The Grove Of Muir Crìoch

In the light of the rising sun, the Grove of Muir Crìoch awakens.

I begin this Hour with an offering of gratitude to Companion Willow, Cardinal of Water.

“Thank you for your watch over the Hora Nocturna, the blessings you have given, and the protection you have bestowed upon the Grove.”

As my offering is acknowledged, a well worn path reveals itself. Following where it leads, I come upon Companion Birch, the Cardinal of Spirit. As I draw near, a seat formed by their ancient roots emerges and invites me to pause in this moment.

Held in this embrace, I turn to Mother Earth, and sink into the communion that underlies all things. With her nature in my heart, I meet her breath with prayer as her breath meets with mine.

“As I inhale what sustains me, may your lessons teach me to embrace the cycles of life. As I exhale what is no longer mine to carry, may I find strength in your shadows, and truth in your creation.”

As this prayer echoes through the Grove, I continue on a deepening journey inward, and step into the observance of this Hour.

¨In this sacred frithgeard I stand before you, Companion Birch, to witness the turning of the Hora Ortiva.” 

¨O Cardinal of Spirit, may your grace guide me with the blessings of vitality, continuity, and trust. Stand alongside me in the vastness of the Grove as I discover the universe within.”

The ancient roots return to the land. The ringing of the bell completes the circle. The Grove and the world are one.

“Hail Mother Earth! Hail Companion Birch! As Anachoreta Nemora, I honor you all. Awen!”

Hora Matutina - Companion Oak, Cardinal of Earth

The sun shines brightly in the Grove of Muir Crìoch as the morning stretches towards noon.

I begin this Hour with an offering of gratitude to Companion Birch, Cardinal of Spirit. 

“Thank you for your watch over the Hora Ortiva, the blessings you have given, and the protection you have bestowed upon the Grove.”

As my offering is acknowledged, the well worn path reappears. Following again where it leads, I now come upon Companion Oak, the Cardinal of Earth. As I draw near, a seat formed by their ancient roots emerges and invites me to pause in this moment.

Held in this embrace, I turn to Mother Earth, and sink into the communion that underlies all things. With her nature in my heart, I meet her breath with prayer as her breath meets with mine.

“As I inhale what sustains me, may your patience teach me to stand with courage. As I exhale what is no longer mine to carry, may I be rooted in faith, and unmoved by passing storms.”

As this prayer echoes through the Grove, I continue on a deepening journey inward, and step into the observance of this Hour.

¨In this sacred frithgeard I stand before you, Companion Oak, to witness the turning of the Hora Matutina.” 

¨O Cardinal of Earth, may your steadiness guide me with the blessings of wisdom, composure, and stability. Stand alongside me in the vastness of the Grove as I discover the universe within.”

The ancient roots return to the land. The ringing of the bell completes the circle. The Grove and the world are one.

“Hail Mother Earth! Hail Companion Oak! As Anachoreta Nemora, I honor you all. Awen!”

Hora Meridiana - Companion Maple, Cardinal of Fire

The afternoon unfolds in the Grove of Muir Crìoch as the sun stands high overhead.

I begin this Hour with an offering of gratitude to Companion Oak, Cardinal of Earth. 

“Thank you for your watch over the Hora Matutina, the blessings you have given, and the protection you have bestowed upon the Grove.”

As my offering is acknowledged, the well worn path reappears. Following again where it leads, I now come upon Companion Maple, the Cardinal of Fire. As I draw near, a seat formed by their ancient roots emerges and invites me to pause in this moment.

Held in this embrace, I turn to Mother Earth, and sink into the communion that underlies all things. With her nature in my heart, I meet her breath with prayer as her breath meets with mine.

“As I inhale what sustains me, may your constancy burn away anxiety and illusion. As I exhale what is no longer mine to carry, may you kindle in me the will to release my fear of the unknown.”

As this prayer echoes through the Grove, I continue on a deepening journey inward, and step into the observance of this Hour.

¨In this sacred frithgeard I stand before you, Companion Maple, to witness the turning of the Hora Meridiana.” 

