ADF Norse styled Yule ritual

          Yule is one of my favorite festivals. Even as a child I loved Christmas time, well before I realized that so many of the holidays symbols were Pagan in nature. When I became Pagan it only increased by love of the holiday.

          Then I found ADF Druidry through the local Grove in Georgia. This was when I experienced a Norse flavored Yule vigil. It was the most amazing experience I have ever had with group ritual. The power and love during the vigil was beyond moving. So from that day forth, even though I am Hellenic by culture, Yule has always been celebrated as Norse. The following is the Norse rituals (all be it very edited to be more my style) that was used in the Grove of the Red Earth, ADF. The following is the general schedule and then the ritual scripts for each. During the time we are not performing ritual/Sumble and tending the Yule fire, members of the Grove played games throughout the night. We took shifts so that everyone got a chance to sleep some.

Yule Schedule

1. Beginning Sacrifice (Sunset): Calling to the gods, invocation of protection & their presence for celebration, hallowing of the area. This is the time of the sacrificial loaf and dedicating the drink offering (and loaf), making oaths on the loaf, giving offerings to the gods and sharing with the people. Oaths made should
be ones you plan to keep!!!

2. Sumble (around Midnight): Ritual toasting- During this rite the drink is hallowed and passed around for all who wish to participate. We drink to toast and remember. First round for the gods, the second round for the ancestors, the third open to any (gods, ancestors, or nature spirit [land wight]). Things said here are in
the way of wyrd and have great power for good or ill.

3. Welcoming the Sun (Sunrise): Sunna is welcomed, drink shared, ritual wreath is offered to the fire. Breakfast Feast is then blessed and shared with the nature

4. Main Ritual (ADF format- after Breakfast Feast): sacrifice of animal decorations… praise offerings of animal crackers!

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Beginning Sacrifice: Sunset

Meditation

Statement of Purpose:

‘We gather this eve as our ancestors of old… on this the longest night of the year. On this night, it was believed in many cultures, rides The Wild Hunt. The Hunt is lead by many leaders, in some by Odin, in others Thor, or Holda, or Freyja. Still in others it is said to be led by the Horned God of Northern Europe, Cernunnos. The myths behind The Wild Hunt are just as varied. Some say it is the gathering of souls of the death to be taken to the Otherworld, others that it is the hunt of oath breakers and violators of basic moralities, and still others that believe the souls taken are to serve in the final battle against Chaos.

But no matter  the culture, there seems to remain the danger that those who witness The Hunt could get caught up in it and be taken to the land of the Dead themselves.

So it is on this might we stand together, to fortify each other, to celebrate our time together and the hopes of the coming year. So shall we begin!

Hallowing of the area:

Creation of Sacred Center:

Hammer Rite:

(Hold the Hammer to the sky)

‘Between the burning fires of heavenly Chaos and the frozen wastes before time, We stand at the joining of fire and ice, of the Gods and the living, in the place of the holy divine! Hammer of Thor, Hallow and Hold This Holy Stead!’ (Draw the shape of a large T to the sky then to the floor to bless and protect from above and below)

Hallowing of the Drink and Loaf:

(hold hands over the bread and drink while saying:) ‘Hail, you gods, Hail, you shining ones! Share with us this bread and drink! We offer to you not as servants, for we have no masters, but as friends, and as near kin!’

  

Oath Making:

‘All that wish to take an oath this eve come forth! But be warned; DO NOT take lightly that which you pledge this Yule night, least you suffer the fate of an oath breaker!

(each person wishing to come forth does so, placing their hand upon the load to make their oath.)

Sharing of Sacrifice:

‘Let our Yule vigil begin! Let us join together in community to celebrate our bonds and the returning light…’

(each person wishing to takes a small part of the oath loaf and drink. The remainder  is given to the Tree as an offering.)

‘Hail great giving Earth! Keep safe always the sacrifice, keep it ever holy!’

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Sumble: (Midnight)

Statement of Purpose: ‘The Sumble is an ancient and holy Norse rite that is a formal series of toasts. This rite was so favored and wide spread that is flourishes even in our modern day traditions, such as weddings, award ceremonies, Thanksgiving dinners, New Years toasts and banquets.

We shall pass around the Blessing Cup. Thrice shall it go around, First for the gods, second for the ancestors, and third for any Kindred you wish to honor. Make your toast and drink from the cup… then pass to the next person near you.’

(fill the glass with mead.) ‘Let us drink and remember for we enter into the river of wyrd!’

(Drink is hallowed through the Sacred Center by each of the Hallows then passed around for 3 rounds)

1.      The Shinning Ones- ‘Hail to the gods, the shining Ones, Mighty in Power!  Hail the Dwellers in Asgard’s high halls! Honor we offer and thanks for past blessings! We remember and toast before all in the hall! (first round is made with the cup making toasts to the gods)

2.      The Ancestors- ‘Hail to the Alfs, all about us, the Father of our folk. Hail the Dises, all about us, the Mothers of our might. Hail to our kin, in the hidden lands, Hail the ancestors on this holy Yule!’ (second round is made with the cup making toasts to the ancestors)

3.      Open Round- (third round is made with the cup making toasts to whom ever among the Kindreds the people with to toast)

(Once completed with the third round close the Sumble by saying:)

‘Now let us go forth from this place to say mighty words and do mighty deeds!’

(if there is any remaining drink pour it into the Tree offering bowl saying:)

‘Hail, great giving Earth! Keep safe always the sacrifice, keep it ever holy!’

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Welcoming the Sun (Sunrise):

(Hallow the breakfast feast then remove a portion of the food for the land wights.)

Meditation (short):

(Blessing Cup of Juice is held high to Salute the rising Sun)

‘Hail, Bright Day and your Son the Dawn!

Hail, Dark Night and your Daughter the Twilight!

Look upon us twin the light, with loving eyes,

And give us your blessings!’

