In the renaissance of Pagan spirituality, prayer plays a vital role in connecting to the sacred rhythms of the Earth, cosmos and divine forces within and around us. Just like it did to our ancestors. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your spiritual journey, crafting and performing prayers is a transformative act of devotion. This guide shows you how to do that in an accurate and authentic way.
To create and perform prayer in a way that it reaches its ‘target audience’ we first of all need to know why we do it. The motivations and purposes behind prayer are multifaceted, encompassing a range of spiritual, social, and practical aspects integral to the lives of the ancient peoples, and to us.
Sacred Communication with the Divine
Central to the purpose of prayer is the desire to establish and nurture a relationship with the divine. We revere a multitude of gods and goddesses, each governing different aspects of existence: fertility, war, harvest, protection etc. Prayers are a means to invoke these deities, seeking their favor, guidance, and blessings in various endeavors and life’s challenges.
Harmonizing with Cosmic Forces
Prayer is an expression of reverence and acknowledgment of the interconnectedness between mortals and the cosmic order. Indo-European pagans believe in a divine order, where the natural elements, celestial bodies, and earthly affairs are interlinked. Prayers seek to align individuals, communities, and their actions with this cosmic harmony, fostering balance and prosperity.
Guidance and Wisdom
Prayer serves as a medium to seek guidance, wisdom, and foresight from the divine entities. Leaders, priests, and individuals often seek divine counsel in matters of governance, warfare, trade, and personal affairs. Prayers are uttered with the hope of gaining insights, foresight, and clarity to navigate the complexities of life.
Sustaining and Celebrating Life
Another significant facet of prayer is its role in sustaining life’s vital aspects. Invocations and hymns are dedicated to ensuring a bountiful harvest, fertility of lands and livestock, successful hunts, and protection from malevolent forces. Festivals and rituals, infused with prayers and offerings, celebrate life’s milestones, seasons, and transitions, reinforcing communal bonds and cultural identity.
Expressing Gratitude and Atonement
Gratitude forms a pivotal part of prayer, expressed through offerings, hymns, and invocations. Indo-European paganism recognizes the blessings bestowed by the gods and spirits and offers thanks for our benevolence. Additionally, prayers play a role in appeasing deities in the event of transgressions or misfortunes.
Guide to how to write and perform prayers
Prayer bridges the gap between ancient wisdom, the spiritual realm and the contemporary world, allowing you to express gratitude, seek guidance, and mark the turning of the seasons in a way that feels deeply personal and powerful. These words not only connect us with cosmos – they contribute to its expansion.
Prayer is sacred communication with the gods and with the Great Song itself. And that’s of course both personal and intimate. But no matter what ‘just do it’ or ‘just say what you feel’, ‘just let it flow from within’, ‘this is your moment with the gods, do whatever you want!’ messages you’ve heard it’s actually not really that simple. At least not if we want to practice something authentic in line with what our Germanic, Celtic, Hellenistic, Roman, Slavic, Vedic (et al) ancestors did. In these Indo-European branches ‘uncultivated’ speech was avoided; those not saying ritual words, in the right way, were expected to stay silent. Any ‘ugly’, ‘incorrect’ or unplanned word could spoil the ritual or moment. Again, when we pray and perform ritual we are part of creating and connecting the All – and this All has to be ordered and beautiful (at least if we strive for the same thing as our pagan ancestors).
It’s not like we reach out, and if we’re lucky – or automatically – the Cosmos and gods reach back. There are so called yéwesa; divine/cosmic ‘rules’ or principles facilitating arrival and success. These principles were found, developed and refined by our ancestors through trial and error over time. They are a repetition of the principles that provide the cosmic structure. Proper ritual supports and renews the universe. By following these yéwesa, we too are acting as a proper part of the Cosmos. Below you’ll find ‘standard forms’ of and best practices for prayer following these principles and that are adaptable to any circumstance. Here on the Hamingja platform you’ll find lots more information about all the below topics.
💦 Purification
We don’t approach the divine with pollution or a negative state of mind. Indo-European peoples were always obsessed with purification. So purify yourself before prayer. Rinse hands for your actions, forehead for your thoughts and mouth for your words. This is preferably done with holy/lustral water (khernips). On this platform you’ll find a guide to how to make that too.
🔥 Sacred fire
Prayers should always be said in the presence of fire. Fire is a symbol of the presence of the divine. The fire of sacrifice burns where the Well and the Tree meet, the point between Chaos and Cosmos. Fire is also the way our offerings are transformed from things of our kind to things of the gods’ kind. The fire in front of us is the fire of sacrifice, and our words are brought to the gods through it. So no matter if it’s a huge ritual fire or a candle in your living room – fire should be present.
