The people who are responsible for setting up the circle gather, and clear the area. They use brooms to sweep the place where the circle will be, going counterclockwise (widdershins), and sweeping out all the dust, cobwebs, discontent, trouble, old disputes, etc. that have gathered in the area. If they can make a game of this, so much the better.
When the area feels "clean," they reverse their direction, and go around clockwise (deosil) sweeping in joy, love, laughter, wisdom, understanding, and so on.
Then they lay out the area, using spring bulbs in pots on the altar, and as many as are practical marking the circumference of the circle. If flowering trees are in bloom where they live, fallen petals may also be used to mark out the boundary, if desired. The idea is to create a bright and spring-like atmosphere.
Have ready (usually under the altar if it's open, or nearby if it's not) enough colored (raw) eggs for each member of the group to have one, with one left over. Also have little packets of wild flower seeds, enough for each celebrant to get one.
The food for Cakes and Wine should be ready, too. It's nice if it's seasonal. Cupcakes with pink frosting and sugared violets on top, sugar cookies cut into flower shapes, hard boiled eggs, fresh herb bread using the new herbs from the garden if they are up, fresh asparagus (delicious raw) etc. for the feast, and spring wines, fruit juice, or sparkling juices for the Wine.
On a separate plate, have enough special cookies or cakes for each celebrant to have one, with one left over.
Place a candle at each compass point. If you like, they can be decorated as well, either for the season, or for the element, or both.
Each celebrant should bring to the circle little slips of paper, on which have been written things that they want to get rid of. (i.e. fears, prejudices, anger; anything within themselves that they feel is hindering or harming them, and that they would like to outgrow and leave behind.)
When it's time, and each celebrant has "splashed," all come together into the circle, Ground and Center and settle down.
One member begins to hum, and all join in, vocalizing as they see fit. This may evolve into chanting, or the group may sing a special round, or they may continue to hum, until all are working in harmony.
At that point, the High Priestess (HPS) says,
Merry meet! Welcome to our circle! It is Eostar! Tonight the world is in balance as it dances round the sun, and Day and Night are equal. Winter is passing, and Spring is coming again. This is a night for rejoicing! For all life quickens, and Earth awakens in joy once more. The young Goddess, in her guise as Maiden, walks among us again, and at her footsteps water breaks out of it's icy prison and chuckles in the brooks, the soft rain falls, and the flowers spring up. All the birds sing, and the trees unfurl their new leaves! It's Spring! Hope and promise are renewed, and there is laughter everywhere! Rejoice!!
Then she takes the oil from the altar, and turns to the High Priest (HP). She draws whatever symbol seems right to her on his forehead, while saying, "(His name), welcome to our circle. Blessed Be."
Then she hands him the oil, and he turns to the celebrant on his left, and repeats the welcome. This goes on until all have been welcomed, with the person to the HPS' right welcoming her.
Then she puts the oil back on the altar, picks up the maiden candle, and walks clockwise (deosil) to the candle in the Eastern quarter.
She stands there a moment, Grounds and Centers, and forms a picture of the east, the morning, and the wind in her mind. She may do this by remembering a morning when she stood outside and watched the sunrise, or she may just make it up. The important thing is that it be as beautiful, welcoming, and holy as she can imagine. When she is ready, she draws a pentagram in the air with her free hand, and says;
Hail mighty ones of the East! We call you, and welcome you into our circle. Please join us, and make all that we do here as pure and fresh as the first light of the morning! Fill us with your knowledge. For Spring is come again, and we'd like you to celebrate it with us! Blessed Be!
Then she lights the candle, and the maiden rings the bell.
She goes on to the candle in the South, and stands there a moment, grounding and centering as before, and building a picture in her mind of the south, noontime, and a roaring fire. As before, it should be as lovely and holy as possible. When she is ready, she draws a pentagram in the air with her free hand, and says;
Hail mighty ones of the South! We call you, and welcome you into our circle. Please join us, and make all that we do here as bright and lively as your fire at noon! Fill us with your vivacity. For Spring is come again, and we'd like you to celebrate it with us! Blessed Be!
