British Druid Order Ritual used in London 2012 Paralympics closing ceremony!

Last night while watching the closing ceremony of the Paralympic 2012, many pagans around the UK (and possibly around the world) can not fail to have noticed the obvious `pagan elements’ in it.   Ex-Soldier Rory McKenzie (who had lost one leg due to raodside mine in Iraq) – stood on a stage high above the crowd in the Olympic stadium, wearing a leather jacket, and appearing to be `reading a book by hand’ (brail?)  spoke certain words.. calling to the spirits of Autumn, Winter, spring and Summer…and the energies of Water, Earth, Air & Fire.

“I call upon the Spirit of Summer. The spirit of fire, of energy of passion; spirit of the noonday sun, the heat of summer, vitality and abundance. 
I call upon the spirit of Winter. The spirit of earth, of the womb of creation; of the night and the snows of winter, deep roots and ancient stones. 
I call upon the spirit of Spring. The spirit of air, the breath of life; of sunrise, of new life and new growth. 
I call upon the spirit of Autumn. The spirit of water, of the ebb and flow of emotion; of open seas and running streams, of cleansing rain; spirit of the evening sun, of twilight and of Autumn.”

Rory then went on to talk about the Earth, Ancestors, Circle and more..

“The circle is unbroken,
The ancestors awoken.
May the songs of the Earth
and of her people ring true.
Hail to the Festival of the flame
of root and branch, tooth and claw,
fur and feather, of earth and sea and sky”

It now appears that those words were indeed taken from a special Druid Ritual, with permission – but that the Druid Order was sworn to secrecy by the Organisers of the Closing Ceremony..  so they could not reveal this news to any pagans..

Their blog http://www.druidry.co.uk/2012/09/09/bdo-ritual-in-paralympics-closing-ceremony/ gives full details of this as follows>

“We were sworn to secrecy beforehand, but Emma Restall Orr and I were approached by the organisers of the 2012 Paralympics closing ceremony with a surprising request. They wanted our permission to use parts of the gorsedd ritual we wrote in 1997. So, about 20 minutes into the ceremony, these words went out to 750 million people around the world, spoken by Rory Mackenzie on behalf of Help For Heroes..”- (GreyWolf)

 

-Mani Navasothy