Vernal Equinox (Eostar)

 

Preparation:

A Symbol of the Wheel is on the altar, flanked with burning candles, or with fire in some form - torches, or small tripods with fire in their cups.

The Symbol of the Wheel may be a plain disc, or an eight spoked wheel, or the pentacle. Alex and Maxine Sanders used a circular mirror with a broad frame, also circular, decorated as a twelve-pointed star.

In the centre of the Circle is either a cauldron full of inflammable material, or (out of doors) a bonfire ready to be lit.

 

High Priestess casts the Circle.

 

High Priestess then stands in the West, and the High Priest in the East, both with carrying wands.

High Priestess:

We kindle this fire today

In the 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 neighbours,

To out 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.

 

High Priestess then draws invoking pentagram before the High Priest and then hands the Wand to him, together with the scourge.

 

The Maiden strikes a light and hands it to the High Priest, who lights the cauldron or bonfire. He (carrying a wand) and the High Priestess (carrying a sistrum) lead the dance, with the rest following in couples. Each couple must leap over the fire. The last couple over the fire before it goes out must be well purified. The man must then give a fivefold kiss to each of the women, as the woman to the men, or any other penalty the High Priestess shall decide.

 

Cakes and wine shall follow.

NOTES

• From Stewart Farrar's What Witches Do derived from Alex Sanders' BOS
• I copied the published version more or less as is. Notably I did not correct several logistic nuisances. A Coven may only have one Wand (of course some have more) this version of this ritual requires two. The HP is carrying his wand, when the HPS hands him her wand and the scourge, for no obvious reason. He has to just put down the lot (or hand them to someone), as the next thing he does is light the cauldron.