Feast of the Fallen Warriors |
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Feast of the Einherar November. A time to honor all fallen warriors. A special ritual to acknowledge Odin who welcomes all warriors, and Freya as the Queen of the Valkyries. A sacrificial feast of cookies or cakes in animal and human shapes is appropriate..
Cast the circle with the sword and say: Here may they manifest and bless their children. Move back to the altar, facing north. Raise your dagger in greeting and say: In a place that is not a place, On a day that is not a day. I stand at the threshold between the worlds before the Gates of Asgard May the Ancient Ones help and protect me On my magical journey Set the water chalice on the pentacle. Hold your dagger over it and say: Bless this creature of Water to your service. May we always remember the cauldron waters of rebirth Hold your dagger over the salt and say: Bless this creature of Earth to your service. May we always honor the blessed Earth, Its many forms and beings Sprinkle a little sale into the water, then hold the chalice up high and say: Beginning in the east and moving clockwise, sprinkle the water-salt mixture lightly around the edges of your circle. Replace the chalice on the alter. Hold your dagger over the lighted incense burner saying: Bless this creature of Fire to your service. May we always remember the sacred Fire That dances within the form of every creation. Hold your dagger over the incense saying: Bless this creature of Air to your service. May we always listen to the spirit winds That bring us the voices of the Ancient Ones. Put a little incense on the lighted charcoal in the burner. Don’t put too much incense in the burner as a little goes a long way in the enclosed room. Touch the burner briefly to the pentacle then raise the burner high saying: Carry the burner around the circle clockwise, beginning in the east. Return it to the altar. Go to the eastern quarter of the circle and light the yellow candle. Hold up your dagger in greeting. Salute the Element saying: Ruler of the East and the Powers of Air I call upon you, To witness this rite and to guard this circle. Move to the south, light the red candle and hold your dagger up in greeting: Ruler of the South and the Powers of Fire I call upon you To witness this rite and to guard this circle. In the western quarter you light the blue candle and greet the Element Ruler of the West and the Powers of Water I call upon you To witness this rite and to guard this circle. End by going to the north, light the green candle and greet the Element Ruler of the North and the Power of Earth I call upon you To witness this rite and to guard this circle. Move back to your central altar and stand facing north. Raise your arms in greeting: With power all around Within it I stand With protection at hand Light the black candle to the right of the cauldron. Salute the altar with your sword and say: Great Odin, All Father You have gathered to you All brave warriors who die in battle I salute you. Light the red candle to the left of the cauldron. Salute the altar with your sword and say: You who have gathered to you Your share of the fallen heroes. I salute you. Light the white candle in the cauldron. Salute the alter again with your sword and say: Who now dwell in Asgard. I salute your courage Your willingness to die in defense Of your family, your property Your community, your country. Well do I know that brave warriors Do not all fall in wars. They sacrifice themselves As Policemen on the streets They greet the Valkyries When rescuing others in peril. They meet the Allfather As firemen on duty. The fallen warriors of Asgard Have walked all paths of life, Yet because of their deeds Were found worthy by the Valkyries Warrior-women who see the truth In the heart of each person. Lay the sword before the altar. Take up your dagger and apple: So must there be life in death. The symbol of the Lady and life eternal Is hidden inside the sacred fruit Of Idhunn, the Maiden. Only those who seek and know May find it. Cut the apple crosswise to reveal the pentagram made by the core and seeds: Symbol of the Triple Goddess, Who, with the Allfather, Brings forth new beginnings Out of the cauldron of rebirth. Eat part of the apple, saving the rest to be placed outside: Is forbidden only to those Who walk in darkness, Those who turn away From the great knowledge that life never ends. Like a dried autumn seed Each passing soul falls Into the sacred cauldron to rest Then be reborn in another time and place. Place the plate of bread and salt on the pentacle for a moment and say: The grain which is ground And baked into bread To sustain the body. Salt, which preserves food And enriches life. Each time I taste salt and bread May I remember that all life Turns in cycles of life and death. Dip a piece of bread into the salt and eat it. Place the plate of cookies on the pentacle. Go to the east. Salute the east with your sword and say: Rules of Air, Give your blessings to the fallen warriors. Grant them rest in spring fields Caressed by gentle breezes. Go to the south. Salute with your sword and say: Ruler of Fire, Give your blessings to the fallen warriors Grant them sunny days And warm nights of feasting. Go to the west. Salute with your sword and say: Ruler of Water, Give your blessings to the fallen warriors Grant them warm pools of refreshing water Where they may dream of rebirth Go to the north. Salute with your sword and say: Ruler of Earth, Give your blessings to the fallen warriors Grant them changing seasons, green forests, And sweet meadow flowers. Return to the altar. Salute with your sword and say: You who see beyond all actions to the truth, Carry my greetings and blessings To the heroes of Asgard. Although we may grieve their loss among us, Yet do we rejoice that they rest with you. Let them know they are not forgotten. Place the wine chalice on the pentacle for a few moments, then lift it high saying: Merry Meet, Merry Part And Merry Meet Again. Now is the time for divination, meditation or spellwork. If any spellwork is done, finish with: I bind all power within this circle Into this spell. So Mote It Be! When you are ready to end the ritual, go to the east and extinguish the yellow candle and say: With your Powers of Air My thanks and blessings. Go to the south and extinguish the red candle and say: With your Powers of Fire My thanks and blessings. Go to the west and extinguish the blue candle saying: With you Powers of Water My thanks and blessings. Finish by going to the north and extinguish the green candle and say With you Powers of Earth My thanks and blessings. Return to the center to stand before the altar. Raise your arms and say: Depart in Peace. May there always be harmony between us. My thanks and blessings Cut the circle with a backwards motion of your dagger to release all remaining vestiges of power for manifestation and say: Yet ever it remains a circle. Around and through Me Always flows its magical power. Be sure to put out your offering for the nature spirits. Tie the cookies and pieces of apple to tree limbs for the birds and animals. |
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