Here's the ritual from last night:
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Fall Equinox - Persephone's Descent
By Foxlyn Wren
September 23, 2026
ADF COoR Style
Virtual Fire Proto-Grove, ADF
On the Altar: Persephone's Oracle Mask in the back. Rattle, Kuksa offering cup, Oracle statue, Hestia, Persephone Statue, red apple candle, rose quartz, fox, tea cup of water, Melissae figure, Molly Remer's Return, a real white-tailed deer antler. In the back are offerings, lighter, and divination tools.
"Tonight we celebrate the Fall Equinox by honoring Persephone and Her journey to the Underworld. In the spring, She emerges from the dark Earth as Kore, the Flower Maiden, the newborn fawn dancing in the warm sunlight. A Divine Birth Doula.
In the fall, the Dying Doe withers, making Her descent back into dark cool earth–decaying, transitioning into Persephone, the Hellenic Queen of the Underworld, Beloved of Hades, and Caregiver of the Dead. A Divine Death Doula.
And in return, Persephone will give us Advice and Blessings, as a Divine Death Doula She understands how difficult this time of the year can be–and how scary these concepts and realities are. She says to revel in the beauty of harvest, of release if you want, if you can. She acknowledges that not everyone has a community or family they can celebrate or even grieve with. Even if you do, you have to be comfortable with you, too. She stresses the importance of Self. In being your own anchor in this world, especially when community ain't around for whatever reason. She stresses the importance of tending to ourselves.
On Her many Returns, Persephone travels alone, guided by torchlight and by moonlight. Alone with Her thoughts. Alone with Her transformations. A long journey to and from life and death, death and life. She hopes that we can find peace and solace in our loneliness–rest, healing, rejuvenation.
Retreat. Reroot. Return.
Close or lower your eyes, and breathe at your own pace. A poem by Molly Remer (4)".
Calling the Hearth Mothers and Spirits: Light the Candle.
Hearth Keepers Prayer:
Born in the Waters, Kindled on the Land,
With a pillar of smoke that supports the heavens.
This fire burns at the center of ALL
To carry my voice to the Spirits.
Sacred Keepers of the Flame Shine within [us] today,
Take these words and deeds, and accept [our] offerings" (1).
Sprinkle offerings of lavender into the flame.
"Hearth Kindreds, we honor you. Bring Your presence of the Living Flame into our homes. Bless us with your gifts of light and warmth" (2).
Purification: "I invite you all to purify your own spaces if you'd like."
Shake rattle over the space. "In the names of My Hearth and Home Entities, this space is cleared of all unwanted energies and entities. As it is willed, so shall it be!"
Earth Mother Invite: "We call now to the Earth Mother, One of many names and genders and cultures. She who in the Northern Hemisphere transitions from a fruitful summer to a cooler fall. A time of harvest, release, and prep. Earth Mother, we invite you to this rite. Earth Mother accept this offering."
Give Offering of Rose petals and salt.
Inspiration: "We call now to the Bee Dancers! May you give energy to this rite. Honey our words and help keep it flowing. Melissae, accept our offering!"
Give Offerings of Water.
Opening the Gates: "We call to the Gatekeepers, Melissae! Priestesses, Healers, Psychopomps! Melissae, accept this offering and be welcomed in our rite!"
Give offerings of honey.
"Melissae, we ask that you join your magiks with ours as we open the gates!"
"As we are in ritual space and time, know that this world reflects the Other."
With the Antler, touch the Cup.
"Sacred Well, cauldron of the Underworld and the Chthonic Ones, Portal to the Ancestors, deep and ancient.
May this cup of water become the cosmic well.
Sacred Well, flow deep within us!"
With the Antler, touch the Rose Quartz.
"Sacred Mountain, you are the embodiment of strength and endurance.
May this rose quartz become the cosmic mountain.
Sacred Mountain, stand strong within us!"
With the Antler, touch the Candle.
"Sacred Fires of the Heavens, You are the spark of inspiration, the flame of transformation.
May this candle become the cosmic fire.
Sacred Fire, burn bright within us!
Melissae, let the gates be opened!"
Open hands.
Now to Invite the Kindreds Three: "Ancestors of blood, spirits, and place, we invite you to this rite. Ancestors accept this offering."
Give cornmeal.
"Nature Spirits of land, air, and water. We invite you to this rite. Nature Spirits, accept this offering."
Give cornmeal.
"Shining Ones, Those Known and Unknown, Seen and Unseen, Within and Without a Shrine in this space and our homes. Entities of Blessings and Guidance. We invite you to this rite. Shining Ones, accept this offering!"
