Rituals
These are rituals I use, and thought it might be useful to share them with others. I owe the core of most of these rituals to the creator of the now-defunct Senobessus website, which while sadly offline now I was able to copy down some information from in my own notes. If anyone knows or can point me to the creator of the Senobessus ritual, I would be greatly appreciative! Much of the rest has been influenced by Ceisiwr Serith's notes on PIE ritual, suggestions from friends, surviving folk practice, and my own alterations as I repeated rituals over and over. I have my friend Konstantin to thank for helping me with the beginning section on the creation of sacred space and Nigel Pennick's Secret Games of the Gods for the establishment of center in the Walking Ritual. Both of these rituals are intended towards solitary worship, but can be expanded for more people with a bit of creativity; it is simply not part of my current practice.
Walking Ritual
I use this sometimes when walking and need a ritual without tools or established space. Here is how it goes:
1. Make some sort of noise to scatter harmful influences.
2. Establish borders by extending right arm and moving clockwise around your intended sacred space. You may either walk in a circle or simply turn in place as needed.
3. Touch fingers to heart, lips, and brow, focusing and centering yourself. This is a purification.
4. Stamp your heel into the ground at the center three times. This establishes center and begins the ritual.
5. Facing north or east, say, "I have come here to honor the gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land."
6. If you have brought an offering, give it now. If not, find a likely object nearby and set it up as a wild offering. Say, "I give this offering to the gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land."
7. Conduct the main body of your ritual: If you wish to praise, offer hymns; to request, make your prayers and vows; to curse, give your will and offer in return.
8. Ask, "Have my offerings been accepted?" Look for an omen. If one appears, say, "What do the gods ask of me? What do they offer in return?" To learn this answer, you may look for more omens or use a casting method of your choice. I tend to gather a few sticks and interpret how they fall.
9. If omens have been good, say, "I drink to you, oh gods!" Suck in a deep breath and hold it. After a few moments, let it out and let it seep into the area around you. Say, "I give this in honor of the gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land. Go in peace, and be with us always."
10. You may wish to turn around again to erase the boundary. When this is done step over the boundary you had established and walk away without looking back. The ritual is now closed.
1. Make some sort of noise to scatter harmful influences.
2. Establish borders by extending right arm and moving clockwise around your intended sacred space. You may either walk in a circle or simply turn in place as needed.
3. Touch fingers to heart, lips, and brow, focusing and centering yourself. This is a purification.
4. Stamp your heel into the ground at the center three times. This establishes center and begins the ritual.
5. Facing north or east, say, "I have come here to honor the gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land."
6. If you have brought an offering, give it now. If not, find a likely object nearby and set it up as a wild offering. Say, "I give this offering to the gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land."
7. Conduct the main body of your ritual: If you wish to praise, offer hymns; to request, make your prayers and vows; to curse, give your will and offer in return.
8. Ask, "Have my offerings been accepted?" Look for an omen. If one appears, say, "What do the gods ask of me? What do they offer in return?" To learn this answer, you may look for more omens or use a casting method of your choice. I tend to gather a few sticks and interpret how they fall.
9. If omens have been good, say, "I drink to you, oh gods!" Suck in a deep breath and hold it. After a few moments, let it out and let it seep into the area around you. Say, "I give this in honor of the gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land. Go in peace, and be with us always."
10. You may wish to turn around again to erase the boundary. When this is done step over the boundary you had established and walk away without looking back. The ritual is now closed.
Domestic Ritual
This is the basic ritual I use in most of my daily practice. For the most part, this is also the ritual I use for festival occasions, with slight modifications as needed. This one aligns closest to the Senobessus ritual mentioned above. Notice that no establishment of sacred space is needed, for the home is already a sacred space if properly cared for.
1. Pour waters over fingers or dip them in water. Touch heart, lips, and brow. Say, "May I be pure."
2. Bring water into the hearth room if not already there. Light the hearth candle and say, "Brigandu, Lady of Light, bring my prayers and offerings to the gods."
3. If needed, say, "Spirits of the hearth and home, come and be welcome." Hold your arms in orans position and say, "I have come here to honor the gods, the ancestors, and spirits of the land. May you come and be welcome here."
