Nemos Ognios Spring Equinox, 2011
When it is time for the ritual, the Priest goes to the kitchen and blows the horn. The others join him. When all are there, the Priest says:
Tusyéte! Tusyéte! Tusyéte! May we all maintain a holy silence.
The Fire Tender says:
And in that silence, may truth be spoken. May Bṛghṇtyā inspire our words, May Bṛghṇtyā inspire our actions, May Bṛghṇtyā inspire us all.
The Chthonic Celebrant says:
We are here in the spring to worship the Goddess of Dawn, Xausós, the Rising One, the maiden whose pink robes are cast over the darkness of night, of winter, who brings in light, who brings in warmth.
The Priest says:
And we are here to worship as well the Twin Gods, the Diwós Sunú, the brothers, the riders, who open for her the way for spring.
The Fire Tender picks up the bowl of water and says:
May be we pure that we might cross through the sacred. May we cross through the sacred that we might attain the holy. May we attain the holy that we might be blessed in all things.
She asperses herself and the others. She then puts the bowl down. She pours some lighter fluid on the briquettes in the xā́sā, and lights them, saying:
Shining Lady, unite us all, for by worshipping at a common hearth we are made one family, one people. Queen of the hearth, your household is here. May we pray with a good fire.
She starts to sing, with the others joining in on the chorus:
This flame is small that’s how it seems yet even so it bears our dreams For flame’s a goddess to whom we pray to be one family, here today. The flame now grows from coal to coal and every one is each a soul For flame’s a goddess to whom we pray to be one family, here today. The flame has spread from heart to heart. It binds us still when we’re apart. For flame’s a goddess to whom we pray to be one family, here today. She burns within through all our days. Let all as one sing out her praise. For flame’s a goddess to whom we pray to be one family, here today. For flame’s a goddess to whom we pray to be one family, here today.
The Fire Tender sings the last chorus once more by herself, with " family, here today" is sung more slowly.
She pours butter on the fire and says:
Eat with us, Share our food, Share our home.All:
Tód hestu.
The Priest says:
Set forth upon the shining path, the ancestral way laid out before us. Place your feet with measured stride, in ancient rhythm.
All process to the deck, following a rhythm. The Champion leads, with the axe, followed by the Fire Tender, then the Priest, then the others. As he enters the space, the Priest says:
Déiwons adbheromes! We are here to worship the gods!All:
We are here to worship the gods!
As The Champion enters the space, he begins to sing:
Earth Mother, we honor your body, Earth Mother, we honor your bones, Earth Mother, we sing to your spirit, Earth Mother, we sing to your stones.
As each of the others enter, they pick up the chant. The Priest goes to the speltá and puts the sacrifice down. The Chthonic Celebrant picks up the bowl of mixed grains and goes to where the xā́sā will be put. As the song continues, she prays:
We build our fires on the breast of the Earth; on Her our hearths are formed. To Her this offering, then, preparing this to be our space, our place of worship.
As she does so, she scatters the mixed grain onto the ground. When there is a break in the song (or when the end is signaled by a drummer), the Chthonic Celebrant says:
Mother of All, receive this gift!All:
Mother of All, receive this gift!
The Chthonic Celebrant goes to her place. The Fire Tender offers butter to the xā́sā, saying:
With the burning of the fire we take possession of the land it lights, of the world it warms. From here to there we take possession.
With the last sentence, the Priest gestures from side to side. The Fire Tender transfers a briquette from the xā́sā to the hṇ́gwnis, while the Priest says:
In the world's very center we light our fire, here where the sacred and the mundane meet Here we light a living flame.
The Fire Tender blows on the briquette, while the Priest says:
With our prayers we feed you, with the breath of our mouths.
Once the fire is going well, he says:
Receive our offering and bless our rites.
while the Fire Tender offers butter.
The Priest then says:
Listen to my words; see the cosmos about you.
