Spring Equinox with the children

Weather was wet and gray an inside day.
Ritual took place, in side, at 2pm on the 20th of March 2003
Participants were a mum and dad, three daughters aged, 10,7,and 4, with a friend aged 5.

It is the first day of spring, equal day and night, we have to do something special to mark the day and remember the wonder of nature.

 We were babysitting a young 5yr old lad named Mathis.  A German boy, so I explained to him, we will do a magick circle to welcome spring into our lives.  Estora (Easter) is the German name for the Spring Goddess.  When the flowers return, we start to see eggs and new babies appear, marking new beginnings.

  I drew a circle of chalk on the living room floor.  Placed our four painted rocks round the circle to mark the elements.  I explained to Mathis the rocks symbolized the direction of the sun.  Of the four elements, East air where the sun rises, fire-south full day sun, water-west to the setting sun and earth-north starry skies where we don't see the sun or moon.  I allowed the kids to pretend to be the elements and play with the elements while I prepared the circle. They swam and flew, and wandered through forests and gardens...

I lit four candles by the rocks. placed a bowl of water, a bowl of salt and a stick of incense on the altar in the north.  A scarf of pink was laid out under the altar tools.  there was a basket of oranges and apples, and crackers to nibble, plus an exciting bag of chocolate eggs.

I let the girls wear their flower crowns, and gave Mathis a cord of gold and blue to wear, he wanted to sit by the water so I called him the water prince.

The girls and I chanted : May the circle be open, but unbroken,
                                     May the peace of the Goddess be forever in your heart
                                     Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again.

 First I did a banishing to clear the space.  When the Dad was ready I lined them all up outside the circle and hugged each turning them into the circle, with a kiss saying 'In perfect love and perfect trust we meet'

Then when all were seated on the floor we opened the circle.
Charging the water and salt with clear divine energy, I splashed everyone,
"May this altar be purified, may this circle be purified, May the tools upon the altar be purified, may all in the circle be purified and all touched by the circle be purified, So mote it be."

Then I lit the incense.  I let the eldest daughter hold the incense and the middle daughter hold the water, I asked Mathis and the youngest daughter to sit and watch, against their will.  A friend knocked at the door at this point.  So the Dad had to get up to scan something in for him. He wished us a  merry spring equinox, while the kids watched the eldest sister write everyone's names with the incense stick and Mathis argued he was sitting by the rock with water so should hold the water bowl.  I decided to let the kids pass the incense round the circle and the water bowl, to sprinkle themselves clean, the eldest daughter and I spotted our third eyes and heart chakras. 

When the Dad came back to the circle, he had to explain to Mathis we don't play with swords in the circle or squeak the toys.  Sacred space flow with us.

  I stood up and called each element into the circle with the eldest daughter waving the incense and the middle daughter splashing the water.  East for Air and new days and beginnings, light, love and laughter.  Fire to the south, to honour and respect, full of light, warming our days and gardens.  Water to the West, may we flow easily with the motions and currents we ride... And North to earth, may we stand strong and be well with the other creatures we share this earth with....

I then sat down Not sure what to do, bit of the spur of the moment this ritual.  So I started to chant, 'The wheel is turning, life is returning."  Everyone sang too, I got the middle daughter to go first into the middle of the circle and pretend to be a seed and grow up like a flower, Grow into something new and wonderful.  We all chanted and watched her dance, Mathis didn't wanted to go next, so youngest daughter became a tree, and Mathis became egar to grow himself into a dinosaur 'crack' he said bursting out of his shell, roaring at everyone, the youngest daughter thought it was really funny, and we all laughed as he intently played the role.  The eldest daughter was a chicken flapping her elbows about.  My turn I decided to be different and be a flame, no one could touch me, as I danced and waved my body up; the kids all joined in being flames.  The dad did a mundra, a special hand posture he rose the energy up skyward to new heights, every one copied as we chanted.  It was a real uplifting fun spell to do. 

After I said a few words, about the meaning of Spring Equinox, half way between winter and summer, equal day and night, marking new beginnings, the first day of spring...

' The wheel of change spins round to spring again.  It is time to change and begin again.  Rejoice in spring, for the maiden, the first aspect of The Goddess, returns!'

The energy was dieing down so I decided to do the egg hunt, I threw a blanket over the kids, and swore them not to peek ;) The dad passed me 4 groups of 4 eggs so they all got 4 eggs each. (we had made treasure boxes earlier for the eggs, Mathis wanted his to be a nature chest, treasure chests' was the winner over baskets)  Then after all the eggs were found I let the kids feast on crackers, oranges, apples and water.

After the fun feast we closed the circle:

Everyone back into the circle, after cleaning up the mess a bit.  The eldest daughter and I went back around the circle and thanked each element from each direction for being present in our circle, then we blew out the candles.

Circle magick always uplifts everyone's spirits and we all felt merry.  First thing we did after was go for a walk in the forest behind our alley way to find nature treasures.

Twaz a merry Spring Beginning.

That evening we watched the live broadcast of the war in Iraq, we saw a small town chanting in the background.  The news reporter said usually there is a big celebration for the Spring Equinox.  These people were chanting in the spring while others were hiding in the hills.  We all send our love this spring equinox chanting in new beginnings of fair play and harmony.