The following ritual was written by Philip Shallcrass and Emma Restall Orr,
and used over the many years that together they conducted gorsedd rituals
at Avebury, Stonehenge, the Rollright Stones, the Long Man of Wilmington,
and other ancient and modern sacred sites.
Introduction
Based upon historical sources, their own inspiration, and contributions from
members of the Gorsedd in its early days, in the early - mid 1990s, over time
it has modified. Most often the text was used as a framework and guide, the
priests and others responding to the spirits of place, the moments of the
ritual, the gods and gathering to create a rite that was inspired, present
and vibrant.
It contains many elements common to most Druid rituals : the calling for
peace, establishing a sacred circle, honouring the four directions and the
ancestors, the sharing of bread and mead, and an eisteddfod during which any
of those gathered may step forward to offer a poem, song or tale. The text
here doesn’t include any specific seasonal elements, as these change
for each festival or event around which the rite is held. The rite does include
the celebration of rites of passage, albeit in the brief form usually performed
at such open festival rituals: Druid weddings or handfastings, blessings for
children, and remembrance of the dead.
Most Gorsedd rites also include initiations into the Gorsedd for those wishing
to make a personal dedication to the spirit of the place and the path of the
Bard. Although such dedications are usually made in the public circumstance
of the gorsedd rite, they are powerful moments, allowing many to find a gateway
to the current of deep inspiration, setting them on the path of true creativity.
The Gorsedd Rite
Before the ceremony begins, the priest and priestess
invite people to participate as follows: a woman who would represent the Guardian
Spirit of the Place; three bards or musicians to assist in weaving the circle;
four people, preferably of different spiritual traditions, to make the calls
to the four directions; a priest and a priestess to help with the sharing
of bread and mead.
Once everyone has assembled, the gathering forms two groups; one, the Goddess
party, led by the representative of the Guardian Spirit of the place, takes
one course, while the other group, the God party, led by the priest, take
another, processing sunwise to the point where the two meet again for to begin
the rite.
Priest: Once again the Solar Wheel
returns to [name of festival], and we come to this most sacred place and ask
the Guardian Spirit of [name of place] to accept the gifts we bring and bless
us as we enter in to celebrate the sanctity and beauty of our Mother Earth.
He presents a gift to the Guardian.
Priest: That which comes from the Earth, returns
to the Earth.
Guardian: In the name of the Mother of All Living,
the Guardian Spirit of [name of place], and the ancestors of our people, I
accept the gifts you offer. All who come here are welcome, but thrice blessed
are those who come with reverence and love.
The blessings of the goddess be with you,
The blessings of the guardian be with you,
The blessings of the ancestors be with you, and with our children,
With you and with our children.
Enter now and welcome.
Others may also present gifts to the Guardian and receive a blessing from
her in return. Priest and priestess then lead the procession to the place
where the Gorsedd circle is formed.
Creating the Circle
The place where the rite is often prepared in advance,
a circle marked out and cleared, perhaps decorated with seasonal flowers,
an altar may be set up, candles, water bowl and incense provided. The presiding
priests may make a short purification ritual in the circle beforehand if this
seems appropriate.
We begin by greeting the spirits of the land and of our ancestors, welcoming
all who have come.
Priestess: Hail, O spirits of this place,
you who are the embodiment of this sacred land on which we are gathered. As
we honour you, so I ask that you accept our presence here. Hail, O ancestors,
you who have walked these ways before us, you whose songs echo in the air
around us, whose tears and laughter echo in our hearts. Hail to you, both
seen and unseen, who gather here this day. Let all who come in peace be welcomed
to our circle. Hail and welcome!
All: Hail and welcome!
Priest: We begin this celebration by calling for
peace, that in peace the voice of spirit may be heard.
May there be peace in the east.
May there be peace in the south.
May there be peace in the west.
May there be peace in the north.
May there be peace throughout all the world.
So may it be!
All: So may it be!