➡️ Go East, it is peaceful there
East is the best direction for prayer, since it is the direction of Dawn, where the divine light begins. The Holy Ones are also the Shining Ones, so when we look toward east and the light we look toward them.
When it comes to posture – in most pagan prayer the posture of the worshipper is a standing position, with the elbows close to the sides of the body and with the hands outstretched sideways. It should preferably be made with open palms, both hands or the right hand only. You of course decide what feels right for you. Here it can be of value to mention that with prayers to celestial, aquatic or chthonic beings you might want to look to the skies, a body of water or looking a bit more down to the ground. You can also point your palms towards the target of your communication.
🗣️ Metre
The use of metre in prayers holds a profound and ancient significance. Metrical compositions are seen as a sacred art form, carrying the power to shape and harmonize the world. The rhythmic structure of metre – whether in the flowing dactylic hexameter, the solemn gallows of Old Norse poetry, or the precise syllabic patterns of Vedic chants (like Gayatri) – elevates the prayer from ordinary speech into something transcendent. Writing prayers in metre enhances the potency of your words. The rhythm anchors your intention, making the prayer easier to memorize and repeat, while its musicality resonates with the natural cycles and energies you wish to invoke. This structured cadence reflects the order underlying the cosmos itself, aligning the speaker with divine harmony. Whether you choose a traditional metre or create your own, writing in rhythm transforms your prayer into an offering of beauty, precision, and power. (Separate course in the so important poetic metres on this platform.)
📬 The right address
We don’t send a letter or email without writing the correct address. It would get lost or return to sender. One thing is for sure, and that is that pagan prayer has the same primary goal as other forms of good communication – accuracy. What exactly am I trying to convey? To whom? And am I precise and clear enough to reach my audience? Therefore the first step in performing prayer is the invocation. Identifying whom you are praying to and calling upon this being. This can be straightforward – ‘I pray to [this god],’ or more indirect – ‘Wielder of the hammer, I pray to you,’ or both.
❤️ Praise
The invocation is followed by praise and/or a description of the past deeds of the deity. In a sense ‘songs of praise’ in order to make him/her well disposed towards those who worship them. (It is our custom in prayer to call the Gods by the names and places which they prefer.” says Plato.) This can come in a mythical shape — “O King of the gods, you who steer the fortunes of men and earth with your eternal sway”, “O shining Venus, whose beauty illumines the heavens and brings peace to mortal souls”, “Bright-eyed Athena, always ready to assist Odysseus in his struggles.” etc, or personal – “who has always helped me in the past,” or both. This continues the identification and prepares for the request: you’ve done this for me in the past; I am going to ask for something similar.
🔄 Reciprocity & gift-exchange
Indo-European spirituality is all about reciprocity, eternal cycle of gift-exchange and the guest-host relation. Before asking for something, you show the deity what you are doing for them. This is your part of the gift exchange that will establish the relationship with the deity/being. This can usually be put as, ‘I give so I can be given’ or ‘I make this offering to you.’ Of course, it is most often accompanied by an offering, or this prayer can be an introduction to a votive sacrificial ritual with the offering coming later. Making offerings is praying with an object. Prayers can also be made together with dance, music and gestures as gifts. If/when you’re giving offerings and/or pour libations, make sure they go from the left to the right. Again, Indo-European peoples were obsessed with east/right. Remember e.g. that right means both right 👉🏻 and right 👌🏻.
🎁 Request
Now you may add a request – not all prayers ask for things, they can also be selfless praise or communication. But if you’re asking for help now’s the time. (Here you can also give some context and describe the situation a bit.) The request can be put as desire (“I wish for this”, “I ask for help in the difficulties ahead”), a subjunctive (“that this might happen”), or even an imperative (“I give you this, you give me that” – quid pro quo, as the Romans put it. And the Norse/Germanics said “You have to blóta to bi∂ja“.) When we ask for something we always have to give something in return. You might also end the prayer with a vow of a future offering. The gods don’t need us, but our Eros for them, and the fact that we by praying, praising and giving maintain Cosmos, raises their attention. And since the gods master the cosmic laws, they therefore will reciprocate.
Remember however that this doesn’t work like ‘Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz 🎶’. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Indo-European spirituality is built upon action and reciprocity. It’s better to ask for e.g. ‘lend me your mighty tools so that I can use them to improve my or others’ situation.’ The gods help those who help themselves.
