Benvenuto!
Cast the Circle and call Quarters… Pick up your Wand in your right hand, face your
altar, and with arms stretched out above your head, say:
“I honor Thee, Autumn Queen, and Thy consort, the
God of the Harvest.
The Wheel has once more turned, and the change
of season begins.
What will be is. What was will be.
The Equinox is upon us, and the time to reflect, at
hand.
All time comes together, here and now in this
sacred space.
And I, but a moment in time, feel the change as I
pass from one season to the next.
The Second Harvest has been reaped, and the time
of rest is deserved.
Go now My Mother and slumber.
Go now My Father and dream of rebirth.
I shall be here to greet Thee on Your return.”
Stand before the altar, holding aloft the basket of leaves, and slowly
scatter them so that they cascade to the ground within the circle. Say such words as these:
“Leaves fall,
The days grow cold.
The Goddess pulls her mantle of Earth around Her
As You, O Great Sun God, sail toward the West
To the land of eternal enchantment,
Wrapped in the coolness of night.
Fruits ripen,
Seeds drip,
The hours of day and night are balanced.
Chill winds blow in from the North wailing laments.
In this seeming extinction of nature’s power, O
Blessed
Goddess, I know that life continues.
For spring is impossible without the second
harvest,
As surely as life is impossible without death.
Blessings upon you, O Fallen God, as you journey
into
The lands of winter and into the Goddess’ loving
arms.”
Place the basket down and say:
“O Gracious Goddess of all fertility, I have sown
and
Reaped the fruits of my actions, good and bane.
Grant me the courage to plant seeds of joy and love
in
The coming year, banishing misery and hate.
Teach me the secrets
Of wise existence upon the planet.
O luminous one of the night!”
With arms still outstretched
lower your head and close your eyes. Contemplate what you have
just spoken. When ready, open your eyes and lower your arms. Pick up the apple and place it in
the center of the Pentacle/plate. Cut it crosswise with the Boline, to reveal the natural pentagram
at its core. Then lift half the apple, pentagram up, as if in offering, while saying:
“As the Wheel turns, the seasons pass, and the
years give way to the next,
Guide me most Wise Ones,
Lest I forget
Every beginning has an ending
And every ending is a new beginning.”
Take a bite of the apple. Put the rest aside to share later with the wildlife.
Close your eyes and feel the seasons pass within the circle from summer to autumn. When
ready, say:
“As the days grow colder, and the nights last
longer,
May I remember the summer past.
With sunlight fading, and hearth inviting,
My memories will warm my soul.
From a season of hard work and hard play,
I hear Mother’s voice calling me forward.
While I rest, shall She lull me, with songs of a
dream,
As close to Her bosom I cling.
Between the worlds I stand in this sacred place.
All time is here and now.
As I leave this circle, the season shall have
changed,
And I will have changed with it.
May I use the short time of Winter Finding
To draw the strength and power from within
As I quest for vision, understanding, and peace.”
Pick up the Bell with your right hand, and ring thrice, to toll the passing of
first 3 seasons of the year. Now place it in your left hand and ring once to usher
in the 4th and last season of the year. Place the bell on the altar.
“In Life is Death, and in Death is Life.
The Sacred Dance goes on and on
From whence we came, we shall return,
And come again.
Seasons pass, and pass again,
The circle stays unbroken
Heed the words of your child, here,
Through Your wisdom I have spoken.”
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