A ritual to dedicate the next year to studying Manannan Mac Lir (along side my Gods)

Purifying Self:

Dip your hand into water, touch your forehead and say: “May I be pure that I might cross through the sacred.”

Dip your hand again, touch your lips: “May I cross through the sacred that I may attain the holy.”

Dip your hand again, touch your heart and say: “May I attain the holy that I might be blessed in all things.”

Petition Ritual:

Sit or stand in front of the deity Altar/Shrine and say a blessing for the three realms:

The Waters support and surround me.

The Land extends about me.

The Sky reaches out above me.

At the center burns a living flame.

Light the candle or flame at the center of the Altar/Shrine.  Say:

I light this fire to carry my prayers to the Gods of my ancestors.

Now you ask the gods, nature spirits and ancestors to join you.

I ask the gods of my ancestors to join me in my ritual, I ask my ancestors to guide me, and I ask the land spirits to aid me.  I ask all to be a witness to my endeavor.

Now insert a prayer for the gods you want to petition.

"Hail Manannan, son of the sea, and father of mist. I come to you with an open heart."

Purpose of the Ritual:

I call on to you humbly, Manannan Mac Lir, to accept me as a student on your path for the next year. I will make offerings to you at midday, each day and honor you on Midsummer's day.

Now it is time to make the offerings:

Pick up the offering for Manannan and raise it above your head and say:

To Manannan, I honor you. I offer you my hospitality and give thanks for your blessings on my endeavors.

Place offering.

Now thanks the gods, nature spirits and the gods for listening to you.

I thank the gods of my ancestors for joining me in my ritual, I thank my ancestors for guiding me, and I thank the land spirits for aiding me.  I thank you all for being a witness to my endeavor.

My Beltaine ritual

This was a quiet ritual for me last night at home. 

The Ritual:

What is needed: four candles (three for representing the gods, ancestors, and spirits, and one to represent the central or ‘hearth’ fire), offerings (bread, raw meat, and apples) a drinking vessel, a vessel to hold offerings (apple juice). Purifying water (I use rain water or spring water).

Purifying My Self Before Ritual:

I dip my hand into water, touch my forehead and say:

“May I be pure that I might cross through the sacred.”

I dip my hand again, touch my lips and say:

“May I cross through the sacred that I may attain the holy.”

I dip my hand again, touch my heart and say:

“May I attain the holy that I might be blessed in all things.”

Main Part of the Ritual:

Opening Prayer:

The fertile land below,

the blue sea about,

the vast sky above,

their blessings here tonight.

Kindling the Fire:

Lighting the candle.

I light the hearth candle,

May it grow strong,

May it grow bright,

May it carry my prayers to the gods.

Prayers to the Hosts:

Light a candle

A fire for the gods is here,

Excellent Hosts,

proficient in wisdom and skill,

splendid and hardy troupe,

generous patrons,

Morrígan, great warrior goddess, prophetess, and sorceress, I raise my voice in praise of you with wonder and awe.  I sit in your presence, oh great source of terror and comfort.

Lugh Lamhfhada, great warrior and god of many arts, I praise you.  Bright and shining god and flaming spear out of the chaos I honor you.

Fáilte!

Give offering

Light a candle

A fire for the ancestors is here,

for those whose graves we rest on

and whose fame we seek to follow.

A lamp to guide your way

through the mists

from Tech Duinn. 

Fáilte!

Give offering

Light a candle

A fire for the Fair-Folk and land spirits is here,

auspicious and kindly denizens,

hosts of the abundant land,

gentry of the hills and mounds,

Spirits and guardians of the desert,

People of Peace, 

Fáilte!

Give offering

Hail and Greetings to

The Three that are here,

Excellent Gods,

Beloved Ancestors,

and Kindly Spirits;

the three eternal fires

that illuminate the world.

Purpose of the ritual:

This ritual is to celebrate Beltaine

Main Offering/Sacrifice

To the Ever-Living Three

I give this raw meat and bread

in honor and in gratitude and in love,

honoring the ancient and ancestral

contract that binds us.

