Anniversary of my first Pagan Ritual

Last year my witch friend Patrick asked me if I’d like to attend a pagan ritual.

We all assembled at his flat near Brighton seafront. The atmosphere was informal and relaxed.

The ritual was to celebrate Imbolic [pronounced Im-mulk]. The mid point between the winter solstice- Yule and spring equinox- Easter.

There were eight of us. Patrick, his protégé Tara, his boyfriend Winston, Tara’s boyfriend Sam, Patrick and Winston’s trans flatmate Deborah, Welsh Alyn from London, Nick a friend visiting from Manchester and Me.

Patrick asked us to write something about what we would like to grow in ourselves and then to pick a word which summarized the intent.

We read our intentions to each other, sealed what we had written in envelopes with wax to be unveiled after a year, and then processed off to the beach.

The night was crisp. The sea was alive and welcoming our presence.

A relaxing meditation led by Winston took us through a visualization to cleanse our chakras. Base- Genital- Solar Plexus- Heart- Throat- Third Eye- Crown

Flowers opening Red- Orange- Yellow- Green- Blue- Purple and then Bright cleansing Light

A Circle was cast in the light of the late January moon.

The quarters were called

The Spirit of the East representing Air and Thought was invoked by Deborah and welcomed to the Circle

The Spirit of the South representing Fire and Energy was invoked by Sam and welcomed to the Circle

The Spirit of the East representing Water and Emotional Drive was invoked by Alyn and welcomed into the Circle

The Spirit of the North representing Earth and Manifestation was invoked by Winson and welcomed into the Circle

The God was invoked and welcomed by Tara

The Goddess was invoked and welcomed by Patrick

We were then asked to shout out our Intention Word

Patrick started and shouted

TOGETHER

Deborah followed and shouted

HUMILITY

Then Nick

CREATIVITY

Sam

TURN-AROUND

Alyn

CLARITY

Me

PRESENCE

Winston

TRANSFORMATION

And finally Tara

DISCIPLINE

Round the circle we went three times shouting our intentions.

We danced and screamed stamping our feet on the clacking pebbles of the beech our hot breath turning to white steam in our excitement.

Wine was poured into a goblet and passed around.

We looked to the moon and it replied to us with the most beautiful moonbow the first I had ever knowingly witnessed.

We were transfixed in a magickal moment.

The Earth, The Universe, Our Bodies, Our Spirits!

All Was One for Just That Moment.

The Circle was then closed but not broken and we processed back to the flat.

When we’re settled and those present at last year’s rituals open their sealed intentions to themselves from last year, Alyn takes a poem he’s written and reads it to us

The Coming of Spring

Heard in the far distance- a rhythm pounding closer

A great white mare thrashes the bright air

Magnificent with her tail of silver fire

Galloping hard over granite earth

Sounding a drumbeat with hooves of polished steel

Over and over in measured dance.

Thud close followed Thud.

Waking the sleeping from slumber

Dark earth stirs, sap rises

And fresh green creeps skywards

Milk flows from breast to suckle new life

….And She emerges

Young vibrant and virgin white

Garlanding the day as in her footsteps tender flowers spring

It has been winter but now she smiles

And The Circle turns!