Priestess: We gather here in peace to celebrate
this Gorsedd of Bards of [name of place], and the festival of [name of festival],
and the sanctity of our Mother Earth. Let us now weave our circle, that the
spirits of those who are gathered here may be blended in one purpose, one
voice and one sacred space.
The circle is woven by the priests and/or bards, crafting a clear intention
of focus around and within those who have gathered.
The circle may also be consecrated with incense and water. An incense
burner is carried around the circle, the smoke wafted over each person present.
A bowl of water is the taken around the circle, each person being sprinkled
with a few drops.
Priestess: Let us call now to the quarters, that
our ancestors may know the old ways are not forgotten.
Calling the Quarters
Calling the quarters is a part of many traditions,
invoking different energies from each of the cardinal points. Often representatives
of different faiths are invited to call the quarters, each in their own way,
allowing a strong interfaith element to the proceedings. The following are
merely suggestions, in the Druid tradition:
East: I call to the spirits of air, the breath of
life; to the spirit of the eagle who brings the gift of vision far and clear,
the spirits of the wild east wind, of sunrise and of spring, of new life and
new growth. May all within this circle know the power of your blessings. So
I bid you hail and welcome!
All: Hail and welcome!
South: “I call to the spirits of fire, of energy of
passion; the spirit of the wild cat, who kindles within us the strength and
beauty of the untamed places; spirit of the noonday sun, the heat of summer,
vitality and abundance. May all within this circle know the power of your
blessings. So I bid you hail and welcome!
All: Hail and welcome!
West: I call to the spirits of water, of the ebb and flow
of emotion; to the spirit of the salmon, who fills us with the wisdom welling
up from deep within the earth, of open seas and running streams, of cleansing
rain; spirit of the evening sun, of twilight and of autumn. May all within
this circle know the power of your blessings. So I bid you hail and welcome!
All: Hail and welcome!
North: I call to the spirits of earth, of the womb
of creation; to the spirit of the bear, who draws us into the nourishing darkness
of the cave; spirits of the night and the snows of winter, deep roots and
ancient stones. May all within this circle know the power of your blessings.
So I bid you hail and welcome!
All: Hail and welcome!
Priest: The circle is unbroken,
The ancestors awoken.
May the songs of the Earth
and of her people ring true.
Hail to the spirits of this place;
of root and branch, tooth and claw,
fur and feather, of earth and sea and sky.
Hail and welcome!
All: Hail and welcome!
The Three Worlds and the Ancestors
The Priestess will then call to the Three Worlds of Earth, Sea and Sky,
asking for inspiration to fill the circle, using words such as these:
Spirits of this ancient and most sacred land, you of the rich dark mud that
feeds us, you of the ancient stones that sung before humanity’s first
breath, and all you who rise from this fecundity in the beauty of green growth,
bark and leaf, berry and fruit, creatures of this land, the slitherers, those
of four feet and two; we are awake to your presence, your gifts and your song.
Know that you are honoured here.
Spirits of the endless skies, exquisite darkness of the universe, ancestral
courts of sacred light, most honoured sun, you of the clouds that dance above
in a thousands colours of white and grey, offering shade and life-giving rain,
and all you who know freedom upon the wing whose realm is the air above; we
are awake to your presence, your gifts and your songs. Know that you are honoured
here.
Spirits of the oceans, you that wash and shape the shores of these our sacred
isles, you who teach us of the tides of time, you who touch us as rain and
tears, waters of this ancient land, beneath us and around us, guiding the
currents of our lives, and all you who thrive within that fluid realm; we
are awake to your presence, your gifts and your songs. Know that you are honoured
here.
The Priest then calls to the ancestors, using words such as these:
Hail ancestors of this sacred land, ancient feet who have trod these meadows,
fields and sacred places, whose songs still fill the air, whose breath we
now breathe, know that you are honoured here!
