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Changes in the Druid Liturgy

by Isaac Bonewits

The Druid Liturgy
A.D.F Standard Outline
Summer 1991 C.E.


Preliminary Ritual Activity



   (A) Briefing

   (B) Individual Meditations & Prayers

   (C) Lighting the Sacred Fire(s)

   (D) Pouring the Sacred Waters

   (E) Consecrating the Sacred Pole

   (F) Consecrating the Altar & Tools



1st Phase: Starting the Rite & Establishing the
Group Mind


   Clear-cut Beginning: Consecration of Time

      (1) Musical Signal

      (2) Opening Prayer

   Consecration of Space & of Participants

      (3) The Processional/Sigil Marking

      (4) Purification(s) of Participants

      (5) Purification(s) of Site

      (6) Honoring the Earth Mother

   Centering, Grounding, Merging

      (7) The Grove Meditation

      (8) Unity Chant/Song

      (9) Stating Ritual Purpose & Historical
Precedent

      (10) Naming Deity(ies) of the Occasion &
Reasons for Choice


2nd Phase: Recreating the Cosmos & Preliminary
Power Raising


   Describing the Vertical Axis

      (11) Planting the Cosmic Tree / Honoring the
Sacred Pole

      (12) Evoking the Gatekeeper / Defining the Ritual
Center

      (13) Evoking the Fire & Water Deities &
Linking to Center

   Gaining Assistance and Preventing Interference

      (14) Invoking the Bardic Deity(ies) or Spirit(s)

      (15) Acknowledgement of the Outsiders

      (16) Filling Out the Cosmic Picture

            Ex.: Triad Invoc. of Nature Spirits,
Ancestors, Deities in Three Worlds

            Ex.: Invoc. of Helpful Beings of each
World/Realm

            Ex.: Invoc. of Helpful Beings by
Province/Function

      (17) The Settling & Focusing



3rd Phase: Major Sending of Power to Deity(ies) of the
Occasion



      (18) Descriptive Invocation of Deity(ies) of the
Occasion

   Primary Power Raising

      (19) Praise Offerings, Dance, Libations, etc.

      (20) The Sacrifice

      (21) Seeking the Omen of Return


4th Phase: Receiving and Using the Returned Power


   Preparation for the Return

      (22) Meditation upon Personal and Group Needs

      (23) Induction of Receptivity

      (24) Consecration Agreement

   Reception of Power from Deity(ies) of the Occasion

      (25) Consecration and Sharing

      (26) Acceptance of Individual Blessings

      (27) Reinforcement of Group Bonding

      (28) Spell Casting/Rite of Passage


5th Phase: Unwinding and Ending the Ceremony


   Unwinding the Energy Patterns Created

      (29) Thanking of Entities Invited in Reverse
Order

      (30) Thanking the Gatekeeper & Closing the
Gates

      (31) Affirmation of Past/Future Continuity &
Success

      (32) Unmerging, Regrounding & Recentering:
Meditation

      (33) Draining off Excess Power: The Restoration

   Clearcut Ending: Deconsecration of Time & Space

      (34) Final Benediction

      (35) Announcement of End

      (36) Dissolving the Sigil

      (37) Musical Signal

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About the Author - Isaac Bonewits is the founder of ADF and was our Archdruid for ten years. As Archdruid Emeritus he continues to contribute to ADF, and is very active and well-known in the Neopagan community at large. [bio] [all articles by Isaac Bonewits]