EQUINOZIO
DELLA PRIMAVERA
SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2003
An Open Ritual led by Riannon-Lia of Wytches' Hill Coven
at the Request of New Moon New York
Held at The Center, Manhattan on March
23, 2003
PREP
TOOLS : 4 small vocational candles & votives 4 bowls for elementals with
stones, water, red candle, feather spirit bowl with alcohol & strega (small
bottle) spirit knife, snuffer, salt container , 2 bowls (one for water, one
for libation), large wooden pentagram and foil, bell, horn, wine for chalice,
chalice small cauldron for incense sticks. large black altar cloth, blue scarf,
small black cloth with pentagram, God & Goddess candles.
RITUAL 3 pouches, one for seeds, one for soil, one for offerings. A small
white cloth red with wine stain, white cloth, grape juice & sesame cookies,
paper cups, bowl for cookies, cord(red, white, black) olive oil for annointing.
The Ascent of the Goddess, as recorded by author Raven Grimassi in the
Primavera section of his book "Ways of The Strega" is broken up
into eight paragraphs and printed on eight numbered cards.
Cards also bear the Call to Dianus and the Call to Diana, which are also
taken from Raven Grimassi's book.
ROLES: HP, HPS, One to call Diana, One to call Dianus, Maiden, Eight persons
to read the Ascent of the Goddess. And, of course, a good accordion player.
OPENING
1. Cleanse area with brooms, HP & HPS.
2. Cleanse participants with salted water, HPS.
3.Take sea salt & mark out circle. PRIESTESS.
4. Trace gesture of power, wand & spirit knife, HPS.
5. LIGHT SPIRIT BOWL: HPS.
AWAKEN, NOW, SPIRIT OF THE OLD WAYS,
WITH YOUR REACHING BLUE ARMS
WAKE NOW, SOUNDLY, VERY SOUNDLY.
I WHO TEND THE ANCIENT FIRE CALL TO YOU,
AWAKEN, SPIRIT FLAME, AWAKEN.
6. LIGHT GODDESS CANDLE FROM BOWL:
DIANA, BEAUTIFUL DIANA, THINK FOR A MOMENT
ON WE WHO GATHER IN YOUR NAME.
DIANA, BELLA DIANA, PENSA PER UN MOMENTO A N0I REUNITE QUI NELTUO NOME.
7. LIGHT GOD CANDLE FROM BOWL:
DIANUS, GOD OF THE SUN. THINK FOR A MOMENT ON WE
WHO GATHER IN YOUR NAME.
DIANUS, DIO DEL SOLE, PENSA PER UN MOMENTO A N0I REUNITE QUI NELTUO NOME.
8. Ring bell 3 times over each elemental bowl. HP.
9. HPS circles deosil while reciting:
I CALL OUT INTO THE MISTS OF THE HIDDEN REALMS. AND CONJURE YOU SPIRITS OF
EARTH, AIR, FIRE AND WATER. GATHER NOW AT THIS MOST SACRED CIRCLE, AND GRANT
ME UNION WITH YOUR POWERS.
10. Ring bell 3 times over each elemental bowl & tap them each three times,
HP.
11. Place blade into bowl and gather the blue flame into spirit knife,
HPS, TREAD CIRCLE 3 TIMES BELOW, MIDDLE, ABOVE AND SAY:
IN THE NAMES OF TANA,TANUS AND BY THE OLD ONES,
I CONJURE THIS CIRCLE OF POWER,
TO BECOME A SPHERE OF PROTECTION,
A VESSEL TO CONTAIN THE POWER WITHIN.
WHEREFORE I DO CHARGE THEE.
LET NONE ENTER THAT MAY DO US HARM.
IN THE NAMES OF JANA/JANUS AND BY THE OLD ONES,
I CONJURE THIS CIRCLE OF POWER,
TO BECOME A SPHERE OF PROTECTION,
A VESSEL TO CONTAIN THE POWER WITHIN.
WHEREFORE I DO CHARGE THEE,
LET NONE ENTER THAT MAY DO US HARM.
IN THE NAMES OF FANA, FAUNUS AND BY THE OLD ONES,
I CONJURE THIS CIRCLE OF POWER,
TO BECOME A SPHERE OF PROTECTION,
A VESSEL TO CONTAIN THE POWER WITHIN.
LET NONE ENTER THAT MAY DO US HARM.
12. QUARTER CANDLES:
A participant for each quarter takes the candle from the quarter beginning
at the north, touches corresponding bowl, lights the candle from spirit bowl
and returns it to the corresponding quarter.
13. CALL GRIGORI
HP: RINGS BELL 3 TIMES AT EACH QUARTER
HP: I CALL TO THEE, 0 ANCIENT ONES!
THEE WHO DWELL BEYOND THE REALMS,
THEE WHO ONCE REIGNED IN THE TIME
BEFORE TIME.
COME! HEAR THE CALL!
ASSIST ME TO OPEN THE WAY, GIVE ME THE POWER.
OPEN WIDE THE GATES TO THE REALM OF THE GODS.
COME FORTH BY THESE NAMES:
HP: SOUNDS HORN 3 TIMES FOR EACH DIRECTION AS EACH ARE CALLED:
NORTH: TAGOI
EAST: ALPENA!
SOUTH: SETTRANO!
WEST: MEANA!
14. HPS SEALS CIRCLE BY TAPPING ALTAR WITH SPIRIT KNIFE 3 TIMES AND DECLARES:
THIS CIRCLE IS SEALED!!