Hail ancestors of our blood, you whose stories hum in our veins and bones,
memories of love and war, wisdom and suffering, you whose humanity allowed
us life upon this sacred land, know that you are honoured here!
Hail ancestors of our ancient heritage, Druids of old, you whose teachings
still linger in the wind song, you who have marked the cycles of sun and moon
for millennia past, who have taught us the magic of who we can be, know that
you are honoured here!
Ancient ones and spirits newly flown, be welcome here in peace amidst our
gathering.
Priestess: So is our temple crafted and the spirits
honoured.
The Festival
The declaration and celebration of the festival, sharing teachings
or expressed through the retelling of mythology, is usually placed at this
point in the ceremony, but the priests may chose to arrange it elsewhere.
Handfasting
Handfasting is a traditional form of marriage once
common in parts of Britain and treated as binding by the couple themselves,
their families and communities.
Priestess: At sacred times and places such as this
our ancestors clasped hands when they would wed, and such Handfastings were
lawful, true and binding, for as long as love should last. Would any couple
who would wish to make such vows, or to reaffirm existing vows, witnessed
by this gathering, now come forward.
The couple requiring handfasting join hands.
Priestess: As the sun and moon bring light to the
Earth, do you [ ] and [ ] vow to bring the light of love and joy to your union?
Both: I do.
Priestess: And do you vow to honour each other as
you honour that which you hold most sacred?
Both: I do.
Priestess: And do you vow to maintain these vows
in freedom, for as long as love shall last?
Both: I do.
Priest: Then let the Earth bear witness that [ ]
and [ ] are joined in love and joy and freedom. So let it be!
All: So let it be!
The couple are then encouraged to exchange any personal vows of their
own, either privately or so that all may hear, after which the assembly may
say again: “So let it be!” to signify that they have witnessed
these vows. They may also exchange rings and/or blessings, love tokens, &c,
sealing their bond with a kiss.
Priest: Let all bear witness that [ ] and [ ] are
joined in love. May their love partake of the beauty, majesty and power of
the sacred land, and may they grow together in wisdom, joy and harmony. My
own blessing, and the blessings of all those assembled here be with you,
Priestess: The blessings of the Gods be with you,
Priest: The blessing of the Ancestors be with you,
Priestess: And with all that flows from your union,
Priest: So may it be!
All: So may it be!
Blessing for Children
Priestess: Our circle is a symbol of the eternal,
and yet it is made anew each time we meet. And so it is with ourselves; we
each hold within us a spirit that is eternal, and yet we are reborn many times
as we journey towards the centre. And at each moment of rebirth we are touched
by the eternal spirit that guides us on our journey. Let the children who
would be blessed come forward, creating a circle within the circle of our
community.
Babies and young children may now come forward, with or without parents.
Each child is given a blessing by the priestess. If there are many children
to be blessed, it may be good to open the first eisteddfod session while this
is being done. This is co-ordinated by the priest who invites members of the
assembly to come forward with appropriate stories, poems and songs.
Priestess: I baptise thee with Mother Earth,
From whose loins we come
And to whose arms we fly
When our journey here is over.
I baptise thee with the winds
That come from the four corners
Of the Earth, the winds that
Scatter the seeds of the harvest
And blow away the snows of winter.
I baptise thee with fire
So that thy spirit may be
Purified and thy days
Be long and fruitful.
I baptise thee with the waters
Of life, the waters that
No living thing can do without.
Give thanks to our Lady
For thy bounteous harvest,
And may she bless you and keep you
All the days of your life.
Priestess: Within the Gorsedd circle is the circle
of our children, blessed by the Gods, blessed by our Mother Earth and by the
elements of earth, water, fire and air. Let us welcome them into our community
of spirit and of song. Children of our Mother Earth, I bid you hail and welcome!
All: Hail and welcome!
Bardic Initiation
This simple form of initiation offers an opportunity
to make a commitment to the bardic path and to the spirit of the place.