Then she lights the candle, and the maiden rings the bell.
She goes on to the candle in the West, and stands there a moment, grounding and centering again, and visualizing the west, evening, and running water. It can be a stream, or a fountain, or the ocean itself. The important thing, as always, is that it be clean, lucid, and holy. When she is ready, she draws a pentagram in the air with her free hand, and says;
Hail mighty ones of the West! We call you, and welcome you into our circle. Please join us, and make all that we do here as clear and sweet as the last light of the evening! Fill us with your love. For Spring is come again, and we'd like you to celebrate it with us! Blessed Be!
Then she lights the candle, and the maiden rings the bell.
She continues to the candle in the North, and stands there a moment, grounding and centering, and visualizing the north, midnight, and the Earth. This may take the form of a cave, or a spreading tree, or the rich smell of newly turned soil. The important thing is that it be completely wholesome, beautiful, strong, peaceful and holy. When she is ready, she draws a pentagram in the air with her free hand, and says;
Hail mighty ones of the North! We call you, and welcome you into our circle. Please join us, and make all that we do here as true and sparkling as starlight! Fill us with your wisdom. For Spring is come again, and we'd like you to celebrate it with us! Blessed Be!
Finally, she returns again to the East, and stands in front of the candle a moment, grounding and centering, and thanking the elements for coming to help. Then she draws the pentagram one last time with her free hand, and returns deosil to her place behind the altar.
She replaces the candle, turns to the High Priest (HP) and says;
The Elements have been summoned.
And he replies;
And the Circle shall bind them as one.
And everyone says;
Blessed Be.
Then she kneels, and puts the tip of her Athame if she is using one, or her finger if she isn't, into the salt, and draws a pentagram while saying;
Creature of salt, creature of the Earth! Please come and join us, and help us to make and bind this circle this night. Cast out all that would harm or impede us, and make us holy. Blessed Be.
Then she puts her Athame (or her finger) into the water, and draws a pentagram saying;
Creature of Water! Please come and join us, and help us to make and bind this circle this night. Fill us with your life and love, and make us holy. Blessed Be.
Then she takes three Athame tips (or three pinches) of salt, and puts them into the water, stirring clockwise (deosil) while saying;
Three measures, thrice taken. Blessed Be.
She stands, and takes the bowl of mixed salt and water with her right (strong) hand, and walks to the Eastern candle again. Starting there, she walks clockwise (deosil) around the whole circle and back to the East. While she does this, she sprinkles the salt and water mixture liberally around the boundary of the circle (and, in our group, on the celebrants and any cats that happen to be present!) while saying;
With these symbols of earth and of water I bless and make this circle this night. Let all within these bounds be holy, and let all that is done here be done for the good of all, and by the free will of all! In the names of the Lord, and of the Lady. Rejoice! For the Springtime has come again! Blessed Be!
And everyone says;
Blessed Be!
Then she takes the censer (incense burner) which the maiden has just "wuffed up" (a technical term meaning she has made sure that there is enough to last the whole way around the circle) and makes another circuit deosil (clockwise) fanning the incense with her free hand so that it blesses the boundaries of the circle (and the celebrants and the cats) while saying;
With these symbols of fire and of air I bless and make this circle this night. Let all within these bounds be holy, and let all that is done here be done for the good of all, and by the free will of all! In the names of the Lord, and of the Lady. Rejoice! For the Springtime has come again! Blessed Be!
And everyone says;
Blessed Be!
She returns to the altar, and replaces the censer. Then she picks up her wand if she is using that, or her athame, or her finger, and goes deosil round to the East once more.
She stands there a moment, grounding and centering again, and picturing the guardians of the elements, and the gods, which she has called, helping her to make the circle. It will be tight, and holy, a protection against anything that would cause harm or hinderance, and a gathering place for all good creatures that seek to help and heal. With that firmly in mind, she lifts her hand, and pictures bright white light coming from the tip of the wand, athame, or finger, and staying in the air while she silently walks all around the circle again, visualizing the whole area being encircled by the protective white light. As she does this, the celebrants can visualize it too, if they have grounded and centered and feel like it.
