Twin Cities Pagan Pride 2014

Minnehaha Park

Minneapolis, Minnesota

People gather at bandshell.

Words of Welcome 

Pagan Pride Representative

Introduction to Ritual

Priest

Blowing of Horn(s)

Procession

Main procession, led by priest and drums, descends into caldera. (The mobility-impaired may choose to watch from the upper walls.) Priestess leads offering bearers and horn-blowers to gather on bridge above Falls. 

Call to Prayer

Priest (facing assembled people)

My brothers and sisters,

we have it from the ancestors,

and they from their ancestors,

that the avenues of communication

between ourselves and the gods

are most open

during the making of offerings;

so as the priestess,

on our behalf,

makes the threefold offering to the Falls,

I would invite you to lift up your hands

and to make your prayers

to whichever gods

your people make their prayers to.

And so we begin.

(Faces Falls. Covers head.)

Blowing of Horns

People intone 

Assisted by offering-bearers, the priestess, from above the Falls, makes the Three Offerings. Each Offering is made in three parts. She and the priest make the same prayers.

First Offering (libations)

Priest and priestess pray for Life for the People

Second Offering (meal)

Priest and priestess pray for Food for the People

Third Offering (flowers, wreaths)

Priest and priestess pray for Beauty for the People

(Priest faces people and leads hymn, call-and-response style.)

Hymn (all) People of the Waters

O People of the Waters, come to me,

the Maiden Water is calling.

O Maiden Water, O Maiden Water,

your people hear your calling.

O People of the Waters, come to me,

the Dancing Water is calling.

O Dancing Water, O Dancing Water,

your people hear your calling.

O People of the Waters, come to me,

the Laughing Water is calling.

O Laughing Water, O Laughing Water,

your people hear your calling.

Closing

Priest

My brothers and sisters, our rite is ended. 

Let us now, each one of us, go forth

to do our own proper work in the world,

and may the blessing of the Waters

for life, sustenance, and inspiration

be upon you and upon all our people,

and let us all say: 

All

So mote it be.

Blowing of horn(s)

(Priest uncovers head.)

Procession, led by priest and drums, ascends from caldera.

This ritual was created for the Twin Cities Pagan Pride celebration in 2011, and has been performed annually since then.