Autumn Equinox
(All enter the grove, and a chime is rung three times to signal the beginning of the rite)
Today we gather to celebrate the Autumn Equinox, and to give honor and offering to the Powers for the bounty of the harvest at summer’s end. From now until Yule the days’ length will wane, and we will enter the Dark Half of the Year. Today let us celebrate everything that the ripe earth has given us. Let us also give honor and offering to Mannanan mac Lir, our warder and Gatekeeper, as we stand on the threshold of the waning of the year.
To the Earth, our Mother,
The womb of all Being -
Accept our offering!
To the Awen, inspriring force,
The spark that burns within us all –
Accept our offering!
All you of the Primal Dark,
Outsiders, Nightmare spirits, banes –
This tithe is yours, this offering yours.
Leave us be, pass by in peace, and trouble us not in our working!
With Silver, the Well is Hallowed!
With Incense, the Fire is Empowered!
With this offering, the World Tree stands!
O Mannanan, son of Lir,
You who walk the ways between the worlds, We ask you,
Open the gates!
Let the Fire open as a gate, Let the Well open as a gate,
Let the Tree stand as the pillar of all being,
Let the gates be open and magic flow between!
We stand at the center of all worlds.
We are connected to all that is sacred.
Take a moment to be still, to center yourself and feel the flows of the Two Powers within you. (Brief Two Powers meditation follows.)
Shining Ones! Shapers of the World,
Hail and welcome to our rite!
Ancestors!
You who came before us and watch over us,
Hail and welcome to our rite!
Indwelling spirits of the land!
Unseen dwellers in this place,
Hail and welcome to our rite.
Mannanan, son of the Sea!
On this, the day of balance, as light shifts toward the darkness, we honor you!
Let our words of praise ring out like clear bells –
We ask you accept our offerings,
And bless us in return!
Anyone who wishes to make a personal offering may now do so.
Let the energy of our offerings flow through the gates between the worlds, that the Powers might receive them. Let our voices be heard, and let our praise flow between the worlds!
Having prayed to the Powers, let us now see what omen they have to give us. I will draw three staves, that we may know their advice and their will.
How have our offerings been received?
What advice or blessing do the powers have for us?
What further needs to the powers have from us?
With this drink we share in the Gods’ blessing, our gift for the honor we have given.
As you sip, think about what blessing it is you seek in return.
Shining Ones, we thank you for your blessing!
Ancestors, we thank you for your guidance!
Indwelling spirits, we thank you for your presence!
Mannanan, son of Lir,
For your presence and power, we thank you!
Now let the tide of magic ebb,
And all be as it was before.
Let the Fire now be but flame,
Let the Well now be but water,
Let the Tree be but a tree.
Let the gates be closed!
Take a moment to be still, to center yourself in the here and now, as the flows of power ebb and the mundane world once more comes to the fore.
We have come together and have given honor and offering as our ancestors did of old, and as we will do again in days to come. Now let us depart, and carry from this place into our lives the blessing of the powers, the spark of magic and the light of the holy. Our rite is now ended!