‘Hail, Gods; Hail, Goddesses.

Hail, the Giving Earth,

Grant to us, the storied ones,

And healing hands in this life.’

(Blessing Cup is passed to those assembled)

Sunrise Sacrifice:

(Hold up the plate of food and say)

‘Hail, the Giving Earth and all Her Children. We give back this portion of our feast to those that dwell with us. Join us in celebrating the Returning Light!’

(place the plate of food at the tree)

‘Let us feast together and celebrate the new day!’

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Procession Song: (Bardic)  We approach the Sacred Grove with hearts and minds, flesh and bones, Join us now in ways of old, we have come home. We have come home.

Purification of the people

Hammer Rite:

[Hold the Hammer to the sky] ‘Between the burning fires of heavenly Chaos and the frozen wastes before time, We stand at the joining of fire and ice, of the Gods and the living, in the place of the holy divine! Hammer of Thor, Hallow and Hold This Holy Stead!’ (Draw the shape of a large T to the sky then to the floor to bless and protect from above and below)

Welcome

World Tree Meditation

Consecration of Place and Time

Offering to the Outsiders:   Outdwellers, turn from our grove!

Offering to the Earth Mother: Beloved Earth Mother, be in our grove!

Offering to Poetic Inspiration: Spirit of Inspiration, be in our grove!

Recreation of the Cosmos and Establishing Scared Center

Hallowing of the Well: Spirit of the Well, be in our grove!

Hallowing of the Tree: Spirit of the Tree, be in our grove!

Hallowing of the Fire: Spirit of Fire, be in our grove!

Invocation of Raven: Honored Raven, come to our grove!

Opening of the Gate:      Well, Tree, Fire

Kindred Invocations

Offering to Ancestors:   Beloved Ancestors, accept our offering!

Offering to Nature Spirits: Spirits of Nature, accept our offering!

Offering to the Gods:  Mighty gods, accept our offering!

Song: (Bardic)      Gods & Dead & Mighty Sidhe, Powers of earth & sky and sea. By fire & well, by scared tree, Offerings we make to ye!

Main Rite

Kindred of Occasion Invocation

Odin:

Alfadir, foremost of the Aesir, Son of Bor and Bestla, We call to you! Great Odin, HEAR OUR CALL!

You who sacrificed much in pursuit of wisdom, We call to you! Great Odin, HEAR OUR CALL!

You who resides in Valaskjalf, who sends forth Huginn and Muninn to learn of the nine worlds, We call to you! Great Odin, HEAR OUR CALL!

We call you home from your long nights ride hunting on swift Slipnir’s back! Return now with from preserving the world from the ettins, with our great thanks, we the people give you this offering. Hail and greetings Odin! (Drinks some of the offering then pours libation)

Freya:

Most beautiful and propitious goddess, foremost of the Vanir, daughter of Njord and Freyr, We call to you! Great Freya, HEAR OUR CALL!

You who married Od, you  whose tears are as gold, you  whose cloak of feathers gives the power to change the wearer into a falcon, We call to you! Great Freya, HEAR OUR CALL!

You who resides in the palace Folkvang were love songs fill the halls, you  whose hall is Sessrummir where one half the fallen warriors go, the hall in which fallen  woman go, We call to you! Great Freya, HEAR OUR CALL!

We call you from your great hall Mistress of Mysteries, Bright Golden Frey’s Twin.  We call you forth to honour you goddess of Magic and Wisdom, of growth and joyous laughter, you Amber, Gold giving Friend of man; we the people give you this offering.  Hail and greets Freya! (Drinks some of the offering then pours libation)

Praise Offerings:

First round of Praise Offerings to be made to Odin. Second round of Praise Offerings to be made to Freya. Open Praise Offerings after that. Praise Offerings for Yule this time will be either libation or Animal Crackers hung on tree.

Main Offering: (Every One will take part in the prayer)

We stand together as one with the Kindreds witness to Sunna’s return.

We witness the turning of darkness to light, the turning of the barren year to hope.

We eagerly await the signs of the forth coming spring.

Let us give thanks for that which we received this past year.

For the bonds betweens Kindreds are maintained by the exchange of gifts.

(Offerings of thanks to any of the Kindreds: Animal crackers placed on the tree)

A new year dawns with the rising sun of Yule,

With it we ask for that which we need the coming year for ourselves and for our kin.

(Main Offerings of Painted Deer forms for wishes of the coming year placed on the tree)

Shining Gods, Might Ancestors, Glorious Nature Spirits; accept our offerings and grant us your blessings!

Oath Making:

‘All that wish to take an oath this eve come forth! But be warned; DO NOT take lightly that which you pledge this Yule night, least you suffer the fate of an oath breaker!

(each person wishing to come forth does so, placing their hand upon the load to make their oath.)

Sharing of Sacrifice:

‘Let us join together in community to celebrate our bonds and the returning light…’

(each person wishing to takes a small part of the oath loaf and drink. The remainder  is given to the Tree as an offering.)

‘Hail great giving Earth! Keep safe always the sacrifice, keep it ever holy!’

Taking of the Omen

Hammer Blessing for Water of Life: Blessing cup is held in left hand, hammer in right hand. Make hammer sign over cup and say: (David)

Now let the weal-might, of Odin and Frigga

Of Frey and of Freya, of Tir and all Aesir

Of Alfar and Disir, and all goodly wights

Shine in this Blessing, We pray as your people

Hallow the Waters, O Mighty and shining

Offerings we’ve given, Pray gift us in turn!

Behold the Gift!

Cup Litany: 

             If you have heard our voice, you ancestors who watch over us,

If you have been drawn close to our fire by our praise, by our blessings, by the gifts we bring, then you’ll do what is right Mighty Ones.

You will remember us kindly

You will bless us

You will be close kin to our folk!

(All)        The gifts of the gods for the people of the gods!

