washing and anointment of the feet

the intention of this ritual is to establish a bond of service (ideally mutual but without expectation or obligation), strength, and protection between two lovers through an act of humility. it reflects the affection one has for another, respecting both as cocreators of the relationship. it identifies a willing and acknowledged inequality in this relationship - a powerful being expressing subservience and desire to satisfy.

purification

wash your hands well, and close your eyes to situate yourself in the space.

> i ask for guidance and protection to bless this space and act. may there be no cruel intent in my words or deeds, no binding and no obligation. goddesses, cleanse and banish these negative influences and spirits.

drop salt into small vessel.

intention

> i seek to honor and serve, and to let this action reflect my true nature to this lady before me. i seek to share my strength, to offer my protection, and to be her champion. i do so willingly, with longing affection and this bond of intention. to express this i request your acceptance. oh, my lady, do you accept?

assuming yes:

> my gracious nature thanks you. i entreat on you and the goddesses as follows to invoke the vision of beauty triumphant:

> unto what awful power shall I call?

> to what high fane?—ah! see her hovering feet,

> more bluely vein’d, more soft, more whitely sweet

> than those of sea-born venus, when she rose

> from out her cradle shell. [0]

singing the praises

> i come bearing these words of praises, that sing of the new life.

pause.

> tanto gentile e tanto onesta pare

> la donna mia quand'ella altrui saluta,

> ch'ogne lingua deven tremando muta,

> e li occhi no l'ardiscon di guardare.

> ella si va, sentendosi laudare,

> benignamente d'umiltà vestuta;

> e par che sia una cosa venuta

> da cielo in terra a miracol mostrare.

> mostrasi sì piacente a chi la mira,

> che dà per li occhi una dolcezza al core,

> che 'ntender no la può chi no la prova:

> e par che de la sua labbia si mova

> un spirito soave pien d'amore,

> che va dicendo a l'anima: sospira.

> such sweet decorum and such gentle grace attend my lady's greeting as she moves that lips can only tremble into silence, and eyes dare not attempt to gaze at her.

> moving, benignly clothed in humility, untouched by all the praise along her way, she seems to be a creature come from heaven to earth, to manifest a miracle.

> miraculously gracious to behold, her sweetness reaches, through the eyes, the heart (who has not felt this cannot understand), and from her lips it seems there moves a gracious spirit, so deeply loving that it glides into the souls of men, whispering: "sigh!"

— dante alighieri, la vita nuova, xxvi

preparing the water

> i draw water into this basin to bring you warmth, to ask for your mercy, and to honor your majesty and splendour. with this act, i link victory to the kingdom of the universe.

> i garnish this bath with the following ingredients:

> with salt for purification and abundance, and to honor the earth,

> with spikenard for wisdom and for your preciousness,

> with myrrh to honor, understand, and protect you woman to woman,

> with cinnamon to reflect the warmth of you as the sun of my heart,

> with frankincense for your beauty and to underscore these words,

> with aloe to link strength to beauty and beauty to strength,

> with petals of the rose for strength and bind these elements,

> and with coconut to link victory to foundation and unite these facets between us.

washing

> with these elements combined, i submit myself to the service of washing your feet, to know the divine, and to offer these aspects to you, in hope but not expectation that you return these to me. the washing of your feet roots victory to the kingdom of the universe.

wash feet in silence.