Offerings

• Seeds - Earth Mother / Gaia
• Beaded shells - Bardic Inspiration / the Muses
• Jalepeno peppers - Outsiders
• Silver coin - Well-gate
• Incense - Fire-gate
• Vanilla - Tree-gate
• Beer - Ancestors
• Spice mix - Nature Spirits
• Olive Oil - Shining Ones
• 3 feathers - Gatekeeper / Hermes
• Praise offerings - Demeter, Persephone, Eos

Other Stuff

• Salt - land purification
• Water - sea purification
• Feather - sky purification
• Candle - Fire
• Chalice - Well
• Maple (or whichever is preferred) - Tree
• Bell
• Divination tool (runes, ogham, cards, etc)

Preparation

1. Light the Fire
2. Fill the Well

(1) Opening

1. Nine knells on a bell
2. "This rite shall now begin."

"I come today to celebrate the dawning of the springtime of the year. The time for new growth is upon us. May the beginning of the light half of the year bring inspiration to our spirits and hearts. Today is also a day of balance between light and dark. So too let us take stock of ourselves, releasing winter's frozen imobility in favor of invigorating and refreshing warmth."

(3) Bardic Inspiration

"Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, diresounding and divine,
Renowned Pierian, sweetly speaking nine;
To those whose breasts your sacred furies fire
Much-formed, the objects of supreme desire:
Sources of blameless virtue to mankind,
Who form to excellence the youthful mind;
Who nurse the soul, and give her to descry
The paths of right with Reason's steady eye.
Commanding queens who lead to sacred light
The intellect refined from Error's night;
And to mankind each holy rite disclose,
For mystic knowledge from your nature flows.
Clio, and Erato, who charms the sight,
With thee Euterpe ministering delight:
Thalia flourishing, Polyhymnia famed,
Melpomene from skill in music named:
Terpsichore, Urania heavenly bright,
With thee who gav'st me to behold the light.
Come, venerable, various, powers divine,
With favoring aspect on your mystics shine;
Bring glorious, ardent, lovely, famed desire,
And warm my bosom with your sacred fire."

"Muses Nine, accept my offering of beaded shells. Inspire my spirit, let my words flow as water, and lend me your many blessings this rite and after."

-Orphic Hymn #75: To the Muses

(4) Earth Mother Offering

"O Goddess, Earth, of Gods and men the source,
Endured with fertile, all destroying force;
All-parent bounding, whose prolific powers,
Produce a store of beauteous fruits and flowers,
All-various maid, the eternal worlds strong base
Immortal, blessed, crowned with every grave;
From whose wide womb, as from and endless root,
Fruits, many-formed, mature and grateful shoot.
Deep bosomed, blessed, pleased with grassy plains,
Sweet to the smell, and with prolific rains.
All flowery daemon, centre of the world,
Around thy orb, the beauteous stars are hurled
With rapid whirl, eternal and divine,
Whose frames with matchless skill and wisdom shine.
Come, blessed Goddess, listen to my prayer,
And make increase of fruits thy constant care;
With fertile Seasons in thy train, draw near,
And with propitious mind thy suppliant hear."

"Accept these seeds, Gaia, and may all of your children grow strong this season."

-Orphic Hymn #25: To Gaia

(5) Outsiders Offering

"For those of you whose purposes
Are not akin with mine
For any of the energies
Who would work against my rhyme
I aknowledge that your purpose here
Is cause for perseverance
But today instead I ask of you
To give of your forbearance
Take this offering I give
And turn the other cheek
Turn away and take with you
Whatever makes me weak!"

Place the offering of peppers outside the ritual space

(6) Purification

Rub a pinch of salt between the palms.

"Land firm beneath me, my body is as your soil and stone. Grant me strength and health through your bounty. Earth purify my body."

Rinse hands with water.

"Seas that surround me, my thoughts and feelings are as your waves and currents. Grant me your flexibility, and wisdom as deep as you are. Sea purify my emotions and mind."

Brush a feather over the face and hands.

"Sky around and above me, through which I see the stars, sun, and moon. My soul sings as the many stars twinkle. May your numbers reflect the wealth of my spirit. Sky purify my energy."

(7) Two Powers Attunement

"Planting myself into the earth, I push my roots down. Reaching into the soil, dark, rich, and nourishing, they search for sustaining water. I dive down deeply, touching the cool waters below, the primordial seas of matter and chaos. I draw this energy up, through my roots, into my body. It fills me, my body, my mind, my spirit, until I am overflowing."

Pause to deepen this connection.

"Reaching outward, into the sky, my branches grow long and strong. My leaves bud and open to the light of the sun, moon, and stars. From far reaching heavens shines the light of creation upon me. I draw this energy down, through my leaves and braches, into my body. It fills me, my body, my mind, my spirit, until I am overflowing"

Again pause to deepen this connection.

