Imbolc 2002 and
Home Shrine Founding
Preparation
The participant gathers the following offerings (vegetable oil may be substituted if necessary):
Earth Mother	Corn meal	
Fire/well/tree	3 candles, silver coin, branch	
Land/sea/sky	Stone, sea salt water, incense	
Mannanan mac Lir	Apple	
Outdwellers	Beer	
Ancestors	Food/bread	
Nature spirits	Grain	
Gods	Alcohol (good beer?)	
Brighid	Ale, whisky, and Goldschläger	

The participant also fills the Well with fresh water and places the blessing cup and branch next to it. He/she then performs a brief pre-ritual meditation to quiet the mind, clothing in her/his usual ritual garb.
Gathering
Participant gathers at the ritual area and sounds a musical signal three times, then says:
I am here to honor the gods.
Honoring the Earth Mother
P: Áine Chliar, daughter of Manannan, woman of the hills and land…
Great Earth Mother, my life is nursed from your bounty.
You are the food that nourishes me, the wealth that enriches me, even the very ground I walk on.
O bright goddess, all joy and prosperity comes from you, and it is you who sustains me.
Áine, I honor you now to thank you for the bounty you bestow upon me.
Participant sings Blossom Lifter (1x):
Earth Mother, Blossom Lifter
Bloom with the wheat,
Bloom with the rye
Bloom with barley
And bloom with all grains
Earth Mother, Blossom Lifter
Bless what I eat,
Bless what I drink,
Bless what I harrow,
And bless what I sow
Earth Mother, Blossom Lifter
With all these things, let me rejoice
I give to you, and you give to me
P makes an offering and says: Earth Mother, accept my sacrifice.
Grounding and Uniting with the Tree Meditation
Participant performs the “Tree Meditation”.
Fire, Well, and Tree
Sacred Fire
Participant says:
I kindle the sacred fire,
Claiming this land and time for my own.
The shape-fire burns bright,
This is the center of the world,
My Meath, Tara, and Uisnech.
Let none stand against me,
Let the world turn around me,
Let me have a good fire,
As I call the Kindred forth.
P lights the sacred fire and places incense into it to hallow the space, then says:
I kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love, and power. Sacred fire, burn within me.
Sacred Well
Participant says:
I silver the sacred well,
From which five rivers of wisdom run,
Salmon swimming, hazel hanging high.
Bubbling brightly Segais, source of the Boyne,
This is the center of the world.
Let none stand against me,
Let the world turn around me,
Let the well be deep with wisdom,
As I call the Kindred forth.
P silvers the well and pours water from the well to the blessing cup, then says:
In the depths flow the waters of wisdom. Sacred waters, flow within me.
Sacred Tree
The Tender of the Tree says:
I tend the sacred tree,
Towering high, hanging heavy with hazel,
Strength of Taranis, the thunder and wheel,
From Tara to nemeton, star-reaching bilé,
This is the center of the world.
Let none stand against me,
Let the world turn around me,
Let the tree be tall and strong,
As I call the Kindred forth.
P dresses and censes the bile, then says:
From the depths to the heights spans the world tree. Sacred tree, grow within me.
Land, Sea, and Sky
Participant offers a stone, sea salt water, and incense, and says:
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 cleansing of water and fire let all ill turn away from me and my shrine.
Participant sings Earth, Sky, and Sea (3x):
Earth, sky, and sea,			Blessed are these three,
Day bright and darkest night,		Two sides of the light
Now one in mind, I will find		My praises here resound
Now one in mind, I will find		From my lips to the sacred ground
Opening the Gates Between the Worlds
P prepares an offering for the gatekeeper and says:
P says: Oh Manannan, powerful son of the sea, holder of the magics of the crane bag, I ask that you hear my call. Oh Lord of the Otherworld, bearer of the silvered apple branch, join with me this day, so that you may guide me in my workings. Mist-shrouded rider of the maned waves, accept my offering and open the gates between my realm and yours.
P sings (3x):
Gatekeeper open the portals,
Between the gods and mortals,
Power freely flows,
As my magic grows.
P makes an offering and says: Manannan mac Lir, accept my sacrifice.
P: Let the fire open as a gate, let the well open as a gate, let the tree open as a gate between the worlds, and let Manannan walk with me in all ways. Let the gates be open!
