Our last group ritual here at Temple of the Moon was the Eve of the Equinox this Spring. After people went home with their eggs and pussy willows, I extinguished the candles in the wrought-iron chandelier that (inter alia) illuminates the temple.
In retrospect, I'm not sure why I did that. Generally after a ritual I let the candles burn down, an offering for the holy tide. But this year, for some reason, I didn't. That the Equinox also marked the beginning of the Great Covid Lockdown here in Minnesota may have had something to do with it.
Since then, the half-burnt candles have stood unlit in the chandelier. The offerings that take place twice daily in the temple don't require so much light, and through the Season of Light our group rites have unfolded outdoors.
But now comes the Other Evenday, the Waning Equinox, with no immediate prospect of indoor gathering through the Winter to come.
I ask myself: should I leave the half-burned candles until they can once again light our next indoor rite together?
No: while I can appreciate the nice circular symbolism, in the end it's too much like inaction. Tonight, Equinox Eve, I plan to light those stubs and let their offering of light make way for what comes next.
As elsewhere, it's been a Dark Summer here in Paganistan. Now comes an Autumn of discontent, and the shadows gather.
In the time to come, we'll need all the Light we can manage to make, to see us through to Spring.
Above:
Temple of Mnajdra, Equinox Sunrise
Qrendi, Malta
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