Full Moon Ritual – Solitary, 3/30/2018

Brightest blessings to you all! So it really happened, huh? A full moon. A blue moon! The second blue moon in 2018! How nuts!

Tonight was my first time attending any sort of full moon rite. I know several of my pagan friends have observed them on the regular but due to logistics our Grove has been unable to gather for much outside of high day ritual and planning. With a few people around me making plans, however, and the buzz around a second blue moon in so many months… Well, I was inspired.

So on my way home I put together a full moon ritual for Damona, moon goddess of my hearth-culture. When I got home I cleaned it up, posted it to share, and got together a few supplies to go outside and do the work.

I brought with me an LED candle (I’m not too sure how the park staff feel about fire so I played it safe. This is SoCal after all…) as well as my home Well, a book from which to write my wish to Damona, and my Druid Animal Oracle deck.

I followed the ritual I had written (see the previous post if you would like to read through it) and while it was a little lonely and brief I am so glad I went through with it. I broke out of my shell a little more by vocalizing and taking my time through the steps. Even though it was my first time doing a ritual alone out in public I still managed to get “into it” without much difficulty. Perhaps the fact that it was so darn beautiful tonight helped a bit.

The omen that Damona brought down to me was contained within the Eagle. The card of the Eagle depicts said creature soaring high above a settlement engaged in a Lughnasadh harvest. The sky, water, and land are all visible from Eagle’s high perspective. Oak leaves are also visible in the foreground.

Embrace your ability to see into all the realms. Look to the sun for your strength as the seasons turn towards harvest time. Be confident, regal, and vigilant and know that, as the swift lightning of Lugh, your actions are to be swift and precise to maximize their power.

I am finding myself quickly running out of gas so I’ll wrap up this post. I may have more thoughts on this all tomorrow but I really wanted to get it out while it was fresh on my mind.

I hope everyone had a wonderful evening with this amazing full moon and I look forward to the many bright blessings coming to us all in the coming days!

A Full Moon Rite To Damona

As the sun sets this evening we find ourselves in a beautiful and breathtaking time of magic. Not only are we blessed by a full moon, not only are we blessed by a blue moon, but we are blessed by the second blue moon of this year!

I have considered doing my own full moon rite for some time, as our Grove is so scattered as to make it very challenging to meet outside of ritual planning and high days, but I have never really found myself available or ready to do such a thing until tonight. So inspired have I been in my work writing ritual and the good blessings of our recent Spring Equinox ritual that I decided it was time to not only commit to my first full moon ritual but also write one as well.

What follows was written specifically for my use tonight, as I will be honoring the Gaulish cow goddess of the moon, Damona, but if you would like to use it for yourself you are more than welcome to. Feel free to change whatever you need to in order to make it work for you and/or your gathering. I, myself, adapted most of the work from a general full moon rite script provided on ADF’s website so go forth and let shared liturgy bloom and be fertile amongst the good pagan folk!

---

A Druid Full Moon Ritual
Adapted by Mark Bradley from an ADF General Full Moon Rite: https://www.adf.org/rituals/general/full-moon-rite.html

“I come tonight to honor the moon as she rises to her fullness. I come to honor Damona, the great and bountiful cow, while she is swollen and at her most beautiful. I come here on this full moon night to revel, give thanks, and share in Her power.”

[While purifying self and the space with water]: “By these blessed waters, silvered by Her radiant grace, may this Druid and this space be made whole and holy.”

[Pause, raising hands up to the light of the moon]

“You who silver the waves
You who brings the shadow forth
You who watch over the night
Beautiful eye of Damona, I honor you”

[Take three deep breaths]

“With three breaths I become as still as the silvered night,”

[Take three deep breaths]

“With three breaths I become as clear as the waters that shine with your light,”

[Take three deep breaths]

“With three breaths I am bright and quiet and prepared for this work. “

[Fill the Well with clean water]

“With these waters I fill the Well, letting the dark, ancient waters rise to meet your sight. Let my prayers flow on this full moon night, may all ill and wrong be made right.”

