345 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
345 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
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NROOGD SAMHAIN, 1987
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A Cymro-Norse ritual
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TOOLS: Drinking Horn
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Hammer (Mjollnir)
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Sword
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Pentacle/Stone
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Bowl of Salt
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Water
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Censer & Incense
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CELEBRANTS:
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White Preistess (Skadi)
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Gold Priest (Freyr)
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Red Priestess (Freyja)
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Red Priest (Heimdallr)
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Black Priestess (Vala)
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Black Priest (Odin)
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Procession, consisting of Soulers (any small number) and White Mare.
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(See below for the song, ASCII music and lyrics.)
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Skadi takes the sword around the circle with these words:
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SHARP BRIGHT STEEL THE CIRCLE SCRIBES;
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CARVING, CLEAVING WORLD FROM WORLD.
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Freyja banishes the circle with the hammer and these words:
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MANKIND'S FRIEND, BY MJOLLNIR'S MIGHT
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BANISH BEINGS THAT BODE US ILL!
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She stands in the centre and to each quarter and above and below she
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makes the Hammer-Sign, saying,
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HOLY HAMMER, HALLOW AND HOLD US.
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Vala seals the circle, carrying pentacle and bowl of salt, saying,
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STOUT STONE SHIELD US, SHUT THE CIRCLE.
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Skadi asperses the circle (Vala follows with censer) with these
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words:
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BE ALL BLESS'D WHO BIDE HEREIN,
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BY STONE AND SEA, BY STORM AND SUN.
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Now Heimdallr takes the sword and calls the quarters as follows:
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WISDOM'S WAIN, EAST WIND I CALL THEE!
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THOUGHTS THY THANES THAT THRIVE IN NEWNESS.
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BREATHE AND BLESS, BLOW ALL CLEAN;
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WATCH AND WARD, O WIND OF MIND.
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SUMMER'S SAVOUR, SOUTH WIND COME NOW!
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BRIGHT THE BLESSINGS YOU BEAR WITH YOU.
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STRONG OF SPIRIT, SUN-LIKE FIRE;
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WATCH AND WARD, O WIND OF SOUL.
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WILD AND WET, WEST WIND I SUMMON!
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SEA-SPRAY BEARING, SINGING, SHOUTING;
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BEATS THE EARTH'S BLOOD IN THY BREAST;
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WATCH AND WARD, O WIND OF HEART.
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WHITE WITH WINTER, NORTH WIND, WAKEN!
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STONE'S STRENGTH BRINGING, SNOW-CLOAKED WIND.
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FROM THE FROST-REALMS, FRESH AND CHILL,
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WATCH AND WARD, O WIND OF FORM.
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The Priestesses and Priests stand opposite each other, and each one
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of the pair invokes the other, as follows:
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Skadi (to Freyr)
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LORD OF LIFE, HAIL LAND-MASTER!
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GOD OF GRAIN THAT GROWS AND DIES
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AND RISES REBORN, FULL OF RICHNESS;
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FALLOW FIELDS SHALL YET BE FERTILE --
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SPRING SAP RUNS AS STIRS YOUR PHALLUS --
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BLESS BARREN EARTH, LET IT BEAR AGAIN!
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Freyr (to Skadi)
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SHOW-SHOES STRIDING, HAIL SWIFT HUNTRESS!
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WILD ONE, FREE AND WILLFUL GODDESS,
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BOW AND BLADE YOU BEAR BESIDE YOU,
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FINDING FOOD TO FEND OFF HUNGER.
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WINTER WILL NOT LEAVE US WANTING;
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GIVE GOOD HUNTING, GRANT US SKILL!
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Freyja (to Heimdallr)
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STANDING STEADFAST, HAIL FAR-SEER!
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WATCHFUL ONE, ON RAINBOW WAITING,
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HORN AT HAND TO ROUSE THE HEROES,
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NEWS YOU KNOW FROM NINE WORLDS OVER.
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PEOPLE'S PARENT AND OUR PATRON,
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OPEN OUR EYES TO ALTERED SIGHT.
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Heimdallr (to Freyja)
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VANIR BRIDE, HAIL VISION-GIVER!
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CAPPED IN CAT-FUR, CLOAKED IN FEATHERS,
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DRUMMING FOR THE DANCE OF DREAMS,
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YOU HASTE TO HUNT OUT HIDDEN THINGS.
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SCANT NOW THE SCREEN THAT HINDERS SIGHT;
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LET US LEARN THE LORE OF TRANCE-WORK.
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Vala (to Odin)
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ONE-EYE, WANDERER, GOD OF WISDOM,
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HUNT-LORD, HAIL, WHO LEADS THE HOSTING!
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NINE NIGHTS HANGING, KNOWLEDGE GAINING,
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CLOAKED AT CROSSROADS, COUNCIL HIDDEN.
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NOW THE NIGHT, YOUR TIME IS NEAR US --
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RIGHT ROADS SEND US ON, RUNE-WINNER.
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Odin (to Vala)
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EVERY AGE YOUR EYE HAS WITNESSED,
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CAULDRON-KEEPER; HAIL, WISE CRONE!