¨O Cardinal of Fire, may your spark guide me with the blessings of purpose, inspiration, and curiosity. Stand alongside me in the vastness of the Grove as I discover the universe within.”

The ancient roots return to the land. The ringing of the bell completes the circle. The Grove and the world are one.

“Hail Mother Earth! Hail Companion Maple! As Anachoreta Nemora, I honor you all. Awen!”

Hora Vespertina - Companion Linden, Cardinal of Air

The shadows begin to lengthen in the Grove of Muir Crìoch as the sun makes its descent toward the horizon.

I begin this Hour with an offering of gratitude to Companion Maple, Cardinal of Fire. 

“Thank you for your watch over the Hora Meridiana, the blessings you have given, and the protection you have bestowed upon the Grove.”

As my offering is acknowledged, the well worn path reappears. Following again where it leads, I now come upon Companion Linden, the Cardinal of Air. As I draw near, a seat formed by their ancient roots emerges and invites me to pause in this moment.

Held in this embrace, I turn to Mother Earth, and sink into the communion that underlies all things. With her nature in my heart, I meet her breath with prayer as her breath meets with mine.

“As I inhale what sustains me, may your stillness quiet my restless mind. As I exhale what is no longer mine to carry, may your kindness clear the winds of doubt and uncertainty.”

As this prayer echoes through the Grove, I continue on a deepening journey inward, and step into the observance of this Hour.

¨In this sacred frithgeard I stand before you, Companion Linden, to witness the turning of the Hora Vespertina.” 

¨O Cardinal of Air, may your calm guide me with the blessings of appreciation, harmony, and perseverance. Stand alongside me in the vastness of the Grove as I discover the universe within.”

The ancient roots return to the land. The ringing of the bell completes the circle. The Grove and the world are one.

“Hail Mother Earth! Hail Companion Linden! IAs Anachoreta Nemora, I honor you all. Awen!”

Hora Nocturna - Companion Willow, Cardinal of Water

The stars emerge above the Grove of Muir Crìoch as the last rays of the sun disappear.

I begin this Hour with an offering of gratitude to Companion Linden, Cardinal of Air. 

“Thank you for your watch over the Hora Vespertina, the blessings you have given, and the protection you have bestowed upon the Grove.”

As my offering is acknowledged, the well worn path reappears. Following again where it leads, I now come upon Companion Willow, the Cardinal of Water. As I draw near, a seat formed by their ancient roots emerges and invites me to pause in this moment.

Held in this embrace, I turn to Mother Earth, and sink into the communion that underlies all things. With her nature in my heart, I meet her breath with prayer as her breath meets with mine.

“As I inhale what sustains me, may your mercy hold what overwhelms. As I exhale what is no longer mine to carry, may I learn to let each grief pass without shame or haste.”

As this prayer echoes through the Grove, I continue on a deepening journey inward, and step into the observance of this Hour.

¨In this sacred frithgeard I stand before you, Companion Willow, to witness the turning of the Hora Nocturna.” 

¨O Cardinal of Water, may your movement guide me with the blessings of compassion, clarity, and reflection. Stand alongside me in the vastness of the Grove as I discover the universe within.”

The ancient roots return to the land. The ringing of the bell completes the circle. The Grove and the world are one.

The metaphorical skies are starting to clear just a bit, so I am finally ready to make my way back. If you follow me on social media you may have noticed a change to my bio. When I first began the blog, I was a devotee of Hades, which was what I needed at the time, but in this new chapter of my life I have been experiencing a deeper call to honor Mother Earth with my liturgical practice.

Today, I will be sharing a new version of the litany that I have been observing and over the next coming weeks (or months) I will be publishing a series of blog posts on how this form came to be.

You will see some familiar elements from the Hades litany, but there is also a different feel with the version that honors Mother Earth. If you are familiar with the writings of Thomas Berry, you will probably recognize his influence as I have tried my best to capture his concept of indscendence with my words and imagery. 

I am in what my therapist calls the freeze, that in between space that is neither fight nor flight.

