A Winter Ritual of Protection

By Rev. Vic S. (Leona Oigheag)

This ritual is designed for Morfran Afagddu, son of Cerridwen and Tegid. You can learn more about him in “The Cauldron Born” by Kristoffer Hughes.

Gather the following items for the ritual: 2 candles, chimes, grain, wine for offerings, drink for the Waters, oracle, incense, milk/water for offerings, candy, bread/crackers, representatives of fire, well and tree.

{Outdwellers – this was done before the ritual}

Go to the edge of your ritual area, and face outwards to call to the outdwellers

Creatures of distraction, 
spirits who are against our purpose, 
internal and external. Your work is not our work this day.  
We offer you this treat and bid you to avoid our rite this day. 
Know that we are well warded and well-warned have you been.

Leave some candy or toys for the outdwellers

{Initiating the Rite}

Ring the bell/chime three times

{Purification}

Between Fire and Water, we find our balance

Circle the area with lit incense or waft smoke around

May we be purified with Air

Circle the area with a lit candle

May we be purified with Fire

Asperge the area with a water

May we be purified with Water

{Honoring the Earth Mother}

We call out to the Spirit of Earth
You who support us.
You who hold us.
You who have birthed us 
and will once again take us.
We thank you for your bounty 
and the growth to come.

offer grain to the ground or offering bowl

Spirit of Earth, accept our offering.

{Statement of Purpose}

We call for protection in this rite.

{(Re)create the Cosmos}

Place your hand near the Fire

We give thanks to the fire
that burns bright within our hearts
may the fires of the heavens light our way.

Place your hand over the Well

We give thanks to the well
the water that flows deep within the earth
and deep within our hearts,
connecting us to our ancestors

Place your hand over the Tree

We give thanks to the World Tree,
that grows deep and tall,
reaching from the deepest well to the tallest stars
joining earth and sky as one
The worlds are connected.

{Open the Gates}

Gwyn ap Nudd (GWIN ap NEETH), King of the Dead, 
we call to you this night. 
We ask you to watch over us, 
to guard the gate between this world and all others, 
to protect us as we perform this rite. 
We offer you this drink and our thanks. 
We welcome you this night.

offer a beverage to the offering bowl

Let the well open as a gate!
Let the fire open as a gate!
Let the tree open as a gate!
Let the gate be OPEN!

{Invite the Three Kindreds}

We call upon the kindreds to join us in this sacred space!
Ancestors, of blood, heart and spirit, join us this night,
and lend your energy to this rite. 
Ancestors, we welcome you!

offer bread or crackers or water to the ancestors

Nature Spirits, creatures of body and spirit, join us this night,
and lend your energy to this rite.
Nature Spirits, we welcome you!

offer milk or water to the nature spirits

Shining Ones, Children of Don,  
Deities of magic and sovereignty
join us this night, and lend your support to this rite
Shining Ones, we welcome you!

Shining Ones, Children of Llyr,  
Deities of sea and poetry
join us this night, and lend your energy to this rite
Shining Ones, we welcome you!

offering of incense to the shining ones

{Key Offerings & Prayer of Sacrifice}

Morfran Afagddu,
Sea-Crow, Utter Darkness,
Survivor of the Battle of Camlann,
We call to you today.

Morfran Afagddu,
Your visage is so terrifying
That none would touch you
On the battlefield. 

Morfran Afagddu
Awen’s inspiration,
Who shines from within,
Who poets call to for praise.

Morfran Afagddu,
Join us at our fire. 

offering of red wine to the well

{Omen}

Afagddu, Kindreds all, we ask that you share your wisdom with us today.
What blessings do the Kindreds bestow upon us as we each find our path?

Perform a reading using your chosen divination method.

Afagddu, Kindreds all, we thank you for your wisdom.

{Calling for, Hallowing and Affirming the Blessings}

hold the cup of water up to the Kindreds

Children of Don, Children of Llyr, Nature Spirits, Ancestors,
Kindreds together, we ask for your blessings this night,
May you share your strength, as we tend the harvest through the summer ahead
May you share your wisdom, as we find our paths, inward and outward.

Kindred, may you bless these waters!
Behold! This is the Water of Life!

Have a drink of the Waters of Life

Our thanks to you, dear Kindred, for your blessings. 

{Workings}

On a small piece of paper, draw an image of you. It can be a stick figure or look like a gingerbread man. You can draw multiple people if you’d like to extend the protection beyond yourself, but only choose people with whom you have a relationship such as family and friends. Add pets if desired.

Now draw the ogham “Luis” (Rowan) over the figure(s). Luis is a vertical line with two horizontal lines coming out to the right. Now draw Luis to the right and to the left of the figure(s). Now take the paper and put it under the candle in its holder. If desired, you can carve Luis into the candle.

Now say the following while lighting the candle and imagine yourself being surrounded with joy and protection.

Morfran Afagddu,
Stand by our side
Remind us of joy
Protect us from harm.
Sea-Crow
Utter Darkness
Stand with us.

(repeat 3x)

Keep the fire burning until it burns down. If you need to blow it out for safety, relight it by saying the prayer again. Do not leave lit candles unattended.

Keep the talisman on you for protection.

{Thank the Beings}

Afagddu, we thank you for joining us this night,
May your light ever guide us along our path,
May your protection stay with us through our days..
We love, honor and respect you,
We bid you ‘Farewell and Bright Blessings’

Children of Llyr, we thank you for joining us this night,
We honor you.
We bid you ‘Farewell and Bright Blessings’

Children of Don, we thank you for joining us this night,
We honor you.
We bid you ‘Farewell and Bright Blessings’

Nature Spirits, we thank you for joining us this night,
We honor you.
We bid you ‘Farewell and Bright Blessings’

Ancestors, we thank you for joining us this night,
We honor you.
We bid you ‘Farewell and Bright Blessings’

{Close the Gates}

Gwyn ap Nudd, we thank you for guarding our gate this night,
May the tree become a tree,
May the fire become just flame,
May the well become just water,
Gwyn ap Nudd, we bid you ‘Farewell and Bright Blessings’

May the gates be closed!

{Thank the Earth Mother}

Spirit of Earth,
We thank you for your aid in this rite. 
To you we return all that is unused,
That you may find good use for it.

{Close the Rite}

As the night becomes night again,
and the world returns to normal,
this rite is ended.