Give offering

Peace to sky,

sky to earth,

earth beside sea,

strength in each.

Hail to the gods,

love to the dead,

peace to the Good-Folk,

noble is each.

Personal Prayers:

My Gods, thank you for the blessing of strength and patients. I ask for your help as always, in my personal, spiritual, and precessional life.

Ending the Ritual:

Drinking cup filled with apple juice

I thank the gods of my ancestors for joining me in my ritual, I thank my ancestors for guiding me, and I thank the land spirits for aiding me.  I thank you all for being a witness to my endeavor.

Libate and Sip

Renewal of my formal contract with my household Deities

I decided to do three different rituals this Beltaine, the first of which was last night. I decided to renew my contract with my household Deities and ask them if they would be okay with me studying Manannán Mac Lír for the next year. It is a huge commitment for me and so I needed to be sure it was okay with my Deities. Here is the ritual I used:

Purifying Self:

Dip your hand into water, touch your forehead and say: “May I be pure that I might cross through the sacred.”

Dip your hand again, touch your lips: “May I cross through the sacred that I may attain the holy.”

Dip your hand again, touch your heart and say: “May I attain the holy that I might be blessed in all things.”

Petition Ritual:

Sit or stand in front of the deity Altar/Shrine and say a blessing for the three realms (Today I am sitting):

The Waters support and surround me.

The Land extends about me.

The Sky reaches out above me.

At the center burns a living flame.

Light the candle or flame at the center of the Altar/Shrine.  Say:

I light this fire to carry my prayers to the Gods of my ancestors.

Now you ask the gods, nature spirits and ancestors to join you.

I ask the gods of my ancestors to join me in my ritual, I ask my ancestors to guide me, and I ask the land spirits to aid me.  I ask all to be a witness to my endeavor.

Now insert a prayer for the gods you want to petition.

Morrígan, great warrior goddess, prophetess, and sorceress, I raise my voice in praise of you with wonder and awe.  I sit in your presence, oh great source of terror and comfort.

Lugh Lamhfhada, great warrior and god of many arts, I praise you.  Bright and shining god and flaming spear out of the chaos I honor you.

Next state the purpose of the ritual:

I would like to formally ask you to renew my formal contract with You both. I will make offerings to you daily and dedicate all my rituals to you and in exchange I ask for your guidance, blessings, fighting strength and prosperity in my life.

I would also like to ask you to let me study Manannán Mac Lír for the next year, making offerings to him in midday, and honoring him on midsummer day.

Now it is time to make the offerings:

Pick up the offering for An Morrigan and raise it above your head and say:

To the Morrigan, I honor you.  My Queen and honored Warrior, I offer you my hospitality and give thanks for your blessings and protection!

Now place the offering in the place designated for the Morrigan.  Pick up the offering to Lugh and raise it above your head then say:

To Lugh Lamfhada, I honor you.  Samildananch, I offer you my hospitality! The Voice of Thunder, I give thanks for your blessings and protection!

Now place the offering for the place designated for Lugh.

Taking of the Omens:

(I decided to use a direct yes or no method which my mother taught me using lots, two sticks on has yes on it and the other has no. The are in a large mug like cup with only their heads showing, I ask my question and shake the mug around and pick one)

My questions were: 

• Will You accept the renewal of the contract? The answer was yes.
• Will You accept me studying Manannán Mac Lír for the next year, making offerings to him in midday, and honoring him on midsummer day? The answer was also yes.

Now thanks the gods, nature spirits and the gods for listening to you.

I thank the gods of my ancestors for joining me in my ritual, I thank my ancestors for guiding me, and I thank the land spirits for aiding me.  I thank you all for being a witness to my endeavor.

I was really pleased with the energies in this ritual, considering the circumstances I'm in I was really pleased with how much energy I got out of the ritual.  I feel a lot better today for sure.

I hope my Beltaine ritual today goes just as smoothly.