Brigantia Rite
Sassafras Grove, ADF, Pittsburgh PA
Friends Meeting House
Saturday, February 7, 2004
7:00 PM

I.	BEGINNING THE RITE & ESTABLISHING THE GROUPMIND
A.	Ritual Briefing – Emerald, Diana, Maria
B.	The Consecration of Time
1.	The Nine Knells –horn and drum—Earrach & Champ
2.	Opening Prayer—Earrach
An-sho lesh, na d’jee-ha  ah’adruah!
We have come to honor the Blessed Ones
C.	The Consecration of Space and of Participants
1.	The Processional  (“Come We Now as a People”)
2.	Purification of the Participants (Land, Sea, Sky)--Blessers On Site
3.	Warding of the Site / Acknowledgment of the Outsiders--Earrach
D.	Bardic patron- Oghma – Emerald (spoken extemporaneously)
E.	Earth Mother Prayer – Diana 
And now, with an ancient prayer -possibly a thousand years old when it was written down nearly a thousand years ago, let us dedicate this rite to our first and eternal mother, The Magna Mater---the Great Mother. 

Earth, Divine Goddess, Mother Nature;
who generatest all things and bringest forth anew, the Sun which thou hast given to the nations; guardian of sky and sea and of all gods and powers; through thy power all Nature falls silent and then sinks in sleep. And again thou bringest back the light and chasest away night, and thou coverest us yet most securely with thy shades. Thou dost contain chaos infinite, yea and wind and showers and storms. Thou sendest them out when thou wilt and causest the sea to roar; thou chasest away the Sun and arousest the storm. Again, when thou wilt, thou sendest forth the joyous day and givest the nourishment of Life with thy eternal surety. And when the soul departs, to thee we return. Thou art duly called the Great Mother of the Gods; thou conquerest by thy divine name.  Thou art the source of the strength of nations and of gods, without thee nothing can be brought to perfection or be born. Tthou art great, Queen of the Gods.  Goddess!  I adore thee as divine.  I call upon thy name.  Be pleased to grant that which we ask thee, so shall we give thanks to thee, Goddess, with due Faith. 

 (Song:  “Oh Earth Mother. . .”)
F.	Unifying the Grove -- Deana
Tree Meditation, Merge into Grove, (Song:  “We are one....”)
G.	Declaration of Intention & Historical Precedent -Earrach
II.	RECREATING THE COSMOS & PRELIMINARY POWER RAISING
A.	Creating the Vertical Axis
1.	Evoking the Spirits of Water & Fire and Honoring the Great Tree/Axis Mundi  (“Bilé”)—All Sing “Portal Song” while Earrach & Champ Sacrifice 
			a. Make Offering to the Well (silver)
b. Make Offering to the Fire (incense)
c. Asperge and Cense the Tree 
			
2.	The Creation Myth—Aaron

Who are we?  From whence do we come?
What is the story of our people?  
(-Not hard...)

A great misty cloud had gathered together in the void
Swirling and spiraling; spiraling and swirling
Drawing ever-in upon itself.

At its center a radiance shone forth
And drove outward the surrounding cloud 
gathering the waters together here below.

And so it was that the stuff of creation drew apart
To form the Fire Above
And the Waters Below.

The Solar Fire warmed the Cauldron of Creation
And stroked upon its waters with thunderbolts
And begat upon it Life.

And the Life begat the Creatures
And the Creatures begat the Ancestors
And the Ancestors begat Us; the Living People.

Upright, like you, Great Tree
We bear upon us the mark of Creation
Then, now, and for all time.

Rooted in the ancestral waters of the World Below,
Spanning this Middle-World of form
And reaching ever-upward to embrace the Fire Above.

Sacred Tree, Grow Within Us!
The Well; the Fire;  the Sacred Tree, 
Flow and flame and grow in me!
B.	Opening the Ways & Calling the Gatekeeper – Dagda—Earrach
	
	Earrach leads the wonderful visualization we have used in past years of the rich, thick, nourishing broth of Dagda’s cookpot as he opens the Gateway.

C.	Filling Out The Cosmic Picture: The Kindred Invocation Triad

We remember and invite in the Dwellers of the Three Worlds.

