AODA Grove Opening and Closing
The opening and closing ceremony for AODA Groves and Study Groups is a public ceremony and may be used for seasonal celebrations and public activities as well as regular Grove or Study Group meetings. AODA members also practice a solitary version of the same ritual as part of the Second Degree training program. Study Groups should substitute the words "Study Group" for the word "Grove" as needed in the ritual, although all uses of the term "the Sacred Grove" are kept unchanged.
Preparing the Grove
The Officers of the Grove are as follows:
Elected Officers:
Chief Druid (Druid of Earth) in the North (D1)
Druid of Water in the West (D2)
Druid of Fire in the South (D3)
Druid of Air in the East (D4)Appointed Officers:
Pendragon at the West Gate (P)
Almoner at the South Gate (A)
Herald at the East Gate (H)If any of the appointed officers are not present, their duties are performed by the elected officer seated in the same quarter.
The Grove is set up as follows:
1. Altar with white altar cloth in center of Grove
2. Incense and incense burner at east of altar
3. Oil lamp or candle at south of altar
4. Cauldron half-filled with water at west of altar
5. Platter of earth at north of altar
6. Golden sickle and mistletoe in the West
7. Sounding board in the North for staff-rappingIf desired, the elemental emblems (2-5 above) may take the form of four identical cauldrons containing incense, a lamp or candle, water, and earth respectively.
Officers and members are clothed as follows:
All officers and members wear white robes with the colored cord belt of their respective degrees
All officers wear their badge of office
The elected officers wear tabards of the color of their station
Chief Druid carries Staff of Life
Druid of Air carries Sword in scabbard
Herald, Pendragon and Almoner carry staves topped with golden sickles
Druid of Fire carries matches or lighterSickle and mistletoe are arranged on altar with the opening of the sickle in one of the four directions, the mistletoe lying across the blade, approximately at right angles to the line of the handle.
Ordinary meeting or reception of Candidate: sickle open to east, handle to south
Initiation of Druid Apprentice: sickle open to south, handle to west
Confirmation of Druid Companion: sickle open to west, handle to north
Exaltation of Druid Adept: sickle open to north, handle to eastThe Chief Druid uses the Staff of Life to knock on the sounding board as follows:
1. One knock (designated ) to seat everybody
2. Two knocks (designated ) calls the named officer or person to rise
3. Three knocks (designated ) calls all present to riseSigns and passwords are not used in opening and closing a Grove so that guests who are not members of the Order may be made welcome. If the purpose of the Grove being called to order is for an initiation, confirmation or exaltation, only such members as are qualified to attend may do so. All others are asked to leave and escorted from the Grove by the Herald immediately after opening ceremony.
Opening the Grove
(Members who do not hold office enter by the gates corresponding to their degrees - Candidates through the East Gate, Apprentices through the South Gate, Companions and Adepts through the West Gate -- and go to their places in the Grove. Officers except for Chief Druid then enter through the gate closest to their stations, and go directly to their stations. Chief Druid enters through the West Gate last of all, goes sunwise one full circuit around the Grove, then continues to his/her station in the North.)
D1: Druids, be attentive as I am about to open a Grove of Druids in this place. (D1 continues as soon as the Grove is quiet.)
D1: (D1 waits for all present to be seated.)
D1: Brother/Sister Druid of Air. (Druid of Air arises) What is the first duty of Druids assembled in the Sacred Grove?
D4: To proclaim peace to the four quarters of the world, for without peace our work cannot proceed.
D1: You will perform that duty.
(Druid of Air faces outward, to the East, and raises sword in scabbard horizontally, right hand on hilt, left on scabbard. He draws the sword partway from the scabbard so that half the blade is visible.)
D4: Is there peace in the East?
All: There is peace.
(Druid of Air sheaths sword, lowers it, and proceeds to South, where the same process is repeated.)
D4: Is there peace in the South?
All: There is peace.
(Druid of Air sheaths sword, lowers it, and proceeds to West, where the same process is repeated.)
D4: Is there peace in the West?
All: There is peace.
(Druid of Air sheaths sword, lowers it, and proceeds to North, where the same process is repeated.)
D4: Is there peace in the North?
All: There is peace.
(Druid of Air sheaths sword, lowers it, and proceeds to East, then turns to face the Chief Druid.)
D4: Chief Druid, the four quarters are at peace and our work may proceed. (Druid of Air sits.)
D1: Brother/Sister Herald. (Herald arises) What is your place and your duty there?
H: My place in the grove is in the East Gate. My duty is to guard the Yellow Gate of Alban Eiler, the Gate of the Rushing Winds, to prepare and conduct Candidates and protect the rituals.