Give cornmeal.
Allow attendees to invite their kindreds. Speak or type in chat. Give offerings.
Welcome the Being of the Occasion: "Welcome Persephone, Daughter of Demeter, Beloved of Hades, Queen of the Underworld.
Put on Persephone's Mask.
"In the Spring, we welcomed you as Kore, Flower Maiden, who stepped with life. Now we bid farewell to the Withering Persephone, Death Woman, with decay in every step. Once a young fawn, now a dying crone doe, making Her descent down into the dark earth to the waiting Hekate and longing Hades.
As summer ends and fall begins, the leaves change from greens to yellows, reds, and browns, and fall to the ground. Humans and animals harvest and celebrate, gather and prep. We all give thanks to a fruitful year that sustained us. We hope enough has been done to sustain us through til the next equinox."
I read Maiden of Seasons by Stephanie S. Sommers (2)
"Persephone–Nymph, Queen, Goddess–be welcomed at this ritual and accept this sacrifice!"
Drink Pom juice.
Working: "Last year, this ritual focused on Healing through Lightwork and making energy balls. This year, Persephone is focusing more on Healing through Return.
Twice a year, Persephone Returns Home, as She spends roughly 6 months with mom and 6 months with hubby, honoring two major aspects of Her.
If anyone knows Molly Remer, she's a Priestess, an artist and founder of Brigid's Grove, a teacher, and an author of many goddess prayerbooks. For the month of September, the theme is Return, inspired by Hestia and one of her books (show book), which I've been reading and meditating with daily. Two weeks ago, I led a ritual that honored Hestia, the Hearth Kindred, and was inspired by Molly's theme–a ritual about tending to one's own inner hearth.
Then when I was looking at last year's ritual for Persephone, She was whispering the same thing–Return.
Return to Self. Return to your Safe Space. Return Home.
I was like how can I write this ritual so that it's not just the same thing for Hestia. CLEARLY this concept is NEEDED. When I looked at last years ritual, Persephone said, "Change little." Looking at it, I knew that I needed to make some changes–different year, different things going on. I edited a little here and there. I asked for guidance, too, but was met mostly with silence and tiredness. So I rested and I did art, and I meditated on the theme. I also thought a lot about the prayer that I opened this ritual with…
"No need to press for perfection.
No need to do it all.
Instead,
Pause.
Inhabit the center of the spinning.
Set down what you carry.
Examine it with love.
Pick up what is sacred,
leave the rest.
Take a deep breath of freedom
and exhale into softness and surrender"
Like last year, I did divination for more information. I pulled a regular card from the deck - Marzanna. A Slavic Goddess of Death, Cycles, and Winter.
This card is asking oneself about how they cope with the highs and lows of life. The Melissae immediately showed me chunks of honey--Honeysweets. Reminding folks of their honeysweets--things that nourish them through those lows, through the darkness of winter. A Return to Home--Comfort, Familiarity, Rest, Peace, Harmony. And not just physical home--as not all homes are peaceful and inviting. Whatever, wherever one feels safe to rest.
They showed me a lost hiker in the storm. They pitch their tent--their shelter from the harsh winds and painful rains. It's not home, but it gives them some comfort, some rest, a break from the storms.
It gives them Hope.
I also drew Aphrodite - Love. Giving oneself permission to give and receive love. To ask oneself how they define it--what is the love that they seek? What kind of love are they in need of?
Persephone ended the session with, "Stop punishing yourselves."
Ask yourselves:
What does Return mean to you?
What is a sanctuary?
What does your home look like? Where is it? What's in it that brings your hope and joy?
What are your honeysweets? What can nourish your soul to help you cope and survive that darkness?
What gives you hope?
A lot of themes of the Fall Equinox focus on harvest, release, and balance. Persephone's focusing a bit more on preparation for the dark months ahead.
"Some people are alive during this time, while others are fearful," She says.
I read Hymn to Persephone by K.S. Roy (2).
Omen: Using European Goddesses and Spirits by Johanna Polle. "Now it's time for the Omen. Persephone, what are your messages and blessings for us this season?"
Message and Blessings from Persephone:
Hallowing the Waters: "We ask the Melissae to bless these waters. Hold your cups up and remember the omen. May They fill our cups with love, guidance, patience, and anything else They feel we're in need of. Melissae, give us the waters!"
See or feel the energies filling the cup.
"Behold the Waters of Life. Drink Deep and know that we are blessed."