He sings:
The waters support and surround us
He makes a semi-circle with both his hands, extending upwards from a point. He sings:
The land extends about us
He puts his hands in the middle of the top of the semi-circle, palms downward, and brings them out to the ends of the semi-circle. He sings:
The sky stretches out above us.
He makes another semi-circle upwards from the edge of the other one, with his hands meeting at its top. He sings:
At the center burns a living flame.
He puts both of his hands, joined together, in the center of the circle he has drawn (and thus the center of the flat area he has also drawn), and brings them in to touch his heart. He sings:
May all the Kindreds bless us. May our worship be true.All:
May our worship be true.Priest:
May our actions be just.All:
May our actions be just.Priest:
May our love be pure.All:
May our love be pure. Blessings, and honor, and worship to the Holy Ones.
The Priest says:
Come we together on this holy day across the distances that lay between us to this time, to this place, For one strong purpose: To worship the Holy Ones in the proper manner To give proper worship to Xausós, To give proper worship to the Diwós Sunú To welcome the spring.
The Fire Tender sets up the image of Janus to the east of the hngwnis and pours a libation of red wine, saying:
Jan-e Pater, with honor, with worship, with thanks.
She returns to the hṇ́gwnis and puts the pitcher down. She offers butter and says:
Páxusōn, who guards the herds of the people, watching there on the borders of our lands, who protects the merchants who go to and fro, from this land to others, and back again, be our guide to the sacred realm. God of the Way, open the way, open for us the gates to the gods.
She puts down the spoon, and makes a gesture of opening, saying:
God of the Way, reu dhurns! Open the way!All:
Open the way!
The Fire Tender:
Páxusōn, who goes before us on pathways, go before us, preparing the way for us to the Kindreds. God of the Way, reu dhurns! Open the way!All:
Open the way!
The Fire Tender:
Páxusōn, guardian of the borders, Open up the gate that our prayers, that our offerings, may go easily to the Holy Ones. God of the Way, reu dhurns! Open the way!All:
Open the way!
The Fire Tender:
From the land of the gods, To the land of men,All:
May sacred power flow. May Páxusōn be our guide to the gods.
The Priest then sets up the image of Xáryomen. He goes to the hṇgwnis and pours butter on it. He sings:
Xáryomen Dhétipotei,All:
Xáryomen, Lord of the Law of the People.Priest:
Sumēnésṇs prihons dṓtorAll:
Giver of well-disposed friends.Priest:
Suwéstēr zdhi.All:
Be our good Herdsman.Priest:
Wédhe nōs somAll:
Bring us together.Priest:
Xṛ́neu nōs sḗm.All:
Make us one.Priest:
Tebhyo sṃgénse spendemes.All:
May we worship you as one people!Priest:
Unite us Xáryomen, make us one,All:
May we come before the gods speaking with one voice.
Someone takes the dish with the silver to the mundus, while the Chthonic Celebrant says:
Today we welcome the honored dead to sit beside the fires they once held so dear, to worship with us as they once so loved to do. Welcome to the Ancestors!All:
Welcome to the Ancestors!
The person with the silver removes the tile and, with their left hand, pours the silver in silently. They go to the board and purify themselves with the water in the bowl on the way back to their place.
The Fire Tender puts incense on the hṇ́gwnis, saying:
May all the Holy Ones come to us as we worship them here. May they come to us on the shining path as we call to them, with proper words. Holy Ones, we worship you with sweet offering.All:
Holy Ones, we worship you with sweet offering.
All sing:
Hail all the gods Hail all the goddesses Hail all the Holy Ones we dwell together Lords of the sky Ladies of the sacred earth Ancient and Undying Ones we dwell together. Hail all the gods Hail all the goddesses Hail all the gods and goddesses Hail all the gods Hail all the goddesses Hail all the Holy Ones we dwell together
The Fire Tender says:
Today we honor all the gods. Today we honor our people’s dead. Today we honor the spirits of this place. We honor most of all, we give worship in particular to, Xausós, the Maiden Who Rises, who brings light into our night-shrouded lives who brings warmth into our winter-numbed hearts, and to the Diwós Sunú, the riders on the horizon, dear to her, accompanying her on her way. For this we make our offering today! Tód hestu!All:
Tód hestu!
