When I first began volunteering at the White Spring, I was introduced to all the shrine spaces. Some of the shrines I was deeply drawn to. At the same time, others felt unattended and bare. Truth be told, they are all unique in some way. While some are established, others change seasonally.
Every time I was in the Spring, I would walk by the seasonal shrine. It felt bare and untended, like a place where random things were placed. After I became the ceremonialist of the Spring, I set out to make the shrine seasonal! Dressing Wells and Sacred Springs is an old folkloric tradition. Places like Malvern and Buxton have large well-dressing events each year. These celebrations grew from local traditions and customs that reach back into the past.
So, just over a year ago, the Women of the Well (the women volunteers) began meeting a few days before the Sabbat to bring the seasonal shrine to life! We begin by walking the land and wild harvesting flowers, small branches, ivy, and anything else that is in season. We meet in the Spring, where we light a few candles to bring light to the space. Then, we lay out the foliage to see what we have. We then cleanse the altar with White Spring water, and then begin constructing the altar.
This year, for Beltane, we constructed an arch out of branches; it is woven with Hawthorns, Apple Blossoms, Quince Blossoms, Cow Parsley, White Lilacs, Wisteria, Ivy, Horse Tail, Elder Leaves, Forget-me-nots, and so much more! Goddess statues that have been left by patrons of the spring stick out from the greenery. Venus of Wilendorf, A Neolithic Goddess, a carved stone goddess, Gaia, and a few resin statues. We also had a family come in during the Spring Equinox with a series of wooden carved and painted goddess figures. They are placed lovingly around the altar. In the center is a silver bowl with crystals that patrons have left in the Spring as offerings. Two large crystals that other patrons gifted to the space also reside in the space.
All of this is lovingly arranged for patrons to use the space to connect, pray, worship, commune, meditate, or create rituals to connect with water, the spirits of the place, and their deity. You can read about an experience I had at the Seasonal Shrine with a few patrons at midnight during the Summer Solstice last year here.
Unfortunately, there is no photographic evidence as it has been a long-time policy that there is no photography in the Spring, which is pretty rare in this day and age. So these creations are only for those who come and visit the Spring. You will have to stop by on the Sabbat to come and see our creations!
Dressing the Spring seasonally, and for the Sabbats has become such a joy for me. When we are finished, we often light seasonal incense, then we sing songs, weave words of magic, and set intentions for ourselves and the Spring. It has become something that I look forward to. It is something that I used to dream about doing, and now it is a reality! I hope you can stop by on one of these Sabbats and experience the magic of the White Spring and the Seasonal Shrine.
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