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 Nemetona to aid us in this ritual.
Nemetona, Goddess of the sacred grove,
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.
Esus Invocation
Esus, Maintainer of the Cosmic Tree,
You prune the branches that hinder,
You shape the branches that help.
All seasons are your time.
You feed the tree through sacrifice,
The fruits of the tree grow and fall,
They fertilize the roots, reused and remade.
So the cycle of sacrifice upholds the worlds.
Esus, accept this offering.
[Offering.]
Taranus Invocation
Thunderer of the heavens,
Rumblerer and Storm-Bringer,
Taranus, Defender of the Folk,
You avert evil and bring good rains.
When the land is dry,
You preserve the crops.
You bring order to the land,
And order to the skies,
Bringing all things in their time.
Taranus, accept this offering.
[Offering.]
Toutatis Invocation
Toutatis, God of the Tribe,
Gardener and craftsman who shapes our lives,
God of the cauldron of transformation,
You shape and inspire our communities.
You who seek order and commonality,
You who encourage friendship and love,
You who beckons at the water of our ancestors,
Renew the spirit of our communities,
And renew our commitments to them.
Toutatis, 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
Having received these blessings, may these Patrons now aid us in our working.
Triple Sacrifice to Let Go of Something: COVID
[Carve a wooden effigy that represents what you are trying to banish prior to ritual. Take the effigy and burn, drown, and bury it to banish it.]
May this thing trouble our communities no more. May Esus, Taranus, and Toutatis see that this should be banished, and may we keep it at bay with their blessings.
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 Nemetona.
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 