"These two powers within me mingle and meld. Becoming mine, combining with my own energy, I am filled with the creative and destructive forces of nature. May these energies and that of the spirit in all things serve me well this day and in those days to come."

Pause to feel the energies within and flowing forth from the self into the rite.

(8) Opening the Gates

"Deep Well diving down below
Currents creating, springing flow
Through your depths my voice resound
Take my words to those I've found
Sacred Well of water holy
Take this offering now from me
And with it, with me here today
Help me to create the way."

Offer a silver coin to the well.

"Bright Fire flaming into the sky
Shining forth and dancing high
May my words follow your heat far up
To those who on ambrosia sup
Sacred Fire accept this gift
Incense with your own smoke lift
With it help me create the way
So spirits may hear what I've to say."

Offer incense to the fire.

"Mighty Tree spanning through all worlds
Roots reaching deep and leaves unfurled
Here at the center you grow tall and strong
Through you my voice to all carries along
Sacred Tree accept my offering of
Vanilla whose scent and spirits I love
Standing here at the crossroads of all
Make the way with me so they here my call."

Annoint the tree with vanilla.

(9) Gatekeeper Invocation

"Hermes, draw near, and to my prayer incline,
Angel of Zeus, and Maia's son divine;
Studious of contests, ruler of mankind,
With heart almighty, and a prudent mind.
Celestial messenger, of various skill,
Whose powerful arts could watchful Argus kill:
With winged feet, 'tis thine through air to course,
O friend of man, and prophet of discourse:
Great life-supporter, to rejoice is thine,
In arts gymnastic, and in fraud divine:
With power endured all language to explain,
Of care the loosener, and the source of gain.
Whose hand contains of blameless peace the rod,
Corucian, blessed, profitable God;
Of various speech, whose aid in works we find,
And in necessities to mortals kind:
Dire weapon of the tongue, which men revere,
Be present, Hermes, and thy suppliant hear;
Assist my works, conclude my life with peace,
Give graceful speech, and my memories increase."

"Hermes, divine messenger, help me open these ways to the otherworlds. Accept my sacrifice, and let the gates be open!"

Offer three feathers to Hermes.

-Orphic Hymn #27: To Hermes

(10) Three Kindreds Invocation

"Ancestors of my blood, those of my heart, and those of this land. Join me in this celebration. Guide me through your history, in this rite and in days to come. Ancestors, accept this offering!"

Offer beer to the Ancestors.

"Hear me Spirits of Nature, nymphs, satyrs, centaurs, and your kin; spirits of these lands, skyflyers, sea-swimmers, and land-striders. Join me in this celebration of Spring. Guide me through your forests and fields, rivers and lakes, mountians and clouds. Nature Spirits, accept this offering!"

Offer a spice mix to the Nature Spirits.

"Shining Ones unnamed today. You of my hearth and home, those of this and other worlds, I honor you all. Join me in this celebration and be most welcome. Guide me in this life and those to come. Shining Ones accept this offering!"

Offer olive oil to the Shining Ones.

(11) Deities of Occasion - Offerings and Invocations

"Daughter of Zeus, almighty and divine,
Come, blessed queen, and to these rites incline:
Only-begotten, Hades' honored wife,
O venerable Goddess, source of life:
'Tis thine in earth's profundities to dwell,
Fast by the wide and dismal gates of hell:
Zeus holy offspring, of a beauteous mien,
Fatal, with lovely locks, infernal queen:
Source of the Erinyes, whose blest frame proceeds
From Zeus' ineffable and secret seeds:
Mother of Eubouleos, Sonorous, divine,
And many-formed, the parent of the vine:
The dancing Hours attend thee, essence bright,
All-ruling virgin, bearing heav'nly light:
Illustrious, horned, of a bounteous mind,
Alone desired by those of mortal kind.
O, vernal queen, whom grassy plains delight,
Sweet to the smell, and pleasing to the sight:
Whose holy form in budding fruits we view,
Earth's vig'rous offspring of a various hue:
Espous'd in Autumn: life and death alone
To wretched mortals from thy power is known:
For thine the task according to thy will,
Life to produce, and all that lives to kill.
Hear, blessed Goddess, send a rich increase
Of various fruits from earth, with lovely Peace;
Send Health with gentle hand, and crown my life
With blest abundance, free from noisy strife;
Last in extreme old age the prey of Death,
Dismiss we willing to the realms beneath,
To thy fair palace, and the blissful plains
Where happy spirits dwell, and Hades reigns."