The Chthonic Celebrant begins a hoof beat rhythm. The others join in by hitting or stamping on the ground. The Champion goes and pushes the left pole into place, while the Priest offers butter, and says:
Dear ones of Xausós,
The Champion goes pushes the right pole in its place while the Priest offers butter and says:
Sons of He Who Shines Above,
The Champion returns to his place, and the Priest starts to walk towards the left pole, carrying the butter spoon, saying:
ride swanlike together toward us,
He reaches the pole, touches it with the spoon, and says:
coming before the Morning Maiden,
He draws the spoon in an arc through the air to the other pole, and joins in with the hoof beat with it, saying:
with pounding hooves presaging her presence:
He stops the beat, and the others do as well. He goes to a point between the poles and about halfway to the hṇ́gwnis, where he holds up the spoon and says:
Saviors of Men, assist in bringing the saving light.
The Priest returns to his place, putting the butter spoon down on the way.
The Fire Tender stands and faces the east. The Priest says:
With fallen fetters, in red-robed splendor, stream forth, Dawn Maiden, return the herds.
The Priest blows the horn. All except for the Fire Tender sing:
Out of the too-long darkened east, come to us, Xausós, illumine the land! Out of the long-extending night, come to us Xausós, illumine the land! Out of the frigid, empty cold, come to us Xausós, illumine the land!
The Fire Tender goes to the gate, followed by the Chthonic Celebrant, who brings her bells. The Fire Tender picks up the pitcher of honey milk and pours some onto the ground just outside. While the Chthonic Celebrant rings the bells, the Fire Tender says:
Xausós, come to us, as cow, not as mare. Disperse the fog the serpent leaves behind.
The Priest blows the horn. All but the Fire Tender and the Chthonic Celebrant sing:
Out of the too-long darkened east, come to us, Xausós, illumine the land! Out of the long-extending night, come to us Xausós, illumine the land! Out of the frigid, empty cold, come to us Xausós, illumine the land!
While they sing, the Fire Tender and the Chthonic Celebrant step towards the dawn pole. The Fire Tender pours the honey milk again, and while the Chthonic Celebrant rings the bells, says:
Xausós, come to us as cow, not as mare. With your maidens about you, open the gate.
The Priest blows the horn again. All but the Fire Tender and the Chthonic Celebrant sing:
Out of the too-long darkened east, come to us, Xausós, illumine the land! Out of the long-extending night, come to us Xausós, illumine the land! Out of the frigid, empty cold, come to us Xausós, illumine the land!
While they sing, the Fire Tender approaches closer, stops and while the Chthonic Celebrant rings the bells, pours the honey milk again, and says:
Xausós, come to us as cow, not as mare. Do not block the gate; may the sun’s path be free.
The Priest blows the horn. All but the Fire Tender and the Chthonic Celebrant sing:
Out of the too-long darkened east, come to us, Xausós, illumine the land! Out of the long-extending night, come to us Xausós, illumine the land! Out of the frigid, empty cold, come to us Xausós, illumine the land!
While they sing, the Fire Tender steps to the beribboned pole. She pours the remaining honey milk (she should have poured half or less before this point) onto the ground by it, and while the Chthonic Celebrant rings the bells, says:
Xausós, come to us as cow, not as mare, opening the mountain’s mouth, pouring forth the white streaming water. Xausós, maiden, open the way for the sun to rise and light the earth. Stream forth, dawn’s light.
The Fire Tender and the Chthonic Celebrant go to the far side of the Xausós pole, clockwise, and face the ghórdhos. The Priest says:
Lady Xausós, do not hold the sun back. Open your cloak and let her rise, with the Twins attending, one on each side. Let her rise, attended by her maidens. Let her rise, and illumine the world.
