NMR ISSUE 46

Abundance Circle
Activating Miraculous Success
And Now for Something a Little Different
Astrological Forecast 46
Circle of Fire
Circle of the Stars
Dolphin Magick
Earwig & Cow
Editorial 46
Esoteric Symbology of the Tarot
Finding the Goddess in Ancient Greece
Hear O Humankind
Letters 46
Magick in the Forest
Making the Break
Old Ways to Celebrate New Life
Other Editorial 46
So True, So Real
Spring Equinox Rite
The Lesson of the Tree
The Portrait of the Beast
To Be a Witch
To Pythia
We Are Everywhere
Weasel, Black Beetle & Plover

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Spring Equinox Rite

By Kathryn

This ritual is to celebrate the arrival of Spring and to feel its energies within us. Prepare the altar with spring flowers, a bowl of seeds, a wand and a green bag for each participant. Cleanse the sacred space with Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Go deasil round the edge of the Circle with incense then with saltwater, or according to your tradition. Cleanse each participant with sage smoke from a bundle or a smudge bowl and anoint their foreheads with oil. Cast Circle. The High Priestess visualizes the white glowing circle of energy surrounding the sacred space as she marks the boundary walking deosil with sword, athame or wand. Or cast according to your tradition.

High Priestess:We now celebrate the awakening of the Earth and the return of beauty and of fruitfulness. Life has quickened forest, meadow and field. Let us celebrate the return of the gentle times.East:
The East! The sylphs! The knowledge! The wind! Positive forces! I call you in! Blessed Be!South:
The South! The drakes! The hearth! The fire! Aid this night in our desire! Blessed Be!West:
The West! The meres! The love! The water! I conjure our needs into matter! Blessed Be!North:
The North! The gnomes! The roots! The grove! Bring your gifts! I make it so! Blessed Be!Maiden:
The Center! The spirit! The life! The force! I call you now to open your doors! Blessed Be!High Priestess:
We greet you, o loving and gracious Lady of the Earth, Matron of the Field and of the Meadow, Queen of Forest and of Stream, giving love, passion and beauty. Grant here your gentle, laughing and magickal presence. Enjoy our rite as do we, and grant us of Your power to enchant and to create. Blessed Be!

High Priest:

We greet you, o laughing Lord of the Greenwood, Guardian of the Wild Things, friend and protector of those who seek the wilderness. Grant here your joyous, potent and enlivening presence. Enjoy our rite as do we, and grant us of Your lust for beauty and for life. Blessed Be!

Cone of Power: Raise the energies of the Cone of Power with chanting, singing, dancing, drumming or whatever strikes you. This ritual was envisioned with the 2001 OM, so called because it is reminiscent of an early scene from that movie. Participants stand in a circle, holding hands. They begin oming softly in their lower registers and slowing bring it up (along with their hands) as high and as loud as they can, ending with a shout and then silence to release the energy. Don't worry that everyone has their own pace and key like jazz, it's supposed to sound that way. Afterward, the High Priestess guides participants in a short meditation. All sit in a circle, eyes closed. Take three deep breaths.

High Priestess:
Tonight we celebrate the renewal of our Mother Earth and the renewal of our own lives at this sacred spring season. But before we can be reborn, we must know death. We must venture into the underworld of darkness before we can be reborn into the newness of light. Before you is a spiral staircase winding down into the Underworld. As you move down the spiral, the light becomes less and less. Keep moving down the spiral. [pause]Step now into the Underworld of darkness. There is no light. Inhale the darkness, become one with the darkness. It is cold yet comforting strangely familiar. You feel safe. Feel your pulse diminish and grow fainter. Sit still and feel the darkness encompass you like a shroud. Listen to the quiet and be at peace. [pause for several minutes]Feel now a fire in your belly. The fire of life and rebirth which stimulates the desire to move and sing and dance. You feel the urge to leave the safety of the darkness and return to the light. Your pulse begins to quicken and grow stronger. You begin to ascend the spiral staircase moving closer to the light. You see it now, faintly at first, but as you climb upward, the light grows brighter and begins to warm you. Keep climbing up and up out of the darkness and into the light. The light baths your body in warmth. Listen to the birds sing and be at peace. [pause several minutes]When you are ready, open your eyes and return to the circle. Now all participants who wish can share their meditation experience. Afterward, all participants, while remaining seated in a circle, hold hands and begin the Goddess chant: Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna. Once the energy is flowing, the High Priestess moves to the altar and picks up the bowl of seeds and the wand. She carries them to the Maiden who begins stirring the seeds with the wand.

High Priestess:
As you stir the seeds with the wand, think of what seed of an idea you would like to plant and that it may grow into an opportunity a quality like patience or perseverance, or maybe the opportunity to do or create something. Send your energy through the wand and into the seeds as you stir. Visualize your seed of an idea growing stronger and brighter. Resume the chant:
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna.

The Maiden, when finished with her visualization, passes the bowl of seeds clockwise. Each participant in turn stirs the seeds, visualizes and passes the bowl clockwise until the bowl returns to the Maiden. The Maiden blesses the seeds.

Maiden:

Lord and Lady, receive these our seeds. Let them germinate in our minds and our hearts. Let them prosper and grow to maturity for we shall care for them and encourage them in your names.The Maiden then passes out the green bags to each participant. The bowl of seeds passes around the circle again as each participant fills their bag while chanting:She changes everything She touches, and everything She touches changes. Continue the chant until all have filled their bags.

High Priestess:
Take these seeds and plant them either in your yard or a flower pot. Care for the seeds, water them, sing to them, watch them grow. As they grow, see your idea growing and becoming the opportunity you wish to create.

High Priest:
These rites of Spring belong to us all; to us and to the gods. This is a time of joy and a time for planting.Cakes and AleBless and share the cakes and wine, according to your tradition.

Closing:

High Priest:
O Laughing Lord of the Greenwood, we thank You for Your powerful presence here. We have been honored to have your spirit here among us. Hail, Farewell and Blessed Be!

High Priestess:
O loving and gracious Lady of the Earth, we thank You for Your enchanting presence here. We have been honored to have Your spirit here among us. Hail, Farewell and Blessed Be!North:
The North! The gnomes! The roots! The grove! Fare thee well! I send thee home! Blessed Be!West:
The West! The meres! The love! The water! Fare thee well! Back you go to Gaia's cauldron! Blessed Be!South:
The South! The drakes! The hearth! The fire! Fare thee well and never tire! Blessed Be!East:
The East! The sylphs! The knowledge! The wind! Fare thee well, with peace I send! Blessed Be!Maiden:
The Center! The spirit! The life! The force! I ask you now to shut the doors in perfect love and perfect trust. Hail and farewell! Blessed Be!

Close Circle. The High Priestess visualizes the energy surrounding the circle dissipating back to the earth as she walks widdershins around the edge with sword, athame or wand. Or close according to your tradition.

High Priestess:
The Goddess and the God and the Earth itself have been honored. This rite of Spring is done. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again!