-Orphic Hymn #28: To Persephone

"O Universal mother, Demeter famed
August, the source of wealth, and various named:
Great nurse, all-bounteous, blessed and divine,
Who joy'st in peace, to nourish corn is thine:
Goddess of seed, of fruits abundant, fair,
Harvest and threshing, are thy constant care;
Who dwell'st in Eleusina's seats retired,
Lovely, delightful queen, by all desired.
Nurse of all mortals, whose benignant mind,
First ploughing oxen to the yoke confined;
And gave to men, what nature's wants require,
With plenteous means of bliss which all desire.
In verdure flourishing in honor bright,
Assessor of great Dionysus, bearing light:
Rejoicing in the reapers sickles, kind,
Whose nature lucid, earthly, pure, we find.
Prolific, venerable, Nurse divine,
Thy daughter loving, holy Proserpine:
A car with dragons yoked, 'tis thine to guide,
And orgies singing round thy throne to ride:
Only-begotten, much-producing queen,
All flowers are thine and fruits of lovely green.
Bright Goddess, come, with Summer's rich increase
Swelling and pregnant, leading smiling Peace;
Come, with fair Concord and imperial Health,
And join with these a needful store of wealth."

"Today I wish to honor the lovely ladies of Spring. Persephone, your return from the underworld is celebrated, as is your mother, Demeter, for giving forth again of her earthly bounty. Demeter and Persephone, join your magics this spring and summer, and bring us fruitful, bountiful seasons. Show the busy honey bees your extra special care. Lovely goddesses, accept my offering!"

-Orphic Hymn #39: To Demeter

Offer praise offerings to Demeter and Persephone.

"Hear me, O Goddess! whose emerging ray
Leads on the broad refulgence of the day;
Blushing Eos, whose celestial light
Beams on the world with reddening splendors bright:
Angel of Titan, whom with constant round,
Thy orient beams recall from night profound:
Labour of every kind to lead is thine,
Of mortal life the minister divine.
Mankind in thee eternally delight,
And none presumes to shun thy beauteous sight.
Soon as thy splendors break the bands of rest,
And eyes unclose with pleasing sleep opressed;
Men, reptiles, birds, and beasts, with general voice,
And all the nations of the deep, rejoice;
For all the culture of our life is thine.
Come, blessed power! and to these rites incline:
Thy holy light increase, and unconfined
Diffuse its radiance on thy mystic's mind."

"Eos, goddess of the dawn, this is the dawn of the year, and thus your time. The transition from dark to light is one most welcomed by me and the land here. Spring is now upon us, may your light draw forth the green of growing things, and also draw forth my own inspiration, drive, and learning. Your light calls me to come into nature. Eos, accept my offering! May we all celebrate and sing in the time of Spring!"

Offer praise offerings to Eos.

-Orphic Hymn #77: To Eos

(12) Prayer of Sacrifice

"Ancestors and Spirits of Nature
And Shining Ones most lovely
Here I have called unto you
With offerings made holy
Up with the fire, down through the well
Throughout with sacred Tree
My voice you hear again today
Sounding offerings to thee
For my mistakes I ask forgiveness
As I give the best I can
My wish is for your magics aid;
Guide me with your shining hands!"

(13) Omen

"I take this omen so I may know the will of the gods, within this rite and within my life. May the Shining Ones be kind!"

Shuffle and pull three cards/runes/oghams at random. Think on their first impressions and on their deeper meanings as interpreted.

(14) Return Blessing (given a positive omen)

Calling - "I ask you now Shining Deities, to give of your many blessings. I call forth your gifts into this cup. May your energy infuse this drink, and thus infuse me with your magic. Behold the Waters of Life!"

Drink from the chalice. Hallowing - "Make sacred the liquid within this chalice. Put into it your light and love. Into it pour your blessings to me. Within me may your gifts shine bright! Behold the Waters of Life!"

Drink from the chalice. Affirmation - "Today I am blessed in this rite, in calling on you. In my life am I blessed in knowing you. As the Waters of Blessing flow through me, my body, my mind, and my spirit, they are filled with your very essence. Behold the Waters of Life!"

Drink deeply this time and contemplate the entire construct of the rite.

(15) Workings

(16) Thanking the Beings

"I thank the lovely Shining Ones for their gifts and many blessings. Deities of the day, Eos, Demeter and Persephone, I thank you again and again!"

"To the ancestors and spirits of nature who have also joined me this day, I thank you much!"

"I also thank you, wild outdwellers, for staying outside of this space and leaving this rite in peace."

"To my lovely Muses, I thank you dearly for your inspiring ways."

"And I thank as well the Earth Mother, Gaia, for this land, your bounty, and my body, the vehicle through which I am able to give you honor."

(17) Closing the Gates

"Hermes, I thank you as well for all your aid, and I ask you again to help me close these gates. Let the Sacred Flame be but fire, the Sacred Well be but water, and the Sacred Tree be but a tree. Until I call on you again, let the gates be closed!"

(18) Releasing the Two Powers

"Now into the sky from me flows the powers of creation. Into the earth flows the powers of chaos. Into normal time and space I return, into the realm of man and earth, but within me remains the blessings of the Kindreds!"

(19) Ending

"I thank all again as this rite comes to a close. This rite is done. May I go forth with blessings to bless the world in return!"

Nine knells on a bell.