Little Druid on the Prairie

This week I have decided to add a little to my daily practice, and then I may stick with it for awhile.

My (almost) daily routine is as follows:

Light lamp
Light incense

Cosmos Prayer:

The waters support and surround me
The land extends about me
The sky stretches out above me
At the center burns a living flame
May all the kindreds bless me
May my worship be true
May my actions be just
May my love be pure
Blessings, and honor, and worship to the holy ones

Prayers to Earth Mother and Gatekeeper, the two beings that I am tasked with developing relationships with as part of this journey through Clergy 1:

Eorthan Modor, I am your child. Uphold me today and always, as I honor you and walk the elder ways.

Eostre, She who walks the paths of Dawn. Guide me today and always, and may your light shine upon my path as I walk the elder ways.

This week in the grove meeting we are doing a full moon ritual, which should be fun and also good practice. Everyone who wants a speaking part will be drawing randomly from a hat, and we’re going to try to get everyone used to improvising our ritual pieces.

Last weekend, I got to practice my clergy discipline routine of having a monthly “retreat day”. It was spread out over two days, because it’s hard for me to take 24 hours entirely out of my (admittedly probably overscheduled) life, at least every single month.

This is the basic text of the monthly retreat ritual that I am working on. As I change and update it, I will update here. I’m actually pretty happy with this ritual though – it’s a full core order, takes about 20 minutes to do. I typically go for more explicitly poetic ritual pieces, but for some reason this one is what I came up with. It’s a variation on another ritual that I used to use, and I’m really happy with how it turned out for solo practice.

Statement of purpose:

I am here to Honor the Holy Ones, and to follow in the elder ways. Be with me, Mighty Kindred, in my working; forgive any errors, and grant me, I pray, your blessing.

Outdwellers

Those beings whose works do not harmonize with mine, accept this offering and leave me in peace. Those parts of me that distract from my purpose, I put aside and recognize this time and space as holy. May I form my Cosmos in the midst of Chaos.

Purification

(sprinkle with water, cense with incense)

By the powers of fire and water, I cleanse this space and all within it. May I be pure and hallowed as I approach the sacred center of all. By the might of the waters, and the light of the fire, this grove is made whole and holy!

Grounding and Centering

(Brief Two Powers meditation)
(Light lamp and incense)

Let us pray with a good fire.

Earth Mother

Eorþan Modor, Mother Earth, Who generates all things. From you all beings find their life and purpose, through you all life is sustained and nourished, and when the soul departs, to you do our bones return. You are duly called the Great Mother of the Gods; Eorþan Modor, I give you thanks and honor.

Recreating the Cosmos

(hallow the well)
In the deeps flow the waters of wisdom. Sacred well, flow within me.

(hallow the fire)
I kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love, and power. Sacred fire, burn within me.

(hallow the tree)
From the depths to the heights spans the world tree. Sacred tree, grow within me.

Gatekeeper

Eostre is the first of all to wake; She tramples over transitory night, the mighty Goddess, bringer of the light, beholding every thing from Heaven’s height, the ever youthful, all reviving Dawn, to every invocation She comes first. Blessed Goddess of the Dawn, who guards the gate between Night and Day, be with me here; lend your magic with mine and aid me in opening the gates to the other worlds.

Let the well open as a gate.
Let the fire open as a gate.
Let the tree hold fast the ways between.
By the Keepers of Gates, and by my Will and Word, Let the gates be opened!

Kindreds

I call out to you, the Mighty Dead. Hear me, my ancestors, my kindred. You have gone before and prepared the way. You guide and encourage me to great deeds. Join me here at the center of all worlds, and be welcome here at my good fire.

I call out to you, the Nature Spirits. Hear me, good neighbors and friends. You inhabit this world with me, and we share the same earth. Your wisdom inspires me to live rightly. Join me here at the center of all worlds, and be welcome here at my good fire.

I call out to you, the Shining Ones. Hear me, great eldest and brightest. You dwell in the heavens above and the worlds below and exist both in and out of time. Your guidance and blessings lead me forward. Join me here at the center of all worlds, and be welcome here at my good fire.

Key Offerings

I call out now to the Eorþan Modor: you hold me firmly to your bosom. Upon you are the stones raised, Upon you are the fires kindled. Hear my voice, and accept my offering!

I call out now to the Gatekeeper, Eostre: You hold the ways open for me, lighting them with the rays of the dawn. You teach the way of sacrifice, and bring the Kindreds to my shrine. Hear my voice, and accept my offering!

Let my voice arise on the fire; let my voice resound in the well. May all beings here be honored by my offerings and accept my reverence.

Omen

May wisdom rise from the depths of the well, and descend on the flames of the fire. What wisdom do you offer me in return for my gifts?

• Yr – longbow: a skill, one that takes a long time to develop, but will serve you for the rest of your life once mastered. Build your skills, and
• Ior – beaver: flexibility, adaptability – mold yourself to your situation, and act not out of expectation but out of wisdom to what is truly needed
• Eolh – elk-sedge: protection/defense, boundaries – set good boundaries, and keep yourself protected. Act in your own defense, and you will have the protections you need.

Blessing

Ancestors, Mighty Dead, pour your blessings into these waters.
Nature Spirits, Good Neighbors, pour your blessings into these waters.
Deities, Shining Ones, pour your blessings into these waters.

(elevate cup)

These waters of life I accept into my being. May their blessings fill and enrich my spirit.

(drink)

The blessings are one with my body and spirit. I reaffirm my relationship with the Kindreds and with the Cosmos.

Thanking the Beings and Kindreds

Eorthan Modor, Eostre, I thank you for guiding me along the elder ways. May there ever be peace among us.

Great Shining Ones, I thank you for your many blessings. May there ever be peace among us.

Nature spirits, good neighbors all, I thank you for your help and wisdom. May there ever be peace among us.

Ancestors, beloved dead, I thank you for your guidance and inspiration. May there ever be peace among us.

Thanking the Gatekeeper/Closing the Gates

Keeper of the gates between the worlds, warder of the sacred paths, Eostre – Blessed Goddess of the Dawn, who guards the gate between Night and Day, may there ever be peace among us. Lend your magic with mine and let these gates be closed.

Let the fire be but flame. Let the well be but water. Let the tree be but a tree. Let all be as it was before, save for the magic I have made. Let the gates be closed!

Thanking the Earth Mother

Eorþan Modor, Mother Earth, who generates all things. Uphold me now as I go forth to face the world. Eorþan Modor, I give you thanks and honor.

Final Offering

This mead of inspiration I now give to all wights and powers that have been with me this day. From the gods, to the earth, to us. From us, to the earth, to the gods. A gift for a gift.

Ending the Rite

The fire, the well and the sacred tree, Flow and flame and grow in me!
Peace and blessings to all beings, The rite is ended!