TechnoDruid

Brian’s Take on Beltaine 2008

Brian — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:00:23 +0000

We would typically do an ADF style ritual with Stone Creed Grove, however we didn’t make it to Cleveland to join them this year.
We spent the weekend camping with some friends as part of their Beltaine celebration. The plan was to do the ritual there Saturday, then some of us, if we got out early enough Sunday would make it to Cleveland and do another ritual with Stone Creed Grove. Due to the weather, things didn’t work out so we did the Beltaine ritual Sunday with our friends. This was a largely Wiccan ritual.
The children did their maypole dance first, doing it around a small tree the hosts had had in their host’s yard. This was done without much ritual, just to allow the kids some fun.
The ribbons from the previous year adult pole were burned in a bonfire earlier in the day.
After the adults had their ribbon tied up to the ring and it was pulled to the top of the pole, the ritual began. The quarters were called, Sara was the East, who started, and I the North. The hosts used their athame and chalice to do their part (I am posting the ritual portion of this post nearly a month after the ritual, so my memory is a bit foggy, I’ll have Sara help me clear parts of this up later) and they invoked the goddess and gods for this ritual. We all took turns drink from the chalice, telling each other “may you never thirst”, then took the bread and after it was also blessed, passed the plate from one to the other, and as we took our slice told one another “may you never hunger.” This portion of the ritual done, we stood back to back, and started going around the pole. I was the second person out. Once everyone else was out of ribbon and tied off, the circle was closed, starting with me in the North. The goddess and gods thanked, we all went about our ways.

We’ll miss the Summer Solstice as well, as we’ll be at the Pagan Spirit Gathering, when Stone Creed does their ritual, but we’ll be back to regular ADF style rituals for high days after that.

Brian’s Take on Spring Equinox 2008

Brian — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:39:36 +0000

Spring Equinox 2008 was my second ADF ritual, and third Pagan ritual overall. As with Imbolc, we did the ritual with Stone Creed Grove at West Shore Unitarian Church in Rocky River on March 16th 2008. In attendance with me was my wife, Sara and son Ari.
There was a period of socialization, getting things ready, dressing the alter with flowers, seeds for blessing and other such wares, and egg decorating. We each decorated an egg for the blessing and put them at the alter with the other eggs. We didn’t bring seeds this time. Everyone cleansed themselves at a table setup for that purpose in our own time.
We started with a Two Power Mediation, which I largely missed as I had to take Ari out a couple times as he was restless at the moment, then proceeded into the hall singing “Come We Now as a People”. The ritual itself was a Celtic rite to honor Áine as the Earth Mother, and Manannán mac Lir, Stone Creed’s Keeper of the Gates. The Gods were invoked and sacrifices made, all of which seemed shorter to me than Imbolc. While others offered songs, we offered some incense that we brought, including Ari. The offering period seemed shorter as well, perhaps due to the number of children on hand, and I was distracted through the whole thing by holding Ari, or attending to him, so in all I didn’t fell as connected to this ritual as I had Imbolc. Ari joined in several of the chants and was fairly attentive to the ritual itself. The ritual was closed and everyone went to feast.
EDIT: I forgot to mention the omen, which was deemed to be a good one. They were Ruis, Straif and Tinne (going off Sara’s notes). I found one site during a rather quick serach that seemed to have some interpretations. I will take it as an end of strife and guidance/courage.
Overall I found it to be a very good experience, and I need to learn to focus more on the ritual on hand and worry less about Ari so long as he behaves, as he largely was during the ritual. It was a nice close to a very long weekend that stared Friday with a Bringing Back the Snakes party with Stone Creed Grove, an Ostara ritual at our house led by some friends, and finally the Spring Equinox ritual.

Sara’s Eggciting Ostara

Sara — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:02:18 +0000

I celebrated Ostara with Stone Creed Grove again. I attended with Brian and Ari. The rite was during the day instead of the evening this time.
Previous to the ritual the altar was dressed with flowers and we dyed hardboiled eggs to have them blessed. Seeds were also placed on the altar to be blessed.
We cleaned and blessed ourselves at the small table with water and incense set aside for this purpose.
It began with the Two Powers meditation, which was much shorter this time than at Imbolc. I wonder if that is because there were several more young children who were restless during it. I found it difficult to concentrate during the meditation because Ari didn’t want to stay still. Then we processed while singing “Come We Now as a People”, which is a chant that I really like.
The ritual was to honor Aine (pronounced Ahn-ya) and Manannan mac Lir who is also the grove’s Gatekeeper. The Gods were invoked and sacrifices were made. Some people sang, recited poetry, or made incense offerings. We offered incense. There were less praise offerings made during this rite. Grove offerings included apples, milk, and beer.
We drank the “Waters of Life”, which was water and beer this time.
We took the Omen, which was deemed to be a “good omen”.
The rite was closed and we were encouraged to take our blessed eggs and use them, or eat them. I also got a blessed packet of Green Beans.
I was happy to be more familiar with the chants and call-backs this time. It was connecting and affirmed even more that I want to worship my Gods in this way. It was deeply respectful and reverent, and yet fun. At the end of the rite everyone yells, “hurray”, which is one of my favorite parts. Then, everyone goes off to feast.
The most difficult part of this ritual was having Ari in circle with me, and him not being cooperative. At Imbolc a woman took Ari aside to play near the circle when he got fidgety and bored. This time he was in circle the whole time. I had to divert much of my attention to him and lost my concentration many times. He became interested, and quieted down during the chanting and singing. I think he will become more attentive as he gets a little older and gets used to the order of operations.