Offering to the Outdwellers
P pours a cup for the Outdwellers and takes it out of the ritual space, then says:
You who come from the outer dark,
You who stood against the gods and man,
You who are cold of heart and cruel of mind,
Take this and trouble not my work.
Bardic Inspiration
P calls to the Awen, spirit of inspiration:
Oh, Spirit of Inspiration, hear my call. From within the Well of Wisdom, gift me with words of pleasing grace, ever flowing, bringing magic to my working. Guard my speech from ill-words and harsh tones. Fire of Creativity, kindle your spark within me, and let my words of praise be as a bright flame before us, a guiding star above us, and a smooth path beneath us, for as long as I sing in your light. Biodh Se!
Honoring and Inviting the Three Kindreds
Ancestors
P: Great ancestors, you who have come before,
A child of the Earth calls out to you.
You whose blood flows in my veins,
You who I hold close to my heart and thoughts,
You who were heros of the ancient world, 
I offer you welcome.
Mighty Ones, you who reside in the house of Donn,
I remember you, and will not forget, for it is you who gave me life.
O Ancestors of blood and heart, I call you forth!
P sings Mothers and Fathers of Old (1x): (Words by Sable)
From far beyond this mortal plane, mothers and fathers of old
I pray that you return again, mothers and fathers of old
To share with me the mysteries and secrets long untold
Of the ancient ways I seek to reclaim, mothers and fathers of old
P makes an offering and says: Ancestors, accept my sacrifice.
Nature Spirits
P: Great nature spirits, you who frolic in the wild world,
A child of the Earth calls out to you.
You who change shapes with the wind,
You who pass between the worlds as I walk through air,
You who for whom day is night, and night is day,
I offer you welcome.
Noble Ones, you who reside in the hills and sidhe mounds of the land,
I honor you, for you are the spirits in the earth I live by.
O Spirits of the natural world, I call you forth!
P sings Fur and Feather (1x): (Words and music by Sable)
Fur and feather and scale and skin,
Different without but the same within.
Many of body but one of soul,
Through all creatures are the gods made whole.
P makes an offering and says: Nature Spirits, accept my sacrifice.
Gods and Goddesses
P: Great gods, you who are mightiest in all things,
A child of the Earth calls out to you.
You who are the people of the goddess Danann,
You who count among you the spear of Lugh, the sword of Nuadha, and the cauldron of the Dagda ,
You who brought the Lia Fal and cast out the Fir Bolg and Fomoire,
I offer you welcome.
Shining Ones, you who rule this world and the other,
I praise you, for it is you who provide sustenance and guidance in my lives.
O Shining ones of magic and might, I call you forth!
P sings Hail All the Gods (1x):  (Words by Paul Maurice, Richard Mac Kelley, Gwynne Green.  Music by Paul Maurice, Sean Miller, Gail Williams)
Hail all the gods,
Hail all the goddesses.
Hail all the holy ones,
We dwell together.
Lords of the sky,
Ladies of the sacred earth,
Spirits and the Ancestors,
We dwell together.
Hail all the Gods!
Hail all the Goddesses!
Hail all the Gods...and Goddesses.
P makes an offering and says: Gods and goddesses, accept my sacrifice.
Meditation of Merging the Energies and Re-Centering
(Meditation of merging and re-centering is done.)
Ritual Precedent and Honoring the Spirits of the Occasion
This is the time of year when my ancestors looked to nature for signs that darkness was waning and light was waxing stronger. Renewed and fertile, the land would be able to provide for the coming year’s planting. After winter’s long sleep, there would soon be new life in the land.
Though I am not as attuned to the land as my ancestors were, at this time of year I can still feel the signs of life within me and within the land. As my ancestors did, I share the awakening of the land. I gather in joy to celebrate the coming of spring and I call to the gods now hoping that this year will be fruitful.
Honoring the Deity(ies) of the Occasion
P says: Lady of wave and flame, She of the hammer and forge, Goddess of healing lore, Shining One with graceful words, I invite you to my fire. Brigid, be welcome!

