HoTH Liturgy

Tuatha de Brighid - HoTH Liturgy

Hearth of Tyr's Hand standard Liturgy
Indoor Rite
by Tammarigan Silverwater

Notes: This ritual was the standard liturgy of the Hearth of Tyr's Hand - now, unfortunately, defunct for geographical reasons (people moved). It sports a rather Norse flavor, as it did tend to follow Norse traditions. This is specifically notable in the reference to creation by Fire and Ice, which is a Norse myth, and in structuring the offering sequence as, basically, a series of rather boisterous toasts. We found that in practice the offering part of the rite becomes a fairly prolonged and informal ritual meal. This effect was somewhat unexpected, but we rather liked it.

There are some Celtic influences as well, specifically in some wording adaptations from Carmina Gadelica.

The Christian influence is apparent in the Mother/Father invocations, which are adaptations of the Lord's prayer. These two invocations are sung simultaneously by a male and a female celebrants, symbolizing the male and female aspects of the First Cause Deity, which are separated by the act of creation, yet bound together in love by the same act.

The liturgy follows by and large TdB's standard outline, and can be modified and elaborated on for special occasions.

Words denoted in bold script are said by all participants in unison. Otherwise, the parts are assigned as convenient.

ASH (Arriving)

Arrangement:

Physical arrangement:

Outdweller Altar: sword, bowl for pouring water over, pitcher with water and ice, offering bowl, towel for drying hands.

Main Altar: triple center candle, lantern, bowl for earth, bowl for water, pitcher of ale, pitcher of juice, plate of bread, offering bowl, drinking vessel for each participant, matches, paper napkins for catching drips, tool for incising the sigil on the earth, Heart of the Grove stone, bell.

Consecration of tools:

Bless the water in the pitcher:

Great Mother, unto Thee I consecrate this water.
Bless it to our use, that we may honor Thee.
So be it.

Pour some of the water and ice into the proper bowl on the main altar. Light the lantern and bless it:

Great Father, unto Thee I consecrate this fire.
Bless it to our use, that we may honor Thee.
So be it.

Consecrate the altar:

I consecrate this altar and all contained therein
In the eye of the Mother who bears me,
In the eye of the Father who begets me,
In the eye of the Universe that indwells me.
So be it.

Ritual briefing:

Setting the mood:

Musical signal: <ring the bell three times>

Opening prayers and declaration of purpose:

Even as we live, so does the Universe live.
Even as each of us is one, so is the Universe one.
Even as we come together in one place,
So does the Universe gather Her children within.
All is One.

In the name of the Mother of All, I greet thee, Children of the Earth, as we come to honor the Gods and the Kindred Spirits. Let us begin by offering reverence to the First Parents.

Great Mother, except our offering. <pour some ale into the offering goblet.>

Our Mother, who art of the Womb of all,
Hallowed be Thy many names.
May Thy ways be true with us.
May Thy love be true with us.
In this World as it is in the Otherworld.

Great Father, except our offering. <pour some ale into the offering goblet>

Our Father, who art the Seed of all,
Hallowed be Thy many names,
May Thy ways be true with us,
May Thy law be true with us,
In this World as it is in the Otherworld.

We bless Thee from Whom all blessings come,
The Mother and the Father of the Universe,
May we abide in peace and love with Thee,
From everlasting to everlasting, Amen.

Let those who would follow the Druid Path, declare themselves:

A Druid is a Seeker of Truth:

In all times,
In all places,
In all ways.

As a Sacred Oak is true:

In its roots that reach deep into the Earth,
In its trunk that spans the Worlds,
In its branches that stretch to the Sky,

So is a Druid true:

In the Soul - the Keeper of Holiness,
In the Body - the Celebrant of Creation,
In the Mind - the Seeker of Wisdom.

So be it.

Hallowing the space and the participants.

Outdwellers:

<pick up an offering, then walk towards the secondary altar>

Holy Tyr, aid me, I pray, in this needful task. (another Deity may be named as appropriate)

To all ye who do not abide by the Law of the Holy,
To all ye who have stood against the Holy, and would do so yet again,
I give this offering as befits to all the children of the Great Mother.

<place an offering into the offering bowl on the secondary altar>

Know ye, that if ever ye choose to walk the path of the Law,
Ye will be welcome at our fire,
But until then:

<picks up the sword and holds it point up>

By the power of One that is All,
By the sword and the shield of Tyr, (another Deity may be named as appropriate)
And by my word: Depart from here in peace, and trouble us not.

<put the sword on the secondary altar, then turn to the center >

Under the shield of the Holy Warrior have we placed ourselves,
By the sword of the Holy Warrior are we guarded,
May it be so from everlasting to everlasting,

So be it.

Consecration:

Let us consecrate ourselves.

<pick up the pitcher of water from the secondary altar>

Let the holy birthwater of the Mother cleanse us from all ill.

<purification of the people - pour water over their hands as they file past the P. deosil - a towel is available on the secondary altar>

By the sacred waters art thou cleansed and purified.

<when done set the bowl aside for the water to be discarded later>

<pick up the lantern>

Let the Holy Fire of the Father set this place apart from the World.

<the lantern is carried around the room deosil>

As by Fire and Ice was the Universe made,
So by the Fire and Ice are we remade, and hallowed, and set apart.
Amen.

