0: The Sacred Beach is in the Dining Hall at Camp Clifton. The celebrants hallow the Beach; the Fire is lit, the Well is filled with ocean water, the Palm Tree is blessed.
Purpose
Today, we consider how we worship, and we realize that there is room for creativity. We look at our lives, and we see that the Gods wish to be worshipped in a way relevant to who we are, in a manner that has meaning to us.
Similarly, they enjoy song, story, and poem. We have come together tonight to pay tribute to the Bardic Arts. Tonight we do homage to the spirits of great bards, our ancestors who enjoy good food, good drink, and good stories. We worship tonight with the words of an American bard, Jimmy Buffett, to show one way our modern lives can be a strong source of our worship.
Tonight, we sail from the Port of Indecision to some more navigable waters. We will honour the Powers with song and story, and we will call to those who we may not yet know as our patrons. Eventually, to the Port of Indecision we shall return.
Procession
With “Tiki Bar” playing in the background, conga into the space the hallows deosil. Each person sets up a lawn chair or sits on a bench, then the Druids give the opening prayers.
Purification: Seer and Bard stand next to the door. They quickly place leis over the heads of the company as they enter.
Opening Prayers
A: Universal Spirit: Senior Druid speaks:
Barometer Soup
(SD)
Follow in my wake, you’ve not that much at stake
For I have plowed the seas, and smoothed the troubled waters
Come along let’s have some fun, the hard work has been done
We’ll barrel roll into the sun, just for starters
Just for starters, barometer is my soup
I’m descended from a deck hand on a sloop
I travel on the song lines that only dreamers see
Not known for predictability
All: So be it!
B: Earth Mother: All kneel and touch or kiss the earth. The Seer speaks:
One Particular Harbor
Lakes below the mountains
Flow into the sea
Like oils applied to canvas
They permeate through me
And there’s that one particular harbour
Sheltered from the wind
Where the children play on the shore each day
And all are safe within
IA ORA TE NATURA
E MEA AROFA TEIE AO NEI
IA ORA TE NATURA
E MEA AROFA TEIE AO NEI
All: IA ORA TE NATURA
E MEA AROFA TEIE AO NEI
C: Awen: The Bard invokes, saying:
Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season
There’s something about this Sunday
It’s a most peculiar grey
Strolling down the avenue
That’s known as A1A
I was feeling tired
And then I got inspired
I knew that it wouldn’t last long
So all alone I walked back home
Sat on my beach and there I made up this song.
And now I must confess
I can use some rest
I can’t run at this pace very long
Yes, it’s quite insane
I think it hurts my brain
But it cleans me out
And then I can go on.
So be it!
All: So be it!
Purification
Outdwellers: An offering of a small dashboard Hula Girl is made to the south of the Grove, saying:
Fins
(SD)
We got fins to the left!
Fins to the Right!
Left, right, left right left right!
Can’t you feel ’em circlin’ honey?
Can’t you feel ’em swimmin’ around?
You got fins to the left, fins to the right,
and your the only bait in town.
You got fins to the left, fins to the right,
and your the only girl in town.
And she feels like the remora
Cuz the school’s still close at hand!
Just beyond the reach of the big white teeth
Of the sharks that can swim on the land!
Grove Attunement
A special Two Powers meditation.
It’s a surprise!
Fire, Ocean and Palm Tree
Offerings to the Sacred Center. The seer positions herself at the Ocean, the bard at the fire, and the Senior Druid at the Palm Tree. Offerings are placed given when the song states:
A Pirate Looks at Forty
(Seer)
Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call,
Wanted to sail upon your waters
since I was three feet tall.
You’ve seen it all, you’ve seen it all.
Watch the men who rode you,
Switch from sails to steam.
And in your belly you hold the treasure
that few have ever seen, most of them dreams,
Most of them dreams.
(Offering to the Ocean)
Far Side of the World
(Bard)
A Sunset framed by lightening bolts
Burns a lasting memory
And a string of tiny twinkling lights
adorn the sausage tree.
While the embers from the log fire
Flicker, fly, and twirl
Then drift off toward the cosmos
From the Far Side of the World.
