Waters from the Three Worlds

In an article published in Oak Leaves 10 (1999), I gave an alternate outline for ADF ritual. As part of that outline, I prescribed that the Waters of Life be made from three pourings of water, each one blessed by one of the Kindreds. I would like to suggest, in this article, a way to link this technique to the three worlds of Land, Sea, and Sky, as well as to the Kindreds.

I suggested in my article "Proto-Indo-European Cosmology" (Druid's Progress 13 (1995)) that the Kindreds and the Worlds may be matched up. The Deities may be assigned to the sky, the Land Spirits to the land, and the Ancestors to the sea (which in Indo-European thought is considered to lie beneath the land as well as around it). Similar to the way that in Vedic symbolism the fire god Agni exists in each of these worlds, so too can water. These three kinds of water can therefore be used in the Waters of Life ritual, each mixed in at the time appropriate to its Kindred. This creates a drink that’s a combines all three Kindreds and all three parts of the Cosmos.

The waters of the sea would in a literal sense be of course ocean water. However, since the waters of the sea are considered in Indo-European cosmology to be under as well as around the earth, spring water may be substituted. This is the easiest of the waters to collect, since it may simply be purchased. This water is used at the point in the ritual when the Ancestors have been called to. When it is poured into the bowl for the Waters of Life, the pourer can say:

Sent up from below, the drink of the ancestors.

The waters of the sky are rain. Because of the fire/water mystery inherent in Indo-European waters of life, the water for this part of the ritual is best collected during a thunderstorm. Simply put out bowls, and collect what falls into them. You may discover particles in the bowls; these may simply be filtered out. This water is poured into the Waters of Life bowl when the Deities have been called. When it is poured, say:

Come down from above, the lightning filled rain.

The waters of the land are dew. This is the most difficult to collect, but with a little time and patience it can be done. Set cookie sheets out overnight. In the morning, they will be covered with dew. Take a bowl and tip the cookie sheets so that the dew falls into it. Then use a rubber spatula to scrape off what does not run off. Repeat this until you have a sufficient amount. This may take a few days, so start in plenty of time before the ritual, or build up a store to use during the winter. You may wish to filter this water, or even to boil it if you are not sure of its purity. This water is used when the Land Spirits have been called to. When it is poured, say:

Brought in from around, the land-forming waters.

The symbolism of the three worlds may be added to by holding the Waters of Life bowl at different heights for the different waters; holding it low for the spring water, high for the rain water, and at a middle height for the dew.

By using this method, the Waters of Life are built up slowly from the waters of the three worlds, and blessed by the three Kindreds. They truly become blessed.