Unification:

From the Earth we come forth, and to the Earth we return in the fullness of time. Let our spirits be joined within Her body.

<all place a portion of earth into the appropriate container; a sigil is drawn on the surface, while the participants sing>

Come this day to this sacred time,
Come this day to this sacred place.
Come, thou, to thy sacred self.
Come, thou, to thy sacred self.

OAK (Offering)

Reconstructing the Cosmos:

<light the center candle/lamp from the lantern, setting the lantern aside>

We kindle the Sacred Fire
As the beacon unto the Holy,
As the ward against the unholy,
As the flame of holiness within our soul.

Amen.

As the Tree of Life we stand
Rooted deep in the good soil,
Crowned high in the heavens,
The trunk spanning the worlds.

Amen.

The land upholds us,
The sea surrounds us,
The sky envelops us,
In the center burns the living flame.

Amen.

We stand at the center of Time, at the center of Space, at the center of Self.
The Veil between the Worlds shimmers, thins, vanishes...
Here All is One, and One is All.

Let our eyes be opened, that we may see.
Let our minds be opened that we may know.
Let our souls be opened that we may feel.

Holy creatures are we - holy within, and holy without,
Holy is the Web of Life that binds us together and spans the Universe,
Holy is this place and all contained therein.

All is One. One is All.

<a moment of silence is appropriate here>

May we pray with a good fire,
May our worship be fruitful,
May our actions be just,
May our love be pure.
Amen.

Consecration of offerings:

<...>

As our ancestors once did, so we do today, and so our children will do in the future. Let us honor our Gods and Kindred Spirits, in love and in reverence.

Let us consecrate the offerings.

<place the offerings: ale, juice, bread, in front, and hold your hands over them in benediction>

This is the essence of life - made of harvest, and fire, and water,
The body of all, and the blood of all.
Let all that are gathered at this fire bless this offering,
That we may share it in peace, in wisdom, and in love.

<a moment of silence>

Thine own of thine own do we offer unto Thee,
On behalf of all and for all.

<pour ale or juice into the drinking vessels, and a little into the offering bowl>

Kindred Offerings:

Ancestors, the mighty Dead, hear the words of these, Thy Kindred.
Ancestors of our blood, Ancestors of our culture, Ancestors of our land,
Bless us even as we bless Thee. We pray Thee:
Accept this offering as a token of our reverence.
What is given in love is received in love and returned in love.

<pour some ale into the offering bowl, then everyone takes a sip from their goblet>

Hail Ancestors!

Spirits of Nature great and small, hear the words of these, Thy Kindred.
Spirits of bird and beast, trees and winds, lakes and lands,
Bless us even as we bless Thee. We pray Thee:
Accept this offering as a token of our reverence.
What is given in love is received in love and returned in love.

<pour some ale into the offering bowl, then everyone takes a sip from their goblet>

Hail Nature Spirits!

Bright and Shining Gods and Goddesses, hear the words of these, Thy Kindred.
Guardians and Inspirers, Bringers of wisdom and Dreamers of Dreams,
Bless us even as we bless Thee. We pray Thee:
Accept this offering as a token of our reverence.
What is given in love is received in love and returned in love.

<pour some ale into the offering bowl, then everyone takes a sip from their goblet>
Hail Gods and Goddesses!

Individual Offerings:

After each individual offering, the assembly salutes with a sip from their goblet and hails the Entity honored.

Offering to the Deity of the Occasion:

Description (story)

Invocation/Offering

Breaking of the Bread:

<raise the bread up with both hands>

When we break bread together, we partake of each other's essence.
Mother and Father, Gods and Spirits and Ancestors,
Share with us this sacred meal - that we may commune with all and be blessed.

<break the bread in two; replace one half on the plate, distribute the other among the communicants, who eat it, finishing off what is left of their ale at this time>

Reading:

<One of the participants reads a passage as previously arranged. A moment of silence may follow as appropriate.>

Divination:

<The Diviner conducts a reading, invoking assistance of his Patron, or another Deity or Spirit as appropriate. A brief discussion and a moment of silence may follow.>

Magical Workings and Rites of Passage:

<As appropriate and arranged for the occasion.>

FIR (Farewelling)

Farewell.

Thanksgiving.

We thank all those who have blessed our Rite with Their presence. And, as well, we thank the Great Mother and the Great Father, and the Kindred Spirits, for the blessings we receive in our life. For all things have a purpose, and all things may be counted as a blessing. May we remember that always.

Incantation.

From the Earth we come forth, and to the Earth we return in the fullness of time. For we are Earth's children, and so we shall remain.

<pour a little water over the sigil and erase it>

As once again we go our separate ways, and our senses attune to the mortal cares, let us never forget our true Selves.

As the Universe flows forth from the Sacred Center,
So let us go forth from this place as a sacred kindred,
And so let each of us know the sacred place within.
One is All.

Retiring.

May the Mother bless you and keep you,
Waking and sleeping, coming and going.
In the light and in the darkness, in the happiness and in the sadness.
Each day and every day, each night and every night,
From everlasting to everlasting,

Amen.

<put out the candle>

The Sacred Fire is out, yet forever does it burn in our hearts. Go forth in peace, Children of the Earth, this Rite is ended.

<ring bell>

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Page updated: Wednesday, February 27, 2008