~*Spring Equinox*~
March 22nd
©Thomas A. Launy. All Rights Reserved.
Preparation:
The High Priest should have prepared a yellow or white robe, or, if skyclad, he should have a gold crown. Two bouquets of spring flowers and pussywillows should be on the altar, and the Circle should be decorated with daffodils, crocuses, and dandelions. A crown of flowers should be on the altar, as well as a large, metal disk. A brass tray or cymbal works well. In the center of the Circle, the cauldron should sit with an unlit candle inside of it. You will need a wand for this ritual, and exactly half as many ritual cords are there are coven members. They should be tied together at the center by a single knot.
The Ritual:
Perform the Opening as usual, but omit the Witches' Rune.
The High Priest and the High Priestess should stand on opposite sides of the cauldron, facing each other, with the Priest on the East side and the Priestess on the West side. The High Priestess holds the wand in her right hand and says:
"We light this fire today 
In the presence of the Holy Ones,
Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,
Without fear of anything 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
Light thou, within our hearts,
A flame of love for all,
To our foes, to our friends, to our kindred all,
To all men on this wide Earth
O compassionate son of Cerridwyn,
From the lowliest thing that liveth
To the Name which is highest of all."
The High Priestess now raises the wand high above her head and slowly walks deosil around the Circle. She says:
"Great Sun, be armed to overcome the Dark!"
She then presents the wand to the Priest and steps aside.
The High Priest raises the wand high once, in salute to the Gods and places it on the altar.
The youngest coven member lights the candle (from the cauldron) and gives it to the Priest. She then steps aside.
The Priest carries the candle back to the cauldron and replaces it. The youngest coven member then picks up the cords from the altar and presents them to the Priest.
By this time, the High Priestess should have arranged everyone around the cauldron, male facing female. The High Priest hands one end of the cords to each person, giving one to the High Priestess and saving the last for himself. When each coven member is holding a cord, they all pull the cords taught, so that the central knot is suspended in the air above the cauldron. They then dance deosil, still holding the cords, chanting the Witches' Rune, being careful not to let the knot touch the candle flame. The dancing continues until the High Priestess shouts:
"Down!" 
At which point, the coven sits in a Circle around the cauldron. The High Priest gathers the cord ends from each person and replaces them on the altar.
The cauldron is now moved beside the East candle and the Great Rite is performed.
After the Great Rite, the High Priest chooses one of the female witches to be the Spring Queen and stands with her before the altar. He crowns her with the crown of flowers and gives her the Fivefold Kiss. He then calls forward each man of the coven to give the Fivefold Kiss to the Spring Queen. When this is done, the High Priest gives the bouquet of flowers to the Spring Queen.
The cauldron is returned to the center of the Circle, and everyone jumps over the cauldron, making a wish for the spring to come.
The ritual has ended.
All information contained on this page is from my personal Book of Shadows.
©2001NyWitch