The Omen was taken in Oghams:
1.) Ruis (pronounced Roos), Elder
2.) Straif (pronounced Strafe), Blackthorn
3.) Tinne (pronounced Tine), Holly

Brian’s Take on Imbolc 2008

Brian — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:29:15 +0000

Imbolc was not only my first ADF ritual, it was my first Pagan ritual, and I think it was a good start. We did the ritual with Stone Creed Grove at the West Shore Unitarian Church in Cleveland Ohio. My wife, Sara, having just joined ADF, was with me, as well as our son, Ari.
We arrived early, and helped setup. Sara made a Brigid’s Cross which would be placed on the Hallows and we would take home later.
The rite started with us coming in singing “Come We Now as a People”. We took our places and the Gods were invoked and the gate opened. At one point, a Brigid (whom we were honoring) corn dolly was passed around for us to touch. During the offering we offered some Rosemary Oil, which Sara read was acceptable to the The Dagda, whom we were also honoring that day. Others offered songs, chants, poems and the like. I was moved by some of them, and during the passing of the Brigid corn dolly in her Brigid’s Bed (which had a wand placed in it at some point). Near the end we drank the waters of life, which for Sara and I was some mead, and then passed through Brigid’s Girdle while doing another chant and carrying a candle. I then got Ari to take him through the girdle. They did a different routine for men and women. Men passed through, while the girdle was lifted around the women. The omens were cast as well at one point and came up Coll (wisdom), Ailm (future/vision) and nGeatal (labor/tools), which was deemed a good omen. The gate was closed in reverse order of the invocations.
Near the end, I can’t recall where in relation to the ritual at this late date, they asked who wanted to commit or renew their allegiance to the Grove. I told Sara we should, and we did.
During much of the ritual, Ari attended to himself, but was eventually joined by one of the members of the grove who played with Ari and one of the other kids.
After the rite we had a feast, a pot-luck dinner and socialization.
As I noted before, I think it was a very good experience for my first Pagan ritual. I looked forward to seeing more rituals.

Site Coming Soon

Brian — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:28:50 +0000

~~We’ll be up and running soon.~~We are up and running as one can see. We’ll develop the site as we go along.

My First ADF Ritual, Imbolc

Sara — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 14:55:16 +0000

It was the first time I had participated in a ritual with Brian (my husband of six years). His sudden interest in Neo-Paganism and ADF specifically excited me, and I knew we had to get moving as soon as possible. Ari (our four year old son) was also present, and has participated with me in rituals a few times before. I’ve been a Pagan for about 10 years now, but have never been a part of ADF ritual. In fact, due to the friends that I have, and Pagans that I know, the majority of rituals I have been a part of have been Eclectic Wiccan in variety. Though I have never been a Wiccan myself (and generally consider myself just “Pagan”) I have spent much time with Wiccans.
I traveled over an hour to reach it, held in a Unitarian Universalist Church by Stone Creed Grove, in Cleveland. Many things about the ritual and all that led up to it were traditions I would love to keep for years to come.
Before the procession, we meditated a bit. Later I found out that that meditation is called the “Two Powers” meditation.
They made a Brigid’s Bed out of a basket and corn dolly that was passed around for all to touch. A wand was laid in the Bed with Brigid. I made a Brigid’s Cross and laid it on the Hallows near the corn dolly (an effigy of Brigid).
Many offerings were made, of great variety; bannocks, milk, beer.
Brigid and The Dagda were the honored Gods of the day. Brideog was pronounced “Bree-ozh” and Brigh was pronounced “Breezh” so far as I could gather. That was new to me, but never having worked with Celtic deities, I shouldn’t be surprised if everything was new to me.
During the time that worshipers are allowed to make offerings, we offered Rosemary Oil, which I had read was acceptable to The Dagda. Other people read poems and sang songs as offerings. A.J. the Senior Druid played the Didgeridoo during the praise offerings. During several of the songs, hymns, and chants to Brigid I felt emotional and even moved to tears. Described with many attributes, the one that caught my attention was that she is a Patroness of the poor and needy. Those words resonated with me, being…well….not having a lot of money. They blessed and then passed around the “Waters of Life”. Brian and I had mead, and Ari drank water. Then, we passed through Brigid’s Girdle while chanting to Brigid and holding candles. We extinguished the flames with our fingers which I had never done before (and its surprisingly easy, just wet them first).
Near the end of the ritual, they asked for people who wished to renew their membership, or felt moved to swear an oath to the grove. Brian felt strongly that we should, and I was happy and proud. At the end of the ritual everyone shouted “hurrah”! It was a lot of fun and felt great.

The Omen was taken during the ritual and they used Oghams. They were:
1.) Coll (pronounced Cull), Hazel, Wisdom
2.) Ailm (pronounced Ahl-m), White Fir, Future/Vision
3.) nGeatal (pronounced Nyeh-dl), Reed or Broom, Labor/Tools

When I figure out how to do it, I will add pictures of the Oghams.