This rite was performed on February 2nd of 2010 in an online format by several ADF members. Many individuals were solitary or were house-bound because of weather. Several of us determined to try and hold an online ritual to give a sense of community for those that needed it. We managed to perform the ritual included below and we received good omens for the work we did.
Online ritual is hard. Whether the lag time becomes an issue or internet connectivity cuts out, sometimes it is an exercise in patience. It can be done and be an extremely moving experience. The key is to have really good planning and back-ups. If someone cuts out then have a script prepared so that another attendee can step in to pick up the baton. If lag time causes huge gaps in ritual flow, use the time to focus on the part of the rite you are performing. One method for doing so is to have an object whose sole purpose it to conduct ritual energy. The premise is similar to a worry stone. When the lag time happens just have the object in your hand and use it to tap into the stored energy there. Hold that focus until the other online members catch up. Then keep moving forward. It’s okay to chuckle during a rite. Laughter is a wonderful offering.
When using an online format to perform ritual visual cues are important to hold your focus. Set up your altar space as if a huge group is attending. When you open the gates, you are already connecting yourself to the Cosmos as a whole. Just include connecting through each other by the objects on your altars. Also, plan your offerings. If possible have someone designated as an offering person. Their job will be to make offerings at the appropriate times in ritual so that the other participants can rest easy and simply do their roles. It also doesn’t hurt to do a few practice runs to get the flow of things with those that will be helping you to perform the rite. Write your ritual, including invocations, ahead of time. If everyone already knows the words that will be used then it is easier should something happen that causes the rite to halt. They can also continue the ritual in their own space until the situation is resolved.
I believe the hardest part, especially for those that do the Germanic hearths, is the sumble or blot that occurs in many rituals. Those are designed for community building and the sharing of wyrd. “Heathens” are often loath to consider any ritual to be valid if it isn’t done in person. It may be ideal to perform such rites in a group but it isn’t always possible. One way to look at it is that we are a virtual society that affects one another on a global scale. We perform most of our connections and communications through the great wide web. Are we to think that the gods of old are completely incapable of adapting beyond a description written of them 800 years ago by someone that didn’t even worship them? I think that would be insulting to the very gods we worship as well as to ourselves for honoring them were that the case. Yes, I prefer in person ritual. I also think that online ritual, when done right, can be pretty darn powerful.
Just remember, the ritual is not about perfection. It’s about building the connection between you and your faith regardless of format. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
Initiating the Rite
Ring bell or simply state: “I have come to honor the Gods.”
Purification
“As I prepare to come before the Kindred, I set aside those parts of myself that distract me from the task at hand. I push away all thoughts of mundane life that would creep into my mind.”
Perform Nine Breaths to cleanse and prepare to establish sacred center. Concentrate on blowing out the negativity that may be pent up inside you.
Honoring the Earth Mother
O beloved mother of all
From whose starry womb the green earth springs
You who are the bearer of all life
We pray you bless and uphold this rite.
All: Mother of all accept our offering!
Offer steel cut oats, or some other prepared grain.
Statement of Purpose
“We are here this night to honor the old ways. To observe the turning of the wheel as it eases from one season, into another one. From winter’s cold to spring’s warmth we join our energies, our hearts and minds to give honor where it is due.”
(Re)Creating the Cosmos (Three Lights Unity Meditation)
Now, focus your thoughts down, down into the Earth. Listen. Hear the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Listen. Listen. Feel your heartbeat match the pulse of the Earth; listen as they beat in unison. Now envision a pale green mist arising from the Earth. Swirling and flowing, it encircles your limbs, your torso, and engulfs your head. Feel the mists as they become a part of you, blending within you and exiting through you. Now the mists twirl about you and their circle grows, encompassing those around you, as well. You watch as the green billowing mists entwine them, piercing their cores and uniting all in a green cloud of energy, flowing through each of you before moving on to the next, sharing the energy from one with the next, creating an interconnectedness between you. Hear you still, the heartbeat, the bass notes underlying the symphony of life as each living thing is connected through this Earth energy. You watch as the mist grows brighter and brighter until it burns brightly, twirling and swirling faster and faster as it is fed.
