Spica Harvest Ritual - Drawing down the Kindly Star by grasping the hair of the Earth
“I grasp you, as Ceres grasped your body and pulled it from the Earth; I cut you as the shaft of wheat held by the Virgin’s hand.
Holy and golden herb, hair of Na’a, progeny of Naapi, be thou with me in my acts of devotion and sorcery.
By the blood in my veins and the blood of this Land, by those of my kin and those familiar to me.”
On Thursday, September 9th, a waxing Moon applied a powerful conjunction with Spica, on the edge of Venus' orb. I went out as Spica rose above the horizon, set onto the path of a bright hillside. As the Sun's first rays hit the golden grains, those grasses and barleys and wild wheats growing on the edge of a precipice, those nestled amongst the sage, nettle, and wild asparagus, I reaped the harvest they offered.
It was known that the time to harvest the grain was near when Spica set in the West. When she rose again, six weeks later, the grain was threshed and stored. She is the Spike in the Virgin's hand, Alpha Virginis.
Beneath a peach sky I grasped each nodding head of golden locks, and intoning my prayer, harvested each as the Spike in the Virgin's hand itself. I collected a small bundle along my path, when I finally came upon a place of power important to me — a grove of red elder, torn down by the hubris of men. The place is powerful — the ground is lined with the bones of the Red King, the powerful pines loom above, and the large rowans marking the perimeter of the plot make themselves known by their boughs of red berries, which arch over the dirt path.
There I left offerings of water and tobacco, devotions to the Red King, and thanks to Spica for this harvest. I made my way back home and began the ritual right away.
Each participant's information was written onto consecrated paper and each slip was used to tie individual bundles of grains. These bundles served as the sacrifice we each made to Spica; a part of our harvest, offered in exchange for her generosity through the dark half of the year. The act of reaping this grain served as a sympathetic act of reaping that which we have sown in the past year, and as such, Spica will grant us the gain and harvest of what we have worked towards.
The star was invoked through chants and incantations, drawing down her spirit and pneuma to receive the grain. Each bundle was set ablaze, and dropped within a cauldron containing an infusion of mugwort, sage, and trefoil. This water stood as the gate of Spica, the realm of the star itself, into which a reflection of the outdoors sky was cast by means of a well-placed mirror. The offerings given, a handful of copper pennies — found by chance a few days prior — were blessed by the star, spirits of the same plants being poured over them and set to burn.
These coins were then collected within a square of canvas with some of the collected grain, mugwort, trefoil, and sage. These bags bare the mark of Spica and were fumigated with a mixture of the same herbs placed within. During this time, the Hymn to Astron was sung repeatedly, and the Lunar Serpent, holding the virtues of Spica, was circulated into the talismans, empowering and consecrating them with power. These talismans will be sent to those who have purchased the talisman package, and serve to draw prosperity, abundance, and favor during the next year.
The star was thanked, and the spirits present were offered incense and water. The ritual was closed and the enchantment sealed.
This ritual felt incredibly personal to me; celebrating the season of harvest, reaping the blessings we have asked for, and connecting with the world around me in a holistic way. This is the best medicine! I cannot wait for Spica to rise once more, and for us to prosper and grow according to her blessing.
With love,
Mahigan