D1: You will attend to that duty and guard the East Gate.
D1: Brother/Sister Almoner. (Almoner arises) What is your place and your duty there?
A: My place in the grove is in the South Gate. My duty is to guard the Red Gate of Alban Heruin, the Gate of the Bright Flames, to collect monies and pay the necessary bills, and to attend the fire.
D1: You will attend to that duty and guard the South Gate.
D1: Brother/Sister Pendragon. (Pendragon arises.) What is your place and your duty there?
P: My place in the grove is in the West Gate. My duty is to guard the Blue Gate of Alban Elued, the Gate of the Mighty Waters, to keep the records of the Grove and attend the altar.
D1: You will attend to that duty and guard the West Gate.
D1: Brother/Sister Druid of Air. (Druid of Air arises.) What is your station and your duty there?
D4: My station in the grove is in the East, where the Hawk of May hovers in the heights of morning and the Sun rises to illuminate the world. My duty is to supervise the rituals and purify the Grove with Air.
D1: You will attend to that duty and purify this Grove and all within it with Air. (Druid of Air goes to the altar, lights the incense and travels once clockwise about the Grove purifying the Grove, returns the incense burner to the altar and returns to his/her station in the East.)
D1: Brother/Sister Druid of Fire. (Druid of Fire arises.) What is your station and your duty there?
D3: My station in the grove is in the South, where the great Stag stands in the summer greenwood and the Sun stands at the summit of heaven. My duty is to supervise the finances of the Grove and purify the Grove with Fire.
D1: You will attend to that duty and purify this Grove and all within it with Fire. (Druid of Fire goes to the altar, lights the lamp and travels once clockwise about the Grove purifying the Grove, returns the lamp to the altar and returns to his/her station in the South.)
D1: Brother/Sister Druid of Water. (Druid of Water arises.) What is your station and your duty there?
D2: My station in the grove is in the West, where the Salmon of Wisdom dwells in the sacred pool and the Sun descends into the waters of life. My duty is to supervise the records and correspondence of the Grove and purify the Grove with Water.
D1: You will attend to that duty and purify this Grove and all within it with Water. (Druid of Water goes to the altar, picks up the cauldron of water and travels once clockwise about the Grove purifying the Grove, returns the cauldron to the altar and returns to his/her station in the West. )
D1: Brother/Sister Druid of Water, what is my station and my duty?
D2: Your station is in the North, Chief Druid, where the Great Bear guards the starry heavens and the Sun stands unseen at midnight. Your duty there is to govern this Grove, the members of the Grove, and the Druid Stones; to welcome those who pass through the Green Gate of Alban Arthuan, the Gate of the Tall Stones; and to purify the Grove with Earth. (D1 walks to altar, picks up the platter of Earth, walks clockwise one time about the Grove purifying the Grove with Earth, returns the platter to the altar and resumes his/her station in the North.)
D1: It is my order that this (name) Grove of the Ancient Order of Druids in America be now open for the purpose of (state purpose: instruction, ceremony, initiation, confirmation, exaltation, etc.) Brother/Sister Druid of Air, you will invoke the blessing of the Mighty Ones.
D4: Let us offer the words that have been the bond among all Druids:
(All join in repeating the words in bold type)
Grant, O Holy Ones, thy protection
And in protection, strength
And in strength, understanding
And in understanding, knowledge
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice
And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it
And in that love, the love of all existences
And in the love of all existences, the love of earth our mother, and all goodness.D1: Please join me in the three-fold chant.
All: Awen, Awen, Awen.
D1: (All are seated.)
D1: Brother/Sister Pendragon, attend to the altar. (Pendragon takes sickle, and mistletoe to altar and arranges them at the center of the altar according to the work of the meeting, then returns and is seated at West Gate.)
D1: Brother/Sister Almoner, attend to the circle. (Almoner goes around to the East in a clockwise direction and traces the banishing symbol of Air, banishing all unwanted influences. Almoner proceeds to south, west, and north, then to south of altar facing north, tracing banishing symbols of the other elements, as in the Sphere of Protection ritual. Almoner then returns and is seated at South Gate.)
D1: Brother/Sister Herald, attend to the work of the Grove. (Herald attends to the work by:
1. introducing the lecturer and topic, then is seated;
2. announcing the name of the ceremony and the participants, then is seated; or
3. announcing the ritual of Initiation, Confirmation or Exaltation by calling the Almoner to assist with the preparation and then exiting the Grove with the Almoner.)