Priestess: As we are born into the life of the body,
so we may be born into the life of the spirit. Initiation into the Gorseddau,
seeded by the British Druid Order and performed now by priests of this tradition
across the land, offers an opportunity to dedicate to the spirit of place,
the community of Bards and kindred of the spirit. It is free and open to all
who wish to receive it, welcoming followers of all spiritual traditions within
one circle. In offering this initiation, we ask that you make a personal commitment
to walk the path of the Bard in beauty and in peace, using what inspiration
you may gain to find your own spirit’s true path of creative expression,
and using your creativity for the benefit of your community and of the Earth.
Priest: Let those who wish to be initiated into the
Gorsedd of Bards of [name of place] and to receive the spirit of inspiration
that we call Awen, the flowing spirit, step forward now to the centre of the
circle.
Priestess: Know that this rite will be as powerful
for you as you allow it to be. Open then your soul in trust to the sacred
force of Awen, the divine inspiration of the Gods.
The candidates for initiation gather at the centre of
the circle, linking hands to form an outward facing circle of their own.
All then repeat the following after the priest and priestess:
We assemble here at [name of festival] of the year [ . . . . ].
We assemble in the face of the sun; the Eye of Enlightenment.
We assemble on the Gorsedd mound of Mother Earth.
We assemble here to constitute ourselves a Gorsedd of Bards of the Isles of
Britain.
Priest: In the name of the ancient Order of Bards,
and by the authority of those here present, I hereby proclaim this Gorsedd
of [name of place]; may it be a meeting place of Love, and Truth, and Light.
So let it be!
All: So let it be!
Priestess: Let us now invoke the Awen, the holy
flowing spirit of the Bardic tradition, and direct its shining stream of inspiration
towards those gathered in the midst of the circle, that they may receive its
glowing gifts of clear sight, wisdom and strength of spirit. And let those
in the centre join the chant, visualising the stream of inspiration flowing
into you, and through you, to energise and inspire not only yourselves, but
the land of [name of place] and all the worlds beyond.
Those in the outer circle link hands. Those who have already received
the Awen visualise its stream of inspiration flowing into the circle, directed
through them to those gathered in the centre.
All: Awen, Awen, Awen.
Those in the outer circle then give the following blessing:
Wisdom of serpent be thine,
Wisdom of raven be thine,
Wisdom of valiant eagle.
Voice of swan be thine,
Voice of honey be thine,
Voice of the son of stars.
Bounty of sea be thine,
Bounty of land be thine,
Bounty of the boundless heavens.
Priest: Step forward now, Bards of the Gorsedd of
[name of place], and take your place within the circle of initiates.
All now return to their places in the circle.
Priest: Let us now proclaim the Gorsedd Prayer.
All: Grant, O God and Goddess, 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 the love of all existences, the love of the
God and Goddess and all goodness.
Priestess: Everything the Power of the World does
is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the Earth is
round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind in its greatest power
whirls, and birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion
as ours. The junction of heaven and earth, the horizon, is its circle of enclosing
stones, for it is beyond the air that heaven and earth meet, and that junction
is the circle of enclosing stones. Let us then complete our circle by joining
hands to swear the oath of Peace.
All join hands and repeat the following three times:
All: We swear by peace and love to stand,
Heart to heart and hand to hand,
Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now,
Confirming this our sacred vow.
Honouring the Departed
Priest: The Otherworld is known by many names.
Some call it the Islands of the Earthly Paradise, or the Isles of the Blest.
These islands lie beyond the western ocean, where the souls of the departed
are carried on the rays of the setting sun to the place of peace and healing.
Priestess: Those among us who have friends or loved
ones who have taken or are about to take that journey are invited to speak
their names, either aloud or in your hearts, that we may honour them.
Those who wish to may say the name or names aloud. Others may make their
dedications in silence. A bard may sing a song or play a melody in honour
of the departed and for the strengthening of those they leave behind.
Priestess: We give thanks, in the name of our Gods,
for all those who have shared with us their lives, their wisdom and their
love. Hail, O ancestors, those newly departed and those of old.