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REDE IN RIDDLES IS YOUR RATION --
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WYRD-WEAVING AT THE WORLD-TREE'S ROOT.
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ELDEST ANCIENT, ALL-KNOWING ONE,
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SPEAK SECRETS TO US, SEND US KENNING.
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Odin reminds everyone what the festival is about, as follows:
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Odin: SO COMES THE SOULS'-DAY. SUMMON FOR FEASTING
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ANCESTORS, ANCIENTS, HONOURED AND BLESSED;
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LET IN BELOVED ONES, LEND THEM YOUR BODIES --
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WHOM DO YOU HALLOW? HAIL THEM BY NAME!
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Allow a few minutes for everybody to name the ancestor they want to
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welcome.
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Then Vala gives this admonition:
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Vala: AS ANCIENT ELDERS YOU LEARN FROM AND HONOUR,
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LET NOT THE LIVING ONES MOULDER ALONE.
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NEAR IS THEIR KNOWLEDGE NEARER THAN SPIRITS',
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SEEN WITHOUT CEREMONY, SIMPLY FOR ASKING.
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Both: GRANDMOTHERS, GRANDFATHERS, GREAT BE THEIR BLESSINGS
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PAST ONES AND PRESENT WE DANCE THEM ALL POWER!
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All the Celebrants but Heimdallr form a circle facing outward;
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Heimdallr goes to the West, and all say:
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WIDE ARE THE WORLDGATES; NOW THE WIGHTS WANDER.
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WELCOME WITHIN ARE THE DEAD WHO WERE OURS;
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REST FROM RIDING HERE, REVEL AND FEAST HERE;
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COME IN, OLD KINSFOLK, KEEPERS OF WISDOM!
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Heimdallr cuts the Soulers' Procession into the Circle on "Come in",
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and moves to stand with the other Celebrants while the Soulers dance
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slowly around singing:
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WELCOME WINTER, WANING SEASON,
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NOW WITH NIGHT THE NEW YEAR COMES;
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ALL WHO HONOUR ELDER KINSFOLK
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DANCE THE DEAD TO EARTHLY DRUMS.
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SOULS RESPECTED SAFEGUARD LIVING
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HOUSE WE'LL HOLD, AND HALLOW HEARTH;
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BLESSINGS BE ON THOSE WHO BIDE HERE,
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AND INDEED ON ALL THE EARTH!
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The Celebrants begin also to circle, dancing in character, starting
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widdershins then spiralling in and out to end deasil, as in the
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meeting dance, while the Soulers encourage the outer circle to dance
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also. The intent should be for luck in the new year, and better
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connection with our Ancestors (as well as better treatment of our
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Elders!). WE ARE THE OLD PEOPLE, and BLOOD OF THE ANCIENTS are
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appropriate and may be sung in polyphony...
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As the providers of food, FREYR and SKADI bring forward the feast.
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Some food should be laid out for the ancestors, and people should be
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encouraged to let the ancestors use their senses for a while to enjoy
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the food with them. The Soulers in particular should receive Soul
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Cakes. A strong magical gesture would be for people to bring forward
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canned and other non-perishable food (which can be later given to a
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food bank or similar organisation).
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Freyr speaks as follows:
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CAKES TO US CARRY, CORN FROM THE STOREHOUSE;
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WINE DEFIES WINTER, WARM WITH CAUGHT RIPENESS;
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MILK MADE TO CHEESES, MEAT DRIED AND SALTED;
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LAST OF THE LAND'S FRUITS ERE THE LONG SLEEP.
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Skadi speaks as follows:
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GOOD NUTS AND GAME-FOOD ARE HUNTERS' GUERDON;
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SLEEPING EARTH'S SECRETS YIELD TO THE SEEKER
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TRUE BURIED TREASURE: ONIONS, POTATOES
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FOREST SHALL FEED US WHILE THE FIELDS REST.
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Both say (if there is to be food donation):
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ALL WHO HAVE AUGHT TO OFFER, NOW BRING IT;
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WIGHTS, BEAR YE WITNESS WORK WITH THE GIVERS.
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FEEDING OUR FELLOWS, LET US BE FED SO,
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SOPS FOR THE SPIRIT OR SUP FOR THE FLESH.
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[If there is to be scrying and divination, it should be done now in
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a quiet space marked off as seperate from the feasting-place. FREYJA
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and HEIMDALLR lead the scrying and VALA and ODIN lead rune-work, with
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the following optional speeches:
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Heimdallr:
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LET THE LOTS TUMBLE, LOOSING THEIR LEARNING;
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WORD-WOOD AND WIT-STONES, WON THROUGH ORDEAL.
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COME UP AND CAST THEM, WHILE WORD IS CLEAREST
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AUGERS MAY ANSWER AUGHT THE YEAR HOLDS.
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Freyja: WIDE ARE THE WORLDGATES, WINDOWS ARE OPEN;
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SIGHTS MAY BE SEEN NOW, ELSETIMES BUT SCARCELY.
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CRYSTAL AND CAULDRON CAPTURE THE VISION;
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MYSTERY'S MEANING SPEAKS TO THE MINDFUL.]
