Here is the Butzemann ritual performed near New Port Richey, Florida on 7 February 2015. The Butzemann, or scarecrow, is a golem-like figure which is made from plant material and imbued with compassionate plant spirits for protection, prosperity, and other purposes.

Calling the Circle

South

We stand in the South, realm of Fire,

Ruddy host of our central pyre,

To summon the spirit of his empire

And be with us this day; hail and welcome!

West

We stand in the West, realm of Water;

Aqua blue, the alma mater,

And summon here her astral daughter

To be with us this day; hail and welcome!

North

We stand in the North, realm of Earth,

Primed to give new life its birth

To summon the spirit of his berth

And be with us this day; hail and welcome!

Ancestors

We stand in remembrance of Ancestors,

As gold light shines o’er all requestors.

Harkening to the days of yester,

May they be with us this day; hail and welcome!

East

We stand in the East, realm of Air,

White we behold her spirit fair,

And summon her from her vast light lair,

To be with us this day; hail and welcome!

God

Goddess

The circle is cast. The hearth is raised.

So mote it be!

Urglaawe Butzemannsege (Ritual of the Scarecrow)

The following is in German. English translation in the next section.

Stand in the realm of the Ancestors. Gesture to the North and to the East as you recite the following line, repeated thrice:

Dieser Boden, diese Luft

Remaining in the realm of the Ancestors, recite the following line. Lower your head and stand for a moment after recitation.

Ich bete, den Göttern die Erlaubnis, um in das himmlische Schleier neizuschteige.

Walk deosil from the realm of the Ancestors thrice, then walk to the realm of the West. Face the West and take a symbolic step (right or left?) forward while reciting the second part of the following line (“...schitt mit dem zweiten…”):

Ich stehe mit einem Fuß im Mittlegarten, und schritt mit dem zweiten, in die West-Blätter.

Turn to the realm of the Ancestors, then recite the following:

Ich rufe die mitfühlenden Pflanzengeister zu kommen, für ihre Nachkommen aus zu hilfe.

Walk deosil from the realm of the West thrice, reciting the following line with each cycle:

Ich bin die Brücke

Ritual of the Scarecrow (Urglaawe Butzemannsege)

English translation of the above section.

This ground, this air

I pray of the Gods the permission to traverse the heavenly veil.

I stand with one foot in Midgard and step, with the second, into the West Leaves.

I call upon the compassionate plant spirits to come for their offspring to help.

I am the bridge.

Notes on der Butzemann

At this point, you do not want to close out your connection to the West Leaves, but you can speak freely in Deitsch or English.

Here is where you can state in more detail to the spirits what your purpose is (for them to meld with the static spirits in order to awaken them within the plant material of the Butzemann, to give the breath of life to the Butzemann, etc).

Your promise is to name and to take care of the Butzemann, to honor his purpose, to make offerings to the spirits within him, to aid him in the care of his "children," etc. THIS IS AN OATH AND YOU MUST ABIDE BY YOUR WORDS.

Most important: you must promise to relieve him of his duties at an appropriate time and to help the melded spirit within him to return to the otherworld. THIS IS AN OATH. IT MUST BE KEPT. HE MUST BE BURNED BETWEEN THE AUTUMN EQUINOX AND ALLELIEWEZIEL (Halloween).

Breathe unto the mouth of the Butzemann, intoning the following words:

Ich gebe zu dir den Odem des Lebens. So Lebens sein, so soll es sein.

This means, “I give to thee the breath of life. Thus be life, so mote it be.”

Intone the "Ansuz" rune (known also as "Antwatt" in Deitsch) and draw the rune with your right thumb over where the mind's eye would be on the Butzemann. If skilled in otherworldly experience or in runes, do this repeatedly until you sense that you have received the rune back in response from the now-activated spirit.

Alternate: Intone the Ansuz, Berkano, and Laguz runes while drawing the runes upon the Butzemann.

Now give a name to the Butzemann. There is a traditional naming convention. Please see http://tinyurl.com/crjohmm for more information. The only thing I would add is that a first-generation Butzemann would have the appellation of "der Nei" follow his name (if his name is Arnold, he'd be 'Arnold der Nei').

BE SURE TO KEEP A RECORD OF HIS NAME. YOU WILL NEED IT WHEN HE IS BURNED. In fact, consider calling him by his full name frequently. The naming serves as recognition of, and respect for, the plant spirits as beings.

Closing

Return to the West, and, facing the Realm of the Ancestors, recite the following line:

Ich danke den Göttern und die mitfühlenden Pflanzengeistern. Ich stehe immer noch zwischen im Mittlegarten und die West-Blätter, und Gebot: Hagel und Abschied!

(I thank the Gods and the compassionate plant spirits. I stand still between Midgard and the West Leaves, and bid: Hail and farewell!) The others may, if they wish, repeat “Hail and farewell!” in English.

Walk widdershins from the realm of the West thrice, reciting the following line with each cycle:

Ich bin die Brücke

Releasing the Circle

South

We hearken to the South, realm of Fire,

And return his beacon to his empire.