All: Hail, O ancestors!
The Sharing
Priest and priestess then bless the bread and mead.
Priest: We gather here today to celebrate [name
of festival], the festival of [say what the festival is about].
Priestess: Let us now give thanks to our Mother
Earth, from whom we all were born, and to whom we shall return at the end
of our days.
The bread and mead are brought into the centre of the circle to be blessed
by the priest and priestess.
Priestess: Mother Earth, in the name of our Gods
and the Gods of our ancestors, we give you thanks. You nourish us body and
soul with your gifts of beauty and of abundance. As you honour us with such
precious life, may we honour you. I bless this bread in the name of [whatever
spirits or deities may be deemed appropriate].
Priestess: This bread is blessed. To our Mother
we give the first. I leave corn and milk in your land, and mast in your woods,
and increase in your soil.
She breaks the bread and scatters some over the earth.
Priest: Father Sky, in the name of our Gods and
the Gods of our ancestors, we give you thanks. Light of the sun and blessings
of rain fall upon the body of our Mother, bringing forth her gifts. To you,
O Father, we give thanks. I bless this mead in the name of [whatever spirits
or deities may be deemed appropriate].
Priest: This mead is blessed. To you, our Mother,
we give the first. I leave corn and milk in your land, and mast in your woods,
and increase in your soil.
He pours some on the earth.
Priestess: Let us eat, that none may know hunger.
Priest: Let us drink, that none may know thirst.
Priest and priestess give to each other. With the help of the assisting
priest and priestess, the bread and mead is shared with the gathering, passing
sunwise around the circle. While the feast is shared, the eisteddfod begins.
Priest: As we give thanks for the gifts of food
and drink that sustain our bodies, so let us give thanks in poetry and song
for the gift of inspiration that uplifts our spirits.
Bards of the Gorsedd are now invited to give offerings of poetry, story
or song in honour of the season, of the Earth and of the community
The Closing
When the eisteddfod ends, the circle is closed as follows:
Priestess: I call upon the guardians of the quarters
to close this Gorsedd circle.
North: Spirits of the North; spirits of earth, we
give thanks for the gifts of strength and endurance that you have brought
to our circle. May these gifts remain with us as we prepare to depart this
place, and as we bid you hail and farewell!
All: Hail and farewell!
West: Spirits of the West; spirits of water, we
give thanks for the gifts of deep wisdom and free flowing that you have brought
to our circle. May these gifts remain with us as we prepare to depart this
place, and as we bid you hail and farewell!
All: Hail and farewell!
South: Spirits of the South; spirits of fire, we
give thanks for the gifts of passion and energy that you have brought to our
circle. May these gifts remain with us as we prepare to depart this place,
and as we bid you hail and farewell!
All: Hail and farewell!
East: Spirits of the East; spirits of air, we give
thanks for the gifts of clarity and far sight that you have brought to our
circle. May these gifts remain with us as we prepare to depart this place,
and as we bid you hail and farewell!
All: Hail and farewell!
Guardian: I give thanks to all those, both seen
and unseen, who have gathered here today. May all be blessed.
Priestess: O Spirit of this Place, we give you thanks
for your blessings. Hail, O ancestors, O great Gods of old, we give you thanks
for your presence, your guidance and your inspiration. May these gifts remain
with us as we bid you hail and farewell!
All: Hail and farewell!
Priestess: Let the circle be opened that these blessings
be shared throughout the world.
The Priest and three bards unweave the circle.
Priest: This rite ends in peace as in peace it began.
May the spirit of [name of place], the light of sun and moon, the blessings
of our ancestor and the power of the old gods go with us all to nourish, strengthen
and sustain us as we depart this place. Peace without and peace within, until
we meet again. So may it be!
All: So may it be!
Here ends this Gorsedd rite.
© Philip Shallcrass and Emma Restall Orr 1992 - 2005
