Sacred Practice
Rituals & Prayer
Every one of our congregants has the power and ability to make and perform their own rituals. Let them be simple and true for all time — we do not want the true meaning of these rites to be lost in showmanship.
Words to the Divine
Prayers
Prayer is one of the simple ways that we as congregants can talk to and reach out to the Gods. Prayer can be a deeply personal act, and as such we don't have any specific rules or "canonized" prayers. However, if you are looking for a place to get started, you can use the below prayers as a template to create your own.
Prayer for the Sick
Caith,
She who is sacred among healers. She who is the mercy upon the sick. Noble Lady, whose art is the sum of all medicine and whose tools are those most skillful physicians.
I ask that you aid in the healing of [insert name]. May sickness flee from them and that their strength and health return quickly. May your hands work with care and compassion and your mercy be delivered upon them.
We thank you, oh Noble Lady, and trust that by the skill of your art and the mercy in your heart, it shall be so.
Prayer for the Dying
Zani,
Great God of Life and Death. You who is both the beginning and the end. Great one, who is there at our birth, who walks the road of life with us and cradles us in our last moments.
I/we ask that you help guide [insert name] to the Other World. They have walked as far as they can… Their hands have felt the warmth of the world, their eyes have seen wonders, their ears have heard joy. But now, their feet are tired… Their hands have lost their strength, their eyes look towards the horizon, and their ears hear your call…
(Lines can be amended to better fit the individual and circumstances)
Though we grieve and do not want you to take [insert name] away from us, we know that it is their time. Grant them peace in these final moments, grant them an easy passing and show them the way to the Other World… And when it is our time, may you reunite us in eternity.
[Insert name], Rest and be at peace…
Zani, though our hearts are heavy with grief, we thank you, and give you leave to tend to the beloved soul that we leave in your charge. As it was with our first breath, so it is with our last.
Sacred Rites
Rituals of the Neo Paganus
Welcoming Rite
In the welcoming rite, a person that has decided to follow the Neo Paganus will perform a prayer that invites the Gods into the life and home of the new follower.
"Neo Paganus, I welcome you into my life and my home. Assa, Raok, Asok, Halvern, Janir, Sephena, Caith, Sham & Rei, Kyreen, Orphit, Karasmos, Barnir, Polmanis, Ulphen, Mahena, Nar, Kenat and Zani… I welcome each and every one of you into this space and ask for your guidance and help, now and in the future.
"To the Eara, spirits of the earth, I honor you and acknowledge your presence. To the Hyra, eternal divine spirits, I honor you and welcome your divine messages. To the Sonra, honored ancestors and familial spirits, I honor you and beseech your wisdom and protection. To the Amra, I acknowledge and respect you, but do not dare darken my door.
Gods, Spirits and ancestors, be here with me, now and always. Honor me and I shall honor you all in turn. Welcome and may we all grow together."
Opening Rite
The Priest/Priestess rings a bell to let everyone know to take their seats or join the circle. They ring the bell again to dispel any Amra or malevolencies. Upon the third ringing, all raise their hands upward in front of themselves and speak the opening rite together.
"As we gather, we ask the spirits of the Earth to join us. We ask those who have passed into the Other World to sit beside us. We ask that the Gods hear our calls and prayers. May we find harmony and balance within ourselves and all things and may each of us continue to strive to do more good in our world, than we do harm."
Closing Rite
The Priest/Priestess will ask the other congregants to raise their hands as they did before and together will speak the closing rite. The Priest/Priestess will ring the bell three times — once to send off the Gods and Spirits, once for our ancestors and again for ourselves.
"As we part, we bid farewell to the spirits of the Earth. We send our love with those that joined us here from the Other World. We thank the Gods for their Guidance and direction. May we continue to live in balance and harmony with this world and each other. And may we welcome each other back to this sacred place upon our next meeting. Gods and spirits walk beside you until then."