[Light the Fire, visualizing it’s origin and connection to and with the whole of our Druidry and all pagan folk doing this work tonight]

“With this light I kindle the Fire, a beacon for you, oh bright, beautiful, laden one.
You are as radiant as your love, the sun,
By this fire our shared work shall be done.”

[Tie a written prayer/wish/need around a suitable stick/small branch]

“With this wood I bridge the way between bright burning sky and dark flowing water.
The cosmos complete, this space our altar.
May all outsiders turn away, may our good work not falter.”

[Hold the stick aloft to the moon]

“I come in the light of the moon,
I worship by the blessings of the moon
Full in your journey, across the starry sky,
Through well and fire and tree do my prayers rise.”

[Produce a steady rhythm, repeat as necessary to accumulate the right energy/find the moment to strike]

“Great Damona, orb of night,
Such mysteries born from your light,
In this Nemeton join my rite,
In this work lend me your might.

Keeper of night I call your name,
Moon of mystery, of frozen flame,
My share of magic I ask to claim,
Let all that do work tonight be granted the same.”

[Prayer stick with attached prayer(s) is thrust into the earth]

“I come on this full moon night, this night of increase, this night of magic and potential.”

[Take a moment to feel the presence of the Moon’s power, and that power of all those around the world sharing in ritual to Her]

“Great and fertile Damona, o bright Moon! What blessings do you bring to we who gaze up at your beauty on this full and wondrous night?”

[Take an omen]

[After considering and acknowledging the omen, fill the blessing cup with water and let the moonlight shine through it]

“Let this cup be charged and be that in which blessings flow. With my flame burning bright as the moonlight above, may all good pagan folk be made stronger by our unity, by our shared devotion to you in this liminal moment. May all our blessings be as bright as your shining gaze, oh fertile Goddess, that shines now on the surface of these waters. These waters that I now bring into myself, my flesh, my blood.”

[Visualize the blessings entering the cup]

“I hold the blessings of the full moon! Ollo esti (so be it, etc.)!”

[Drink of the waters]

[Take a moment to feel the waters of life spreading within]

[Take nine deep breaths once more, grounding and returning unused energy back into the earth]

“Damona, blessed and bright mother of the night, I thank you for aiding with this work. I thank those who have joined me across time and space to do this work with you. I thank the Earthmother for granting us purchase that we may gaze lovingly into your eye on this joyous occasion.”

“With my work done, by the power of the Moon in Her fullness may our magic journey ever onwards.”

[Sing or chant as you return home/indoors/wind down from the rite:]

Let us journey ever on
Children of the Earth
Carry the Nemeton’s blessings
Into our lives, into our work

As we journey ever on
Children of the Earth
Let the Nemeton’s blessings
Bring peace to home and hearth

 

A Shower Song To Nantosuelta

One morning some time ago a song popped into my head while showering. It was a little devotional song to Nantosuelta that I would hum and sing as I scrubbed and shampooed and such. I got into such a habit of doing it intentionally that now it’s just “the thing that happens in the shower”… You know, besides washing up.

I’m not at all knowledgeable at how to notate a song so I tried to make it more apparent where the holds and rhythm are. It’s a lovely song that I’m rather proud of. I think it was my first ever of the sort.

Hail to you~ Nantosuelta,
gracious mo~ther of the stream
may your wa~ters dance upon me
and leave me~ clean~

A Song For Equinox

Artio, you’ve rested so long
Artio, through frigid white.
Mother-Bear, I hear the bird-song,
Emerge with us into the light.

December 21, 2016 – Solstice Day, Honoring The Family

We stand again, friends. The second flame rises with Belenus, with the Sun. He left us to journey through the below and rose again this morning, pulling a great quilt of rain behind him over the land. Today is not only a holy day of great joy, celebrating the return of the Sun to the sky, but it is also a night to honor family. Family takes many forms, particularly today. Family is blood and spirit, near and far.