1.	Nature Spirits  Deana
Nature spirits!  Worldly spirits!  Spirits of place!
We beg your attention and presence here!
You:  Who swim in the Waters!
You:  Who creep upon the Land!
You:  Who fly in the Skies!  Be with us here!
You:  Who dwell with one foot in this world!
You:  Of the "Shee," the "Fey-Folk!"
You:  Of those who dwell Under-the-Hill!  Be with us here!
You:  Of mountain, plain or valley!
You:  Of bubbling spring or flowing river!
You:  Genus Loci; Spirits of Place!  Be with us here!
(Song:  “Fur and feather…”)
2.	Ancestors Alex
Ancestors!  Across the ages we call to you!
Far to the North, in the eternal realm of the unsetting stars
Far across the waters to the West 
From before and below and from Under the Hill
In the shadowy depths of the Underworld dwell 
All Those Who Have Gone Before.
Across the ages we call to you--
Grandmothers!  Grandfathers!  All Honorable Ancestors!
Come to this place and abide with us that
We may be blessed by your wisdom and guidance. 
And, in return, we will seek ever to uphold the sacred promise:
You will not be forgotten!
Ancestors!  Across the ages we call to you!
(Song:  “From far beyond this mortal plane…”)
3.	Shining Ones Aaron
Deities! Blessed Ones; Old Ones; Radiant Ones; 
You who dwell in the celestial realms!
Shining Ones; High Ones; Starry Ones clothed in Light!
Look with favor upon our work this night and bless us with your presence. 
Teach us, inspire us, and strengthen us O Perfected Ones,
That we may learn the ways of your fiery wisdom and might. 
Reveal to us the path to your blessings!
To you we give our continued honor and due offerings.
Walk with us O Blessed Ones!

 (Song:  “Hail all the gods, hail all the goddesses…”)
III.	TOP TIER:  WELCOMING BRIGHID, PRAISE OFFERINGS AND OMEN
 
A.  Primary Invocation to Brighid

Emerald lights three dark blue candles in the top tier of the Brighid shrine.  Nine Priestesses come forward and form a semi-circle in front of the shrine.  As they approach the shrine, the Brighid Priestess (Maria) will emerge from her hiding place behind the shrine, veiled.  Each Priestess will step forward one at a time, say her invocation, place her offering on the Brighid altar, and light her candle in the nine-fold candelabra.  

Priestess                Aspect  
Niki		Midwife		
Deana		Foster Mother	
Diana		Initiation	
Silver		Blacksmith		
Sarina		Poet			
Felicia		Warrior		
Rebecca 		Sacred Wells	
Emerald		Hearth Fire	
Jennifer		Healer	

Invocations
Midwifery
Siul Linn, a Bhríd (Walk with us, Brighid) 
Hail Brighid, Goddess of Midwifery 
Protectoress of new life 
Helper to both mother and child 
You who helps unseeing forms of new life through the dark passage of birth 
You who supports the new life that grows within each of us 
You who receives the solar infant of Yule to nurture and attend 
Brightest of Queens, shine your light upon our passage 
Fairest of Mothers, hold us safe in your arms 
Brighid, Goddess of Midwifery, Siul Linn, a Bhríd. 

Foster Mother
Siul Linn, a Bhríd (Walk with us, Brighid) 
Hail Brighid, Foster Mother of us all 
Teacher, Guide and Nurturer 
Whose love and training aid us on our path 
Your teaching turns our ignorance into wisdom 
Your guidance turns our helplessness into strength 
Your nurturing turns our weakness into a zest for life 
Radiant Goddess, receive us into your nurturing arms that we might strengthen and grow
 Fairest of Guides, take our hand that we might learn your ways of wisdom and power 
Brighid, Foster Mother of us all, Siul Linn, a Bhríd. 

Initiation
 Siul Linn, a Bhríd (Walk with us, Brighid) 
Hail Brighid, Goddess of Initiation 
You who guide the soul to the light of awakening 
It is your breath which gives new life 
Your fires inspire us to adventure across uncharted seas 
It is your love we feel when we give birth to our dreams 
Brighid, Goddess of Initiation, Siul Linn, a Bhríd. 

Smithcraft
Siul Linn, a Bhríd (Walk with us, Brighid) 
Hail Bhríd, Goddess of Smithcraft 
Lady of the Forge 
Patroness of the Smith 
Your fires blaze hotly, heating the forge 
Your fires alter and transform metals of earth and sky 
Your fires guide the hands of the smith as he shapes his wares 
Patroness of Smiths, guide our hands as we shape our lives 
Lady of the Forge, may your fires alter our Selves 
Brighid, Goddess of Smithcraft, Siul Linn, a Bhríd.

Poetry
Siul Linn, a Bhríd (Walk with us, Brighid) 
Hail Brighid, Goddess of Poetry 
Bright lady who speaks to us in rhyme and verse 
Patroness of Bards and all who share the sacred words 
Your fires light up the dark night of our souls 
Your fires warm us when we struggle to say the perfect thing 
Your fires enliven our tongues and guide our pens 
It is your voice we hear when the poems spring up from within us 
It is your voice that whispers just the right phrase 
Brighid, Goddess of Poetry, Siul Linn, a Bhríd. 

