and welcome the powers of the North.
    (Lights candle as Participant One calls for the blessing of the Earth Dragon in Welsh)

Participant One:  (Facing East) In the name of the Hawk of Dawn and the Element of Air, we call upon and welcome the powers of the East.
    (Lights candle as Participant One calls for the blessing of the Air Dragon in Welsh)

Participant Two:  In the name of the Great Stag and the Element of Fire, we call upon and welcome the powers of the South.
    (Lights candle as Participant One calls for the blessing of the Fire Dragon in Welsh)

Participant Five:  Spirit—(It will be a surprise...to all of us)
    (Lights candle as Participant One asks for the blessing of the Spirit Dragon in Welsh)

Participant Four:  Let us join in the Druid Prayer for Peace.

All:  Deep within the still center of my being,
    May I find peace.
    Silently within the quiet of the grove,
    May I share peace.
    Gently within the greater circle of mankind,
    May I radiate peace.

All:  (Three AWENS) AWEN AWEN AWEN

Participant Three:  May there be peace throughout the land.
    Let all disturbing thoughts be laid aside.    
    (Beginning in the East, Participant Two casts circle sunwise)

Participant One:  The circle of our horizon – of our lives and lands, of time and of the year, of seasons and of goodness, of birth and of growing, of dying and of rebirth...As this circle is cast, the enchantment of the apparent world subsides.  We stand together in the eye of the sun, here and now, between past and future.  The earth is below us, the heavens above us, and the circle around us.  This is sacred time.  This is sacred space.

Participant Five:  May our circle be purified and blessed with the element of water.

Participant Two:  May our circle be purified and blessed with the element of fire.

All:  May the harmony of this circle be complete

Participant One: Lord of Light, Sun King, ruler of the land, Bright One, Shining One of the Skilful Hand and the rich harvest, Strong Bringer of Light and Life, Lugh!  We call to you.

    (Each person in turn, starting in the west, calls out the name of the god/goddess of their choosing, by saying):

We call to ______.

Participant Two:  It was one year ago, at Lughnasadh, that the seeds of Llwyn Swynedig were first sown, when the 2 became 3.  In the past year, we have worked to establish our seed group, and it has now grown from 3 to 5.  We are much pleased and give thanks to the gods for blessing our rich harvest and the gifts that each one of us brings to our spiritual family.

    (Each person, starting in the west and proceding sunwise, moves to the center and places the ear of corn in the basket, pauses to give silent thanks, and returns to their place in the circle.)

Participant Five:  We share this wine, fermented in darkness and stillness from the fruits of harvests long past, to thank the gods for their blessings and gifts of abundance. 

    (Participant Five picks up the cup and, starting in the West and proceeding sunwise, each person takes a sip.  At the SW, Participant Five takes a sip and pours the rest on the ground, saying):

Participant Five:  We offer this wine to the gods and the land, trusting that our sacrifice to the land will be reborn in the spring.  The circle of birth - death - rebirth, as ordained by the gods, is complete.

Participant Three:  Let us join in the prayer that unites all druids:

All:  Grant, O Goddess, thy protection,
    and in protection, strength,
    and in strength, understanding,
    and in understanding, knowledge,
    and in knowledge, the knowledge of justice,
    and in the knowledge of justice, the love of it,
    and in the love of it, the love of all existences,
    nd in the love of all existences,
    the love of Goddess and all goodness.

Participant One:  I now declare the festival of Lughnasadh open.  The closing will be tomorrow after the meeting and before we leave.  This circle will remain open until we close it tomorrow.

    (Each blows out their respective candle)

Let the merrymaking begin!
(start of feasting, drinking, divination, and generally having a good time. 

THE CLOSING

    (Each relights the candles before the closing)

Participant One:  It is the hour of recall.  As the fire dies down let it be relit in our hearts.  May our memories hold what the eye and ear have gained.   

All:  (3 times, pausing briefly in between)

    We swear, by peace and love to stand
    Heart to heart and hand in hand   
    Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now,
    Confirming this, our sacred vow.

    (3 AWENS) AWEN AWEN AWEN

Participant Five:  (Thanks and releases Spirit - and blows out candle)

Participant One:  (Thanks the Spirit Dragon in Welsh)

Participant Two:  In the name of the Great Stag and the Element of Fire, we thank the powers of the South (blow out candle)   

Participant One:  (Thanks the Fire Dragon in Welsh)

    In the name of the Hawk of Dawn and the Element of Air, we thank the powers of the East (blow out candle)

    (Thanks the Air Dragon in Welsh)

Participant Four:  In the name of the Great Bear of the starry sky and the Element of Earth, we thank the powers of the North. (blow out candle)

Participant One:  (Thanks the Earth Dragon in Welsh)

Participant Three:  In the name of the Salmon of Wisdom and the Element of Water, we thank the powers of the West.  (blow out candle)

Participant One:  (Thanks the Water Dragon in Welsh)

All:  May the harmony of the land be complete.

    (As Participant Two uncasts the circle counterclockwise):

Participant Five:  May the blessings of God and Goddess be always with us.  I declare this ceremony of Lughnasadh to be closed in the apparent world.  May its inspiration continue within our beings.