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Lughnassadh Rite

by Ian Corrigan

(uses the structure provided in the ADF liturgy)

The Grove is prepared with the Hallows as usual. A symbolic spear is provided, and a loaf of bread in the form of the one-eyed sun.

1: Procession - as usual

2: Opening Prayers - as usual

3: Purification
a: Outdwellers
b: Fire and Water

4: Grounding and centering/Grove Attunement - as usual

5: Statement of Purpose and Precedent:

The Children of Earth are gathered in the Sacred Grove to keep the rites of Lughnassadh, the First Harvest, The Victory of the Growth, the Gathering of the Folk in Peace.

Now is the beginning of the Time of Ripening, when the labor of the Folk brings the Land to bear, when the Power of the Sun gives itself to the Power of the Earth. We gather in a moment of rest and pleasure, before the labor of the harvest.

We come to the Sacred Grove to honor the Lady of Sovereignty, the Great Queen. In this season she is the Earth Woman, the Red Goddess, the Flower Woman whose embrace binds, whose love is Fate.
We honor especially Lugh, the Shining Young Hero, the Sacred King. He is the Master of All Skills, the Holy Champion who turns aside drought and storm, protecting the earth. On this day the Golden God is wed to the Blossom Goddess, that the earth may come to fruit.

As our forebears did, so do we now, and so may our descendants do after us. Now let us keep the Old Ways. Let us honor the Powers and work our Magic that we may gain bounty and wealth in this season.

6: Fire Well & Tree - as usual

7: Land Sea & Sky - as usual

8: Opening the gate - as usual

9: Three Kindreds Offerings - as usual

10: Patron Powers

Slainte agus Failte to the Triple Host of Sprits. Join us now, we pray you, as we call to the Blossom Queen and the Sacred King.

Invocation of Morrigan

Red Woman, Great Queen of the Earth, the Children of Earth offer you welcome. We call to you in the ripening grain. We call to you in the fruiting branch. We call to you by the reddened spear. We call you forth from the beauty of blossom and thorn. We offer you clear water, gentle as rain. (water poured)

Holy One, Raging One, Prophetess, Enticer, Joy and Bane of Heroes, Flower Bride, Lover, Devourer, Great Queen, we call to you. In the season of ripening, you are the fruits and bounty of the land, arrayed in desirable beauty beneath the sun. We deck you in blossoms to welcome you to our Grove... (Red blossoms are placed in a basket before the Well)

Descend in Beauty, Arise in Might, O Throne of Sovereignty! You whose hair is the Golden Grain; you whose flesh is the firm sweet soil, we offer you the Seat of Honor in our Sacred Grove. Bring to our Grove the Blessings of your bounty, and delight We pour red wine for you, who drink up the love of the sun (Wine poured)

Great Queen, come into the Grove of the Wedding.

A corn dolly is brought out and carried once around the ring. Nine roses are used to twine in the corn dolly. A charm for the nine roses:

Lady, accept this gift of raiment We adorn you for the Rite of Joining We robe you in flowers, O Lady of Sovereignty With garments of red, the hue of life's blood With garments of crimson, the hue of magic's might With garments of scarlet, the Rose of Summer's Perfection We offer you welcome, Queen of the Summer We offer you welcome, Mead of the Sweetness We offer you welcome, O Morrigan the Mighty.

The Dolly is then placed at the foot of the Bile.

Invocation of Lugh

Thou Lugh the Victorious, We make our Grove under your shield, O Lugh of the White Horse And the Brilliant Blades. You of the Perfect Form, Child of Light and Shadow, Slayer of Balor, be in our midst. Accept this ale in welcome Thou Champion, King of All (ale poured)

We may our circuit in the joy of the Samildanach The Clever One, the Sure Hand The Bard and the Smith. May we be at peace Under the hand of the Chieftain of Danu, Taking joy in the feast Of the Wedding Day of Lugh We offer this bread, That the harvest may flourish by the hand of the ploughman. (bread offered)

By the Sacred Three of Glory Hear now your people's call By the Spear and by the Raven Come, we pray, among your folk O Lugh the Victorious Our Light and our Guide O Lugh the Victorious Accept this offering of fruit And be present in your strength. (fruit offered)

