A Pagan Ritual Prayer Book (29 page)

• We have raised this child to be a worthy [man/woman],
  

  one who accepts responsibilities acquired.
  

   
  

  We have raised this child to be a worthy [man/woman]
  

   
  

• Look upon the deities of your home one last time. [pause]
  

  Don't worry, this isn't really the last time.
  

   
  

  For the rest of your life you will often return to them.
  

   
  

  But it will be different; it will be as if returning to a home you once lived in,
  

   
  

  feeling welcomed, and enjoying the memories,
  

   
  

  but knowing it is not really yours anymore.
  

   
  

  Offer this last time to the deities of that time, thanking them for what they have done for you.
  

   
  

  [offering]
  

   
  

  They won't all be staying. Many will come with you, even though your relationship will change. Offer to them and invite them to come along.
  

   
  

  [offering]
  

   
  

  Turn away toward your future now.
  

   
  

  There is a threshold in front of you. No matter what, and no matter when, you will have to cross it.
  

   
  

  The question is, will you be dragged, or will it be willingly?
  

   
  

  If it is willingly, offer to the god of the threshold, and then step across boldly, with your right foot, to enter a new life rightly.
  

   
  

• No one asked you if you wanted to grow up:
  

  Nature forced you.
  

   
  

  But now, each day you will choose how to fulfill this new-acquired responsibility.
  

   
  

  Don't blame Nature, but thank Her, for the unimaginable gift She's forced on you,
  

   
  

  the gift of something to match yourself against,
  

   
  

  the gift of a challenge to meet.
  

   
  

  Relax, though; I know you can do it.
  

   
  

• I went over the top first, to clear the way for you.
  

  I yelled, “Follow me!” and you did.
  

   
  

  You've followed me long enough:
  

   
  

  go on ahead.
  

   
  

  It's as safe as it's going to be.
  

   
  

  I'll watch your back, I'll be covering you.
  

   
  

  It's as safe as it's going to be.
  

   
  

  Go on ahead with my blessing promise.
  

   
  

• [name], look into her eyes.
  

  [name], look into his.
  

   
  

  From the beginning of humanity Man has looked into Woman's eyes,
  

   
  

  and Woman has looked into Man's,
  

   
  

  and seen the same thing.
  

   
  

  Each of you look carefully into each others' eyes today,
  

   
  

  and each day that you live see what you see today
  

   
  

  and what has always been there since the beginning.
  

   
  

• You might think that you've come here as individuals, but hoping to be made one.
  

  And so, if your vows are true, you will be.
  

   
  

  But you aren't just individuals:
  

   
  

  you are every man and woman.
  

   
  

  So when you become one, every man and woman are made one,
  

   
  

  and those watching here aren't just present because they love you,
  

   
  

  but as representatives of all men and of all women.
  

   
  

  In your becoming one, they are made one.
  

   
  

  This day is yours, but not yours alone,
  

   
  

  it belongs to all humanity, living and dead.
  

   
  

  Don't think that this makes you less important:
  

   
  

  it makes you more.
  

   
  

  You are individuals, and nothing is taken from that.
  

   
  

  Your love, and your need to be married, are admired by everyone here;
  

   
  

  and everyone here is grateful to you as well;
  

   
  

  to you as individuals,
  

   
  

  willing, by your love today, to join all humanity together,
  

   
  

  in the eternally renewing and mysterious unity that is our species.
  

   
  

• Join hands,
  

  Join hearts,
  

   
  

  Join lives,
  

   
  

  Join voices in prayer with those who love you,
  

   
  

  gathered here on this happy day.
  

   
  

The God and Goddess:

• God and Goddess, Husband and Wife:
  

  May this marriage be strong.
  

   
  

  May this marriage be long-lasting.
  

   
  

  May this marriage be productive.
  

   
  

  May this love be true and truly made,
  

   
  

  as is yours, Eternal Lovers,
  

   
  

  Goddess and God.
  

   
  

• As the God and Goddess you join together:
  

  two to each other, and one to all who see you,
  

   
  

  and in the life you will live,
  

   
  

  you, joining together in our witness today.
  