Warriors
Siul Linn, a Bhríd (Walk with us, Brighid) 
Hail Brighid, Goddess of Warriors 
Lady of weaponry and armor 
Protectoress of battles 
Your fires arm the warriors as they go into battle 
Your fires protect and give courage 
Your fires return our loved ones home safely 
Protectoress, let our loved ones return home unscathed 
Lady of arms and weapons, give us protection and courage to fight our daily battles 
Brighid, Goddess of Warriors, Siul Linn, a Bhríd. 

Sacred Wells
Siul Linn, a Bhríd (Walk with us, Brighid)
Hail Brighid, Goddess of Sacred Wells 
Lady of the Flowing Waters 
Patroness of Second Sight and the Waters of Life 
Your fires warm the earth below to melt the frozen land 
Your fires bring the water rushing clear and pure 
Your fires light up the cool stream of new water at a sacred spring 
It is your brightness glittering on the snow and frost 
It is your light we see reflected in the stillness of a winter pond 
Brighid, Goddess of Sacred Wells and Springs, Siul Linn, a Bhríd.

Hearth Fires
Siul Linn, a Bhríd (Walk with us, Brighid) 
Hail Brighid, Sacred Virgin who tends the Hearth Fire 
Hearth tender who warms our homes 
Sacred Virgin, ever the blessed maiden 
Your fires burn low and steadily throughout the year 
Your fires heat our food and our bodies, nourishing us 
Your fires are the centers of our homes 
Hearth Tender, keep the fires burning steadily in our homes and within our families 
Sacred Virgin, may our loved ones be always warmed and nourished 
Brighid, Sacred Virgin who tends the Hearth, Siul Linn, a Bhríd.

Healing
 Siul Linn, a Bhríd (Walk with us, Brighid)
Hail Brighid, Goddess of Healing 
Kind lover of human life 
Transformer of healing forces 
You who shares with us your knowledge of potions and healing herbs 
You who protects us through our illness and despair 
You who directs the powerful healing energies through our lives 
Mistress of the healing energies, balance and strengthen us 
Gentle lover of human life, support our wellness and transform our despair 
Brighid, Goddess of Healing, Siul Linn, a Bhríd. 

After the last invocation, the Brighid Priestess (BP) will unveil and light her own candle to symbolize the presence of the Goddess.  Diana, Emerald, and Deana make offerings of beer bread, rose incense, and holy waters.  

As the nine women return to the congregation, the BP tends to the ashes gathered from the burning of the participants’ Yule greens, which are placed in a small hearth at the base of the Brighid shrine.  

B.	Mystery

Priest (Earrach) on one knee and head bent at far end across from Hallows, extends arm with unlit candle.  He calls in the goddess with the “Hymn to Brighid” sung in Gaelic and English.  

(To the tune: "Spancil Hill" -trad.)
A Bhrid ar gcroi, an-gheal bheanrion; 
-lo de thoil e beannachta sinn. 
Is sinn bhur leanai, is tu ar mamai;  
-bi ag isteacht duinn mar sin. 
Is tu an coire, anois inar doire; 
-a bhean-feasa tinfim orainn. 
A thine ghra, a thine bheatha; 
-lo de thoil e ag teacht Brid duinn !

O Bridget, our heart, our brightest queen, cast your blessings unto us…
We are your children, and you are our mother so hearken unto us…
You are the Cauldron, now in our grove, wise woman: inspire us…
O fire of Love, O fire of Life, Please Bridget, come to us !

BP, Spirit upon her, approaches the Priest, lights his candle and retreats to Brighid Shrine as the hymn concludes with congregation chanting “Brighid come to us.”  Priest takes light to main hallows, symbolic of Her light being in the community.

C.	Praise Offerings—Individuals approach the shrine and make offerings that will be accepted in Her name by the BP.

D.	Conclusionary sacrifice—Earrach

E.	Omen—Diana reads the patterns in the ashes of the Yule greens.  
IV.  RECEIVING AND USING THE RETURNED BLESSINGS/POWER
A.	 Re-grounding and Centering, preparing for coming attractions—Deana
B.	Consecration
BP takes the grail and uses the waters to asperge the Bratog Brighid (hanging on a tree branch over the Well) and the basket of candles on the main hallows.  The BP then touches each person with the waters in blessing.  Sarina follows distributing the blessed candles to the congregation, and Earrach lights each person’s candle from his candle previously lit by BP.  During this the congregation is asked to join in singing:
I am the Fire and the union of opposites
I am the Mystery
I am calling you in your dreams
I am bringing you home to me

C.	Induction of Receptivity

1.	The Priest will lead a guided visualization, asking the congregation to focus on their flame and connect to Brighid in their own way to receive her blessing.  After a while, Emerald begins to sing:

	Burn Fire, burn bright
	Pure vision come to me
	Guide my path tonight
	With your strength and light
	
		All take up the song as they end their personal interaction with Brighid.

