Dea, Rites and Mysteries of the Goddess
Fellowship of Isis Liturgy by Olivia Robertson
Summer Ritual of the Sun
Ritual no. 5
ORACLE OF THE GODDESS GRAINNE
Invocation: "Dwells the holy Sidhe of Fire,
In the hollow of the earth:
Glows the holy Sidhe of Fire,
In the seed that giveth Birth.
Lightly blows the wind of Mari,
Draws Her veil about the sky,
Dims the golden rays of Grainne,
Moves the tree-tops with a sigh."
Grainne, Goddess of Sun and seed, with Thy grace fulfil our need.
Oracle of the Goddess Grainne
through her priestess
"My golden hair is wheat and oats,
My robe the ever-changing sky;
The lady-bird My finger bears,
My eyes shine forth in lake and sea.
From the depths of earth My inner sun
Glows through the hearts of all existences.
Atoms and stars: creatures that grow and move,
Know Me as Mother and as Consciousness.
My breath inspires every breath:
The healing rays are Mine.
Look upwards, round about and down,
For I am everywhere."
Let there be a fire out-of-doors, or incense indoors, burning in the centre of the circle. An altar is placed by the fire and upon it let there be flowers and fruit. If there be one devotee, the Sun Dance is visualised and the Goddess's gifts are taken from the altar.
Invocation: I invoke the Sun Goddess Grainne. (Devotee drops incense on the fire or in the pot.) Divine Grainne, accept this incense, in gratitude for Thy life-giving rays.
Let there be music throughout the ceremony.
Devotee: The teaming summer has come, bringing life in its arms, and strews rosy flowers on the face of hill and dale. In lovely harmony the wood has put on its green mantle, and summer is on her throne, playing her string music. The willow whose harp hung silently when it was withered in winter, now gives forth melody - Hush! Listen! The world is alive.
Dancers glide towards the fire, and one, representing Grainne, sinks by the altar, as if asleep. The others, representing planets, form a maze dance around the fire.
Devotee: The God Lugh stretches His long white arm above the hills. Across the sky fly the Immortal Children of the Light, the White Swans of Lir. They call upon their sister, who gilds their wings with gold.
Dancers hold out their arms to Grainne. Slowly she awakens and rises to her feet. She gives the Dance of the Sun, bestowing her golden rays. Then she moves to the altar and from it gives the planetary dancers gifts of flowers and fruit. She sinks to rest. The dancers unwind their maze pattern.
Meditation
Let the Vision be of Elysium seen by the poet Pindar:
"While we in night lie hidden, there in Elysium below
Bright shines the sun: in the meadows about their City's wall
The fruit of gold hang heavy, crimson the roses blow
From fragrance-breathing boughs the shadows fall...
With Games of strength and games of skill
And music they make merry abundance; and for warm-hearted love
Wreaths all their days with flowers;
While perfumes fill
That lovely land where without cease
From the Deities' far-flaming altars the mingled incense rises."
Devotee: We give thanks to the Sun Goddess Grainne for Her gifts: for earthly life; for abundance; and for warm-hearted love. May all earthly creatures receive Her bounty.
Sources: "A Celtic Miscellany”, Kenneth Hurlstone Jackson, Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., London, 1967.“Greek Poetry”, translated by F. L. (Frank Laurence) Lucas, Everyman’s Library series, no. 611, J.M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., London, 1951.
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