Fall Equinox Rites (Group)

By Deanne Quarrie

Begin indoors or in a Circle cast outside. Construct a simple labyrinth next to your Circle or outside in a place easily walked to. In your Circle area if you are outdoors, a fire set in the middle is perfect.

We begin in indoor space with a center altar set. We then move to the labyrinth for silent meditation and when coming out, walk into the Fire Circle where a lead drummer will guide us in drumming and dancing.

Create an autumn altar in the center. 

Fall Equinox
Indian corn, apple and pear
Wooden bowl with acorns

Light all of the candles for your ceremony.

Speak words of welcome and thanks for coming

Share that traditionally we create a circle to contain energy but that for this evening since our work will be in the Circle, the labyrinth, and in the fire circle we will extend our sacred space to include all of these areas. 

As I walk this space please join with me in extending your love and blessings out to the land we rest upon. May we open ourselves to Her bounty and blessings. May we honor this land we may receive Her blessings.

So let us begin with a simple chant. The idea of using a chant here at the beginning is to raise the energy and fill our space with feelings of love and joy! Use your own energy and that which you breathe in from the Universe. See this energy as love and fill this space and beyond with that love. As we begin to stir the energies of the land, let us awaken the elements of creation.

(sing each verse alone once and and then sing twice more with everyone)

Spirit of the wind, carry me
Spirit of the wind, carry me home
Spirit of the wind, carry me home to myself.

Spirit of the sun, healing me
Spirit of the sun, healing me home
Spirit of the sun, healing me home to myself.

Spirit of the sea, flow with me
Spirit of the sea, flow with me home
Spirit of the sea, flow with me home to myself.

Spirit of the land, walk with me
Spirit of the land, walk with me home
Spirit of the land, walk with me home to myself.

I ask that you join with me in honoring and welcoming all that is sacred and holy in this space. I ask that you reach into your hearts and invite that presence which is the Greatest Mystery of all to be with us now. And I ask that you join with me in welcoming the presence of the land Herself, our loving Mother, She who is Earth and Sun - Moon and Stars, She who nurtures us and restores our hearts, She who gives birth to all life.

(sing alone once and then sing twice more with everyone)

Ancient mother, I hear you calling
Ancient mother, I hear your song
Ancient mother, I hear your laughter
Ancient mother, I taste your tears.

We stand now at the Season of the Autumn Equinox. The day has shortened and we come to the place where night and day, darkness and light are equal - the edge of time when the nights grow longer and our days shorter. The crops are being harvested for the last time. It is a time of gathering in and preparation for the winter months - the time of darkness is coming. It is a time of celebration for the bounty of all we have reaped in our harvest. It is a time to acknowledge our own personal harvest. What is it that we are harvesting right now in our lives? What will you celebrate in your life tonight?

Take up the basket of acorns and pass out to all participants.

And because it is a time of balance - a time of equal light and equal dark - it is also a time to offer thanksgiving and to renew with grateful hearts by offering back a gift - a pledge - a commitment - something that gives back as a way to say thank you for all that we have received.

This is very personal and so we will use our labyrinth to walk through this process, walking into the center, reflecting on our harvest - what we have received. When you reach the center, give thanks for all the blessings of life. Place those feelings of gratitude into the acorn you hold in your hand. And then place your acorn there on the rim of the center of the labyrinth as your gift to this land. As you turn to walk outward, begin to think about how you might give back, thereby keeping the balance of this occasion.

When you leave the labyrinth, please join us in the fire circle where we will drum and dance and wake up the spirits of the land together. Let us celebrate our harvest and our gratitude and give back, especially to this sacred ground upon which we all stand. Let us bring joy and abundance to The Crossings and all who walk this land.

Before we leave, I offer you this ancient Gaelic blessing…

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the silent stars
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth
May peace, may peace
May peace fill your soul
Let peace, let peace
Let peace make you whole.

Continue after everyone has walked the labyrinth with a rousing drum circle!