Grove of Caer Brigid – Eostre Ritual August 5th 2000




Altar Setting: 2 white candles and a pink candle (all lit), blue and white candles (unlit), a taper,
a phallic wand, garland, sweets, flower-petals, incense. Fire is set in cauldron but not lit.
Quarter candles are in place and lit, trees decorated with ribbons.

RED
Introduce Ruth and Jarred to the Grove.
Say a few words for Maggie & Graham.
Light blue and white candles.

 HPS
We gather today to celebrate the Spring Equinox, the third spoke on the
ever-turning wheel, of the year. It is a time of balance, of equal days and nights.
Soon the sun shall reclaim its power.

I do will that this be a circle of Power and Love….
A Circle that will be a meeting place between the worlds, a sacred space
where we can share the joy, peace, and energy of this season.
This circle shall contain and protect the power we shall raise within it.
By the power of the Lady and the Lord, in all their many names, do I bless this circle.

As it is willed, so be it

WATCHTOWERS (opening):

East:
To the East I call upon you, Elementals of Air.
Let your fresh breath blow through this Circle.
By the falcon flying in the clear air,
we bid you welcome here!

North:
To the North I call upon you, Elementals of Fire.
Let your passion flow through out this Circle.
By the fire in the blood of the stag at the heat of the hunt,
we bid you welcome here!

West:
To the West I call upon you, Elementals of Water.
Let your emotions and intention permeate this circle.
By the swimming of the swift salmon in the great ocean,
we bid you welcome here!

South:
To the South I call upon you, Elementals of Earth
Let your compassion and bounty nurture this circle.
By the immovability of the Great Dragons of the deep earth,
we bid you welcome here!

Invocation of the God:

HPS
I call now on the young Lord of day, reborn at Winter Solstice.

Come! Join us, bring us your light and joy and energy as we celebrate
the Spring Equinox, that magick time when light and dark are in balance.
Descend upon this your servant and priest and through him touch the God within us all.

Invocation of the Goddess:

HP
I call to the Earth mother, the ever constant yet ever changing Goddess.
Come! Join us, bring your love and knowledge and understanding,
as we celebrate the Spring Equinox, when the land is just beginning to show that which was promised at Imbolc.
Descend upon this your servant and priestess and through her touch the Goddess that dwells within us all.

HPS
We kindle this fire today
in the presence of the Holy Ones.
Without malice and jealousy;
Without fear of ought beneath the sun,
but the High Gods.
We invoke you, O light of Life.

Be thou a great 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 neighbours, To our foes, to our friends,
To our kindred all,
To all men on the broad earth. O Merciful son of Ceridwen,
From the lowliest thing that liveth.
To the Name which is the Highest of All.

HPS
The High Priestess holds the phallic wand on high and walks, slowly
sunwise round the cauldron to stand in front of the HP and says:

"O Sun, be thou armed to conquer the Dark!"

The High Priestess presents the wand to the High Priest and steps to one side.

HP
The High Priest holds up the phallic wand in salute and then places it on the Altar.
The one to be crowned as Spring Queen then lights the taper from one of the
Altar candles and presents it to the High Priest. She then steps to one side.
He takes the taper and goes to the cauldron and lights the fire within it.
He gives the taper back, and it is blown out and replaced on the altar.
The High Priest then asks the woman who is to be Spring Queen to stand in front
of the altar. She should preferably be skyclad but for a white cloak or veil.

Behold the Spring Queen!
With the frozen earth of Midwinter
and the spark of new life at Imbolc behind her,
and with the wild passion of Beltane
and the fierce heat of Midsummer yet to come;
she stands in perfect beauty,
in the perfect clarity of Spring air,
and in perfect balance before us.

He crowns her with a chaplet of flowers and gives her the blessing of the five fold kisses:
she may uncover completely if she so desires.

Blessed be your feet,
that have brought you to this place;
Blessed be your knees,
that have knelt before the altar of the Gods;
Blessed be your womb,
without which we would have no being;
Blessed be your breasts,
that sustain all life;
Blessed be your lips,
that shall speak the words of the Mighty Ones.

He then invites all the men to give the Spring Queen the five fold kisses in turn
when the last man has done so sweets are blessed by HPS and HP,
and flower petals by the new Spring Queen.
They are passed around the circle sunwise, starting at the left of the altar.
All should take a sweet, shower the next person in the circle with petals,
and then pass it on (a kiss is optional here).

WATCHTOWERS (closing)

EAST:
Elementals of Air,
for the fresh breezes you have brought to our circle,
we thank you, and bid you
Hail, Farewell and Blessed Be!

NORTH:
Elementals of Fire,
for the energy of passion that we have felt in our circle,
we thank you, and bid you
Hail, Farewell and Blessed Be!

WEST:
Elementals of Water,
for the flow of good feelings you have brought to our circle,
we thank you, and bid you
Hail, Farewell and Blessed Be.

SOUTH:
Elementals of Earth,
for the promise of bounty to come that we have felt in our circle,
we thank you, and bid you
Hail, Farewell and Blessed Be.

HPS:
As we are about to leave this sacred place of friendship and love,
remember that the whole world has a claim on our kind works.

HP:
Be you all of one mind.
Do good unto all; and may the Gods of love

and peace delight to dwell within you and bless you.

May all beings and elementals attracted to this rite
depart on their way, harming none.

HPS:
Merry meet, and Merry part,
and Merry meet again!

Blessed Be!

ALL:
Blessed Be.

The ritual is ended – dinner is served