Autumnal Equinox
Jason Rath
The Autumnal Equinox represents a time of balance and rest. Night and day are equal. The sun enters the sign of Libra, symbol of balance. Venus, the ruling planet of Libra, symbolizes the conscious becoming aware of the Id, or Higher Self. Libra has evolved beyond the first sign, Aries' "I am." Now aware of itself, Libra says, "I am one with thee." The Spring Equinox represents the initiation of the conscious self, beginning its quest, realizing its spiritual path. Now the harvest is gathered, the conscious self has experienced trials of a spiritual nature and now meditates on it's "self" in dualistic terms.
At the Fall Equinox, the God is less aggressive and the Goddess is less consuming—they are equal. It is a harmonious time, good for alchemical exercises. I have found it is a good time to see my psychologist. In A Witches' Bible Complete, Janet and Stewart Farrar say that the Equinoxes are "Times of balance, of suspended activity [they] are, by their nature, the times when the veil between the seen and unseen is thin. They are the seasons when human beings `change gear' to a different phase, and are therefore times of psychological as well as psychic turbulence." It is important to remember the reason Witches acknowledge these changes, whether as astrological phases or the seasons of the year. We realize that the changes around us parallel changes within us. It is a shame when the Sabbats become a chore. They represent very specific phases within our minds, spirits and bodies. We should remember the significance of all our symbols.
For instance, many Witches wear pentagrams (five pointed stars), why? The pentagram itself represents the Microcosm, which means little universe, or Man, or Woman. This should remind us that we are scale models of the universe around us, we are an intimate part of it. We are made up of the same materials—the four Elements and Spirit. The pentagram symbolizes the forces around us affecting the forces within us and vise versa. Use this symbol to remind you that the change of season reflects a change within you.
Many occultists and Witches today use the axiom, "as above so below, as within so without." This reminds us of the holiness of all creations. Everything and everyone is intimately connected; we learn the how and why through our religious practices and mystical observations. Everything—weather, colors, sounds, animals, smells and even nothing at all—affects us physically, psychologically and spiritually. Again, let this help you to be aware of the changes within and without at this time.
Wicca is far from being blind. We observe these cycles of Mother Nature. Over thousands of years, people have searched for the answers to questions such as, "Why are we here?" "Is death the end of consciousness?"
"Is there a Supreme Being?" Many answered these questions through various religions and sciences. But science is limited to the objective, physical world and religion offers no rigorous tests. Many failed to satisfy their hunger for understanding. Witches of old used their knowledge of science and nature to organize a religion based on "common sense." They observed the power of color on the mind, of the relationship between the stars and creation, of herbs and healing, etc. They formulated a religion of common sense, in which all could worship and learn. They used their observations of the physical world to explain the principles and laws of the spiritual world—much as ancient mathematicians used geometry to explain the nature of spiritual creatures and their movements. The symbols and rites of Wicca contain this ancient wisdom.
When we are aware, practice can reveal the wisdom hidden in a rite. If we lose track of the sacred meanings, the Holy Days become empty. Remember that when you practice the various Wiccan rites, you affirm your position as a spiritual creature on Earth. Learn to associate the underlying energies with the ritual at hand. Understand that your present state relates directly to changes in the outside world. Learn to look at the/your inner world and see how the two relate—as within so without. Hold these Sabbats as sacred times of worship and divine instruction. Learn more about the God and Goddess and your unique relationship with them.
Solitary Autumnal Equinox Ritual
Your altar should face west. Decorate it with autumn leaves, fresh fruits and cakes or sweet bread, to reflect the season. Place your tools on the corners of your altar corresponding to their Elements (Wand-South, Cup-West, Athame-East, Pentacle-North) on your altar. Also, have on your altar a small bowl of salt and water, a cup of wine and figures or candles representing the God and Goddess. You can use a purple candle to represent the Goddess and Moon, and a Yellow candle to represent the Horned God and the Sun.
Autumnal Equinox Incense:
4 parts Rose Petals (any sweet incense)
1 part Cinnamon
4 parts Frankincense
Opening the Temple:
Light the God and Goddess candles. Pick up your bowl (cup) of water from the altar and hold it high above your purple (Moon) candle while you say:
Na tay-ah de La-may ge na oh!
Meaning, "Blessed is the blood of the Goddess." Set the bowl water upon the altar. Trace the symbol of Taurus (the circle crowned with the crescent moon) over the plate of salt and say:
E ya natas oh bal-da al ve roh!
Meaning, "I bless and purify this creature of Earth!" Sprinkle a little salt into the bowl of water. Walk deosil (clockwise) around your Circle liberally sprinkling the salt water and saying:
I cleanse and purify this Circle with Water, the Blood of Life. So mote it be!
Return to your altar and replace the cup. Light your incense (frankincense) and hold your censer high above your yellow (Sun) candle saying:
Ra ba ah gel-lo sa!
Meaning, "Blessed is the Fire of God!" Walk deosil around your Circle swaying the censer and saying:
I consecrate and cleanse this Circle with the Fire of the heat of day! So mote it be!