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Note: it is entirely appropriate for partying to go on inside the
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sacred circle (people can get up and move around), so that the Dead
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have the opportunity to enjoy their day before we bid them farewell;
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the circle should be cast large, with this in mind. The only
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constraint is to open in sufficient time to clean up the hall before
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the rental time runs out. The circle is opened as follows:
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Heimdallr:
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TO WATCHING WINDS, WE WISH FAIR WANDERING;
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FAN US SWEET FRAGRANCE; HAIL, FAREWELL!
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ALL: TO SLEEPLESS SOULS, WE WISH SWEET RESTING;
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FRIENDS WILL KEEP FAITH; FAREWELL NOW!
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GODS AND GODDESSES, GO WITH PRAISES!
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FINISHED OUR FESTIVAL; HAIL, FAREWELL!
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Celebrants ground with this formula:
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AS FROM THE EARTH OUR ENERGY COMES,
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INTO THE EARTH THE EXCESS FLOWS;
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EARTH AND ALL EMPOWERED ALIKE
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BE IT SO!
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Skadi: SEE: THE CIRCLE IS SEVERED THUS [she cuts]
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MERRY MEET, MERRY PART, MERRY MEET AGAIN!
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
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------
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Here's Souler's song, my first attempt at 4-part ASCII notation.
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minor | ____ ____ | ____ |
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4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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o |
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4s 1 5 4 5 | 3 2 1 2 3 2 | 5 3 4 5 4 | 3 2
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1 |
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a 5 1 6 5 | 5 1 1 7# | 1 1 '6 5 6 | 5 5
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4 3 |
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t 3 3 2 2 | 1 3 4 5 5 | 5 '1 1 7# 1 | 1 7#
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1 |
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b 1 1 1 7# | 1 '6 5 5 | 3 6 '2 3 4 | 5 5
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1 |
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Welcome, Winter,| wan - ing season,|Now with night the |New Year
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comes.
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| ____ ____ | ____ |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | o
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1 5 4 5 | 3 2 1 2 3 2 | 5 3 4 5 4 | 3 2 1
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5 1 6 5 | 5 1 1 7# | 1 1 6 5 6 | 5 5 4 3
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3 3 2 2 | 1 3 4 5 5 | 5 1 1 7# 1 | 1 7# 1
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1 1 1 7#| 1 '6 5 5 | 3 6 '2 3 4 | 5 5 1
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All who honor|eld - er kinsfolk|Dance the dead to |earthly
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drums.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | o
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5 5 4 4 | 3 3 2 2 | 1 5 4 3 3 | 4 4 5
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7 7 7 7 6| 5 1 1 7# | 1 7# 1 1 | 1 1 7#
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3 3 3 2 | 1 3 5 5 | 3 5 5 5 | 1 2 1 2
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3 3 '7 7 | 1 1 5 5 | 6 5 1 1 7| 6 6 5
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Souls respected |safeguard living;|House we'll hold and |hallow
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hearth;
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____ | ____ | |
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5 3 2 3 4 | 5 5 4 3 2 | 2 2 3 3 |
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7= 7 7 7 | 7 7 1 7 | 7# 7# 1 1 |
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3 3 4 3 2 | 3 5 6 5 4 | 5 5 5 5 |
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'3 5 7 6 5 4 | 3 3' '6 7 | 5 5 1 1 |
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Blessings be on |those who bide here,|blessings be on|
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | o ||
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4 5 4 3 2 | 5 3 5 5 4 | 3 2 1 ||
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2 3 2 1 7# | 1 1 1 7# 1 | 1 7# 1 ||
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7= 7 6 5 5 | 5 1 6 5 6 | 5 5 4 3 ||
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7 '3 4 5 5 | 3 6 '2 3 4 | 5 5 '1 ||
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those who bide here,|And indeed on | all the Earth! ||
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Now, to further confuse you, here is some explanation:
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Where there are two notes under a single note, it means the lower
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part is singing eighths to the melody's quarters, and where there's
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one under two it's vice-versa. Remember that the = sign means
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"natural". I haven't marked the octaves because that would make the
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whole mess even more unintelligible than it its, except for giving an
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apostrophe before some notes to signify a leap down; otherwise assume
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that a leap of more than a 3rd is a leap up. There are no leaps
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greater than a fifth in SA, none greater than a 6th in T, and there
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is one octave leap in the bass which is a leap up (in other words, if
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it says "1 7", that's the 7 nearest the 1, not the one a 7th away. I
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marked the octave leap as " 3 3' ").
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The tune comes from a Welsh hymnal -- here's biblio info:
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Y LLAWLYFR MOLIANT NEWYDD. 1974: Ty Ilston, 94 Heol Mansel,
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Abertawe,
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Wales, UK. [that's ILSTON for those whose terminals make cap i
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look
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like small l. The tune is #323, "Alexander"]
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It might almost be easier to mail away to Wales for the tune than to
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figure out this stuff! People who are really confused and REALLY
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want the full score can write to me and I'll send them a xerox of the
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music.
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B*B
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Leigh Ann
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---
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* Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93)
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