When she gets back to the East again, and touches the tip of the light to the light once more, it will spread (although it won't become thinner; it spreads like fire spreads without losing any of itself in the process) and become a bubble of white light that encloses the whole area of the circle, so the circle is within a sphere of light, protection, and love.
Then she returns deosil to her place at the altar, and says to the High Priest (HP);
We are now in a place outside of space.
And he replies
And a time outside of time.
And everyone says
Blessed Be.
Then the HP says;
We are met tonight in this magic circle, as safe and warm as a seedling in it's pod or a chick within it's shell, to celebrate the coming of Spring! And yet, even as the pod must burst, or the shell must crack for the seedling or the chick to grow, so our circle will be opened in a little while, and we will leave here, and go out into the world to grow.
But before that happens, we have a timeless time to prepare ourselves. To leave behind that which we have determined is excess baggage, and to be nurtured by the love and beauty of this place.
The light returns to the world, darkness recedes, and the time of renewal and greatest growth is upon us. It's time to leave our rest! Wake up! Feel the new life stirring in the womb of the earth, the seed pod, the egg shell! Respond by reaching out and growing in new ways yourself.
The Goddess has returned, and looks on a world made fresh and new with the new eyes of a child. Let us welcome her! Let's look on the world with new eyes ourselves! For it's a wondrous place, and every day can be a new adventure. Rejoice!
Then the HPS says;
It's Spring! I know, because a robin was singing at my birdbath this morning! (or whatever sign of Spring she has seen.)
And everyone goes round, saying what signs of spring they have seen, until they are all done.
Then the HPS says;
Time for Spring Cleaning!
And she takes her slips of paper, tears them up or crumples them into a ball, and disposes of them. If possible, they can go into a burning cauldron. If that is not an option, then they can be taken outside to burn later, or put through a paper shredder, or anything else that symbolizes to everyone in the group that they are really "gone," and out of their lives. (I know of one group that writes things like this on scraps of toilet paper, and flushes them! Very symbolic!!)
As the group does this, they may either read their slips of paper aloud, or dispose of them silently, according to their individual preference. Once again, if it turns into a game, that's fine! The Gods like laughter.
When everyone has gotten rid of all their slips, the HPS says;
And now that the area is clean, and the ground is ready, it's time to begin new growth!
And she gets the eggs out.
She chooses one, and says;
I'm choosing this egg, because it is blue, which symbolizes the spiritual growth I hope to achieve.
Or whatever color she chooses, for whatever reason.
Then go round the circle again, with each celebrant picking an egg. If they wish, they can explain why they picked the ones they did, or they can just think about it silently.
If the celebrants have each colored their own egg, then they might want to explain as they take them why they used the colors or symbols they have chosen.
When everyone has an egg, the HPS picks up the extra egg. Then if this group is a coven, that expects to grow together during the next year, she says;
This egg is for the group; for all of us together. It symbolizes our growing (quality.)
And each member in turn mentions a quality that they would like to see unfolding or strengthening within the group. (i.e. "Our love for each other." "Our commitment to the Adopt a Highway program that we have just entered." etc.)
If the group is simply a group of friends, and does not desire to gain more cohesiveness as a group, then as the HPS takes the extra egg she says;
This egg is for the Earth. May she grow in (quality.)
And each celebrant names a quality that they would like to see the earth have. Be sure, as you do this, that you keep them positive. In other words, these are things that are going to grow, not things that are going to shrink, (that is for a different time of year.) So say, "May peace and tolerance among all people increase." not "No more war or prejudice."
Then all the celebrants ground and center and hold their egg nestled between their two hands.The HP and HPS take the extra egg and, holding their own in one hand, hold it between them in their cupped hands. (So that the two of them are holding 3 eggs altogether.) Then the HP says;
As mother and father come together to engender new life, so the Lady and the Lord come together to quicken the life of the spirit that is symbolized by these eggs.
