The Core Order of Ritual is something that I utilize regularly in my practice, so I feel like it's important to dive into that ritual structure a little bit and share my understanding of each part, as well as giving an example of what that part of the ritual might look like. Today we continue our discussion by talking about (Re)Creating the Cosmos.
(Re)Creating the Cosmos is the process that ADF utilizes to create a sacred space, find our center, and raise power for our ritual. So let’s talk about the different pieces that make up this step.
First, the Cosmos! The Cosmos are the universe around us. In most Indo-European cultures, the Cosmos were viewed as some form of triad, which varied from place to place. In some cultures, such as Vedic and Celtic, the cosmology this was seen as the three worlds: Land, Sea, and Sky. In other cultures, like Greek, they instead identified three realms: Upper, Middle, and Lower realms. Norse mythology divides the cosmos into 9 realms.
The Sacred Center is the mystical space we create within our rituals to connect to each of these separate realms. We connect to the axis mundi, or the place where all the realms meet, and that places us direct in the center of all the cosmos. Within ADF rituals, we connect to this sacred center through gates, or portals, to the other realms. Most often this is represented as the Fire, Well, and Tree, but this may vary based on the culture you are working with.
To summarize, we center ourselves in the cosmos and then, by utilizing gates that connect to each realm, we (re)create the cosmos with our rite as the sacred center of the cosmos.
Sacred Fire, bright glow of the hearth flame, gateway to the Shining Ones, this is the center of the Cosmos. I kindle the sacred fire with care and comfort.
Sacred well, flowing waters of wisdom, gateway to the Ancestors, this is the center of the Cosmos. I stir the sacred well with inspiration and insight.
Sacred tree, connecting to both earth and sky, gateway to the Nature spirits, this is the center of the Cosmos. You are the path between all worlds.
Fire burns brightly toward the skies, the well flows deeply to the sea, the tree is rooted in the land, and here we stand in the sacred center.