Maitag Ritual

Maitag Ritual

The musical signal will be given to call the folk for the ritual.

D1: Wir sind heir um die Goetter zu Ehren.

Folk: We are here to honor the Gods.

Led by the clergy, the folk processes to the ritual site & form the A.D.F. sigil singing:

Come ye merrily join us, join us
On this hallowed ground.
Come ye merrily join us, join us
On this hallowed ground.
To gather strength from ways of old
Welcome to the sacred grove.

The Fire Maiden (FM) will light the fire and make an offering.

FM: I kindle the sacred fire of nine woods in wisdom, love, and power.
Sacred fire burn within us.

Folk: Sacred fire burn within us.

FM will then sense the site and the folk.

The Keeper of the Well (KW) will pour the waters and make an offering.

KW: In the depths flow the waters of wisdom.
Sacred waters flow within us.

Folk: Sacred waters flow within us.

KW will then asperge the site and the folk.

The Tender of the Tree (TT) will dress the Tree.

TT: From the depths to the heights spans the world tree.
Sacred Tree, grow within us.

Folk: Sacred tree, grow within us.

TT will then asperge and cense the Tree.

D1: The fire, the well, the sacred tree,

Folk: Flame and flow and grow in me!

D1: In land, sea and sky

Folk: Below and on high!

D1: Thus is the sacred grove claimed and hallowed.

Folk: So be it!

D1: By the cleaning of water and fire let all ill turn away from me and mine.
So sind Sie!

D1: We call upon you Nerthus, mother of all, be with us today and always. Honor Nerthus!

The folk kneel and kiss the Earth. The Earth Mother Hymn is sung.

The folk will be led through the Grove Meditation and then will chant a Unity Chant.

D1 will state the ritual purpose and historical precedent.

D1: See Yggdrasill, the cosmic tree, that connects the nine realms, the axis of the universe. Now we call upon Heimdall, the gatekeeper, so we can connect to the realms and the shining ones. Watch the fire and Yggdrasill and see Bïfrost, the rainbow bridge, manifest to us.

Heimdall, shining one, guardian of beautiful Bïfrost, son of nine waves and sounder of the ill fated horn, you who can hear the grass grow and even hear the wool growing on the sheep, we ask you father of all men to open the gates. You who teach us the runes and our Wyrd let us walk in your light so we may journey and learn in safety. Leuchten uns hervor, Heimdall.

The folk will chant the Gatekeeper Chant.

D1: Listen to the music of the universe, the music of Braggi and draw inspiration into your hearts.

The Bard will invoke Braggi:

Bragi, Odinson,
Best of the wordsmiths
And first of the skalds.
You with the tongue of gold
Whose words are like the finest mead,
We ask you best of bards
To bless us and make our words mix well.
Bragi, let your inspiration flow!

A cup is poured for the outdwellers and they are acknowledged.

D1: Draw the strength of nature as we call the nature spirits.

D2 will come to the center and pick up the offering of seed and says: Landspirits, join us in this celebration. Accept these offerings:

D2 pours a little pile of seed on the Altar and then spreads some around the outside of the circle, then returns to the center and says while D1 lifts the bowl:

D1: Hallow these waters. Share with us lore and blessings.
Seih den Lebenswassern da!

Folk: Behold the Waters of Life!

The folk chant Fur and Feather.

D1: Remember the wisdom of our past kin as we call them.

D3 will come to the center and pick up the offering of flowers and says: People of eld, honored dead, our kindred, join us in this celebration of joy as you taught us in days of eld.

D3 puts a few flowers on the Altar and then dresses the well, then returns to the center and says while D1 lifts the bowl:

D1: Hallow these waters. Share with us lore and blessings.
Seih den Lebenswassern da!

Folk: Behold the Waters of Life!

The folk chant Mothers and Fathers of Old.

D1: Feel the protections of the gods as we call them.

