Intention: Grounded in our sovereign bodies, we engage with need and choice, change and fate. We find what we value, what we will tend, and what we will fight for.
Spring Equinox with Baltimore Reclaiming
Homewood Friends Meeting House
3107 North Charles Street, Baltimore Maryland 21218
Times:
4:00 pm: Our pre-ritual activity is an offering to the land: Collecting trash from Wyman Park Dell, and areas surrounding the meeting house. We will meet at the meeting house, and head across the street at 4:10 pm.
5:00 pm: Ritual setup, for those that want to help. For others, this hour can be to find dinner together, go run errands, etc.
5:45 pm: Ritual run-through -- for anyone taking a role in the ritual.
6:00 pm: Doors open.
6:30-8:30: Ritual
8:30-9:00: Cleanup and social time.
Witches, Spring Equinox is arriving. The earth is waking up. New growth is underfoot. In the story of the Judgment of Paris, we are visiting the period of time after Paris has decided Aphrodite is the fairest goddess, and she has promised him the hand of Helen in marriage. Helen is leaving her husband and child to join him– possibly more so that she has a chance to see parts of the world she hasn’t seen before than just to be with this random prince. Whatever the case is, they are happy with their arrangement, but it’s already causing suffering in other parts of their world, suffering that will lead to the Trojan War. In our own timeline, as we are writing this description, there are some people very happy with the state of world events– and some people, many in our community, who are feeling gravely endangered for themselves, for their friends and family, for immigrants, for victims of genocide, and more. For these folks the problems can sometimes seem too many to name. It is overwhelming, and yet we have to find a way to survive and fight for what empowers us to live fully in the magical world we dream into being. We have to remember the joy that lives in each cell and membrane of these sovereign bodies of ours, and in the bonds we create with communities that support us. We maybe even need to ask ourselves: What are the things I value so much, it is worth fighting empires for?
This is a ritual that is going to explore power, desire, joy, perspective taking, choice making, and the deep connections– with each other, with spirits of the land– that can sustain us as fate plays out. It will be grounded in our bodies and our bodily liberation– physical, mental, magical, and divine. It will ask us to consider what is fated and what is in our hands to change, times others would like us to believe something is fated but we really do have a choice, and those moments where Choosing– truly choosing– what is best for ourselves is simply a part of destiny.
If these themes resonate with you, come. Weave with us a spell of power, defense, and liberation.
Cost: Baltimore Reclaiming does not charge for our events, but we do have considerable expenses which include renting the space and buying supplies for the ritual! We recommend a $10-$20 donation per person. You can bring cash or send money ahead of time via Venmo to 303-819-7843. No one is turned away for lack of funds. You are fully welcome regardless of your ability to financially donate.
Mask Policy: As of our winter community meeting, masks are optional but welcomed.
Drugs & Alcohol: All Baltimore Reclaiming events are drug and alcohol free. We respectfully request that you do not use drugs or alcohol before or while attending our events.
Scent Policy: We strive to accommodate people who have chemical and scent sensitivities. Please keep these people in mind as you make choices about wearing scented personal hygiene products.
What to Expect: New to Baltimore Reclaiming? Visit our Rituals page to learn more about what to expect at an event.
Dress Code: Wear whatever you like! You are welcome to wear everything from jeans and a t-shirt to a tuxedo. Often, people like to wear something special for ritual which might mean a favorite dress, a special shawl, a flower crown, or something else. We encourage you to wear whatever you feel most comfortable in.
About the Spring Equinox:
The Spring Equinox is the official start of Spring. It is an astronomical event, marked by the instant of time when the plane of the Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun. On the day of an equinox, daytime and nighttime are of approximately equal duration all over the planet. It is a moment of balance following the Spring Equinox, the days will lengthen until we reach the longest day of the year at the Summer Solstice. Some witches call the Spring Equinox "Ostara," which was a name given to the Spring Equinox in 1974 by neo-Pagan Aidan Kelly. Modern Pagans mark Spring Equinox/Ostara as a celebration of balance (due to the day and night being of same length) and of life and fertility. This is a time when the world is usually waking up. The first blossoms and buds are breaking forth from the ground and the world is springing back to life. It is a time to witness the beauty of the world and recognize the preciousness of the living web.
Who is Baltimore Reclaiming?
Baltimore Reclaiming is a radically inclusive community of witches who use our magic to bring transformation, justice and healing to ourselves, Baltimore and the world. We are a group of witches, artists, pagans, healers, activists, queers, priestesses, anarchists, theater geeks, feminists, and other good humans. We see our work as teaching and making magic: the art of empowering ourselves and each other. In our classes, workshops, and public rituals, we train our voices, bodies, energy, intuition, and minds. We use the skills we learn to deepen our strength, both as individuals and as community, to voice our concerns about the world in which we live, and bring to birth a vision of a new culture. We gather, mostly on the Sabbats, to work magic, often for personal healing and also for the healing of our society and planet. We believe that the work we do together in our sacred circles really can change the world.