Hartu erritu: Deuna Ageda

A Rite for the Receiving and Taking of Saint Agatha

Here brought to hand by Azyazza ShinAr, Anno Lucis 6013

The feast of Saint Agatha of Sicily is a widely

celebrated Feast in Euskalerria. It is celebrated on
the 4th-5th of February, during the Winter
Cleansing period known as Ihauteria. Saint
Agatha, known in Basque as SantAgeda,
DuenAgeda, or simply Ageda, represents a
profound mystery whereby the land purifies and
vivifies itself through Pruning.

Within modazaharrak, there are many ways of

working with Ageda; the short rite that follows is a
distilled observation that any can undertake as
ingress into this ahat.1

On this Feast Day, as the earth begins to awaken

in the Northern Hemisphere in the promise of
things to come, it is Sant'Ageda that assures us
that we will have food enough to share with those
who come to our door. From the bosom of the
breastless one, milk shall flow to feed us all!

For my brothers and sisters in the southern

hemisphere, although the Light is now diminishing,
may the promise of the fortune to come help you
through the dark of the winter to be. May you
have sustenance in the trying times and know that
in community lies the promise of love and
friendship, as precious as any food. May the
Pruning of Ageda help prepare you for the
Dark.May we let go of all that needs to be let go!

Milk from the Blood of the Breastless one! Blood and milk to nourish the land! Blood and
milk to nourish the children of the True Cross! Hurrah ya!

+++

1ahat, aat, aht: doorway to power, ahal (power) + ate (door) > ahalate> ahalat> ahat, aat, aht
 Hartu erritu: Deuna Ageda
A Rite for the Receiving and Taking of Saint Agatha

The rite should be performed by those in the Northern Hemisphere on the Vespers of the
Feast by the Dark of Night, and for those in the Southern Hemisphere, during the Feast Day
proper by the light of early Day.

The witch should be bathed, clean of appearance, and and dressed in a manner that allows
comfort inside and outside. A makila2, milk, red wine, candles, both red and white cloth and
an idol or image of Ageda are needed, along with an amount of money and a small meal
(bread, cheese, and blood sausages are traditional, but let the faculty of Spirit determine
appropriate offerings).Additional offerings to the Deuna are always welcome. Prepare a small
table as a place of working, or set up hearthside, adorning the space with white and red
cloth, the image or idol of Ageda being shrouded in white, resting on a dish.

This Feast is under the governance of the Faithful Serpents Epaizar (Vega), Argituargi
(Aldebaran), and Arrautzargi (Procyon), and under the protection of Erditse (First Mother),
Aatxegorri (Red Bull) and Martin Txiki (Blacksmith), always under the Watchful Eyes of
our Queen.

Light a candle at your hearth, or in the kitchen with the words:

Irten irten o Amari

Carry the candle to your place of working. Let this candle serve as a witness to the Rite,
placing it under the protection and aegis of the Lady of Anboto herself. If you have a sickle,
the candle may be placed upon it, and allowed to rest near the place of working.Care should

2 A makila is a length of hardwood used as a walking stick. There are ornate forms that are shod with metal
and are signs of high honor, especially for the beltzakizonak (Men in Black), and made of the wood of the
medlar (Mespilus germanica), a wood particularly tied to the Serpents. For these purposes, a cane, walking stick,
length of raw branch or milled dowel will suffice. Medlar or ones patron wood are most auspicious, but any
wood can be used.
be taken to make sure this flame does not extinguish for the length of the rite, even if a
second candle is lit from the first.

Offer a Pater Noster and seven, fourteen or fifty six Ave Marias, in latin, euskera, or your
native tongue.

Light two candles for the Deuna, flanking her image, making sure to light the candles from
the Queens fire, using the word:
Deunatzat!3

Using your own words, call to her gently and lovingly, awaken her from her slumber, and
reveal her eidolon with the words:
Baimena, Esnatu!4

Upon seeing her visage, pause for a period of fourteen breaths, and salute her by the
following:

Eskuz-esku
Ene esnaldiz
Ene eskuzuziak
Esnatu, ene esnedun!
Esnatu, ene esnagarri!

Bulargabe!Bulartsu!
Bulargabe, Bularremale, Bulartu!5

Feel now the Deunas presence. Offer saliva with the word: Zuretzat.6

Take this moment to meditate on what needs to be pruned within your life. Name these,
slowly, pouring a small amount of red wine to the eidolon with each naming, letting the wine
pass over Ageda and collect in the plate below.When you have finished, seal these with the
words:

Mina! Mina! Mina!

