Kannsege (adapted for use outside of Braucherei guilds)

Der Kannsege 

(Adapted for use outside of Braucherei guilds; there is no Verbot on any section of this rite.)

The Butzemann should already be constructed out of plant remnants from the prior season. If you use only one type of plant for the construction (e.g., corn), you may edit the calls to relate only to that specific plant. In my case, I use many different plant remnants, so the calls refer to "plants."

Before the Butzemann is completed (or sewn up, if applicable), I insert a heart (cut from paper or cardboard) and various prayer slips (with my own expressions of goodwill and prosperity) and rune slips (with any combination (or all) of Ingwaz, Jera, Othala, Fehu, Ansuz, Berkano, and Laguz).

A knowledge of runes is most helpful. Appropriate runes can be intoned or envisioned at any time throughout the rite. However, for the purposes of this adapted rite, I only am mentioning the runes that are central to the function of an Urglaawe Kannsege.

There is an element of otherworldly travel involved in this adapted rite.

---------- Incantation ----------

Daer Bau, Desi Luft

(This Earth, This Air)

Daer Bau, Desi Luft

Daer Bau, Desi Luft

Ich bitt vun de Ziewe die Erlaawing, fer die hallich Scheid neizuschteige. 

(I request of the deities the permission to step into the heavenly partition).

Ich schteh mit eem Fuus uff em Hatzholz un schteig mit zwettem in die Weschtbledder nei. 

(I stand with one foot in Hatzholz (Midgard) and step, with the second, into the West Leaves).

Ich ruf zu de mitleidiche Blanzeseele reizukumme, fer ihre Nochkummer auszuhelfe. 

(I call to the compassionate plant spirits [change if using only one plant, e.g., corn spirits] to come to the aid of their descendants).

Ich bin die Brick. 

(I am the bridge).

Ich bin die Brick.

Ich bin die Brick

[Repeat in multiples of three as often as you feel is needed]

----------- 

At this point, you do not want to close out your connection to the West Leaves, but you can speak freely in Deitsch or English.

Here is where you can state in more detail to the spirits what your purpose is (for them to meld with the static spirits in order to awaken them within the plant material of the Butzemann, to give the breath of life to the Butzemann, etc).

Your promise is to name and to take care of the Butzemann, to honor his purpose, to make offerings to the spirits within him, to aid him in the care of his "children," etc.  This is an oath and you must abide by your words.

Most important: you must promise to relieve him of his duties at an appropriate time and to help the melded spirit within him to return to the otherworld. This is an oath. It must be kept. He must be burned between the autumn equinox (Erntfescht) and Allelieweziel (Halloween).

----------- Butzemannsege -----------

Ich geb zu dir der Ochdem. Loss dei Megge aufaerweckt sei.

(Breathe onto the "mouth" of the Butzemann),

Intone the "Ansuz" rune (known also as "Antwatt" in Deitsch) and draw the rune with your right thumb over where the mind's eye would be on the Butzemann. If skilled in otherworldly experience or in runes, do this repeatedly until you sense that you have received the rune back in response from the now-activated spirit.

Alternate: Intone the Ansuz, Berkano, and Laguz runes while drawing the runes upon the Butzemann. 

Now give a name to the Butzemann. There is a traditional naming convention. Please see http://tinyurl.com/crjohmm for more information. The only thing I would add is that a first-generation Butzemann would have the appellation of "der Nei" follow his name (if his name is Arnold, he'd be 'Arnold der Nei').

Be sure to keep a record of his name. You will need it when he is burned. In fact, consider calling him by his full name frequently. The naming serves as recognition of, and respect for, the plant spirits as beings.

Der Butzemannsege watt gschlosse.

The Butzemannsege is closed.

----------- Closing -----------

After the activation rite is completed, it is important to serve as a bridge back.

Ich bedank mich zu de Ziewe un de mitleidiche Blanzeseele. Ich schteh noch zwische em Hatzholz un de Weschtbledder, fer die zerickzuschteige. (I thank the deities and the compassionate plant spirits. I stand still between Midgard and the West Leaves for them to go back).

Ich bin die Brick. 

(I am the bridge)

Ich bin die Brick.

Ich bin die Brick.

Der Kannsege watt gschlosse.

The Ceremony of the Corn is closed.

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Copyright 2014

Robert L. Schreiwer
Published by Deitscherei.com
Bristol, PA