Well

Balance has a new feel, having been thrown off balance by the passing of our dear friend Anna. She has attended some rituals and been a really powerful presence. May her spirit shine on as honored dead.
So this equinox started with us going to NYC and Bryan attending the ritual of NYC So druids. Dropping him off on the Upper East Side and him walking cross-town in the Spring of the City wearing his bear claw necklace and with a honey bear to celebrate ritual without leading it. And then him coming to meet us at 5 walking all the way downtown fast paced just after receiving the waters for us to go to Hoboken to witness the 122^nd annual ritual of the swearing in of officers at the secret room of the Elks Lodge with our friend becoming the new Exalted Ruler. Then driving through the night to get home to celebrate our equinox in the morning.

Cleaning and clearing, balancing our egg on the hearth, and setting up snacks and cushions for outside and oh yes making the turkey, an extra from Thanksgiving. Wondering who and how many and (with a fire burn ban) making the fire small but strong.

Thinking back to spring equinoxes past, so much letting go- or acknowledging the release already made. Letting go of winter and of what we move on from.

Sitting around the table with tea and snacks and talking about groves and groups and worship and grounding and how we can come together better. We spoke about Bryan putting out all the energy leading ritual and were there parts that others wanted to take. Everyone agreed how valuable it is for Bryan to lead us but that the pulling of the omen was something each of us could participate in.

Ok let's go, time moves on, some of us need to leave early.

Flowers and sticks and oils, waters and small simple fire: our sacrifice quiet and unencumbered. We are here to honor the Gods, Gods who give meaning to life.
I got to offer welcome to the directions, understated gratitude leaving much unsaid but in my heart. Due east -where the sun rises; and the south- the trust that we lay out, our lessons of heart and environment; the west –place of the setting sun, our neighbors and their barn, the brown bear and that introspective time; and the Great North- place of winter winds and uphill, healing and renewal. The up and down and the center.

And honoring the Earth Mother standing firmly upon her filling the fire circle with old soy flour. It was as if the pale yellow of the flour became our fire so bright and strong and solid it shone.

Our small fire, barely a blaze; our well/cauldron that the cats drink from; and our tree- an old Yule tree not yet burnt through though it has been in the center of many fires. How good to have these gates, and to allow them to be open.

Letting the outsiders offering go, really go, past the house- take it farther.

Jumping right to the Kindreds- coming back to our patron Bridget only later- the Kindreds demanding our offerings first, now- feed me. Each consumed in our small flame.

And the birds, always singing their praise, participating at rituals in turn, listening for their chance to call the spirits.

Standing barefoot on the earth, the new spring green under my toes, rocks cold but welcome. I offered gratitude for Bridget-by the stream in line with my right side, for getting thru the winter, that February, the unsettledness of spirit, hoping to move forward. Susan gave flowers as did Elizabeth.

Women burning flowers.

We each pulled a rune- me, Susan, Elizabeth & Hudson.

From the Ancestors: Jera or Year- a completed growth and harvest cycle

From the Gods & Goddesses: Hagalaz or Hail – a disruption of pattern and reassertion of a new one

From the Spirits: Gibor or Gift- giver of sacrifice and also reciprocity and agreement

For the Season: Tir or Tiwaz, Spiritual Warrior -the whole truth and justice and balance and direction- the Pole Star for sure – and it is Spring it is pointing up we are all on the balance of UP.

We used wine glasses for the waters, our simple grove, Our Whole Grove drinking in the blessings together.

We blessed our seeds and the seeds within us and our tools and the tools to shape and grow and craft.

We said our thanks.

We pulled out our equinox cyser, brewed in the autumn and ready to drink now and decanted a jar to toast ourselves.