You will need a bathtub, shower, or, at the very least, a basin large enough to wash your hands. If possible, have the bath set up in the western quarter. (I am lucky, in that I have a free - standing rib, that I can circle around). If using a bath, fill bathtub with hot water before ritual starts.
Set up altar with:
1 white candle (unlit)
1 black candle (lit)
Incense
Rosemary water* in a chalice / wine glass / goblet
Silver Branch**
Smudge stick and holder
Using my Protection Smudge (Rosemary, Mint and Lavender)
Salt
Lighter
A plate or tray, big enough to hold the offerings for transport
*Rosemary Water: Gather stalks of rosemary, preferably from your own garden / pots, thanking the plants as you harvest, never taking too much from one plant/branch. If you *must* purchase them, please be sure that they are organic. Ground and center, and charge the branches with energy of cleansing and purification. Place in a pot on the stove and fill the pot with cold, purified water. Bring to a boil for 3 minutes visualizing cleansing light filling the water, then turn off and cool completely. Strain into a jar with a charged, clear quartz crystal in it. Store out of sunlight.
**The Silver Branch is from the Avalonian tradition that I am a member of. Mine is a stick from my apple tree, wrapped with silver wire holding 9 silver bells.
In each quarter, place a small candle (tea light is perfect) and you will have a small scroll of paper, on which is something written that you wish to release, corresponding to that quarter. Also place an offering object (i.e. biodegradable) that symbolizes what you want to replace the negative with.
I set up my circle with my mini “standing stones”, and the following objects:
North (Physical):
Paper: Unhealthy-eating
Offering: Apple from my garden
East (Thoughts/Intellect):
Paper: Self-doubt
Offering: Kite feather
South (Passion):
Paper: Anger
Offering: Flowers
West (Spiritual/Emotional):
Paper: Procrastination
Offering: Chili pepper from garden
Center:
Altar, with the above-mentioned setup
The Ritual:
Enter Circle From the East, ground and center.
Take smudge stick, and clear the area, moving widdershins, 3 times, chanting:
I clear this space
In this time of need
Of negative energies
To plant the positive seed
End facing east, turn toward the central altar, and set the smudge stick down, picking up the Silver Branch.
Starting in the North, walk the perimeter of the circle sun-wise, shaking the Branch, visualizing the circle being cast - return to the center, and, as you raise your arms above your head, visualize the light creating a bubble above you. Lower your arms, and visualize the bubble closing below you.
The circle is cast
I am between worlds
Between time
Let the ceremony begin!
Awen, Awen, Awen!
Set the branch down, light the incense, and move to the North, arms down and outstretched in welcome:
Spirits of the North
Of Earth
Great Bear of the Forests
I ask for your blessings
And your Energy this Night
Hail and Welcome!
Light the candle in the North and visualize the deep, dark forest - feel the energy of the Bear, smell the earth and decaying leaves.
Turn to the East in welcome:
Spirits of the East
Of Air
Hawk of swift wing and mountain peak
I ask for your blessings
And your Energy this Night
Hail and Welcome!
Light the candle in the East and visualize the Hawk soaring in the skies above snow-capped mountains. Feel the wind in your face, smell the crisp air.
Turn to the South in welcome:
Spirits of the South
Of Fire
Stag of the fiery plains
I ask for your blessings
And your Energy this Night
Hail and Welcome!
Light the candle in the South and visualize a mighty Stag charging across a grassland. Hear the hooves beating loudly, feel the fierce sun on your face, smell the dry grass and baking earth.
Turn to the West in welcome:
Spirits of the West
Of Water
Salmon of the cold stream
I ask for your blessings
And your Energy this Night
Hail and Welcome!
Light the candle in the West and visualize a salmon leaping in a raging mountain stream. Feel the spray of cold water on your face, hear the rush of the water over the rocks, smell the damp in the air.
Return to the center, raising your arms to the sky (facing a window, if indoors):
Great Goddess
Mother of All
I ask you to join
I ask for your blessing
I ask for your healing
On this Dark Moon
I ask to be reborn
I ask for a clean start
I ask for purification
I ask for your presence and guidance
Hail and Welcome!
Stand in the center and feel the Dark Moon’s Energy. Feel the swirling darkness around. Feel the pulse of the shadows (listening to drumming helps). Now is the time for the personal words, as they depend on the aspects that you wish to release. For the purposes stated above:
Turn to the North and pick up the scroll of paper. Take the paper and feel the energies of the quarter filling you and flowing into the paper. Return to the center and light the paper with the black candle flame saying words of intent.
Too much food
Too much sugar
Too much alcohol
You slow me down
Make me feel ill
I banish you in the Dark of the Moon
So mote it be!
Visualize the unhealthy food being crushed by rocks.
Repeat in the West with the words:
The goal in sight
But laziness remains,
Always another day, another time, another place
Excuses fill me and slow me down.
I banish you in the Dark of the Moon
So mote it be!
Visualize the time-wasting activities washing away in a flood.
