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,
Join us and be warmed by this good fire.
[Offering.]
Aid us and help send our offerings to the otherworld.
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.
Matronae Invocation
Dea Matronae, Mothers of the Folk,
Women who maintain the cycles,
Women who protect the family,
Honored in every household.
Your wisdom knows the cycles of the year,
The seasons and turning of the year,
The sun’s rise and fall, the moon’s waxing and waning,
You bring forth each change and see it measured out.
Triple Mothers,
Your strength lies in patience,
Your actions are measured,
Help us know the right time in each season,
Help us keep balance as you keep the world in balance.
Accept this offering.
Hail Matronae!
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.
Candle Meditation, adapted from 3CG Breviary
[turn off lights; light candle]
I light this flame before me,
A light for the Mothers,
In the presence of the Holy Ones.
May this flame burn brightly,
May my intuition see the flame,
May the Mothers show me wisdom.
[Watch the flame for several minutes. Notice anything that stands out in the flame.]
I have been in the dark and beheld the light,
I will hold the wisdom of this light within me,
For it is the promise of the year to come.
Hail the Mothers!
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 