Extending the
Simple Healing Ritual
In part one I suggested a possible simple Healing Ritual. If you do this on your own all well and good, but do you not think it would aid the process if you involved the Goddess and God more directly?
As you are basically working magick you can extend the ritual through using a sacred space or circle. I am a great believer in the power of things that have evolved over the years and even though I do not full understand the workings of a circle, it is to my mind logical and well evolved. It provides somewhere away from disturbance by this plane and astral planes, it can contain energy; it can focus the mind considerably and provide a space into which you can call benign elements to aid you. This can be daunting for a beginner, especially as so many descriptions of circle casting assume a level of knowledge that is just unfair to expect from a novice. A classic example is the description that starts with “First purify the room in which you wish to work”. Oh yes…and how do you do that then? So this will be a step-by-step guide to casting a circle for a novice by a novice. (I’m still close enough to remember my own initial struggles and frustrations). It uses bits from all over the place so I will give a credit list at the end.
Getting ready
1) First purify the room in which you wish to work. If you work outside you can miss this step as astral clutter and pockets of negativity accumulate in dwelling places but not as a rule in the great out doors. First give the place a good hovering and dusting to get it physically clean. Then sweep the area with a broom. I still use a large paintbrush, as I haven’t found a broom that feels right yet. The sweeping is not of a physical nature but of a spiritual nature. The brush does not need to actually physically brush anything. Try to visualise a blue flame extending from the broom like a small flamethrower that burns away negativity and leaves the place magically clean. Do this in a thorough manner and then that’s it for this step, I like to burn incense (Frankincense) as I do this as I find it concentrates my mind and I feel the smoke cleanses the air…but that my interpretation. You now have a purified room in which to start. It’s not the only way to do it but how many ways do you need if you’re just starting?
2) You are going to create as near as perfect a sphere in the room as possible. But you will need to prepare some bits a pieces first. Go and stand in the centre of the largest clear space in the room. In my case there is only one as all my rooms are tiny. Imagine yourself contained in a bubble that extends equally above your head into the air and bellow your feet into the ground this will be the area of your sacred space and will give you an idea as to what its size will be. This is important as everything you need for your ritual and circle casting must be inside this area. Now gather the things you need. I will probably be shot down in flames for this next bit as it is very simplistic but it does work for me. Change it, if it does not feel right, but experiment with it first.
3) You will need a small table (for an altar), incense (to represent AIR) and what ever you need to burn it, matches, charcoal if you need it, but most importantly something to put burning matches into safely (its considered a bit of an insult to the element of Fire to just blow the match out!) A candle to represent FIRE, a small bowl of fresh water to represent WATER (rain, spring or river water is best but any water will do) and a small bowl of salt to represent EARTH (in all the books I have read it says to use sea salt but that makes me think of water. I use ground rock salt, as that feels more connected with the earth). You will need a Dark Handled knife (Athame) [1], Four stones about the size of a fist [2], one with a sign for water drawn on it, one with the sign of air, one with the sign of fire and one with the sign of earth. These will mark the cardinal points of North, South, East and West. Any old cheap compass (just so you know where north is). A candle (red for preference but white is fine). Something that makes you think of the Goddess and Something that makes you think of the God. (This can be an image, a picture or what ever your intuition leads you to. I use a piece of rough marble to represent the God and some seashells containing water to represent the Goddess.)
4) Place the Altar table at what will be the centre of the sphere and make sure you can easily move round it. Lay the Altar out as in the diagram with the spent match container beside it.
5) If you have difficulty visualising the circle boundary its good to mark it with a cord laid on the floor but beware if you have playful cats as I have. You can buy special cords for this if you wish but I went out and got a ball of white cotton knitting thread. Cut three lengths (this depends on the size of your circle!) and platted them together. In my mind this represents Maiden, Mother and Crone. Place the EARTH stone to the north of the circle, The AIR stone to the west, The Fire stone to the South and the WATER stone to the west. These should be just inside the circle.
6) Start the incense burning if it isn’t already and light the candle. For general room light I place a few candles outside the circle around the room as for me this feels better than electric light but again that’s just my preference do what you think is fit for you. You may be stuck with what you can afford and what is practical. At this stage, in my view, the Deity’s will be quite happy if your efforts are carried out with love and honesty whatever you end up using; and that goes for tools as well. You are now almost ready to start. Just from a practical stand point, take the phone of the hook, put out a do not disturb notice or do whatever it takes so that your concentration is not broken by the outside world during your ritual. Having cleaned your space you need to clean yourself so go off and have a bath or shower. The water can wash away negativity if you wish. Contemplate what you are doing, why you are doing it and generally still your mind. If you concentrate your thinking towards the Goddess and God at this point you will be amazed at some of the revelations and thoughts that will enter your mind. It was after taking ritual baths for only a short time that I realised a truth. Not all learning comes from books and people but its already inside you and around you.
