(circa September 21)
Decorate the altar with acorns, oak sprigs, pine and
cypress cones, ears of corn, wheat
stalks and other fruits
and nuts. Also place there a small rustic basket filled
with dried leaves of various colours
and kinds.
Arrange the altar, light the candles and censer, and
cast the Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke
the Goddess and God.
Stand before the altar, holding aloft the basket of
leaves, and slowly scatter them so that they
cascade to the
ground within the circle. Say such words as these:
Leaves fall,
the days grow cold.
The Goddess pulls Her mantle of the Earth
around
Her as You,
O Great Sun God,
sail toward the West to the lands of
Eternal Enchantment.,
wrapped in the coolness
of night.
Fruits ripen,
seeds drop,
the hours of day and night are balanced.
Chill winds blow in from the North
wailing
laments.
In this seeming extinction of nature's power,
O Blessed Goddess,
I know that life continues.
For
spring is impossible without the second
harvest,
as surely as life is impossible without
death.
Blessings upon
You,
O Fallen God,
as You journey into the lands of winter
and into the Goddess' loving arms.
Place the basket down and say:
O Gracious Goddess of all fertility,
I have sown and reaped the fruits of my
actions,
good
and bane.
Grant me the courage to plant seeds of joy
and love in the coming year,
banishing misery and hate.
Teach
me the secrets of wise existence upon
this planet,
O Luminous One of the Night!
Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle
is released.
