In part one of this article we had just started to examine what ritual entailed within my order, and broke the ritual down into the opening, the rite, and the closing.

If you remember we had called peace to the quarters and recited the universal Druids prayer. Now comes something that is only found within Druid rituals and that is the chanting of the Awen. The Awen is the Druids equivalent of the Buddhists Om and in ritual is chanted three time or in multiples of three. Its pronunciation is Ahh-ooo-when. Only then is the circle cast which is what I believe to be the biggest difference in ritual between witches and Druids. The circle is cast often with the use of a sword with the caster using some appropriate words. Once the circle is cast it is then consecrated with water and fire and the quarters called. Within OBOD the quarters are associated with particular animals which are used as the quarter calls East is the hawk of dawn, South is the stag at noon,West is the salmon of wisdom, and North is the great bear. So that is the opening concluded and we move on to the rite.

The Rite.

In open ritual the rite will not normally consist of a magical working, these are reserved for more private workings. In open rituals the rite usually consists of some dramatic material. At the open ritual of the Dobunni grove which is the Grove that is led by professor Ronald Hutton we had a crowning of the May King and Queen. I was honoured to be crowned the May King. The rite within a Druid ritual is quite often a time of fun and laughter as it was this day.

The Closing.

The closing or the time of recall is done as in in most rituals as a reverse of the opening, so we would start by reciting the Druids oath three times. The oath is made up of the words “We swear by peace and love to stand, heart to heart, hand in hand. Mark O spirit and hear us now confirming this our sacred vow. The oath is recited three times followed by three chants of the Awen. At this time the quarters would be closed and the circle dismantled. That then is a Druid Ritual as I understand it to be.

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