The celebration will occur during a larger “feast.” Individuals will gather at the designated place to prepare the food to eat.
Setting up the ritual space: A large bowl of water goes in the center (unless it’s feasible to locate ritual outdoors near a stream, a well, or a body of water). Around/beside the water are placed of tokens of Lugh: a fidchell board, a spear, smithing tools, a cup, a harp, a bit of poetry, anything representing knowledge, tools of a skilled craft. Special offerings should include fresh-picked berries, some sort of harvest item, and some type of meat.
People may also bring some tool representing their trade to be blessed.
Additionally, an empty chair will be placed at the feasting table for the God.
A little bit of the first foods from each of the dishes will be placed on a separate plate for Lugh along with any associated liquid offerings.
The leader (preferably a male member of the group) begins in the center of the circle and acts as the “gatekeeper.” As each person approaches the circle, the gatekeeper asks them what skill they bring to the gathering. Each person states their skill and then enters the circle.
Once everyone has entered, the leader begins:
We come to praise Lugh of the Long Arm
Samildanach of the many skills
Wright, smith, champion, harper
Hero, poet, magician
Healer, brazier, cupbearer
Bearer of the spear of Gorias
King of the Tuatha De
Victor over the Fomorians
Son of Eithne, son of Cian
Foster-son to Tailtiu of the plains
And Manannán Mac Lir of the waves
Husband to Buí, and Nás, Echtach, and Énglic
Whose festival we hold today
(Picks up offerings for Lugh.
The leader says the first line, all read the responses in italics)
To Lugh Lamfada
(all respond) We honor you!
Samildananch
We offer you our hospitality!
The Voice of Thunder
We give thanks for your blessings and protection!
(The leader puts the offerings in a spot designated for Lugh)
(The person designated to give Brighid’s offerings comes forward
and reads the first line, with all responding)
To Brighid
We Honor You!
For the Great Lady of Poetry, Smithcraft and Leechcraft
We offer you our Hospitality!
For the Lady Who Inspires
We thank you for your blessings and protection!
(He or she puts the offerings in the place designated for Brighid)
The individual who is carrying the offerings for the ancestors will do the same:
To the Ancestors of our Spirit
We honor you!
To the Ancestors of our Flesh
We remember you!
To all those Ancestors who are forgotten to us by name
Be with us, protect us and guide us!
The individual who is carrying the offerings for the spirits of the land will then do the same.
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 who is designated to bless the waters comes forward and stands near the bowl.
In this time of the heat
On the edge of the harvest
We ask the gods, spirits, and ancestors
To bless our reaping
(All respond with the lines in italics)
Blessed be the waters
Brighid of the healing bless them
Blessed be the rivers
Boann of the five streams bless them
Blessed be the rains
Lugh of the lightning bless them
Blessed be the fields
Tailtiu of the plains bless them
Blessed be the crops
Daghda of the great ladle bless them
Blessed be the animals that give us food
Danu the mother bless them
What can befall us with the Gods watching over us?
No harm can befall us
What can cause us fear with the spirits of the elements with us?
Nothing can cause us fear
Gods of the elements
Spirits of the elements
Ancestors of the elements
Close over us
Eternally
At this point, individuals may bring tools of their trade forward to be blessed with the water (or some part of their body associated with their particular skill).
Break for feasting!