Noumenia ritual for the new year

As mentioned a few days ago, I am going to hold a Practicing Apart Together ritual for the Noumenia today, which will at least be joined by one of my dear friends in the United States. I figured some of the readers of this blog might also appreciate reading how I perform this rite, and join in if they so desire. This is the ritual we will be doing at 3:30 PM my time (CEST). Note, that I will have laid everything out and lit the fire--I will be constructing a temporary outside altar for the occasion--beforehand.

• Procession to the shrine
• Strewing of barley groats on the altar
• Preparation of khernips
• Ritual washing with invocation to Okeanos

"Okeanos whose nature ever flows, from whom at first both Gods and men arose; sire incorruptible, whose waves surround, and earth’s all-terminating circle bound: hence every river, hence the spreading sea, and earth’s pure bubbling fountains spring from thee. Hear, mighty sire, for boundless bliss is thine, greatest cathartic of the powers divine : earth’s friendly limit, fountain of the pole, whose waves wide spreading and circumfluent roll. Approach benevolent, with placid mind, and be forever to thy mystics kind."

• Purification – water sprinkled from a bay branch

"Blessed Okeanos, may your bright waters purify this space, and prepare both me, and it, for the rites that are about to unfold."

• Homeric Hymn 24 to Hestia

"Blessed Goddess Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollon, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise—draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song."

• Libation of honey sweet wine to Hestia
• Sacrifice of Frankincense and honey
• Invocation to Apollon Noumenios
• Homeric Hymns 21 to Apollon

Phoebus, of you even the swan sings with clear voice to the beating of his wings, as he alights upon the bank by the eddying river Peneus; and of you the sweet-tongued minstrel, holding his high-pitched lyre, always sings both first and last. And so hail to you, lord! I seek your favor with my song.

• Offering of honey cake and libation of wine to Apollon Noumenios
• Invocation of Selene, Titan Goddess of the moon
• Homeric Hymn 32 to Selene

And next, sweet voiced Muses, daughters of Zeus, well-skilled in song, tell of the long-winged Moon. From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; and great is the beauty that ariseth from her shining light. The air, unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown, and her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her strong-necked, shining team, drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full and then her beams shine brightest as she increases. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men.

Once the Son of Cronos was joined with her in love; and she conceived and bare a daughter Pandia, exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods. Hail, white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen! And now I will leave you and sing the glories of men half-divine, whose deeds minstrels, the servants of the Muses, celebrate with lovely lips.

• Libation and offering of honey to Selene
• Invocation to Zeus Ktesios, Zeus Herkios, Zeus Teleios, and Zeus Soter
• Homeric Hymn 23 + part of Callimachus hymn 1

"Of Zeus, best and greatest of the gods, I will sing, the wide-sounding ruler, the one that brings to fulfillment, who consults closely with Themis as she sits leaning against him. Be favorable, wide-sounding son of Kronos, greatest and most glorious."

"Hail! Greatly hail! Most high Son of Kronus, giver of good things, giver of safety. Thy works who could sing? There hath not been, there shall not be, who shall sing the works of Zeus. Hail! Father, hail again! And grant us goodness and prosperity. Without goodness wealth cannot bless men, nor goodness without prosperity. Give us goodness and wealth."

• Libation of honey sweet wine and sacrifice of Storax
• Prayer to Agathós Daímōn
• Magic Papyri - Poimandres

"May I have every grace, all accomplishment, for with Thee is the bringer of good, the messenger standing by the side of Tyche."

• Libation of wine to Agathós Daímōn
• Invocation to Hera Teleia
• Homeric Hymn 12 to Hera

"Of Hera I sing, the golden-throned, whom Rhea bore to be queen of the immortals, of supreme beauty, sister and wife of Zeus the loud-booming; glorious one, whom all of the blessed ones on long Olympus revere and honor no less than Zeus whose sport is the thunderbolt."

• Offering of wine and honey to Hera Teleia
• Invocation to Hermes
• Homeric Hymn 18 to Hermes

"I sing of Cyllenian Hermes, the Slayer of Argus, lord of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, luck-bringing messenger of the deathless gods.  He was born of Maia, the daughter of Atlas, when she had mated with Zeus, – a shy goddess she.  Ever she avoided the throng of the blessed gods and lived in a shadowy cave, and there the Son of Cronos used to lie with the rich-tressed nymph at dead of night, while white-armed Hera lay bound in sweet sleep: and neither deathless god nor mortal man knew it.And so hail to you, Son of Zeus and Maia; with you I have begun: now I will turn to another song! Hail, Hermes, giver of grace, guide, and giver of good things!"

• Libation of wine and offering of honey to Hermes
• Invocation to Artemis
• Part of Homeric Hymn 27 to Artemis

"I sing of Artemis with shafts are of gold, strong-voiced, the revered virgin, dear-shooting, delighter in arrows, own sister to Apollon of the golden sword. Over the shadowy hills and windy peaks she draws her golden bow, rejoicing in the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. Hail to you, children of Zeus and rich-haired Leto! And now I will remember you and another song also."

• Libation of wine and offering of honey to Artemis
• Invocation to Athena Soteira
• Homeric Hymn 11 to Athena

"Of Pallas Athena, guardian of the city, I begin to sing. Dread is she, and with Ares she loves the deeds of war, the sack of cities and the shouting and the battle. It is she who saves the people as they go to war and come back. Hail, goddess, and give us good fortune and happiness!"

• Libation of wine and offering of honey to Athena Soteira
• Invocation of all the Gods
• Aeschylus – Libation Bearers – Chorus (adapted)

"Then may blessings go with you, and may the gods watch benevolently over you and guard you with favorable fortunes!"

• Libation of wine and honey to all the Gods with prayers
• Invocation to Hestia

"Blessed Goddess Hestia, Goddess of home and hearth. To you, I offer last of all, as a pious mortal should. Tend to those whom I love, and guard the houses of the pious. As the Gods will it, so shall it be."

• Extinguishing of the fire (if so desired)