MIDSUMMER

Rite Recap: Spiral Spirit PG Midsummer Rite, 6/23/07
Location: Fort Washington State Park

This was my first ritual with Spiral Spirit; I'd decided rather late in the week that I would actually attend, and fortunately the urge to avoid meeting unfamiliar people was very minimal this time. It helped that Mary was so friendly via email the previous day or so! This was my first group ADF rite since I left Cleveland and Stone Creed Grove behind, and was a little apprehensive about how well it would come back to me.

The night before, I made some sugar cookies from scratch and saved the three best ones to make an offering to Taranis with. They were round like wheels, anyway! I wanted to cut holes in them to make them more wheel-like but the shape and consistency did not lend themselves to that, so I left them whole.

I arrived at the site and approached the small group of people sitting at the picnic tables near the restrooms. I saw a couple big silver bowls with deer head on them so I figured they must be the Druids. I received a friendly welcome and was introduced to the others; there were three women (Mary/Ciafran, Jen and.. Nicole?) and one other man (Misha). After we picked a tree to set up our tools near, we set up the altar; Ciafran realized she'd forgotten the coffee for the Outdwellers' offering, and it was decided that Coke would do for an offering, being caffeinated and strong. We doled out the parts; I agreed to do the asperging and make the offering to the Gods at the Key Offerings.

We centered and then walked a few yards away to process in; after a blast on Ciafran's horn, we processed into the grove to "We Approach the Sacred Grove," the tune of which came right back to me. In fact, all but one of the chants were familiar from my Stone Creed days and I remembered them all a few notes in. I need to practice the Purification chant and I should be all set.

Ciafran opened the rite, and Misha performed the Outdwellers' offering. Then Nicole and I purified everyone with incense and water, followed by the offering to the Earth Mother by Jen: oats from the Old World and corn from the New.

Ciafran then stated the purpose of the rite; in addition to celebrating the Solstice, we were doing honor to Taranis, the Gaulish god of thunder and storms, and asking him to provide us with water this summer and stave off drought. She then led us in the Two Powers meditation.

I forgot how much easier the Two Powers meditation was when it was done in concert with others and led by a bard. I felt myself slip into a light trance and felt very centered. We then erected the grove using my favorite ADF chant, "By Fire and By Water". I had a little trouble remembering all the words but the tune was right there! We then opened the gates, calling on Cernunnos as Gatekeeper. Jen remarked immediately afterwards that she felt a little "tingly", which echoed my perceptions exactly. The power was palpable, which I had been missing from group ritual.

Jen then offered seeds to the Nature Spirits, Misha offered bread and water to the Ancestors, and I offered oil to the Gods. I erred a bit on the wording; I need to remember to ask for lenience before I start with rites.

The main offering was then made, after which I gave my cakes. I put them on the altar next to the incense bowl and after the rite I found a good tree to put them under.

The omen was taken by Jen P -- they offered the job to me, but since they had ogham and I only know runes, I passed. I should at least get familiar enough with ogham to be able to read them with the help of a book. The omens were taken from each of the three Kindreds; I don't remember all the omens but they offered fertility, growth, and rebirth, the whole cycle of life. We agreed that the omens were good and then took part in the return flow with the waters of life.

We ended the ceremony by thanking the Kindreds and closing the gates, and then grounding out on the earth. After we packed up the tools, we went back to the picnic tables to eat and converse.

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