With this rite, the Uratha tap directly into spring’s power of renewal. The Blood Communion of Spring is a ritual celebrating life, and, to a lesser extent, a fertility rite, though werewolves are hesitant to invoke the spirits of fertility when gathered with one another and not their wolf-blooded mates. A communal sacrifice of blood renews the Uratha’s sense of their ties to the land. Those who receive the blessing of spring find it easier to relate to their human relatives and mates, or to run among the animals of the world, if only for a short time.
This rite is the easiest of the seasonal rites to master and enact, in part because the Uratha’s natures are already keyed to renewal and the vibrancy of life. The rite is often performed on the spring equinox, though in many areas this rite is coordinated with appropriate human holidays. Most notably, werewolves from Christian backgrounds often find it fitting to enact the Blood Communion on Good Friday or Easter.
Performing the Rite
The Blood Communion of Spring begins at sunset, and continues through the twilight. The participants gather in a circle, often stripped to the waist, and pass around a small bowl made of wood or silver. As each werewolf receives the bowl, he announces his name, auspice, pack and tribe to the others. He then makes a customary boast or pledge of his loyalty to pack and tribe, or to Luna, and a customary promise to uphold something particularly dear to him (such as defending his new bride, or swearing to tame the spirits surrounding his territory). Many Blood Talons in particular point out scars they’ve acquired over the last year as part of the rite, especially if gained in defense of a human loved one or packmate. As he finishes, the werewolf then cuts himself and lets a measure of blood into the bowl to mark his pledge. He then passes the bowl on to his neighbor.
Once all the participants have shared of their deeds and blood, the ritemaster then takes the bowl and walks around the circle, telling each participant in turn to drink of the blood and share in the strength of the People. “Muth, Su, Hithim” — “Blood, Body, Spirit.” As the communion continues, the fervor of the Uratha begins to rise higher. The ritemaster is last to drink, and as she throws down the bowl, she leads the assembled werewolves in a howl. The packs separate at that point, some returning to their human mates to spend their energy, others attacking a more traditional hunt with renewed vigor.