Thanking Persephone and the Kindreds: "To our honored Guests, Persephone, Kindreds and Spirits All, we thank you for attending this rite, and giving us protection and guidance, blessings, and patience. Go if you will, stay if you want. Hail and Farewell Kindreds and Spirits All."
Remove the mask.
I will read Persephone Prayersong by Molly Remer (4).
Close the Gates: "Bee Priestesses, thank you for guiding and aiding us and mixing your magiks with ours. Help us now to close the gates!"
Touch the antler to the Flame.
"May this Cosmic Flame become but a candle."
Touch the antler to the Mountain.
"May this Cosmic Mountain become but rose quartz."
Touch the antler to the Well.
"May this Cosmic Well become but a cup of water."
"Melissae! May the gates be closed!"
Close hands.
Thank Inspiration: "Bee Dancers, we thank you for your inspiration. Hail and Farewell Melissae!"
Thank Earth Mother: "Earth Mother we thank you for your support this day and every day. Our thanks and blessings. Hail and Farewell, Earth Mother."
Thank Hestia: "Hestia, First and Last. Thank you for attending this rite. Hail and Farewell."
Blow out Her candle.
Closing the Rite: "This rite has ended. May we go in peace and fellowship."
Omen: Using European Goddesses and Spirits by Johanna Polle. "Now it's time for the Omen. Persephone, what are your messages and blessings for us this season?"
Message and Blessings from Persephone:
- I kept seeing The Marzanna card talked about earlier, death, cycles, winter.
- Tuonetar card. Death! Finnish goddess. Endings, quitting when appropriate (extreme paraphrase there).
- Nemetona card. Hold space. Hold space for yourself, in this way you can also hold space for others.
- Freyja card. Purpose. The direction and path of your life? Purpose is individual and fluid, your inner compass.
Hallowing the Waters: "We ask the Melissae to bless these waters. Hold your cups up and remember the omen. May They fill our cups with love, guidance, patience, and anything else They feel we're in need of. Melissae, give us the waters!"
See or feel the energies filling the cup.
"Behold the Waters of Life. Drink Deep and know that we are blessed."
Thanking Persephone and the Kindreds: "To our honored Guests, Persephone, Kindreds and Spirits All, we thank you for attending this rite, and giving us protection and guidance, blessings, and patience. Go if you will, stay if you want. Hail and Farewell Kindreds and Spirits All."
Remove the mask.
I will read Persephone Prayersong by Molly Remer (4).
Close the Gates: "Bee Priestesses, thank you for guiding and aiding us and mixing your magiks with ours. Help us now to close the gates!"
Touch the antler to the Flame.
"May this Cosmic Flame become but a candle."
Touch the antler to the Mountain.
"May this Cosmic Mountain become but rose quartz."
Touch the antler to the Well.
"May this Cosmic Well become but a cup of water."
"Melissae! May the gates be closed!"
Close hands.
Thank Inspiration: "Bee Dancers, we thank you for your inspiration. Hail and Farewell Melissae!"
Thank Earth Mother: "Earth Mother we thank you for your support this day and every day. Our thanks and blessings. Hail and Farewell, Earth Mother."
Thank Hestia: "Hestia, First and Last. Thank you for attending this rite. Hail and Farewell."
Blow out Her candle.
Closing the Rite: "This rite has ended. May we go in peace and fellowship."
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Resources
- ADF. The Hearth Keepers Way: An ADF Hearth Keepers Guide. Page 21. 2009. ADF Publishing.
- Benu, Melitta, Editor. Queen of the Sacred Way: A Devotional Anthology in Honor of Persephone. Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Neos Alexandrina. 2012.
- Franklin, Anna. The Hearth Witch's Year. Llewellyn Publications. 2020. Page 22.
- Remer, Molly. Walking with Persephone. Womancraft Publishing. 2021.
- Remer, Molly. Return: The Sacred Art of Coming Home to Yourself. Brigid's Grove LLC. 2025.
- Remer, Molly. Brigid's Grove: On the Equinox. 21 September 2026. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1758449659622629&set=a.127068392760772
- Serith, Ceisiwr. A Book of Pagan Prayer. Weiser Books, 2018.
- Stone Creed Grove, ADF. Standard Liturgy. November 22, 2021. https://stonecreed.org/rituals/standard-liturgy/
- Three Cranes Grove, ADF. Ritual Scripts. https://threecranes.org/category/ritual-scripts/
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Thanks for the support!
May your fall season be gentle and fulfilling!
Face to the Sun.
Trust in Joy.
Follow the Bees and the Doe...
- Priestess Foxlyn