Tonight’s ritual is devoted to all those relationships of special meaning to our hearts and lives. As the light of the fires grows on our altar we honor those who make our world shine by sharing it with us.

The lantern is lit, the flame shared to the first two candles of Yule.

On this, the second night of Yule we honor those people whom we call family.
Our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers,
our aunts and uncles and cousins,
our life partners and our children.
Whether by blood and bone or by heart and hand,
we honor those whom we call our tribe.
We call to the Earthmother that she may provide for them, to ensure they never know hunger.

An offering of corn meal is given.

We call to the Skyfather that he may shine upon their path, that they may know wisdom and direction.

Oil is censed for offering.

We call out to the Gods and Goddesses, that they know safety, security, and be made whole and holy, healed swiftly from all ails.

An offering of wine is made.

Kindreds all, accept our offerings!

---

This morning I woke up far, far too early. One one hand it was pretty necessary for me to witness the sunrise for my first observed Winter Solstice, but it was also necessary because I had to leave for work. It was one of those blessed moments of synchronicity coupled with a level of exhaustion just right enough to let the magic flow in and out.

As I have done for each day of Yule thus far I spent time on my commute for prayer, thought, and love and shared my sentiments as such with my internet friends and family:

“We’ve survived the long night without being devoured by wolves, the light of the sky is kindled once more, and we shake the coat of snow from our bodies as we stand again in the Earthmother’s embrace.

As we light the second flame of Yule we honor family. In this time of instant international correspondence many of us find our families more full than ever before. Family inspires and supports, embraces and throws, shouts and soothes. Family makes us whole. Life is ever so much more powerful when tied to many others.

Those I call family are nearly too many to name, but I wish to honor you all on this holy occasion.

Terri Jarvis, Earl Whitbeck, Mike Jarvis and Karen, the tree of my blood… For without them I would still be a mote of dust in the stars.

Linda Watson-Jacobs and her husband, Mark.

Kyle Jacobs, Tom, and Dave Morris.

My life-mate Tristan and those that brought him to the world, Debbie Gehman and Dave. Jay and Teo and their branches too.

Raymond Benninger and Michael for always being there for me.

John and David Jr Warriner and their circle for so many laughs and support.

Lauren Neuman, Grey Catsidhe, Michael Talvola, and so many other brothers and sisters in faith.

Laura Bertrand and her husband and son, a family I thought I’d never have in my adult years.

Of course all of my family at work in all lands and lines of businesses, whom I truly feel priveliged to know.

Blessings be too to my MMO families through the year. To Sword and Quill, my friends with the Thundering Hammer, dear old friends of The Broomstick Gang and of course all the magical girls of Tiro Finale who adopted me as an honorary magical girl early in 2014 when I was broken and full of despair, in fear I might never walk again.

Last but not least Matthew Johnson who met me many moons ago under false pretenses and is stuck with me whether he likes it or not. (I still feel embarrassed about the whole Marr thing)

Family is a strange and powerful thing. A field of many seeds, trees begetting trees, plants blending and blooming all together, giving shade for one another. Be you bear or squirrel or deciduous giant we still share this home together and we’d be but a barren wasteland without each other.

Blessings be to my family and the families of our families on this bright and beautiful day of praise.”

December 19, 2016 – Greeting The Winter Wanderer, Preparing The Altar

Getting crowded for the holidays!

Happy Yule everyone! Many blessings and warm hugs to you all! It is on this day, the first night of Yule, when we greet the Winter Wanderer. They dance between worlds, even in these times when sunlight strains against the growing night, guiding guests to our flame.

Our home’s honored gatekeeper, Nantosuelta, receives offering and thanks this night for her jet-feathered companion flies beside her, perches atop her dovecote, and sings in the night. A beautiful and wise guide for those seeking passage, indeed.

