This ceremony is performed
as soon as is practicable
after a death in the ty corff
(house of the deceased).
The stone or jewel
representing the person is lying on Yr Allor.
The appropriate Gwahoddiadau
are made. KS & K at Allor.
K . "The tower of height,
The walls of time,
The echoing hall of near and far,
The dust-decked rafters hung with care -
These house our mortal wandering;
This transient dwelling-house
We dare call 'Life'.
Our abode in its heaviness
Is but one state of being,
For 'though our flesh perish
As the aged flower falleth,
WE DO NOT PERISH!
Behold death is a journey
'cross waters of calm
To the hidden Gate of Pedryfan,
That strength be revived,
Returning ensured.
Remember well, O children of time,
That as each tide doth ebb
It sinks not in death,
But floweth to
The deep ever-living wide sea,
To shoreward return
At th'appointed hour.
Lo every passing,
Every returning
Are journeys
Which measure the Circle of Abred.
In each mortal span
Are we burnished upon Sidin's Wheel,
Till our brightness be meet
For the Halls of Kaer Fedwid,
The Ancient Ones' Blessing,
Eternity's Crown.
Yea ALL THIS IS LIFE!
And so our sister/brother NAME yet liveth,
But by the stream of blessedness
Within the forest of contentment,
Where the soft breath of The Lady
Doth fan her/his face in greater reality."
Ms. "Brenhines Y Plant
And First Mother of The Warband,
Draw nigh this night to weave a path
For NAME Thy child,
As she/he departs for
The Bright and Turning Tower.
Help her/him understand
That all care is past,
All pain is o'er,
And the trials of mortal life
Be at an end.
Stretch forth Thine hand to her/him
That throughout her/his being may flow
The comfort of a mother,
Banishing all her/his doubt
And all her/his fear."
Ks. "Gwyn ap Nyddwr, Royal
Guardian
Of Kaer Ochren's Gate,
Hold Thine Yscwyd
O'er this child of The Warband
To protect her/him as she/he journeys
In the Shadowy Barque
To Kaer Pedryfan's hall of cheer.
Let the sound of Thy horn go forth
'cross the River of Death,
That a joyful welcome await her/him,
And that loving hearts
And hands of kinship
Greet her/his journey's end."
Y Korn is sounded by M. during each of the following calls.
Ms. (To Morn:-)
"Perthynasau Mawr Y Gwyntoedd,
Our call soundeth forth.
Bridge the waters that divide
To stand at the left hand of our sister/brother
On her/his journey from this lowly Cantrydd.
(To Noon:-)
Perthynasau Mawr Y Flam,
Our call soundeth forth.
Bridge the waters that divide
To stand by the head of our sister/brother
On her/his journey from this lowly Cantrydd.
(To Even:-)
Perthynasau Mawr Y Don,
Our call soundeth forth.
Bridge the waters that divide
To stand at the right hand of our sister/brother
On her/his journey from this lowly Cantrydd.
(To Night:-)
Perthynasau Mawr Y Ddayar,
Our call soundeth forth.
Bridge the waters that divide
To stand at the feet of our sister/brother
On her/his journey from this lowly Cantrydd."
The jewel is taken by Ks.
or Ms. on Y Carreg round
the Kaer whileKs. says the
following. K. or M.
who appears as Gwyn holds
Yr Yscwyd overhead
during the journey.
Ks. (At Night:-)
"The casket of Aranrot empty lies -
A burnished jewel hath floated
Unseen from its depths.
As when a flower be snatched
From our grasp,
Its perfume yet doth longtime linger,
Lo the gleam of this bright gem
Will ever warm the hearts
Of such as loved and knew
Or even briefly touched.
(At Even:-)
Now here by Wydyr's flood
A wave doth break
Upon the barque of peace,
And from the traveller
Fall the chains that bound her/him
To The High Queen's Garden Royal.
(At Noon:-)
Kaer Gwydyon's beacon,
Like a golden blade,
Doth pierce the twilight of eternity,
And clear a far-off haven marks;
While in the marking,
Clothes the past
In shadows of forgetfulness.
(At Morn:-)
By th'enchanting winds
Of Colur's battlements,
The cloak of time is loos'd,
And in the freshness
Of this lofty Kaer,
A breath of newer life is given
To move the tides and fires within
To greater height.
And in that morning hour
The whisper of the First and truest Mother
Doth she/he hear.
(At Night:-)
Kaer Sidin's wheel is stilled,
Its labours o'er,
And as its rim doth cease a-turning,
Lo through golden cloud
Looms Kaer Pedryfan motionless -
Its bridge full lowered
And portal in wide welcome flung.
Its treasure-house a royal jewel awaits.
The welcoming horn of Beleu sounds;
The Mother smiles."
The jewel is replaced on Yr Allor.
K. "Let The Great
Portal of Night be opened
And
the bridge be lowered
For a last riding-forth
Of a lady/lord of The Warband."
This is done by a porter.
Ms. "Farewell, merch/mab Y Gwerin,
Thou who departest
Through the Great Portal.
With lightness of heart
And joy in thy breast,
Journey thou safely -
Journey in peace.
Be The Lady thine unseen
Companion and comfort,
And Gwyn, The Great Prince of The Gates
Be thy Guide.
Bear thou our greeting
To those who await thee.
Our love goeth with thee;
Our thoughts are around thee.
Ffarwel, NAME."
All "Ffarwel, NAME."
SILENCE & VISUALISATION
K. "Rais'd
be the bridge
And closed The Mighty Gate.
Let her/his journey by soft winds be tended,
Our thoughts her/his unseen companions."
Diod-offrwm to Lady & Lord during the following:-
K. "Brenhines Y Plant
And ever-hidden Mother
Of The Warband,
I thank Thee for
Blessing Y Gwerin
With Thy gracious Presence.
Ere Thou withdrawest
to Kaer Rigor,
Ffarwel, Arglwyddes."
Ks. "Prince and Father
of all,
I thank Thee for
Thy Presence and Power.
Ere Thou withdrawest
To Kaer Rigor,
Ffarwel, Arglwyd."
Ms. "Perthynasau Mawr
And Sentinels of The Gates,
I thank Ye for Your vigilance.
Ere Ye ride forth
To The Four Kaerau,
Ffarwel, Kedymdeithyon."
Final Diod-offrwm
Copyright © Gareth Pengwerin 1991