Woodland Wicca – Autumn Equinox Seasonal Ritual 2017 (17sept17)

Join us in the Woods  for magically marking the start of the dark half of the year, to walk the journey (spiral) of Persephone, and a celebration of AUTUMN Equinox.

“This is the time when the wheel turns once more, from summer to winter.  A time when the dark equals the light, and the night times begin to increase.  Trees begin to shed their leaves in preparation of the coming winter, wildlife collects seeds and stocks up for winter and animal migrations begin.  We celebrate the second harvest of the year- the harvest of the fruits.  We also mark the balance of dark and light.  In Wicca we re-enact the mythology of Hades and Persephone – her abduction, entry to the underworld, Demeter’s anguish and the withdrawal from the land, eating of pomegranate seeds by Persephone and her stay in the underworld.  We use a spiral path-working to enter the inner-world, and plant seeds of our future ventures, so that we may nurture them during the winter months. In this ritual, coven members take on the symbolic journey of Persephone.”  (taken from www.WitchcraftandMagic.uk )

Date: Sunday 17th September 2017

Venue:   Queen’s Woods .

Fee: £3

**Please note – we will collect fee at start of ritual ** 

Meeting point:   Garden area of `Woodman’s Pub’  (Archway Road) at 3.30pm.

Schedule:   At 4.20pm you’ll be led by one of our ritual team members to the woods ( 10min brisk walk).  There you’ll be greeted by the facilitators and consecrated, and welcomed into ritual space.

Arrival & Spiral walking: 

This Seasonal ritual will follow Wiccan format and include Witchcraft & Wicca mythology as often practised by covens.  This is an open ritual held in an outdoor park/woods with easy public access..

Once you enter the woods, you will be given magical instructions on what is to follow.   Then there will be a 10min walk through woods to the ritual space – where you’ll be greeted, consecrated, and invited to walk the spiral of Persephone. At the centre, you may have a moment to contemplate the coming of dark half of the year, eat a few seeds of the  Pomegranate (as Persephone did in the myths).  Then you will can carry on and join the magic circle for other part of the ritual.

Ritual :

Details near the time.

Out ritual Team  will conduct key aspects of the ceremony, with plenty of opportunities for everyone to get  involved in the actual ritual   – ie with elements calling, chants, magical work and so on.

Magical behaviour:

**From the moment you arrive at sacred space in woods, you are kindly asked to observe stillness and reverence throughout the ceremony. All willing are expected to participate – during which moments, you are asked to be calm and not disruptive of their inner-work. **

Magical Safety:

** Once Circle is cast, we do not allow anyone to enter the sacred space..or leave without an appointed Priest/Priestess opening a doorway in the circle. If you arrive late or must leave at any point, please seek the appointed Priest/Priestess for this. Please do not Crash the circle – as it can cause magical weakness for the whole ritual and let outside energies enter or leak our own built up energy**

RITUAL items to bring: 

– Your ritual cloths/ robes/ cloaks
– Staff / wands / antlers / tribal masks
– Drums & musical instruments
– Lanterns / candles / lighter
– Crystals / runes / divination tools
-Poetry / invocations (learnt or to read)

ALL WELCOME:
-All Pagans of any spiritual are welcome..
** This event is NOT suitable for children.**

FOOD & DRINKS TO SHARE:
Here are some suggestions–

-Home made/ baked items are exceptionally welcome (Bread, cakes, buns, salads, soup, pre-cooked potatoes).
-Wine & Mead are popular for the pre-ritual social and for feasting & socials afterwards!
– shop-bought items (sausage rolls, short-eats).
-Cheese / ham/ butter/ crisps/ dips
-Chicken (cooked pieces)
– Water / soft drinks/ tea & coffee in flasks
-vegetarian food/ vegan food
(Basically any items that add towards a sensible feast/ meal).

-Mani Navasothy  (Wiccan High Priest & Holistic Coach/ Consultant)

—————–Wicca study resources by Mani Navasothy ———-

If you are interested in Wicca & Witchcraft, formal coven work, initiation and training, personal study, then the following will be useful for you:

• Our website: http://www.WitchcraftAndMagic.Uk – check it out for extensive articles & videos on wicca & Witchcraft;

• eBook `Coven Guide: Become an initiated Witch (http://witchcraftandmagic.uk/book-coven-guide-become-an-initiated-witch)’ – written by Mani (Wiccan High Priest with 20+ yrs of experience in craft, coven & initiation).

• eCourse – e-Witch Apprentice study course (http://witchcraftandmagic.uk/e-witch-apprentice-course) . (home study course in 9 modules. study at your own pace. Contact with Tutor for e-mail support. Includes ritual work, transpersonal psychology, all wicca subjects, tool making).