Today Sweetwood Temenos was covered in snow, shinning brightly two days after the Spring Equinox. I parked my car on the township road, as I had to walk back to the sacred circle because of the deep snow. I carried in the goblet, eggs, priest necklace, olive bread, incense, paper and lighter to start the fire and the phallic wand.
The snow in the circle was knee deep. I shoveled out where the Imbolc fire had been. I collected dry kindling, split oak and started a fire. I set the altar with the goblet with spring water, olive bread and phallic wand.
Then came Aine, she traveled 5 hours to come and celebrate Eostre here at Sweetwood Temenos. She brought some colored eggs with prayers written on them. I also had colored eggs with written words on them. These eggs were the seeds we wish to sprout and bare fruit in the coming year.
I cast the circle with incense and then we gathered the eggs upon to a wicker plate and sat with them and mediated on the future, being there in the moment of beauty and joy. We sat in a circle all sparkled with afternoon sunlight and the quiet of the woods whose anticipation of spring could be heard in the silence. Swelling buds, scampering squirrels, crows cawing and snow melting.
I got up and brought the phallic wand forth and called up the Sun God renewed, to bless these eggs we held and the prayers written upon them. We then went about the woods outside the circle and placed the eggs round. We gave one more prayer with each placed egg.
When we were finished we went back to the fire in the circle. Aine said blessing over the bread and I brought forth the goblet with water. We shared water and ate the bread all in the splendor of the whiteness reflecting the spring sun in lovely woods. As we finished the sharing of water an owl hooted from the valley below.
Then we feasted as Aine brought some very yummy organic food. I opened a bottle of mead and offered some blessings. We sat down by the fire for a couple of hours just enjoying each other’s company, food and drink. The magic of the simple and humble moved our souls, this celebration of White Eostre 2008.