Spiritual Orkney
CONTACT US
Helen & Mark Woodsford-Dean
Craigielea, Harray, Orkney, Scotland, KW17 2JU
+44(0)7749 934617 (mob) / +44(0)1856 761133


Please email or text prior to telephoning, thanks
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Open Rituals
The COVID-19 situation in Orkney is improving but on-going, so all our services are constantly being reviewed and assessed for safety (yours and ours) in line with current advice as issued by the Scottish Government (which may differ from English policy, tending to be stricter and safer).

Orkney started to re-open to visitors last summer, in 2021, but not all sites are accessible or fully open; some sites now need to pre-booked where previously visitors could just turn up.

We are currently taking bookings for guiding and handfastings etc. for 2022 onwards; we are still offering crafts and books.

All our open rituals for 2020 and 2021 were cancelled and none have yet been planned for the foreseeable future, pending government advice. However, we may perform shorter PRIVATE rituals (Helen and/or Mark in attendance only) on all given dates, in honour of the earth and the spiritual realms, and on behalf of those unable to attend. Please email us if you have any special requests for prayers etc.
With the kind permission of Historic Environment Scotland we celebrate the main eight Pagan ('Celtic') holy days of the year at the Ring of Brodgar (by the Comet Stone, about 50 ms/yds to the south-east of the stone circle) OR at the Standing Stones of Stenness (by the central hearth).

There is no charge to attend our open ceremonies unless you choose to incorporate a private celebration, such as a legal wedding, into the format of the ritual - please note that including private ceremonies within our open rituals is subject to availability, time limitations, other practicalities, and must be agreed with us well in advance.

We abide by the inclusion statement of the Scottish Pagan Federation.

We celebrate on the traditional or astronomical date, or as near as possible, giving preference to weekends and times that are convenient for our local regular attendees. We aim to choose dates and times that mean we are more likely to have the site at a relatively quiet time ... so that we do not clash with other events, such as the Rangers' tour (where relevant). We usually sound a horn to announce the ritual is starting.

We have carefully worded our ceremonies to be inclusive to everyone, in the hope that they are suitable for people of all faiths and none. Our rituals are about honouring the cycles of nature and the corresponding changes within our lives. Our ceremonies are loosely designed around those provided by the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, but they have been adapted to honour Orkney traditions and folklore, including use of nouns in Norn (the language which was spoken in Orkney up until about 300 years ago).

Anyone with a warm heart and open mind is very welcome to join us, or even just interested observers, at any of these events, including journalists by prior agreement with us well in advance. However, we politely request that all attendees respect that these events are first and foremost RELIGIOUS services.

*** PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILMING ***
Not everyone wishes to have their photograph taken and some people will find it detrimental to their career or social life if their picture is posted on social media showing them attending a Pagan ritual, so please DON'T take photographs or video unless you have permissions and can do so sensitively. In addition, taking 'selfies' can be inappropriate and time-consuming during ritual, please be considerate and take 'selfies' afterwards - we are happy to let you include our 'props' if you want to.

Please note that each ceremony lasts about an hour. Public transport to both these sites is very limited; please share transport and offer lifts if you can. At both sites parking can be very limited, please use the car-park or park considerately, NOT on the roads NOR in the passing places. These are open sites, there is no cover or shelter from poor weather, please dress accordingly - there is NO required dress code. At Brodgar please keep to the paths, if the inner paths are shut do not go past the fences, and NEVER go into the middle of the circle.

*** DOGS ***
All non-human persons, familiars and pets are welcome to attend but we would ask for tight control to be applied by their responsible 'owners' please. This specifically means that dogs MUST be on a short lead, under control, and any waste must be cleaned up, removed from the site, and disposed of responsibly (in a rubbish bin - the nearest of which may be some distance away, so be prepared to take it with you). Please be aware that some people may be nervous around your pet(s), and livestock definitely will be, and we would ask your courteous compliance, thank you. Failure to comply may mean that we will (reluctantly) ask you and your pet(s) to leave.

Please read our Attendance Guidelines and our disclaimer below.

