Ùrnaigh

This ùrnaigh’s intent is ‘sacred speech’, and I will state this in the beginning before the processional from the Truck to the ritual site for my first High Day, Bealltainn. I use this prayer before every ritual or working.

Fonn:
Canam an achan o mo bheal
Canam an achan o mo chridhe
Canam an achan dhuit fhein
Alla mara agus tire
Alla greine agus gile
Alla nan riollachan alain

Translation:
I speak the prayer from my mouth
I speak the prayer from my heart
I speak the prayer to Thee, Thyself
Wild Lord of Sea and Land,
Wild Lord of Sun and Moon,
Wild Lord of the Beautiful Stars

source:
Fonn 2, Sacred Chants of the Céile Dé. Duncauld, Scotland: Céile Dé.

An Faclair Dhà

My secondary dictionary is strictly a pronunciation dictionary, although it does have some definitions; it goes into some depth as to where the sound is produced in the mouth or throat, and has many examples and detailed symbology. This was originally published in 1932, and is of the Glengarry Dialect.

Dieckhoff, Henry Cyril. A Pronouncing Dictionary of Scottish Gaelic. Glasgow: Gairm Publications, 1998. (ISBN: 1871901189)

An Faclair Aon

My main dictionary for Gaelic translation, and a wee bit of pronunciation too, is affectionately referred to as ‘The Green Dictionary’ by my various instructors and study groups over the years. This dictionary encompasses the original A Pronouncing Gaelic Dictionary by Neil MacAlpine, 1831, plus the dictionaries of MacBain and MacEachan and was originally published in 1925.

MacLennan, Malcolm. A Pronouncing and Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language. Edinburgh: Mercat Press, 1997. (ISBN: 1873644116)

Bealltainn Tools List

TOOLS:
– My scrying bowl for the Well.
– A willing Tree at the Park for the Tree.
– A candle in holder for Fire.
(Right now, there is a burn-ban for our county; open fires are forbidden. As long as I use a candle in a holder or charcoal and incense, I should be okay.)
– Rattle
– MP3 player

Offerings:
– Soil from my painting to scatter and seal First Oath
– Apple for Mannannán
– Flour or other meal for the Goddess
– Silver coin
– Incense
– Holy water
– Clootie (bird-friendly, something for nests)

Bealltainn Ritual Outline

This outline is to ensure that I include the rudimentary beginning of an ADF-style ritual. As it’s a big departure from what I am used to, I’m starting in outline form to make sure I hit the must-haves I can muster, and I will flesh out the individual components in separate posts; then, I’ll put it all together for the actual ritual. For this, I leaned heavily on the ADF Core Order of Ritual from the Handbook, and Melissa Burchfield’s Adopting the Core Order of Ritual for Solitary Use. This is really, really hard and overwhelming, but, I’m determined to make it work; I intend to start small with what I’m comfortable with, really, and gradually build on it, as Melissa Burchfield did with her work. *Thank you for sharing it, Melissa!!!*

Core Order of Ritual Outline
1. Initiating the rite
– Musical Signal   – Opening Prayer   – Processional
Firstly, I will declare, “Tha mise an seo chum urram a chur air na diathan!” I intend to use my rattle as the musical signal, and do a processional to the actual site of the Rite, as the way the park is set up, there is a trek from the vehicle parking to the natural areas. During the processional (walking from the Truck to the site), I will chant my standard ùrnaigh (a Gaelic prayer of sacred intention, a ‘prayer before a prayer’); also another  Gaelic chant or two – depends on how long it takes; how slow I go.

2. Purification
When I reach the ritual site, I will do my light body meditation from OBOD – it’s something I can do whilst working with breathing, and will drop me into Ritual Mind; it will cleanse my energy and aura and ensure my focus.

3. Honoring the Earth Mother
From A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite from the DP Manual Pgs. 57-61:
(Pinch of meal on ground) Earth, mo mhathair, I am your child. Uile-mhathair, I pray you bless and uphold my rite, as you uphold the whole world. Earth, mo mhathair, accept my sacrifice!

4. Statement of Purpose
Modified From A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite from the DP Manual Pgs. 57-61:
I come to do as the ancients did, to make offering to the powers and to bless my body, my mind and my spirit with the blessings of the Gods and Spirits. As my forebears did, so do I now, and so may others do after me. I come to pledge my First Oath before All, of honor in my deeds, diligence in keeping the way, and study of the ways of the Gael. To those ends, I will hallow this sacred Grove.