During this prayer, the Fire Tender removes the covering from the pole, picks it, and waves it, while the Chthonic Celebrant pours the Waters into the bowl. The Priest says:
Dawn has returned, out of the night, arising from the waters at the edge of the world, coming as cow, not as mare.
During the last line, the Chthonic Celebrant dips her finger into the drops remaining in the pitcher and drops some, three times into the Waters, She picks up the bowl, and she and the Fire Tender go to the ghórdhos, the Fire Tender preceding. They stop at the Twins poles. The Priest says:
Attend her, Twins. Assist her, Diwós Sunú. Ride with her on either side where she opens the gates of dawn.
The Fire Tender enters the ghórdhos and puts the pole in its prepared hole. The Chthonic Celebrant puts the Waters down next to the Fire Tender’s place, and returns to her own. The Fire Tender sits. While she offers butter on the hṇ́gwnis, the Priest pours mead at the base of the dawn pole, saying:
We offer to Xausós, with glad welcome. Illumine the land, Shining Maiden. Open the gateway for the sun each day as is right. Accept this offering and our praises.
He returns to his place, removes the cloth from the sacrifice, putting it over the knife, lifts the sacrifice, and says:
This horse has come willingly, eagerly, to the place of sacrifice bedecked with gold in celebration and beauty.
He puts it down, and sprinkles water on it three times, saying:
A pure offering is this, without blemish or stain, fit for the Diwós Sunú.
He puts down the bowl of water, and picks up the bowl of barley in his left hand. He scatters grain from it three times with his right hand onto the sacrifice, saying:
Be blessed and fed with the fruits of the earth.
He then picks up the main sacrifice and brings it clockwise about the space, carrying the bowl of barley as well. Each person takes some barley and throws it on the sacrifice with their right hand. When he returns to his place, he puts the sacrifice down.
He puts down the bowl, holds up the sacrifice, and says:
A proper offering is this, as it is right to give. This horse to the Diwós Sunú,
He picks up the sacrifice in his right hand, and then crosses his left hand under it to pick up the knife, still covered by the cloth, in his left. He goes to a point between the fires and a little to the south. He squats and puts the plate and knife down. The Fire Tender motions to The Champion, who comes and faces her. When The Champion has arrived, he holds the head of the axe down towards the Fire Tender, who touches it with the butter spoon and says:
Gwhéneti!
The Champion goes clockwise around the space, holding the axe upright and out. As he walks, the Fire Tender strikes the bell, and the others join in. They increase the tempo and volume as he walks. When The Champion returns to the sacrifice, he stands and faces the Fire Tender. She says:
Gwhéneti!
The Champion brings the axe down hard against the sacrifice, and then lifts his axe to a vertical position in front of him and returns to his place. When he hits the sacrifice, everyone stops making noise. The Priest quickly cuts a slice from the right side of the bread, using his right hand. He cuts this in half in turn. He puts the top half into the altar fire, saying:
Diwós Sunú, here is your share. Sit down at our table, and see the meal we have spread out for you. Hed, heti wḗǵ! Eat, and be strong!
He holds the bottom half over the fire a moment, then cuts it in two. He eats the top half and gives the bottom half to the Fire Tender. The rest is then distributed. Any extra is burned in the fire.
The Priest pours mead in the bowl at the base of the hṇ́gwnis, saying:
All the Kindreds, be honored in our midst. We pour out our offering to you, like living water, like grain from a bag. Drink deeply of the gifts we give. Wesudéiwoibhos ǵhewomes. Tód hestū.All:
Tód hestū.
He returns to his place. He says:
Have the folk brought praise?
The Fire Tender says:
They have!
