What word symbolizes this past winter for you?
And what word encapsulates your hopes for the coming summer?
Now turn to face the sun. Close your eyes and feel the warmth on your face, despite the coolness of the air. Put out your hands and visualize weighing and balancing conflicting forces. Think of:
winter and summer
cold and warmth
darkness and light
quiet and energy
sadness and happiness
work and play
Feel each of these in your life. Where is the weight? Where is the balance? We need both of these conflicting forces, at different times, for different purposes. Today, we honor the balance.
LET US EACH MAKE THESE PROMISES TO THE ELEMENTS:
To FIRE - that we will use the gift of our creativity
To AIR - that we will use the gift of our minds
To EARTH - that we will use the gift of our bodies
To WATER - that we will use the gift of our love
And to SPIRIT at the center of the Circle of the Rustling Leaves -
that we will use these gifts to do good
and that we will mmet here again to see what we have harvested
The Circle is open, and yet unbroken.
Thanks to Tom for the ritual, to our Spring Maids Rose and Lydia, to Frank the Firekeeper, and to Lee - "may we never hunger" and to Walt and Linda - "may we never thirst", and to Brian, Kelly, and Wendy for their energetic presence.