Festival of Manannan mac Lir
June 19, 2010
Dover, Delaware
We will gather at James’ and Amanda’s home in Dover, Delaware. After everyone has arrived, we will journey to the ocean. At the ocean we will make offerings to Manannan mac Lir.
A small reed boat will be assembled. It will be filled with appropriate offerings such as apples, hazelnuts, salmon and pork. Individuals may also write their requests on a piece of paper to place in the boat. Manannan is a deity who likes to give gifts. He is also a deity associated with the otherworld and “magic”. Appropriate requests may deal with requests to help one get better at divination, seership and etc.
Before placing the boat in the water, we will say a few prayers to Manannan that one of our tribe members has composed. Following these prayers, we will say a short call and response to Manannan:
(the leader says the opening lines and all respond in bold)
To Manannan, son or Lir
We honor you!
To the foster father of Lugh
We welcome you!
To the God of the sea,
We ask for your blessing!
To the giver of magical gifts,
We honor you!
To the keeper of Fragarach, the goblet of truth and the Wave Sweeper,
We welcome you!
To the giver of the apple branch and the goblet of truth,
We ask for your blessing!
To the keeper of the gate to the otherworlds,
We honor you!
To the great magician of the Tuatha de Danann
We welcome you!
To the keeper of the mists,
We ask for you blessing!
Following the litany, we will then place the boat in the water.
We will say a quick chant as the boat goes out to the sea and in preparation for divinations:
Manannan!
Manannan!
Open the gates for us!
Open the gates for us!
Thin your veil!
Thin your veil!
Four individuals will then draw the oghams on the sand. Each individual should take one of the primary aicme. Oghams should be placed at random where the individual feels called to draw them.
The diviner will then watch as the waves cover the oghams and determine any relevant messages. Other seership may take place as desired.
Following this portion of the festival, individuals will journey back to Amanda’s and James’ house where we will prepare for the feast. Kat will begin to light the fire of the tribe signifying the presence of the Gods.
After preparations have been made we will make offerings to the deities of our tribe, the spirits of the land and the ancestors:
Three individuals will come forward each one should carry an offering plate for one of the three deities:
First individual says:
To Brighid, Goddess of our Tribe, Bringer or Inspiration and Lady of Fire!
(all respond) We Honor you!
Second individual says:
To Lugh, God of our Tribe, Samildananch, the Voice of Thunder!
We welcome you!
Third individual says:
To Nodens, Protector of our Tribe, Healer and Hunter!
We ask for your blessing!
(offerings are placed at the shrine)
The individual making offerings to the ancestors now comes forward with the offering plate and says:
To the Ancestors of our Spirit!
We honor you!
To the Ancestors of our Flesh!
We welcome you!
To those Ancestors who are forgotten to us by name!
We ask for your blessing!
(offerings are placed on shrine)
The individual making offerings to the spirits of the land comes forward with the pitcher of cream and honey and says:
To the Spirits of this Land!
We honor you!
To all Spirits of Rocks, Springs, and Mounds!
We offer our respect!
To all Spirits of the Green World and its Denizens!
We strive to be good neighbors!
(the individual then pours the offering on the ground)
Following the offerings, the diviner steps forward and says:
Deities, Ancestors, Spirits of our tribe, do you have any wisdom that you wish to impart to us?
The diviner than casts the oghams or performs some other sort of divination and provides the results to the rest of the tribe.
Individuals now gather around the fire and share in a communal meal. Individuals may toast their own personal deities, ancestors or spirits if they feel moved to do so and invite them to join in the celebration.
Looks great Michael. Cant wait till saturday!
Hey Michael we changed that chant didn’t we? Can you post here in a comment what the new chant was. It think it would be nice to remember what words evoked such a response from Manannan.
Yes – Morgan and Aubrey changed the chant. The chant came from a much longer poem about Manannan:
Brunditt scotha sruaim do mil
a crich Manannain mac Lir
Flowers pour forth a stream of honey
in the land of Manannan mac Lir
The leader said the lines first in Gaelic and we all repeated “Manannan mac Lir”. We chanted it several times.