Mars Ritual
Written by Astral and Megan
Friday, March 23rd – 7:00 pm, Second Dam up Logan Canyon
Altar:
- 3 Red Pillar Candles
- 1 Yellow Candle for Vesta, 1 White or Black Candle for Ianus
- Crossed knives in between the three pillar candles
- Mars cloth on the table
- Dragon’s blood on the left, food offerings for Mars in the middle, bowl with seed satchels on the right
- Circle made out of twigs and 10 tealights
Call attention by beating on shield; bring people together in a circle around the fire after sprinkling with blessed water upon entering the circle.
Give an intro/reason to the Mars ritual, Tubilustrium. Some history. Now with the history in mind, start the ritual.
Honoring the Earth-Mother
Ops Mater. Goddess of the bounty of the earth,
We send out words in praise of you, from whom all worlds flow.
Mystery of mysteries, this continual creation,
like a fountain forever bubbling up from the Earth’s darkness
She is a cup that is never empty.
Generous One, eternally giving gifts,
We pray to you; we praise you.
All: Ops Mater, we praise you.
Acknowledgement of the Outsiders
The celebrant carries out an offering for Minerva, as protector and warder against the adverse influences of the wild.
Minerva Mater,
Precor ut tuum sis boni voluntis et fortunam meo et nostrum domum et familiam,
cui causae hoc donum facio,
ut prohibeas, defendas, et avertas res viduntur et non viduntur nos opponere.
Mother Minerva,
I pray you be of good will and favorable to me and to our house and household,
for which purpose I make this offering
that you may prohibit, defend and avert things seen and unseen that may oppose us.
All: Fiat! (“So be it!”)
Centering, Grounding, Merging
Take a moment to find the center of your mind, body and soul.
Breathe deeply from your belly the air in this sacred grove, charged with anticipation and potential. Exhale fully through your mouth; then, through your nose, fill your lungs with the clean, cool aroma of this moment. Allow that sacred air to circulate and surge throughout your body.
Now continuing to breathe from your belly, stand firm and feel the Earth’s pulse through the soles of your feet. Curl your toes into the ground, rooting yourself into the bosom of the warm, nurturing Earth. Draw another deep breath while imagining tendrils of roots and vines connecting your self with the soil beneath you.
Now stretch forth your hands to those closest to you, and grasp hands or simply touch them, if you can. At one with the cosmos and at one as a grove – we are, as a community, greater than the sum of our parts. We stand as a grove in a forest of trees, one folk.
The waters support and surround us
The land extends about us
The sky stretches out above us.
At the center burns a living flame.
May all the Kindred bless us.
May our worship be true.
May our actions be just.
Blessings, and honor, and worship to the Holy Ones.
Offering to the Sacred Center
Vesta Mater, Shining Lady, unite us all,
For by worshipping at a common hearth
We are made one family, one people.
Queen of the hearth, Vesta Mater, your household is here.
Let us pray with a good fire.
[To Vesta, we make an offering of incense]
All: Let us pray with a good fire!
Opening the Gates
Gatekeeper Ianus,
We light this candle in your name,
And give you this offering in the flame,
Now, Ianus
Join your magic with mine
And let the sacred center open as a gate,
Let the four directions open as a gate,
Let this location be the crossroads of all Worlds.
Ianus of Openings, admit us into the presence of the Shining Ones
IANUS PATULCIUS ADMITTE NOS IN PRAESENTIUM NUMINUM LUCENTIUM
PORTAE APERIANTUR – Let the gates be open!
All: Let the Gates be open!
Deities
Ask people to invoke their personal gods and/or Ostara gods.
The children of the Earth call out to the Micantes Uni. Salvete, Dei!
To all spirits in this space, we offer you welcome.
To all Gods of this place, we offer you welcome.
To all the deities of this household, we offer you welcome.
Come to our hearth, Micantes Uni;
Meet us at the boundary.
Guide us and ward us as we walk the elder ways.
Dei, venite! Deities, join us!
All: Deities join us!
