WELSH NON-HIGH DAY RITUAL (with parts for children)
By Francesca Hedrick and David GoWell

Central Altar containing:
 Conch Shell
 Olive Oil (lots of it!)
 Holy Water (lot’s of it!)
 Corn Meal
 Silver coins
 Bird Seed
 Little plastic cups
 Apple Cider
 Small glass containing grain alcohol, small bottle of whiskey
side altar for outsiders
Fire urn, already burning, extra wood nearby
Well, containing Holy Water

3 Children standing at entrance to Ritual area, with
 Bowl of Holy Water & Flower
 Bottle of anointing oil
 3 sticks of burning incense & feather

- Ritual Script -

1. Musical Signal to establish clear-cut Beginning   (Blows Conch)

2. Acknowledging the Outsiders    (to place set up outside ritual space)
To those who are not our allies
We offer you this gift of beer    (Pours beer into glass, sets it down)
We ask you to be silent for a while and leave us alone,
With our loving thoughts, words and deeds. Felly y Byddyd!

All: Felly y Byddyd!

3. The Processional & Song  (Words and music by Sean Miller)
We approach the sacred grove,
With hearts and minds and flesh and bone,
Join us now in ways of old,
We have come home.
(They walk around Deosil one complete time or all have entered.)

4. Purification 3 Children stand at entrance to sacred space holding:
Bowl of water and a pine branch(flower)
3 Sticks of incense and a feather
Bottle of anointing oil (tallest child)
    Each quickly purifies each participant as they enter

5. Call to Worship (by David GoWell and Willow)
People of the Oak, Friends of the Earth, Children of the Mother,
Faithful Followers of the Old Ways,
We call you all to join us now in Sacred Worship.

6. Honoring the Earth Mother & Song  (Author Unknown)
          (pours corn/wheat meal on ground)
Earth Mother, we sing to your body,
Earth Mother, we sing to your bones,
Earth Mother, we honor your body,
Earth Mother, we honor your stones.

 Mother of all accept our offering!
All: Mother of all accept our offering!

7. Call Bardic Inspiration

Dearest Brigedd, Matron of Poets, inspirer and healer,
Send us your Blessed Awen           (pours oil offering into fire)
Let us uplift our hearts with Your words. Felly y Byddyd!

All: Felly y Byddyd!

8. Group Mediation
           Tree Meditation

9. Consecrating the Gates (by Ian Corrigan)
CHORUS:
By Fire and by Water,
Between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the World-Tree rooted deep, crowned high. (Repeat)

Come we now to the Well, the eye and the mouth of Earth,
Come we now to the Well, and silver we bring,  (Child puts silver in Well)
Come we now to the Well, the waters of rebirth,
Come we now to the Well, together we sing:
       CHORUS

We will kindle a Fire, Bless all, and with harm to none,
We will kindle a Fire, and offering pour,  (Child pours oil into Fire)
We will kindle a Fire, A light 'neath the Moon & Sun,
We will kindle a fire, our spirits will soar.
      CHORUS

Gather we at the Tree, the root & the crown of all,
Gather we at the Tree, Below & above,   (Child pours water on Tree)
Gather we at the Tree, Together we make our call,
Gather we at the Tree, In wisdom & love.
     CHORUS (with gusto)

10. Opening the Gates
Cernuous, Lord of the realms that reside between,
Lord of Wisdom open the ways for us.
We walk in your holy ways, we walk the Sacred Road.
Share your magic with us, ward us as we walk in safety.
Cernunnos, accept our sacrifice!    (makes offering of oil to the Fire)

All: Cernunnos, accept our sacrifice!

Now, lord of ways, join your magic with mine
and let the fire open as a gate,  (makes opening sign over Fire)
let the well open as a gate,     (makes opening sign over Well)
let the tree be the crossroads of all worlds.  (makes opening sign by Tree)
Open as a road to our voices and to the spirits.
Let the gates be open!

All: Let the gates be open!

11-13. Calling the Kindred
-  (Kids offers seeds around)
 Mighty Spirits of Nature:
We call you and invite you…(use own words). Felly y Byddyd!

All: Felly y Byddyd!

