Ivo Dominguez Jr.
The chief energy that is offered by the Spring Equinox is the fire of life ascendant. This ritual summons this fire in three of its forms. First, it is called as the green flame of the plant realm, of the green life, and will bring us the power to grow and flourish. Second, it is called as the red flame of the animal realm, the red-blooded ones, and will empower us to seek and find what we desire. Lastly, it is called as the silver flame of the spirits, the bright ones, and will show us wisdom and understanding.
Rite of the Green, Red, and Silver Flames
This ritual may be enacted solo or as a group ritual with minor changes, and is easily adapted to match your path and style. Ideally, the ritual should be performed the day of the Spring Equinox, and if that isn’t possible, then on the full moon before or after it. It may be done indoors, but it benefits from being done under the dome of the sky.
Preparations
You will need three white jar candles, one for each of the flames. Measure and cut three pieces of paper that can be wrapped around the candles to half of their height. Decorate each strip of paper so that one represents the flame of plants, one the flame of animals, and one the flame of spirits. Depending upon your preferences and artistry, these embellishments could be simple drawings, collages, keywords, sigils, or simply colors. If you are doing this ritual with others, this can be a group effort. You can use a bit of clear tape to attach these to their respective candle. In a pinch, you could use three tea candles in mason jars. What matters here is that you put your energy into making these devotional candles.
Place the three candles on a small table in the center of the space you will be performing the ritual in. Visual cues often improve the experience of a ritual so consider using a tablecloth with a color or pattern that represents spring. Arrange the candles so that they form a triangle and place a leaf or seed next to the green flame candle, an egg or bone next to the red flame candle, and a crystal or pentacle next to the silver flame candle. It is easier if you light the candles before beginning the ritual. As you light each candle, envision the flame becoming the color needed for this working: one green, one red, and one silver. Take a deep breath and push some energy into each candle until it feels right.
The Ritual
The rite begins with purification, but think of it as a spring cleaning for the senses—both physical and subtle—rather than the standard of cleansing with incense and salt water. You could ring a bell or tap on a drum and revel in the purity of the sound. You could gaze upon the rich colors of a bouquet of spring flowers and then breathe in their fragrance. You could brush your fingertips over a seashell or embroidered fabric to take in its shape. You could put a grain of salt or a drop of honey on your tongue and focus on the flavor and the sensation. These are suggestions, and you can dream up other options so long as you activate at least three of your senses. Then proceed with your normal method for creating sacred space, if you have one, including invocations for any deities or spirits that are a part of your practice.
Go to the central altar, pick up the green flame candle, and walk outward in a growing spiral while repeating:
By leaf and flower and fruit
I call the green flame forth
When you feel the power of the green world, the realm of plant life buzzing and thrumming around you, spiral inward and return the candle to its place on the altar. As you repeat these words and the subsequent calls in this ritual, speak with rhythm and power, and allow your intonation and pitch to change as it will.
Go to the central altar, pick up the red flame candle, and walk outward in a growing spiral while repeating:
By breath and blood and bone
I call the red flame forth
When you feel the power of the red world, the realm of animal life, its heartbeat and its dance around you, spiral inward and return the candle to its place on the altar.
Go to the central altar, pick up the silver flame candle, and walk outward in a growing spiral while repeating:
By above and below and life eternal
I call the silver flame forth
When you feel the power of the spirit world, the realm of ethereal life, its silver bells and the tingle of cool electricity, spiral inward and return the candle to its place on the altar.
Now stand facing the altar (if it is a group, link hands if possible) and say:
The power of spring surrounds me, is in me, and moves through me!
The power of spring surrounds me, is in me, and moves through me!
The power of spring surrounds me, is in me, and moves through me!
If you are doing this ritual with a group, drop hands. Close your eyes and pause to concentrate on what you are feeling, thinking, and sensing. When you are ready, open your eyes and use your own words to ask the flames for the growth, the drive, the wisdom, etc. that you need at this time. If you are uncertain about what you need, then ask for guidance to find your way forward. When you (or all) are done, then chant:
Fire, fire, soul’s desire
Changer change me
Burning, burning, higher
You may also listen to the chant to learn the melody (Assembly of the Sacred Wheel). It is better if you sing, as more power will be raised, but you can just repeat the words in a strong voice.
As you chant, move your gaze from candle flame to candle flame to draw their power into yourself. Continue to chant and give yourself enough time to take in as much power as you can hold. Once you reach your limit, approach the altar and pass your hand over each candle so you can feel the heat. You may free-form tone or “aum” at this point to bring the energy to a peak and end the chant. Place your hand over your heart and feel the truth of the changes that you have requested, and speak your preferred magical closure declaration, such as “blessed be,” “so mote it be,” “it is done,” etc. Then offer words of thanks for what you have received. If it is a group working, after the last person has been to the altar, it is time to close the ritual.
To end the ritual, extinguish the candles in the order of green, red, and silver. If it is your custom to snuff candles, do so, but there is another option in this ritual. Lift up each candle, one at a time, and blow the candle out while visualizing its light spreading outward to infinity. While doing this, set the intention that the flame will carry your requests for change to all the places and beings that will assist you. Next, if you included your own method for creating sacred space at the beginning of the ritual, use your standard closing. This concludes the ritual, but it would be good to write down notes to document your experience and review the outcomes at the Autumn Equinox.
Reference
Assembly of the Sacred Wheel. “Fire Soul’s Desire.” March 23, 2015. YouTube video, 1:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ToICvsCzoc.