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A Ritual Opener

by Ceisiwr Serith

I've written a ritual opener that I thought others might like to see. It can be done by a solitary or by a group. I will give it for a group; the required changes for a solitary are obvious.

The waters support and surround us.
The land extends about us.
The sky stretches above us.
At the center burns a living flame.
(light a candle or oil lamp or fire)

Let us pray with a good fire.
May all the kindred bless us.
May our worship be true.
May our actions be just.
May our love be pure.
Blessings and honor and worship to the holy ones.

"Let us pray with a good fire" is RV 1.26.8. It's one of my favorite ritual lines of all time. This can be used as a centering meditation by removing the RV line and the lighting of the candle. It can then be done anywhere and any time.

While I'm thinking of the RV, I would like to give one of my favorite hymns, 8.30, in O'Flaherty's translation:

1.Not one of you, gods, is small, not one a little child; all of you are truly great.
2. Therefore you are worthy of praise and of sacrifice, you thirty-three gods of Manu, arrogant and powerful.
3. Protect us, help us and speak for us; do not lead us into the distance far away from the path of our father Manu.
4. You gods who are all here and who belong to all men, give far-reaching shelter to us and to our cows and horses.

[Ed. note: RV = The Rg Veda]

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