Prayers and rites to Selvans

 

Etruscan prayer to Selvans

Hearken, O Selvans, Thou who dost abide where the tilled earth meets the whispering wood, Thou guardian of the unseen line.

Thy presence is known by the ancient stone, the marker set deep between homestead and shadow, the hallowed limit Thou hast ordained. The deep forest, untamed and potent, acknowledges Thy dominion; its paths are Thine, its silence Thine, its sudden rustlings guided by Thy will.

Thou art the vigour of the green shoot reaching for the sun, the strength in the gnarled root that grips the soil. Before Thee, the wild boar turns aside, the wolf respects the boundary Thou dost keep. Thy keen axe clears the way, yet also guards the sacred grove from careless hands.

We, Thy people, dwelling within the walls, look outward to the wild places and know they are Thine. We pray Thee, Selvans, maintain the borders Thou hast set. Let the wilderness thrive in its ordained space, and let our fields yield their bounty secure behind Thy watchful gaze.

Keep firm the posts, sacred the markers, clear the lines between that which is ordered and that which belongs to Thy untamed heart. For in Thee resides the power of the edge, the transition, the necessary division that allows life to flourish.

We offer Thee honour within this temple, though Thy true home is beneath the open sky, among the rustling leaves and the ancient trees. Accept our reverence, O Selvans, Lord of Boundaries, Protector of the Threshold. May Thy presence ever define the sacred limits.

Etruscan Selvans hymn

Hark, Selvans, unto whom the shadowed forests bow; attend Thou, great guardian of the limen, where the tilled earth meets the wild wood's mystery. Thee we invoke, spirit of the threshold stone and the whispering reed-brake, protector of the margin where order touches upon the untamed heart of the world. Thy footfall rustles the deep leaf-litter where sunlight fears to tread; Thine axe rings not in destruction, but marks the sacred bounds which Thou dost sanctify. Before Thee the wolf pauses, and the bristling boar respects Thy unseen frontier. Thou art the silence between the farmstead and the trackless waste, the vigour in the sapling reaching for the sky where ancient oaks commune with thunder.

Not Mars Gradivus strides with brazen clangor upon Thy paths, but Thou dost hold the quiet line, the furrow's end, the ditch, the standing stone engraved with signs we scarce comprehend, yet trust to Thy dominion. Thou knowest the secrets whispered where pathways diverge, the rites performed when the year turns or the new field is claimed from the domain Thou watchest over. Thine is the power that contains, that defines, that gives shape to the efforts of mortal hands against the endless green tide. The hunter seeks Thy leave ere he enters Thy deep haunts; the farmer offers first fruits at the edge where his plough halts, acknowledging Thy might.

Therefore, we beseech Thee, O Selvans ever-vigilant: let Thy presence be a ward about our labors. Guard Thou the planted vine from blight that creeps unseen from the wilderness; preserve the shepherd's count from the predator's swift hunger; make firm the boundary marker against encroachment, whether by beast or envious man seeking advantage in the dusk. Grant that the passage through Thy domain be safe for the traveler who respects Thy due, who steps with reverence across the borders Thou maintainest. May our fields yield their bounty secure within the limits Thou dost oversee, acknowledging that all cultivation exists by Thy sufferance, O keeper of the wilderness gate.

Yea, Selvans, Master of the Edge, eternally youthful, eternally watchful, accept Thou this humble resonance of Thy might, offered within these consecrated walls built nigh unto Thy realm. Be Thou propitious, now and always, unto Thy people who honor Thy sacred charge and tread with care upon the verges of Thy power.

Selvans liturgy

Hark, ye faithful, and prepare for the solemn dutties we owe to the mighty Selvans, he who watches over the untamed places, the very borders of our lands, and the silent, whispering woods. Let the sacred space be cleansed, and let the augur observe the flight of birds, those that pass before and those that fly from behind, that we may commence this ceremony under favorable skies.

(The Presiding Priest, adorned in ceremonial attire, steps forward towards a rustic altar laden with offerings from the forest and field.)

The Priest proclaims in a most formal and dignified manner:

"Oh, Selvans, august spirit of the verdant earth, thou who art the keeper of the ancient forests and the delineator of all rightful boundaries, lend thine ear unto our humble supplications this day! From the deepest groves where sunlight seldom penetrates, to the fringes of the cultivated field where man doth meet the wild, thy dominion is known and thy presence felt.

We stand before thee, as did our forebears, with hearts devoted and spirits eager to render thee due reverence. Thou art the silent watcher in the rustling leaves, the guardian of the hidden springs, and the robust strength that resides in the gnarled oak. It is by thy consent that the herds find pasture and the hunter his quarry.

Therefore, we beseech thee, O Selvans, look with benevolence upon this, thy congregation. Accept these tokens of our esteem, gathered from the bounty which thou thyself dost foster."

(The Priest gestures towards the offerings. These may include:)

First fruits of the season: Ripened berries, nuts, or early grains.

A young boar or piglet: An animal symbolic of the forest.

Libations: Vessels of rich mead, dark wine, and fresh milk.

Cakes of grain and honey: Simple, rustic fare.

Boughs of sacred trees: Oak, pine, or cypress branches.

Small bronze figurines: Representations of woodland creatures or Selvans himself.

The Priest continues, his voice resonating with earnest entreaty:

"Let the smoke of our offerings ascend as a pleasing aroma unto thee, Great Selvans. As we present these gifts, we implore thy continued vigilance. Protect our boundaries from incursion, both seen and unseen. Let our forests thrive, providing timber for our homes and sanctuary for the creatures that dwell within. May our fields that border thy realm be fruitful, and let not the wild encroach with destructive force, but rather exist in harmonious balance with our endeavors.

Grant, O Selvans, that the pathways through thy domains remain open to the deserving and closed to those of ill intent. Instill in us a respect for the sacred lines that divide the tame from the untamed, the communal from the solitary. For the state and its people, for the sanctity of our borders and the life that springs from the earth, we call upon thy name.

By the whisper of the wind through the pines, by the steadfastness of the ancient stones that mark our lands, and by the lifeblood of the creatures that roam thy woodlands, we seek thy blessing. Be thou favorable, be thou propitious, O Selvans, unto us who honor thee."

(The Priest then performs specific ritual actions, drawing inspiration from ancient rites. These might include:)

The Pouring of Libations: The mead, wine, and milk are solemnly poured upon the altar or into the earth.

The Presentation of Offerings: Each type of offering is formally presented, perhaps with a specific spoken dedication for each, e.g. "Accept this X offering, O venerable Selvans, We give that Thou mayest give".

A Silent Prayer: The congregation bows their heads in silent communion with the god.

The Placing of Boughs: The sacred branches are arranged upon or around the altar.

The Priest concludes the rite:

"The sacred duties having been performed with all due solemnity, and our hearts laid bare before the Guardian of the Wilds, let us depart in peace, trusting in the benevolence of Selvans. May his protective influence extend over our lands, our homes, and our people, until such time as we gather again to render him homage. Go forth, and walk with reverence upon the earth that Selvans holds dear."

(The congregation disperses, leaving the offerings upon the altar as a testament to their devotion.)