I have been stuck here for over a month. If you have seen the Deep Space Nine pilot episode “Emissary”, you know what I am talking about. “I exist here. It is not linear.”

But today, the Grove whispered back to me in the form of something new, a pair of golden-crowned kinglets.

I am a birder. I absolutely love everything about birding, and throughout this freeze, the birds have been one of the things I have still been able to pay attention to.

The spring heralds arrived early this year. Mid February, the day after the event that precipitated the freeze (a medical event with my son), the robins, grackles, killdeer, and even the red winged blackbirds showed up. The timing was not lost on me, but my heart was too heavy to hear the message.

That weight sat with me as I tried to navigate a spiritual practice that felt so incredibly distant and unreachable. Every time I saw a glimmer of a thaw, another wrench was thrown in my path, and the freeze only deepened, the weight grew heavier.

Until now.

The walls of the labyrinth have crumbled and a well worn path has been revealed underneath. The Grove feels limitless instead of limited.

No matter what, no matter where I am in the peaks and valleys, I still try to show up in my practice, even when it seems to give nothing back.

The expectation of a return on investment if you will is rooted in the capitalist mentality that nothing is worth doing unless you get something back. But my practice is worth doing, even if I am the only witness to it.

My practice is not about endurance or proving myself. That is something that was never necessary to begin with. It is about choice, a choice to stay with the land, my joy, my sadness, and with what still lives within me.

This is how I begin healing, by learning how to live inside my own days again, even when those days are darker than I would like. To relearn how to notice the small things, like breathing without clenching my jaw, noticing the shimmer of the snowflakes in sunlight, to feel when despair begins to loosen its grip, and I can finally understand what the shadows are trying to teach me.

I started therapy this week.

I am letting that sink in for a moment.

I thought I could handle the fallout of what happened to me due to the actions of the leader of the spiritual group I was a part of. I tried so hard to be strong and resilient, to immerse myself in a practice that was tainted by trauma. Instead, I spiraled into an anxiety pattern so severe, I broke out in hives. My body was speaking a truth that my mind was trying to outrun.

You might ask, “Neira, why didn’t you bring up this situation with other leaders?”

It was brought up with other leaders. Those leaders chose to ignore what was done, chose to protect the institution above all else, and chose to protect the reputation of the abuser.

I felt invisible.

I spoke up for myself, tried to shine a light on the patterns of control, only to have the institution fail to deliver on their promise of a spiritually safe, neuroaffirming community. There was no accountability for any of it, no apology, just a desolate silence that told me that my story did not matter to them, that I did not matter. And now I am paying the heavy price for their inaction, failure, and indifference.

I have walked this road before, in my youth. I thought I could walk it again on my own, but the weight of a burden I was never meant to carry fixed me to the trauma, and would not let me go.

So…I asked for help.

I am lucky that I have help available to me. Not everyone has that luxury. It leaves me wondering what happens when the institution's choice leaves the next person harmed with no access to care, support, or any way to recover what was taken from them. It is a very dark path to tread, especially when there is no light to be seen.

I was so naive to think that this community was immune to this kind of misconduct. I truly believed in the promises they made but in the end, their words proved to be performative and nothing more.

They were given a chance to honor their highest code of ethics and instead chose to ignore them in favor of appearances. They want everyone to believe things are fine and hope that no one notices the fires that are burning all around them.

It wasn’t until I downloaded an app called Mindfulness Timer, that I finally realized what was possible. The app is a timer that you can use to create a custom schedule and at set times throughout the day, it will send an alert in the form of a gentle bell sound. As I used the app, I began to see how useful it could be as a tool for a more structured monastic day and so I began working on a litany to accompany these pauses.

The form I use now did not happen overnight. When I first started working on my litany, it started very small, just a single paragraph that sounded good at the time. As the bell on my phone chimed, I would recite that paragraph.

There was a lot of trial and error. The last time I counted, I think I had over 80 doc files of different formats for the litany. Some passages have been present since the very beginning, a lot has been discarded, and some were dropped but then returned. There were successes and failures but each misstep taught me a valuable lesson.

