Fall Equinox 2003 arranged by ---Shining Spider- 2003 The astrology of today: Moon- waning moon enters Librav The myth of the Fall Equinox: Night and day are once again at a balance. The sun is descending in the west, and as each day shortens, the time of night and introspection lengthens. The Autumnal Equinox, coincident in the Northern Hemisphere with Harvest time. I am sure that besides the ‘Halloween’ displays you have seen an abundance of apples and the beginnings of other ‘harvest’ foods from y0ur grocers to road stands. So while we are gathering the fruits of our labor, we are noticing how soon the sun sets, and the limitations of this growth and bounty. I Creating A Sacred Space A. Group Meditation (ground and center) B. Cleanse Space with salt water and incense C. Call Elements as group D. Cast Circle II. Coming Together A. Re-enforcing the elements together chant*: We honor the energy of the elements within us. We are earth. We are dark, we are heavy, we are substantial. We are grounded. We are water. We are fluid, we are clear, we are vital. We are renewed. We are fire. We are bright, we are hot, we are intense. We are passionate. We are air. We are light, we are movement, we are open. We are changed. B. Calling And Honoring the Divine To call the Goddess** (Aspect Mother) a participant reads: Apple Goddess Goddess of fullness and ripe scent and being Mother of growth progression change without fear of death change without fear of change Mother of divine transformation tonight we honor thee To call the God** (aspect Father) a participant reads: Tree God God of height and process Father of growth and sun life without fear of death life without fear of living Father of experience tonight we honor thee C. Myth: When the Romans conquered Britain they brought with them the apple tree. The apple was representative of the goddess Pomona, the goddess of fruit trees. As the Apple Mother she was known for her great beauty and fertility; a goddess who gave the apples of eternal life. Roman banquets ended with apples and an invocation of Pomona’s blessing. Her Consort was Vertumnus who is mostly remembered for his shape-shifting power and his seduction of Pomona. Now that we have covered the ‘traditional’ mythology of the holiday I thought we could discuss a non-traditional (but certainly well known and pertinent icon) goddess or image surrounding the apple- snow white. Like so many faerie tales or cultural folklore there is a lot of goddess imagery in this story: the old crone like stepmother, the young innocent youth. What was Snow White's downfall? Not the woodcutter, not the elves (nature) but rather a poisoned apple. Apple being the old archetype for wisdom and life, and the newer icon of evil (or human downfall) there is a lot to read into this. It could just be a cautionary tale of tainted food, or of the old medicine women in the village that was suddenly no longer trusted. Or we could turn the tale on it's ear again and take it as a warning.... beware of any gifts given, or rather always keep context in mind. Don't just take the old lady at face value...or the crone, the priestess, the pagan author, or the person just met. There are times in our life that we take advice in the form of the poison apple. I’m not saying we should all become untrusting or bitter people.. there is enough of that in the world. What I’m saying is every choice we make should be informed, and we should always keep in mind that what was good for us a year ago, may now have gone bad, or may not be the right match for us anymore. In the center of the circle is an apple basket. This is a spiritual offering to her, and to ourselves. As we leave tonight, we will take an apple with us. These are untainted apples, apples blessed by ourselves and our intrinsic wisdom and knowledge of our self. It is in knowing ourselves, and our own limitations that we know who near us we can rely on. III. Pathwork A.--- Ideas of inspiration, gatekeepers and sorting the two to find our true selves. B. Meditation*** Close your eyes. Settle your mind Breathe in deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Find your pulse slowing into a deeply soothing rhythm. Feel the air around your limbs, face and ears cooling. Smell the air and notice how it is now richer, and deeper and refreshing. You now realize that it isn’t that your eyes were closed, but rather that you were looking into the velvet dark night. Along the horizon that last red and pink trails of sunset disappear while the rest of the sky is a soothing black. you are standing outside of an old forest. You can smell the rich, dank earth, and hear small creatures waking up and scurrying for their first meal of the day. These senses you are experiencing are reassuring. Breathe them in and enjoy them. Listen for branches bending, and for the feet of the mouse, and the fox. When you are ready, step into the woods. It only takes a moment to be completely surrounded by foliage. The ground is a patchwork of shadow and moonlight. As you slowly walk north you realize that you can't even tell from what direction you stepped into the woods, and you fear that you could be lost. Right as you think this you bump into a faerie: you meet a lanky faerie with a sad face looking almost like a lion. He tells you that his name is Ilbe the Retriever. His blue and white whiskers glow in the night like strands of spider's silk. He seems a bit shy, or maybe just wise enough to know when to keep his mouth closed You walk together on a moonlit path, telling him about dreams uncompleted, and important things forgotten. He helps you pick your way through the forest's wild path alerting you to fallen branches and slippery stones, all the while gently listening to your heart. The path ends suddenly at a giant tree. A large sweet grin spreads across Ilbe's face He gives you something shining and tells you to put it into your pocket. this shining thing will come back to you by dream, or memory or inspiration...that is his gift to you. While you were looking down at this shining object, Ilbe had faded back into the night, leaving you alone in the forest. You stare forward at the thick tree. You can not see the top of it because of it's hight...and at the forest floor roots peak out of the dirt; roots as thick as your arm. You notice the moss at the base of the tree is moving.... or rather posing as moss is a green man with moth like wings. You ask the faerie man his name and he proudly boasts that he is Bodache and he offers to help you. Each offer he gives sounds more convoluted and ludicrous. He reminds you of someone... maybe yourself, maybe a pattern, maybe a space, maybe a friend. Here you must tell him to go on his way. Alone in the woods again, you lean against the tree looking out into the still night. Let your back slide down the tree until you are sitting. Now at the ground, and a bit calmer you realize that there is a small shimmering pool right in front of you. On it's inky surface star light reflects and twinkles. It is here you see the Singer of Initiation. It is here you know what you learn what to remember, what skill or dream to pick up, and what to throw away so that come Samhain you can go into this tree. The singer opens their mouth. what they tell you forms no words, only emotion. IV. Spell-work - A. Raising Energy- Let us dance in celebration of all that has been learned, and in joy of all of your bridges crossed. Let us send up energy thanking our guides, and ourselves. Chant: Powerful Song **** by Pandora, Starhawk, and Rose May Dance Powerful Song Of Radiant Light Weave Us The Web That Spins The Night. Web Of Stars That Holds The Dark, Weave Us The Earth That Feeds The Spark V. Thanking A. Share in --apple-- B. Thank the god/dess C. Thank the elements D. Break the space Incense: provided by the Store Credits: v Chant * by Lee Lanning and Nett Hartv God/dess Invoking Poetry ** by Shining Spider Meditation *** by Shining Spider Powerful Song **** by Pandora, Starhawk, and Rose May Dance Crafts- Pinecone Wish Bugs Supplies: small pine cones; googly eyes; glitter; watered down glue; paint |