Spring Equinox Rite
Sunday, March 19, 2017

Doors Open at 1:30 PM
Ritual begins promptly at 3:00 PM
Parish Hill, North Park

Please join us for our Eostre Rite and Celebration to be held on Sunday, March 20, 2016. The festivities will be held indoors at Parish Hill in North Park. All Pagan and Pagan-friendly people are welcome to attend! The festivities will begin at 1:00 PM with children’s activities. The ritual will begin promptly at 3:00 PM with a potluck feast to follow.

This year’s rite will honor the Goddess Eostre as the Gatekeeper who makes ready the way for the Spring and new growth. We will also honor the Earth Mother, Nerthus, who, warmed by the returning Spring, arises to new life to bless us with a new season of growth. As in the past, please consider bringing a live plant to decorate the altar, which you can then take home to plant in honor of the Earth Mother.

 As we celebrated the Harvest in September, it is now time to celebrate the planting!  It is traditional to bless the plow and the land before planting, so during this rite we will bless the tools of our labor, asking that the work we do with them brings a good harvest.  If you’re a gardener, bring your gardening tools or seeds. If not, bring a tool that represents your work, hobby, or passion, (a paintbrush, pen, knitting needles, spreadsheet, wrench, etc – a tool that you use to nurture and support your body or spirit) to be blessed and dedicated.  

 Plant a Tree! Over the next year, Sassafras Grove will be collecting cash donations to be used to plant trees through the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of the Earth Mother. For just $2.00 we can plant a tree in a National Forest! So if you have an extra dollar or two, please consider donating.  We’ll keep you updated quarterly on the planting progress!  

Schedule:

1:30 PM Doors open

2:30 PM: Song rehearsal/Ritual briefing

3:00 PM: Ritual begins

Post Ritual (4:30-ish):  Potluck Feast

 What to Bring:

* Offerings to Eostre and Nerthus

* A potted plant to decorate the altar

* Tools to be blessed

* Wind chimes or bells to ring during the gateway

* A chair/blanket if you need to sit during the ritual

* A dish to share at the potluck following the rite

Parish Hill is located on Walter Rd in North Park, Allison Park, PA, 15101.

It is located near 40.60185, -80.014759 for those of you with GPS devices. Please refer to http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/maps.aspx for a park map.

 There is no cost to attend our rites and events, but we do rely on donations to help us cover the cost of space rental and supplies. If you can, please support your local Druids!

 Contact us at info@sassafrasgrove,org with any questions.  Hope to see you there!