A Sample Rite With Liturgy In Anglo-Saxon
courtesy of Miercinga Þéod

1) The Níedfyr - The Níedfyr or "Need Fire" is the sacred fire of the temple or ritual area. Nearly all European peoples had fires in their temples that were never allowed to go out. In Northern Europe, such fires were made in places other than the temples, and were traditionally started by a fire drill or fire bow. It was said that the Need Fire could drive away evil spirits and disease, and thus has become a part of the modern ritual setting.

2) The Wéonde - Wéonde is an Anglo-Saxon reconstruction of the Old Norse verb, vigja "to make sacred." The purpose of the Wéonde or "sacralizing" is to separate the ritual area from the ordinary, mundane world and make it closer to that of the Gods. In ancient times, this could be done thru fire (the ancient Icelanders used to carry a torch around their farms to ward them),or thru a ritual formula like the Old Norse "Þorr uiki " "Thor make sacred." It is similar to the Wiccan idea of erecting a circle and calling the quarters, but its primary purpose is not to ward the area, so much as to make it more inviting to the Gods.

In the Miercinga Ríce, we use the phrase "Thunor wéoh", along with the ritual action of circling the area with fire, or with rope of a natural fiber and staves of hazelwood to create a barrier.

Wéonede Song
Fyr ic bere ymb friðgearde,
Ond béode men frið fremman,
Líeg ic bere tó belúcan,
Béode ælwihta fléogan aweg.
Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh,
Þunor wéoh þisne ealh.

Fyr ic bere ymb friðgearde,
Ond béode men frið fremman,
Líeg ic bere tó belúcan,
Béode utlaga féran aweg.
Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh,
Þunor wéoh þisne ealh.
Þunor wéoh, Þunor wéoh,
Þunor wéoh þisne ealh.

Fire I bear around this sacred site,
And bid all men make peace,
Flame I bear to enclose,
And bid evil spirits to flee
Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred,
Thor make sacred this holy site

Fire I bear around this sacred site,
And bid all men make peace,
Flame I bear to enclose,
And bid outlaws fare away.
Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred,
Thor make sacred this holy site.
Thor make sacred, Thor make sacred,
Thor make sacred this holy site.

3) The Hallowing - The food and drink are then passed over a flame, and the sign of the hammer is signed over them. By passing the food and drink over the flame, the priest is driving off any spirits that may be residing in the food. The hammer is then signed over them to make the food and drink sacred. The hammer is the symbol of the god Thor or Thunor, the god that wards all things that are good.

4)The Blessing - Next is the blessing. The mead used in the ritual is considered to contain some of the Gods' spiritual strength. It is therefore sprinkled on the area, the wéofod (altar), and the gathered folk to transfer some of the Gods' spiritual strength or mægen to the folk; thus blessing them with whatever gifts the Gods might give in return for the ritual.

5) The Bedes - Bedes means "prayers" in Anglo-Saxon, and are the invocations to the Gods.

Wódnes Bed
(Parts taken from Blótword)

Wæs þu Wóden hál---Wæs þu hál wundra hláford,
Wæs þu écelic hál---Ond spéd simble hafa.
Þu scyledest Ymir---þá Middangeard scópe,
His héafodbán tó hrófe---His blód tó hranráde,
His flasc tó folde---His bán tó beorgum,
His éagbrawas---Tó Middangeardes burge;
þu nóme fléogenne spearcas---Ond sette on swegle,
Swá Mana leohte---Ond goda léomu.
Hálig Scieppend---Frynst Scop;
Þu heng nihta eall nigone---Hwonne rúna þu nóm,
Wittig dryhten on windig tréow---Wæs wið gare wundode.
Bealweorc þu wógað Gunnlað---Mid wiglu hæfde wín willan,
Þu sypað meadu Suttunges---Ond stól hit aweg.
Manig séciað sigebeadu---Þæt ánlic þu selest,
Híe gielpað þé warloga---æfter híe wiernað þæm gieldum;
Ac weorðlic men á winnað---Þe híe gað tó Wælhealle,
Swá ic sing wé---æt symble on heallum.
Wóden sigefæder---Esa mihitig wealend,
Sídhæt ond Wegtamere---Gréat wittig dryhten,
Wísdomes wráþu---Wælhealles hláford,
Ealdor cyninga----Eðelríces cynn,
Cynedóm wealdend---Ond cyriga w‘les;
Ic bidd wé nú---Gíefst blade ond blisse,
Weorcsige ond wordsige---Wele ond wæstme
Nim úre dada ond úe giefa---Tac wín dálu ond úre gieldu.

(Rough translation)
Wassail Woden---Wassail wonders' lord,
Always be hale---And speed always have.
You took apart Ymir---When Middle Earth you shaped,
His skull for the roof---His blood for the seas,
His flesh as the earth---His bones for the mountains,
His eye brows---As Middle Earth's wall;
Then you took flying sparks---And set in the skys,
For man's light---And gods' brillant rays.
You hung nights all nine---When the runes you won,
Witty drihten on windy tree---With a spear you were wounded.
You wooed Gunnlað---With wiles had your way,
You drank Suttung's mead---And stole it away.
Many seek battle victory---That only you can give,
Then they call you oath breaker---When that price they withhold,*
But worthy men ever strive---Then they go to Valhalla,
So I sing to you---At symbel in halls.
Woden victory father---Aesir's mighty ruler,
Broadhat and Waytamer---Great wise drihten,
Wisdom's column---Vallhalla's lord,
Elder king---Noble ruler's kin
Kingdom ruler---And chooser of the slain;
I bid you now---Give us bliss and prosperity,
Work victory and word victory---Wealth and harvest.
Take our deeds and our gift---Take your portion and our yield.
*i.e. They're not willing to pay Woden's price though they agreed to it.

7 The Housel - The horn and bread are passed amongst those present.

9) The Yielding - All the leftovers, as well as food already promised to the Gods are then thrown into a fire with the words "Ic giefe Wóden" "I give this to Woden."

10) The Leaving - The rite is formerly adjourned.