Supplies needed:

large shallow wooden bowl
bag or jar of seeds
baby food jars (?)
white candle
green candle
two candle holders
lighter or matches
red cloak
rowan wand
chalice
water
Freddie

HPS:

"We are now in the Rowan moon, the time of the quickening, or the aborting. As the tiniest flame of light was born with the beginning of the first Solar, after the Winter Solstice, so now we are seeing its manifestation around us."

(Light candles)

HPS:

"White is protection and purification; green is for growth and nourishment."

HPS:

"Now the light has grown and we feel the quickening of the year within and around us. But we are still within the labyrinth of the energy lying deep within the Earth. We search for the path which follows the strengthening light. We trace the tracks which were trod long before Troy's walls fell."

HPS:

"We listen for understanding from the Mother:"

Maiden:

"From Artemis, the Huntress, comes the knowledge and experience of the solitude of the hunter, the seeker. We also learn the oneness of forest, land and sea, and we see with new eyes: Reborn in spontaneity, trust and enthusiasm."

Mother:

"From Breed, we learn that as the leaves of trees are shed to grow again in spring, and as the bark is old and rough and hard outside, but living green inside; its growth just underneath; so must our memories and experiences die and be shed. Through these deaths come renewed inspiration and healing."

Crone:

"From Hecate, we follow blindly the patterns of our own destiny until we learn to see with higher eyes. And then, no longer is the trail a bewildering maze, but a dance which we follow, knowing its pattern and rhythm."

HPS:

"As the seeds of fall are dormant in the ground, so are we dormant. This is the natural process of this time of year, but so is it that when you have need for manifestation, you must reach a state of dormancy first, and allow the seeds within a chance to germinate and sprout."

HPS:

"Listen to the words of the Rowan:"

Rowan:

"I am the Mystery of the Seed - in the beginning lies the ending. The seed is as a thought form, taken by your High Self and made to grow into future events. The seed is the Child of Balance - in it meet all opposites - darkness and light, fire and water, earth and air, day and night are all necessary for its growth. The seed is potential - it takes root, sends up shoots, and puts forth leaves. The potential is realized. He is the divine child Sun born of the union of ourselves - the fruit of our labors which in the Spring, pushes forth his new leaves from the grasp of the Earth to greet the sun."

HPS:

"Now we are in the Halls of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, the fixer and destroyer of all things. She is the part of us which lies underground, waiting to be transformed. In all growth, there is initially limitation and change - perhaps painful - and the learning of the darkness within ourselves.

"Protection from the dark side comes from that which is higher than we. This protection is not a pushing away, but an embracing, a joining, to bring the two selves together into a whole. The awareness and understanding needed to reach that protection is the mystery of the season."

"Sensitivity to your lower self, amplified now, will enable you to pick your seeds and water them. The Birch, Rowan and Ash all give lessons on the energies manifest now, the initial learning of what lies within both the high self and the other influences of the year."

"The Birch moon, just past, brings us awareness, sensitivity, and self-discipline. We also learn lessons of authority, both within and without. We can use the energies of Birch to gain a stronger connection to our High Self, and thereby its protection, white light, and unlimited strength."

"The Rowan moon, where we are now, brings us the ability to communicate fully with our Low Self, and thus the ability to send our seed thoughts, with their energy, up to the High Self. But with this rise of energy comes more emotions; Rowan gives us the compassion necessary to calm our thoughts, and keep them from clouding the future."

"The Ash moon, still ahead, brings us the stillness of expectation and listening while the return of energy becomes the hub under the guide of our High Self, the charioteer. Ash also gives us the patience to wait, to not force the birth of the Divine Child too soon."

HPS:

"The seed is potential as yet unrealized. The mold is now cast, as the chick within the egg is forming. Now is the time to sort your seeds - cast out those which will not grow, and hold the ones which are full of life."

(Show and give out the seed mix. Show tediousness of separating.)

HPS:

"Begin to sort through these seeds now. Listen to your inner voice to know which to separate out. You don't have to sort through them completely tonight, but rather take them one at a time, listen to them, and act accordingly. This sorting is a quickening and aborting of ideas, projects, events, and ventures. The purification of this time of year is shown in this sorting. If you fail to separate out the culls, your past experiences and memories, you will be destined to live them over and over again, until they are finally sorted out."

"The upcoming Ash moon is the time of the foot. The energy, resident now beneath the ground, will then begin coming up out of the earth, through the foot. This will be a time of strong emotions and complexes. We may also find many seeds which we did not know existed. These complexes, feelings, and talents so discovered can be amplified or cured, as appropriate, with the energy available during the Ash moon."

"By the Vernal Equinox the sorting of the seeds should be complete, so that the year's planting can begin."

HPS:

"Remember that Rowan moon is: A time of protection - to let the waters be still enough to see within yourself. A time of purification - to sort the seeds for whichever crop will be sown. And a time of energy - the gestation during which there is activity while all seems dormant."

"The seed itself grows toward its own death, when the plant will put forth more seeds, and die. For there is no beginning without an ending, and no birth without death. Therein we find the mystery of the seed - in the beginning lies the ending."

HPS

"Now, some thoughts on seeds for the time ahead:"

HP:

"This is a chain letter.

Within the next 55 days you will receive 30-eleven hundred pounds of chains!

In the meantime - Plant your seeds.

If a lot of people who receive this letter plant a few seeds and a lot of people receive this letter, then a lot of seeds will get planted.

Plant your seeds.

In parks. On lots. Public flower beds. In remote places. At City Hall. Wherever. Whenever. Or start a plantation in your closet (but read up on it first for that). For casual planting, it's best to soak them in water for a day and plant in a bunch of about 5 about half an inch deep. Don't worry much about weather, they know when the weather is wrong and will try to wait for nature. Don't soak them if it's wintertime. Seeds are a very hearty life form and strongly desire to grow and flourish. But some of them need people's help to get started.

Plant your seeds."

HPS:

"Water is a key element at this time of year. It is shared by all things on this earth, organic and inorganic, and it is needed to help your seeds grow. Pass this chalice around and share water with us."

HPS:

"Share of my water, and know that as the rain, It is the bringer of life."

"Share of my water, and know that as the oceans and seas it is the womb of life."

"Share of my water, and know that as the clouds, It is the seeker, the traveler with a mission."

"I share of the water, and may all know that as the streams and rivers, it is the shape changer, the destroyer of old, and at the same time, through change, the creatrix of new."

"Knowing well that water is the essence of life, We have shared and become one, And now as one, we offer our lives to She who is the Mother of all life, In service and in love."

(Do Freddie, ring bell)

HPS:

"It is done!"