This rite was performed the Spring of 2011. We had quite a few issues happen during the rite simply because of poor communication. This is the last ritual I wrote for 3CG. Even the best ritualists can find themselves at a loss without backup and I simply could not write another ritual for their growing community without any. I did not go into the amount of detail for this version as I usually do when writing as I had relied on those that were experienced to be able to pull their weight. Many people either didn’t show up or bailed at the last minute and the substitutions made were not written down. I apologize for the lack of detail in those areas. There are quite a few stage directions that hopefully give a visual for what I had been INSPIRED to have happen. Most of it did not occur in actuality.
I have included this rite, regardless of the flaws, simply to show that we are all human and it’s okay when perfection doesn’t show its face.
I put together the rite but many of the invocations were written by others. For privacy sake I have left off their names.
Norse Ostara 2011 (Three Cranes Grove, ADF) – Turning the Wheel of the Year
Processional – Most likely will have drumming processional
Outdwellers –
First came Sigi, son of Oðin;
Then came Rerir, son of Sigi;
Then came Volsung, son of Rerir;
Then came Sigmund, son of Volsung;
Then came Sigurðr, son of Sigmund.
It was Sigurð who would slay the serpent.
The serpent held the Otter’s Ransom
And hoarded it from all the world:
A treasure cursed with death to those who horde it,
Given to pay for injustices done.
Regin forged the sword for Sigurð’s hand:
Gram, whose name is wrath, of much renown.
Sigurðr lay in wait in the serpent’s path
And thrust his sword into the beast.
His arm was bloody to the shoulder:
He told the beast his name and family.
As Fafnir died, Sigurð rode forth
To claim the treasure as his own.
To all who horde the wealth of others,
To all who keep their riches to themselves,
To all who seek to guard their knowledge
And never let their joy disperse:
We know your names and know your face.
We hear your voices in our ears.
We will not let them be our own.
We share our wealth with each other,
Bound together in frith as kin.
We join our voices and call to Kindreds
And even share our wealth with you.
Take this drink and set aside
The anger and the selfishness,
For if you join our rite this day,
Accepting this drink from our own hands,
You stand with us, as kin.
Censing and Aspersing
(2 spears will serve as a gateway to the ritual.)
Seal the renewed agreements by a Hammer Rite:
To each of the 6 directions:
(Raising Hammer to forehead level)
ODIN!
(Hammer lowered to chin level)
TYR!
(Lower the Hammer to solar plexis)
THOR!
(Raise Hammer to right shoulder)
FREYJA!
(Move Hammer to left shoulder)
FREY!
By the power of the AEsir and Mjolner, May this stead be made holy!
(At this time we acknowledge the season of old):
Changing of the Guard poem part one (The idea is for the person stating this to go to our ‘gateway’ and call out in honor of the old season. By doing this we are giving Skadhi her due and bidding her farewell until next year):
Hail to thee Skadhi! Lady of Winter’s whites,
Your call have we heard across our homes, On these many cold days and dark nights.
Hail to thee Skadhi! Wolf-maid and Goddess of Bow,
Your touch have we felt all these long weeks, our lives filled with your snow.
Hail to thee Skadhi! Mistress of Winter’s fun
Thrymheim beckons your loving hand Your duty here now is done.
Well have we rested
Well have we paused
Well have we met those we hold dear
“We begin our rite, as always with the acknowledgement of she who gives us all”:
Honoring the Earth Mother –
I would like to have an Earth Mother song that is not a dirge.
(Attendee brings Mother in; sit her down on the altar. When the time comes, attendee walks over to Mother.)
“Nerthus, Mother of men,
Your voice rises from out of the sea
name spoken on the lips of sister-kin,
come amongst your people today
like in the days of the ancients
bringing a time of peace and rejoicing”
(Nerthus is unveiled towards the altar (NOT the folk)….and attendee offers prayers)
“Nerthus, Mother of men, accept this offering”
Statement of purpose (welcoming):
“Having recognized and welcomed Our Mother, from her slumber; today, we gather to celebrate – the Turning of the Wheel of the Year to Spring. We honor the Earth as she awakens from her winter sleep. The Goddesses Idunna and Eostre stir the seeds of life. We see the proof of this in the first blooms of life that spring forth and bless us in their abundance. As our ancestors once did, so do we do today, and so our children will do in the future.
