Fall Equinox Celebration

Fall Equinox Celebration at Unity House

When : September 22: 2008, 2009: September 23, 2010

We gathered for a Sweat Lodge and fire, followed by a feast and then a Equinox Celebration Ceremony. It was a delightful surprise that one of my teacher, Lynette Edge, a medicine Woman from a long linage of the Swinomish Tribe came to join with us and share her medicine as well. It was a deep and delightfut event as we gathered.

The Autumn equinox signals the beginning of Fall. It is the point where there are exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness at the equator. If you live anywhere else, however, you will see a little bit more or a little bit less than 12 hours of daylight. The daylight hours are dwindling and will continue to do so until we reach the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the start of winter.

Song: We Are Opening up to the Sweat Surrender

Dragon Medicine Lodge

Our Celtic ancestors celebrated Dragon Day at the spring and autumn equinoxes. The Dragon is an ancient symbol representing Earth energy, dynamism, fire, will and courage. At this time of autumn equinox we will invoke the Spirit of Dragon to carry the fire energy into the inner realms as Dragon retreats underground to prepare for the winter season. Hence this time of year gives us the opportunity to re-kindle the fire within to shine light onto our inner power and strength, our inner focus that allows us to connect with our wisdom. It is the time to stop and look within.

The double spiral is the Celtic symbol of the autumn equinox illustrating the in-breath and the out-breath, the point of balance between the worlds, the inner and outer journey.

Lamplight glimmers in darkened rooms
And you fold your hands across a swelling belly
Cradling the fruits of your labor.
The rich scent of new-mown hay, the dark Earth beneath it
Where seeds that fall soon deeply sleep
Here as we move towards the darkness of Samhain
The shadow that brings the light of Yule
Teach us to be willing to pause for a moment
To reflect on the season of growth
The crisp bite of air and the comfort of firelight and shadow.
Demeter, Isis, Arianrhod, Inanna, Freya,
Mother of Shadows,
Welcome!


Smoke hangs like haze over harvested fields
The gold of stubble, the brown of turned earth
And you walk under the red light of fall
The scent of fallen apples, the dust of threshed grain
The sharp, gentle chill of fall.
Here as we move into the shadows of autumn
The night that brings the morning of spring
Come to us, Lord of Harvest
Teach us to be thankful for the gifts you bring us
The bounty of your sacrifice
The warmth and the light of friends gathered around the bounty of the earth.
Dionysus, Osiris, Cernunnos, Dumuzi, Frey,
Lord of the grain,
Welcome!

Hoof and horn, hoof and horn;
All that dies shall be reborn!
Corn and grain, corn and grain,
All that dies shall live again!

We talked for sometime of the misconception the the Equinox is a Celtic Celebration when in fact it is held and has been for thousands of years through all cutures, lands and peoples. Each having their own way of honoring the turning of the season. It is easy to Google Search for Autumn Exquinox or Autumn Exquinox Rituals. Much is wrttten of the Celtic way becaue it is popular at this time, but dig a bit deeper and you will find a wealth of information to round out your awearness.

Autumn Equinox - Meditation

Breathe deeply and relax. Close your eyes. Let your breathing become slow, even, more and more relaxing. Relax, relax into the darkness. Relax deeper into yourself. Descend into yourself as deeply as you desire. As you descend, experience fully the sense of darkness. And know that although you descend to the depths of darkness, you are safe. And experience, too, that although you are deep within yourself, you are connected to all those here, and to many who have come before, and also to future generations.

In this darkness tonight we remember especially those who have come before us in this life and have passed from it. We may have experienced their death as darkness and we know that both darkness and light are part of nature's cycle.

You may want to remember now one particular person. You may even be able to sense their presence, here, now. See them now, if you wish, in the darkness surrounded by light. They are your past, but they can light your present and your future. (Pause)

On this night of balance, we seek to restore the balance in the world, and in ourselves. On this night of increasing darkness, we ask guidance in seeing clearly. On this night of beginnings and endings, we seek to understand the past, to fully experience the present, and to know what is necessary to continue successfully into the future.

Let us take a few minutes to gaze into the flames--or if you prefer, you may keep your eyes closed--to see, to know, these things. Let us look first to the past. See in the flame, or in your mind's eye, a time in the past that still concerns you. (Pause)

Ask what you need to know about that time to put it to rest. See it clearly now. (Pause)
And now see it fade, slowly, slowly, fade into the darkness. And as it fades you are at peace with it. It is over now, it has faded until you can no longer see it. And you are ready to look at the present. And so a second time you look into the flame with your eyes, or with your mind's eye. And you see a present situation. (Pause)

See it now clearly. (Pause)

If you are happy with this situation, keep it clearly in your sight. If there is something in this situation you would like to change, see it change now to exactly what you would like. See it clearly. (Pause)
And now, for the third time, look into the flame. And if there is anything about the future you need to know, you see it now, you know it now. (Pause)

And now, in your own way, you thank Our Great Mother for these visions and for this guidance now, as in the past, and in the future. (Pause)

And when you are ready, come back to this place and time.

Then with a round of chanting we all focused on sound or ward, saying what you need to express! -Love for Life

A Poem Shared
I am so small and yet I’m always cared for, My Share of abundance awaits.
And your life is yours just for the cost of living it - And even that is up to you.
“I love myself exactly the way I am” Counting Blessings and Thanking the Land
Connecting to the source of life -Opening hearts in simple gratitude and Returning love for life
So sit on the hill and watch the sunrise - Forget your hardships, break your bread
We give so much – We give so little - The balance settles with gratitude
Courting blessings, thanking the land, connoting to the source of life
Opening hearts in simple gratitude and return love for life
Returning love for life returning – love for life returning for the Love
Returning Love for Life

As we honored the seeds that we planted last Autumn, we examined what came to pass. We brought awearness to what we had followed up on and put our true intent behind. Then we looked at the year to come. "I let go of the past – then state your intentions (suggest writting them down)

We had each brought a gift or two, some wrapped, others not. Then in a Gifting Cermenoy that was lead by Spirit and we each shared why we brought that gift and the recieve looked at what the teaching or message was to them. It was quite delightful how it all turned out.

End with love of Life Poem and closing of the circle

Blessings to you all

Tana Hamiter - Blue Deer Woman

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