Spring equinox ceremony
Ritual Outline
The altar is set up, food islaid and the fire prepared. Incense may be lit, music played and introductionsmade. The circle is laid out using the nearby natural resources, whether it bestones, twigs, leaves, etc.
THE GUARDIANS
Here we ask the guardianspirits of the place and time their permission to work our ritual in their area-
Hail Guardian Spirits of thisplace! We come here in peace and with clear intent. We come here to celebrateThe Spring Equinox. We ask, with respect, that you accept our presence. HailGuardian Spirits of this place!
THE CALL FOR PEACE
We will now make the call forpeace.
May there be peace in theNorth! May there be peace in the South! May there be peace in the West! Maythere be peace in the East!
(each call for peace to be madeby the person who will be calling the quarter. May there be peace in the North!May there be peace in the South! May there be peace in the West! May there bepeace in the East! If done in this order, the call for peace will flow alongthe lines of the pre-Christian equal armed cross, also recognised by the NativeAmericans for their medicine wheels).
We who are gathered here, wecall for peace in this land. We call for peace in our hearts and minds andtowards our fellow beings.
THE CIRCLE CASTING
Sacred Ones, spirit of the oakthat stands before us, spirits of the heath that surround us, dryads and devas,all you who have heard our intention, we ask with respect that you encircle usknow, branch reaching branch, leaf touching leaf, roots beneath our feetentangling, that our Circle may be strong, a nemeton of inspiration, reverenceand learning, in the name of the Gods whose power we both breathe, we ask thatthis be so.
(A moment is given to allow thedevas and dryads to form the circle)
We give our energy to thiscircle, mingling and communing with those of the spirits of nature to create asanctuary of peace.
(Energy is pushed out from theparticipants to mix and strengthen the circle The ritual leader gathers theenergy and fills in any gaps or weaknesses in the circle).
Let all here draw their mindsinto the presence of their bodies, that thoughts may be melded with flesh,blood and bones, that the spirits of those gathered may be blended in onepurpose, one voice and one sacred space. Soul to soul, we weave our circle,spirit to spirit, that none may enter this sacred space but those who come in tunewith our intention and in peace. Soul to soul, spirit to spirit, we ask thatthis may be so.
CONSECRATION
Pour water into the Well,saying:
"By the Goddesses ofWaters
By the Gods of Waters
By the Powers Under the Earth
I give thanks for the Waters ofthe Well.
Let this vessel be as theTriple Well of Blessing in this Sacred Grove."
Light the Incense, saying:
"I kindle this Fire
To be a symbol of Magic
To be a symbol of Claiming
To be a symbol of Inspiration
To welcome the Gods and Spiritsto this Sacred Grove."
CALLING THE QUARTERS
I call upon the Spirit ofthe North, the Earth Mother, the Great Bear, to be with us in our sacred rite.
I call upon the Spirit of theEast, the Skyfather, the Great Eagle, to be with us in our sacred rite.
I call upon the Spirit of theSouth, the Firebrother, the Great Dragon, to be with us in our sacred rite.
I call upon the Spirit of theWest, the Rainsister, the Great Whale, to be with us in our sacred rite.
THE SPIRITS OF PLACE
We call to the spirits ofplace, to those of Land, Sea and Sky, to those of the three worlds to be withus in our sacred rite.
CALLING THE ANCESTORS
We call to the ancestors ofbody, mind and spirit to be with us in our sacred rite. To our ancestors whosetears and blood, joy and happiness have been felt upon this land, whose songscourse through our blood, and whose spirit lives on through our celebrations,we call to you to be with us in our sacred rite.
INVOCATION of the Goddess andGod is made.
I call upon my lady of thestars and moon
To the Bringer of dreams andtwilight
I call upon my lady of the loom
The Weaver of fates in thenight
I call upon the Lady of theLake
The Singer of the Evensong
I call upon the maiden motherand Crone
The Goddess alive and strong
I call upon the Lord of the Sun
The Rider in the sky
I call upon the Lord of theWinds
To the Eagle as he flies
I call upon the King Stag
To the son, lover and sacrifice
I call upon the Lord of theWildwood
The God laughing, free and wise
THE DECLARATION
We are gathered here to witnessthe time of balance, the turning of the seasons and the year, to understanddeeper and more fully this time and place. We honour the many faceted nature ofall things, and the duality of what we know, for life cannot exist withoutdeath.
(Here people are now welcomedto call out dual aspects of nature that they feel symbolise this festival, suchas "light" "dark" "dawn" "dusk""spring" "autumn" "warmth" "cold", etc.
THE RITUAL ACT
One stands before the groupto bless and accept offerings as the Lady of Spring
Each person is invited to bringto the Lady of Spring a gift for her to receive, or something special for herto bless. Gift that are appropriate are things such as food, flowers, anythinghomemade that is also biodegradable. Things to be blessed by Her may be seeds,a handful of soil from the garden, etc.
The Lady of Spring declares thefollowing:-
"The Spirits of Winter'sDarkness are now behind us. The dark fertile earth of our sacred land ishonoured, the start of a new cycle. We now honour the Spirits of Summer'sLight, shining ahead of us. Blessings of Spring!
The Awen chant is now made,symbolising the inspiration that comes with the growing light).
THE FEAST
The food and drink is blessed.
May the Goddess and God and thespirits of this land bless this food and be thanked for their sustenance.
The ale/mead/wine/juice isblessed.
Goddess, bountiful EarthMother, bless this and suffuse it with your love.
The bread is blessed.
God, powerful Sky Father, blessthis and may it lend strength to us.
The drink is held high abovethe head. Thanks be to the land! The cup is then passed to the next person, whothe toasts and passes the cup to the next person. When all have drunk the firstperson takes the cup and pours a measure onto the ground or lake. Thanks be tothe Goddess!
The bread is held out before.Thanks be to the land! The bread is then broken and passed in similar fashion.A measure of bread is then laid out. Thanks be to the God!
Everyone raises their hands tothe sky and says - Free the spirit, free the land! (Say this three times).
The food comes out and everyoneis invited to celebrate!
Poetry, artwork and music shouldthen be shared round the circle by those who have been inspired by this moonand this festival.
When the feasting is done,honour and respect are paid to the Goddess and God, the spirits of land, seaand sky, the ancestors, the four quarters (those who called the quarters nowbid them hail and farewell in much the same manner as they were called), thespirits of the heath and of the oak and to each other. The circle is thenclosed-
We now return the energy thatwe have spent in creating this circle back to our bodies and souls and the landwhich sustains us, in peace and with the blessings of the God and Goddess. (Amoment is taken to release the personal power put into the circle.)
THE CLOSING
May the Spirits of this Placehave been nourished as much as their presence has nourished us. GuardianSpirit, we give you thanks. This celebration ends in peace as it began. May theblessings we have received go with us all as we depart this place, to nourish,strengthen and sustain us until we meet again. So may it be!
The rite has ended!