Bless the Salt, holding it up. Oh creature of Earth, in this scared space. I bless you in the name of the Lord and Lady.

Bless the Water, holding it up. Oh creature of Water, in this scared space, I bless you in the name of the Lord and Lady.

Take up the salted water. Walk around your circle sprinkling as you go - 3 times around deosil. With Earth and Water, I cast this circle.

Light the Incense. holding it up. Oh creatures of Air and Fire, in this scared space, I bless you in the name of the Lord and Lady.

Take up the Incense clockwise 3 times around. With Air and Fire, I cast this circle.

Direction of East, element of Air. Come to us now on the cool breath of Autumn's sigh which heralds the advent of Winter and the close of harvest time. Breathe into us the spirit of the pure joy of life. So mote it be!"

Direction of South, element of Fire. Come forth from the cook fires and smokehouses where food is being made ready for the coming cold months. Kindle within us the flame of spiritual awakening. So mote it be!"

Direction of West, element of Water. Come forth from the rainbow hued morning dew that covers the fields, and is soon to be frost. Asperge us with your diadems and water our deepest roots that we may find peace of mind. So mote it be!"

Direction of North, element of Earth. Come forth from the fertile bosom of our Blessed Mother Earth, and nourish us so that our hopes may grow to fruition. So mote it be!"

Gracious Goddess, You who are the Queen of the Gods, the lamp of night, the creator of all that is wild and free; mother of woman and man; lover of the Horned God. Descend, we pray, with Your lunar ray of power upon our circle here!

Blazing God, You who are the King of the Gods, Lord of the Sun and the Shadows, master of all that is wild and free; father of woman and man, lover of the Moon Goddess. Descend, we pray, with Your solar ray of power upon our circle here!

The Autumn Equinox is the counterpoint to the Spring Equinox. Whereas the Spring season is the time when life seems to be renewing itself and coming to the surface, Autumn is when things begin to shed, and the growth which was young in spring is now matured. Springtime energy speeds up, in the fall it slows down. The energy of Spring is upward, plants pushing upwards towards the bright sun, in Fall the energy moves downward, leaves falling away from the trees.

The Equinoxes are the two days out of the whole year when the northern and southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight, and the days and nights are the same length. These are times of balance, and also times of intense change; the solar rising and setting points are moving quickly from day to day - southward during Autumn, northward during Spring. The Autumn Equinox is the time of the harvest festival.

Autumn is the season between Summer (the season with lots of activity) and Winter (the season of hibernating and slowing down). We can see why it is called an Equinox, a balancing time. In Winter we plant our seeds, in Spring they sprout, in Summer they mature, and in Autumn, they are harvested. So like seeds in the ground, our ideas are also nurtured and grow, through the combination of cosmic and earth energies. Not only is it harvest time, but it is also time to prepare for the next season of crops.

The God is diminishing in his power, the Crone has ascended her throne. We give thanks to the Goddess for her gifts, and thanks to the God for his bounty. The harvest is nearly done, and the hunting season begins. Persephone has gone below the ground, and the Sun God has been replaced by the Lord of Shadows. This is the time to evaluate the past years efforts, and cut away outworn habits and emotional baggage that may be wearing you down.

On the paper in front of you, write something down for which you are thankful, something you choose to keep with you for the dark months ahead. Also write down a thing that you wish to save for seed during the coming year. Pour your energy into it, and when you are finished, touch the paper to the flame of the cauldron and let it burn away.

When all have finished with their papers, all say together – SO MOTE IT BE!

Mother Goddess, Father God, thank you for attending our circle here. God with our Blessings, in beauty and peace. Blessed Be!

Guardian of the East, return now to the brisk Autumn breezes which are brimming with the excitement of the year's climax. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!"

Guardian of the South, return now to the dying fires of Autumn's heat soon to give way to Winter's chill. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!"

Guardian of the West, return now to the Autumn rains which cool the Earth's fevered brow baked in the heat of Summer afternoons. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!"

Guardian of the North, return now to the Earth where worms burrow deeper and seeds nestle awaiting the long sleep of Winter. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!"