Bularrondoko bat!Bularmina bat!
Esne ta odol!
Mina! Mina! Mina!7

3 for the Saint

4 With permission, Awaken!
5Hand in hand, My vigil, My torches,
Awaken, my Milk Maid!Awaken, my Awakening!

Breastless One! Courageous One (literally Big-Breasted)

Breastless One, Wet Nurse, Nurse us!
6 For you
7 Pain! Pain! Pain! A blow to the chest! A pain in the chest! Milk and blood!Pain! Pain! Pain!
With this, you will seize the candles from either side of Her and extinguish them against
your own breast, letting the pain feed the Pruning, exclaiming the words:

Zuremina, Niremina.8

Place these same candles into milk, pausing for fourteen breaths. When you have gathered
yourself, drink half the milk, pouring the remainder over the Deuna with the words:

Deunatzat!9

The candles should be placed into the collection

plate as well, taking care they not damage the
eidolon.

Here again offer a Pater Noster and seven,

fourteen or fifty six Ave Marias, in latin, euskera,
or your native tongue.

Take the Deuna up and place her on the red and

white of the working surface. If you care to offer
flowers, offer them now. Take up the bowl, your
hand now draped in red cloth (not to obscure the
bowl, but so that the hand is covered in cloth, the
plate or bowl holding the remaining wine and
milk resting upon this). With your other hand,
take up the makila and walk outside.

Once outside, proceed to walk around your home,

with the Sun if in the North, against it if in the
South.Tap the stick against the ground vigorously,
calling the earth to awaken, either in silence or
with each blow say the word:

Esnatu!10

Circumambulate your house three times in this

manner, so that you end up again at your Front
Door. Each time you pass the front door of your
house, take a sip of the liquid. After the third and final pass and sip, let the plate or bowl
be emptied of its contents on the ground here at the door, making sure to get the liquid on
the door as well, reserving only the candles. Here light them again at your door, leaving one
just outside the door, and entering with the other, bringing light into the house birthed by
the pain of milk and blood.

8 Your pain, my pain.

9 For the Saint.
10 Awaken!
Return to the place of working, and set the lit candle by the Deuna. Prepare your meal. Set
out a small amount of money, and eat with joy and song at the feet of Ageda. If any should
come to your home during this time, you must share food with them, and give them money,
and song. If no visitors show, in the next few days, the money should be given to those in
need, preferably hand to hand, accompanied by a small amount of food, in the name of
Ageda, often in trade for a song. When you have finished your Feast, end the rite with the
cry:

Hurrah ya!11

Let the candles burn until expired, and keep the eidolon visible for a week, making offerings
as spirit guides you, always making sure to share food, money, and song with any guests that
may arrive during these days of Renewal.

Ageda is a powerful force of purgative renewal. May the milk of the Breastless One give us
courage in the year to come! May we take our Fate by our own hands, that this period of
Ihauteria prepare us for the joys to come!

Hitza hitz + Hala bedi + Hurrah ya!

-Xabier Ilodol Bakaikoa Urbeltz, Azyazza ShinAr

Candlemas, Anno Lucis 6013, Etxe Goitia

Traditional Song for Bezpera Deuna Ageda

Zorion, etxe hontako denoi!
Oles egitera gatoz,
aterik ate ohitura zaharra
aurten berritzeko asmoz.
Ez gaude oso aberats diruz,
ezta ere oinetakoz.
Baina eztarriz sano gabiltza,
ta kanta nahi degu gogoz.
Santa Ageda bezpera degu
Euskal Herriko eguna,
etxe guztiak kantuz pozteko
aukeratua deguna.
Santa maitea gaur hartu degu
gure bideko laguna.
Haren laguntzaz bete gentzake
egun hontako jarduna.
Happiness to all in this house!
we are calling, door to door
as an old custom with the
intention to renew this year.
We are not rich in money,
or shoes, but walk with healthy
throat, and we want to sing.
We are on the eve of St. Agatha,
Day of the Basque Country,
The day we chose to fill the house
with joyous singing.
Holy Dear One today we have
taken our friend off the road,
With your help we can fill
hope this day.
Felicidad a todos los de esta casa!
venimos llamando,
de puerta en puerta como una vieja
costumbre
con intencin de renovarla este ao.
No somos muy ricos en dinero,
ni en zapatos.
Pero andamos con la garganta sana,
y tenemos ganas de cantar.
Estamos en vspera de Santa gueda
da de Euskal Herria,
El da que hemos elegido para llenar
las casa de alegra cantando.
Querida Santa hoy hemos cogido
a nuestro amigo del camino.
Con su ayuda podemos llenar
de esperanza este da.

11 The sorgins cry of Already it is done!