Light of the Sky, come into the Grove of the Wedding

A Spear is brought into the Grove, decked with greenery and blossoms. It is carried once round the ring, then stretched over the Fire. It is held there for a time, then brought out and laved nine times with water, saying:

May the strength of Lugh be over us, May the beauty of Lugh delight us, May the skill of Lugh be upon us. Be welcome, Shining One, and behold your bride Be welcome, White-Silver One, and succor the earth Be welcome, Hand of Striking, and drive away the hail. In the Grove of the Old Ways In the ring of your people In the hearts of all who honor the earth.

11: Praise Offerings as usual. The last praise offering is:

The Tale, and the Wedding

Hail the Sun of Summer - Golden One, Brightest, Warmth of the Green Earth.

Hail the Sun of Summer - Crown of Striving, Gem of the Heavens, First among Lights

Hail the Sun of Summer - Father of Earth, Eye of Burning, Fire of Noontide.

Yet now is the Season of Darkening, the Time of Ripening, when the night and the moon call the earth to fruit. It is the time of the tender goddess, the Maker of heroes, the Old One's Daughter. Who can tell of the fate of the earth?

If the Sun does not die, the green turns to gray.

If the Sun does not die, red turns to black

If the Sun does not die, the earth will burn dry!

So the God's man mated with a woman of the Giants, in magic and courage. And of their union was born the Child of Light and Shadow - Lugh, whose name means light. Fostered in the Isle of Apples, he learned every skill - thus is he called Samildanach - Master of All Arts.

How like a Spear is the Ray of Dawning

How like the dawn is the Rising Light of Victory

How like Victory is the Joy of Wisdom

So it as that in the last battle of the Gods and Demons it was Lugh who struck down the Baleful Eye of Burning. When the Sun's Fire becomes poison to the earth, when the Maiden of Bounty is imprisoned in the Tower of Day, it is Lugh of the Long Arm who strikes the blow. It is Lugh who struck down the Poison Eye, who defended the Holy Earth against hail and flood and drought and blight.

All chant:

The Sun must die that the earth may live The Darkness rises in its turn That the Land may freely give Milk and Honey, Ale and Corn

The Eye Loaf is brought out and a simple 'dance' between the spear and loaf holders leads to the spear being driven into the loaf. The two hallows are brought to the center, and a rope of blossoms is used to bind the doll to the spear, saying:

Thus do we join the Shining Ones' Prince to the Lady of the Earth. By this joining may Lugh be the Ward and Guardian of the earth. By this joining may the Earth be the Throne of Joy and Delight. May the grain, and our lives, grow green and golden as the hair of the Goddess. May the ray of the westering sun be as the Spear of the Champion. Lugh and Morrigan, be present in these images, hear us your children.

12: Prayer of Sacrifice - as usual

13: Calling for the Blessing - as usual

14: Hallowing the Blessing - as usual, but while the cup is passing, bring out the Loaf on the Spear, saying:

Bright Lugh, Queen of Phantoms, here is the Head of the Grain, the Body of the Shield of the Sky. Let this be as the First Loaf of Harvest, shared between us and you.

Half the Loaf is broken and put into the Offering Shaft or Bowl.

Now Shining Ones, we pray you, hallow this bread. Let it be the bounty of the Earth, the Generosity of the Mother, the Strength of the Hero to us. Let it be the growth of wealth, the soundness of flesh, the delight of wisdom to us. Let it be the food of our bones, of our flesh, of our lights. Behold, the Bread of Life!

The Loaf is shared.

15: Final Blessing - after the Loaf and Cup, before closing:

May the Life of the Earth be in us. May the Strength of the Earth be in us. May the Wisdom of the Earth be in us. Until the Harvest is brought in.

16: Closing - as usual.

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About the Author - Ian Corrigan is a past ADF Archdruid, and is currently Preceptor of the Clergy Council. He is deeply involved in various aspects of creating rites and training to enhance our growing spiritual work, and his druid books and tapes are available at Cafe Press [bio] [all articles by Ian Corrigan]