And finally, to Father Mars
Of whom we are gathered for,
This fire, not only represents our hearth,
But represents your soul and being,
Which we ask to join us this day,
Come to your hearth, Mars,
Meet us here, before us,
Guide us as we act in your name,
Mavors venite!
All: Mars, join us!
Invocation to Mars
(Pass around dragon’s blood as this invocation is said.)
Mars, warrior god, Fire that leaps
And dances, Protector of cities
And of this house, and our spirits,
Courageous one, mirror us back
Some of your courage.
Fearless one, show us a path
Through our many fears.
Armored one, give us protection
From all who would harm us.
With this dragon’s blood,
We release our inhibitions into your fire,
And with the seeds we receive
Your passion and determination,
For growth.
To the people in the circle:
You are free to approach the flame of Mars,
And release your worries to His great strength.
(Allow individuals to approach the fire that is Mars, releasing verbally (or quietly) their inhibitions and fears.)
Great Mars,
You have heard our plea.
Take these shackles,
That we may be free.
May your sword turn away
All danger from our flesh,
Our bones, our house, our home,
Our hearth and our hearts
Our eyes and our spirits.
Protect us from destruction and ruin,
O fiery god of the shining spear.
(Pass around seed satchels.)
May these seeds represent
The strength,
Drive,
Courage,
Determination,
And perseverance,
Your fearless spirit will loan us.
Let them grow,
Grow within us.
Give fire to our coals.
Let our passions burn.
We hail you, eternal warrior,
And ask that you grant us
Some small measure
Of your boundless fiery heart.
Ave Mavors! Velim et vim in nobis nomine recipiamus! (say 5 times)
(Hail Mars! Let us receive strength and power in your name!)
The Main Sacrifice
(those leading ritual make sure heads are covered)
Mars Pater,
Bono voto hoc vinum tibi do.
Tuum voluntem super hos quem tuum honraverant fortuna videre sit,
cui causae hoc donum facio.
Father Mars
With good prayers I offer to you this wine and meat.
May it be your will to look with favor upon these folk who have honored you,
For which purpose I make this offering.
All: Fiat! (“So be it!”)
Piacular Offering
Mars Pater,
Gods and Goddesses,
Spirits of this place:
If anything that we have done here has offended you,
If anything we have done here has been incomplete,
If anything we have done here has not been in the proper manner,
Accept this final offering in recompense.
Seeking the Omen of Return
Have the offerings been accepted?
(Wait for a negative sign or positive sign from the spirits. If no sign shows, the sacrifices have been accepted.)
Thanking of Entities Invited in Reverse Order
Mars and the Great Ones have blessed us.
With joy in our hearts,
Let us carry the magic from our sacred flame
Into our lives and our work.
So now as we prepare to depart
Let us give thanks
To all those who have aided us.
Father Mars,
PATER MAVORS, GRATIAS TIBI AGIMUS!
All: We thank you!
O Gods and Goddesses of elder days,
DEI. GRATIAS VOBIS AGIMUS!
All: We thank you!
To all those Powers that have aided us, we say again…
GRATIAS VOBIS AGIMUS!
All: We thank you!
Mother of all,
To you we return all we leave unused
Uphold us now in the world as you have in our rite.
Mater Ops, GRATIAS TIBI AGIMUS!
All: We thank you!
Ianus Clusivius, closer of doors,
For your presence and power
Your guiding and guarding we say…
GRATIAS TIBI AGIMUS!
All: We thank you!
Vesta Mater, Queen of the hearth,
Bless and guard all those who worship you
Whether in their home or without
Whether alone or with others
Whether thinking of you or engaged in business.
Lady of Fire, GRATIAS TIBI AGIMUS!
All: We thank you!
Affirmation of Past/Future Continuity and Success
Now by the Keeper of Gates and by our magic we end what we began.
Let all be as it was before…
PORTAE CLAUDANTUR!
All: Let the Gates be closed!
Go now, Quirites
In peace and blessings
The rite is ended!
ALL: Io, Tubilustrium!
Ritual participants exit the circle and enjoy refreshments.