4. Take offering, break it up and put it on the offering space piece by piece as you name each recipient. Say, "I give these offerings in honor of the gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land. May you take part in our table and accept these offerings."
5. Return hands to relaxed position. I tend to clasp them and bow my head. Begin the main part of the prayers and hymns. I have this titled "Hymns" in my notes. I use it to tell stories, ask for specific blessings, and conduct any ritual-specific activity such as festival celebrations. Here is where you will do any festival activities, blessings, sainings, prayers, and activities.
6. When all is done, say, "Have my offerings and prayers been accepted?" If yes, continue with, "What do the gods ask of me, their worshiper? What do they offer in return?" Follow each question with divination of your method of choice.
7. If omens are good, raise libation glass. Say loudly, "I drink to you, oh gods!" Drink some, then pour the rest into the fire and/or libation dish. Say, "I give this libation in honor of the gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land. Blessings on all of you." (Note: If the omens have not been good, simply give a libation but do not drink.)
8. When all is done, say, "Go in peace immortal ones, ancestors, and spirits of the land. Go in peace, feast well and drink deeply from what we have given, and leave when you are ready. Nemnaliiu te, dewoi."
9. Go to fire. Say, "Brigandu, lady of light, my thanks and blessings to you. Go in peace, bright fire and spirits of the hearth, and be with us always." Blow out or smother fire. End with, "Ollon essi."
10. Now may be a good time, if you desire, to end with final hymns, songs, prayers, or storytelling. Blessings have been exchanged so there is no ritual requirement, but sometimes it is nice to do so.
Note: This ritual works just as well for outside ritual, if fused with the Walking Ritual. Simply add the expulsion of harm, the circumnambulation, and the establishment of center to make it work. If worshiping outside, it may be good to bury the remnants of past offerings in a pit to the west--this would be dedicated to the ancestors and cthonic spirits.
1. Pour waters over fingers or dip them in water. Touch heart, lips, and brow. Say, "May I be pure."
2. Bring water into the hearth room if not already there. Light the hearth candle and say, "Brigandu, Lady of Light, bring my prayers and offerings to the gods."
3. If needed, say, "Spirits of the hearth and home, come and be welcome." Hold your arms in orans position and say, "I have come here to honor the gods, the ancestors, and spirits of the land. May you come and be welcome here."
4. Take offering, break it up and put it on the offering space piece by piece as you name each recipient. Say, "I give these offerings in honor of the gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land. May you take part in our table and accept these offerings."
5. Return hands to relaxed position. I tend to clasp them and bow my head. Begin the main part of the prayers and hymns. I have this titled "Hymns" in my notes. I use it to tell stories, ask for specific blessings, and conduct any ritual-specific activity such as festival celebrations. Here is where you will do any festival activities, blessings, sainings, prayers, and activities.
6. When all is done, say, "Have my offerings and prayers been accepted?" If yes, continue with, "What do the gods ask of me, their worshiper? What do they offer in return?" Follow each question with divination of your method of choice.
7. If omens are good, raise libation glass. Say loudly, "I drink to you, oh gods!" Drink some, then pour the rest into the fire and/or libation dish. Say, "I give this libation in honor of the gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land. Blessings on all of you." (Note: If the omens have not been good, simply give a libation but do not drink.)
8. When all is done, say, "Go in peace immortal ones, ancestors, and spirits of the land. Go in peace, feast well and drink deeply from what we have given, and leave when you are ready. Nemnaliiu te, dewoi."
9. Go to fire. Say, "Brigandu, lady of light, my thanks and blessings to you. Go in peace, bright fire and spirits of the hearth, and be with us always." Blow out or smother fire. End with, "Ollon essi."
10. Now may be a good time, if you desire, to end with final hymns, songs, prayers, or storytelling. Blessings have been exchanged so there is no ritual requirement, but sometimes it is nice to do so.
Note: This ritual works just as well for outside ritual, if fused with the Walking Ritual. Simply add the expulsion of harm, the circumnambulation, and the establishment of center to make it work. If worshiping outside, it may be good to bury the remnants of past offerings in a pit to the west--this would be dedicated to the ancestors and cthonic spirits.