A Grove Blessing Rite

by Rev. Kirk Thomas

This Blessing Rite was performed by members of the Sonoran Sunrise Grove, ADF in early 2007. It follows the ADF Core Order of Ritual (COoR) and uses some extra non-COoR elements taken from the Grove's standard rite, such as a Guardian Invocation, and the establishment of the Three Realms in addition to the Three Worlds.

This rite was performed using the Irish Celtic pantheon. There are a couple of phrases in the video that may need explanation:

Bíodh sé amhlaidh! - (Pronounced as: BEE-uh SHAY Ow-LEE). This means So be it! in Irish Gaelic.
*ghosti - (pronounced as: GOHS-tee). This is a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European word that means, "someone with whom one has reciprocal duties of hospitality." A common description of this concept is the phrase, "I give so that I may receive." Much of ADF religion is based on this idea.

The 35 minute video was broken up into 7 sequences, of roughly 5-6 minutes in length each, with the contents of each sequence listed below. The title of each part of the video is my own, and does not reflect any standardized names.

There are two versions for each video - one for dial-up modems (56k) and one for cable/ISDN modems.

Opening Sequence (Part 1) - 56k modem or Cable/ISDN modem

Procession

Guardian Sacrifice

Outdwellers Offering

Purification

Musical Signal

Earth Mother

Inspiration and Empowering (Part 2) - 56k modem or Cable/ISDN modem

Bardic Sacrifice to Brigit

Purpose and Precedent

The Two Powers (The Three Worlds)

The Sacred Center (Part 3) - 56k modem or Cable/ISDN modem

The Three Realms

Consecrating the Hallows (Well, Fire, Tree)

Gatekeeper Invocation

Opening the Gates to the Otherworlds

The Three Kindreds (Part 4) - 56k modem or Cable/ISDN modem

Kindred Offerings

Ancestors

Nature Spirits

Deities

Praise and Sacrifice (Part 5) - 56k modem or Cable/ISDN modem

Praise Offerings

Gwydion (Welsh)

Rhiannon (Welsh)

Turan (Iranian)

Prayer of Sacrifice

"Bull" Sacrifice/Shared Meal

Piacular Sacrifice

Receiving the Blessings (Part 6) - 56k modem or Cable/ISDN modem

The Omen

The Blessings (Return Flow)

Calling for the Blessing

Hallowing the Blessing

Affirming the Blessing

Closing the Rite (Part 7) - 56k modem or Cable/ISDN modem

Thanking the Beings

Closing the Gates

Thanking the Earth Mother

Musical Signal

Grounding and Centering

Blessing and Ending

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About the Author - Rev. Kirk Thomas is Vice Archdruid, Chief of the ADF Liturgist Guild, and the liturgist for Sonoran Sunrise Grove, ADF. He can often be found at various festivals, but is based in Tucson, AZ. [bio] [all articles by Kirk Thomas]