P: Behold the lightener of the stars
Brigid of the mantels
She comes on the crest of waves
With harpers of the sidhe praising her
Arising in splendour
From the mighty one below
Brigid of the auguries
Song and the voices of the Bards for her
Brigid of the waters
Brigid of the kindling
Brigid thou source of joy and life
Healers and artisans honor your spirit
Brigid, woman of wisdom
Thou mid-wife of sweet wisdom
Of bright beauty shining like stars
Joy were it to those who behold you
O Brigid the skillful
O Brigid of the triple spirit
O Brigid who comes in light and shadow
Thrice blessed be your flaming path.

P makes offerings to Brighid and says: Brighid, accept my sacrifice!
Magical Working: Founding the Shrine
P: A child of the Earth comes to honor the Kindreds,
Giving praise, offerings, and thanks,
And asking for blessings on the shrine that is founded today.
O Ancestors, Nature Spirits, and Gods,
You who love, protect, and guide me on my path,
In the realms of land, sea, and sky, below and on high,
I have created this holy place in my home to honor you,
I have brought together the tools of Druidry and craft,
And today I found this shrine as the center of my devotion, worship, and love.

P makes an offering for the founding of the shrine and says:

O Mighty Ones, Noble Ones, and Shining Ones, accept my sacrifice,
Bring blessings to my Home, my Druidry, and my Works,
And let this Shrine be a center of love, wisdom, and power, for ever more!

Biodh se!
An Omen for the Blessings is Taken and Shared
Participant quietly chants (1x):
Come druids all, ovates and seers
And let your minds be still.
Earth, sea, and sky will lend no fears,
As the gods reveal their will.
Let every heart sing praise to them,
And all my works be skilled.
Claiming their blessings to the very end,
As the gods reveal their will.
P then takes the omen with the runes, interprets it, and records it.
Receiving the Blessings of the Gods and Spirits
P raises the blessing cup high and says:
Shining Ones, Noble Ones, and Mighty Ones, I have praised you and received your blessings. Hallow these waters and give to me of your power and inspiration and vitality. Seo iad uisci na beatha! Behold the waters of life!
P sings (1x):
I pour the waters, raise the cup,
Drink my share of wisdom deep.
Strength and love now fill me up,
As the elder ways I keep.
As the elder ways I keep.
P then drinks a draught from the blessing cup.
Thanking the Kindreds and Spirits
P: I have called upon the Kindreds and they have answered! With joy in my heart I carry their magic into my life and work. Each time I offer to the powers they be come stronger and more aware of my needs and worship. So as I prepare to depart let me give thanks to those who have aided me. 
Brigid, Go raibh maith agait! ("gora mah-agit", singular)
Manannan mac Lir, Go raibh maith agait!
Gods and Goddesses, Go raibh maith agaibh ("gora mah-ageev", plural)
Nature Spirits, Go raibh maith agaibh!
Ancestors, Go raibh maith agaibh!
Aine, go raibh maith agait.
Closing the Gates and Ending the Rite
P: Now by the keeper of the gates and by my magic I end what I began.
Let the fire be flame,
Let the well be water,
Let all be as it was before.
Let the gates be closed!
I have done as my ancestors have done, and as my children will do, and the Kindreds have answered. I go now, a child of the Earth, in peace and blessings. The ritual is at a close. Biodh Se!