If you have heard our voice, you spirits of the living land,

If you have been drawn close to our fire by our praise, by our blessings, by the gifts we bring, then you’ll do what is right Noble Ones.

You will remember us kindly

You will bless us

You will be good neighbors to our folk.

(All)        The gifts of the gods for the people of the gods!

If you have heard our voice, you keepers of every Art and Mystery,

If you have been drawn close to our fire by our praise, by our blessings, by the gifts we

bring, then you’ll do what is right, Shining Ones.

You will remember us kindly

You will bless us

You will be dear friends to our folk.

(All)        The gifts of the gods for the people of the gods!

In the name of Memory, the preserving shrine, (Well)

In the name of Earth, our common mother, (Tree)

In the name of Truth, which has no beginning and no end, (Fire)

Let no one who comes to the Great Feast go away unsatisfied. Let the Blessing Cup never run dry.

(Passing of the Blessing Cup to all attending)

End of Rite

Return the Waters of the Earth:

Thank deity of occasion:

Thank the Gods:

Thank the Nature Spirits:

Thank the Ancestors:

Thank the Spirits of Inspiration:

Thank the Earth Mother:

De-Hallowing of the Fire, Well, & Tree; Close the Gate, and thank Raven

End of ritual

Song: (Bardic)  Walk with wisdom from this hallowed place. Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall ere embrace. May strength be your brother, and honour be your friend, And luck be your lover until we meet again.

ADF styled Samhain ritual

This ritual is from some years back. It was one of the first rituals my old Grove had performed as an office group. We were still in the process of creating a liturgy style that really suited us best. It was for Samhain which we dedicated solely to the Ancestors as it is the time of year when the veil is the thinnest between our worlds. I have since performed a similar ritual yearly with modifications to be more of an ADF Hellenic styled rite.

(note: some of the invocations are simple phrases. this is because we did the majority of our calls from heart and these were the trigger phrases for the 'Call and Response' in our rituals.)

Samhain Ritual from 2008

Procession Song 

Purification of the people

Welcome

World Tree Meditation

Consecration of Place and Time

Offering to the Outsiders:  Outdwellers, turn from our grove!

Offering to the Earth Mother:  Beloved Earth Mother, be in our grove!

Offering to Poetic Inspiration: Spirit of Inspiration, be in our grove!

Recreation of the Cosmos and Establishing Scared Center

Hallowing of the Well: Spirit of the Well, be in our grove!

Hallowing of the Tree: Spirit of the Tree, be in our grove!

Hallowing of the Fire: Spirit of Fire, be in our grove!

Invocation of Raven: Honored Raven, come to our grove!

Opening of the Gate:      Well, Tree, Fire

Portal Song:

CHORUS

By Fire and by Water, between the Earth and Sky

We stand like the World-Tree rooted deep, crowned high. (repeat once)

Come we now to the Well, the eye and the mouth of Earth,

Come we now to the Well, and silver we bring,

Come we now to the Well, the waters of rebirth,

Come we now to the Well, together we sing:

CHORUS

We will kindle a Fire, Bless all, and with harm to none,

We will kindle a Fire, and offering pour,

We will kindle a Fire, A light 'neath the Moon & Sun,

We will kindle a fire, our spirits will soar.

CHORUS

Gather we at the Tree, the root & the crown of all,

Gather we at the Tree, Below & above,

Gather we at the Tree, Together we make our call,

Gather we at the Tree, In wisdom & love.

CHORUS (with gusto)

All: Let the gates be OPEN!

                Let the gates be OPEN!

                Let the gates be OPEN!

Chorus

(Yellow): The gates are OPEN!

Kindred Invocations

Offering to Ancestors:  Beloved Ancestors, accept our offering!

Offering to Nature Spirits: Spirits of Nature, accept our offering!

Offering to the Gods:  Mighty gods, accept our offering!

Song:  Gods & Dead & Mighty Sidhe, Powers of earth & sky and sea. By fire & well, by scared tree, Offerings

we make to ye!

Main Rite

Kindred of Occasion Invocation (Ancestors):

The night grows dark, the stars shine bright,

Hear the call of Hallows’ Night!

The Veil grows thin, we invite you in,

Oh Great and Mighty Dead!!!

Dearly departed, mighty ancestors,

Heroes and heroines of history,

Those that have come before, those that light the way;

Be drawn by our beacon, come to our right, so that we may honor you!

Ancestors! We, the people call to you, hear our prays, accept our offering!

(Light the Ancestral Pumpkin. Give offering of milk and honey.)

Praise Offerings:

Main Offering:

(Light of tea lights and the telling of stories about the beloved Dead. First round for those that have pasted since last Samhain.)

Prayer of Sacrifice:

You who have come to us this night, we give you thanks,

We honor you with right living and by keeping the old ways.

Accept this offering from the living to the dead,

From this world to the Underworld,

Beyond and through the veil,

Come forth and be part of the Great Feast!

Know always you are welcome in our heart, in our homes, and at our tables!

(place the plate of food on the Ancestor alter. Pour a glass of wine for the alter as well)

May you never hunger, may you never thirst!

Taking of the Omen

Cup Litany: 

You among the Mighty Dead, ancestors to us all,
Offerings we have made, offerings you have received.
We ask that you bless these Waters so we may share in the wisdom of
Your great Knowledge!

(All) The gifts of the Ancestors for the people of the Ancestors!

You of land, sea, and sky; both mortal and spirit alike,
You who are the Nature Spirits,
Offerings we have made, offerings you have received.
We ask that you bless these Waters so we may share in the warmth of your Great Kinship! 

(All) The gifts of the Nature Spirits for the kin of the Nature Spirits! 

You among the divine and gods and goddesses of all time,
Offerings we have made, offerings you have received.
We ask that you bless these Waters so we may share in the great Light of
Your Truth!

(All) The gifts of the Gods for the children of the Gods!


