Of Thoughts and Updates

          More and more my rituals are going towards being less outdoorsy and more indoor. I prefer the quiet of my home shrine and a small family feast. I guess I am going through an inward cycle right now. My Lughnasadh ritual was very much that sort of quiet time with myself and my Gods.

          I have around three more chapters to write in my book. Well I think just three more...not sure yet if I want to add some more topics to the ones I have planned. I'm also thinking of adding a journal which can be downloaded and printed out free by people who buy the book so that they can use them together. Again still in the planning phase. The book itself is giving me fits. I've taken to calling it "The Monster Project", because that is what it is turning into...a monster.
          I am re-reading a book on the Manx Calendar and I've yet to see a mention of Manannán Mac Lír in it yet...which seems a little weird to me, and one of the many hmmm moments I've had researching this book. After the Isle of Man, I'm going to start researching Scottish customs. I've ordered some books on Wales and Cornwall, but I'm also going to look for new books when I go to England next month. This should be fun... 

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.

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.