Spring Equinox March, 2009

I barely realized it was equinox today, which says something for these last few weeks and this one in particular. But here it is! And sunshine along with it here in the UK. Wonderful. I hope you feel the light of spring where you are, even if it hasn’t caught up the weather everywhere!


Calling the circle
As we contemplate equinox, we summon the spirits of the East, spirits of Springtime, the dawn with all of its promise of new beginnings, new starts. Spirits of balance that we celebrate tonight. Element of air, the power of life, springing forth. We call the spirits of the East and ask them to join our circle.

We call now to the spirits of the South, spirits of strength, power, warmth, clarity, motivation, energy, movement. Element of fire, bright fires lit at midday. The power of light, illuminating us. The fire that is our passion, burning deeply within is always. We call the spirits of the South and ask them to join our circle.

And we call to the Spirits of the West. Spirits of our deepest feelings, our strongest emotions, our truest love. A sunset over a calm ocean, a still lake reflecting back the sky, the still waters that run deep, deep within. Element of water, emanating the power of love. We call to the spirits of the West and ask them to join our circle.

Now we call the spirits of the North. Spirits of midnight, dark moonless skies in winter, places where truths are told. Element of earth, grounding us. Power of law, karma, ancestral wisdom, we call to the spirits of the North and we ask them to join our circle.

And we call to those spirits above us, the moon in her many faces, angels, stars, heavens, light beings everywhere, those souls not yet incarnate. Children of our children. We call the spirits above and ask them to join us.

And we call to the spirits below us, to the earth that grounds us and keeps us steady, the green kingdom with its deep roots and to the lava beneath the crust that impassions us. We call the spirits below and ask them to join us.

Finally, we call to the spirits of the center, where all the directions meet and merge and where they meet and merge in each one of us. The central flame. The sacred spirit. This circle is closed, a safe and sacred circle where everyone is welcome and free to express themselves.

Equinox thoughts/Talking stick
It is hard for me not to equate everything to planting these days, as I am so tied to the seasons living here in the country. This year, unlike last, I am a bit more prepared for spring. I have already started my seedlings in the greenhouses (two now) and my raised beds are waiting to be planted, once the soil warms up a bit. Even still, I am amazed at what does/does not grow. Same soil, same water, same conditions and some things grow fine and others just never get going. Last year I said that I was going to focus on a few ideas and not be so diverse and, in truth, I’ve done that. I haven’t quite reached where I want to be, but I am very focused in a direction that feels right to me. I still have nagging whims which pull me this way and that, but the deeper commitment is to a few key ideas that I am trying to manifest.

It has been a long winter. To honor spring today I think I will keep it simple and walk around in my garden and picture how lush it will be by summer. And I will picture that for the garden of ideas that I am cultivating as well.

Meditation
Imagine yourself lying on the ground beneath a beautiful old oak tree just beginning to form new buds, in the middle of a field, under a starry, windless sky. The ground feels cold, but all around you are the beginnings of Spring, small plants forming a soft green carpet. As you breathe in and out feel that you are breathing in time with the stars, that you are a part of the setting that surrounds you. Then allow yourself to imagine that you are getting smaller – smaller and smaller until you are so small that you can stand up and walk into the tree that you were lying underneath. Walking into the tree, looking up, note the vast branch system, how tall and high it is, looking down, note the vast root system, reaching down into the earth farther than you can see. Then, notice that one of the roots is larger than the others, and resembles a spiral staircase. Imagine then stepping onto the 13th step, the step of transformation, then spiraling down and around and inward to the 12th step, then down and around to the 11th and the 10th, spiraling down and around and inward to the 9th, then the 8th, then around and inward to the 7th and the 6th step. Then, pausing on the sixth step, note that as you look up you can no longer see the top, and looking down, that you can no longer see the bottom. You are standing in the middle of the spiral, in a moment of infinite perfection. If there is anything that you are carrying that you don’t want to take with you on your journey, you can leave it on this step. Continuing then to the 5th step and the 4th, spiraling around to the 3rd and the 2nd and then finally the 1st step, then stepping into a clearing with four doorways, each pointing in one of the four directions. Imagine yourself walking down the pathway that heads east.

It is dawn, and the sun is just peeking over the horizon – coloring the sky pink and gold. The landscape is gentle and green with the beginnings of new plants; there are early flowers just beginning to poke up over the grass. Daffodils colour the path as well as crocuses, hellibores and young herbs color the scenery as you make your way along as it snakes its way upward around a tall hill. You make your way toward the top, feeling the energy of new life rising up from the valley below. When you reach the top, you see that others have gathered already – friends, guides, ancestors, and you join them in the circle. Your wise woman arrives last, stepping into the centre.

All is quiet for a while, feeling the powerful silence build until it takes on almost a sound of its own. All the while, the sunlight is increasing, until the circle is completely illumined in a golden dawn’s light. Those in the circle are illuminated, each brightly reflecting love the energy of new beginnings. Each has come with a seed or seedling to plant in the circle’s centre, each representing something that you need in your life. One by one they enter the circle, explaining the meaning of their plant, and then placing it into the ground for you.

Then, your wise woman calls you into the center of the circle, where she has prepared the ground for your seeds. She asks you to plant the seeds for those things that you would like to see growing in your life. You return to the circle and join hands with the others until the sun is high in the sky. You feel the hope of spring surrounding everyone and everything on the earth.

When you feel that your time in the circle is complete, your wise woman leads you out of the circle and to a beautiful stone table that has appeared, filled with all kinds of food and drink, and those in your circle join you at the table for a beautiful celebration. You can converse freely with them here.

When the meal is finished and it is time to go, you say your goodbyes to your guides, friends, ancestors. Finally, you say goodbye to your wise woman, and head away from the circle, back along the path lined with violets. The sun has fully risen now, and the path is more brightly lit than before. When you reach the doorway to the east, you step through back toward the staircase.

Stepping back up onto the first step, spiraling upward and outward to the second step and the third, and upward and outward to the fourth step and the fifth. Then spiraling around to the sixth step, and pausing now on the sixth step, retrieving anything that you left behind before, or just leaving it behind in that moment of infinite perfection. Climbing now to the seventh and upward to the eighth, upward and outward to the ninth, then the tenth, and around to the eleventh and the twelfth and then finally to the thirteenth step, the step of transformation, then back into to the tree. Stepping out of the tree, you find your place beneath it, again enjoying the sweet night air. Then feeling your consciousness return to the space you are in, and, when ready opening your eyes.

Prayers for our circle
To everyone who needs to start anew, love anew, begin anew – that this first day of spring be an inspiration and a beacon of the hope that always lives in our hearts.


And to all of you, happy spring!

Much love,

Tara