In the name of Memory, the preserving shrine.(Well)
In the name of Earth, our common mother.(Tree)
In the name of Truth, the light which has no beginning and no end.(Fire)

May we never know thirst or need while in your service. Awen! (Make sign of ADF sigil over the Waters of Life)


Return the Waters of the Earth: We return the Water of Life so that the land will be better for us having been here. Hail great giving Earth! Keep safe always the sacrifice, keep it ever holy! 

End of Rite

Return the Waters of the Earth:

Thank deity of occasion:

Thank the Gods:

Thank the Nature Spirits:

Thank the Ancestors:

Thank the Spirits of Inspiration:

Thank the Earth Mother:

De-Hallowing of the Fire, Well, & Tree; Close the Gate, and thank Raven:

End of ritual

Song:   Walk with wisdom from this hallowed place. Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall ere embrace. May strength be your brother, and honour be your friend, And luck be your lover until we meet again.

Gaia Theory... a metaphysical/magical look from my perspective

Gaia

          For years there has been an idea called the Gaia Theory stating that organics have evolved to 'interact with their inorganic surroundings on Earth to form a self-regulating, complex system that contributes to maintaining the conditions for life on the planet.' (Wikipedia - Gaia Theory). During my meditations working to create the study program for DEO (Demeter and the Eleusinian Order, ADF) I began to see this theory through a metaphysical perspective.

          Science is finding that there is a vast network of fungi in the soil of the earth which allows for transfer of nutrients and possible communication between plants of every kind. This network is known as the mycelia network. There are many functions on a physical and biology level which occurs between fungi and plant life, far more than I could ever image covering in this post. If you are interesting in learning more do a Google search on: Mycorrhiza fungi or Mycelia fungi. Believe me you will find amazing amounts of information. Also here is a video of Paul Stamets talking about mycelia on TED: (there are a great many videos by Paul and others from TED talks which cover this topic and other involving biology communities forming networks)

          My interest here is on what can this mean on a metaphysical level to we humans and all the other life forms which inhabit our planet. During my meditation and trance work with Demeter in creating the DEO study program She showed me ideas which lead me to the following thoughts about this.

          So let us suppose that magic is derived from the plant itself. It is part of the very essence of the life force which encases the earth. And let us say that this energy moves through a vast network throughout the planet. A network of mycelia which spreads throughout the soil. Plants are inner connected with the fungi which are connected to the Earth Mother and all over things in the soil. There is an unending flow of energy. Let us now say that plants take some of this fungi into them and spread it through their pollen into the air. This then allows animals of all kind to take in the fungi connecting us to the same energy, the same life force, the same magic of the Earth Mother. Then the pollen then falls into water where is spreads further connecting land, sea, and sky. It then connects everything on and within the earth to one another. This could be our true World Tree... that which connects us to all things and all places!


          But if this network is there, which it really is actually there despite my thoughts on what it could mean, why is magic nearly lost to the past? Why can we not access it like stories of old? Let me share with you what I saw as being the reasoning for this.

          As humanity evolved we started to change our environment. As we learned about agriculture we reshaped the land through farming to suite our needs, so we could grow more food for our ever growing species. As forests were cleared and land plowed this ancient mycelia network was damaged. The more we spread the more damage to the network. Then we began to mine minerals which further tore into our Earth Mother disrupting the network even further. We lived in these areas where our connection to the Earth Mother and the earth magic were damaged. The more our villages grew the more damage we did the more our connection was weakened. This not only made us start to lose our connection to magic but to the Earth Mother herself. We began to feel lost so we advanced further to fill the void of our own creation, which in turn caused even further destruction.

          In our efforts to provide for our exploding population we began to find ways to turn away pests and other 'damaging' life forms to our crops. This effort began to poison the land, killing even more of the network. This in turn caused plant life to become damaged and struggle as it lost connections with the Earth Mother. It is a cycle that has spiraled completely out of control.

          We now consume foods that are altered, treated to prevent 'infestation' of things we see as undesirable, that are processed to the point they can barely be seen as nature foods. Though doing so we are cutting ourselves off from the Earth Mother and Her network of life even further. We eat foods that stunt the growth of healthy bacteria and fungi in our bodies. We grow food in wants that prevent the land and crops themselves from obtaining what they need. Hell we are even to the point of genetically modifying food so that we can gain more nutrition from it. And in doing so we are pushing ourselves further and further from our connection from the Earth Mother and all life. We have caused and imbalance in the world that ripples throughout our planet, throughout life, and throughout our souls.

          Just some food for spiritual thought.
     

ADF styled Hellenic Autumn Equinox Ritual

In this ritual the members of Ozark Mountain Grove were honoring Demeter, the Eleusinian Mysteries, and the mythos that surrounds both. In doing so we used a poppet in the re-enactment of the mythos for the part of Demphonin. This was a symbol to represent a character during our ritual theatrical presentation. It was a lengthy and very powerful ritual which was very moving to all who attended.

Hellenic Fall Equinox Ritual

Offering to the Outsiders: (Yellow) You who are not a part of our right, though your way are mighty they are not our ways, we give you this offering and ask that you leave us in peace, Outdwellers, turn from our grove!

Procession Song: (Bardic)  We approach the Sacred Grove with hearts and minds, flesh and bones, Join us now in ways 

of old, we have come home. We have come home.

Purification of the people (Yellow)

                [sprinkle each person with water of the bowl and rosemary while saying:]

                                                May you be cleansed from the worries of the world

Welcome (Yellow) 

Two Powers Meditation (Yellow- World Tree/Community merging version)

Consecration of Place and Time

Offering to Hestia: Bright shining fire of hearth, warmth of home and soul, source of human survival, We call to you Great eldest and youngest Daughter of Cronus and Rhea, Mighty Hestia, be in our grove!

