How interesting that I pulled the Adder card this morning.
As part of the new and improved, Spiritual ME, it occurred to me last night, as I saw my animal oracle cards gathering dust on the shelf, that this would be a good exercise. A chance to hear the wisdom whispered through the ether, as well as refresh my old-lady brain on the animal totems.
As you may already know, the adder is an animal of transformation, healing, and rebirth. How perfectly fitting for my recent rededication. The snake has also come to me in the past, most notably in a meditation at a time when I was experiencing a major life change, accompanied by the powerful spirits of my ancestors who told me to relax and let go of my anger (at the time), because they would handle it. (They did, by the way, freeing me to move my life forward, only to learn much later that those who had caused the suffering that angered me had come face-to-face with the Threefold Law.)
At that time, Snake encircled me, swaddled me, held me safe while my Shaman guide ventured deeper in the realm and heard the message of my people.
How fitting that she might return now, keeping me grounded, secure, and fortunate as I venture forth into a new phase of the Craft. Much like my first initiation, I feel energized, hopeful, excited. But the first time, I could only guess at the feeling of empowerment that awaited me. Now I know it, and now I believe I will be taking the Craft even further, deeper, into more powerful expereinces, and the exitement is even greater since I have no doubts about the benefits of the practice.
There's no knowing when someone will happen upon this blog, or where they'll be in their journey. I am writing partly for myself, and partly with faith that those who could find inspiration in my experiences will be led here when the time comes.
And if that describes you, here's where I am in this rededication journey--a recap, if you will:
After many months of promising myself to commit to regular practice, I have actually done it, starting with the Mabon Ritual.
I am now attending a meditation class on Sundays in Qigong Meditation, or, as the teacher describes, Fierce Qigong. "Life comes at you hard and fast. You have to be ready for it."
I am meditating daily, even if only for a few minutes.
I will pull an Animal Oracle card periodically to check in with the energies at play and also to re-learn the correspondences. (I regularly check Beth Owls Daughter's Tarot site, which is why I have chosen animal oracle cards instead, since she does a wonderful job with the Tarot and any efforts on my part would be redundant (and lacking!). www.owlsdaughter.com)
I will continue to share my journey here. I hope, whenever you find it, it moves you.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Did it work?
Did the rededication work? Am I practicing again? It's ten days later, and so far, so good. You'll know it's working if there continue to be blog posts!
Immediately following the Ritual of Mabon, I felt more grounded and felt soothed by the Ritual itself. I also, for the first time in a long time, felt the faith in myself to carry through. The absence of Ritual had weighed on me for many months—stretching into years, really—and each time I had thought to recommit, I knew it would be in vain. This time, though, I felt the Ritual wash over me and a calm sense of steadiness settle in.
In the week that followed, that mindfulness and grounded feeling stayed with me, allowing me to get things done after work, maintain my energy throughout the day, and not feel spent by the stuff of life.
Then Sunday, a week after the Ritual, I made it to the meditation class I had been trying to get to for over a month. I didn't let anything get in the way of it. After all, this was my commitment to myself.
A beautiful Qigong meditation in a gorgeous setting provided me a perfect image of stillness amid chaos—exactly what I sought to get through my work in a mental health clinic, my life with a neurotic dog, and my relationships, which I find quite challenging. Now, as the day's challenges swirl about, I can find an inner stillness. It takes effort so far, but I trust it will get easier with more Sunday mornings in the sunshine.
We learned two very basic moving meditations—swimming dragon, and parting the clouds. I have made sure I did them each day, not letting any excuse deter me. I look forward to learning more.
In the check-in at the class, the instructor inquired about our experience with meditation. I had to acknowledge, "I have years of experience WANTING to meditate, but far less time ACTUALLY meditating." Mindfulness is one of the few things that does not benefit from thinking ABOUT doing it, but for which you must actually DO it. So that is part of my commitment to myself—that there will be daily meditation, even if only for a few minutes.
So yes, although we are less than two weeks in to this resolution, the energies of the Ritual are still with me and still ground me.
I look forward to continuing to share this rededication journey with you.
Immediately following the Ritual of Mabon, I felt more grounded and felt soothed by the Ritual itself. I also, for the first time in a long time, felt the faith in myself to carry through. The absence of Ritual had weighed on me for many months—stretching into years, really—and each time I had thought to recommit, I knew it would be in vain. This time, though, I felt the Ritual wash over me and a calm sense of steadiness settle in.
In the week that followed, that mindfulness and grounded feeling stayed with me, allowing me to get things done after work, maintain my energy throughout the day, and not feel spent by the stuff of life.
Then Sunday, a week after the Ritual, I made it to the meditation class I had been trying to get to for over a month. I didn't let anything get in the way of it. After all, this was my commitment to myself.
A beautiful Qigong meditation in a gorgeous setting provided me a perfect image of stillness amid chaos—exactly what I sought to get through my work in a mental health clinic, my life with a neurotic dog, and my relationships, which I find quite challenging. Now, as the day's challenges swirl about, I can find an inner stillness. It takes effort so far, but I trust it will get easier with more Sunday mornings in the sunshine.
We learned two very basic moving meditations—swimming dragon, and parting the clouds. I have made sure I did them each day, not letting any excuse deter me. I look forward to learning more.
