Over the last few--well, months actually--I've felt a pull towards Frigg. Vestia have stepped back and She has stepped forward. Especially this year. This month, Frigg told me to write Her a ritual. I started working on it today. I thought about doing it for Feb 1st, but decided to let someone else do that High Day. I focus on all of my Hearth Mothers and Spirits for Midwinter, not just on Brigit--not that there's anything wrong with that. Feb 1st isn't just for the Hearth Cultures with Brigit.
For some reason I'm also really looking forward to Midwinter this year, and I don't know why. Just gonna let it ride, let it flow.
Feeling that hearthfire in February, I wanted to honor Her sometime next month. I let Frigg pick the day--on Feb 17th, I'll be honoring the All- and Hearth Mother for Virtual Fire Proto-Grove. I got stumped on the Being of the Occasion part, where I actually invite the deity, because I described Her already in the beginning of the ritual. So I was going through my prayer and Norse books for inspiration. If I don't come with up something, I usually use prayers from someone else. This time, because I am in the Clergy Program and will have to write some of my own prayers, I was thinking about giving it a go.
I have written my own prayers before, it just takes me awhile to develop them, which is probably true with others. Wanting to make sure it sounds right.............then overthinking it.
Also I'm not into lots of flowery language. Despite that I'm a rambling blogger and talker, but I'm very much a "get to the point" person when it comes to prayers and rituals. Also just reading stuff aloud isn't my strong point because of my learning disabilities, stutters, and ADHD. That first rough draft is usually wordy...until drafts later when I read it aloud...and cut a bunch out. Looks good on paper, though.
I'm not the best writer, but I don't let that stop me. I love writing fanfiction, my pagan children stories, and rituals. All of which I get too much inside of my own head with. Well, not the fanfiction, only because that horrid cringey writing is private and purely just for fun. Well, and to explore ideas, theories, scenarios, and shadow work. Still...cringey ass fanfiction is on lockdown.
But if I want to get good with writing prayers, I just gotta practice. I'm also not going to put a lot of pressure on myself to produce something. I also have to think about the Working part of the ritual. So far, it's a guided meditation, where we're going to meet a Great Blue Heron, follow some yard cords, and meet Frigg. I don't know what if there should be a focus or not? Like creating, hearth, healing, magik, divination, love...or just take attendees to Frigg and let Her pick? Although as the date gets closer, She may give me direction.
I have a bad habit of cramming too much into my rituals and thus losing that connection as a bridge between the audience and the divine. I've been working on it--I do have that "too much gene" afterall. I'm aware of the info-dumping, it's not as bad as it used to be, but my rituals still need a lot of work. And so I practice.
Last year I signed up for 3 High Day Rituals for Virtual Fire (Honeysweet, Persephone's Descent, Reindeer Mother). This year, I've signed up for three non-High Days:
- Feb 17th - Hearth Mother Frigg
- Mar 31 - Trickster's Day
- June 9 - Vestalia
Either way, this process is bringing Frigg and I closer. Hearth Mothers tend to be very grounding, despite that fire--it's controlled fire, though. My inspiration can get out of control, leading to unfocused word messes. Hearth Deities can teach you how to harness that fire. Contain it. Keep it from burning your food and home.
Maybe that's what I should be focusing on for my Frigg ritual? The world is on fire, but it doesn't have to be out of control. The hearthfire is a tool, not a weapon of mass destruction.
Hm.
Face to the Sun.
Trust in Joy.
Follow the Bees...
- Priestess Foxlyn