Offering to Zeus: Loving King of all the worlds, Father of the gods, hurler of the great lightning bolts, bringer of life        sustaining rain, Mighty Zeus, be in our grove!

Offering to the Earth Mother: (Yellow) Great Mother, you who gives live to alll things that dwell upon your land, sea,

and sky, you who bears the green of the land and the fruit of the sea, Blessed Ge, be in our grove!

Earth Mother Chant/Ziker:

Chorus:

The river is flowing and it is growing.

The river is flowing down to the sea.

Mother Earth carry me, your child I’ll always be.

 Mother Earth carry me down to the sea.

Song:

Her sacred ground we walk upon, with every step we take.

Her sacred ground we walk upon, with every step we take.

Chorus

Song”

The Earth is our Mother, we must take care of her.

The Earth is our Mother, we must take care of her.

(Repeat three time total)

(Final phrase- Chorus)

Offering to Poetic Inspiration: (            ) … Spirit of Inspiration, be in our grove!

Recreation of the Cosmos and Establishing Scared Center (Yellow)

Invocation of Gatekeeper: Swift footed messenger of the Gods, traveler between the worlds, mighty god of magic, Hermes Chthonos, come to our grove!

Invocation of Spirit of the Well: Spirit of the Well, who’s form is every changing, flow about, beneath, and through us, Let this well be no more a simple well but all wells and all waters of the seas, and the foundation of all the worlds! Spirit of the Well, be in our grove!

Invocation of Spirit of the Tree: Spirit of the Tree, who’s body give us the air we breath, grow beneath, above, and within   us, let this tree be no more a simple tree but all trees of all the lands and the axis of all the worlds! Spirit of the Tree, be in our grove!

Invocation of Spirit of Fire: Spirit of Fire, who’s essence sustains the souls of all shine above, about, and within us, let the fire be no more a simple fire but all the fires of all the heavens and the crown of all the worlds! Spirit of the Fire, be in our grove!

Opening of the Gate:      Well, Tree, Fire

CHORUS 
By Fire and by Water, between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the World-Tree rooted deep, crowned high. (repeat once) 

(Yellow makes offering of silver to well-opens the gate)

Come we now to the Well, the eye and the mouth of Earth,
Come we now to the Well, and silver we bring,
Come we now to the Well, the waters of rebirth,
Come we now to the Well, together we sing: 

CHORUS

(Yellow makes offering to the tree-opens the gate)

Gather we at the Tree, the root & the crown of all,
Gather we at the Tree, Below & above,
Gather we at the Tree, Together we make our call,
Gather we at the Tree, In wisdom & love. 

CHORUS 

(Yellow makes offering to the fire-opens the gate)

We will kindle a Fire, Bless all, and with harm to none,
We will kindle a Fire, and offering pour,
We will kindle a Fire, A light 'neath the Moon & Sun,
We will kindle a fire, our spirits will soar. 

CHORUS (with gusto)

All: Let the gates be OPEN!

                Let the gates be OPEN!

                Let the gates be OPEN!

Chorus

(Yellow): The gates are OPEN!

Kindred Invocations

Offering to Ancestors:  (Blue) Might Dead ancestors to us, those that have come before so that the way was cleared, welcome to honor you this day, come forth to our fire we pray! Beloved Ancestors, accept our offering!

Offering to Nature Spirits: (Green) Creatures of fur, feather, flesh and scale, cousins to us all mortal and spirit alike, you who give so much so that we may live, we come to honor you this day, come forth to our fire we pray! Spirits of Nature, accept our offering!

Offering to the Gods:  (Red) Great Shining Ones, gods and goddess of all times, you who bring order to the cycles of the cosmos we come to honor you this day, come forth to our fire we pray! Mighty gods, accept our offering!

Prayer to the Kindred: (together either in Greek or English)

Μέσω των προγόνων κερδίζουμε το θάρρος.

Me-saw    tawn  pro-gon-awn  ker-de-zoome tah   thah-rros.

Through ancestors we gain courage.

Μέσω των πνευμάτων φύσης βρίσκουμε την ειρήνη.

Me-saw  tawn    pnel-mahtawn   fus-ais bris-koome      tain   hee-rain-ai.

Through nature spirits we find peace.

Μέσω των Θεών μαθαίνουμε τη φρόνηση.

Me-saw    tawn   the-awn  mah-thigh-noome  tai   fronai-sai.

Through gods we learn wisdom.

Μέσω του σογιού είμαστε ολόκληροι.

Me-saw    too  so-gi-oo  hee-maste   holo-kler-oy.

Through the kindred we are whole.

Song: (Bardic)       Gods & Dead & Mighty Sidhe, Powers of earth & sky and sea. By fire & well, by sacred tree, Offerings we make to ye!

Main Rite

Kindred of the Occasion Invocation:

Daughter to the Great Titans Kronos and Rhea,

Earth Goddess par excellence,

She who brings forth the fruits of the earth

And the life sustaining grains of the land,

We Pray!

Goddess who forsake the throne and riches offered to Her by Her might brother Zeus,

Father of all the Gods,

So that She could live among men upon the earth,

We Pray!

She who taught man the arts of seed and plow

To end the nomadic lives they lead,

Who became the Goddess of planned society.

We Pray!

Great Beloved Goddess Demeter, Mother of Persephone,

We come to honor and praise you!

In Your sadness from the lose of you daughter,

The world suffered bitter winter and death, finding no relief or joy,

Teaching men that all things end.

With the return of Your Daughter, Persephone,

You allowed life to return to the land sending away the cold winter of death.

With this You taught man that life once gone returns anew to the world,

That the eternal soul of all things flows with the cycle of the land.

Demeter, Goddess of the Eleusinian Mysteries,

We come before You in honor of all Your teachings to man,

We come before You to ask that You burn away our impurities

As You once sought to do with Demophon.

Blessed Mysteries of life, death, and life again are yours,

Great Beloved Demeter.

