Nemos Ognios begins and ends its meetings with a short ritual. These are actually two parts of one ritual, making what happens in between another ritual part.
Opening ritual:
In the center of the kitchen table is an oil lamp. Around it, arranged so as to be convenient for those who will be using them, are a small pitcher and bowl of milk, a bowl of water, matches, a pitcher of honey water (one tablespoon honey to one cup water; make enough for each person to have their cup at least two-thirds full, plus enough for two more), a large bowl to pour the honey-water in, a ladle, and enough cups for everyone, plus two. One of the extra cups will be for the Kindreds, and the other to stand as a symbol of hospitality, the idea being that if an unexpected guest were to show up they could be accommodated. This ritual is generally performed in my house, where I have an icon of Brighid next to the stove, with an oil lamp in front of it. If it were to be performed elsewhere, there should be either an oil lamp or a candle by the stove. The offering to the hearth goddess is performed by a guest as an thanks to the house spirits for their hospitality. In accordance with ancient tradition, this should be done by a woman or girl if possible.
All gather about the table, and are purified, either by passing a bowl around so each can do their own purification,or, if there are too many for this, by sprinkling, with the prayer:
May we be pure that we might cross through the sacred.
May we cross through the sacred that we might attain the holy.
May we attain the holy that we might be blessed in all things.
Next someone who doesn't live in the house pours the milk into its bowl and says:
We offer thanks to the spirits of this home
for protecting and blessing us while we are here.
She takes the bowl and brings it to the Brighid’s lamp. When she has returned, someone says:
Let us pray with a good fire
and lights the lamp. Then someone else says:
Open the gates for us, Janus
All: Open the way.
The same person: God of beginnings, all that is new.
All: Open the way.
The same person: You who guard the sacred door,
All: Open the way.
The same person: From the land of the gods,
To the land of men,
All: May sacred power flow.
May Janus be our guide to the gods.
Next follows this prayer to Xaryomen, with someone singing the Proto-Indo-European words, and the others speaking the reply in English (which is a translation of the Proto-Indo-European):
Xaáryomen Dhétispotei,
Xáryomen, Lord of the Law of the People.
Sumene:znz prionz doxte:r
Giver of well-disposed friends.
Sus Westor zdhi.
Be our good Herdsman.
Wedhe no:s som
Bring us together.
Xrneu no:s sé:m.
Make us one.
Tebhyo smgénze spendemés.
May we worship you as one people.
The person who has sung the PIE:
Unite us Xáryomen,
make us one,
All: May we come before the gods
speaking with one voice.
Another person sings, making the appropriate gestures:
The waters support and surround us
They make a semi-circle with both their hands, extending upwards from a point. They sing:
The land extends about us
The put their hands in the middle of the top of the semi-circle, palms downward, and bring them out to the ends of the semi-circle. They sing:
The sky stretches out above us.
They make another semi-circle upwards from the edge of the other one, with their hands meeting at its top. They sing:
At the center burns a living flame.
They hold both their hands, joined together, out towards the fire, and then bring them in to touch their heart. They sing:
May all the Kindreds bless us.
May our worship be true.
Others: May our worship be true.
Singer: May our actions be just.
Others: May our actions be just.
Singer: May our love be pure.
Others: May our love be pure.
All: Blessings, and honor, and worship to the Holy Ones.
(The parts for the main singer and those for the others overlap. Preferably, the last three lines of the singer are in one breath.)
Someone pours about a third of the honey water into the remaining bowl and says:
We make offering to the gods.
May their wisdom be with us this day.
The same person pours another third of the honey water into the bowl and says:
We make offering to the ancestors.
May their power be with us this day.
The same person pours the rest of the honey water into the bowl and says:
We make offering to the land spirits.
May their blessing be with us this day.
Someone says:
Called to our presence
with prayers and libations,
the Kindreds are here
with blessings and friendship.
The lamp is left to burn during the meeting.
When the meeting is over, everyone gathers around the table again. The person who earlier poured the honey-water into the bowl holds it up and says:
The Kindreds have blessed us with their presence.
May we go on our way, filled with their blessings.
They ladle the Waters into cups. They first fill one and put it on the table, saying:
May the Kindreds always receive their due.
They fill the rest and distributes them.
When all have drunk, the person who earlier prayed to Xáryomen says:
Xáryomen, who guards society's peace,
you have joined us together in our worship today.
Though the rites may end and the people scatter
may our fellowship remains strong.
Xáryomen Dhétipotei,
who guides our grove in the way of the dhétis:
watch over and bless us;
may we grow and flourish
under your benevolent gaze.
The person who earlier prayed to Janus says:
Janus, who opens the ways,
who guards the gate:
be always our guide to the sacred land.
Watch over and bless us.
Connect us with that which is holy.
Connect us with that which is sacred.
The person who earlier lit the lamp extinguishes it and says:
Extinguished without
but burning within.
All: The living fire flames within us.
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