Bell ringing druid rings bell thrice.
Outdwellers
Outsiders, forces of chaos, you who have chosen to not be part of our workings,
you who dwell, fierce and untamed beyond our lands in dark places to civilization unknown,
I give you this offering and ask you to stay behind the gate and do not disturb us during this rite.
(OFFERING OF RAISINS)
Purification
KSS- Purifies with sage/sweetgrass or water
Grove Attunement
Feel yourself reaching down, down into the earth
Down, down, like the roots of a tree
Down to the eternal water
The potential, the essence behind the Well
Down, down, down until you reach the water
Draw the water up, up like the roots of a tree
Draw the water up into you.
Feel yourself reaching up, up into the sky
Up, up, like the branches of a tree
Reaching up to the Sun, to the eternal fire
The spark that brings potential to fruition
The essence behind the Fire
Up, up, up until you reach the fire
Draw the fire down, down the branches of the tree
Draw the fire down into you.
Feel yourself becoming a tree
Feel _us_ becoming a tree
Feel us becoming the World Tree
Spanning the Nine Worlds
Joining the folk
Bringing the fire and the water together
Growing together, growing ever stronger
Feel us all becoming the Tree.
By Fire and by Water, between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the World Tree, rooted deep, crowned high
Honoring the Earth Mother
From our first breath, to our last sigh,
Our Mother is with us.
From our first laugh to our last cry,
Our Mother will hold us.
She is our body, She is our Home.
We thank you, Great Mother
For all that we have been given.
May we always remember to step lightly upon you,
and to honour your gift of life.
Hail Nerthus!
All: Hail!
Great Mother, accept these offerings.
{All offer a kiss to the earth while grain is placed on the Altar}
Statement of Purpose
As our ancestors once did so we do today, and so our children will do in the future.
As it is in the dead of Winter, it was for our ancestors a time for the Folk to gather in their halls and light fires against the harsh coldness outside. They would feast on the crops they had saved for this dark time of the year, and share what gifts they might in order to keep their moods bright through this dark season. It is a time when we, the Folk, gather to acknowledge the cold darkness of Winter and ask the Kindreds for help through the hard times so that we may yet see the next year’s planting and reaping. As our ancestors once did, so do we do today, and so will our children do in the future.
Establishing the Sacred Grove
KSS makes an offering of incense:
I kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love, and power.
Sacred fire, burn within us.
All- Sacred fire, burn with us.
KSS makes an offering of silver:
In the depths flow the waters of wisdom.
Sacred waters flow within us.
All- Sacred waters, flow within us.
KSS dresses the world tree:
From the depths to the heights spans the world tree.
Sacred tree, grow within us.
All- Sacred tree, grow within us.
KSS-The fire, the well, the sacred tree,
Flame and flow and grow in me!
In land, sea and sky,
below and on high!
Thus is the sacred grove claimed and hallowed.
By the cleansing of water and fire, let all ill
turn away from me and mine.
Svo skal vera
All: Svo skal vera
Opening the Gates
Hail! Heimdall, we call to thee
Heimdall, golden-toothed, rider of Gulltopp
Heimdall, nine-mothered, fairest and brightest
Heimdall, keeper of Bifröst, the bridge spanning the worlds
Heimdall! We ask your aid now
Open for us the ways between
Open the ways, that we may be transported
That this place may be a sacred place, a place meet for the Kindred
Hail! Heimdall, join your magic with ours, that the ways may be opened.
Let the ways be opened!
The gates…are open.
First Prayer
KSS- High Ones, Mighty Alfar, Disir and landvaettir
Powers of Earth and Sky and Sea,
By Fire and Well, by Sacred Tree,
To each, an offering we make to thee.
Ancestors
Hear us, Old Ones, our ancestors and kin,
You, whose blood flows in our veins,
You, who have built the foundations our people stand upon
Our respected parents, ancestors, teachers and guides
From you we spring and with you we will grow in health.
Remember us as we remember you:
Ancestors, accept our offering
All: Ancestors, accept our offering
(OFFERING OF BREAD)
Nature Spirits
Hear us, Spirits of Nature
Kindreds of fur, feather,scale, fin, bark, leaf and stem
Spirits of the forest, mountains, rivers and sky
From you we learn to live in harmony with our world,
and ourselves.
Aid us as we aid you:
Nature Spirits, Accept our offering!
All: Nature Spirits, Accept our offering!
(OFFERING OF NUTS)
Shining Ones
Hear us, Shining Ones of old, you who uphold the worlds.
You who taught us the mysteries of life, wisdom, love and strength
Guides and guardians of our people, our divine mentors
In you we grow in wisdom, strength, and purity.
Honor us as we honor you:
Shining Ones, accept our offering!
All: Shining Ones, accept our offering!
(OFFERING OF STRAWBERRIES)
KSS- We are here to honour our Gods and to ask for their participation.