                                               

λαμπρή θεά,      δέχεται την προσφορά μας! (repeat 3 times)

                                               (Lam-prai The-ah, de-ke-tigh tain pros-por-ah mas!

[Glorious Goddess, accept our offerings!]

Praise Offerings (a round for each Kindred Invoked, then open to all):

Main Offering (Yellow): [Reading from Homeric Hymns]

 I begin with Demeter, the holy goddess with the beautiful hair.

 And her daughter [Persephone] too. The one with the delicate ankles, whom Hadês seized. She was given away by Zeus, the loud-thunderer, the one who sees far and wide.

 Demeter did not take part in this, she of the golden double-axe, she who glories in the harvest.

 She [Persephone] was having a good time, along with the daughters of Okeanos, who wear their girdles slung low.

 She was picking flowers: roses, crocus, and beautiful violets. Up and down the soft meadow. Iris blossoms too she picked, and hyacinth. And the narcissus, which was grown as a lure for the flower-faced girl by Ge [Earth]. All according to the plans of Zeus. She [Ge] was doing a favor for the one who receives many guests [Hadês].

 It [the narcissus] was a wondrous thing in its splendor. To look at it gives a sense of holy awe

 to the immortal gods as well as mortal humans. It has a hundred heads growing from the root up.

 Its sweet fragrance spread over the wide skies up above. And the earth below smiled back in all its radiance. So too the churning mass of the salty sea. She [Persephone] was filled with a sense of wonder, and she reached out with both hands to take hold of the pretty plaything. And the earth, full of roads leading every which way, opened up under her.  It happened on the Plain of Nysa. There it was that the Lord who receives many guests made his lunge.

[Grove members scream out]

Thereafter, for nine days did the Lady Demeter wander all over the earth, holding torches ablaze in her hands.

Not once did she take of ambrosia and nectar, sweet to drink,  in her grief, nor did she bathe her skin in water.

[Grove chants/cries out: Iakch' o Iakche]

 But when the tenth bright dawn came upon her, Hekatê came to her, holding a light ablaze in her hands.

 She came with a message, and she spoke up, saying to her:

 “Lady Demeter, bringer of hôrai, giver of splendid gifts, which one of the gods who dwell in the sky or which one of mortal humans seized Persephone and brought grief to your philos thûmos? I heard the sounds, but I did not see with my eyes who it was. So I quickly came to tell you everything, without error.” So spoke Hekatê. But she was not answered by the daughter [Demeter] of Rhea with the beautiful hair. Instead, she [Demeter] joined her [Hekatê] and quickly set out with her, holding torches ablaze in her hands.

[Grove wonders around the space holding torches as if searching]

They came to Hêlios, the seeing-eye of gods and men. They stood in front of his chariot-team, and the resplendent goddess asked this question:

“Helios! Show me respect [aidôs], god to goddess, if ever I have pleased your heart and thûmos in word or deed. It is about the girl born to me, a sweet young seedling, renowned for her beauty, whose piercing cry I heard resounding through the boundless aether, as if she were being forced, though I did not see it with my eyes. I turn to you as one who ranges over all the earth and sea [pontos] as you look down from the bright aether with your sunbeams: tell me without error whether you have by any chance seen my philon child, and who has taken her away from me by force, against her will, and then gone away? Tell me which one of the gods or mortal humans did it.

So she spoke. And the son of Hyperion answered her with these words:

“Daughter of Rhea with the beautiful hair, Queen Demeter! You shall know the answer, for I greatly respect you and feel sorry for you as you grieve over your child, the one with the delicate ankles. No one else among all the immortals is responsible [aitios] except the cloud-gatherer Zeus himself, who gave her to Hadês as his beautiful wife. So he gave her to his own brother. And he [Hadês], heading for the misty realms of darkness, seized her as he drove his chariot and as she screamed out loud. But I urge you, goddess: stop your loud cry of lamentation: you should not have an anger without bounds, all in vain. It is not unseemly to have, of all the immortals, such a son-in-law as Hadês, the one who makes many sêmata.

In her anger at the one who is known for his dark clouds, the son of Kronos, she shunned the company of gods

and lofty Olympus. She went away, visiting the cities of humans, with all their fertile landholdings, shading over

her appearance, for a long time. Until, one day, she came to the house of bright-minded Keleos, who was at that

time ruler of Eleusis, fragrant with incense.

She sat down near the road, sad in her philon heart, at the well called Parthenion [the Virgin’s Place], where the

 people of the polis used to draw water. She sat in the shade, under the thick growth of an olive tree, looking like

an old woman who had lived through many years and who is deprived of giving childbirth and of the gifts of

Aphrodite, lover of garlands in the hair. She was like those nursemaids who belong to kings, administrators

of themistes, and who are guardians of children in echoing palaces. She was seen by the daughters of Keleos, son

of Eleusinos, who were coming to get water, easy to draw [from the well], in order to carry it in bronze water-jars

to the phila home of their father. They [the daughters] stood near her and spoke these winged words:

 “Who are you, and where are you from, old woman, old among old humans? Why has your path taken you

far away from the polis? Why have you not drawn near to the palace? There, throughout the shaded

chambers, are women who are as old as you are, and younger ones too, who would welcome you in word

and in deed.”

So she spoke. And the Lady Goddess spoke with the following words:

“Phila children! Whoever women you are among the female kind of humans, I wish you kharis [‘I wish you pleasure and happiness from our relationship, starting now’]. I shall tell you. It is not unseemly, since you ask, for me to tell you alêthea. Dôsô is my name. It was given to me by my honored mother.

            But that was then. I am from Crete, having traveled over the wide stretches of sea against my will. Without

my consent, by biâ, by duress, I was abducted by pirates. After a while, sailing with their swift ship, they

landed at the harbor of Thorikos. There the ship was boarded by women of the mainland, many of them.

