Main Page   Proto Indo-European (PIE) Religion   Wicca   Mithraism   Ritual    Tuadem  
  Back to the Beginnings  Nuit    Dedicant's Program     Prayers   Suggested Reading   Suggested Links 
Paganism   About Me   Publications   My Calendar  American Paganism  And The Rest 
Contact Me 


Proto-Indo-European Solitary Ritual


Equipment:

Oil lamp or candle
Matches
Offering for fire (incense and holder)
Well (Régʷes: "Dark Place;" a bowl or vase)
Tree (Staff in stand)
Bowl of water
Bowl for offerings
Silver for well
Offering in pitcher (preferably beer or mead)
Asperser

Put the tree in the east, the fire in the middle, and the well in the west. Sit between the well and the fire, facing the fire. Put the matches, incense, and holder next to the fire, and the other items in front of you.

Anoint your forehead, mouth, and left hand . Each time, say:

     Púros [masc.]/Púrā [fem.] ʔésmi.
     [May I be pure.]

Face east and say:

     Déiwons xadbheromes!.
     [I wish to honor the gods.]
     I am here to honor the gods.
     May my worship be according to the Xártus.

Light the fire and say:

     In the world's very center
     I light my fire,
     Here where the sacred and the mundane meet.
     Under the care of the shining goddess
     Under the watchful eye of Westyā.

Light the incense and put it in its stand, saying:

     I make offering to the fire of sacrifice.
     May I pray with a good fire.

Offer silver to the well, saying:

     By the Régʷes I am connected to the world below.
     Waters to land, the Régʷes extends.

Asperse the tree, saying:

     By the holy tree I am connected to the world above.
     Land to sky, the tree extends.

Pour part of the offering in the pitcher to the gate keeper, saying:

     Xápōm Népōt, I make offering to you.
     May the way be open to the Holy Ones.

Make a counterclockwise triskele, from the inside out, over the lamp, saying:

     Xápōm Népōt, xar dhurns əmoi.
     [Xákʷōm Népōt, build the doors for me].

Asperse the area in a clockwise direction, saying:

     Méǵōs móris əmé ghṛdhyeti.
     The great sea encloses me.

When the aspersing is done, say:

     My ghórdhos is sacred, set apart,
     within the border of the encircling water.
     Sacred and holy is this place of mine,
     fit for the gods to enter.

Pour out the offering to the gods, saying:

     To the gods and goddesses I make offering.
     May there be between us the bonds of hospitality.
     Deiwōs, uzmei ǵhewemi.
     [Gods, I pour out an offering to you.]

Pour out offering to the ancestors, saying:

     To the spirits of the ancestors I make offering.
     May there be between us the bonds of hospitality.
     Mṛtos, uzmei ǵhéwemi.
     [Dead Ones, I pour out an offering to you.]

Pour out offering to the spirits of the land, saying:

́      To the spirits of the land I make offering.
     May there be between us the bonds of hospitality.
     Xánsūs, uzmei ǵhewemi;.
     [Spirits, I pour out an offering to you.]

Pause. Then pick up the offering bowl and say:

     I receive my share of the sacrifice.

Drink some of the offering. Put the bowl down and say:

     Deities, ancestors, and spirits:
     I give you honor and worship,
     praise and reverence.
     May there ever be peace and friendship between us.
     Uzmei gʷṛtins dedēmi.
     [I give you thanks.]

Make a triskele over the fire, clockwise from the outside in, saying:

     Xápōm Népōt, may the gate be closed.

Extinguish the lamp. Stand and say:

     I go my way in fellowship with the Kindreds.

Bow once to the east.



"May I pray with a good fire" is based on Wendy Doniger O’Flaherty’s translation of Rig Veda 1.26.8.

Proto-Indo-European lines are translated immediately afterwards. Translations not intended to be said out loud are enclosed in square brackets ( [ ] ). For pronunciation, see here.

Xápōm Népōt (The Godfather, Guardian, or Uncle of the Waters), cognate with Nechtan, Neptune, and Apāṃ Napāt, is the guardian of a well of flaming waters that give power, prosperity, and wisdom (i.e., trifunctional blessings) to those who drink from it. (But only if they are qualified.) Here he functions as the Gatekeeper.

Wéstyā ("Burning One") is a name I have constructed for the PIE hearth goddess. The original name cannot be reconstructed, but most of the descendant forms are related to words like "burn," "shine," etc.