Spring Equinox
Submitten by
Lady of the Lake, Priestess of the Coven of Avalon

Special Notes: Balance of light and dark.  Sowing time in the north; earth cycle of plant and animal fertility, spell producing, new beginnings.
        Altar supplies:  incense, burner, chalice of water, salt, pentacle, athame, 4 element candles, cauldron with red candle, chalice of wine, wand, dish for burning, paper and pen, bell.  Coloured eggs and spring flowers for decorations.

        Cast circle.

        Take up your wand and raise your arms in greeting again and say:

        Behold, the Lord and Lady of life and the giver of life.  Without her Lord, The Goddess is barren.  Without his Lady, the God has no life. Each is needful of the other for completion and power, as Sun to Earth, the spear to the cauldron, spirit to flesh, man to woman.

Light the candle in the cauldron.  Rap the cauldron lightly with the wand, say:

        O Great Goddess, be with me now in you aspect of the Maiden, the fair one who brings joy and new life.

Ring the bell once and say:

        O Great God of renewal, be with me now in your aspect of the Lord of the
Forests, the Horned God who brings warmth and love.

Rap the cauldron once more with the wand.

        May the strength of the old enter into the new.  Great Lord and Lady, make all things strong and giving of new life.  Blessed Be.

Put a little incense on the coals and carry the burner again around the circle deosil.  Put the burner back on the altar and raise your arms, saying:

        Awake!  All creatures in the realm of Earth, awake!  Greet the Maiden and her Lover, who herald the coming of spring.

Touch the parchment paper with the athame, saying:

        Now I cast behind me darkness of Winter and the past.  I look only to that
which lies ahead.  This is the time for me to plant seeds in the physical,
mental and spiritual.

Write on the paper your desires for the coming year.  Write only one desire on each paper.  Fold the papers and hold them up over the altar in offering to the Old Gods.
        This is a joyous time, a time for planting.  With joy and trust, I place these requests in the hands of the Goddess and her Lord.

Light the papers one by one from the candle in the cauldron and drop them into the dish for burning.

        These thought-seeds do I willingly place into the hands of the Lady and her Lord, that these desires and dreams may manifest and become reality.
Blessed be the Old Gods!

Place the wine chalice in the pentacle for a few moments, then lift it
high, saying:

        Honour to the Old Gods!  Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again.

Drink the wine, saving some to be put outside for the little people.

Close the circle.

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