Call deity of the occasion
ODIN
Odin, All-Father,
Chieftain of the Aesir,
Ruler of Asgard.
You who hung yourself for nine days and nights for wisdom,
An offering of yourself to yourself.
You who sacrificed an eye for the power of vision
That cannot be seen with the eye.
Odin, this night, the longest and darkest of all,
You mount your steed Sleipnir and lead the Wild Hunt.
Your Honor guard are the Valkyries,
Your warriors stream out of your hall, Valhalla.
You hunt the servants of Chaos,
The giants of Jotunheim,
The dark elves of Svartalfheim,
And the trolls and goblins that plague the realm of Midgard.
You go forth to prevent Ragnarok,
And in so doing, we praise you.
Odin, accept this gift,
Our power freely given, freely offered.
Use this to remove the agents of chaos from Midgard
And protect those who do so in this realm.
Personal Offerings
The Lighting of the Vigil Candle
At sunset to be taken to the gathering place.
{at this time we will head indoors where the rest of the ritual will be done throughout the night until the greeting of the dawn}
——————————————————————————————————————————————
At Rayne’s House:
KSS- Now, with the blessings of the Gods, the Ancestors and the Spirits of Nature upon us this night of rebirth, and with Their presence all around us, we seek to honour that which has come anew.
Workings
KSS- In honouring our Gods, we listen to their Wisdom.
Runic divination
“We have asked and been answered. Are we satisfied, or would we hear more?”
Calling for the Blessing
KSS- As in the ways of old we have given our gifts freely
We will drink deep of the Cup of Inspiration.
Mighty Kindred, your blessings upon us!
All: Kindred, your blessings upon us!
We gather with you between Earth and Sky. We are proud to call ourselves your people.
Once again, Mighty Kindred, your blessings upon us!
All: Kindred, your blessings upon us!
Hallowing of the Waters
KSS- Shining Ones, Noble Ones, and Mighty Ones, We have praised you and received your blessings. Hallow these waters and grant us your strength and inspiration.
Affirmation of the Blessing
KSS- We open our hearts to the flow of your blessing;
We, your children and worshippers.
We drink in wisdom, love and strength
To do as we will in the worlds
In service to the Shining Ones.
We shall drink deep the blessings of the Kindred!
Prayer of Sacrifice
KSS-This eve we gather upon the Earth as one tribe;
To worship and Honour the Kindred as one people;
We gather kin and clan beneath the Sky;
To make offerings to the Kindred in hopes of
Receiving their blessings in return.
Let our voice arise on the flame
Let our voice resound in the well
We call once more through the Gates and deep within
The Otherworld that all shall know our love and respect
Beloved Kindred, We Honour you!
Communal Sharing
Chant:
May the powers of the Kindreds be shown to me.
May the omens and the blessings be known through me.
May the gift of Living Waters fill my soul.
May the wisdom of the Kindred make me whole.
——————————————————————————————————————————————
At daybreak:
Thanking the Powers
KSS- Each time we invoke the Powers they become stronger
and more alert to the needs of the Folk. But the time
has come to end our Working, and give them proper thanks
Thanking the deities of the occasion.
Odin, you have graced us with your presence yesterday and today,
Thank you for joining us and if it pleases you,
Now go or stay.
All: Hail Odin!
Shining Ones
O Lords and Ladies, lofty, high,
To our ancient ones ever nigh,
Thank you for joining us today.
As pleases you, now go or stay.
Nature Spirits
O Spirits of earth, river and sky,
Brothers and sisters of fur, feather, fin, bark, leaf and stem
Thank you for joining us today,
As pleases you, now go or stay.
Ancestors
O Old Ones, our ancestors and kin,
You whose blood flows within.
Thank you for joining us today,
As pleases you, now go or stay.
Gatekeeper
Heimdall, keeper of the ways
Heimdall, foreknowing, keen of eye and ear
Hear us now. We thank you for your aid
But the time has come to end this rite
We ask that you join your magic to ours once again
And withdraw the rainbow bridge
Return to Himinbjörg and resume your watch
And let us return to Midgärd, as we were
And let the ways between be shut.
Let the ways be shut!
The gates…are closed.
Thanking the Earth Mother
Earth Mother, May we continue to learn from your being
to persevere with faith, to balance with grace
to embrace with love and walk in beauty.
Earth Mother, we thank you.
Hail Nerthus!
All: Hail!
Final closing
KSS- By the Walker of the Ways, and by our magic, we end
what we began. Let the Fire be flame, and the Well be
water, and the ways between be shut. We have done as
our ancestors have done, and as our children will do,
and the Powers have answered. Let us go out into
the world secure in the knowledge that our offerings
have pleased them and that we go forth under their
protection. The ritual is at a close!
Bell ringing druid rings bell thrice.