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Why Do We Do Ritual?
Why Do We Do Ritual?
In general, the purpose of ritual is to form a relationship and connect with the divine, so that we then get something back from the divine. In the case of ADF, this means forming a *ghosti relationship with the Three Kindreds. We are praising them and offering to them so that we might receive their blessings. In holding ritual, the participants are looking for help with a task, for a relationship with the divine, and/or building a community around shared beliefs or practices.
Holy Days
Holy Days
As Druids we acknowledge and honor the cycle of the seasons. This includes rites that correspond to both the lunar and solar cycles. The structure and predictability allows us to build community with those around us and also build a relationship with the Kindreds.
Rites of Passage
Rites of Passage
These are an important part of any religious tradition, being able to properly honor and mark those big moments in life: birth, death, coming of age, marriage, divorce, etc. These rituals invite the Kindreds to share in those important moments in our lives and often invite the community to take part as well.
Personal work
Personal work
This can be in the form of simple devotional work, praise offerings, or offerings of thanks. Our personal work may invovle things like seeking the help of patrons or other allies, or to do trance or other magical work.
Who Does Ritual?
Who Does Ritual?
Anyone can participate in an ADF ritual to the extant that they are comfortable with. There are a variety of roles that people can take when they are participating in an ADF rite.
Congregant
Congregant
The Congregant is the person who comes to attend the rite and connect with the spirits and the community. They are often invivted to make personal offerings of their won within the rite.
Bard
Bard
The Bard is the person who leads or performs a bardic art within a ritual. Most often we think of this as leading the ritual music, but someone may also take on the role of Bard when they tell a story, lead a playlet, or recite a hymn or other piece of poetry.
Priest
Priest
The Priest in a ritual can mean one of two things. This person can be an ADF Priest who is leading or overseeing a rite, but it could also be a member of the laity who is leading or taking on priestly roles in the rite (such as the Return Flow or Gate Opening).
Seer
Seer
The Seer is the person within a rite who takes the Omen. They are in charge of listening to the words of the Kindreds to hear what our blessings for the rite are.
Sacrificer
Sacrificer
Not all rites have a seperate Sacrficer, as this often become more neccesary in larger rites. The Sacrficer is the person who makes the offering to a spirit after they have been called, specifically when they were not the one to speak the invitation.
Celebrant
Celebrant
The Celebrant is any person in ritual who has taken on the responibility of performing one of the 18 steps in the Core Order of Ritual. Most often these are the folks who speak invitations to the kindreds and other spirits.
In many of our rites people fill multiple roles when performing a ritual. For example, in most rites the Celebrant is also the Sacrificer for their own speaking part. The Priest may also take on any of these roles. However some roles, like Seer, may make sense to leave to one person who has no other parts. This is often because that role requires specific concentration within the rite.
Parts of an ADF Ritual
Parts of an ADF Ritual
The ADF Core Order of Ritual is an 18 step liturgy. When performing a public ADF rite, the ritual must contain all 18 of these steps. These steps can also be visualized within 5 tiers to better aid in understanding the flow of ritual.
18 Steps to the Core Order
18 Steps to the Core Order
Charter Oak Grove, ADF has put together and excellent collection explaining the various parts of an ADF ritual.
There is also a great tutorial on each part of the Core Order of Ritual on the ADF website.
Ritual Parts: In Depth
Ritual Parts: In Depth
Now that you've read the overview of the Core Order of Ritual, and understand how the steps are aligned, let's look in more depth at some of the beings we call and actions we take.
ADF Ritual in Practice
ADF Ritual in Practice
There are many different ways that an ADF ritual can look when it is performed. Below is a sampling of resources to give you an idea of the extent of variations.
Video Resources for Rituals
Video Resources for Rituals
A Simple Druid's Rite: The Lego Core Order of Ritual: watch as a little Lego MiniFig performs a simple blessing rite
The Core Order of Ritual in Under 2 Minutes: sometimes our order of ritual can feel long and complex. Watch Rev. Melissa Hill perform a short rite that includes all 18 steps in under 2 min
A Full Avestan Summer Solstice Rite: it's okay to work in an obscure hearth culture, and it's okay to use scripts in ritual
300+ Person Lughnasa Rite: while many ADF grove rites are typically for 10-50 people, sometimes the congregation is much bigger than that
ADF Unity Rite: at festivals we often perform a Unity Rite, meant to connect all of ADF together
Autumn Equinox for Solitaries: while many video rites are of Groves doing their High Day work, this rite is designed with Solitaries in mind, to be able to follow along with at home.
Clergy Council Spring Equinox Rite: many of the clergy come together virtually to put together a rite for the High Days. Each member does a part, and the videos are then spliced together to form a full rite. These rites are a great way to see variations on how each part can be done.
Solitaries SIG Midsummer Rite: similar to the Clergy Council virtual rituals, the solitaries of ADF have also come together to present video rites. These are more great examples of the varied ways each part in ritual can be performed.
Text Resources for Rituals
Text Resources for Rituals
Sample Ritual Packet: put together by the Initiate Council, this packet highlights particular varitions in ritual scripts
Further Resources for Writing Liturgy
Further Resources for Writing Liturgy
by Shauna Aura Knight
by Diane "Emerald" Bronowizc Egelhoff
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