Praise offerings are then made by those who wish. When the last offering has been made, the Priest takes the piece of bread from the bottom plate, holds it up, and says:
Gods and Goddesses, Holy Ancestors, Spirits of this place: If anything that we have done here has offended you, If anything we have done here has been incomplete, If anything we have done here has not been done in the proper manner, accept this final offering in recompense.
He breaks the bread into pieces, and puts once piece on the hṇ́gwnis, one on the xā́sā, one in front of the image of Xausós, one in front of each of the Twins, one in front of the image of Janus, one in front of the image of Xáryomen, and one in the mundus. He breaks the rest up and scatters it about the place.
The Fire Tender then says:
Diviner, take the omens.
After the divination has been announced, the Fire Tender says:
We hear what the Kindreds have to say, and are made wise by it.
The Priest brings the Waters bowl to the fire and holds it out to the Fire Tender, who pours the Waters into it. He holds the bowl over the fire for a moment and then raises it. The Fire Tender says:
Spéḱyete Nekterm! Behold the Waters of Life!All:
Behold the Waters of Life!
The Priest holds it over the fire again, raises it again. The Fire Tender says:
Spéḱyete Nekterm! Behold the Waters of Life!All:
Behold the Waters of Life!
The Priest holds it over the fire a third time, and raises it. The Fire Tender says:
Spéḱyete Nekterm! Behold the Waters of Life!All:
Behold the Waters of Life!
The Priest stands, holds the bowl up as high as possible, and shouts:
Fire!
The Fire Tender throws lighter fluid into the hṇ́gwnis, while all yell:
Fire!
The Priest shouts:
Water!
The Fire Tender throws lighter fluid into the hṇ́gwnis, while all yell:
Water!
This is repeated two more times. Then the Priest shouts:
Fire! Water!
The Fire Tender throws lighter fluid into the hṇ́gwnis, while all yell:
Fire! Water!
This is repeated two more times. Then the Priest again shouts:
Fire! Water!
but this time he repeats this instead of waiting for the response. Everyone joins in, and the chant becomes continuous. When the time seems right, while everyone else continues the “fire, water” chant, the Priest sings:
Bring us inspiration! Bring us power! Bring us unending life! Fire in Water! Water in Fire!
After the first time through, the Priest lowers the Waters over the fire (as close as possible). After the third time through, he stands quickly and says:
Behold the Waters of Life!
All repeat, amid general merriment and noise-making.
The Fire Tender says:
What the Kindreds have given us, we distribute freely.
The Fire Tender fills a cup for the Kindreds, puts in front of the Dawn pole, saying:
May the Kindreds always receive their due.
The Waters are distributed.
After all have drunk, the Priest says:
Filled with the Mystery of Fire in Water we rest in the presence of the Kindreds.
There is a pause while all meditate on the divine presence which fills them. Then the Fire Tender picks up the small pitcher of milk and pours it into the remaining Waters, saying:
Into the Waters, which rose from below, we pour the gift of above, our own return flow.
The Chthonic Celebrant takes the bowl to the place where the Dawn pole had been and pours it out, saying:
We complete the cycle, ever-turning.
She returns to the space.
The Fire Tender offers incense, saying:
With wondering souls we have welcomed this mystery, with grateful hearts may we accept its manifestation in our midst.
The Priest says:
We have prayed to the Diwós Sunú, we have prayed to Xausós, we have prayed to all the Great Ones, and they have given us only a token of what they will bestow. We have asked, we have given, we shall receive. Tód hestu!All:
Tód hestu!
Then the Fire Tender says:
Never would we take without returning, never receive without appreciation. We must end our rites, but we will do it with gratitude
The Fire Tender offers butter while the Priest says:
You who rise, who, each day newly young, bring light and warmth to those who worship you. Be true, Xausós, uphold the Xártus, and we will always have reason to offer to you, as we have done today, as we do now. Tebhyo gwrtins dedǝmes!All:
Tebhyo gwrtins dedǝmes!