   
  

• May I enter the Great Dark with eyes open,
  

  the Great Silence, singing.
  

   
  

• There will be a time, Old Woman,
  

  when I will see your face, Old Woman,
  

   
  

  at the right time, Old Woman,
  

   
  

  and not before.
  

   
  

  [pause]
  

   
  

  And then, Old Woman, I will likely be terrified.
  

   
  

  All change is frightening,
  

   
  

  so the greatest change of all must be the most frightening of all.
  

   
  

  More terrifying still is that you
  know
  .
  

   
  

  You know the terror you will bring, but you still come.
  

   
  

  How cruel can you be?
  

   
  

  But most terrifying of all is what I will see in your face:
  

   
  

  love.
  

   
  

  You come bringing terror and love.
  

   
  

  True compassion might mean death.
  

   
  

  [pause]
  

   
  

  So I ask you now, Old Woman,
  

   
  

  when I am not looking in your eyes, Old Woman,
  

   
  

  that when the time comes, Old Woman,
  

   
  

  I might see beyond the terror into your love.
  

   
  

  Old Woman.
  

   
  

• The stubborn leaves of oaks cling to their branches,
  

  until their successors are ready to open green.
  

   
  

  Death, for my children's sake,
  

   
  

  give me more time,
  

   
  

  until I am no longer needed,
  

   
  

  and then take me, willing;
  

   
  

  gladly I'll go with you then,
  

   
  

  to rest after long work.
  

   
  

  But for now I am needed here.
  

   
  

• When it is right for me to enter your kingdom,
  

  Lord of Death, Gatherer of Souls,
  

   
  

  May I go gently.
  

   
  

  May I be a leaf dropping from a tree.
  

   
  

  May I be a snowflake falling from the clouds.
  

   
  

  May I be a drop of dew drying in the light of dawn.
  

   
  

  Like opening my hands, like letting go,
  

   
  

  Like one final gift:
  

   
  

  May it be like that.
  

   
  

• May your soul take a soft-footed journey,
  

  on a soft-floored path through the old forest
  

   
  

  to the Land of Comfort,
  

   
  

  where the only tears are the drops of rain falling from leaves,
  

   
  

  the only moaning deep ocean swells,
  

   
  

  the only sighing light evening breezes.
  

   
  

  Rest in that land, with the peace you have earned.
  

   
  

For this prayer, trace a circle on the corpse's forehead with a paste made from wet powdered red chalk:

• I anoint you with the red of blood: may the blood of life return to you in that other world.
  

  I anoint you with the wet: may the suppleness of water return to you in that other world.
  

   
  

  I anoint you with the sun: may the warmth of the sun return to you in that other world.
  

   
  

  I anoint you with a red, moist sun: may life return to you in that other world.
  

   
  

• To the person who has died, we say:
  

  “Peace between us; go on your way with our blessings.”
  

   
  

  To those who have come here for farewells, we say:
  

   
  

  “Peace among us; may we live blessed together.”
  

   
  

• In the Shining Land,
  

  lit and warmed by the sacrificial fires,
  

   
  

  around the sea that teems with life,
  

   
  

  all the Ancestors, wise and loving,
  

   
  

  wait, patiently but expectantly,
  

   
  

  for your arrival.
  

   
  

  They will greet you, their friend,
  

   
  

  and among all those who have come to that place,
  

   
  

  you will live, and rest,
  

   
  

  until the time comes for once again taking up a body.
  

   
  

  You know the pain of life, you have suffered the pain of death,
  

   
  

  and you know the joy of life, the love and beauty,
  

   
  

  and even the wondering in awe before the storms you've faced.
  

   
  

  With the farewells of those you have lived among,
  

   
  

  Under the blessing of the Lord of that land,
  

   
  

  By the unfailing direction of the Guide who brought you there:
  

   
  

  return among the people of the earth,
  

   
  

  once again bringing happiness.
  

   
  

• His boat's keel scrapes on the beach's shingle.
  

  Leaping from the prow, he is home,
  

   
  

  finally home,
  

   
  

  where his life began and where it will begin again.