(Offering to the Fire)
Lone Palm
(SD)
Where no bird flies by my window
No ship is tied to my tree
Love is a wave building to a crescendo
Ride if you will, ride it with me
(Offering to the Palm Tree)
Opening The Gates
The Senior Druid makes an offering to the Gatekeeper, saying:
Beachhouse on the Moon
Past the falls they call Victoria
Down a river named the Nile
Drifts a tiny little handmade boat
It’s shaped just like a smile
And steered by a magician
With the knowledge that he needs
To keep him on his destined course
past the crocodiles and reeds
He’s the Admiral of the Ocean
The lone eagle in the sky
He gave me my first sextant
And he taught me how to fly.
It’s been quite a lengthy passage
From the dawn of time till now
He has weathered the infernal storms
In his trusty petit dhow.
He has soared above colossal waves
Sailed the endless seas
Sometimes he resembles you
Sometimes, he looks like me. . .
Gatekeeper, accept our sacrifice!
All: Gatekeeper, accept our sacrifice!
An offering of oil is given to the Fire. The Senior Druid then conjures the Gates, making an opening triskel on the Fire and Ocean, saying:
Volcano
(SD)
Now, Gatekeeper,
Join your magic with mine
Ground, she movin’ under me.
Tidal waves out on the sea.
Sulphur smoke up in the sky.
Pretty soon we learn to fly.
Let the gates be open!
All: Let the gates be open!
Kindred Offerings
The druids make proper offerings to each of the Kindred, standing at the fire.
Ancestors
[Son of a Son of a Sailor/Cheeseburger in Paradise]
(Seer)
Haul the sheet in as we ride on the wind that our
Forefathers harnessed before us.
Hear the bells ring as the tight rigging sings.
It’s a son of a gun of a chorus.
But a son of a son, son of a son, son of a son of a sailor.
Son of a gun, load the last ton
One step ahead of the jailer
I’m just a son of a son, son of a son, son of a son of a sailor
The sea’s in my veins, my tradition remains.
I’m just glad I don’t live in a trailer.
Heard about the old time sailor men,
They eat the same thing again and again;
Warm beer and bread they say could raise the dead:
Well, it reminds me of the menu at a Holiday Inn
Ancestors, accept our sacrifice!
(an offering of beer and bread is made to the Ancestors)
All: Ancestors, Accept our sacrifice!
Nature Spirits
[Savannah Fare You Well]
(Bard)
There is something in the wind tonight
Some kind of change of weather
Somewhere some devil’s mixing fire and ice together
I got a feeling that the dark side of the moon is one the rise
Black as a crow’s feather
Now I could stay another day or two
But what’s the use of stalling
Deep in the winter even holdout leaves start fallin’
Lately every night above the declarations of our love
I hear the road callin’
It’s such a fragile magic
A puff of wind can break the spell
And all the golden threads are frail as spider webs
Nature Spirits, fare you well.
Nature Spirits, accept our sacrifice!
(a lei is hung on the palm tree)
All: Nature Spirits, Accept our sacrifice!
Deities
[Perfect Partner]
(Senior Druid)
Those Patrons who are named
Deities whom we know,
And those of this place
Whom we may not know:
Come to our fire and warm with us
Enjoy the drinking and feasting
And listen to our praises!
To those Patrons whom we have not found
Let us know that
The worse thing that can happen
Is you steps on our toes
But till we take that first step with you
How will we know
That you could be the perfect partner
You can take it in your stride
You won’t try to lead or follow
The perfect partner by our side,
Deities, accept our sacrifice!
(an offering of scented oil is poured on the fire)
All: Shining Ones, Accept our sacrifice!
After all the offerings have been made, the druids recenter the company.
Key Offerings
Senior Druid speaks, saying:
Stars On The Water
(SD)
When it’s midnight down in Mobile
Shinin’ moonbeams on the bay
They come from miles around to dance the jukebox down
And dig the good time sounds they all play
And all across the harbour
Night lights shinin’ in
(It looks just like) stars on the water
(Just like) stars on the water
(Feels like) stars on the water, let it rain
Welcome to the Gods and the Dead an the Sidhe!