Then I lay before my chosen (and willing) Tree, my fire and well, the fire placed upon a raised stone cairn, the well just in front and beneath.

5. Recreating the Cosmos
– Triad of Hallows (Fire, Well & Tree) – 3 Realms Acknowledged
Modified From A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite from the DP Manual Pgs. 57-61:
– (Drop silver in well) In the depths flow the waters of wisdom. Sacred well, flow within me.
(Incense offering for fire) I feed the sacred fire in wisdom, love and power. Sacred fire, burn within me.
(Offering of holy water to tree) From the deeps to the heights spans the world-tree. Sacred tree, grow within me.
– (Water and incense over all, visualizing the Shrine turning away all ill) By the might of the Water and the light of the Fire, this Grove is made whole and holy
(Spread your arms and encompass the whole shrine) Let the sea not rise, and all ill turn away.
Let the sky not fall, and all ill turn away.
Let the land hold firm, and all ill turn away.

The Fire, the Well, the Sacred Tree, flow and flame and grow in me! In Land, Sea, and Sky, below and on high! Thus is the Sacred Grove claimed and hallowed. Bitheadh e mar sin!

6. Opening the Gates
My gatekeeper is Manannán Mac Lir – since it is Himself that led me to ADF, there isn’t any reason why I wouldn’t continue working with Him in this capacity. Modified From A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite from the DP Manual Pgs. 57-61:
(Sacrifice apple to fire) I make this offering to the Keeper of the Gates. Beloved Manannán, Lord of the Between, Keeper of Roads and Opener of Ways, join your magic with mine to guard and ward the gate of this working. Beloved Manannán, accept my sacrifice!

(Drawing triskele over fire) Now let the Fire open the Gate! Let the Well open the Gate! Let the Tree hold fast the Way Between. Open as an eye of seeing; Open as a mouth of speaking; Open as an oaken door, between this Sacred Center and the Otherworlds. By the Keeper of Gates, and by my Will and Word, fosgailtear na geataichean!

7. Inviting the 3 Kindreds
Modified From A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite from the DP Manual Pgs. 57-61:
(Holy Water and clootie as offering) Gods and Dead and mighty Spirits, Powers of Land and Sky and Sea, Fàilte!
By Fire and Well and sacred Tree, offerings I make to thee!
To those who dwell below, to those who dwell above, to the tribes of spirits in the land!

8. Workings
Taking my First Oath, and scattering the soil from the Painting to Land, Sea and Sky to seal the Oath; Modified From A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite from the DP Manual Pgs. 57-61:
(My soil from my soil painting as offering, in fire, in well and for tree) I, EnchantedWolf, speak aloud to All that is:
Subhailc; Feumaidh Mise làn urram a thoirt dhaibh
Cràbhadh; Feumaidh Mise làn urram a thoirt dhaibh
Smuainteachadh; Feumaidh Mise làn urram a thoirt dhaibh
to the Pagan ways I now swear this enduring Oath, Awen.

9. Thanking the Beings
Modified From A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite from the DP Manual Pgs. 57-61:
By this work I am blessed, by the power of the Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones! To all those who have aided me in this holy work, I give thanks.
Triple Kindreds, Gods, Dead and Landspirits: I thank you for your presence in my small Grove. Shining Ones, Mighty Dead, Noble Spirits I thank you for your aid and blessing.

10. Closing the Gate(s)
Modified From A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite from the DP Manual Pgs. 57-61:
(Closing triskele over the fire) Beloved Manannán, Lord of the gates, lord of knowledge, I give you my thanks. Now let the Fire be flame, the Well be water, Let all be as it was before, save for the magic I have made. Dùintear na geataichean!

11. Thanking the Earth Mother
Taken From A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite from the DP Manual Pgs. 57-61:
Uile-mhathair, I give thanks, for ever upholding my life and my work.

12. Closing the Rite
Modified From A Solitary Self-Blessing Rite from the DP Manual Pgs. 57-61:
The fire, the well, the sacred tree, Flow and flame and grow in me! Peace and blessings to all beings. This rite is closed!

After ritual is closed, I will take an extra step – I will take and disperse an amount of soil from my soil painting by land, by river and by wind.