Imbolc: Demeter’s Request

Imbolc: Demeter’s Request

Initiating the Rite

Light Hestia’s hearth candle and say:

I have come today to honor the Kindred, and to walk the cycle of the year, and explore the mysteries. Mighty Hestia, brighten this work with your fire.

Give offering to Hestia

Purification

Wash hands and face in bowl of water and center yourself for ritual.

Honoring the Earth Mother

Gaia, primal goddess of the world, great mother of all. You were the first to be born from Chaos
and from you all life has formed. With your name, we grow and change. Come forth and dwell in this space.

Give offering to Gaia

Statement of Purpose

While Demeter was searching for Persephone she took the form of an old woman.  She wandered through Greece until she came to the home of Celeus, the king of Eleusis in Attica.  He unknowingly welcomed Demeter into his home and his life was forever changed.  It is from this encounter that Celeus was instructed to build a great temple to Demeter.  It was in this temple that the Mysteries were born.  Today we are here to honor Celeus and his family, and their role in the Eleusian Mysteries.

(Re)Creating the Cosmos

Sacred well, waters of wisdom, connected to the rivers of the underworld, carry our words to the beloved dead.  Act as a gateway through which we can honor them.  Sacred well, accept our offering.

Give offering of silver

Sacred fire, burning inspiration, your smoke rising to the heavens high above, carry our words to the many gods.  Act as a gateway through which we can honor them.  Sacred fire, accept our offering.

Give offering of alcohol

Sacred center, mighty Omphalos, marking the center of all the worlds, carry our words to all the realms.  Act as a gateway through which we can honor the Kindred. Sacred center, accept our offering.

Give offering of oil

Opening the Gates

I call now to Hecate, goddess of magic. You who guard the crossroads and shine your lantern through the darkness.  You heard the cries of Persephone, and lead Demeter to Helios.  Tonight, we ask that you meet us at the boundary and guide our journey between the realms.  Come forth and dwell in this space.

Give offering of alcohol

Hecate, I ask that you aid me in opening the gates.  Let the fire, burning bright, open to Olympus.  Let the waters, flowing deep, open to Hades.  Let the Omphalos connect this realm with all others.  Hecate, join your magic with mine and let the gates be open.

Inviting the Three Kindreds

Ancestors, you who walked this world before me.  Heroes, friends, and family.  You helped bring my story into existence, so I remember your existence by telling your story.  Meet me at the boundary.  Welcome, Ancestors.

Give offering of apricots.

Nature Spirits, you who share this realm with us.  Dryads, fawns, and nymphs.  Rabbit, lizard, and squirrel.  You share this realm with us, both when we see you and often when we don’t.  Meet me at the boundary.  Welcome, Nature Spirits.

Give offering of bird seed.

Shining Ones, mighty Gods and Goddesses.  You who influence my path, and guide those I love on their own journeys.  You form this world and our experiences within it.  I ask you now to meet me at the boundary.  Welcome, Shining Ones.

Give offering of wine.

Key Offerings

We call now to Celeus, king of Eleusis.  Your kind heart gave Demeter hope as you welcomed her into your home.  It is the temple that you built to honor her that we work recreate today in our work.  Demeter taught you of the Mysteries at your temple, and as her priest you shared them with others.  These mysteries have survived through history, and today we honor you by sharing the tale of your encounters with Demeter.

Demeter met Celeus and his family on her journey to find Persephone.  She came to their home and was welcomed in and asked to act as a nanny for their newly born son, Demophon, even though they did not know who she was.  When she crossed the threshold of their home, she filled the doorway with a brilliant light and revealed who she was to them.  The family gave her a seat and made her a drink of meal, mint, and water, and asked that she still act as the nurse to the young boy and she agreed.  The child grew and Demeter raised him like an immortal, anointing him with ambrosia and caring for him.  Unknown to the baby’s parents, at night she would place the baby into the hearth fire to help make him immortal.  One night, Celeus’s wife, Metaneira, watched Demeter and saw her putting the boy into the fire and screamed.  Demeter was angry and pulled the boy from the fire and tossed him to the ground.  Demeter told Metaneira of the gift she had been trying to give her son, but that now the land of Eleusinians would no longer be blessed.  She said that the people must build her a great temple and altar beneath the city for her to teach her rites in order to regain her favor.  Then she left the home of Celeus to continue her search for Persephone.  While she was gone, the temple was built as she had instructed. 

