5 Tiers of Ritual

5 Tiers of Ritual

Earrach of Pittsburgh broke down the ADF Core Order of Ritual into 5 tiers to help understand the flow of the energy within the rite. It also helps group the parts on ritual into more managable chunks when you are planning or leading a rite. The picture below shows how the energy moves up from the opening to the apex of the rite, and then back down again.

the five tiers of ritual broken down into a triangle shape. tiers one and two slop up to three three, which is the apex, and tiers four and five slope back down to the bottom. Text descriptions of what is included in each tier follows below this image.

Tier 1

This is the set up for the rite, where the initial spirts are called and the group mind is established.

1. Initiating the Rite

2. Purification

3. Honoring the Earth Mother

4. Statement of Purpose

Tier 2

This is the portion of the ritual where the energy is building as we align the Realms and make offerings to the Spirits.

5. Recreating the Cosmos

6. Opening the Gates

7. Inviting the Three Kindreds

Tier 3

This is the climax of the ritual where we call to the Being of the Occassion, make our final sacrifices, and take and Omen. This series of steps is often called the "hinge" of the rite.

8. Key Offerings

9. Prayer of Sacrifice

10. Omen

Tier 4

Up to this point we have built up energy within the rite. Now we begin to use it to do the work of the rite.

11. Calling for the Blessing

12. Hallowing the Blessing

13. Affirmation of the Blessing

14. Workings (if any)

Tier 5

This is the point in the rite where the energy is beign to wind down. We are thanking those we have called and returning things to the ordinary.

15. Thanking the Beings

16. Closing the Gates

17. Thanking the Earth Mother

18. Closing the Rite

Rational for the 5 Tiers

Earrach grouped the 18 steps into these tiers to emphazie its intensity over time and its symmetry. These are the minimum steps necessary to have a public ritual be considered an ADF Rite. There are others steps that can be added in if desired, and many variations of performing the steps that are required.