Grove Attunement – (Unity Meditation) –
Bardic Inspiration –
“Let us now call out to Inspiration, may Bragi/Kvasir give us the words to inspire us.” (There were more words but they were never given to me to include on paper.)
Recreation of the Cosmos – (put some of your own pretty words here):
“We now establish our sacred center.”
Portal Song –
Conclude with: “Our center established and focused, let us now open the Gates to bring us in touch with the Kindred.”
For this ritual, the Norns are our Gatekeepers – Urd, Verdandi and Skuld.
Opening the gates: While I call them I would like three people to be responsible for lighting the 9 tiki torches (or candles depending on whether we are inside). One group for the upper, one group for the lower and one group for the middle This is not a speaking role, just lighting something on fire.)
Invocations to the Three Kindred:
Ancestors
Nature Spirits
Shining Ones
Bess’ song – A Kindred Prayer
**Praise Offerings to be made during this prayer song.
“We are gathered here to honor Spring in all her glory. We welcome those deities whose gentle hands bring us out of the cold, dark of Winter and into the ever-increasing light and warmth of Spring. Let us honor our deities of the occasion with stories born of their inspiration.”
(Idunna)
Idunna’s Apples (story by Rev. Burchfield)
(Eostre)
Story of Eostre (to be included on another page)
(During this portion, if possible, I would like all the little ones to sit together near the altar as we tell the stories. This is a good way to focus them and bring them into the actual rite better.)
Invocation to Idunna after the story
Invocation to Eostre
(Offerings to Idunna and Eostre. We will let the kids offer theirs first. Perhaps whatever activity they do ahead of time can be used as an offering at this point. The idea is a basket with decorated apples for Idunna and a basket with paper flowers and pictures for Eostre. These can be taken care of by the children before the rite during the social hour.
Drummers can put their offerings into the baskets so that they do not need to worry about having to get up to make them.)
Working to be done BEFORE the waters:
What I actually want are Nine drummers from the group to carry on a good thrumming drum beat for the whole rite. Their job during the rite is to keep the energy up and moving. It’s not a slack ass job either. Keeping that rhythm and flow of the “magic” we are conjuring will be vital for when we do the waters. The drums will escalate while they are infusing the waters after maintaining a consistent rhythm throughout the rite. Then they should die down to a soft beat when we begin to close everything down and then end with the final song.
We will be freeing some peeps as well!
Final Sacrifice to Idunna and Eostre
“We have honored the kindred, paid homage to Idunna and Eostre, brought forth the Spring by waking the Earth Mother in all her aspects. Children of the Earth, the Wheel of the Year has been turned; Let us see what gifts the Kindred have for us in return.”
Omens –
First Question – “Have our offerings been accepted?” (rune pull)
Call forth the Kindred callers with:
“Will those who performed the Kindred invocations step forward?”
Second Question(s) – offering the rune pouch to the Nature Spirit caller (Nick) saying
“What words of comfort do the Nature Spirits have for us?” (rune pull)
- turning to the Ancestors caller saying
“What words of Wisdom do the Ancestors wish to share with us?” (rune pull)
- finally to the Shining Ones caller asking
“What words of guidance do the Shining Ones gift us with?” (rune pull)
The Kindreds will then share with us the omens that they have for us.
“The Kindred have spoken and given us their gifts. Do the Folk accept these blessings?
Yes, they do.
WATERS –
If we have enough, our little valkyries will pass out the cups with the Adults helping to actually pass out the waters:
Blessing of the tools. A small bowl of the waters should be separated out BEFORE the folk get theirs in order to bless the tools.
Thank the Deities of the Occasion (Idunna & Eostre)
Thank the Kindreds
Close the Gates
Thank the Gatekeepers
Thank the Powers of Inspiration
Final part of the poem for the Changing of the Guard:
Well have we thought
Well have we learned
Well do we know what Season is here
Hail to thee Eostre! Lady of first blooms,
Your touch do we crave across the land, the stirring of Nerthus’ womb
Hail to thee Eostre! Maiden and Goddess of Youth
Your smile is needed to lure the sun, to give a promise it’s truth
Hail to thee Eostre! Warder of Spring
Your love now shines to warm the earth, we give hail for all that you bring
Thank the Earth Mother and place the veil back upon her.
CLOSE IT DOWN.