Ritual to Tyr

This rite, unlike the others above, is an example of a ritual that is not only devotional but purposeful. It is to be done for Tyr when you must do a hard thing that is the right thing, and you are well aware that you will suffer for it. Perhaps you will lose a friend, or your job, or your family, but that pales against the need to do what is right rather than what is easy. If you are in this hard place – choosing right-doing and personal honor with the sure knowledge that you will, indeed, suffer for this choice – then this ritual calls on Tyr to aid and strengthen you in your cause. Sometimes the world is not fair, and we must endure pain in order to do right.

However, before you do this rite, you should meditate for a long time on the cleanliness of your motivations. Be certain that this doing is necessary; are you sure that great harm would come to others if you were silent or inactive? Is there a simpler way to do this? Are you sure that you know the whole truth of the situation? Is any part of your motivation vengeful, or over-proud, or coming from self-righteousness? Is this a deed that would have more impact if it were done by someone else, someone who may well be the better one to do it? It is an insult to bring this matter before Tyr with hidden motivations or impulsive choices.

For this rite you will need to go at sunset to a lonely place, and bring with you a red candle and a knife or sword of some kind.

Hail to the One-Handed God!

Hail to Him whose name is Honor

And whose Word is iron,

Who alone never shirks the thankless task

Whose reason is Lawful Necessity.

Hail to the Lord of Swords,

Who gave a weapon-bearing hand

To see that what must be done was done in truth.

                (Kneel and light the candle.)

Hail God of the sunset, last single ray of light,

Lord of loyal morality, whose name none takes in vain.

(Catch the last rays of sunlight on the blade of the knife or sword. Lay your forearm against the earth, and, very carefully, lay the blade across it.)

Now must I face loss to do what is right,

O Lord Tyr, and I do not ask for your aid

To take away that loss, that I might hope for ease of action.

As you stood forth knowing you must lose to win,

So I ask only that you keep my back straight,

My arm strong, my hand from trembling,

My voice from faltering, my words from vanishing,

My head up, and my resolve unyielding

As I reach into the challenging maw of my own future.

Slowly and in silence, turn your hand over and lay your palm flat on the ground, with the blade of the sword under it. Tell Tyr what it is you will do, and then, as soon as possible after this rite, do it. Tyr will lend you strength, but you must not falter after you have promised it to him.

Artwork by Julian Tejera.