When I approached my mentor (in the organization I was with at the time) with what I was doing, my enthusiasm turned to resistance. I was told to wait until I was of a certain rank to work on it. Imagine someone believing they had the authority to tell you to wait to work on something that was a sincere expression of your devotion to the Gods just because you did not have a specific title yet! I obviously didn’t listen. This was work that I was being called to and was something I needed to work on, on my own.

Hindsight is always 20/20. I look back on my journal entries now and see that the warning signs were already there that something wasn’t right with where I was during this time. I am so grateful that I heeded the divine direction I was given, and not the instruction of that false mentor. If it wasn’t for my litany and the relationship I had been building with Hades, my spiritual practice probably would not have survived the trauma I experienced.

Now, as the new year turns, I am finding the litany taking on a new shape. This past year ended with very little engagement from me due to a wide variety of factors but now that the dust has settled, I am finding space, openness, and expansion.

When I was with that old group, I always felt stretched thin, which was one of the reasons I scaled my polytheistic practice back to just focusing on Hades. With the new year, new growth, and the clearing of the old something has shifted. Those relationships I thought I didn’t have room for, now seem to fit in rather seamlessly into the litany I have built.

A sacred frithgeard.

I have a fondness for old, archaic words and frithgeard is one of them. It is derived from the Old English friþgeard and essentially translates to “peace yard”.

A clearing of peace somewhere in the labyrinth that has invited me to pause and recover. I don’t have to do anything here, just be.

In the Prairie Majesty Oracle “Be” is the keyword for Bison. Bison’s question is, “How can I know myself as absolute?”

My trauma has been speaking against my inner knowing. The narrative keeps trying to tell me that I am alone, powerless, that I will never be enough, but Bison has a different message for me. The guidebook says this:

“The more each of us takes time to connect from within and act from an awareness of our true sovereign nature – that we are always loved, always powerful, and always enough – the more we create an environment that supports everyone.”

A frithgeard that supports everyone, a peace yard that welcomes “infinite diversity in infinite combinations”, a living landscape that speaks through the voice of Bison. Here I am reminded that peace is not found at the end of the labyrinth, but in these quiet places that invite me to pause and simply “Be”.

3 layers done, 5 to go.

I have been trying to write something for this blog and I keep finding myself stuck. I want to move but I am frozen by my trauma. Some days, it loosens its grip just long enough for me to remember what called me to this path in the first place. Today, what calls to me is snow.

As a winter loving introvert, I have always had a deep connection to the season. When I was a kid, I was always the one kid that was outside no matter how cold it was or how much snow was on the ground, it was my sanctuary.

There is a certain kind of magic that happens when the landscape is covered with millions of tiny snowflakes glittering like the brightest diamonds when the sun hits just right. There is a special silence that happens, it is something that I cannot quite describe but it really is a balm to my heart and spirit when the outside world is too loud.

My perfect moment is a winter’s night when the moon peaks from behind the clouds and an insulated hush washes over the world. The only sound you hear is the sound of snowflakes hitting the ground. If you listen carefully, you can hear the gentle tink they make as one snowflake lands on top of the next. It becomes its own kind of music, the music of silence. In this sacred quiet, I remember the wisdom that taught me how to hear it.

This is a full circle moment, as it was Music of Silence by Benedictine Monk Br. David Steindl-Rast that renewed my interest in the monastic path. There is a quote that I have been reflecting on these past few months:

“Joy is that kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens. Normally, we are happy when something good happens, and we are unhappy when something happens that we do not consider good. We pick and choose. But joy is our wholehearted response to whatever opportunity is given to us in any moment. It does not depend on what happens.”

Now I find myself hearing a different sort of music in the silence, one whispered not only by the snow that surrounds me but by the Grove that I have been connected to and have returned to during my dark night of the soul, trying to find that joy he speaks of once again.

It is there when I see the snow covered landscape, when I hear the caw of a crow, when a junco shows up at the bird feeder, when the sun rises and sets and the sky is painted with every color of the rainbow. This is where I am whole, where my inner world and outer world collide in a beautiful symphony of bird song and heartbeat.