The dates we normally celebrate:
  • Winter's Ending (also known as 'Imbolc') - around 1st February afternoon - Standing Stones of Stenness
  • Vore Tullye (Spring Equinox) - around 21st March evening - Comet Stone, Ring of Brodgar 
  • Beltane - around 1st May evening - Comet Stone, Ring of Brodgar 
  • Summer Solstice - around 21st June evening - Comet Stone, Ring of Brodgar 
  • Lammas (also known as 'Lughnasadh') - around 1st August evening - Comet Stone, Ring of Brodgar 
  • Gore Vellye (Autumn Equinox) - around 22nd September evening - Standing Stones of Stenness 
  • Winter's Fastening (also known as 'Samhain') - around 31st October afternoon - Standing Stones of Stenness 
  • Winter Solstice - around 20th December afternoon - Standing Stones of Stenness 
Proposed dates for 2022:
The possibility of holding open rituals in 2022 remains under review. We have no current plans (writing in winter 2021) to offer open rituals in 2022, because we cannot imagine being able to do this safely with COVID-19 still being a serious health and safety consideration, but this may change. If the situation does change, we will review and post updates here and on social media.

NB We offer no guarantees at all that these rituals will go ahead. If we are unable for any reason to perform these rituals, we reserve the right to cancel without notice or reason (although we will try not to cancel and have not yet had to cancel).
We also reserve the right to change advertised times at short notice - we usually post these changes on 'Orkney Pagans' on FaceBook.
Please do NOT plan your stay in Orkney around these proposed dates and times, they are a statement of intent only.

*** SUMMER SOLSTICE ***
Due to the numbers attending (c.200+) and the logistics of early morning starts (lack of public transport etc), a couple of years ago we made the decision to celebrate Summer Solstice on the evening of the longest day of the year, rather than at dawn. Our intention is to make it easier for our local community to attend as, for many of us, summer solstice falls on a working day and dawn at midsummer is very early in Orkney (3am!). We do appreciate that for many of our attendees, it is marking the dawn that is important at this time of year and so we suggest you may wish to keep vigil through the 'night', meditating on and contemplating the sun through the short period of inky-blue nearly-darkness (called the Simmer Dim) which Orkney enjoys, ready to welcome the sun's return at dawn. We do not, however, facilitate or supervise any such vigil. We apologise for any disappointment our decision may have caused.

We try to offer a social gathering (moot) at a local hotel after every ritual.

If you are a Pagan visiting Orkney, please email and we will be pleased to meet up with you if we are available. Pagans in Orkney are always welcome to contact us for a blether and a cuppa at any time.

Helen and Mark are both Scottish Tourist Guide Association Green Badge Guides for Orkney - so are ALWAYS happy to provide advice on best places to visit in Orkney AND they are available for hire as tourist guides.

Email us for more information or join Orkney Pagans on FaceBook!

Looking forward to seeing you!
DISCLAIMER

ATTENDANCE AT OUR OPEN RITUALS AND PARTICIPATION IN ANY ACTIVITIES OFFERED IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN CHOICE AND RISK. IF YOU ATTEND THEN YOU AGREE TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR STATE OF HEALTH AND SUITABILITY.

NOTHING HAPPENS IN THESE OPEN RITUALS THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE DANGEROUS, BUT WE ACCEPT NO LIABILITY IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WHATSOEVER. WE OFFER THESE RITUALS PURELY ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AS A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO BRING A LARGE GROUP TO ONE OF OUR RITUALS PLEASE CONTACT US IN ADVANCE SO THAT WE BRING ENOUGH ALE AND HONEY CAKE (DONATIONS APPRECIATED). WE ALSO REQUIRE LARGE GROUPS TO SIGN AND AGREE OUR ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES.

PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INCORPORATE A LEGAL MARRIAGE OR RELATIONSHIP BLESSING INTO OUR OPEN RITUALS - IT IS POSSIBLE AND WE WOULD BE PLEASED TO DISCUSS DETAILS WITH YOU.
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