The Circle Casting
1) Stand by your Altar and just take a few moments to still yourself. You are going to consecrate the water and the salt. Pick up the Athame and pass it slowly through the incense smoke this is to help purify it before you use it. Place its tip in the salt and say something like the following:
“Goddess within me and Goddess without,
God within me and God without me,
Bless this salt I place before you
Consecrate it through your power for use within this circle
So mote it be.”
Consider what you have done. Then place the tip of the Athame in the water and say something like the following:
“Goddess within me and Goddess without,
God within me and God without me,
Bless this water, I here before you
Consecrate it through your power for use within this circle
So mote it be.”
Consider for a few moments what has been done. (Cunningham describes this the other ways round with the water first; but that way round I always end up with salt stuck on the end of the Athame!)
Now go to the Northern (Most people start at the Eastern… See what feels right for you) edge of the circle and stand facing outwards. (Remember that a sphere will have a curved wall and don’t stand so close your head will end up sticking out!) Point your Athame into where the circle wall will be (at about waist level) and visualise a purple flame of energy coming out of it. Walk slowly, clockwise, round the circle strongly visualising this energy building the walls of the sphere that form your sacred space. Chant something like the following as you go round until you get back to the North. All this is a lot to concentrate on at first but it does get easier with practise.
“Here is the boundary of my circle of stones
Let naught but love enter herein.
Naught but love shall emerge from within
Charge this by your powers Old Ones.”
Go put the Athame back on the Altar and collect the salt and bring it to the North point. And repeat the circling of your sacred space again chanting but this time sprinkle the salt as you go. (Don’t go wild with it unless you have a good Hoover for afterwards, another advantage of being outdoors!). Repeat with the smoking incense, then the candle and finally the water. You have now empowered your circle with Earth, Air, Fire and Water. It is now time to call the elemental energies of the four quarters (North EARTH, East AIR, South FIRE and West WATER).
Go to North point and take a few moments to think of all the things you connect with EARTH, such as Mountains, ploughed fields, wide valley floors, woods etc. Then visualise a green mist rising up around you, Breath in the mist and feel its power and call something like the following:
Hail to the north, where the mountains
rise,
Where
green grows the land under brilliant blue skies,
Realm
of stability, strength to persevere,
Powers
of Earth, I welcome you here!
Then move to the East think of all the things you connect with
AIR, such as Clouds, wind both strong and gentle, birds flying high in the
sky etc. Visualise a yellowish mist swirling up around you, breath it in and
feel its power and call something like the following:
Hail to the east, where warm winds blow,
where
ideas and creations form and flow,
I
ask for your aid within this place,
As
I welcome you to my sacred space!
Then move to the South think of all the things you connect
with FIRE, such as The Sun, volcanoes erupting, camp fires, candle flames
etc. Visualise a crimson mist swirling up around you, breath it in and feel
its power and call something like the following:
Hail to the south, to the sacred fire,
Realm
of passion, willpower, desire,
Bring
your bright flame and grace this sphere,
Powers
of Fire, I welcome you here!
Then move to the West think of all the things you connect with
WATER, such as the sea, streams and rivers, lakes gentle rain, violent storm
rain flowing taps etc. Visualise a bluish mist swirling up around you, breath
it in and feel its power and call something like the following:
Hail to the west, with your cleansing
rain,
Wash
away sorrow, anger, and pain,
Bring
gentle healing and hear my plea,
Powers
of Water, be welcomed by me!
Move slowly back to the centre of your circle feeling the energies
about you. The circle is completed and ready for works of magic.
NOTE: Do not leave
the Circle or physically break through it. This will disturb and dissipate
its power. If you must leave for any reason before the circle is closed you
must cut a doorway through it first. This is not a problem just make sure
you remember before you stride out! See footnote [3]
For healing work you can now do the simple ritual described
in the first part. For myself I would also ask the Goddess and God to be present
I always ask in a way that feels right at the time but these are some possible
words.
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Closing the Circle.
After you work your Healing Ritual you will need to close the
circle.
Thank the Goddess and God for being present in any words that
seem fitting at the time such as:
Farewell my Lord and Lady,
My
Goddess and My God,
I thank you for being here this day
My trust and love go with you.
Go to the north and say something like:
Farewell Spirit of the North Stone
I give thanks for your presents here
Go in power.
Go to the East, South and West and repeat a farewell. Return
to the North and consider all you have achieved. Go to the Altar and collect
the Athame and return to the North. Pierce the wall with its blade and slowly
move clockwise round the circle visualising the power of the circle being
sucked back into the blade. Visualise the circle disappearing as you do this
and work round until you reach North again. Your Circle is now no more so
pack up, have a drink of something and site quietly for a bit to think about
what has been done.
Dave the flute.