Yes, the elemental framework I use follows the Avatar cycle! I imagine this probably raises more eyebrows than me quoting NCIS as the reason for my being drawn to monasticism.

While I do not have any degrees, formal training, certifications, or credentials, I do have lived experience and those experiences have taught me that inspiration and spiritual meaning can come from anywhere, even an animated tv series.

Full disclosure, I am a nerd. The Avatar cycle is not the only pop culture reference I use in my spiritual practice. I am a Star Trek fan as well. The first time I watched Star Trek Discovery, I was immediately drawn to the Kwejian greeting. There was something there that felt natural to my practice and it is something that I still use often. It is my way of saying that I see the divine that is in front of me without having to say anything at all.

I also use the word Itaren to close my prayers. I like the way it sounds and it is an expression of gratitude in Vulcan (I mean as close as they can get to expressing gratitude). I have always seen myself in characters such as Spock and Tuvok, and having an acknowledgement of that in my spiritual life is comforting.

We are often told that spiritual practice needs to be serious all the time in order to be real. There certainly is a time and place for serious practice but there is also space for a little bit of whimsy and fun. A practice that is too serious will inevitably start feeling like a chore and an obligation instead of something to look forward to, something you want to engage with as much as possible.

I have always been fascinated with names and titles. There is a curiosity that stirs in me when I see or hear something intriguing. I even tried to come up with my own title for my role of service to Hades. What I learned very quickly was that the title did not belong to my practice nor did it enhance it in any meaningful way.

Titles definitely have their place, but right now I need to step back and listen to what my practice is actually asking of me.

My steps keep faltering because there is a wall I cannot get past. I see the beauty of what I was practicing, the stillness of my inner grove, what I was trying to strive for, but something stands between me and the immersion I once had. It is the wound that hasn’t healed or even scarred yet, reopening every time I brush up against the brambles in my way.

So what do I do?

I am slowly realizing that I can’t engage with the full litany every day now, I am not ready yet. I need a gentler way forward so I have come up with the solution to observe one Hour every day instead of all five Hours in one day. This was why I structured the litany the way I did, I needed a practice that could adapt to whatever my needs were no matter where I was.

My monastic day is divided into five liturgical Hours. Getting to this structure took a lot of discernment and I had to take a very honest look at my limitations. I wanted to do so much, but my body and my life could not sustain those lofty goals I set for myself.

Early drafts did not even mention my devotional relationships, so I tried weaving in acknowledgments of every deity into every Hour. It was incredibly exhausting and the more I added, the more disconnected I became.

I needed to make a choice, I needed to simplify. It was not an easy choice to make, and I wrestled with guilt for quite some time, but eventually I decided that I wanted to and needed to devote my monastic practice to Hades only.

I am happy to report that none of the other deities I worshipped smited (smote?) me to the ground! 😂 I am still here, alive and well. Once I made the shift in focus though, the words fell into place and the structure knitted itself together into the form I will be sharing with you today.

My spirituality is rooted in Druidry, so I have centered my litany around the imagery of a sacred grove. This grove I call Muir Crìoch. Muir is a family name and Crìoch is Scots Gaelic for edge, or boundary. Each Hour is connected to one of the five elements of Earth, Fire, Air, Water, or Spirit, and I am accompanied along the labyrinthine path by my fellow tree Companions.

The trees I have chosen are trees that exist in my neighborhood. During the colder months, those Companions are evergreens and take on the title of Katávasi, which is Greek for descent. As it warms, the Grove shifts, deciduous trees are welcomed as my Companions and these trees take on the title of Anávasi, which is Greek for ascent.

The litany also includes prayers to Hades, with each one being a reflection of the Hour and element it is connected to. These prayers are not demands or requests, but are invitations to deepen the connection of my spirit and him. Through these prayers, my practice becomes a continuous conversation with the divine.

