CedarLight Grove, ADF

A Druid Fellowship in Baltimore Maryland

Midsummer

Schedule

Midsummer Rite will be June 24th, 2023 both on Zoom and at CedarLight Center

  • 4:00 PM: Guests may begin arriving at CLG
  • 6:00 PM: Open Zoom Meeting
  • 6:30 PM: Pre-Ritual Briefing
  • 7:30 PM: Ritual Starts
  • 10:30 PM: Doors close
  • Cost:  $20.00 suggested donation

Times are subject to change, please check our website blog, our Event Calendar or our Midsummer Facebook event for the most up-to-date information on the ritual. All High Rites are open to the public, so feel free to bring a friend 🙂

Times are subject to change, please check before you leave.

NOTE: We no longer require proof of COVID vaccination to attend events at CedarLight Center. Masks are optional inside and out. If you think you’ve been exposed to COVID or are feeling ill, please stay home.   All are welcome to join us via Zoom.

Zoom Info

Lore of the Season & Ritual Information

Prayer: Celebrate the Sun

 

Deities of the Occasion: Áine and the Daoine Sidhe

 

Children and Pets

Children are welcome to all CedarLight events, but small children must be attended at all times because our center is not child proof,  there are stairs, fires, candles and small items that could be swallowed. We do not yet have children activities planned for this event however that can change if we know they are coming.

Pets however, are not allowed because we have learned from past mistakes that not everyone knows how to approach an animal and not every animal will behave predictably with many strangers around.  Thank you for understanding. Service animals are always welcome.

 

Suggested Offerings

  • Donations to any charities Cedarlight is currently supporting (we have envelopes next to Dagda’s Cauldron to tag your money, or you can make a note on your PayPal donation).
  • Incense,  Flowers, & Herbs  Please take plants home to plant afterwards. Please limit the amount of incense you place in the sacred fire to no more than three sticks, a small handful of resin, or a small bundle of cut plants.
  • Libations, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, especially beverages you have made. All alcohol either goes into the offering bowl (low-proof) or into the fire (high-proof).
  • Bardic works you have created or simply want to sing or read (please let the ritual team know ahead of time) or dances.
  • Food you have created for the rite.  All food was offered to the gods first in ancient times,  once they took what they wanted, the folk consumed the rest.
  • Hand-crafted items, especially items in honor of the season or our deities that will be taken home and used (not all offerings need to be burned.)

PLEASE NOTE:  We take oaths very seriously.  Any oaths given as an offering MUST be cleared with the Chief Liturgist, Senior Druid, or an ADF Priest prior to the High Rite.

ALSO: DO NOT make oaths to the Daoine Sidhe (or anything remotely like an oath)! We are offering them our hospitality for the rite, but you must be very careful what you promise to the Fae.

What to Bring

Other than what was discussed above, you may want snacks and something to drink with the folk after the rite. ** We have folks with severe allergies and food sensitivities so a list the ingredients if available is much appreciated.**  

Suggested Seasonal Food:

  • Cold dishes such as salads (potato, macaroni, tuna, seafood, pasta)
  • Hot dogs/burgers/veggie burgers/etc for the grill
  • Deviled Eggs
  • Fresh fruit (no giant watermelons!)
  • Sun themed dishes
  • Anything Seasonal!
  • Desserts for after the rite

We will will be grilling food prior to the rite for picnicking, and there will be desserts and left-overs for after the rite.

There are cans of sodas and bottled water available at the Grove for $1.00 each. Feel free to contribute beverages to the Grove!

Responsible alcohol consumption is allowed, we are a BYOB group. We will not hesitate to take your keys and call you an Uber (on your dime) if you overindulge (and you’ll probably not find yourself invited back. Moderation is an ADF virtue, as is personal responsibility).

Dress for the Weather if you are joining us at CedarLight Center. The High Rite will be done outdoors, and it may be hot.  If it rains we will be under the pavilion.  Mosquitos can be pretty fierce in the Sanctuary, we do have sprays available but feel free to bring your own as well. If you have a chair you’d like to sit in during the High Rites, we suggest bringing that too.

 

Ritual Etiquette

  • Do not honor deities of different pantheons than those being honored at this rite, except during the period after receiving the Waters of Life that is tagged for personal magical workings. Then you may make such offerings quietly/silently.
  • PLEASE KEEP YOURSELF MUTED ON ZOOM.  Group call and responses should remain muted unless otherwise requested by the Chief Liturgist. Attendees who continually disrupt the ritual with background noise because they are unmuted will be removed from the Zoom room.
  • Offerings will be mainly given in silence as a group, but if you have something you wish to say or perform, let the Chief Liturgist know ahead of time so they can make time for your offering
  • Do not declare any oaths during the rite without expressed permission from the Chief Liturgist well before the rite
  • PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONES. It is acceptable to use personal devices for reading praise offerings, not so much for playing Candy Crush.
  • If you need to leave the ritual space for any reason, please do so quietly and discreetly. There is no need to have anyone “cut you a gate”.

After Ritual

The Zoom room may remain open for a bit if folks online want to socialize. At Cedarlight Center, we will move to Revels and have desserts/leftovers. Food will be kept inside, attendees are free to eat indoors or out. PLEASE WASH YOUR OWN DISHES! Doors will close to the public at 10:30 PM (and we mean it!)

Cost/Donations

All CedarLight events have a suggested donation of $20 per person. This can be contributed to Dagda’s Cauldron either at the Grove, or online via paypal to cedarlightgrove@gmail.com. All donations go towards CedarLight Center bills and upkeep.

Previous Midsummer Rituals

Clicky