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Above: Photos of Shrine of Dana
"Aengus Og, God of Love and Joy with his Birds" resides in the
Shrine of Dana, Temple of Isis, Clonegal Castle, Ireland
The Awakening of Aengus Og
A New Goddess Ritual
(An Unscripted Rite)
Clonegal Castle, Ireland, 17th July, 2010
Dated July 20, 2010
Written By Olivia Robertson
Fellowship of Isis Co-Founder
FOI Liturgy Author
We who love the sacred drama of the God Osiris awakened by his wife the Goddess Isis with the winnowing movement of Her Wings, celebrate the Festival of Opet on the 23rd July every year.
Suddenly it came to me this year, 2010, that what we really needed was an Irish Opet! I am sure that round the world members would be fired by the inspiration of their own Deities in a ceremony of the Awakening of the Soul to Eternal Life and Love.
So on the 17th July, we at Clonegal Castle celebrated our own Opet, performed by the Noble Order of Tara, as the Order works for the environment and the children of our Mother Earth. So our company made drumming Procession to the newly restored site of the Old Abbey adjoining the Castle. This has some walls and two cells that are fourteenth Century – with Gothic arches built by my romantically minded grandfather, Herbert Robertson. A good friend has erected two huge carved stones one on top of the other where the small dolmen erected by Laurence once stood in the North-East.
The Celebrant was assisted by future Dames working with him. We called the quarters and invoked the Danaan Deities. Each Priestess explained why they thought that the return of the God of Love and Joy, Aengus Og, was deeply needed at this time.
We then made procession to the Theatre, where the Celebrant described the work of the Order to our members and guests. We finally proceeded to the Temple of Isis for the ritual drama which was on these lines. We explained why the God of Love and Joy was needed again in these troubled times, and how we might call upon Tara, Goddess of all sacred hills throughout the world, shining as a star above them, to raise the God again. By acclaim She was invoked and asked to bring Aengus to us.
First the God of Laws and Commandments stepped forward as Protector of Ancient Ways. With a long black scarf he bound the eyes of the Celebrant who represented the God Aengus. He was hoodwinked against new ideas of any sort, lest they bring chaos to Corporation Religion.
As Chancellor of the Order of Tara, I invoked the Goddess to awaken Aengus, by the common wish of the people. The Priestess representing Tara unbound the eyes of the Celebrant. He uplifted both his arms in new life. All cried the ancient call of the reborn Adonis: “Aengus Og is born again. He has risen from the dead. Love and Joy return to our land. Praise be to Tara!”
We ended with a trance journey to the Many-Coloured Land, Tir na nOg. Experiences were shared, and joy sent to all. We gave heartfelt thanks to the Deities.
This ceremony is offered to any who could adapt it to their own Deities and Land. Praise Be to our Earth Mother!
Note: The spelling of the name of "Angus" has been changed to "Aengus" which is the Irish form. He is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. July 23, 2010, from Olivia Robertson: "My Dear Linda, please do use the Irish spelling Aengus." (Thank you to Caroline Wise for forwarding this message from Olivia during Olivia's London visit.)
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The Awakening of Aengus Og
Clonegal Castle, Ireland, 17th July, 2010
Dated July 20, 2010
Commentary
by Minette Quick, ArchDruidess
Druid Clan of Dana
Following this special occasion of the birth of a new ritual which Olivia brought forth by inspiration of the Goddess to be initiated at our recent Festival, she asked me to give an account of my personal experience of these events, on behalf of Dana, and the Archdruid Union of the Fellowship of Isis. She also wished me to explain and emphasise that these ceremonies had an important and special focus for us at this time.
Strengthened by the Goddess, one of our members has bravely stepped onto the public stage to give her story and those of others, who have not had a voice before. She is working to ensure that both past and present victimisation of women and children in Ireland is fully redressed. She was with us, together with the producers of their upcoming documentary which they have made over the past couple of years. During the course of the ceremonies, this issue was repeatedly raised and voiced by the Goddess through her priesthood in no uncertain terms – “What have you done to My Lands, and My Children?” was her impassioned plea in the Oracle, which yet She transformed into compassion and loving encouragement towards change. That Deity is in support of action was confirmed by Her Blessing on this particular project from the very start – and it has given great support and clarity during their research.
This is a cause which has worldwide ramifications for all members of the Fellowship, and is one to which Olivia, herself, has given lifelong support, and as Co-Founder of the Fellowship of Isis, she wishes to emphasise how strongly she supports the cause of women and children everywhere who are or have been subject to victimisation of any sort.
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We had only been warned of the likelihood of rain by the weather forecasts, however, the sun shone down warmly upon us all as the quarters were invoked within the sacred walls of the Old Abbey. The voice of Tara rang out as she spoke through her priesthood and awakened a strong response in all who were present.
How fortunate we are to work directly with Olivia. However, something which we in Ireland are familiar with, is Olivia’s love of giving us parts to play in rituals which she has an overall idea of, but which we will have to flesh out – improvise – during the actual ceremony. There are no rehearsals! As I said to someone recently, we just turn up and enjoy, and sometimes we surprise ourselves….
During the ritual on the High Altar in the Temple, which Olivia has described, I had no idea what I was to say on behalf of Brigid until I was specifically directed by the Goddess to remind ourselves that just as Isis gathered the pieces of Her Beloved Osiris’s body to restore Him to life, so we in our age, might through our love gather and transform the lost pieces, the sparks of joy needed to awaken each other!!!
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