Return to your altar and replace the censer. Pick up your wand (if you have one) and trace a white circle three times about the Temple area, saying:
I trace this Circle as a boundary between the realms of Man and the hidden places of the Gods. Truth hides this Temple, and the Old Ones guard it. Here I practice my rites of magick and worship in safety and with great power. Here am I assured by the presence of the Great Goddess, my Mother, and the Horned God, my Father!
Pick up your lighter and athame and invoke the four Quarters, beginning with the East.
Invocation to the East:
Come spirits of the East; help me build this magick Circle. Yes, come sylphs of Air. Aid and protect this sacred rite. I call thee forth to assist me in my worship and growth. Come ye forces of Air, fill this candle [light yellow candle] with thy elemental essence. Let it be a symbol of your presence and intelligence. So mote it be!
Invocation to the South:
Come spirits of the South; help me build this magick Circle. Yes, come salamanders of Fire. Aid and protect this sacred rite. I call thee forth to assist me in my worship and growth. Come ye forces of Fire, Fill this candle [light red candle] with thy elemental essence. Let it be a symbol of your presence and intelligence. So mote it be!
Invocation to the West:
Come spirits of the West; help me build this magick Circle. Yes, come undines of Water, aid and protect this sacred rite. I call thee forth to assist me in my worship and growth. Come ye forces of Water, fill this candle [light blue candle] with thy elemental essence. Let it be a symbol of your presence and intelligence. So mote it be!
Invocation to the North:
Come spirits of the North; help me build this magick Circle. Yes, come gnomes of Earth, aid and protect this sacred rite. I call thee forth to assist me in my worship and growth. Come ye forces of Earth, fill this candle [light green candle] with thy elemental essence. Let it be a symbol of your presence and intelligence. So mote it be!
Call the Goddess and Horned God in your own words. Feel their presence. Visualize the Horned God standing in the southern Quarter and the Goddess kneeling in the western Quarter. Move back to your altar, face west and say:
At this moment do night and day balance. Thus, my Lady stands to the west and to the south is my Lord, ye pillars of past and present. Time stills itself for a moment. The great God rises with the Sun, as the Goddess rises with the Moon. Look! The Horned God walks the Circle of Time and turns the Wheel of the Year! The hounds of turbulence howl at His sides but He does not fall. No! He moves unaffected by the symbols of fear and hate, for He walks to the Mother, the Lady, our Queen, who awaits the waxing God, the Holly King.
Visualize the Horned God walking deosil around the Circle. He moves slowly from the south, his place of strength, to the west. Once He reaches the west, see the Horned God symbolically kneel and the Goddess stand next to him. There is no tension; neither God nor Goddess is dominant. Continue:
The Sands of Time move not, and the Veils of the Heavens open. Fill my body with peace and stillness, that I may read in the secret book of wisdom and as the year passes onward. Let the words flow through my veins. The body of the Great One falls. The tree of life springs forth from Him. Yes, He that is born must die and live again. As the Sun falls west, into the sea of the Goddess, She shall make Him young again. He will climb strong, and streams of light will blaze forth from Him. But now the Year's Wheel turns and my Mother, the Goddess, must slay Her husband . . . but not yet!
Meditate on the God and Goddess. Reflect on the significance of the autumnal equinox for the Earth and for you. Then continue:
I thank Thee for this year of abundance, oh Horned One and Great Mother. Now I shall eat the fruits of my harvest, the produce of Thy love.
Pick up the sweet cakes or fruit, turn to face west and say:
May this food nourish my body and strengthen my soul.
Eat the fruit or bread. Now perform any exercises or spells. Some may prefer simply to sing a song or do some divination. This is your time to meditate or whatever you desire. Afterward, perform the Great Rite and dismiss the four Quarters.
The Great Rite:
Raise your cup of wine and say:
Blessed be this sacred wine, this Womb and Cup of Life. May it fill my soul, giving me strength of heart and knowledge of my Lady's secret ways. So mote it be!
Set down your ritual cup; pick up your ritual dagger and say:
This dagger is a symbol of the phallus and the God. So mote it be!
Take the dagger in both hands and pierce the wine while saying:
De vel na arla hana! [The veil is parted!] As the Man is to the Woman, so this blade is to the grail!
Set down the dagger; raise the cakes and say:
Blessed be this sacred bread of life, body of the God and Goddess!
Eat the bread and drink the wine. Once you have finished this rite, thank the God and Goddess for their presence and ask them to depart. Then dismiss the four Quarters, beginning with East.
Dismissing the Elementals of the East:
Oh sylphs of peaceful winds, I thank thee for coming here to aid my work. Return now to thy place of dwelling. Be there peace between us now and forever, and come when I call thee forth again! So mote it be!
Dismissing the Elementals of the South:
Oh salamanders of warmth and light, I thank thee for coming here to aid my work. Return now to thy place of dwelling. Be there peace between us now and forever, and come when I call thee forth again! So mote it be!
Dismissing the Elementals of the West:
Oh undines of flux, I thank thee for coming here to aid my work. Return now to thy place of dwelling. Be there peace between us now and forever, and come when I call thee forth again! So mote it be!
Dismissing the Elementals of the North:
Oh gnomes of gemstone foundations, I thank thee for coming here to aid my work. Return now to thy place of dwelling. Be there peace between us now and forever, and come when I call thee forth again! So mote it be!
This concludes the Autumnal rite. Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again! | 