And the HPS says;
As you hold them, feel the vast power and energy of the new life stirring within them, waiting to be born through you. You have asked the universe to awaken these qualities within you; so prepare yourselves, for they will surely come!
And the HP says;
And as these qualities grow in you, you will grow! We will all become better people from this, and be more of what we were always meant to be. So our spirits spring up as the new grass, and frolic as the lambs, full of joy and love and laughter!
And the HPS says;
For it is Spring! Rejoice!!!
And everyone says;
So Mote it Be!
The HPS says;
Now take these eggs home, and bury them, for they are also seeds! And wait expectantly for the qualities that you have asked to be born into your life, nurturing them and attending to them as they grow.
Then everyone puts their egg in a safe place (the safest place may be back under the altar until the Circle is over) and relaxes.
The HPS pulls out the plate with the cookies on it, and the wine. The HP opens the wine, and pours some out into the chalice. Then the HPS takes her athame, and the HP holds the chalice, and together they say;
As the Athame is to the Father, so the Cup is to the Mother, and conjoined they bring forth Blessedness!
And everyone says;
Blessed Be.
Then the HP holds the plate, while the HPS sprinkles some of the wine on it, and they say;
Blessed are the Cakes and the Wine! Blessed is the fruitfulness of the Earth, for without that fruitfulness there would be no cakes, and no wine. Let us always remember the bounty of our Mother the Earth, who has given us these things from her own body, and of our Father the Sky, who sends sun and rain that they may grow, and honor them in all that we do, remembering to share with them, as they share with us.
Blessed is this Springtime, which brings new life and hope to the Earth, and to all in it!
And everyone says;
Blessed Be.
Then one cake is taken from the plate, and broken, and put into the libation bowl, while the HPS says;
As the Gods share with us, so too do we share with the Gods.
And everyone says;
Blessed Be.
The the HP pours a bit of the wine into the libation bowl, and says;
As the Gods share with us, so too do we share with the Gods.
And everyone says;
Blessed Be.
Then the cup is passed around, starting with the HP, and as each celebrant gets it, they hold it up in a salute to the Gods. As they do this, they may say a thank you to the Gods, or just think one. (i.e. "Thanks that I was able to be here tonight, celebrating with friends! And thank you that you saw me safely through the winter!") After which, they pour a libation into the bowl, and take a sip of the wine. (Actual wine is recommended, because the alcohol cuts down on the germs that are also being passed. If it's not appropriate for some reason, then each celebrant should have some juice poured into their own cup, and use their own cup as the libation bowl is passed around. We are, after all, practical people!)
The cakes are passed around as the cup is, and each celebrant takes one after they have passed the cup, and eats it. (They may also put a bit into the libation bowl, if they desire and if it's still within reach!)
The HPS is traditionally the last to get the cup, and traditionally it must be drained. But if she isn't comfortable drinking that much of what ever it is, she can always drain it into the libation bowl!
After that, everyone sits down, and gets their own cup, and the food is passed round. We tend to pass it counterclockwise (widdershins) because that is the direction of decrease, and most of the people in our group could stand to decrease the calories! But we are just being silly.
And Cakes and Wine is the time for that!
This is when the HP and HPS answer any questions that newcomers or students may have, and stories and jokes are told, and everyone relaxes and has a good time.
People can add more food or drink to the libation bowl whenever they feel like it; but each new kind of food or drink should have a least a bit put into the bowl. (We call this Libating, and you'll hear us saying things like, "Have the chocolate strawberries been libated yet?)
At this particular celebration, we also try to balance raw eggs (not the ones used in the ceremony) on their ends because the actual day of the equinoxes are the only two days of the year when this can be done successfully. (It's also lots of fun to try! It can be done, but it isn't easy!)
When the food is gone, or everyone is full, or it's time to put Tums into the libation bowl so the Gods won't get indigestion, it's time to close the circle.
