Replenishing Our Spiritual Nexus

Michael Furie

During this time of the year as the weather begins to cool and the leaves turn from vivid greens to rich shades of yellows, oranges, browns, and even deep reds, the trees that bore them begin their shift into dormancy. The leaves fall from the trees, cascading to the ground in a colorful display of nature’s efficiency. With their metabolism slowed to protect themselves through the potentially harsh conditions that winter may bring, the trees’ focus has become that of preservation. We can learn from this example and attune our own rhythms to the prevailing tides. Gathering our strength at this time—as the power shifts away from growth and expansion—affords us an advantage during the fall and wintertime when our modern lives do not allow us to slow down. We can shore up our energetic reserves, so to speak, and this will help to reinvigorate our drive and power resulting in an improved ability to keep a steady pace even through the seasons of repose.

The autumn equinox is a time of balance and also the culmination of the growth phase of the year. Utilizing this energy to fortify ourselves and to help preserve the fruits of our labors is simply a matter of becoming an extension for the already present energy patterns of this seasonal shift. This ritual is written for a solitary person to perform, but it can be easily adapted to group use. The different tasks can be divided and someone can be assigned to guide the members through the meditation.

Items Needed

Bowl of beets

Bowl of hazelnuts (filberts)

Bowl of carrots

Bowl of grapes

Cauldron (or large bowl)

Dirt or sand (to fill the cauldron)

Athame

Wand

Bowl of salt

1 cup of water

Censer

Small plate of bread

Candles: dark red, orange, brown, gray

2 white candles

8 leaves (of varied color)

Incense charcoal

Sage incense

Candle snuffer (or spoon)

If possible, the area may be adorned with many more autumn leaves, as well as dried corn, gourds, and whole nuts such as pecans, walnuts, and almonds laid out in a circle to mark the ritual boundary. At the northern point of the circle, place the bowl of beets. To the east, set the bowl of hazelnuts, and to the south, place the bowl of carrots. The bowl of grapes is set in the west. Each of these foods align to one of the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water, respectively, and they are placed there to help draw in their power. Create an altar in the center of the circular boundary. On this altar place the cauldron filled with soil or sand in the center. To the right of the cauldron, set the athame and wand. To the left of the cauldron, set the bowl of salt and the cup of water. Behind the cauldron, set the censer. In front of the cauldron, set the plate of bread. Toward the back of the altar, place the dark red and orange candles to the left and the brown and gray candles to the right. These candles symbolize the waning strength of the sun and of entering into the time of decline. One white candle is set in each of the rear corners of the altar and lit prior to the rite for illumination. Set the eight leaves on the altar inbetween the tools in a pattern that pleases you.

After everything has been arranged and any other preparations have taken place, light the white altar candles and the incense. Pick up the athame and use it to cast a circle around the working area along the boundary, moving clockwise beginning and ending in the north. Next, stand facing east over the bowl of hazelnuts and call to the element of air saying:

Crisp autumn winds, blow in from the east, draw into my circle bringing wisdom and peace.

Turn to the south and the bowl of carrots and call to the element of fire saying:

Deep waning warmth of solar fire, draw into this circle bringing passion and power.

Turn to the west and the bowl of grapes and call to the element of water saying:

Gentle rains that quench and heal, draw into this circle bringing abundance and renewal.

Finally, turn to the north and the bowl of beets and call to the element of earth saying:

Holding the roots, earth nourish and bind, draw into this circle bringing love and strength combined.

Return to the altar and setting down the athame, light the autumn candles. As you light the dark red candle say:

The bright sun, whose power does wane [light orange candle].

The leaves that turn from orange to brown [light brown candle].

The clouds that turn the sky to gray; all the signs that autumn has come [Light gray candle].

Pick up the wand. Close your eyes and envision a large tree with roots extending deep into the earth and branches that stretch up into the sky. This tree is connecting all three realms: the underworld, our world, and the heavenly realm. Visualize bright green leaves upon the tree gradually turning yellow, orange, brown, and red. See these leaves slowly falling off the tree and know that they represent that which no longer serves to nurture and so must be released. Mentally charge the wand with this energy and visualization so that the wand will carry some of the power of this tree into your circle.

Open your eyes and drive the handle of the wand into the soil in the cauldron, symbolically planting the tree into the earth, saying:

Ancient tree connecting all spheres, a beacon planted and pathway built; channeling power far and near, increased portion with abundance fulfilled; gathering energy, strength to the core; the magic is given and balance restored.

Visualize that the tip of the wand is glowing with power and that this energy is pouring into the circle and filling your solar plexus chakra (about three inches above your belly button) with pure white light. It is now time to reach out and call upon any deities with whom you would like to work, particularly those associated with the autumnal equinox such as Persephone, Demeter, the Horned God, Dionysus, etc. In your own words, ask them to bless and sustain you through the season. Pick up a piece of the bread and say:

In thanks for the gifts given to me, I freely share my bounty.

Take a bite of the bread and place the rest of the piece in the cauldron around the wand. Dip your finger into the salt and taste a bit of it saying:

Salt of the earth and of the sea, preserve abundance, blessed be.

Scatter a tiny pinch of salt in the cauldron over the bread. Pick up the cup of water, take a sip and say:

Waters of life, vital force, quench and renew, strength reinforce.

Sprinkle a few drops of the water into the cauldron over the bread and salt. By placing the offerings into the cauldron after they are charged with intent, their power is channeled through the wand and out to bring manifestation.

Now that the energy has been secured, it is time to pick up each of the eight leaves on the altar and hold them in your hands. These leaves represent the journey of the Sabbats, the past that we have experienced which has since fallen away leaving only the lessons gained. Giving thanks for the past opportunities and what you have been given throughout the year, reverently (and joyfully) toss the leaves up and away from you being careful that they don’t fall on the candles.

Raise the athame aloft and say:

The time of the autumn equinox is that of harvest, when we reap the rewards of our hard work. In thanks and joy we guard and harness, our magical light, the divine spark.

Thank the deities for their presence and then release the elemental quarters. Move to the west and say:

Power of water, released and free, to fulfill the magic, so mote it be.

Repeat in the south, then east and finally, the north, substituting the proper element in each direction (fire, air, and earth respectively). Finally, walk the circle one last time in a counterclockwise path, with the athame, pulling in the energy of the boundary and saying:

This circle is open, but shall never cease; the magic continues, the power released; the equinox has come to offer reward, abundance in measure and balance restored.

Extinguish the candles in reverse order of lighting: the gray, brown, orange, red, and then the two white ones with the candle snuffer (or the back of the spoon). Remove the wand from the cauldron and bury the offerings in the ground or a flower pot. The rest of the evening may be spent in feast. The foods most traditionally associated with the American Thanksgiving holiday are perfect for this sabbat. Blessings of the season to you.

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