The Fates are beyond goddesses and gods; they are considered forces of nature. They flow of energy, matter, and meaning. The Fates or Norns are called the three Weird sisters. They spin, weave, and cut the thread of each life and are believed to be the writers of the Book of Life. The Norns are dressed in white and red and black. What they rule must be. There are many names for the Fates: The Greeks called them the Parcae; the Romans, Fata; in Northern Europe they were the Norns, who governed people's 'wyrd,' or fate, and for Anglo-Saxons, the 'Weird' were those who could foretell the future. When they are being kind they are called the three Graces. As the Graces their names are Aglaia (Radiant), Euphrosyne (Joy), and Thalia (Flowering)and they are the companions of Aphrodite. When the Fates are angered, they are called the Furies; then their names are Alecto, Tisiphone, and Magaera. They cannot be avoided. It is said that the Fates are the daughters of Necessity. They have no father. They sit under the Tree of Life and enforce natural law.

"The Furies"

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The Norns

The Fates Gathering in the Stars
Elihu Vedder
1887

In Northern Europe the Norns from the Germanic traditions sit in a deep cavern.They are named in Old Norse: Urdh, Verdandi, and Skuld. Urdh is the past. She owns the Well of Life and the Tree of Life, which is fed by the well. Verdandi, whose name means 'that which is becoming,' rules what is going on right now and her symbol is the full loom. Skuld is one who governs that which must be. Her symbol is the crescent knife. They provide the original model of the all the triple goddesses, such as Hecate and Brigid. The Norns are the original maiden, mother, and crone.

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Other Names: Classical Connections

Primavera (section)
Sandro Botticelli

Another name for them are the Moirae who are the three sisters, robed in white, who decide on human fate. Lachesis sings of the things that were, Clotho those that are, and Atropos (or Atropus) the things that are to be. Of the three, Atropos or Skuld is the smallest in stature, but the most terrible and feared. Z. Budapest tells us it is she that comes to men as a terrible hag, asking for a kiss or marriage, and if he is kind to her, she becomes a beautiful woman. Not even Zeus is beyond the power of the Fates and that he is subject to their whim. That would make the Fates the most powerful of all the deities. The Fates are said to have invented seven of the letters of the alphabet: alfa, vita, ita, taf, iota and ipsilon.

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Folk History

Budapest explains that each Norn is in charge of a different stage of our life, as the Maid, Mother, and Crone. As we age, we should say goodbye to one Norn and welcome the next through ritual. Z. described her ritual of saying goodbye to Verdandi and welcoming Skuld.

The English name for the Fates comes from the Latin word fata. In the singular, the word was fatum, meaning 'a divine utterance,' the will of a god. When a child was a week old, the fata scribundus were invoked to 'write' a good destiny for the newborn babe. The fata, with the birth goddess Eileithyia, both established and predicted the child's destiny. The word fate, fatum, comes from the same root as the words fairy and fay.

Z. Budapest's heritage from her mother included working with the Norns. Her mother would work with the winds of each direction, calling her circle by calling the winds; opening a door or window if she were inside. Then she would face North, the direction of the Fates and talk to them about her problem. Z. tells us that these ladies like red, and when we are honoring them to leave out red wine or juice, eat red food in their honor; leaving some for them.

There is an ancient rhyme that Z. shares with us in her book for the new moon. Kissing your hand three times say, "Everything that is mine is thyne, Everything that is thyne is mine, Tout Tout throughout and about". Kissing your hand is considered a very old form of prayer and when you do this, imagine kissing the Goddesses' cheeks.

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Ritual

The energy brought forth when working with the Norns is different than other circles cast. The bringers of Natural Law create a circle of raw energy older than the Gods themselves and this should be kept in mind when casting a circle with their help.

"WINDS OF CHANGE RITUAL"

This can be done on the new moon.If possible do this outside.

You will need:

Two glasses of red wine or juice
3 candles - black, white, and red with Peorth carved on them
3 red apples
matches, pen, paper, and a fireproof container.

You can use a wand or athame to cast your circle if you prefer.

Set up your altar facing North - the directions of the Norns. Place your items on the altar.

Facing North call forth the North Wind thinking of what you associate with the North. Say,

"Mother Wind come to me, bless and protect my circle".

Casting your circle face East, saying,

"Father Wind come to me, bless and protect my circle".

Continue around to South, saying,

"Shaman Wind come to me, bless and protect my circle".

Facing West say,

"Ancestors' Wind come to me, bless and protect my circle".

Standing in front of your altar, light your candles calling on each Norn: Urdh, Verdandi, and Skuld. Place one cup of wine or juice in front of the candles, using the other to toast the Norns saying,

"Blessed be the Fates!"

Taking your pen and paper write down what you would like to change. Then talk to the Mothers. Tell them about it, talk to them as if they were sitting across the table from you. Listen to what they have to say.

When you are finished, burn your paper. If you have juice or wine left, toast the Norns again, thanking them for their help. Scatter your ashes around the circle.

Open your circle, put the apples in the garden as an offering. Let the candles burn until they extinguish with the glass of wine by it. When they are finished pour the wine/juice in the Earth. Blessed Be!

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Sources

Summoning the Fates by Z. Budapest
Myth Man's Homework Help Center: The Fates
CGFA - A Virtual Art Gallery
Ritual by Pamela C. Kelly/Spiralotus

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The White Willow
White Moon School