Today we had a simple family ritual to celebrate springtime. We missed our family full moon ritual this month because I was out of town at a Goddess 
Weekend (and then it was St. Patrick’s Day and we had a corned beef and cabbage dinner and full moon cookies, but no ritual. Too tired!) It feels important to me at we do at least one family ritual a month, so today felt perfect! My three year old daughter helped me set up a spring-themed altar outside. She had tons of fun choosing items to add and I let her set most of the altar up herself. It looks a little haphazard accordingly, but she really enjoyed herself.
Our ritual recipe was as follows:
- Gather in circle by altar and group hum (hands on each other’s backs, hum together three times).
- Smudge with sage (my daughter got very into this—we don’t usually smudge during family rituals so it was new to her—and just wanted to keep doing it).
- Drumming invocation—I use a modified version of Circle Casting Song from the Second Chants CD
Eastern morning
First breath of the soul
Worldview forming
Sacred and whole
Wind of knowledge
Simple and wise
Bringer of the lightning
That strikes in our minds.Come to us.
Be here now.Southern Fire
White rays of the sun
Source of will
That always is done
Heat of passion
Longing and need
You who push the green one
Out of the seed.Come to us.
Be here now.Western River
Devotee of the moon
Gentle sculptor
Of babes in the womb
Spring of jubilation
Courage and tears
Bringer of the sweet love
That soothes all our fears.Come to us.
Be here now.Northern Mountain
Body of the earth
Finite treasure
Of infinite worth
Cave of transformation
Childbirth and death
Suckler of the wild ones
Who curl upon your breast.Come to us.
Be here now.
- Planting ritual—we planted primrose seeds in front of the house. Each person took a turn stating what they’re hoping to “grow” this season and this was probably the best part of the ritual.
- Chant (from a website I recently became reacquainted with from my Priestess Path group: En-Chant-Ment
Sweet water and warm sun bless us
Sweet water and warm sun bless us
Oh spring comes hope—begins in us
Oh spring comes hope—begins in us
Out comes the leaves, up comes the grass
Out comes the leaves, up comes the grass
Sweet water and warm sun bless us
- Earth Listening exercise—I forget where I originally learned about this, but basically you lie on the ground with your ear to the earth and listen, first
tuning into your own heartbeat and then following it to the heartbeat of the Earth and as you continue to breath and connect and go deeper, see what else you hear… - Drum/sing—Mother I Feel You
Mother I feel you under my feet
Mother I hear your heartbeat
Mother I feel you under my feet
Mother I hear your heartbeatHeya heya heya, ya heya heya ho
Heya heya heya, heya heya hoHeya heya heya, heya heya ho
Heya heya heya, heya heya heya hoI can hear your heartbeat, heartbeat, heartbeat
I can hear your heartbeat, heartbeat, heartbeatMother, Mother, Earth, Earth
Mother, Mother, Earth, Earth
- Closing:
Open your heart to the Sun
Open your eyes to the Sky
Open your ears to the Sea.
Deep love to the round Earth who has given us bodies.
Deep love to the stars for their energy and light.
Deep love to our mothers and fathers for the gene patterns of our souls.
Deep love to our mothers, for the home of our first growth.We bless each other for the truths we have shared.
We are people of love.
We are people of bone.
We are blessed.
We are people of light
We are people of words.
We are blessed.
We are people of truth.
We are blessed.May it be so.
–Rachel Pollack, The Power of Ritual via Blessing to Close a Ritual | WoodsPriestess.
- Decorate hard-boiled eggs
- Make honey cakes
Spring Honey Cakes recipe
(modified from this one: Easy Spanish Dessert – Fried Cakes with Honey Recipe – Tortitas con Miel)
I opted to roll larger circles and cut them into quarters before cooking.
6 eggs
4 Tbsp sugar
6 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 cups flour (I had to add at least 1/2 c. additional to get a rollable dough)
oil for frying
honey, fruit, or powdered sugar for topping
Beat all ingredients together, using your hands to finish mixing. Divide the dough into two-inch balls and roll out flat (about 1/4 inch thick and four inches around). Heat oil and fry the rounds until they are puffy and golden on both sides. Drain on paper towel and serve with your chosen toppings (honey recommended so that they are actually honeycakes).
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There were a couple of hiccups with our ritual—basically, priestessing ritual with children is not for the faint of heart or easily discouraged!—such as the kids rolling around and fighting during the Earth Listening, but overall it was a satisfying experience!
WoodsPriestess 
What a lovely, lovely ceremony. Thank you for sharing this. I was blessed to share the spring equinox with a group of women in the woods. While we invoked the blessings of the Goddess for all manner of things, one of the special parts of the ceremony was when we each chose tarot cards. There were 6-8 decks, and we chose as many cards as we wished, from as many decks as we wished, then told how these cards spoke to us. The blessings and insights we shared with one another were so very special. Isn’t it wonderful that there are so many glorious ways of celebrating this joyous time of year!
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