What follows now is not something that is intended to be copied exactly, but to serve as inspiration for what devotion can look like when it is built from relationship instead of obligation. My hope is that in reading these words, you will be encouraged to listen to your inner voice and build a practice that feels alive, flexible, and true to your spiritual journey as you travel along your own labyrinthine path.

*****

Hora Ortiva - Companion Juniper, Katávasi of Earth

In the light of the morning sun, the Grove of Muir Crìoch awakens.

I begin this Hour with an offering of gratitude to Companion Boxwood, Katávasi of Spirit.

“Thank you for your watch over the Hora Nocturna, the blessings you have given, and the protection you have bestowed upon the Grove.”

As my offering is acknowledged, the labyrinthine path emerges, leading me onward to meet Companion Juniper, Katávasi of Earth.

Before I cross the threshold into this Hour, I turn first to Hades, the God I humbly invite to walk beside me, in shadow, in breath, through all the deep and hidden places of my inner world.

As the words of my prayers are spoken, may they become a thread between my spirit and him. May he receive what is given in sincerity, and meet me in the silence of my devotion.

“Hail Hades, God of the Underworld, Guardian of Souls, Bringer of Balance, the Unseen One,

I honor you in the weight of the earth beneath my feet.

May your patience teach me to stand with strength,

Rooted in truth, unmoved by passing storms.

May I tend what is lasting, let the rest fall away,

And walk with dignity through the long turning of time.”

With his presence welcomed into the Grove, I continue my journey with an open heart and approach the Katávasi before me with reverence and grace.

“In this Grove’s sacred center, I stand before you, Companion Juniper, to observe the turning of the Hora Ortiva.”

“O Katávasi of Earth, may your breath nurture the roots of this Hour, as I inhale what sustains me, and exhale what is no longer mine to carry.”

“Guide me with the blessings of encouragement, intention, and longevity as I walk the winding path of the Grove and contemplate the mysteries within.”

Pause and connect to this Hour.

Throughout the day, I will remain open to the subtle whisper of the Grove, allowing its spirit to deepen within my awareness. When the bell signals my return to the world’s turning, this breath, this stillness, and this connection will remain, ever near and ever at heart.

“Hail Hades. Awen.”

Hora Matutina - Companion Cedar, Katávasi of Fire

The sun shines brightly in the Grove of Muir Crìoch as the morning stretches towards noon.

I begin this Hour with an offering of gratitude to Companion Juniper, Katávasi of Earth.

“Thank you for your watch over the Hora Ortiva, the blessings you have given, and the protection you have bestowed upon the Grove.”

As my offering is acknowledged, the labyrinthine path remerges, leading me onward to now meet Companion Cedar, Katávasi of Fire.

Before I cross the threshold into this Hour, I once again turn to Hades, the God I humbly invite to walk beside me, in shadow, in breath, through all the deep and hidden places of my inner world.

As the words of my prayers are spoken, may they become a thread between my spirit and him. May he receive what is given in sincerity, and meet me in the silence of my devotion.

“Hail Hades, God of the Underworld, Guardian of Souls, Bringer of Balance, the Unseen One,

I honor your presence in the fire that refines.

May your truth burn away illusion and fear,

Kindling in me the will to release what no longer serves.

May I trust what flame cannot leave unburned,

And rest in the mystery the embers reveal.”

With his presence welcomed into the Grove, I continue my journey with an open heart and approach the Katávasi before me with reverence and grace.

“In this Grove’s sacred center, I stand before you, Companion Cedar, to observe the turning of the Hora Matutina.”

“O Katávasi of Fire, may your breath ignite the spark of this Hour, as I inhale what sustains me, and exhale what is no longer mine to carry.”

“Guide me with the blessings of purification, determination, and endurance as I walk the winding path of the Grove and contemplate the mysteries within.”

Pause and connect to this Hour.

Throughout the day, I will remain open to the subtle whisper of the Grove, allowing its spirit to deepen within my awareness. When the bell signals my return to the world’s turning, this breath, this stillness, and this connection will remain, ever near and ever at heart.

“Hail Hades. Awen.”

Hora Meridiana - Companion Spruce, Katávasi of Air

The afternoon unfolds in the Grove of Muir Crìoch as the sun stands high overhead.

