SPRING EQUINOX CEREMONY
Preparations: A wheel symbol stands on the altar; it may be anything that feels suitable a cut out disc painted yellow or gold anddecorated with spring flowers, a circular mirror, around brass tray.
The High Priest's robe, if any, and accessories should
be symbolic of the Sun; any metal he wears should be gold, gilt,brass or bronze.
The altar, if indoors, should be decorated with
springflowers particularly the yellow ones such as
daffodils,primroses, gorse, or forsythia. One banquet should be ready forhanding to the Spring Queen, and a chaplet of flowers for
hercrowning. The Spring Queen is one of the younger women in the
Coven.
The cauldron is placed in the center of the circle, with
an unlit candle in it. If outside, and conditions permit, a bonfire is made ready to light. A taper is placed ready on the altar for the
Maiden to carry fire to the High Priest.
A phallic wand is on the altar.
Half as many cords as there are people present are ready
on the altar, tied together at their center point in a single knot. If there is an odd number of people, add one before dividing by two.
As part of the feasting and offering to the Gods, you
can use hard boiled eggs with painted shells. These symbolize the
World Egg, laid by the Goddess and hatched by the heat of the Sun of the God.
The High Priest moves to stands in the East, and the High Priestess in the West, facing each other over the unlitbonfire. The High Priestess carries the phallic wand in her right hand. The rest of the Coven
distribute themselves aroundthe rest of the perimeter of the Circle.
The High Priestess says:
"We kindle this fire today
In presence of the Holy Ones,
Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,
Without fear of aught beneath the Sun
But the High Gods.
Thee we invoke, O Light of Life,
Be Thou a bright flame before us,
Be Thou a guiding star above us,
Be Thou a smooth path beneath us;
Kindle Thou within our hearts
A flame of love for our neighbors,
To our foes, to our friends, to our kindred all,
To all men on the broad earth.
O merciful Son of Cerridwen,
From the lowliest thing that liveth
To the Name which is highest of all."
The High Priestess holds the phallic wand on high and walks slowly
deosil around the bonfire or cauldron to stand in front of the High Priest. She says:
"O Sun, be Thou ready to conquer the Dark!"
The High Priestess presents the phallic wand the High Priestand
then steps to one side.
The High Priest holds up the wand in salute and replaces it on the
altar.
The Maiden lights the taper from one of the altar candles and
presents it to the High Priest. The Maiden then steps to one side.
The High Priest carries the taper to the bonfire and lights it. He
gives the taper back to the Maiden, who blows it out and replaces it on the altar. She then picks up the cordsand gives them to the High Priest.
The High Priestess arranges everyone around the fire, man
facing woman as far as possible. The High Priest hands out the ends of the cords in accordance with her instructions,retaining on end of the final cord himself and handing the other end of it to the High
Priestess. If there is an oddnumber of people, with more men then
women, he holds on to two cord ends himself, or if more women then
men, the High Priestess does the same. Either way, both of them must be linked with two members of the opposite sex.
When everyone is holding a cord, they all pull the cords taut,
with the central knot above the fire. They then start circling deosil in the Wheel dance, building up speed, alwayskeeping the cords taut and the knot over the fire. Any chant can be used that sounds good.
Then the Coven all sit in a circle round the fire. The
HighPriest gathers up the cords, being careful not to let them get
burned and replaces them on the altar.
The High Priest names one of the women to be the SpringQueen
and stands her in front of the altar. He crowns her with the chaplet of flowers and gives her the Five Fold Kiss.
The High Priest steps back and calls forward each man in turn
to give the Spring Queen the FiveFold Kiss. When the last man has done so, the High Priest presents the Spring Queen with her bouquet.
Then, starting with the Spring Queen, everyone jumps over the
fire, singly or in couples, not forgetting to wish.
Farrar, Janet and Stewart; "Eight Sabbats For Witches"; Robert Hale 1983
Source: way-of-witch.blogspot.com
