Angharad's Solitary Druid Summer Solstice Ritual by Sophia Anila

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

This ritual can easily be adapted for a group if you'd like.

The altar for a Druid Alban Heruin ritual is set up as follows:

1. Set a piece of fruit, such as an apple, on the altar along with the drinking horn.
2. The firey shades of red and gold are appropriate colors for
decorating the altar.

Open the grove.

1. Place a chair or other seating on the northern edge of the circle, facing the altar.

2. Light the four candles at the gates.

3. Light the incense and the candle in the south, then go to the edge of the area (outside the grove) where you’ll be performing the ceremony. Take a few moments to clear your mind of unrelated thoughts
and feelings. When you are ready, enter the circle and walk around it
with the Sun (clockwise) one full circle. Then walk around to the north
side of the altar and face south.

4. Raise your right hand, palm forward, to salute the Spiritual Sun, and say:

Let the powers attend as I am about to open a Grove of the Druids in this place. The first duty of Druids assembled in the Sacred Grove is to proclaim peace to the four quarters of the world, for
without peace our work cannot proceed.

5. Walk to the eastern edge of the grove and, facing outward, raise your right hand palm outward to salute each direction. Say:

May there be peace in the East.

6. Proceed to the south, where you repeat the same process. Say:

May there be peace in the South.

7. Proceed to the west and do the same thing. Say:

May there be peace in the West.

8. Proceed to the north and do the same thing. Say:

May there be peace in the North.

9. Return to the north side of the altar, facing south across it. Say:

The four quarters are at peace and the work of the Grove may proceed. Let this Grove and all within it be purified with Air.

10. Go to the eastern side of the altar, pick up the cauldron with the incense and carry it to the eastern edge of the grove.

11. Walk in a clockwise circle once around the outer edge of the grove, and concentrate on the idea that the incense smoke purifies and blesses everything within the grove.

12. Once you’ve come back around to the east, return the cauldron to the altar. Say:

Let this Grove and all within it be purified with fire.

13. Go to the southern side of the altar, pick up the cauldron with the candle and carry it to the southern edge of the grove.

14. Walk in a clockwise circle once around the outer edge of the grove, and concentrate on the idea that the fire purifies and blesses everything within the grove.

15. Once you’ve come back around to the south, return the cauldron to the altar. Say:

Let this Grove and all within it be purified with water.

16. Go to the western side of the altar, pick up the cauldron with the water and carry it to the western edge of the grove.

17. Walk in a clockwise circle once around the outer edge of the grove, and concentrate on the idea that the water purifies and blesses everything within the grove.

18. Once you’ve come back around to the west, return the cauldron to the altar. Say:

Let this Grove and all within it be purified with earth.

19. Go to the northern side of the altar, pick up the cauldron with the salt and carry it to the northern edge of the grove.

20. Walk in a clockwise circle once around the outer edge of the grove, and concentrate on the idea that the earth purifies and blesses everything within the grove.

21. Once you’ve come back around to the north, return the cauldron to the altar.

22. Standing at the north of the altar, say:

I invoke the blessing of the Mighty Ones with the words that have been the bond among all Druids:

Grant, O holy ones, thy protection;

And in protection, strength;

And in strength, understanding;

And in understanding, knowledge;

And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice;

And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it;

And in that love, the love of all existences;

And in that love of all existences, the love of Earth our mother and all goodness.

23. Take a seat in the north and enter into meditation with a cleansing breath. (The theme for the meditation should be read aloud in a quiet voice:)

Enter Alban Heruin meditation theme.

(Meditate on this for a time, then rise to your feet, facing the altar. Say aloud:)

On this day, I ask the blessings of the Land, our Earth Mother, and invite the Spirits of Nature to join with me in this grove. Stone, stream, turf, tree, fruit, and flower all are part of me as I am
part of them, and beings of fur, feather and scale are my kin as well.
Bless me with your presence here, and may I honor you with my actions.

On this day, I ask the blessings of the Sea and the Otherworld, and invite my ancestors, the Ancient Ones, and dwellers of the ocean’s depths, to join with me in this grove. Guides who have
walked this path before me, you are my kin as well. Bless me with your
presence here, and may I honor you with my actions.

On this day, I ask the blessings of the Sky, home of the Sun, the heavens and the Wise Ones, and invite those known and unknown, to join with me in this grove. Beings tangible and inconceivable, you
are my kin as well. Bless me with your presence here, and may I honor
you with my actions.

(Concentrate on the invited energies. When you can feel their presence in the grove, go to the altar and lift up the drinking horn and the fruit. Say:)

In the presence of my Kin, I thank the Earth for its sustenance. The fruit, ripened from the waning Sun’s rays, blesses my body. The
ale, brewed from the grains in the fields, blesses my Spirit. In these
symbolic gifts, may there be blessing on the Earth forever.

(Raise the horn up high, lower it again, and drink from it. Then place the horn on the altar after pouring an amount on the ground in offering. Take a bite of the apple, and then lay the rest upon the
altar in offering, and say:)

From all that is given, I give in return.
(Any additional workings that you wish to do would be appropriate at
this time. Return to the chair, and resume your seat. Say:)

Those who have established the turnings of the silent stars, who place the seal of their blessing on the living Earth and lift up its children to inscrutable heights, have given all without tribute and
without price. May I be worthy of that which is given.

Spirits of Nature, Guardians of the Land, thank you for joining with me today and for your continued presence throughout my life.
Ancient Ones, Dwellers of the Otherworld and Sea, thank you for joining
with me today and for your continued presence throughout my life.

Wise Ones, spirits of the Sky, thank you for joining with me today and for your continued presence throughout my life.

(Sense the diminishing energies.)

Close the Grove:

1. Sit down in the chair in the north and let your mind return to stillness.

2. When ready, rise and go to the north side of the altar, facing south across it. Say:

Let the powers attend as I am about to close a Grove of Druids in this place. Peace permeates the four quarters of the world. Let any energy remaining from this working be returned to the Earth for
its blessing.

3. Imagine this energy flowing inward from the edges of the Grove toward the altar, down through it to the Earth and then down to the Earth’s center.

4. Keep concentrating on this until the ritual space feels clear of any leftover energy.

5. Raise your right hand in salute to the Spiritual Sun in the south.

6. Leave the altar and walk in a clockwise circle around the space.

7. Continue around to the exit and leave the grove.