Now, see a shimmering band of white light, growing into a silvery essence from the air begin to follow the path of the green mists that glow like emeralds kissed by the sun. See the silvery light entwining you swirling about you, piercing your core before moving on to the next person, connecting those placed the emerald-green mists have been with a silvery, shimmering glow. Hear again the heartbeat, beating as one with your own heart and the hearts of those around you.
With the swirling silvers and emeralds about you, you now see a deep, sapphire blue bubbling up, flowing as water, encompassing your legs, your torso, your arms, your head. Flowing through you and throughout you, pouring down the paths of the silvers and greens, watch the watery blue light that breaks as waves at each surface it encounters before piercing and filling those around you—as the tide coming in and filling every crevice, every pool, every opening. See the ebb and flow of the blue light as it merges with the greens and silvers to erupt into a unified, intensified golden light, pulsing with the heartbeat of Mother Earth.
See now this golden light encompassing all that it touches, flowing faster and faster, enshrouding everything, everyone in a mantle of golden glory. Thusly dress in this golden light of balanced unity, open now your mind’s eye, and with the bells of the lights and the heartbeat of the Mother Earth echoing in your spirit, allow yourself to open your eyes, prepared to open now the gates to the Kindred.
Gatekeeper Invocation:
Mighty Norns, Urd Verdandi, Skuld
Thurs maidens of what was, what is and what may be
You are the weavers of Wyrd
You are the carvers of Örlög
You are the deliverers of destiny to god and man alike.
You are the Jotun maids that the gods seek council from
You are the guardians of the well of Urd
You are the nourishers of Yggdrasil, the world tree.
You who touch all 9 realms
Wise ones, we honor you and ask you to stand as guardians of the gates.
Blend your magic with outs that none may cause harm to those gathered here
Help us as we open the gates and tred the ancient paths
Ladies of the Ash, accept our offering with hail and welcome!
Folk: Ladies of the Ash! Accept our Offering!
Opening of the Gates (9 realms style)
To the realm of Asgard – land of the Aesir and the Asyniur
Hear our call while this flame burns bright (light torch)
Open wide your gates and join the children of the old ways.
To the realm of Vanaheim – land of the Vanir
Hear our call while this flame burns bright (light torch)
Open wide your gates and join the children of the old ways.
To the realm of Alfheim – land of the Alvs and the Alfar
Hear our call while this flame burns bright (light torch)
Open wide your gates and join the children of the old ways.
To the realm of Midgard – land of man and landvettir
Hear our call while this flame burns bright (light torch)
Open wide your gates and join the children of the old ways.
To the realm of Muspelheim – land of fire and one force of creation
Hear our call while this flame burns bright (light torch)
Open wide your gates and join the children of the old ways.
To the realm of Jotunheim – land of the Jotunar
Hear our call while this flame burns bright (light torch)
Open wide your gates and join the children of the old ways.
To the realm of Helheim – land of the dead and our Disir
Hear our call while this flame burns bright (light torch)
Open wide your gates and join the children of the old ways.
To the realm of Niflheim – land of ice and the second force of creation
Hear our call while this flame burns bright (light torch)
Open wide your gates and join the children of the old ways.
To the realm of Svartalfheim – land of dark elves and forgers of treasure
Hear our call while this flame burns bright (light torch)
Open wide your gates and join the children of the old ways.
9 realms we have called
9 doors we knocked upon
9 flames we burn
Let the gates be open!
Folk: Let the gates be open!
Inviting/Offering to the Three Kindred
“Kindred! A Child of Earth calls to you! I call forth the Ancestors, those who have gone before, the Spirits of the Mighty Dead to join me here. You, who have been where I am, passed into the beyond, and hold now the secrets of life and death. Ancestors of blood and spirit, I call to you. Ancestors, accept my offering!”
Light the Ancestor’s candle as you speak and end with your offering.
Land spirits, Keepers of place,
Wise with weather, Your knowledge runs deep.
Luck and prosperity, Your blessings fall,
Honor to you, I bring this night.