Too, this night, we prepare the vessels for the flame that will slowly spread across the altar as each evening of this season greets us. I wanted to truly provide an adequately festive increase in offering and light for this very special time and as a result I find the altar increasingly more crowded than ever. A protective, sealing bowl has been brought to cat-proof more robust offerings overnight, that those coming to join our home may enjoy them without fear of mischief or harm. The twelve candles in addition to the center flame have also been added and blessed, prepared to light the way in coming nights.

On this night all the lights, all the tools brought here for Yule are gathered and blessed with clean water.

May you be made pure that our words and offerings be pure.

The candles and tools are censed with oils.

May you be made sacred so all passing through you are sacred.
May our words and offerings pass through you to attain the holy,
as blessings and gifts to the Kindreds.
So be it.

The lantern is lit, the vessel from which we shall light each of the twelve candles of Yule.

We begin by lighting the first flame of our Solstice rite,
and bless this space in preparation of the work to come.
On the eve of the Yuletide season we greet you, Winter Wanderer.
You who dares walk between the realms in this time of darkness,
when the spirits of all worlds move freely among us.
We humbly offer these gifts of wine and bread to nourish you on your travels,
and bid welcome to those whom you lead to our fire.
May the light of our fire shine bright for all who come in peace,
friends and kin all.
Winter Wanderer, may your travels bring blessings of prosperity and love
in every place you rest.
Winter Wanderer, accept our offerings!

It is with these words, these gifts, and this warm flame that the altar is set and this space is made whole and holy for this most beautiful of seasons. May all come together around the flames of Yule, hand in hand, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers and children all, to welcome the rise of the sun once more to the Earth Mother’s snow-laden, slumbering embrace.

Sidenote: I witnessed the sunrise and sunset both today. It was the first time I’ve seen both in a day in quite some time, if ever. It was something to behold. I pray it never leaves my heart.

Travelling on the bus to Her

I was just now on the bus to work and thought it would be an excellent time to do my morning devotional. My mentor suggested strongly that I attempt to work it in to my commute, as it’s largely time spent alone and I cannot do much else besides sit.

Well… I sat and did my breathing while listening to an mp3 of nature sounds. A forest stream, my favorite. I performed the Two Powers meditation and found my center… And then I went to my sacred space, my mental grove. I came from my childhood bed, turned left down the hall, stepped out onto the grass and followed the cliff down, West. I passed the skunk cabbage and the tractor path to the pond and found my way under the canopy of massive trees that covered the space near where the Kayaderosseras passed our home.

I sat, a distance from the creek, and watched.

Artio entered from the left side of my view, from the East. She walked with a Bear, her self as well. Bear was a deep red-brown as was Her long, wavy hair. She wore a loose white gown and walked barefoot through the creek.

She sat up on the crossing log and played her toes through the clear water. Bear, too, played. She rolled and splashed a moment, playing with the pebbles shimmering under the water.

Artio then turned to face me, smiling. She was radiant. Bear approached and all my focus was on her. I could feel pressure, like the air had all been compressed down on me. I had felt this before, when Bear came to me and mauled me, tore at me.

This time Bear did press down on me. Her massive head was all I could see. Teeth and claws and blood filled my vision but also an embrace, a mother’s lapping of the tongue. Playful and gentle shoving. The shoving intensified, pushing me in lazy arcs like a dog with a ball. Then it was toward Her. Best pushed and pushed til I sat at Her feet and She sat both before me and beside me.

Artio spoke, sitting on that log, looking down at us. Her voice was soft and motherly.

“You were seeking me.”

I thought of saying words but I didn’t… Or I couldn’t. I felt that sort of… Black miasma swirling around my mouth like chains of viscous wind.

“You are beautiful.”

“You are not strong…”

“…but you will be.”

“Return now.”

And then I awoke, seated on the bus.

