GROVE RITE FOR LUGHNASA

The ceremony should be performed on the day of Lughnasa. The best place to perform it is on a hilltop or beside a holy well.

The acting chief druid/druidess and the bard, who is also responsible for blowing the horn and for drumming when it is needed, perform the rite. A man wearing royal purple robes a corn mask represents the Corn Lord. A woman dressed in red and crowned with a wreath of wheat ears, poppies and cornflowers represents the Harvest Goddess. She carries a sickle.

A circle is set up with the altar in the center and the cardinal points of north, east, south and west are marked. This is decorated with greenery including grain, ripe berries, apples, grapes etc.

Everyone, led by the druid, processes around the outside of the circle three times before stopping at the north East Point of the circle, which is the entry point.

Druid: ‘I ask all ye here assembled- art thou ready to erect the sacred temple, and celebrate the rites of Lughnasa?’

Celebrants: ‘We are ready.’

All enter the circle and walking sunwise arrange themselves around it.

Druid: (traces the outline of the circle with the ceremonial sword) ‘I conjure thee O circle of power, that thou beest a meeting place of love, and joy and truth, a shield against all wickedness and evil, a bulwark that shall contain all the power we raise within thee. In the names of the gods and goddesses we worship so shall it be.’

Bard: ‘Spirits of this place, hear us! Spirits of this place, we honor thee and ask us to be with us in our rites.’

Celebrants: ‘Be with us!’

Druid: ‘We are gathered here to celebrate the rite of Lughnasa as the time of the harvest approaches. The fields grow golden in the sun with ears of ripening grain. It is a time of rejoicing, for we see the fruits of our labors. It is a time of danger, for the wind and rain might still destroy the uncut crop. It is a time of death, for the Corn Lord sacrifices himself that we may have our bread.

Bard:

Welcome O Corn Lord,

Golden haired son of Mother Earth and Father Sky,

Lover of the sovereign goddess of the land,

Sacred King who meets death at the Queen’s hand.

The man playing the Corn Lord steps forward into the center of the circle.

Druid:

Come Great Goddess,

Spirit of the Earth, whose body supports us,

Mother of the Universe, whose milk is the stars,

Spinner of fate, who weaves and measures our lives

Lady of Death, who cuts the thread,

Be welcome here as Queen of the Harvest.

The woman representing the Harvest Goddess steps forward to face the Corn Lord. She passes the sickle over his head and he falls to the ground. The druid picks up the corn Lord’s mask chants:

Each ridge, and plain, and field,

Each sickle curved, shapely, hard,

Each ear and handful in the sheaf,

Each ear and handful in the sheaf.

Bless each maiden and youth,

Each woman and tender youngling,

Safeguard them beneath thy shield of strength,

And guard them in the house of the saints,

Guard them in the house of the saints.

Encompass each goat, sheep and lamb,

Each cow and horse, and store,

Surround Thou the flocks and herds,

And tend them to a kindly fold,

Tend them to a kindly fold.

For the sake of Llew, the many skilled,

Of Rhiannon fair-skinned branch of grace,

Of Arianrhod smooth-white of ringleted locks,

Of Gwyn ap Nudd of the graves and tombs,

Gwyn ap Nudd of the graves and tombs.[1]

The mask is passed around the circle and each person holds it before their face and reflects on the nature of sacrifice. The man who portrayed the Corn Lord stands up and becomes an ordinary member of the circle.

The Druid takes up a loaf of bread and offers it to the Harvest Goddess. She touches it with her sickle to signify her acceptance and blessing.

The bard says:

Mother of the Earth,

You gave us the new grain

Dried gently in the sun

Rubbed from the husks

Ground in the quern

Baked in the oven

To feed your people.

 We walk sunwise round the circle

In your name, Great Mother

We ask that you preserve us

In peace, in plenty

In truth of heart.

Keep us in labor, in love

In wisdom, in mercy

For the sake of your Lord

Who dies with the harvest

Until he is reborn another day

Great Mother preserve us!

Great Mother preserve us!

The Druid leads the assembly in a sunwise procession three times around the circle. Only the woman playing the Harvest Goddess remains still at the center.

The bread is then broken by the druid and shared out among those present. A goblet of wine or mead is passed around and everyone drinks.

The Druid calls: Let blessing be!

All: Let blessing be!

There now follows any rites of divination the grove may wish to carry out, storytelling songs and dancing.

When all is finished the druid pours a libation of wine to the Earth Mother (i.e. he/she pours some wine on the earth) and says:

Druid: ‘we give thanks to the Great Mother of the Earth. Mother, grant us your blessings. Be with us in our lives, as you once were to those of old. Grant us your love and blessings. Let blessing be!’

Druid: Great Lord and consort of the Goddess. Grant blessing to this land, protect us from the powers of blight and darkness. Be with us in our lives as you once were to those of old. Grant us your wisdom. Let blessing be!’

All: ‘Let blessing be!’

The druid goes around the temple anti-clockwise with the sword to wind down the power and close the temple:

Druid:

May there be peace in the North

May there be peace in the East

May there be peace in the South

May there be peace in the West.

All:  May peace reign everywhere!

Druid: ‘Together, brothers and sisters, we have met together to celebrate the rite of Lughnasa. We have witnessed the harvesting of the grain and the sacrifice of the Corn Lord. We have honored the Lady and her Lord. The rite is ended, let us go in peace until we meet again.’

All: ‘Go in peace!’