Landvaettir great, Ancient as earth,
Boulder-homed, Water-homed,
Land wights old, Guardians true,
Your strength strong still, I offer you welcome.
O Spirits of the natural world, I call you forth!
Light the Nature Spirits’ candle as you speak and end with your offering.
Aesir, Vanir, Shining Ones all,
On Itha Plain met, Many moons past,
Of Ask and Embla, My ancestors first,
Many things made, Of the gods we all come.
None of you gods, is not mighty indeed,
Of soul, sense, and being you have given us well,
Taught us of runes, of faith and troth,
Of right-mindfulness, and honor true,
O Shining Ones of magic and might, I call you forth!
Light the Shining Ones’ candle as you speak and end with your offering.
“Welcome, Kindred to this place, and thank you for the gift of your presence.”
Key Offerings
Invite Patrons/Deities you wish to work with today. Make offerings to them and give appropriate praise.
Skadhi, daughter of Thiassi,
Mistress of Frost and Snow,
Whose beauty far surpasses even the
Stark loveliness of the Northern Ice
Upon the rocky fells
That sparkles with the light of a thousand diamonds.
We hail and welcome you!
Skadhi, mother of kings,
Independent woman of grace and compassion,
Snowshoe Goddess,
Great reveler of challenge, and
Woman who runs with the wolves.
Teach us your compassion for others.
Show us the worth in ourselves,
And allow us to be content with ourselves as company,
Speaking from our heart, truth.
Teach us, Skadhi, the juxtaposition of
Tough and tender, of might and mellow
And grant us peace in the silent times.
Skadhi, Frost Giant of the North!
Beautiful Queen of Ice and Snow!
We honor you!
Hail Skadhi!
Nerthus, Earth Mother,
You stand solid beneath my feet,
Cold of rock, hardness of ice
Carry me on to night’s next night
Support me well, Njord’s twin
Vanir Mother, strong sea sister
Bring faith to fruit, Birch-bright one
Honor to you, your rhythms true
Hail to Thee, Nerthus,
Earth Mother of Men
Be Thou blessed and bless us as well,
you who feed us generation after generation
with the harvest of your bones and body.’
You are awakening from your winter slumber,
Come, join us as we welcome you back from your well earned rest
Nerthus Hail and Welcome!
Prayer of Sacrifice
Let our voices arise on the Fire
Let our voices resound in the Well
Let our words pass the boundary to the Otherworld as we focus our intentions.
Kindred! We have honored you with many gifts in the ways of those who have gone before us. We have given freely from our hearts and from our hands, and we ask you now that you accept our sacrifices in the spirit in which they have been given!
Kindred! Accept our sacrifice!
Folk: Kindred! Accept our sacrifice!
Omen
First Question: Have our offerings been accepted – whoever is doing the seer part pulls one rune
Will those who performed the kindred invocations prepare themselves? (those that did the kindreds will interpret the omen for each one)
What words of comfort do the Nature spirits have for us?
What words of Wisdom do the Ancestors share with us?
What words of guidance do the Shining Ones gift us with?
Calling for the Blessings/Waters of Life
“Kindred, I have given freely to you from my hands, my heart and my spirit. In return, I ask that you send forth your blessings into my cup that I may receive them.
“Shining Ones, Nature Spirits, Ancestors! Pour forth your blessings!
“Allow me to drink of the Cup of Inspiration. Kindred! Pour forth your blessings!
“Impart me with the wisdom of ages past and the vision of the future. Kindred! Pour forth your blessings!”
Slowly lift your cup as you invoke the blessings of the Kindred, with the cup at full arms reach above you as you pronounce “pour forth your blessings” the third time. Hold for a moment and feel the energy flow into the cup.
Affirming the Blessing
“May these waters I have received flow through my body and through my spirit, and may they pour out into the rest of my life.”
Workings
As Winter begins to fade, making way for the Spring, as Skadhi’s breath from the North wanes to be replaced by the gentle spring breezes from the South, the Earth, Nerthus, slowly turns her face from the Protectress in the North to the Goddess of Spring. In these times of transition, as new seeds are planted, so now do we prepare the soil of our souls for those seeds we will nourish and feed until they burst forth as the flowers of spring opening to kiss the sun.
