Being part of a tribe is a wonderful thing, even if it is an online tribe (or in the case of Gaol Naofa, an organization). Being a member of a tribe of course comes with its obligations and one of mine to my tribe is the New Moon Rite that I perform every month.
It is a wonderful habit that keeps me close to my tribe and the Gods of the tribe. From the Gaol Naofa (GN) site: “On the new moon of each month, members of Gaol Naofa join together in spirit to honor the gods and spirits, and to celebrate our ancestral heritage thereby fostering solidarity and the blessings of the dé ocus andé.” I thought I would share with you this month’s rite. The ritual itself comes from GN and is written by GN Founder, Tomás Flannabhra. The rite also has some tweeks from me to make it my own.
What is needed: four candles (three for representing the gods, ancestors, and spirits, and one to represent the central or ‘hearth’ fire), offerings, a drinking vessel, a vessel to hold offerings.
Opening Prayer
The fertile land below,
the blue sea about,
the vast sky above,
their blessings here tonight.
“Hymn to the New Moon” (Carmina Gadelica 303)
Hail to thee, thou new moon,
beauteous guidant of the sky;
hail to thee, thou new moon,
beauteous fair one of grace.
Hail to thee, thou new moon,
beauteous guidant of the star;
hail to thee, thou new moon,
beauteous loved one of my heart.
Hail to thee, thou new moon,
beauteous guidant of the clouds;
hail to thee, thou new moon,
beauteous dear one of the heavens!
Kindling the Fire
(light a candle)
I shall kindle this fire this evening
in the presence of radiant Bríd,
golden-flame of our hearth and home.
May she bless and preserve it,
this fire of warming,
fire of wisdom,
fire of hospitality
that is here;
She, the branch with blossoms,
red-cheeked Bríd.
Hail to the Hosts
(light a candle)
A fire for the gods is here,
Excellent Hosts,
proficient in wisdom and skill,
splendid and hardy troupe,
generous patrons,
Morrígan, great warrior goddess, prophetess, and sorceress, I raise my voice in praise of you with wonder and awe. I sit in your presence, oh great source of terror and comfort.
Lugh Lamhfhada, great warrior and god of many arts, I praise you. Bright and shining god and flaming spear out of the chaos I honor you.
Fáilte!
(give offering)
(light a candle)
A fire for the ancestors is here,
for those whose graves we rest on
and whose fame we seek to follow.
A lamp to guide your way
through the mists
from Tech Duinn.
Fáilte!
(give offering)
(light a candle)
A fire for the Fair-Folk and land spirits is here,
auspicious and kindly denizens,
hosts of the abundant land,
gentry of the hills and mounds,
Spirits and guardians of the desert,
People of Peace,
Fáilte!
(give offering)
Hail and Greetings to
The Three that are here,
Excellent Gods,
Beloved Ancestors,
and Kindly Spirits;
the three eternal fires
that illuminate the world.
Main Offering/Sacrifice
To the Ever-Living Three
I give this raw meat and bread
in honor and in gratitude and in love,
honoring the ancient and ancestral
contract that binds us.
(give offering)
Peace to sky,
sky to earth,
earth beside sea,
strength in each.
Hail to the gods,
love to the dead,
peace to the Good-Folk,
noble is each.
Personal Prayers
I pray for the strength and courage to fight my daily battles, to live my life to the fullest, and to seek knowledge and wisdom.
Prayer for Gaol Naofa
Ancient and noble Three of the Gael, of kin and contract, illustrious Patrons, Hosts, and Progenitors! Guide, preserve and inspire our tribe, uphold us into the world as we rekindle the blazing ancestral fires that shall illuminate the way to the future. In health, in honor, in courage, in wisdom, in justice, in truth, in generosity, we go forth into the light of day and onto the roads with your blessings upon us and with victory to be ours.
Toast
(take a cup, quaich, bowl, horn, or other drinking vessel and fill it with a beverage of your choice (perhaps mead, ale, milk, juice, water…) Raise the vessel before the shrine:)
To the Beloved Dead!
(libate and sip)
To the Excellent Gods!
(libate and sip)
To the Fair-Folk and land spirits!
(libate and sip)
To my kindred!
(libate and sip)
To Gaol Naofa!
(libate and sip)
To health, wisdom, and prosperity!
(libate and sip)
From my journal:
This was the first month in which I did the New Moon rite after the formal contract with my household deities. It was very different then before. I felt a very powerful current go through me through out the rite. I usually feel it but this time it was very pronounced and very strong that there is no way I can say to myself that I had imagined it. I’m very pleased with how things have been moving along lately.
Celtic Scholar's Reviews and Opinions 
Anyone who describes himself as ‘a seeker’ (after knowledge, I presume) is a kindred spirit. It is in tune with your reference to ‘tosach eolais…’ and is echoed by a later seeker after knowledge and truth, philospher Immanuel Kant’s principle: sapere aude = dare to know. It was taken from Horace.
I wish you well in your search for truth and enlightnment. Follow that path and you’ll never grow old.
Thank you for your kind words, I try to be a seeker of knowledge as much as I possibly can. I guess you could say I am a forever student 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Nice article.
Thank you 🙂
I stumbled across your webpage completely by accident, doing some research on a story I’m working on… and I have to say, I fell completely in love with it at once! This essay is of particular interest to me as I’m trying to learn as much as I can about the languages and culture of Ireland (I’m Irish/Welsh.) and interested in learning everything I can about celtic polytheism. Would you suggest any particular books to start me out on the different aspects, or topics I should start on? I’d much appreciate some advice on it! Thank you, and please keep writing!!
Hi Bridgette. If you look on the right side of this website you will find my own study program and it has books and topics on it I hope this helps. If not feel free to contact me and I will help as much as I can.