In this time of balance, we pause and listen.
Spring Equinox with Baltimore Reclaiming
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Please arrive by 1:30pm for a 2:00 pm start
Susquehannock Pavilion off Red Road at Druid Hill Park behind the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks administrative building. The address for the admin building is 3001 East Dr, Baltimore, MD 21217. More information re: public transit below.
Ritual Description: The Spring Equinox is a time of balance. The earth is tilted neither towards or away from the sun on its axis, and as such we have a day and night of equal length. Moving on from the Spring Equinox, the days get longer and warmer in the northern Hemisphere.
In our gathering, we seek to pause in this moment of balance and listen deeply. What song are these first days of spring singing? What messages does the world long to share with you? We will work with bells as magical ally and tool, to clear our energies and then to help us shift between the worlds and enter the Temple of Listening. From this place, we will shift into a co-created, improvisational Song Spell to celebrate Spring.
To bring: If you have a bell (hand bell or wind chimes) please bring!
Something dry you can sit on -- we will be covered, but I am guessing the ground may be wet so bring a towel, a chair, etc.
To wear: Appropriate clothing for the day's weather. It is forecast to be rainy and in the mid sixties. and whatever helps you feel festive for the ritual.
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.
What is 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.
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! Our costs for this ritual are between $200-$250. We recommend a $10-$20 donation per person. You can bring cash or send money ahead of time via Paypal to ritual@baltimorereclaiming.org or via venmo to 443-235-2007. No one is turned away for lack of funds. You are fully welcome regardless of your ability to financially donate.
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.
COVID-Safety: We encourage (but do not require) taking an antigen test before attending. Please do not attend if you are COVID-positive, experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or have been exposed to a person positive for COVID-19. We encourage mask wearing.
What to Expect: New to Baltimore Reclaiming? Learn more about what to expect at an event.
About the Venue & Transit: This ritual will be held at the Susquehannock Pavilion at Druid Hill Park. This pavillion is located on Red Road in the northeastern edge of the park. It is north of the swimming pools and to the east of the baseball and soccer fields. There is some parking on Red Road and along East Drive. Also, on the weekends you may park in the lot around and behind the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks administrative building. The address for the admin building is 3001 East Dr, Baltimore, MD 21217.
Restrooms are available at the playing fields and the swimming pool area.
Public Transit: Druid Hill Park is served by metro, bus, and light rail. However please note all of the drop off points are outside of the park and you should plan on a minimum of 20+ minutes walking to the pavilion.
If you are accessing this ritual via public transit and need help managing the distance between the park entrance and the pavilion, please be in touch. We can help coordinate this but we need 24 hours’ notice. Please email baltimorereclaiming@gmail.com for assistance.
Mondawmin Metro Subwaylink stop is a short walk from the entrance of the park. It is another 20+ minutes depending on walking speed from there to the pavilion.
The Woodberry light rail stop is close to a back entrance of the park, and it is another 30+ minute depending on walking speed from there to the pavilion.
The closest bus stops to the pavilion are:
CLOVERDALE RD & MADISON AVE. This bus stop is served by CityLink Yellow. It is a 20 minute walk from this stop to the pavilion.
REMINGTON AVE & WYMAN PARK DR. This bus stop is served by 21 and 94 bus routes It is a 20 minute walk from this stop to the pavilion, using a back entrance via Wyman Park Drive/East Street.
To figure out the best route for you, use your preferred transit app and you can type in Druid Hill Swimming Pool or Susquehannock Pavilion.