by Grove of the Seven Hills, ADF
Pre-Ritual Briefing & Opening Meditation Processional: Folk sing Earth Mother ChantHonoring the Earth Mother:
“Earth Mother, sustainer
From you we spring
by you are we nourished
To you we inevitably return.
Our bodies are built upon your bounty
Our spirits strengthen with your support
What can we give
that is not ours by your grace?
What gift can we make
that was not first your gift to us?
We offer of ourselves,
we offer of our love
we offer of our labors.
Earth Mother, accept this token
and support us in our work.
Earth Mother, we honor you with a kiss”
(Folk kneel to kiss the ground. Oat & cornmeal offering is made)
Words of Welcome:
“The light has finally increased and now matches the strength of winter’s cold darkness. All around us is the evidence of the Earth Mother’s wakening. Buds swell, soil warms, our blood moves faster and we crave the colors of Spring. This day we gather to praise Nerthus and welcome Her from her long sleep. We gather to call to Thor to look kindly on our upcoming labor. We seek blessings of fertility for the land and our tribe. We come to honor the gods! As our ancestors have done before us, let us pray with a good fire!”
(fire is lit. Or, if already lit, offering of oil is poured)
Prayer for Bardic Inspiration:
” Without the spark of imagination, human life would be dull; without the richness of the Bardic arts, human life would be poor; without the Fires of Inspiration, human life would be cold. Divine inspiration is the kernel at the heart of all art; welling from the depths; burning in our veins, forged by our will. We call on Kvasir, first poet, to sweeten our speech that our Sacrifice may be please to the Kindreds.
In one voice call the folk to Kvasir.
With God-water and poetry of man
was wrought a peace not worn by yearsMead-bleeder hear me!
Word-weaver hear me!
Kvasir, come be the Fire in our Heads!
Kvasir, accept our sacrifice!
(oil or honey is poured on Fire)
Purpose/Precedent:
“Tacitus tells us, ‘The Langobardi, by contrast, are famous because they are so few. Hemmed in as they are by many mighty peoples, they find safety, not in submission, but in facing the risks of battle. After them come the Reudigni, Aviones, Anglii, Varini, Eudoses, Suarines, and Nuitones, all of them safe behind ramparts of rivers and woods. There is nothing noteworthy about these tribes individually, but they share a common worship of Nerthus, or Mother Earth. They believe that she takes part in human affairs, riding in a chariot among her people. On an island of the sea stands an inviolate grove, in which, veiled with a cloth, is a chariot that none but the priest may touch. The priest can feel the presense of the goddess in this holy of holies, and attends her with deepest reverance as her chariot is drawn along by cows.Then follow days of rejoicing and merrymaking in every place that she condescends to visit and sojourn in. No one goes to war, no one takes up arms; every iron object is locked away. Then, and then only, are peace and quiet known and welcomed until the goddess, when she has had enough of the society of men, is restored to her sacred precinct by the priest.’ We are here to celebrate, in our own way, the awakening of Nerthus. When the land wakes, men must prepare to work upon it. Before we begin our toils, we call upon Thor, who looks kindly on those who increase their share through the work of their backs and their hands. We ask him to aid us with strength, to bless our labors, and grant us enduance.
We seek the fertility of the land and of the tribe!”
Recreating the Cosmos:
Honoring the Fire:
“Bright burn the flames of creation and destruction.
Bright burn the flames of inspiration.
Sacred Fire, burn within us”
(Folk repeat and oil is offered to Fire.}
Honoring the Well:
“In the depths flow the waters of wisdom and rebirth.
Sacred waters, flow within us.”
(Folk repeat, silver is offered to Well.)
Honoring the World Tree:
“We honor the 9 realms, the bright realms of the gods
(light top 3 candles),
the middle realms of the green world
(light 3 central candles),
and the deep realms of the Ancestors and ancient beings
(light lowest 3 candles).
From the depths to heights spans Yggdrasil, connecting all the worlds.
Sacred Tree, grow with us”
(folk repeat, lit incense is placed before the Tree)
Purification: Warrior holds Hammer aloft while incense if lit from the Fire and water drawn from the Well and taken around the Stead as folk chant “By might of the waters, and the light of the fires, this Grove is made whole and holy”
Outdwellers:
Offering is taken to edge of ritual space.
“Dark and twisted wights unhallowed, you who dwell beyond our ken,
who look with malice and with spite upon the work we do.
Accept this offering, freely given, and trouble us not.
This pact is sacred, and must be upheld.”
Warrior shouts, “Helga ve thette ok hindra all ilska” (folk repeat)
Calling the GateKeeper:
“Sleipnir! Brother!, Son of Loki, Steed of Odin! You travel all nine worlds bearing Odin on your back, bringing messages with you as you go. Beautiful Stallion of Odin, you traveled to Hel to bring back Balder and yet only brought back a message.
