Spring Equinox 2003 arranged by ---Shining Spider- 2003 The astrology of today: Moon- waning (3rd phase- Virgo) The myth of the Spring Equinox/Vernal Equinox/Ostara: The Spring Equinox is a celebration of balance and growth. Once again night and day are in perfect balance. Days are growing longer as the sunlight soon begins to overtake the night. The Goddess blankets the Earth with fertility as she bursts forth from Her Winter's rest. The young God stretches and grows to maturity as he walks the greening fields and delights in the abundance of nature. Snow melts and gives way to rain as the whole world begins to thaw. I. Creating A Sacred Space A. Cleanse space B. Ground and Center C. Call Elements D. Cast Circle II. Calling And Honoring the Divine Today we will be honoring the Greek Goddess Eos. In Greek mythology, EOS was the goddess of the dawn. From her island home of Aiaia, in the river Okeanos, she rose up into the sky each morning in a golden chariot drawn by winged horses scattering the dark mists of the night with her rosy brilliance. Aphrodite tells the story of Eos and her abducted lover Tithonos. When Eos went to Zeus to request immortality for her mortal lover, Zeus nodded and made it so... however, Eos did not ask for perpetual youth for Tithonos. As the years passed, he aged and, finally, lost all strength in his limbs. Eos, with love and pity, put him in a private room and shut the shining doors. We can only assume that he is still there. It is through Eos that we honor the growing sun, the culmination of life, and the knowledge that spring will not last forever. A. Spring Symbols: 1. Seeds- In ancient Italy in the spring, women planted gardens of Adonis. They filled urns with grain seeds, kept the in the dark and watered them every two days. This custom persists in Sicily. Women plant seeds of grains--lentils, fennel, lettuce or flowers--in baskets and pots. When they sprout, the stalks are tied with red ribbons and the gardens are placed along roads on Good Friday. They symbolize the triumph of life over death. 2. Egg- Many of the myths hold that the egg is sacred to life on earth. It represents life just as a circle can represent eternal life. The golden orb of its yolk represents the Sun God, its white shell is seen as the White Goddess, and the whole is a symbol of rebirth. 3. Flowers- Spring is when wildflowers bloom and shoots grow out of the new soften soil. While other plants like fruits and vegetables take long to ripen, flowers bring an immediate beauty to the season. III. Pathwork A. Striking Balance * The Priestess takes a skein of black wool and goes to each participant in turn. She asks them: “what binds you?” When they reply- saying, for example, “ guilt” – she binds their wrists lightly repeating, “ Guilt binds you; guilt binds you.” Other members begin the Kore Chant. All softly repeat: She changes everything She touches And everything She touches changes The other priestess (volunteer) follows the Priestess asking each bound member “where must you go to be free” Each replies with one of the four directions- which embodies the quality she feels she most lacks: For example, the East. The leader replies: “Go to the East and free your mind (use spirit for the south, emotions for the west, and body for the north). Each participant goes to the appropriate direction, meditates on it’s quality (still changing softly), and passes the binding through smoke, flame, water or earth. The chant slowly builds. At the peak (drumming?) the priestess cries out “now!” All break the bindings, shouting out and beginning to dance, sing, chant or whatever they are inspired to do. The 2 Priestesses gather the flowers and go around to each participant saying ‘Take what you need” IV. Spellwork – A. Connecting with the Earth ** Gather around the plant provided. Touch the plant. Connect with its energies and, through it, all of nature. Travel inside it’s leaves and stems through your visualization- from the center of your consciousness out through your arm and fingers and into the plant itself. Explore its inner nature; sense the miraculous process of life at work within it. After a time, still touching the plant say: We walk the earth in friendship, not in dominance or ownership. Goddess and God , instill within us through this plant a warmth and respect for all living things. Teach me to revere the Earth and all its treasures May I never forget. B. Make a growth charm out of a hard-boiled egg -- decorate it with symbols, write on it the quality you would like to manifest more fully within yourself, energize it, and then eat it. V. Thanking A. Poem: SPRING*** How can spring not inspire? Even now with stone ground slowly mellowing into soft mud I want to run barefoot and drink in the softer breezes. Can you feel it? Can you tap into the sense of new-ness; the sense of hope and of growth? Avoid the distractions that encircle and cage us daily. Let your house grow silent except for the birds chirping a welcoming cacophony. Let your mind be still except for whatever motion joy brings. B. Thank Eos C. Thank the elements D. Break the space VI. Crafts and Dinner! A. Flower Bouquets Incense recipes: (we used Incense #1) Ostara Incense 1 part Jasmine 1 part Rose 1 part Strawberry leaves 1 part copal 5 drops rose essential oil Credits: Striking Balance * - ‘The Spiral Dance’ by Starhawk Connecting with the Earth **- ‘Wicca a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner’ by Scott Cunningham SPRING*** by Laura Craig Mason |