Morana is a Slavic goddess whose effigy is ritually “drowned” to honor the end of winter and beginning of spring. Symbolically drowning her allows her to return to the underworld and rest until she emerges the following winter. I honor it as winter “melting” away.

Materials needed:
* Pine or juniper incense and a lighter or matches
* A small effigy of Morana (made out of straw, cornhusk, or even dried pasta)
* Glue or twine for the effigy
* White cloth in which to wrap the effigy
* Ribbons of different, celebratory colors
* A large container of water

Safely light the incense. Build the effigy. It can be as simple as tying or gluing together a few pieces of your material to make a sticklike figure. Wrap it in the white cloth and tie it with ribbons. Submerge it in the water three times, saying:

"As winter melts to make way
for spring, Morana blesses the
seasonal shift and returns to
the underworld to rest."

Let the figure float in the water and meditate on your plans for the coming spring as the incense burns down. Take the effigy apart and dispose of it respectfully (do not ingest any of it).