2.	Special Blessings
a.	Group Prayer for Peace-Diana will lead
		
Brighid you are a woman of peace
You bring harmony where there is conflict
You bring light to the darkness
You bring hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of peace cover those who are anxious
And may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all the gods have made.
Brighid you are a voice for the wounded and the weary. 
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater wholeness in body, mind and spirit.

b.	Special Requests for Blessings from the Congregation

The Priest asks for any further work to be done or for special requests for blessings.  Once this is finished, congregation extinguishes their candles.

V.  UNWINDING AND ENDING THE CEREMONY
A.	Thanksgivings to Entities Invited   (in reverse order of arrival:)
1.	Brighid—Nine priestesses who invoked her
The priestesses stand before the shrine as during the invocation.  In reverse order, each priestess approaches the shrine, offers thanks to Brighid for the gifts of her aspect, and extinguishes the candle she had lit on the altar.  BP will extinguish her candle, veil, and retreat.  
2.	The Triad of the Kindred—Deities, Ancestors, Nature Spirits – Aaron, Alex, Deana
3.  Bardic Patron-- Oghma - Emerald
B.	Thanking the Gatekeeper and Closing the Threshold--Earrach
C.	Affirmation of Past/Future Continuity and Success--Earrach
As it has been done in the past...  
As we have done it now... 
and as it likewise will be done in the future...   
we have again forged a link in the sacred chain of Tradition...
LONG LIVE THE TRADITION
All:  Long live the Tradition!
D.	Un-merging, Re-grounding and Re-centering --Deana
E.	Draining Off the Excess Power - The Restoration of the Ordinary--Earrach
F.	Clear-cut Ending:  De-consecration of Time and Space
1.	Final Benediction -Earrach
2.	Announcement of End -Earrach
3.	Musical Signal
a.	The Nine Knells—Champ with drum
b.	Chant-song:  (“Walk with wisdom....”)

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The concept for this rite, developed by Earrach of Pittsburgh, predates the founding of Sassafras Grove in 1992.  It was first performed as a Sassafras rite in 1993, and the Nine-fold invocation to Brighid was added by Diana Paar when she joined the Grove in 1994.   It has been an evolving Sassafras Grove Tradition ever since.  Everyone who has participated in its planning and execution over the years has had a hand in its current incarnation.  We all know who we are.

Credits

All spoken parts of this rite not otherwise credited are from the Sassafras Grove Liturgy by Earrach of Pittsburgh.

I.C.1.  Processional:  “Come We Now as a People.”  Words and music by Ian Corrigan.

I.E. Earth Mother Prayer:  An ancient hymn to the Earth Mother of uncertain date but possibly Roman and a thousand years older than our oldest surviving source, an 11th century Anglo-Saxon book of herbal charms and medicine.  MS. Harley 1585, FF. 12 V.-13 R. Translation from “Early English Magic and Medicine” by Dr. Charles Singer, Proceedings of the British Academy, Vol. IV.

I.E.  Earth Mother Song:  “Oh Earth Mother.”  Words by the RDNA, music by Richard MacKelley.

I.F.  Grove Attunement Song:  “We Are One.”  Words and music by Ian Corrigan.

II.A.1.  Creating the Vertical Axis:  “The Portal Song.”  Words and music by Ian Corrigan.

II.B.  Opening the Ways:  Original concept by Christopher Setlock.

II.C.1.  Nature Spirits Song:  “Fur and Feather.”  Words and music by Sable.

II.C.2.  Ancestors Song:  “Mothers and Fathers of Old.”  Words and music by Sable.

II.C.3.  Deities Song:  “Hail All the Gods.”  Words traditional, Music by Paul Maurice, Sean Miller, and Gail Williams.

III.A.  Brighid Invocations:  “Siul Linn, a Bhríd”  Diana Paar.

III.B.  Mystery:  “Hymn to Brighid.”  Words by Isaac Bonewits, music traditional.

IV.B.  Consecration Song:  “I am the Fire.”  Abbi Spinner and J. Magnus McBride, Songs from the Center of the Sacred Circle.

IV.C.1.  Meditation Song:  “Burn Fire, Burn Bright.”  Words and Music by Deirdre Pulgram Arthen, 1983.

IV.C.2.a.  Group Prayer for Peace:  From a prayer card from the church in Kildare only altered slightly to make it pagan friendly.