Much later, after Persephone had returned from the underworld, Demeter and Persephone returned to Eleusis and met again with Celeus. Demeter was pleased by his efforts and the temple he had built, and she decided to make him one of her very first priests, the first to know of her Mysteries.  By the time she departed again from Eleusis, Celeus had become her priest and he soon began to share the Mysteries with others through initiation.  Demeter and Persephone left Eleusis with Celeus’s son Triptolemus after teaching him the skills of agriculture.  The three rode away together on a winged chariot to share this gift with all of Greece. 

So today, we honor Celeus and his family, and the gifts that they have brought to our lives.  Through his son, we gained the gift of agriculture.  Through this tale, we are reminded of the importance of hospitality.  Through the hard work and dedication of Celeus, a temple was built that became the home of the Mysteries.  And through the initiations that he did as a priest of Demeter, we gained the knowledge of these Mysteries.  Celeus, we ask you to join us at our hearth! Welcome, Celeus.    

Prayer of Sacrifice

Place bones and veggie scraps into the fire.

In the Homeric hymns, we read of Celeus’s encounter with Demeter.  In this story, she is given a drink made of meal and water with soft mint.  Tonight, we’ve recreated this drink and ask that all who join us here share it with us.  Accept this offering.

Take portion of sacred meal

Pour kykeon libations into the fire. 

To all who gather here, we give these gifts in love and respect.  Mighty Kindred, accept this offering.

Omen

Pull 3 stones from Greek Alphabet Oracle for omen

Calling/Hallowing/Affirming the Blessings

In the spirit of *ghosti, a gift calls for a gift. I’ve made my offerings to the Kindred, and in

return they bless these waters. As Celeus gave the gift of hospitality to Demeter, so she gave gifts to his family. Celeus, I ask bless these waters with clear thought and potential as we move through this day in balance.  Celeus, fill these waters with your positivity and your hospitality.  Let the blessings flow through you and into this cup.  Behold, the waters of life.

Drink from the cup

Working

Tonight, in celebration of spring and the gift of agriculture, I will be planting some flower seeds to try to grow them through the summer and into the cold winter. 

Thanking the Beings

Celeus, you who built the temple at Eleusis, we come today to honor you and continue your traditions.  May our work continue to please you.   Thank you for joining us in this rite.  Celeus, we honor you.

Shining Ones, mighty gods and goddesses, thank you for joining us at the boundary tonight.  May our work continue to please you.  Shining Ones, we thank you.

Nature Spirits, you who share this realm with us, thank you for joining us at the boundary tonight.  May our work continue to please you.  Nature spirits, we thank you.

Ancestors, you who walked this world before me, thank you for joining us at the boundary tonight.  May our work continue to please you.  Ancestors, we thank you.

Closing the Gates

I call once more to you, Hecate, magical goddess.  Thank you for guiding our journey tonight. May our work continue to please you.  Hecate, we thank you.

Hecate, before you depart, I ask that you once again join me in closing the gates.  Let the fire, burning bright, be just a flame.  Let the waters, flowing deep, be just water.  Let the Omphalos standing firm, be just a stone.  Hecate, join your magic with mine and let the gates be closed.

Thanking the Earth Mother

Gaia, primal goddess of the world, thank you for upholding this rite.  May our work continue to please you.  Gaia, we thank you.

Closing the Rite

We gathered here to honor the Kindred and walk the cycle of the year.  This rite has ended, but our exploration of the mysteries continue.  Mighty Hestia, though we extinguish this flame, let your fire burn within us all. 

Extinguish hearth candle

This rite is ended.