MAIN RITUAL
1. HPS SAYS:
WE MARK NOW, WITH THIS TIME OF GATHERING, THE BEGINNING OF THE ASCENT OF OUR
LADY FROM THE HIDDEN REALM OF SHADOWS. FOR THIS IS THE TIME OF HER DESIRE FOR
THE LIGHT AND LIFE OF THE WORLD. WE ALSO MARK THE DEATH OF THE WOLF GOD, AND
THE SPLENDOR OF THE NEW YOUNG GOD, RAYED IN POWER, LORD OF THE SKY.
2. RITE OF UNION: ALL PARTICIPATE:
A. form a triangle above head and say:
GRANT US THY ILLUMINATION!
B. form a triangle on forehead and say:
GRANT US ENLIGHTENMENT!
C. Form a triangle at solar plexis and say:
ILLUMINATE OUR SOULS!
D. Lower arms and open in the position of the Goddess and say:
WE REVEAL OUR INNER SELVES TO BE CLEANSED AND PURIFIED!
3. CHANT TO RAISE POWER:
MIA AMORE TI VOGLIO BENE, COL TUTTO MIA CUORE.
4. BLESSING OF SEEDS:
HPS: Picks up the pouch of seeds and says:
BLESSED BE THESE SEEDS IN THE NAMES OF DIANA AND DIANUS. MAY THEY GROW STRONG
AND ABUNDANT, PROVIDING A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST FOR ALL. IN THE NAMES OF DIANA AND
DIANUS, SO BE IT DONE!!
HP PLACES SEEDS IN THE NORTH QUARTER.
5. THE MYTH OF THE ASCENT OF THE GODDESS:
Eight participants are pre-selected to read the numbered paragraphs, in
order, of the myth. The paragraphs are derived from Raven Grimassi's Ascent
of the Goddess in the Primavera section of his book "Ways of the Strega."
6. HP holds up God candle and says:
WHERE IS MY LADY?
He holds the candle and circles once to the East where the Goddess HPS
is waiting. He says:
MY LADY COMES TO ME AND I WELCOME HER WITH OPEN ARMS AND GREAT REJOICING.
ALL LIVING THINGS DO KNOW THAT SHE IS NEAR AND THE WORLD STIRS WITH LIFE AGAIN.
THE LADY JOURNEYS NOW TO RETURN HER ESSENCE TO THE FOREST, FIELD AND GLEN.
7. The Maiden picks up the God candle and circles once and stops in the
East and hands the candle to the HP. the HPS takes her own candle and says:
0 GREAT GODDESS OF THE EARTH, RETURN IN YOUR FAIR NATURE, LOVELY MAIDEN OF
YOUTH, JOY, AND LOVE. ONLY YOU CAN BREAK THE SPELL OF WINTER, AND ENCHANT THE
EARTH WITH YOUR ESSENCE HAIL TO THE GREAT GODDESS.
She hands the candle back to the Maiden. The Maiden sets candle down at
East.
8. The Maiden goes back to the altar and picks up the pouch of soil and
chalice, returns deosil to HP & HPS. She hands pouch of soil to HPS and chalice
of wine to HP. He pours a few drops of wine into the soil to moisten it. Priest
goes North and picks up the pouch of seeds. The HP pushes some seeds into the
soil and mixes it.
9. HP SAYS:
BLESSED BE THE PLOW, THE SEED, AND THE FURROW.
10. The HPS then takes cord from waist of HP and binds the Maiden to him
and Priest says:
BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THE GODDESS. SHE WHO IS FANA, LADY OF THE EARTH. SHE
WHO IS JANA, MISTRESS OF THE MOON. SHE WHO IS DIANA, RULER OF THE UNIVERSE!
Priestess says:
BEHOLD THE POWER OF THE GOD. HE WHO IS FAUNUS, LORD OF THE EARTH. HE WHO IS
LUPERCUS, MASTER OF THE HEAVENS. HE WHO IS DIANUS, RULER OF THE UNIVERSE!
11. Maiden hands a seed to each participant who envision into it their
wishes, desires for a moment. She collects the seeds and places thenr into the
pouch containing the seeds & soil.
12. The HP & HPS then take the candles and circle 3 times deosil and say
OUR LADY AND OUR LORD ARE THE POWER IN ALL THINGS-THIS EARTH, THE SKY AND BEYOND!
13. DANCING, SINGING TO TRADITONAL ITALIAN SONGS. TRADITIONAL RING DANCE.
MAKE MERRY!!!!
14. CAKES &ALE:
At the altar, the chalice and cookies are placed. Both HP &HPS trace a
crescent over both. HP picks up wine and says:
BY VIRTUE OF THIS BLADE, BE THIS WINE THE ESSENCE OF THE GREAT GODDESS.
HPS says:
BY VIRTUE OF THIS BLADE, BE THESE CAKES THE ESSENCE OF THE GREAT GOD.
11A HP:
BY VIRTUE OF THIS BLADE, BE THIS WINE THE ESSENCE OF THE GREAT GODDESS.
12. HP & HPS:
THROUGH THESE CAKES AND
BY THIS WINE, DIANA AND
DIANUS BLESS US.
GIVE US INNER STRENGTH
AND VISION. MAY WE COME
TO KNOW THAT WITHIN US
ARE THE THE ESSENCES
OF THE GREAT GODDESS & GOD.
MAY THIS BE SO.
15. THANK GOD & GODDESS
ALL SAY:
WE THANK THEE, AND PRAISE THEE,
0 MOTHER AND FATHER OF US ALL.
GO IN PEACE IF YOU WISH,
STAY IF YOU LIKE.
AVE VALE!!
16. FAREWELL TO GRIGORE & QUARTERS; HP:
HEAR ME OLD ONES! I HONOR YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENDANCE AND BID YOU NOW
FAREWELL. DEPART TO YOUR HIDDEN
REALMS. WITH PEACE I SAY NOW
NORTH: AVE VALE, WEST: AVE VALE,
SOUTH AVE VALE, EAST: AVE VALE.
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