They [the pirates] started preparing dinner next to the prow of the beached ship. But my thûmos did not

yearn for food, that delight of the mind. I stole away and set out to travel over the dark earth of the

mainland, fleeing my arrogant captors. This way, I stopped them from drawing any benefit from my worth

without having paid the price.

The daughters of Keleos spoke: 

“The wives of all of these manage the palace. Of these women, not a single one of them, when they first

look at you, would deprive you of tîmê, the way you look, and turn you away from the palace. Rather, they

will receive you. For, right now, you look like the gods. If you wish, wait for us, while we go to the palace

of our father and tell our mother, Metaneira with the low-slung girdle, all these things from beginning to

end, in the hope that she will tell you  to come to our house and not to seek out the houses of others. She

has a treasured son, growing up in the well-built palace. He was born late, after many a prayer for the birth

of a son: a great joy to his parents. If you nourish him to grow till he reaches the crossing-point of life,

coming of age, I can predict that you will be the envy of any woman who lays eyes on you. That is how

much compensation she [Metaneira] would give you in return for raising him.”

So they, filling their splendid jars with water, carried it off, looking magnificent. Swiftly they came to the great

palace of their father, and quickly they told their mother what they saw and heard. And she told them quickly

to go and invite her [Demeter] for whatever wages, no limits, and they, much as deer or heifers in the hôrâ of

spring prance along the meadow, satiating their dispositions as they graze on the grass, so also they, hitching up

the folds of their lovely dresses, dashed along the rutted roadway, their hair flowing over their shoulders, looking

like crocus blossoms. Metaneira was seized by a sense of aidôs, by a holy wonder, by a blanching fear.

She [Metaneira] yielded to her [Demeter] the chair on which she was sitting, and she told her to sit down. But

Demeter, the bringer of hôrai, the giver of splendid gifts, refused to sit down on the splendid chair, but she stood

there silent, with her beautiful eyes downcast, until Iambê, the one who knows what is worth caring about

[kednon] and what is not, set down for her a well-built stool, on top of which she threw a splendid fleece.

For a long time she sat on the stool, without uttering a sound, in her sadness. And she made no approach, either by

word or by gesture, to anyone. Unsmiling, not partaking of food or drink, she sat there, wasting away with

yearning for her daughter with the low-slung girdle, until Iambê, the one who knows what is dear and what is not,

started making fun. Making many jokes, she turned the Holy Lady’s disposition in another direction, making her

smile and laugh and have a merry thûmos.

[Grove tells a few off color jokes and rude gestures]

Then Metaneira offered her [Demeter] a cup, having filled it with honey-sweet wine. But she refused, saying that

it was divinely ordained that she not drink red wine. Then she [Demeter] ordered her [Metaneira] to mix some

barley and water with delicate pennyroyal, and to give her [Demeter] that potion to drink.

[Grove passes the kykeon around to drink from as Demeter did]

The Lady known far and wide as Dêô accepted it, for the sake of the hosia. Then well-girded Metaneira

spoke up in their midst:

“Woman, I wish you kharis [‘I wish you pleasure and happiness from our relationship, starting now’]. I

speak this way because I think you are descended not from base parents but from noble ones. You have the

look of aidôs in your eyes,  and the look of kharis, just as if you were descended from kings, who uphold

the themistes. We humans endure the gifts the gods give us, even when we are grieving over what has to be.

The yoke has been placed on our neck. But now that you have come here, there will be as many things that

they give to you as they give to me. Take this little boy of mine and nourish him. He is late-born, and it was

beyond my expectations that the immortals could have given him to me. I prayed many times to have him.

If you nourish him to grow till he reaches the crossing-point of life, coming of age, I can predict that you

will be the envy of any woman who lays eyes on you. That is how much compensation I [Metaneira] would

give you in return for raising him.”

            

Then Demeter, with the beautiful garlands in her hair, addressed her:

 “Woman, I wish you kharis back, and then some. May the gods give you good things. With positive

intentions, I will take your little boy as you tell me to. I will nourish him, and I do not expect that, through

the inadvertence of her nursemaid,  he would perish from a pestilence or from the Undercutter. I know an

antidote that is far more powerful than the Woodcutter; I know a genuine remedy for the painful

pestilence.”

Having so spoken, she took the child to her fragrant bosom,  in her immortal hands. And the mother [Metaneira]

rejoiced in her mind.

[Poppet form is accepted and cradled in arms]

And thus it came to pass that the splendid son of bright-minded Keleos, Dêmophôn, who was born to well-girded

Metaneira, was nourished in the palace, and he grew up like a daimôn, not eating grain, not sucking from the

breast. But Demeter used to anoint him with ambrosia, as if he had been born of the goddess, and she would

breathe down her sweet breath on him as she held him to her bosom. At nights she would conceal him within

the menos of fire, as if he were a smoldering log, and his philoi parents were kept unaware.

[Place Poppet form into the Fire]

 But they marveled at how full in bloom he came to be, and to look at him was like looking at the gods. Now Demeter

would have made him ageless and immortal if it had not been for the heedlessness of well-girded Metaneira,  who went

spying one night, leaving her own fragrant bedchamber, and caught sight of it [what Demeter was doing]. She let out a

shriek and struck her two thighs, afraid for her child. She had made a big mistake in her thûmos.

[Grove shrieks in terror]

Weeping, she spoke these winged words:

“My child! Demophon! The stranger, this woman, is making you disappear in a mass of flames!

This is making me weep in lamentation [goos]. This is giving me baneful anguish!”

Demeter, she of the beautiful garlands in the hair, became angry at her [Metaneira]. She [Demeter] took her

[Metaneira’s] philos little boy, who had been born to her mother in the palace, beyond her expectations,

            —she took him in her immortal hands and put him down on the floor, away from her.