Sacred Bonding
Wedding Rites
Performing a wedding, handfasting, bonding or whatever your temple chooses to call it, is one of the greatest privileges of our priesthood. What could be more rewarding than helping two (or more) people that love each other celebrate that love with a public declaration and ritual? Below is a sample script — feel free to change whatever you need in order to honor the couple and their beliefs.
Officiant
Family, friends, noble spirits, honored Gods. We thank you all for joining us. Today, we have the pleasure and privilege of bearing witness to these two (or more) souls, who have decided to be joined in marriage. By being here we have chosen to show not only our support, but our love for this couple, and as such, they are protected and strengthened by that love and support.
Kenat, Great Binder, we invoke you in this sacred time. Guide these souls as you have guided many others. Bind them in that most sacred way that you did bind Sephena and Janir. May your purpose and joy both guide and inspire them to be the best that they can be together. Noble spirits, Eara, Yamra, Hyra and Sonra… We ask that you grant your blessings to this couple. Protect them in this sacred space and during this sacred time. And should there be any Amra here, we cast you out! You will find no doubts or malice here to cling to and we send you back to the dark that spawned you.
First Binding
Will the cord bearer step forward? In ancient times as well as now, the binding of one's hands together with cord was a symbol. It is a symbol of two paths converging into one. A symbol of two lives being woven together that they might be stronger than they were before. [Couples' names] please take each other's hands.
Do you both swear to each other and before all those present, that you bind yourselves together without doubt and without coercion? That you are choosing to be bound together, from this day forward, in love and understanding? (Couple says they do) Then with your declaration of certainty, love and understanding, I make the first binding.
Second Binding
Do the two of you acknowledge that while you become one this day, you also remain true to yourselves and that your differences will be met with compassion and care? That any harsh words that you may share, will find apology and reciprocity? That when times are at their worst, you will be each other's guide and comfort? (Couple says they do) Then with your declarations of unity, admittance of wrong doings, guidance and comfort, I make the second binding.
Final Binding
Do the two of you swear to be each other's mercy in sickness and sadness? That you will bring joy to one another, even when the days are hard? That should you be faced with hardships in this life, that you will not abandon one another? That honesty, above all else, will be the words you speak to one another? (Couple says they do) Then with your declarations of mercy, joy, commitment and honesty, I make the final binding. (Cord is knotted)
Gods of old and new, noble spirits and all those who have come to bear witness. It is my privilege and my pleasure to declare that [couples' names] are bound together. May you be blessed this day and all those that follow! You may now kiss for the first time as lawfully wedded spouses!
A portion of the wedding meal and any flora used in bridal bouquet or decorations may be offered to the gods by the couple in thanks for their blessings.
Accountability
Transgressions & Atonement
Unforgivable Transgressions
These transgressions will see you stripped of your status as a member of our community. You will no longer be able to attend our rituals or temple services.
- •Physical, mental or sexual abuse of any child, adult, animal or deceased person.
- •Murder (waived only in self defense or the protection of others) and torture of a person.
- •Killing and torture of an animal (killing of livestock or hunted animals with the intention of eating and using its pelts and bones is permitted, so long as it is done without malice and with respect).
- •Desecration of graves, graveyards, tombs and sacred spaces regardless of area or denomination.
- •Theft born of greed or coveting. (Theft of food when starving can be atoned for.)
- •Sale and distribution of illegal and dangerous narcotics.
Atoneable Transgressions
Our religion is based on respect but also owning up to our mistakes. Atonement is based on what the transgression was. Until atonement is completed, they will not be welcomed within the Temple or at any of our events and rituals.
- •Lies, slander and spreading of misinformation.
- •Bigotry and Misogyny of any kind.
- •Disrespect of person, animal, place or nature (including but not limited to vandalism).
- •Public intoxication resulting in damage or bodily harm.
Atonement is not intended to be humiliation, but rather a chance to learn and grow away from the ignorance that led us to the atonement in the first place. By doing this, we can share our journey and hopefully prevent such things from happening in the future.
In the end, we all reap what we have sown. Our only hope is that we do more good in this life than we do harm and that what awaits us in the Other World reflects that.
Walk in Truth
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