Rite of First Offering
By Anthony Thompson

The musical signal is given to signal the beginning of the rite.

Fire, Well, and Tree

Student (S) lights the fire and makes an offering of incense.

S: 	I kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love, and power.
	Sacred fire, burn within me.

S then censes the altar and himself.

S pours the waters and makes an offering of silver.

S:	In the depths flow the waters of wisdom.
	Sacred waters flow within me.

S then asperges the altar and himself.

S dresses/censes the world tree.

S:	From the depths to the heights spans the world tree.
Sacred tree, grow within me.

	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.
	So be it!

	By the cleansing of water and fire let all ill turn away from me and mine.
	So sind sie!

Grove Meditation

Gate Keeper

S:	I see Yggdrasill, the cosmic tree that connects the nine realms, the axis of the universe.  Now I call upon Heimdall, the gatekeeper, so I may connect to the realms and the shining ones.  I watch the fire and Yggdrasill and see Bïfrost, the rainbow bridge, manifest to me.

	Heimdall, shining one, guardian of beautiful Bïfrost, son of nine waves and sounder of the ill fated horn, you who can hear the grass grow and even hear the wool growing on the sheep, I ask you father of all men to open the gates.  You who teach me the runes and my Wyrd let me walk in your light so I may journey and learn in safety.  Leuchten uns hervor, Heimdall.

	Let the gates be open!

S chants the Gatekeeper Chant (“I invoke you Heimdall…”).

Bardic Inspiration

S:	I listen to the music of the universe, the music of Saga, and draw inspiration into my heart.

S invokes Saga.

Outdweller Offerings

S pours a cup for the outdwellers and acknowledges them.

S:	Outdwellers, Jötuns, you who stood against god and man, I acknowledge your might and ask that you leave this rite in peace.

Statement of Purpose and Precedent

S:	I have come into the Sacred Grove of the elder ways, as a child of earth, as a seeker of wisdom.  I have come to honor the powers, the Gods, the Dead, and the Spirits, to make offerings as due.  And especially I am here to call out to Hades, the Deity to whom I hope to swear my fealty.  To them I offer my worship, from them I ask blessings in return.  As the ancients did before me, so may I do now.  By my will and skill, and by the blessings of the powers I will make the oath of patronage.

Kindred Offerings

S:	I draw the strength of nature as I call the nature spirits.

	Dwarves, you spirits of the ground, marvelous makers of tools, I invite you to join with me this day.  Hallow these waters, share with me lore and blessings.

	Seih den Lebenswassern da!
	Behold the Waters of Life!

S chants Fur and Feather. (Words and music by Sable)

S:	I remember the wisdom of my past kin as I call them.

	Mothers of prophecy, Fathers of magic, I invite you to join with me this day.
	Hallow these waters, share with me lore and blessings.

	Seih den Lebenswassern da!
	Behold the Waters of Life!

S chants Mothers and Fathers of Old. (Words by Sable)

S:	I feel the protections of the gods as I call them.

	Patrons, Matrons, Shining Ones I invite you to join with me this high day.  Hallow these waters, share with me lore and blessings.

	Seih den Lebenswassern da!
	Behold the Waters of Life!

S chants Hail All the Gods. (Words by Paul Maurice, Richard Mac Kelley, Gwynne Green.  Music by Paul Maurice, Sean Miller, Gail Williams)

Invoking and Installing of Patron

S unwraps image and places it on altar.

S makes three different and appropriate offerings: coal, bicentennial quarter, a bit of blood.

S takes the Oath:

	The Oath

	By the Mother of All and the First Fire,
	By the Noble Ones, the Mighty Dead, and the Shining Ones,
	By the wisdom of the elder ways, I swear this oath.
	O Hades, I am your true worshipper.
	In your service I keep the old ways.
	In your service I will give respect to all beings.
	In your service I will strive to be true.
	Make me your adopted one, Hades.
	Accept me as your foster child
	And gift me as I gift you.
	O Shining Ones,
	I give you my love, my honor, and my worship,
	Asking in turn for your wisdom, love and power.
	Hear my holy oath, O Hades.
	And if I break my oath,
	May the sky fall upon me,
	May the sea engulf me,
	May the earth open beneath me!
	So do I swear!

Omen
S takes the omen for acceptance, recording it when the rite is finished.

Blessing Cup
S raises the cup.

S:	Through the Waters of Life I know of the continual flow and renewal of life.
	The Waters come from the bosom of the Earth Mother, the ever-changing All Mother,
	And I honor this gift that causes life by partaking of the Waters of Life.

S raises the cup higher.

S:	O Hades, I have dedicated myself to you,
	Hallow these waters and give to me of your power, inspiration, and vitality.
	Seih den Lebenswassern da!
	Behold the Waters of Life!

S drinks from the cup.

Meditation of Listening

Giving Thanks & Closing
S:	The gods have blessed me.  With joy in my heart, let me return to the realm of mortals to do both their will and mine.  Every time I invoke them, they become stronger and more alert to my needs.  But now comes the time when I must prepare to depart.  So let me give thanks to those whom I have invited here.

	Hades, Ich danken Sie.
	Vorfahr, Ahne, Ich danken Sie.
	Naturgeisten, Ich danken Sie.
	Saga, Ich danken Sie.
	Heimdall, Ich danken Sie.

	By the keeper of the gates and by my magic I end what I began.
	Let the fire be flame and the well be water and the ways between be shut.
	Lassen die Toren zumachen!
Let the gates be closed!

	I have done as my ancestors did and as my children will do and the Gods have answered.
	Let me go out into the world secure in the knowledge that my sacrifices have pleased the gods and that I go forth under their protection.

	The ritual is at a close.  So sind Sie.

The musical signal is given to signal the end of the rite.