In the check-in at the class, the instructor inquired about our experience with meditation. I had to acknowledge, "I have years of experience WANTING to meditate, but far less time ACTUALLY meditating." Mindfulness is one of the few things that does not benefit from thinking ABOUT doing it, but for which you must actually DO it. So that is part of my commitment to myself—that there will be daily meditation, even if only for a few minutes.
So yes, although we are less than two weeks in to this resolution, the energies of the Ritual are still with me and still ground me.
I look forward to continuing to share this rededication journey with you.
Mabon Rededication
We had been distracted by the Mundane. We had neglected our formal practice. One blessing of advanced Witchcraft is that it imbues your every moment, guides your thoughts and actions without your conscious awareness. It frees you to move energies and manifest your destiny without the need for formal actions. But it is also a trapping, since you might find yourself without the comforts of Ritual, without the soothing tones of Rite, without the distinct sensations that come from calling Quarters.
We had each sworn to ourselves we would not let another Sabbat go by without Ritual. We had each, separately, promised our own selves a rededication at Mabon. In talking over breakfast, two friends who chat daily, we discovered our parallel promises and agreed to practice together.
We set a simple altar outside, pulling together each of our usual altar markings, along with food, ale, pen and paper. We were under the trees, grass at our feet, the sounds of children playing next door, animals traipsing through the sacred space--all exactly as it was meant to be.
We chatted brieftly about our intention, set our own personal promises, grounded ourselves, visualized our sacred space. Then,
We call on the Watchtowers of the East, realm of Air, home to Faerie. Bring us your wisdom, your thoughtfulness, and as always, that touch of chaos to keep our lives interesting. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
We call on the Watchtowers of the South, realm of Fire, home to Salamander. Bring us your heat, your energy, your cleansing burn. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
We call on the Watchtowers of the West, realm of Water, home to Mermaid. Bring us your warm safety of the womb, your healing, cleansing nurturance, and your life-giving waters. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
We call on the Watchtowers of the North, realm of Earth, home to Gnome. Bring us your strength, your safety, your fortune, your stability, and grant us what we need, even as you cannot grant us all that we want. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
We call to you, our Goddess, and invite you to join us in our Rite. We ask that you guide us with your Wisdom, and we thank you for your presence in our lives. We seek your gentle nurturing, your healing energies, your bountiful blessings, and offer our gratitude for our good fortune and the love we experience from our wonderful community. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
We call to you, our God, and invite you to join us in our Rite. We ask that you protect us with your strength, and we thank you for your presence in our lives. We seek your energy, your passion, and your Warrior path. We offer our gratitude for the strength we bring to our challenges and the assistance we get from our community. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
... Then we sat, with our pens and paper, and we each wrote a list of gratitude, recognizing and savoring our successes, the bounty of this harvest festival. We took the time to notice all that has gone well, all we can be grateful for as Witches, all we have been able to reap as a result of our own commitment, work, and the intention we bring to our lives. We then burned our pages in the cauldron to release our gratitude to the Universe.
We feasted and talked, then closed the circle, bidding hail and farewell to our Guides of the evening.
We had each sworn to ourselves we would not let another Sabbat go by without Ritual. We had each, separately, promised our own selves a rededication at Mabon. In talking over breakfast, two friends who chat daily, we discovered our parallel promises and agreed to practice together.
We set a simple altar outside, pulling together each of our usual altar markings, along with food, ale, pen and paper. We were under the trees, grass at our feet, the sounds of children playing next door, animals traipsing through the sacred space--all exactly as it was meant to be.
We chatted brieftly about our intention, set our own personal promises, grounded ourselves, visualized our sacred space. Then,
We call on the Watchtowers of the East, realm of Air, home to Faerie. Bring us your wisdom, your thoughtfulness, and as always, that touch of chaos to keep our lives interesting. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
We call on the Watchtowers of the South, realm of Fire, home to Salamander. Bring us your heat, your energy, your cleansing burn. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
We call on the Watchtowers of the West, realm of Water, home to Mermaid. Bring us your warm safety of the womb, your healing, cleansing nurturance, and your life-giving waters. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
We call on the Watchtowers of the North, realm of Earth, home to Gnome. Bring us your strength, your safety, your fortune, your stability, and grant us what we need, even as you cannot grant us all that we want. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
We call to you, our Goddess, and invite you to join us in our Rite. We ask that you guide us with your Wisdom, and we thank you for your presence in our lives. We seek your gentle nurturing, your healing energies, your bountiful blessings, and offer our gratitude for our good fortune and the love we experience from our wonderful community. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
We call to you, our God, and invite you to join us in our Rite. We ask that you protect us with your strength, and we thank you for your presence in our lives. We seek your energy, your passion, and your Warrior path. We offer our gratitude for the strength we bring to our challenges and the assistance we get from our community. We come to you as two Witches, distracted too long by the mundane, and we ask you to join us in our Rite, to walk with us always, as you have. We thank you for your presence in our lives, and we commit ourselves this day to return to our Practice, to refocus ourselves in your service.
... Then we sat, with our pens and paper, and we each wrote a list of gratitude, recognizing and savoring our successes, the bounty of this harvest festival. We took the time to notice all that has gone well, all we can be grateful for as Witches, all we have been able to reap as a result of our own commitment, work, and the intention we bring to our lives. We then burned our pages in the cauldron to release our gratitude to the Universe.
We feasted and talked, then closed the circle, bidding hail and farewell to our Guides of the evening.
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