All the utensils are cleared up, so the HPS won't step into the dishes as she is walking around the circle, and everyone stands again.
Then the HPS goes to the candle in the East, and draws a pentagram in the air while she says;
Hail, mighty ones of the East! Thank you for being with us in our circle, and helping us to celebrate the turning of the wheel, and the coming of Spring! Now please stay if you can, but go if you must. And if you must go, then before you leave for your lovely and gracious realms, we bid thee Hail! and Farewell!
And everyone says,
Hail! and Farewell!
Then she taps the candle stand three times, and blows out the candle, and the Maiden rings the bell.
She next goes to the South, draws the pentagram and says;
Hail, mighty ones of the South! Thank you for being with us in our circle, and helping us to celebrate the turning of the wheel, and the coming of Spring! Now please stay if you can, but go if you must. And if you must go, then before you leave for your lovely and gracious realms, we bid thee Hail! and Farewell!
And everyone says,
Hail! and Farewell!
Then she taps the candle stand three times, and blows out the candle, and the Maiden rings the bell.
She goes to the West, once more drawing a pentagram while she says;
Hail, mighty ones of the West! Thank you for being with us in our circle, and helping us to celebrate the turning of the wheel, and the coming of Spring! Now please stay if you can, but go if you must. And if you must go, then before you leave for your lovely and gracious realms, we bid thee Hail! and Farewell!
And everyone says,
Hail! and Farewell!
Then she taps the candle stand three times, and blows out the candle, and the Maiden rings the bell.
Continuing on to the North, she draws a pentagram and says;
Hail, mighty ones of the North! Thank you for being with us in our circle, and helping us to celebrate the turning of the wheel, and the coming of Spring! Now please stay if you can, but go if you must. And if you must go, then before you leave for your lovely and gracious realms, we bid thee Hail! and Farewell!
And everyone says,
Hail! and Farewell!
Then she taps the candle stand three times, and blows out the candle, and the Maiden rings the bell.
Finally, she completes the circuit by returning to the East, where she draws the pentagram one last time, and stands a moment in silence, thanking the Gods for their presence and protection.
She returns to her place at the altar, and blows out all the candles but one.
She picks that one up in her strong hand, and goes deosil to the East once again, where she stands for a moment, grounds and centers, and prepares to take down the circle.
As she lifts the candle to the circle, it snaps back into a ring once more, and as she walks counterclockwise (widdershins) to decrease the energy, she visualizes it flowing back into the light of the candle, and being absorbed. (Anyone who helped raise the circle with their visualization also helps take it down, by visualizing the candle absorbing it.) While she does this, she says;
With this candle I now unmake the circle that I have made here. All that we have done here for good remains, but all else is gone. This whole place is now returned to time and space, and everything in it is as it was before. In the names of the Lord and the Lady. Blessed Be!
And everyone says;
Blessed Be!
At this point, she should be back in the East, and the circle is held within the candle flame.
She turns and faces the altar, and blows out the candle, simultaneously grounding the power.
Then she puts the candle down, and steps into the circle of celebrants who are gathered around the altar in the dark. They all hold hands, while she says;
Merry Meet!
And they join in, so everyone says;
And Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again! Blessed Be!
Now the circle is over, and the lights are turned on, and everyone helps to clean it all up and put it away. But as each celebrant leaves, the HPS makes sure that they have their egg, and gives them the little bag of wildflower seeds to plant along with it, just for the joy of it!
This ceremony can be adapted to your own group. If you don't have a High Priest, for instance, anyone can take the role, and be acting HP for the evening.
It can even be used by someone who worships as a solitary, by taking both speaking parts, and leaving out all the group things. (It's entirely possible to bless yourself.)
The only thing that cannot be changed is the attitude behind it. The whole thing should be done in a spirit of love and joy, with the the spoken and unspoken objective of doing it all for the good of all, and by the free will of all!
So Rejoice! Eostar returns, and it's Spring!
Blessed Be!
Preparation of the Circle | Preparation of the Celebrants | Celebration | Afterwords | Back