Smooring

From Traditional Witchcraft Wiki Project

Smooring,(or to smoor/ smore/smure) or subduing, the fire is a practice wherein the fire is allowed to die down and smolder without being extinguished, thereby enabling the fire to be kept going throughout the night without the need for fueling it. The definition of smoor is to suffocate or smother.

In the rite the embers of the fire are raked out evenly on the hearth to make a circle, which is then divided into three equal parts, a small boss (raised area) left in the centre. A peat is laid between each section, each peat touching the boss, which forms a common centre. These three peats are traditionally laid down in the following order to the following Gods:

• 1. The God of Life.
• 2. The God of Peace.
• 3. The God of Grace.

The circle is then covered with ashes to subdue the fire, yet not put it out, in the name of the Three of Light. The heap slightly raised in the centre is called 'Tula nan Tri,' the Hearth of the Three. When the smooring operation is complete the woman closes her eyes, stretches her hand, and softly intones one of the many formulae current for these occasions.

The sacred Three
To save, To shield, To surround.
The hearth, The house, The household.
This eve, This night, Oh! this eve, This night, And every night, Each single night.
Amen.