Preparation: candle, a vessel with water, a symbol of a tree, offerings, items required for the working.
Opening
[Light the candle and add silver to the cup of water.]
Take a breath and put aside any tensions from the mundane world. Know this space is made sacred because we gather here in ritual.
Earth Mother
Earth Mother
Nearest and dearest to us
May we remember your gifts
And seek to bless you in return.
Earth Mother, join us and be warmed by this good fire.
[Offering.]
Gatekeeper
We call to Cernunnos to aid us in this ritual.
Cernunnos, Godden of liminality,
Please guard and guide our way.
Cernunnos, join us and be warmed by this good fire.
[Offering.]
Opening the Ways
As we move into ritual space and ritual time,
Know that this world reflects the otherworld.
So may this fire become the cosmic fire
May this water become the cosmic well
May this tree become the world tree.
And may our offerings be transformed to spirit.
Kindred Invocations
Ancestors who came before,
Join us and be warmed by this good fire.
[Offering.]
Nature Spirits, with whom we share this world,
Join us and be warmed by this good fire.
[Offering.]
Shining Ones, wise and mighty,
Join us and be warmed by this good fire.
[Offering.]
Key Offerings
We call now to the Beings of the Occasion, those Patrons of our rite whom we worship at the heart of ritual.
Epona Invocation
Epona, your hooves like thunder,
Which herald the summer storms.
Epona, your whinny is like the wind,
Claiming your sovereignty.
Lady of the land,
Goddess of the Fruit Basket,
Others may counsel kings,
But it is you who chooses them.
Queen Epona, Great Mare, accept this offering.
[Offering.]
Omen
Let us now take an omen to receive blessings from our Patrons, which will inform our working.
[Take omen.]
Working
[Take out paper and pencil, or some other medium, and contemplate Epona. Draw her as you see her in your mind’s eye. When you’re finished, focus on your image of her and meditate on the scene you have drawn out. Turn to Epona. What does she do? When you are ready, return from the meditation.]
Epona, I have seen you and I know your blessings. Thank you for your wisdom.
Thanking the Kindreds
To the Patrons of this rite, for being with us and receiving our offerings, we thank you.
To the Shining Ones, the Nature Spirits, and the Ancestors – Kindreds all – for being with us and receiving our offerings, we thank you.
Earth Mother, for your many blessings, we thank you.
Closing the Ways
We call once more to Cernunnos.
Thank you for aiding us in this ritual.
May the cosmic fire be merely this candle.
May the cosmic well return to this water.
And may the world tree recede into this tree.
Closing
This rite is ended. May we go in peace and fellowship.
World Tree Heritage 