This is one of the rites I did when I was 19, and it shows pretty well how young I was. I have no idea what journey this may have been, but given the time, it was probably my first trip to Florida with Mitty. There was sun, I must admit, and we had a blast.
The correspondences are likely to come straight from D.J. Conway’s Celtic Magic. Like I said, I was young and foolish then. It is also highly influenced by my work with the Pagan Student Association at The Ohio State University. You can see a lot of them in the ritual as well. At the time, I was still amused by Latin, so you can find the date recorded in AUC as well as AD. Also note that I struck out Cernunnos’ “fertility” aspect, and I’m quite proud of that.
In the end, though, I think this rite works in all the ways that a rite should. It gets the job done, and it keeps you on your toes.
No spellings have been changed, and I’ve left in what I struck out (using the convenient notation of a strike through to note what I scribbled out). This is the rite as I believe I practiced it.
Vernal Equinox Ritual, 1999 (2752 A.U.C.)
| Tools: | Chalice | Candles | ||
| Dagger | incense | |||
| Wand | protective talisman | |||
| Stones | ||||
| Deities: | The Dagda – for magic | |||
| Lugh – for travels and sun | ||||
| Cernunnos – fertility and travel | ||||
| Purpose: | Safe travel | |||
| Sun at our destination | ||||
| Helping keep the Natural world within cycle | ||||
| (i.e., doing my part for her.) | ||||
| Elements: | Air – insence | } these two bridge the gaps between the elements | ||
| Fire – Candles | ||||
| Time: | Noon | |||
Ritual: Lay tools out up on altar.
Take chalice and salute the elements. Each one should be saluted separately (Earth – N, Air – E, Fire – S, Water – W).
Put chalice down, and light candles. At the lighting of each candle, say:
Air and Fire!
Creativity and passion!
Allow us safe travel
And warmth of a fashion! Take up dagger and want, visualizing a safe journey. See Lugh watching you from his eye, the sun. See Cernunnos allowing you passage through his wilderness. Finally, see The Dagda empowering yourself, your tools, and a protective talisman.
Touch wand and dagger to your talisman. Visualize your energy, flowing from the Dagda through you, flowing into the Talisman.
(It is best to use a receptive metal, such as copper for the talisman. This increases the amount the talisman can take, and aids you in your visualization.)
God of
Repeat the following: thanking the deities who have helped you:
God of Magic
God of Woodland
God of Sun light
Enchant this Band! (or ring, or whatever) Place the magically charged item onto your body (or in a pocket). Repeat these thanks:
| Depart in peace You who have helped me. Go in love and trust, So may it be. | Depart with my thanks You who have helped me! Go in peace and trust, So may it be. |
Extinguish candles. Salute the elements Counter-sunwise, and drink to them.
Leave the Fay something.