Praise Offerings:
Each person is invited to dedicate a story, song, or poem to a Deity, Patron, or Power. This is, effectively, the first round of the Bardic Circle.
Final Sacrifice and Omen
The druids prepare the final offerings and say:
So we have given of our love and our inspiration
To the deities.
Now let our voices arise on the Fire
Let our voices sound across the Ocean
Let our words pass the boundary to the Otherworlds.
Shining Ones,
We give you our love
Our respect, and our devotion
as we pray you…
Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice!
All: Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice!
All are led to send their energy through the gates to the powers, meditating on the deities and the nobles. Then Senior Druid speaks:
Having sacrificed to the Powers
Let us open to them
Asking what blessings they offer us in return
And the needs they have of us.
Put it on the coconut telegraph
All the celebration and the stress
Put it on the coconut telegraph
In twenty-five words or less!
Runes are drawn from a coconut shell. The seer then interprets the omen, leading the company to contemplate the things they would ask of the powers, especially as suggested by the omen. Company re-centers in preparation for the blessing.
The Blessing
A: The litany of the waters:
Senior Druid speaks:
Ancient and Mighty Ones we have honored you
We pray you honor us in turn
For a gift calls for a gift
Hear your children:
Shining Ones, give us the Waters!
All: Shining Ones, give us the Waters!
It’s all about the Water
It’s all about the water, don’t you know
All about the water, the H2O
All about the water, it ain’t no lie
Without the water we shrivel up and die!
Shining Ones, give us the Waters!
All: Shining Ones, give us the Waters!
B: Hallowing the waters:
[Boomerang Love]
Margaritas are poured and elevated. Senior Druid speaks:
Now we both know, we’re now in different orbits
Different islands, different worlds
Though we really are the same
we’re just glad, glad we started talking
Finally realize no one is to blame
We’ve been riding on a boomerang love
can’t let go
Running fast, movin’ slow
What’s the right way, who is to say
Tension and suspension
On a boomerang boomerang boomerang love
Shining Ones:
Hallow these waters!
Behold the Waters of Life!
All: Behold the Waters of Life!
Each person receives a Margarita or Boat Drink, and the stories start. Drinks are served all evening.
Work
Bardic Circle
The circle is brought back together once everyone’s material is exhausted, and all are re-grounded and centered.
Closing
When all is done, the druids lead a resettling, then begin to close the grove, saying:
The Great Ones have blessed us
With joy in our hearts
Let us carry the magic from our sacred Beach
Into our lives and our work.
Each time we offer to the Powers
They become stronger
And more aware of our needs and our worship.
So now as we prepare to dock once more at the Port of Indecision
Let us give thanks to all those who have aided us.
O Patrons of those here, We thank you!
All: We thank you!
O Gods and Goddesses of elder days, We thank you!
All: We thank you!
O Spirits of this land, We thank you!
All: We thank you!
O Ancestors, our Kindred, We thank you!
All: We thank you!
To all those Powers that have aided us, we say again…
We thank you!
All: We thank you!
Druids renew the company’s centering once more, signaling the return to common awareness and ease of access to the centered state. Then any unused offerings, return flow, incense, water etc. is given to the earth, saying:
Mother of all
To you we return all we leave unused
Uphold us now in the world as you have in our rite.
We thank you!
All: We thank you!
The druids go to the center. They speak:
Beachhouse on the Moon
(SD)
A striped bass breaks the surface
As the sunset fades away
And our journey from the sea of storms
Brings us home beside the bay.
Gatekeeper, we thank you!
All: Gatekeeper, we thank you!
Senior Druid makes the closing sign over the hallows, saying:
Lone Palm
(SD)
Now by the Keeper of Gates and by our magic
We end what we began.
We sailed from the port of indecision
Young and wild with oh so much to learn
Days turn into years as we tried to fool our fears
But to the port of indecision I returned
Let the Gates be closed!
All: Let the Gates be closed!
I Don’t Know and I Don’t Care
(SD)
Go now, Children of the Earth
In peace and blessings
If you’re looking for a quote from me,
I’ll be under the mango Tree!
The rite is ended!
The bard leads a proper chant as the company processes out of the Grove (“”).