D4 will come to the center and pick up the offering of oil and says: Gods and Goddesses of old times and new we ask you to join with us in this celebration of nurturing joy.

D4 pours a little oil on the Altar and then on the fire, then returns to the center and says while D1 lifts the bowl:

D1: Hallow these waters. Share with us lore and blessings.
Seih den Lebenswassern da!

Folk: Behold the Waters of Life!

The folk chant Hail all the Gods.

The folk are now led in a meditation of recentering and merging of the new energies.

D1: Frey, King of the elves, prince of the world, we ask you and your beautiful sister Freya, wild wight of nature, to join with us in this celebration of nurturing joy.

The bard now conducts the praise offerings.

D1: Have the folk brought praise?

Bard: They have.

D1: So sind Sie.

Hal and Tow (during Maypole)

(CHORUS) Hal and Tow Jolly Rumble-oh
We were up long before the day-oh
To welcome in the summer
To welcome in the May-oh
The summer is a'comin in
And Winter's gone away-oh

Take no scorn to wear the horn
It was a crest when you were born
Your father's father wore it
And your father wore it, too
(Sing Chorus)

Frey and Freya bless you
With all their power and might-oh
And bring peace to New England
Bring peace by day and night-oh
(Sing Chorus)

D1 holds up an evergreen branch and says: Our praise goes up to you on the wings of eagles; our voices on the wind. Hear us Frey, Freya, we pray to thee as we offer up this sacrifice of life. Accept it and open our hearts and give to us of your peace and life. So sind Sie!

Folk: So be it!

While the omen is being taken the folk will quietly chant Come Druids All.

The diviner reveals the omen.

The folk are led in a meditation on grove and personal needs.

D1 raises the cup:

TT: Of what does the Earth Mother give that we may know of the continual flow and renewal of life?

Folk: The Waters of Life.

TT: And from whence do these waters flow?

Folk: From the bosom of the Earth Mother. The ever-changing All Mother.

TT: And how do we honor this gift that causes life?

Folk: By partaking of the Waters of Life.

TT: Has the Earth Mother given forth of her bounty?

Folk: She has!

D1 takes the cups saying: Frey, Freya, we have praised you, hallow these waters and give to us of your power and inspiration and vitality. Seih den Lebenswassern da!

Folk: Behold the Waters of Life!

The cups are passed while the folk chant Share the Waters.

D1 says: The gods have blessed us. With joy in our hearts, let us return to the realm of mortals to do both their will and ours. Every time we invoke them, they become stronger and more alert to the needs of the folk . But now comes the time when we must prepare to depart. So let us give thanks to those whom we have invited here.

Another offering will be made after each time the folk say Wir danken Ihnen.

D1: Frey, Freya, Wir danken Ihnen.

Folk: Wir danken Ihnen.

D1: Vorfahr, Ahne, Wir danken Ihnen

Folk: Wir danken Ihnen.

D1: Naturgeisten, Wir danken Ihnen.

Folk: Wir danken Ihnen.

D1: Braggi, Wir danken Ihnen.

Folk: Wir danken Ihnen.

D1: Heimdall, Wir danken Ihnen.

Folk: Wir danken Ihnen.

D1: By the keeper of the gates and by our magic we end what we began. Let the fire be flame and the well be water and the ways between be shut. Lassen die Toren zumachen.

Folk: Let the gates be closed.

D1: We have done as our ancestors did and as our children will do and the Gods have answered!

The folk are led in a meditation of regrounding, recentering, unmerging and draining of excess power.

D1: Let us go out into the world secure in the knowledge that our sacrifices have pleased the gods and that we go forth under their protection. The ritual is at a close.

Folk: So sind Sie.

The drum begins beating, the sigil breaks up chanting Walk with Wisdom.

 

Page Information:
"Maitag Ritual." submitted by Member-65 on 15 May, 2019. Last modified on 19 February, 2022.
Page URL: https://www.adf.org/rituals/norse/maitag/maitag.html

Related Pages: Beltane Norse


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