Step Twelve: Hallowing the Blessing : Step Twelve: Hallowing the Blessing Presented by:
Rev. Jessie “Medb” Olson
Adapted from Brandon Newburg’s
“Ancient Symbols, Modern Rites”
Review : Review What are the Blessings and how may they relate to the Omen?
Why is Calling for the Blessings an important step?
Share Step Eleven from your own ritual
Key Terms : Key Terms Hallowing
Blessings
Waters of Life
Function : Function The previous step calls for the Blessings, and this step realizes their arrival.
To hallow is to make holy or sacred.
The Blessings now come into the Blessing Cup and permeate the beverage within.
The drink is imbued with holiness and sacral power.
No longer mundane, the waters become the "Waters of Life”.
Placement : Placement The Waters of Life will shortly be consumed.
Consumption falls somewhere between the Hallowing and the Affirmation, but never before the Hallowing.
For our purposes, we will discuss consumption under Affirmation.
Techniques : Techniques While the Calling is an act of communication, the Hallowing is more an act of magic.
Therefore, your Hallowing technique may appropriately be symbolic, dramatic, and powerful.
Techniques : Techniques A prayer or chant may be said over the cup.
A symbol may be traced in the air around it.
The runes or ogham of the Omen may be arranged round the cup or dipped into the beverage.
The cup may simply be raised aloft in solemn glory.
Techniques : Techniques In our Grove we have begun to pour the waters through the sickle into the blessing cup.
Symbolically cutting it off from the mundane.
The Hallowing should effect a ritual change in the beverage.
It should express a change from mundane to sacred.
You may choose to see the blessings of the Kindreds flowing from the Gates into the Cup.
The Cup may then radiate with brilliant, glowing power.
COoR History : COoR History Hallowing the Blessings appeared in the first liturgy in 1984 as "Last Consecration and Sharing."
The meaning and function remain essentially the same today.
Ancient and Modern : Ancient and Modern The Greeks had a special word, hosion, for that which is expressly prescribed or permitted by sacred law.
The organs of the sacrifice tasted in ritual by the worshipper were not mundane but sacred, yet they were right for mortals to consume.
That which is hosion is mete and right for people.
That is the kind of sacredness that imbues the ADF Blessing Cup.
Ancient and Modern : Ancient and Modern Sacred means "set apart."
When the offerings are sanctified in Step Eight, they go out of human hands. They are set apart for the gods.
But when the Blessing Cup is sanctified, it comes into our hands.
It is set apart for us.
Like the Greeks, we find some holy things are mete and right for us.
Thus there is continuity on this point between ancient and modern.
As far as the visualization of divine energies charging the Blessing Cup, that is specifically modern as far as we know.
Example : Example Example 1. "Whispering Lake Grove Samhain Ritual" by Raven and Carrion Mann, 2006 Liturgists Yearbook (Irish-Celtic)
Behold the Waters of Life! Shining Ones hear and bless us. Morrighan, Raven of Warrior’s Dreams, hallow these waters of life. Dagda, Great Good God, hallow these waters of life. Donn, Mighty Lord of the Dead, hallow these Waters of Life. The pitchers are lifted before the participants. Behold the Waters of Life!
All: Behold the Waters of Life!
Example : Example Example 2. "Gleichennacht" by Anthony Thompson, 2006 Liturgists Yearbook (Germanic)
DQ holds the blessing cup aloft and says:
O Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones, we have given to you, and now we ask you to bless us in turn, as a gift calls for a gift. Hallow these waters, O holy powers. Grant us the blessing we seek. Let the wisdom, love and power of the Gods, Dead and Nature Spirits flow in this cup of Blessing. Seih den Lebenswassern da! (“zye den laybensvahsurn dah”)
All: Behold, the Waters of Life!
Example : Example Example 3. "Opening Rite - Three Realms 2006" by Z.L. Bennett, 2006 Liturgists Yearbook (Irish-Celtic)
- Hallowing/Receiving of the Blessing: Chant for the Blessing Cup (by ZL Bennett)
(Preferably sung by three Bards, but it can be spoken as well as long as it is done so with careful phrasing. Before the Bards sing/charge the Cup, they should take a cauldron candle in one hand - order of candle to be taken should be the same as the order of hallowing above – and hold a portion of the blessing cup in the other hand. The idea here is to physically represent the gift (main offering ) for a gift (the blessing cup.)
B1: Now bright the flow of giving turns, We come before All in love and hope, Avowed to honor, are your sons and daughters, Remember us here, and grant us the Waters.
Spoken by Bard 1: Grant us the Waters. All: (spoken) Grant us the Waters.
Example : Example B2: Now cool the flame of wisdom alights In this cup which stirs our lives. Avowed to stand with our Shining Fathers, With boons to bear, yes, grant us the Waters.
Spoken by Bard 2: Grant us the waters. All: (spoken) Grant us the Waters.
B3: Now thrice we call as in days of old, In fellowship strong and offerings held high We claim with pride our tie to Great Mothers As we’ve opened our hearts, so grant us the waters!
Spoken by Bard 3: Grant us the waters. All: (spoken) Grant us the Waters.
B 1,2,& 3: Now we feel them rise and descend. To Imbue and swirl their blessings so sweet We accept in love the gifts that surround us. And we gladly partake of these waters before us. (O… (hummed phrase) – to toning) (After cup is imbued with energy)
PD or dignitary: (takes cup from the Bards and holds up) These are the waters of life!
Related
Suggested Reading : Suggested Reading "Step by Step through a Druid Worship Ceremony" by Isaac Bonewits, Druid's Progress #4
“Lady With a Mead Cup: Ritual Prophecy and Lordship in the European Warband from La Tene to the Viking Age.” Michael J. Enright. Four Courts Press, (June 1995).
Self Test : Self Test What is the difference between calling for the Blessings and Hallowing them?
Write Step Twelve for your own ritual.