- (Kids bring bread & whiskey to the Well)
Honored Ancestors of old,
We call you and invite you…(use own words). Felly y Byddyd!

All: Felly y Byddyd!

- (Kids offer powdered incense to the Fire)
Brigedd and all the Shining Gods and Goddesses
We call you and invite you…(use own words). Felly y Byddyd!

All: Felly y Byddyd!

14. Praise Offerings
Welcome to the Gods and Goddesses, the dead and the Sidhe!
To all of you who have gathered at our fire,
We now invite all to join us in praising the Kindred in whatever way you
wish.
  (Nod to the person standing to your left)

15. The Sacrifice & Prayer Of Acceptance
Are there any other praise offerings?
    ( Fire Tender pours a little Whisky into glass of spirits)
So we have given of our love to the Kindred.
Now let our voices arise on the fire,
let our voices sound in the well
let our words pass the boundary to the other worlds.
Shinning ones, Noble ones, Ancient ones,
we give you our love, our respect, our devotion as we pray you...
   Accept our sacrifice!   All: accept our sacrifice!
   Accept our sacrifice!   All: accept our sacrifice!
   Accept our sacrifice!   All: accept our sacrifice!
Fire Tender pours Final Sacrifice into Fire

16. Consecrating and recieving the Waters of Life
    (Child1 with basket passes out cups)

Ancient, noble and mighty ones we have honored you.
We pray you honor us in turn, for a gift calls for a gift.
Hear your children... Shining ones, give us the waters!

All: Shining ones, give us the waters!

We thirst for the waters of wisdom, of bounty,
of rebirth from the well of wisdom,
from the spring of renewal,
from the bosom of the earth mother.
Hear us... Shining ones, give us the waters!

All: Shining ones, give us the waters!

We open our hearts to the great ones blessing.
We stand in pride, honor and friendship with all the powers of the worlds.
Hear and answer us now... Shining ones, give us the waters!

All: Shining ones, give us the waters!

(Apple Cider is poured out to all)
We draw blessing from the cauldron of blessings, the waters of
inspiration. Behold the holy cup of magic, the outpouring of blessing from
the mighty ones…
Behold the waters of life!          

All: Behold the waters of life!

-   Raise glasses and drink    (Child2 with basket gets used cups)

17. Omen Of Return
Having prayed to the powers, let us open to them,
asking what blessings they give us in return.
    (Omen taken and proclaims it)

18. Thank the invited Deities
The mighty ones have blessed us.
With joy in our hearts let us carry the magic from our sacred grove into
our lives and work.
Each time we offer to the powers they become stronger and more aware of
our needs and our worship. So now as we prepare to depart let us give
thanks to those who have aided us.
Please take a moment to silently thank any Deities or other Kindred
that you invited into the Rite and bid them Farewell!

19-21. Thank the Kindred
Brigedd and all the Shining Gods and Goddesses
Thank you for attending our Rite.
We bid you Farewell and Bright Blessings!"

All: Farewell and Bright Blessings!

Honored and Noble Ancestors,
Thank you for attending our Rite.
We bid you Farewell and Bright Blessings!"

All: Farewell and Bright Blessings!

To all the Spirits of Nature
Thank you for attending our Rite.
We bid you Farewell and Bright Blessings!"

All: Farewell and Bright Blessings!

22. Close the Gates
O gatekeeper, Lord Cernunnos, warder of the ways,
for your presence and power, your guiding and guarding
We thank you!    

All: We thank you!

Now by the keeper of gates and by our magic we end what we began.
Now let the fire be flame     ( makes closing sign over Fire)
Let the well be water;  ( makes closing sign over Well)
Let all be as it was before.    (makes closing sign by Tree)
Let the gates be closed!

All: Let the gates be closed!

23. Final Benediction
Take a deep breath and relax, and let your consciousness return to normal
People of the Oak, Friends of the Earth, Children of the Mother,
Go now, in peace and with the blessings of the Kindred.
The Rite is ended! Felly y Byddyd!

All: Felly y Byddyd!

24. Recessional (Words and music by Sable)
       (The folk process out of the sacred space).
Walk with wisdom from this hallowed place.
Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall ere embrace.
May strength be your brother, and honor be your friend,
And luck be your lover until we meet again.

END of RITUAL