Sleipnir, aide me in bringing my words where they need to go. Bring back to me what I need to hear.
Sleipnir, aide me as my gatekeeper tonight.
Sleipnir! Accept my Sacrifice (grains)
Now, Sleipnir, join your magic with mine. Let the well open as a gate, let the fire open as a gate, let the tree be the crossroads, open to my voice and open to the spirits.
Let the Gates Be Open!” (written by Rev. R. Lewis)
Honoring the Kindreds:
Landvaettir:
“Spirits of this land I call to you.
Allies in this living land, hear me.
Fleet and flitting, strong and knowing,
Come close mosswives, draw near elves and huldrfolk
For we have brought you gifts!
Come revel with us in the lengthening light,
Make merry with us as the Earth Mother wakes,
Come share our fire and our feast.
Landvaettir, accept our offerings”
(folk repeat as fruit and grain are offered at the base of the Tree)
Ancestors:
“Mighty and Blessed Dead,
we honor you who have gone before, whose bones lie in this land.
We, your children remember you and keep the old ways this night.Alfar, Disr, accept our sacrifice!”
(Folk repeat as ale is offered to the Well)
Aesir & Vanir:
“Gods of land, sea, and sky, we call to you.
Stand with us in this time of balance,
in this time of beginnings; hear your tribe!
Aesir, Vanir, accept our sacrifice!”
(Folk repeat as mead is offered to the Fire)
Honoring Nerthus:Call to Nerthus, represented by covered leek in a basket or wagon. Offer milk & honey mixture.
“From sleep and solitude on your distant island you join us and visit upon us the promise of bounty. We have gathered to welcome you back to wakefulness. Wake Nerthus, the land is ready! Wake Nerthus, the seed is ready, wake Nerthus, the tribe is ready!
Nerthus, accept our sacrifice!”
Honoring Thor: Call to Thor, offer goat meat.
“The Thunderer comes rolling, the Charioteer comes rolling, the redbeard come rolling. Toward out stead he turns his reins. Mighty Thor, who smiles on those who do not shy away from work, who revels with those who toil, who blesses those who know how to value a hard-won bounty. Thor, the field is ready, the tools are ready, the tribe is ready!
Thor, accept our sacrifice!”
Blot: Folk share a round of toasting to Nerthus and Thor First Furrowing: Folk carry the plough point and covered leek in a basket/wagon to the Garden area. Circle the Garden saying,
“Erce, Erce, Erce; Green be the furrows, green be the fields!
We earn our bounty, Strength in our backs, strength in our hands!
(make the furrow w/ the point)
Gracious are we, gifts we will give for gifts we’ll receive.”
(bury the leek)
Omen:
“Mighty Kindreds, have our gifts been well received?”
(yes/no omen taken)
“And what blessing or wisdom is offered in return?”
(informative omen taken)
Calling for the Blessing
Hallowing the Waters:
“Waking Nerthus, Tireless Thor, gifts we’ve given and now we ask for a boon. Fill this horn with your blessing, let this be a cup of health for all who drink it. Drink of us as we drink of you” (horn is shared)
Seed Blessing:
“May all our seeds be blessed, may they grow strong and nourish our tribe in body and spirit” (sprinkle Waters over seeds)
Working:
“Filled now with the gifts of the Gods we ready to work great magics.
(Egg basket & wooden spoon taken to garden)
Our friend and sister wants to bring forth life and we ask the Kindreds to bless her with fertility of her body and health through her pregnancy. To grow, all seeds must be placed properly in the field, so it is with humans. May her eggs find their way to safe homes!
(folk pass an egg in the spoon around the circle, if it drops, simply put in a new egg. When it gets all the way around the circle, the successful egg will be given to the recipient of the working to consume)
Closing:
“Brave and Mighty Thor, for your presence and your blessing, we thank you! (all repeat )
Mother Nerthus, bountiful and generous; for your gifts and your wisdom, we thank you!
(all repeat as basket/wagon is committed to the Fire)
Aesir and Vanir, gods of the folk, for your presence and you patronage, we thank you! (all repeat)
Beloved Dead, Ancestors of our blood and our spirits, for your teaching and your guidance, we thank you! (all repeat)
Spirits of this land, for your companionship and patience, we thank you! (all repeat)
Fleet-footed Sleipnir, for your warding and watching, guiding and guarding, we thank you! (all repeat).
“Sleipnir, once more aid us and close the Gates as you return to your stabelage. Let the Deep Gate close, let the Bright Gate close, let the All-Reaching Gate close; let the well be only water, let the fire be only flame, let Yggdraisil be again the bark, roots, and branches in our world.
Let all be as it was before, The Gates are closed!” (all repeat)
“Go now in peace, and remember we mirror the halls of the gods when we carry their blessing in our hearts. This rite is ended”
