Autumn Equinox 2015

My Equinox rite was held on the Friday following the actual equinox (I like doing my rituals late at night, so I needed a time when I could not worry about getting up early the next morning). The rite was done ADF style. I wanted to take an opportunity to honor my patroness and usual gatekeeper, Nemetona, but I was hesitant to ask her to keep the gate at a rite in her own honor. It seemed somehow presumptive and rude, like asking someone to cater their own party. After some advice from the Dedicants' mailing list, I did some divination work, and came out feeling confident that Nemetona was happy to fill both roles.

Here are the deities/beings that were honored for the Equinox: Danu as the Earth Mother/Mother Kennebec. River water mixed with apple cider  was offered into the well. Nemetona kept the gates, as gatekeeper her offering was half a Cortland apple, cut during ritual so the star patterned core showed. The offering to the ancestors was coffee, the nature spirits were offered an egg. To the deities, cedarwood essential oil was offered on a charcoal round to the fire. To Nemetona, the goddess of the occasion, a specially written prayer was offered, both spoken, and on paper offered into the fire, along with a representation of a ram and a boar.

The ritual went well. I was a little nervous with an indoor rite offering paper items to the fire, but I offered them into a cauldron half full of sand and the flames were contained. I think I may have mixed up my two cups (earth mother offering and blessing cup) and accidentally drank the river water/cider mix that was intended for the earth mother, and offered the pure cider that was intended for the blessing cup. The river water was not… precisely clean so I was a little concerned but I have not had any ill effects, so I assume no harm was done, physical or spiritual.

The omen was taken with the Wildwood Tarot deck. For the ancestors' blessing I pulled the 6 of Vessels: Reunion. I interpreted this to mean that the ancestors were present at my ritual and were pleased with my offering. This is a breakthrough in my ancestor practice, I have been really struggling finding an offering they like and feeling comfortable inviting them. For the nature spirits' blessing I pulled the 4 of Stones: Protection. I interpreted this as literal protection, the nature spirits were pleased with my offering and were offering protection in return. For the deities' and especially Nemetona's blessing, I pulled the Queen of Bows: Hare. This queen in the Wildwood deck is a card that represents fertility (through the association with the hare and the green man mask) and femininity. I found this a positive omen, I interpreted it to mean that our relationship would be fertile in the virtue sense - productive, creative, fruitful.  I felt this was especially touching and favorable, I was really moved by the omens I drew for this ritual.

Omen, photo mine.