The Fire Tender offers butter while the Priest says:
Diwós Sunú, mankind’s dearest friends, twin riders on the horizon, be ever her help, be ever the horses that pull the chariot in which she rides, be ever the saviors of those who call to you in distress. Uzmei gwrtins dedǝmes!All:
Uzmei gwrtins dedǝmes!
The Fire Tender offers incense, while the Priest says:
Beautiful gods, whose continued presence is our constant joy, we thank you for your attendance at today’s rituals. Know this: we are always your friends. May we always have reason to feel gratitude towards you. We thank you!All:
We thank you!
The Chthonic Celebrant says:
Our elder family, you who have celebrated with us in honor of the ones whom you in your own time looked to in worship, we bid you return to your proper place, leaving the land of the leaving to those who live. We send you on your way with our thanks. We thank you!All:
We thank you!
The person who opened the mundus now closes it, purifying themselves afterwards.
The Priest makes an offering of butter on the fire, saying:
Xáryomen, who guards society’s peace, you have joined us together in our worship today: though the rites may end, and the people scatter, may our fellowship remain strong. Xáryomen, we give you thanks for your presence and blessings. May we grow and flourish under your benevolent gaze. Tebhyo gwrtins dedǝmes.All:
Tebhyo gwrtins dedǝmes.
The Fire Tender offers butter, saying:
Páxusōn, we thank you for opening the way. God of the Way, close the way; May we be blessed in your closing even as we were blessed in your opening. Although the door may be closed May the holy ones be never far away to answer us in our need. Tebhyo gwrtins dedǝmes.All:
Tebhyo gwrtins dedǝmes.
The Fire Tender makes a sign of closing and says:
Let the gates be closed!All:
Let the gates be closed!
The Chthonic Celebrant pours butter on the ground, saying:
Having given you your due we bid you farewell, Mother Earth. But how can we do that, with you all around us? How can we do that with you always in our hearts? Not a farewell, then, but a giving of thanks and a promise to remember you throughout our days. Mother of All, we thank you!All:
Mother of All, we thank you!
The Fire Tender takes a coal from the hṇ́gwnis and puts it into the xā́sā, saying:
The true altar of the people is the hearth.
She then extinguishes the hṇ́gwnis with the water from the pitcher (leaving a small amount). The Priest then says:
Extinguished without but burning within.All:
The living fire flames within us.
The Fire Tender offers butter to the xā́sā, saying:
Lady of Fire, Queen of the hearth, who by rights receives the last, bless and guard all those who worship you whether in their home or without whether alone or with others whether thinking of you or engaged in business. Shining One, receive this offering. Tebhyo gwrtins dedǝmes!All:
Tebhyo gwrtins dedǝmes!
When the butter is burned, she extinguishes the fire by pouring water from the pitcher on it and then putting the top of the cauldron on. When it has finished smoking, the Priest says:
With the hearthfire extinguished, the center of our sacred world is gone. With the flow of fiery water ceased, our sacred site dissolves about us. We will carry it in our hearts, though, nestled deep with the love of the gods.
The Priest says:
We have offered to the Holy Ones and they have accepted our sacrifices.
The Fire Tender says:
We have worshipped the Old Ones as it is right to do.
The Priest says:
We have done what the people before us have done.
The Fire Tender says:
We have given proper worship to Xausós, We have welcomed well the spring.
The Priest says:
May we always be mindful of those we have worshiped. May we always be mindful of them, worthy of worship. May this grove grow strong, under their watchful eyes.
The Priest raises his hands in blessing, and says:
On all who have worshiped here:All:
Inspiration, power, peace.Priest:
On all who revere the Kindreds:All:
Inspiration, power, peace.Priest:
On all who walk the ancient path:All:
Inspiration, power, peace.
The Priest says:
With the gates closed With the gods worshiped We will walk in wisdom. With Xausós we will rise, out of all oppressive darkness, we will rise, we will rise, we will rise and walk in wisdom.