This service can be done either in the workings section of a full ADF ritual or may be done as a stand-alone liturgy. In case there are no Hallows present, all offerings may be reserved for disposal at a later date.

The Funeral Goods given the deceased should either be buried with the casket or urn, or may be poured on the ground or into a shaft. Again, these offerings may be reserved for disposal at a later date.

While this service was adapted for a particular person, it may also be freely adapted for others.

THE WELCOME

The Priest rings a bell, three times three.

Priest says:
Children of the Earth, we are here to celebrate the life of Judge William T. Hunt. While this is a time of grief, it is also a celebration of Life!

UNITING THE THREE WORLDS

Priest says:
Children of the Earth, let us call the powers of Earth and Sky that they may join within us here.

PRAYER:

O waters of the earth, deep and dark,
Arise, primeval powers, fill us now
With all your wondrous possibilities,
That through the Earth our Mother
We may ground and join as one.

O fires of the sky, O blinding light!
Descend and crystallize within us all
That spark of order on which life depends,
That through the Sky our Father
We may shine and share as one.

You powers dark and light, you liquid fire,
Conjoin and blend this mixture volatile
That powers great will join within our selves,
Connecting all the Worlds so
That the circle is complete.

DISSOLVING THE BARRIERS

All present say:
O Muddy, who claimed him;
Mercury who conveyed him;
Charon who ferried him;
And Dis Pater who welcomed him;
O Powers of paths where the newly dead go,
We pray to You now – hear our call!

Your magics are great, Your powers intense,
We ask that you join Yours with ours.
Let the barriers standing ‘tween this world and Yours
Dissolve in our hearts – hear our call!

With love and with joy, we humbly pray
For our dear friend to join us here now.
As our newest Ancestor to cross the divide
We welcome you home – hear our call!

REMEMBERANCE AND OFFERINGS

Priest says:
Newest Ancestor, Judge William Hunt, we welcome you here!
And though we will miss you here in the Midworld,
We take comfort in knowing that you are quite near,
Just beyond the veil of the Worlds.

When the Veils are thin and the Gates open wide,
We will welcome you here once again!
One day we will pass to the Land of the Dead
We hope that you'll welcome us, too.

Priest says:
Children of the Earth, this is also the time of the living!

We now call on her who has cared for Judge Hunt and who misses him,
To come forward and speak, sharing a memory of happy times.

And in days of old, offerings were made to the newly dead
To accompany them on their way.

We invite her to bring up her Grave Goods and Offerings,
That she may honor our new Ancestor.

Jenni Hunt comes up, makes sacrifice and tells stories about her father.

We invite all others to bring up Grave Goods for sacrifice, that we
May make offering to our new Ancestor.

The People come up one at a time, and leave an offering (such as silver or beer or other food) on the altar for later burial or disposal, or put it in the shaft or the Well or pour it on the ground.

After an offering is made, the person may speak for a time about the deceased. When each person is finished speaking, the Priest will say:

Fiat! So be it!

INTERCESSION

When everyone who wishes to speak has spoken of the Dead, the Priest says:

Doting Muddy, Grandmother of William, Matriarch,
We make offering to You!

The Priest offers Ballentine whiskey to the ground.

We thank you for meeting William at his bedside,
Remaining with him until he was ready,
Offering him comfort, allaying his fears,
Preparing his soul for its journey.

Doting Muddy, accept our sacrifice!

All say:
Doting Muddy, accept our sacrifice!

The Priest says:
Fleet-footed Mercury! Soul Carrier,
We make offering to You!

The Priest offers whiskey to the Fire.

We thank You for conducting William and Muddy
Through the Worlds to the shores of the River Styx!
Offerings are made at the riverbank!
For William has reached the Land of the Dead.

Fleet-footed Mercury, accept our sacrifice!

All say:
Fleet-footed Mercury, accept our sacrifice!

Faceless Charon, Dark Ferryman,
We make offering to You!

The Priest offers the Nova Roma coins to the Well.

We thank you for conveying William and Muddy
Across the dark river to the Underworld,
Offerings are made to the Mouth of the Earth
To pay for Your sacred duty.

Faceless Charon, accept our sacrifice!

All say:
Faceless Charon, accept our sacrifice!

Somber Dis Pater, Lord of the Dead,
We make offering to You!

The Priest offers wine to the ground and hematite to the Well.

We thank you for accepting William among the Mighty Dead,
That he might join his Ancestors
And receive the sacrifices of the Living,
And for opening the Doors of Dis that we may commune with him.

Somber Dis Pater, accept our sacrifice!

All say:
Somber Dis Pater, accept our sacrifice!

THE CLOSING

Priest says:
Children of Earth, though grieving continues, now is the time to let go.

O Doting Muddy, Fleet-footed Mercury,
Faceless Charon and Somber Dis Pater,
We thank you for your aid.
Departed Friend, our love and thanks go with you on your way.

Now look we deep within our hearts
And closing Gates discern.
We know that death is but a door
And loved-ones will return!

The Priest rings a bell three times three.

Priest says: Walk with wisdom, Children of the Earth, this rite has ended.