Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Indo-European Mythology Part 10 - Applications

The following are applications of several of the IE themes covered during the Indo-European Mythology studies. The first is centered on the creation of the cosmos through sacrifice. It is a prayer which would be performed during the "Re-Creating the Cosmos" portion of an ADF ritual.



[Fire is not lit at this time but a container of Sterno is sitting in the empty Well that holds dry ice. To the south of someone holds a small torch]

Priest:
In the beginning, there was the void,
Chaos ruled through the struggle of Fire and Ice,
A land filled with darkness and ice to the north,
To the south a land of fire and light.

People Chant:
Ymir, Ymir, born of chaos, born of strife,
Born of darkness, born of light,
Where land of Fire meets that of Ice!
Through your sacrifice we gained life!

Priest:
From a well in the north flowed ten steams of deadly night, [people our water into the Well]
South did the venom flow, into the land of burning light, [torch bearer lights Sterno]
When met, a frozen fog did form. Oh from this, Ymir you were born!

People Chant:
Ymir, Ymir, born of chaos, born of strife,
Born of darkness, born of light,
Where land of Fire meets that of Ice!
Through your sacrifice we gained life!

Priest:
From your descendants, came your death.
From your death, came Order to the cosmos.
From your skull, came the sky.
From your blood, came the sea.
From your flesh, came the land.
From your hair, came the trees.

People Chant:
Ymir, Ymir, born of chaos, born of strife,
Born of darkness, born of light,
Where land of Fire meets that of Ice!
Through your sacrifice we gained life!

Priest:
Great Ymir! You who were born of darkness and of light,
Through your sacrifice all came to life,
We offer here by Fire and Ice,
To bring Order and Creation through divine might! [Ring bell three times]

All Chant: [Softly spoken while making offerings the Fire Water]
Ymir, Ymir, born of chaos, born of strife,
Born of darkness, born of light,
Where land of Fire meets that of Ice.
Through your sacrifice we gained life.


The second application centers on the "winning of the waters" and can be used as part of the "Calling for the Waters of Life" portion of an ADF ritual.


Cup Litany\The Blessing:

[Arms out stretch to the heavens]

Priest:                    As the land suffered from the terrible Chaos which the Serpent Vritra wrought,
                                So do the lives of humanity suffer without the Blessings of the Kindred!
As Indra struggled with the serpent Vritra to free the Waters,
                                To bring Order to Chaos, so that life could return to the land and its people,
                                So have we sacrificed to recreate the Cosmos, to bring Order to our people!
                                We call to you! Release the Waters of Life!

(All)                         We call to you! Release the Waters of Life!
                               
Priest:                    Might Kindred,
                                We the People stand before you, Hallowed and Whole!
                                Bestow upon us your blessings!
Bestow upon us your peace!
We call to you! Release the Waters of Life!

                                Offerings we have made before the Ordered Cosmos,
                                Offerings we have made by Fire, Well, and Tree!
                                Offerings you have received from the hands of people!
                                We call to you! Release the Waters of Life!
                               
(All)                         We call to you! Release the Waters of Life!


[Cup held towards the Well]
Priest:                    You among the Mighty Dead, ancestors to us all,
                                Offerings we have made, offerings you have received.
                                We ask that you bless these Waters so we may share in the wisdom of
Your great Knowledge!

(All)                         The gifts of the Ancestors for the people of the Ancestors!

[Cup held towards the Tree]
Priest                      You of land, sea, and sky; both mortal and spirit alike,
You who are the Nature Spirits,
Offerings we have made, offerings you have received.
We ask that you bless these Waters so we may share in the warmth of your Great Kinship!

(All)                         The gifts of the Nature Spirits for the kin of the Nature Spirits!

[Cup held towards the Fire]
Priest:                    You among the divine and gods and goddesses of all time,
                                Offerings we have made, offerings you have received.
                                We ask that you bless these Waters so we may share in the great Light of
Your Truth!

(All)                         The gifts of the Gods for the children of the Gods!

Priest:                    In the name of Memory, the preserving shrine.(Present the Waters of Life to the Well)
                                In the name of Earth, our common mother.( Present the Waters of Life to the Tree)
                                In the name of Truth, the light which has no beginning and no end.( Present the Waters of Life to the Fire)
                               
                                May we never know thirst or need while in your service. Awen! (Make sign of ADF sigil over the Waters of Life. Walk to each member offering the Waters of Life. Priest taking last sip before returning the Waters of life to the Earth.)

Return the Waters of the Earth: We return the Water of Life so that the land will be better for us having been here. We return the Water of Life so that the circle may be ever unbroken! Hail great giving Earth! Keep safe always the sacrifice, keep it ever holy!

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