Skadhi! May the breath of winter blow away those ill energies that would lurk in shadow—but from you, Oh Shadow Goddess, they cannot hide! Draw them out! Cast them away! Make way for the seeds of hope and plenty to find their way into our heart soils. (Take in a deep breath. Envision those things that are standing in your way. Slowly, exhale and allow all those things to leave your body and your mind. Now, dip your finger in the well and trace a Rune of Protection or other protective symbol on your forehead.)
Nerthus! Envelop the seeds of hope! Love and embrace them, nurture them as they take root within you, and allow hope to spring forth to be welcomed into the sun as the winter winds carry away those things that would detract from these newly blooming hope-flowers. (Again, breathe deeply. Exhale and breathe in slowly now, envisioning all those things that will be needed to nurture your seed. Dip your finger in the well and trace a Rune of Fertility, Rebirth or other personally appropriate symbol on your heart.)
(As the wheel turns once more, and the winter begins to fade, focus on nurturing your seed, remembering that that which you feed is the thing that will grow. Feed your hope, starve your ill-bringing thoughts and emotions. Expel the darkness from the shadows and replace them with life-giving orbs of white light.)
Skadhi! Nerthus! As things have been dismantling around us, we ask you now to return order! Those pieces created as Hagalaz has ruled are now prepared for Berkano to rebuild and Sowilo to illuminate. Dagaz! A new day is born! Hail!
This is the time to perform any magical working, ask for assistance with a problem or take an oath.
Thanking the Beings
First, thank the deities of occasion or patrons you invited.
Mighty Kindreds: Shining Ones, Ancestors, Landwights
I give you hail and thanks for the parts you play in my path
Allow me to walk softly but firmly that I will be a joy to those around me
Let there be peace in my heart, love in my touch, wisdom in my words and hospitality from my hearth.
Hail the Kindreds!
Closing the Gates
To the realm of Svartalfheim
You joined our rite while this flame burned (douse flame)
Close now your gates with thanks from the children of the old ways
To the realm of Niflheim
You joined our rite while this flame burned (douse flame)
Close now your gates with thanks from the children of the old ways
To the realm of Helheim
You joined our rite while this flame burned (douse flame)
Close now your gates with thanks from the children of the old ways
The realm of Jotunheim
You joined our rite while this flame burned (douse flame)
Close now your gates with thanks from the children of the old ways
To the realm of Muspelheim
You joined our rite while this flame burned (douse flame)
Close now your gates with thanks from the children of the old ways
To the realm of Alfheim
You joined our rite while this flame burned (douse flame)
Close now your gates with thanks from the children of the old ways
To the realm of Vanaheim
You joined our rite while this flame burned (douse flame)
Close now your gates with thanks from the children of the old ways
To the realm of Asgard
You joined our rite while this flame burned (douse flame)
Close now your gates with thanks from the children of the old ways
To the realm of Midgard
As we dwell within your borders we do not close this gate.
Instead we put out this flame with hail and thanks to those of the old ways.
Folk: Hail and thanks to those of the old ways. (douse flame)
9 realms we honored
9 doors we shut
9 flames burned out
Let the gates be closed!
Folk: Let the Gates be Closed!
Thanking the Gatekeepers:
Urd, Verdandi, Skuld
Norns of Yggdrasil
Our gatekeepers and guarders of fate
The children of the old ways honor you for your work done here.
Go now in peace with our hail and thanks.
Folk: Hail and Thanks.
Thanking the Earth Mother
“Earth Mother, you are my greatest support. Sustainer of Life, I would be nothing without you. All that remains unused will be given to you. I thank you.”
Closing the Rite
“As those before me have done, I have honored the gods. As I close this rite, we remind ourselves that the gods go with me in my heart that I may walk with wisdom, power, peace and inspiration. The Rite is ended.”
Snuff flames, or if small, extinguish all candles in one dramatic breath.