Hallowing the Home Shrine

• The householder must gather water from three sources. If possible this should include consecrated Wells, but any clean, natural source will do. The Three Waters should be combined, and kept ready in a bottle or jug. She must also gather three sacred woods. The strongest choices might be Oak, Rowan and Hazel, though the householder may choose as she will. The amount of wood need only be enough for a small fire in the Tinteann, that has been chosen for the Shrine. If the Shrine is a small table, and the Tinteann candles and a censer, then the woods may be rendered into small shavings or even powder. If you wish, you may make a ‘kindling incense’, thus:

Duile Incense

• 3 Herbs

Vervain - 1 part; Mistletoe - 1 pt; Mugwort - 1 pt

• 3 Flowers

Rose - 2 pts; Saffron - 2 pts; Lavendar - 2 pts;

• 3 Woods

Oak

Rowan - combine the 3 into 1 pt

Hazel

File or grind the wood to powder, and be certain that it is very dry. Pound all together with orris root and moisten it with rose and lavender oils.

• The Householder must prepare his Shrine. The central feature of the Shrine should be a set of simple Hallows. A water-cauldron (the Coire Tobar), a ‘hearth’ (Tinteann) that might allow a tiny open fire, or candles and a censer, and a small pillar or stone to stand as the World-Tree or –Mountain make up the Home Hallows. No other items are mandatory for a basic Shrine, but you may wish to add a cloth to cover the table, extra illumination, bowls to hold offerings, a bell or chime and, of course, images or tokens of the Gods and Spirits. Such tokens can be placed even on a new Shrine, before you have built personal alliances with the Kindreds.

            As you prepare for the Rite, the Coire and Tinteann will be empty. You will bring your Triple Water and Sacred Fire in simple bowls, to be transferred onto the Shrine. If possible, you should try to fetch a spark from some already hallowed Fire to light your own. One simple way to do this is to light a stick of incense from a Sacred Fire, and keep transferring it to another stick (perhaps using matches) until you can get it home to a candle or Tineann.

• When you have gathered all of these things, bring them to the place where you will make your Shrine. Set up the table with its cloth. If possible arrange the Shrine so that you are facing east, with the Hallows in the center before you. Arrange any other items as you wish. The Water is to one side in a bowl, the Coire empty. The Fire is prepared in the new Tinteann, but not yet lit. If you have brought a spark from another Fire, it is to one side in a small candle or incense stick. Arrange a seat before the Shrine that allows you to easily reach all the tools of the rite.

The Working

• Settle yourself in your seat, begin a breathing pattern, and work the Two Powers as your skill allows, perhaps using the Kindling Charm. If you like, ring a bell nine times to signal the formal opening of the rite.

• Give the Opening Invocation:

The world is in me,

And I am in the world

The spirit in me is the spirit in the world

By Eye and by Hand and by Tongue

My will is the will of the world.

And this is my will, to make these things a Shrine of Druidry, a seat of wisdom, my own Hearth, and the Well of the Spirit. Biodh se amhlaidh!

• Take up the bowl of the Triple Water and sprinkle the Shrine and each of the tools, as you say:

By the holy Power of the Deep; The Waters of the Dark, the secret Well,

Be free of every ill or every bane; Washed clean by magic’s might, as I do will.

• Take up the incense, or light incense from the flame, and pass each object through its smoke, saying:

By the shining Power of the Sky; The Fire of Druidry, the Heaven’s Light

Let every ill or bane now flee away; By my word and will, and magic’s might.

• End the cleansing, saying:

By the might of the Waters and the Light of the Fire

Be you cleansed and blessed! Be you made whole and holy!

By my word and by my will, so be it!

•Take up the bowl of water, and pour the water into the Tobar while speaking a proper briocht, such as:

O Cauldron of the Deep Power, I bring you into my service, and place you in my Shrine. I set you in the Center to be a part of the Sacred Center, and I charge you:

You are the gate of the earth

The deep way, the holy mouth

Anu’s cunny

Chorus: By the ladies of waters

            By the lords of waters

            By the powers under the earth

            I thank you for the sacred waters.

You are the eye of the earth

Mirror of seeing, gate of visions

Spring of wisdom (repeat chorus)

You are the mouth of the earth

Sustainer of life, receiver of gifts

Giver of blessings (repeat chorus)

•Using a candle, transfer fire into the Tintean, speak as is proper, perhaps:

O Hearth of the Power of Fire, I bring you into my service, and place you in my Shrine. I set you in the Center to be a part of the Sacred Center, and I charge you:

I kindle the sacred fire

In the presence of the shining ones

In the presence of the gods of fire

In the presence of the goddesses of fire

Without malice, without envy,

Without jealousy, without fear,

Without terror of anything under the sun

And the holy son of the mother to shield me.

Oh sacrificed and sacrificer

Kindle you in our hearts

A flame of wit and heart and strength

To bear my offerings and my words

To the gods, the dead and the sidhe

Oh you who aid us all

Friend and foe, high and low

I call you to be in this Hearth

And bring to me your blessing.

• Place the Tree or Stone in its place between the Fire and Well, and conjure it with a proper briocht, such as:

O Pillar of the Temple, I bring you into my service, and place you in my Shrine. I set you in the Center to be a part of the Sacred Center, and I charge you:

Rooted deep within the land, Crowned above the sky

The tree is planted in my soul, To grow between the worlds.

Bile I name you, as of old, Center of All Things

Boundary of boundaries, Hold fast my work, my soul, my Grove

•Take a moment to contemplate the whole symbol of the Three Hallows together, and say:

The Fire, the Well, the Sacred Tree, Flow and flame and grow in me

In Land, Sea and Sky, below and on high, Thus are these Hallows claimed and hallowed!

• Take up the Tobar and sprinkle the four corners of the Shrine-table, saying:

What was cleansed, now let it be filled. Oh Shrine of my Druidry, receive the Dark Strength of the Underworld. Be you the soil in which the seed of my spirit grows.

• Cense the four corners of the Shrine-table with incense lit from the Fire, saying:

What is cool, now let it be warmed. O Shrine of my Druidry, receive the bright power of the heavens. Be you the sun that brings my spirit to fruit.

• Replace all in their proper places on the Shrine. Strengthen the Two Powers in yourself, and charge the whole Shrine again, saying:

Mighty, Noble and Shining Ones

Here is my Shrine.

Let it be a Seat of Power, and Ark of Wisdom,

A Font of Love between myself and the Gods and Spirits.

Let it grow as I grow, change as I change,

As I speak with the Spirits, and they with me.

Let the Fire be bright in it

Let the Waters be deep in it

As I walk my Path.

So be it!

• Renew your peace and center one final time, and say:

The Fire, the Well, the Sacred Tree

Flow and flame and grow in me

I give thanks to all beings who have witnessed or aided in this work,

And declare this rite ended.

So be it!