Spring equinox (notes)

The oak door: Used as a symbolic boundary between normal state of conciousness and the altered state of conciousness in which the pathworking takes place. Or, to put it differently, between the 'outer reality' of daily life and the 'inner reality' of the pathworking.
The grey mist: People who use cristal balls for scrying often say that, before they get any visions, they see sort of a grey mist in the ball. Appearantly seeing such a grey mist may be one of the signs that you are drifting into an altered state of conciousness. Visualisation of a grey mist is used in this pathworking as a means to make the transition to a different state of conciousness easier.
The mountain path: You're descending to deeper levels within yourself. The deeper you go, the more you leave the beaten path.
Transition from day to night: First of all, night is associated with the subconcious. Also, in the magical circle winter is associated with the north and with midnight, and spring is linked to the east and the morning. In this pathworking we are making the transition from winter (night) to spring (morning).
The male and female figure: Polarity: Yin and Jang, sun and moon, God and Goddess, day and night which are in total balance at the time of the equinox, etc, etc, etc.
The cauldron: A very important symbol in witchcraft. In Celtic mythology we find several cauldrons, from Kerridwen's cauldron to the cauldron of the Dagda. In this pathworking the cauldron is used as a symbol for the Source; the one undivided Reality from which everything originates.
The old man: In many myths and stories we find an old man who helps the seeker on their way. Also associated with the Hermit from the Tarot.
The Wheel of Life: According to Gardner's Book of Shadows the symbol of the Wheel should be present on the altar when the spring equinox is celebrated. The wheel is associated with the sun, with the circle of the elements and the seasons, and it is a symbol of wholeness and constant change. It is also associated with the Wheel of Fortune from the Tarot.
The wand: The four magical tools, the wand, the knife or sword, the chalice and the pentacle, each have their own symbolic associations. The wand is linked to the east, morning and the spring equinox. (Note: in some traditions the wand is associated with the south and with fire, and the sword with the east and with air.)

The spring equinox rituals in the books by Janet and Stewart Farrar and Starhawk have been used as a source of inspiration for this pathworking.

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