Repeat in the South with the words:
Bubbling hot
Impatience
Quickfire sparks
Scalding and burning
You create fear and hate.
I banish you in the Dark of the Moon
So mote it be!
Visualize the anger burning away to ash.
Repeat in the East with the words:
Standing still
Unable to move
The wrong questions
Build into a gale of terror
I banish you in the Dark of the Moon
So mote it be!
Visualize self-doubt dissipating into smoke.
Stand before the black candle and say:
By the Dark of the Moon
Baneful habits, thoughts and behaviors
are banished this night
The slate is wiped clean
The time for rebirth comes!
Blow out the black candle, and light the white.
Recite the Druid’s Prayer:
Grant O Goddess, thy protection
And in protection, strength,
And in strength, understanding,
And in understanding, knowledge,
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice,
And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it,
And in the love of it, the love of all existences,
And in the love of all existences,
The love of the Goddess and all goodness.
Hold chalice of Rosemary water in one and and the salt in the other, and raise Energy in the preferred manner. I like to listen to drumming, humming and moving along, feeling the light and energy filling me from my soles of my feet, up through my body, down my arms to my fingertips, and up through the top of my head. This is accompanied by the Power Breath (rhythmic breathing technique).
Once you feel the energy filling you:
I call upon the energies present
In the Dark of the Moon
To reset and revitalize my Being.
To cleanse me of the Old
The bring forth the New.
Pour the water and the salt simultaneously into the Bath, visualizing a stream of cleansing light filling the bathtub. If your tub cannot fit into the circle, be sure to cut a gateway that you can pass through. If needed, place the white candle where you can see it from the bath.
Step into the bath, and envision the white light cleansing you, removing all negativity. The bad vibes fall off in a swirl. Stare into the candle flame and meditate on the concept of renewal, rebirth and second chances. Meditate for as long as you wish, then step out, drying yourself off, perhaps wrapping yourself in a robe. Drain the tub, visualizing the water as dark and filled with negativity:
I step forth reborn
Clean and renewed
Fresh of body, mind and heart
Ready for the new path before me
If you are instead using a shower:
Mix the salt and rosemary water together and pour over yourself as you are under the stream of water, visualizing the negativity wash down the drain. Say the above words before getting out. Step out and wrap yourself in something warm before meditating in front of the white candle.
If you are using a basin of water:
Place the white candle in a way that it is reflected in the water. Proceed as for the bath, but instead of stepping into it (obviously), wash your hands, arms and face (and more of your body, if you wish). Stare into the reflection of the candle flame while you meditate. When ready, pour the water down the drain with the above words.
Move the white candle (if needed) back to the center. Stand in the center and recite the Druid’s Prayer for Peace:
Deep within the still center of my being, may I find peace.
Silently within the quiet of the grove, may I share peace.
Gently, within the great circle of humankind, may I radiate peace
Feel the peaceful energy filling you and radiating outwards
Turn to the North and pick up your offering (once again the words are personalized):
May Peace and Health reign
May my body be whole and hale.
May the Earth and the Bear
Give me strength on this path.
So mote it be!
Visualize your goal filling the offering as you place it on the center plate/tray.
Turn to the East and pick up your offering:
May my senses be swift and sure
May my strengths stand strong
In my heart and mind
May the Air and the Hawk
Give me faith on this path.
So mote it be!
Visualize your goal filling the offering as you place it on the center plate/tray.
Turn to the South and pick up your offering:
May my spirit be calm
May I be filled with peace
May the Fire and the Stage
Give me the harmony I seek.
So mote it be!
Visualize your goal filling the offering as you place it on the center plate/tray.
Turn to the West and pick up your offering:
May I be focused and present
May I be organized and inspired
May the Water and the Salmon
Give me the determination I seek.
So mote it be!
Visualize your goal filling the offering as you place it on the center plate/tray.
Feel the energy of positivity filling you as you speak:
May my intent be clear
My path laid out
My feet sure
May my journey begin anew.
Take a minute to feel filled with determination and direction.
When ready, starting with the North, and working counterclockwise:
Spirits of the North and Earth
Great Bear of the Forest
Thank you for your Energy and Strength
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Hail and Farewell!
Spirits of the West and Water
Wise Salmon of the Rivers
Thank you for your Energy and Insight
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Hail and Farewell!
Spirits of the South and Fire
Mighty Stag of the Hunt
Thank you for your Energy and Passion
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Hail and Farewell!
Spirits of the East and Air
Bright Hawk of the Peaks
Thank you for your Energy and Instinct
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Hail and Farewell!
Face the Center and say:
Great Goddess,
Mother of All
Goddess of Birth, Death and Rebirth
Goddess of Change
Thank you for your Presence and Love
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Hail and Farewell!
Blow out the candle, saying:
Although your Light in the Physical is gone
May you continue to shine in my mind and being.
Picking up the Silver Branch, uncast the circle, moving widdershins, visualizing the light dissipating.
Take a few deep breaths, and feel the energy flowing back into the ground.
Eva R. W. Romeijn
Oct. 2020
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