“Ignorant humans! Heedless, unable to recognize in advance the difference between future good fortune

[aisa] and future bad. In your heedlessness, you have made a big mistake, a mistake without remedy. I

swear by the Styx, the witness of oaths that gods make, as I say this: immortal and ageless for all

days would I have made your philos little boy, and I would have given him tîmê that is unwilting [a-phthi-

tos]. But now there is no way for him to avoid death and doom. Still, he will have a tîmê that is unwilting

[a-phthi-tos], for all time, because he had once sat on my knees and slept in my arms. At the right hôrâ,

every year, the sons of the Eleusinians will have a war, a terrible battle among each other. They will do so

for all days to come. I am Demeter, the holder of tîmai. I am the greatest boon and joy for immortals and

mortals alike. But come! Let a great temple, with a great altar at its base, be built by the entire dêmos. Make

it at the foot of the acropolis and its steep walls. Make it loom over the well of Kallikhoron, on a prominent

hill. And I will myself instruct you in the sacred rites so that, in the future, you may perform the rituals in

the proper way and thus be pleasing to my noos.”

So saying, the goddess changed her size and appearance, shedding her old age, and she was totally enveloped

in beauty. And a lovely fragrance wafted from her perfumed robes. The radiance of her immortal complexion

shone forth from the goddess. 

    And thus the Eleusinian Mysteries were born!

Prayer of Sacrifice-Communion: (Hold Plate of meat, fat and bones towards the fire)

(Place Fat and Bones into the Fire- Then circle through those attending so they make take their portion of the Sacred Meal)

Prayer of Sacrifice Libation Hymn: (Pour each out as it is said)

Shining Gods and Goddesses,

We come to you as in times of old, bringing libations, gifts to honour and soothe:

To you all that have come, to all that heard our call we give you these gifts;

White milk, sweet to drink from the animal sacred Hermes, the cow;

(Pour Milk)

Golden honey, the distillation of the bees that work on sweet Persephone’s blossoms;

(Pour Honey)

Holy water brought from the source a pure spring domain of the Nymphs;

(Pour Water)

This refreshing, unmixed drink from the ancient vine, its mother Demeter the Goddess of all growing things, the gift to human kind from Beloved Dionysus;

(Pour Wine)

And the fragrant fruit of the pale green olive that lives its abundant life among the leaves and light of Helios, the gift of Athena to her people;

(Pour Olive Oil)

These gifts we give to you in love and in respect, in friendship and kinship.

Might Ones accept our offerings!

Taking of the Omen:

Cup Litany:

(Blue)                     You among the Mighty Dead, ancestors to us all,

                                Offerings we have made, offerings you have received.

                                We ask that you bless these Waters so we may share in the wisdom of

Your great Knowledge!

(All)                         The gifts of the Ancestors for the people of the Ancestors!

(Green)                  You of land, sea, and sky; both mortal and spirit alike,

You who are the Nature Spirits,

Offerings we have made, offerings you have received.

We ask that you bless these Waters so we may share in the warmth of your Great Kinship!

(All)                         The gifts of the Nature Spirits for the kin of the Nature Spirits!

(Red)                      You among the divine and gods and goddesses of all time,

                                Offerings we have made, offerings you have received.

                                We ask that you bless these Waters so we may share in the great Light of

Your Truth!

(All)                         The gifts of the Gods for the children of the Gods!

(Yellow)                  In the name of Memory, the preserving shrine.(Well)

                                In the name of Earth, our common mother.(Tree)

                                In the name of Truth, the light which has no beginning and no end.(Fire)

                               

                                May we never know thirst or need while in your service. Awen! (Make sign of ADF sigil over the Waters of Life)

Return the Waters of the Earth: We return the Water of Life so that the land will be better for us having been here. Hail great giving Earth! Keep safe always the sacrifice, keep it ever holy!

End of Rite

Thank deity of occasion:

Thank the Gods: (Red) Might Gods and Goddesses, we of the Ozark Mountain Grove thank you for being with us. Be with us always in our hearts!

Thank the Nature Spirits: (Green) Blessed Nature Spirits, cousins to us all, mortal and spirit alike, we of the Ozark Mountain Grove thank you for being with us. Be with us always in our hearts!

Thank the Ancestors: (Blue) Glorious Ancestors, kin to us all, we of the Ozark Mountain Grove thank you for being with. Be with us always in our hearts!

Thank the Spirits of Inspiration: (           )

Thank the Earth Mother: (Yellow) Blessed Ge, mother to us all, we of the Ozark Mountain Grove thank you for being with us. Be with us always in our hearts!

Thank Zeus: (      ) Mighty Zeus, King of all the gods, we of Ozark Mountain Grove thank you for being with us. Be with us always in our hearts!

Thank Hestia: (      ) Bright Virgin Hestia, tender of the sacred flames, we of the Ozark Mountain Grove than you for being with us. Be with us always in our hearts.

Close the Gate: By the powers of the Kindred, by the powers of three realms, and by the power of Well, Tree and Fire;

(All) Let the gates be closed!

(All) Let the gates be closed!

(All) LET THE GATES BE CLOSED!

The Gates are closed

Thank Hermes Chthonos: (Facilitator-Yellow) Might Hermes Chthonos, we thank you for being here at our rite, we ask now that you spend upon your way carrying our prayers and offerings to the Other Worlds and be with us when next we call!

De-Hallowing

Fire: Let this Fire be no more the Crown of all the worlds but simply a fire! Spirit of the Fire we thank thee!

Tree: Let this Tree be no more the Axis of all the worlds but simply a tree! Spirit of the Tree we thank thee!

Well: Let this Well be no more the foundation of all the worlds but simply a well! Spirit of the Well we thank thee!

Closing Two Powers Meditation  (Yellow)

End of ritual

Song: (Bardic)   Walk with wisdom from this hallowed place. Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall ere embrace. May

strength be your brother, and honour be your friend, And luck be your lover until we meet again.