I begin this Hour with an offering of gratitude to Companion Cedar, Katávasi of Fire.

“Thank you for your watch over the Hora Matutina, the blessings you have given, and the protection you have bestowed upon the Grove.”

As my offering is acknowledged, the labyrinthine path remerges, leading me onward to now meet Companion Spruce, Katávasi of Air.

Before I cross the threshold into this Hour, I once again turn to Hades, the God I humbly invite to walk beside me, in shadow, in breath, through all the deep and hidden places of my inner world.

As the words of my prayers are spoken, may they become a thread between my spirit and him. May he receive what is given in sincerity, and meet me in the silence of my devotion.

“Hail Hades, God of the Underworld, Guardian of Souls, Bringer of Balance, the Unseen One,

I honor you in the breath between all things.

May your stillness quiet my restless mind,

Clearing the winds of doubt and worry.

May I learn to hear as deeply as you do,

And listen with respect to what remains unspoken.”

With his presence welcomed into the Grove, I continue my journey with an open heart and approach the Katávasi before me with reverence and grace.

“In this Grove’s sacred center, I stand before you, Companion Spruce, to observe the turning of the Hora Meridiana.”

“O Katávasi of Air, may your breath sway the branches of this Hour, as I inhale what sustains me, and exhale what is no longer mine to carry.”

“Guide me with the blessings of appreciation, empathy, and diligence as I walk the winding path of the Grove and contemplate the mysteries within.”

Pause and connect to this Hour.

Throughout the day, I will remain open to the subtle whisper of the Grove, allowing its spirit to deepen within my awareness. When the bell signals my return to the world’s turning, this breath, this stillness, and this connection will remain, ever near and ever at heart.

“Hail Hades. Awen.”

Hora Vespertina - Companion Pine, Katávasi of Water

The shadows begin to lengthen in the Grove of Muir Crìoch as the sun is called to the horizon.

I begin this Hour with an offering of gratitude to Companion Spruce, Katávasi of Air.

“Thank you for your watch over the Hora Meridiana, the blessings you have given, and the protection you have bestowed upon the Grove.”

As my offering is acknowledged, the labyrinthine path remerges, leading me onward to now meet Companion Pine, Katávasi of Water.

Before I cross the threshold into this Hour, I once again turn to Hades, the God I humbly invite to walk beside me, in shadow, in breath, through all the deep and hidden places of my inner world.

As the words of my prayers are spoken, may they become a thread between my spirit and him. May he receive what is given in sincerity, and meet me in the silence of my devotion.

“Hail Hades, God of the Underworld, Guardian of Souls, Bringer of Balance, the Unseen One,

I honor you in the tides that rise without warning.

May your mercy hold what overwhelms,

Cupping each grief without shame or haste.

May I release what I cannot bear to the waters of memory,

And know that even tears are a gift.”

With his presence welcomed into the Grove, I continue my journey with an open heart and approach the Katávasi before me with reverence and grace.

“In this Grove’s sacred center, I stand before you, Companion Pine, to observe the turning of the Hora Vespertina.”

“O Katávasi of Water, may your breath shape the currents of this Hour, as I inhale what sustains me, and exhale what is no longer mine to carry.”

“Guide me with the blessings of simplicity, transparency, and security as I walk the winding path of the Grove and contemplate the mysteries within.”

Pause and connect to this Hour.

Throughout the evening, I will remain open to the subtle whisper of the Grove, allowing its spirit to deepen within my awareness. When the bell signals my return to the world’s turning, this breath, this stillness, and this connection will remain, ever near and ever at heart.

“Hail Hades. Awen.”

Hora Nocturna - Companion Boxwood, Katávasi of Spirit

The stars emerge above the Grove of Muir Crìoch as the last rays of the sun disappear.

I begin this Hour with an offering of gratitude to Companion Pine, Katávasi of Water.

“Thank you for your watch over the Hora Vespertina, the blessings you have given, and the protection you have bestowed upon the Grove.”