Closing the Grove
D1: Druids, be attentive as I am about to close a Grove of Druids in this place. (D1 continues as soon as the Grove is quiet.)
D1: (D1 waits for all present to be seated.)
D1: Brother/Sister Herald. (Herald arises.) Does any further work remain to us in the East?
H: (If all ritual work is completed) Chief Druid, the work of the East is accomplished.
D1: Brother/Sister Almoner (Almoner arises.) Does any further work remain to us in the South?
A: (If all financial business is completed) Chief Druid, the work of the South is accomplished.
D1: Brother/Sister Pendragon. (Pendragon arises.) Does any further work remain to us in the West?
P: (If all secretarial business is completed) Chief Druid, the work of the West is accomplished.
D1: Brother/Sister Druid of Air. (Druid of Air arises.) The Sacred Grove is open to the Northeast
D4: (to Candidates) Brother and sister Candidates, if any of you has something to offer for the good of the Grove, the Order, or the Earth, the Sacred Grove is open to you.
(Any Candidate who has something to say rises, is recognized by the Chief Druid, and speaks.)
D4: Chief Druid, peace prevails in my quarter.
D1: Brother/Sister Druid of Fire. (Druid of Fire arises.) The Sacred Grove is open to the Southeast
D3: (to Candidates) Brother and sister Druid Apprentices, if any of you has something to offer for the good of the Grove, the Order, or the Earth, the Sacred Grove is open to you.
(Any Druid Apprentice who has something to say rises, is recognized by the Chief Druid, and speaks.)
D3: Chief Druid, peace prevails in my quarter.
D1: Brother/Sister Druid of Water. (Druid of Water arises.)The Sacred Grove is open to the Southwest.
D2: (to Candidates) Brother and sister Druid Companions, if any of you has something to offer for the good of the Grove, the Order, or the Earth, the Sacred Grove is open to you.
(Any Druid Companion who has something to say rises, is recognized by the Chief Druid, and speaks.)
D4: Chief Druid, peace prevails in my quarter.
D1: Brother and sister Druid Adepts, the Sacred Grove is open to the Northwest. If any of you has something to offer for the good of the Grove, the Order, or the Earth, the Sacred Grove is open to you.
(Any Druid Adept who has something to say rises, is recognized by the Chief Druid, and speaks.)
D1: Peace prevails in my quarter and throughout the Sacred Grove. Let any power remaining from our work be returned to the Earth for its blessing.
(This is done, all concentrating on the descent of excess energies through the center of the Grove to the center of the Earth.)
D1: It is my order that this (name) Grove of the Ancient Order of Druids in America be now closed until (name of event and date). Brother/Sister Druid of Air, you will invoke the Sword of Swords.
D4: (draws the sword and holds it high.) Behold this sword, the likeness of Excalibur, the Sword of Arthur, which rose from the waters and returned to them again. (D4 lowers sword to extend horizontally across the altar, blade flat.)
D1: While this sword is unsheathed, as the kings of old pledged themselves to serve their land and people, will you swear with me your faithful service to the living Earth our home and mother?
(Officers advance and place their right hands flat on the blade. If space permits, all present do the same; if not, all present place their right hands on the shoulder of one of the officers.)
All: We swear it!
(All return to places.)
D1: Please join me in the three-fold chant:
All: Awen, Awen, Awen.
D1: Brother/Sister Pendragon, attend to the altar. (Pendragon removes sickle and mistletoe from the altar and returns with them to the West Gate.)
D1: Brother/Sister Almoner, attend to the circle. (Almoner performs the banishing form of the elemental symbols as in the Sphere of Protection ritual once again, this time thanking the elements for their guardianship, and returns to the South Gate.)
D1: Brother/Sister Herald, prepare the procession.
(Herald walks clockwise once about the Grove with the Almoner and Pendragon falling in behind. A Druid Apprentice is assigned to guard the East Gate when the Herald leaves it, another to guard the South Gate when the Almoner leaves it, and a Druid Companion (or if none is available) a third Druid Apprentice to guard the West Gate when the Pendragon leaves it. (If there are not enough Apprentices for this duty, Candidates or guests may be asked to serve in this capacity.) On the second circuit of the Grove the Druids of Air, Fire, and Water fall into place followed by any Druid Adepts in attendance and finally the Chief Druid, and all exit through the West Gate. The Herald then returns to the Grove and dismisses the Candidates and Guests, then the Druid Apprentices, and finally the Druid Companions, each leaving through the appropriate Gate. When everyone is gone, the Almoner and Pendragon return to the Grove, and they and the Herald retrieve the ritual materials and clear the Grove.)