Minimalist Ritual
I often hear that ADF style rituals are complicated or too hard. I wrote this very basic, minimalist ritual to demonstrate how you can do a quick Core Order of Ritual rite almost anywhere.
If you’re interested in seeing how this breaks down, I’ve mapped it to the Hearthkeepers organization of the Core Order of Ritual which combines a few of the steps into one in some cases to make it a bit easier to understand.
Needed for the Ritual:
- Candle or other symbol of fire. Electric candles work well if you’re in a space where an open flame isn’t a good idea or not allowed. A red rock or other symbol of fire also works.
- A cup of water or another drinkable beverage. You’ll need about a ½ cup. I’ve used tea, water, and wine equally well for this.
- A bell (phone apps work well as substitutes if you don’t have a bell)
- Divination tool (Check out the various phone apps or the Nine x Nine divination set on the ADF Website if you don’t have something to use)
Some notes:
- You are invited to replace the more generic titles, such as Gatekeeper, with names of the specific deities or beings that you work with in those roles.
- I called Cerridwen as my Being of the Occasion as she is the one I wished to worship in this rite. You are welcome to call to any Spirit or Deity that makes sense for your ritual.I was going for the ultra-minimalist ritual here, so a lot of this is done in your head.
- Please note that ALL of this can be done in your head to varying degrees of results. I recommend at least having a symbol of fire and pouring out offerings of water
- I have included the optional step of calling to Inspiration, but I did not do the, optional, Outsider component as I did this ritual at my shrine.
- Stage directions are in curly brackets “{ }” everything else is spoken aloud
The Ritual
I pray to the Kindreds, may you Bless me as I do you Honor.
{light your candle or touch your fire symbol as you say the following}
Kindled from the Great Flame, kept by prudent skill,
join with our common Hearth, that these flames be one.
{ring a bell three times and feel the sound clear the space}
Earth Mother, may you join my rite and lend your Blessings.
Inspiration, may you join my rite and lend your Blessings.
Allies of my Hearth, may you join my rite and lend your Blessings.
We come before you to thank you for your Blessings.
Between Order and Chaos, I stand at the center of the Worlds.
Gatekeeper, I call to you to aid our work and guard the Ways between.
{in your mind’s eye, see your hallows – Well, Fire, and Tree. Feel their textures and hear the sounds.}
As the Fire opens as a gate, as the Well opens as a gate, as the Tree opens as a gate, so the GATES ARE OPEN!
I call to the Kindreds, Ancestors, Noble Ones, Shining ones, may you join my rite and lend Your Blessings.
Cerridwen, Creatrix of Awen, I call to you. May you join my rite and lend Your Blessings.
Cerridwen, Great Goddess, to you I do honor. May you accept this sacrifice as a token of my devotion.
{make an offering of water}
To all the Kindreds here, to you I do honor. May you accept this sacrifice as a token of my respect.
{make an offering of water}
May the Kindreds share Their Wisdom with me.
{take an omen}
{touch or hold up the water}
Mighty Kindreds, you have shared your Wisdom with me, and I ask that you share your Blessings. May you bless this water as you bless me.
{drink}
My thanks to you Lady Cerridwen, for your aid in this rite.
My thanks to you, Ancestors, Noble Ones, Shining Ones, for your aid in this rite.
Gatekeeper, I ask your aid one more time.
As the Fire becomes flame, the Well becomes Water, and the Tree becomes as a tree again. So, the gates are CLOSED.
My thanks to you, Gatekeeper, for guarding the Ways and lending your aid.
My thanks to the Allies of my Hearth, for your aid in this rite.
My thanks to Inspiration, for your aid in this rite.
My thanks to the Earth Mother, who supports us always, for your aid in this rite.
This rite is ended.