As my offering is acknowledged, the labyrinthine path remerges, leading me onward to now meet Companion Boxwood, Katávasi of Spirit.

Before I cross the threshold into this Hour, I once again turn to Hades, the God I humbly invite to walk beside me, in shadow, in breath, through all the deep and hidden places of my inner world.

As the words of my prayers are spoken, may they become a thread between my spirit and him. May he receive what is given in sincerity, and meet me in the silence of my devotion.

“Hail Hades, God of the Underworld, Guardian of Souls, Bringer of Balance, The Unseen One,

I honor your wisdom and steady hand.

May your lessons teach me to embrace the cycles of life,

To find strength in shadow and truth in legacy.

May I walk in integrity and courage,

And remember the balance you uphold.”

With his presence welcomed into the Grove, I continue my journey with an open heart and approach the Katávasi before me with reverence and grace.

“In this Grove’s sacred center, I stand before you, Companion Boxwood, to observe the turning of the Hora Nocturna.”

“O Katávasi of Spirit, may your breath stir the quiet of this Hour, as I inhale what sustains me, and exhale what is no longer mine to carry.”

“Guide me with the blessings of intimacy, vitality, and discipline as I walk the winding path of the Grove and contemplate the mysteries within.”

Pause and connect to this Hour.

Throughout the night, I will remain open to the subtle whisper of the Grove, allowing its spirit to deepen within my awareness. When the bell signals my return to the world’s turning, this breath, this stillness, and this connection will remain, ever near and ever at heart.

But, I am still here. The Gods are still here, Hades is still here. My experience is that the Gods will always meet us where we are now. They do not demand perfection, obedience, or submission. They simply want us to be present, wherever and whenever we can.

I want to return to my daily routine, but the rituals that once grounded me now carry the ghosts of the past. Their whispers are subtle, but they are still there, like a constant ringing in the ears, quiet and yet deafening at the same time. I now have to sit with those ghosts. As much as I want to banish them, they are now woven into my story, but I can turn the page and write a different ending.

In my litany to Hades, I invite him to walk beside me, “in shadow, in breath, through all the deep and hidden places of my inner world” and he has done so. He has never asked anything more of me than to be sincere. Even in silence, in the moments when I can barely lift my head, he reminds me that I don’t have to be whole to be held.

As I reach out to him, the ghosts fall silent. There is only him and me and the certainty that my devotion was never meant to be contained in anyone else’s structure.

Institutions often speak of stability as if it were an external construct that must be preserved at all costs. They often overlook the fact that stability exists to support people, not the other way around. Rather than focusing on lived and shared experiences, the institution begins to inflate its own importance over the needs of those it was supposed to serve. Cracks form in the foundation. Instead of addressing the root cause of those cracks, individuals are sacrificed for what is called the “greater good” and appearances begin to matter more than relationships.

When you cling to structure at the expense of people, stability then becomes a weapon of control. Stability is not a stone foundation, rigid and unmoving, but the roots of a tree, expanding, growing, and seeking. It is the willingness to remain present in a world that is constantly shifting, and to root oneself in relationship to the divine. It is a vow to yourself, not to a crumbling wall.

A foundation built on rigidity may look strong on the surface, but it cannot bend, listen, grow, or heal. My own experiences taught me this. I thought that if I kept adjusting myself, if I stayed steady, silent, and didn’t rock the boat, that the walls would hold, not realizing that the entire structure beneath me was sinking under the weight of what was built on top of it.

In one of my prayers to Hades, there is a line:

“May I tend what is lasting, let the rest fall away, and walk with dignity through the long turning of time.”

This is how I define stability, to tend what is lasting while the rest falls away. To nourish the roots, not to patch holes. There is no demand of obedience, no sacrifice for the sake of the whole, just a simple promise to tend to what sustains me.

I have navigated structural collapse in my own spiritual journey. I have alluded to it in some of my previous writings and I have come to a hard-won conclusion. What the institution was trying so hard to protect, never belonged to the institution in the first place. It was always mine, and it will remain unshakeable when the institution’s faulty foundation finally washes away.