I am still reeling a bit from the experience but it certainly affirms some elements I’ve been aware of. My desire to be beside Her, to serve Her. My desire to grow. Her encouragement fills my heart so much. And Bear, so aggressive and so loving. Every encounter with Bear is terrifying or nurturing or both. I both cherish and fear every encounter.

This was the first time I can recall seeing Her so clearly, hearing her voice. Bear’s force has been stronger in the past but never before had I sat so close to Her shining radiance.

It was a hell of a day to start a Wednesday, I tell you that.

Swing and a Miss

Tonight I attempted to do a full, vocalized ritual at home with the intent of blessing our home and warding off illness and harm. I worked from a script from the ADF website, a ritual utilizing the COOR and written by Ian Corrigan. It was sloppy and awkward and, though I made a more hearty offering with flour, tea, a biscuit, and syrup, the magic felt weak. The pale omens served only to confirm it. The improved offering was a small step in the right direction but my part in it was poor at best.

The omen:

Two, south and distant. Straight and solid.
A pair of threes, side by side, listing to the east, a mirror of each others facing.

I found the two, directly ahead, nearest the Fire, to tell me that my blessing, while granted, comes weak. Weakly as my confidence in the doing. I find the threes, side by side, nearest the offering bowl, indicating a warming, transitioning sentiment towards the increased giving, but it stands to fall one way or the other, leaning towards the negative/ “We see you’re trying, but you need to do better.”

If I’m to work this ritual I need to, I think, shape it slightly and commit it deeper to memory. I will do a little more work before I next attempt a full ritual like this one. In the meantime I have come across some lovely small devotional prayers I will begin to work into my daily worship.

Found Prayers to Nantosuelta and Artio

I saw searching around for a picture I could add to the altar to more properly make a place for Her on my altar and ended up finding a lovely little morning devotional to Her. This comes from Workings of a Modern Day Pagan and Vervenna Marianna.

“Hail to the Goddess Nantosuelta

Queen of Earth

Keeper of  Fire

Bringer of fertility, abundance and blessings

Goddess of the hearth

Oh Mighty Mother

I pray that you may guide me

And gift to me your blessings

Teach me your ways 

So I may teach and heal those around me

Show me the path through your forests green

And fires bright

So that I may follow in your footsteps

Through this day and onwards.”

I rather like it. I’ve yet to have any sort of morning ritual as of yet. This seems like a good place to start, though!

EDIT: Shortly after posting this I found two more wonderful prayers from the Tumblr blog Fieldstones that I just loved:

To Artio

Artio, goddess, bold of spirit, strong of heart,
fair one, gracious one, queen of the wilderness,
mistress of bears, I call to you this day.
Gentle goddess, you face without fear the greatest
of beasts, unarmed and ungirded you enter
the den; in hand you hold the fragrant blossom,
in arm you bear the finest fruit, ripe and ready,
honey-sweet as when it was plucked from the tree.
Artio, mountain-goddess, through tangled wood
and stony stream you run, fleet of foot and graceful
of carriage, firm of will and noble of bearing.
Artio, long-beloved goddess, I honor you.

 

To Nantosuelta

Gracious Nantosuelta, holder of the home,
abundance is your blessing, contentment is your gift.
Well-crowned goddess, draped in fine raiment, garlanded
in gold, in you we see the riches of the world.
We know you, goddess, as we know honey
on the tongue, as we know warm grass on bare feet;
you are as heady, goddess, as the sweet new wine.
The dove is yours, Nantosuelta, white as milk,
fragile and free; yours too, O goddess, is the raven,
yours too the way of that coal-black bird. Nantosuelta,
in arm you bear the plentiful horn, in hand you grasp
the chalice; for your gifts I honor you, O goddess.

All of these prayers are so beautiful, and speak in tones and ways that I, too, see my beloved Goddesses. My thanks go to you both for these sweet words that I may yet love Them better with each passing day.