Here is the ritual from tonight’s Welcoming Circle:

STRENGTH, PROTECTION AND COMMUNITY RITUAL

PROTECTION OIL (David Taliesin)
1/4 cup olive oil
4 drops rosemary
3 drops frankincense

May the powers of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water
Protect you and give you strength in the days to come.

CASTING THE CIRCLE (David Taliesin)

As we approach the celebration of the Spring Equinox,
we are reminded that this day
Is the perfect balance between light and darkness.

We gather tonight to seek balance;
to find calm in the midst of fear,
truth in the midst of rumor,
community in the midst of isolationism.

We seek the wisdom of the Divine Presence,
Elemental Powers, and Ancestors
to guide us through this challenging time
in the life of our planet.

Take a crystal athame or wand and circle the group, saying the following…

May Divine Light surround us,
Divine Love enfold us,
Divine Power protect us,
Divine Presence watch over us.
Wherever we are, the Divine is with us. All is well.

CALLING THE QUARTERS (David Taliesin)

Hail Guardians and Ancestors of the East, Powers of Air,
blow away the staleness of winter;
whisper into our ears the wisdom we need to know
to navigate this challenging time
in the life our our planet. Hail and welcome!

Hail Guardians and Ancestors of the South, Powers of Fire,
warm our soil and coax the seeds to germinate;
clear our minds from confusion and misinformation
As we navigate this challenging time
in the life of our planet. Hail and welcome!

Hail Guardians and Ancestors of the West, Powers of Water,
moisten the ground so that new life might appear;
soothe our troubled spirits with your peace
As we navigate this challenging time
in the life of our planet. Hail and welcome!

Hail Guardians and Ancestors of the North, Powers of Earth,
keep us rooted like budding trees and flowers;
strengthen our bodies and keep us healthy
As we navigate this challenging time
in the life of our planet. Hail and welcome!

Great Mystery, who binds together
every quark and atom in the universe,
we humbly ask you to be with us tonight.

Help us to embody a spirit of calm in the midst of chaos.
Give us the courage to strengthen our ties with others
instead of focusing solely on ourselves.
Hail and welcome!

WEAVING RITUAL

Everyone in the room should have three strands of yarn.

The WHITE string is symbolic of wisdom and clarity. May it remind us to seek truth above all else. Don’t listen to the rumor mill on social media regarding the coronavirus. Instead, let’s educate ourselves and act in ways that are prudent rather than impulsive. We are made for times like these. Thanks to the internet we have more information at our disposal than any generation who has gone before us. May we use this information wisely and seek to be a voice of reason and calm in the midst of rumor and panic. So mote it be!

The RED string is symbolic of courage. We can be courageous because our Spirit Guides go with us. The voices of our Ancestors join them in calling us to be helpers and leaders in the midst of crisis. Listen to them. They are rooting for us to remain strong and continue to be a force for good in our community. May we encourage others who cannot see past their fear. May we help the most vulnerable among us in any way we can. So mote it be!

The BLACK string is symbolic of our spiritual practice. We, as magical people, have tools at our disposal that others don’t have. Use those tools wisely and often. Meditate until you see the world around you with absolutely clarity. Ground to remind you of our connection with something that is much bigger than yourself. Shield to keep any unwanted influences or energies at bay. Set intentions and send energy to the people and places who need it the most. So mote it be!

What I would like us to do is tie a knot to bind these three stings together. Then, in silence, weave them together so that they become inseparable from one another. As we do this, think about the resources and people you need to weave together during this time of crisis. What wisdom do you need to help you to move into the future with confidence? What courage do you need to summon to counteract the fear and panic which surround us? What magic do you need to practice regularly that will do the best and brightest good for the community and for the sake of the planet? We are made for times like these! Ponder these questions as you weave together these three strings. When you’re finished, tie the other ends together so that they cannot be separated. (Silence.)

Now that we are finished, hold this braided cord in your hands. Empower it with the energy of the earth and the Divine (We repeatedly chanted “wisdom, courage, magic” with increasing intensity). Place it on your home altar or any other visible place. May it remind you of your purpose and empower your intentions in the weeks to come. So mote it be!

CLOSING THE CIRCLE (David Taliesin)

Great Mystery, Divine Presence,
who is known to us by many names,
we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight.
We go forth from this place unafraid
because we know that you journey with us always.
Blessed be!

Guardians and Ancestors of the North, Powers of Earth,
we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight.
Keep our bodies healthy
as we navigate this challenging time
in the life of our planet.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the West, Powers of Water,
we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight.
Keep our spirits calm and peaceful
as we navigate this challenging time
in the life of our planet.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the South, Powers of Fire,
we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight.
Keep our minds sharp and alert
As we navigate this challenging time
in the life of our planet.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell.

Guardians and Ancestors of the East, Powers of Air,
we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight.
Keep our ears attuned to your wisdom
as we navigate this challenging time
in the life our our planet.
Stay of you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!

And now, the circle is open but never unbroken
Because it is a circle woven in love.
Whatever energy is left in this space
We return to the earth with a spirit of gratitude.
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.

Copyright © 2020 by David Taliesin, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com