Brigid Imbolg Ritual

We begin with the standard opening ritual of sweeping casting and calling the quarters.

We also charge the circle with the elements. Carrying the fire, water, incense and salt around the circle three times.

We sing Amazing Grace  

or


Oh Brigid upon the Highland, 'tis You've left my heart shaken

With a joyous adoration, as before You I stand
Oh, 'tis wonders of admiration Your quiet face has taken
And Your beauty can awaken the Ones of the Golden Land.

Oh, the white moon above the pale sands, the pale stars above the thorn tree
Are cold beside my Lady, but no purer than She
I gaze upon the cold moon till the stars drown in the warm seas
And the bright eyes of my Lady are ever on me.  


( -Lyrics, Helen Farias. )

The priest recites

Every day and every night

That I sing the praises of Brigid,
I shall not be killed, I shall not be harried,
I shall not be put in cell, I shall not be wounded,
Neither shall Christ leave me forgotten.
No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me, 
No lake, no water, nor sea shall drown me, No arrow of fairy, nor dart of fay shall wound me,
And I under the protection of my Holy Mary,
And my gentle foster-mother is my beloved Bride.


I am safe, I am safe,

singing her praises.
Brigid gold-red woman
Brigid flame and honeycomb
Brigid sun of womanhood
Brigid lead me home.


You are a branch in blossom
You are a sheltering dome
You are my bright precious freedom


Bride is welcome, Bride is come. 

The priest places a crown of candles on the priestess as Brigit. 

The priest hands the maiden a bouquet of white flowers.

The priest covers the Crone with a veil.

He says:   "Behold the three formed Bride. She who is ever three.

Maid Mother and Crone. Yet she is ever one."

 Brigid  says:  Lord of Death, Resurrection and Life, and the Giver of Life! Lord 

who is with us and within us, who is the Mystery of Mysteries and the Light of Life!  Come. 

The Maid sweeps the circle widdershins one full circuit to banish winter.

Brigid and the Crone walk behind.

If there is a fire, we assemble around it. If not we have some candles in the cauldron.

The Maid says:

   "Now we banish winter, now we welcome Spring.. Say farewell to death and greet each new living thing. Now we banish winter, now we  welcome spring."

As Brigid is a Goddess of poets and artists and artisans and smiths, we all have an offering prepared for Brigid. It may be a small drawing or painting or a poem or song, or a craft or cakes.

We present our work or read our poems and stories to the circle before placing it in the fire.  What does it represent what inspired us.

We ask Brigid for her blessing on our works and deeds in life, for her inspiration, for her healing of illnesses or problems we may have. 
We ask for to be cleansed in her sacred flame.
We may also bring our altar candles to be blessed by Brigid's fire.


Healing energy is shared with those in need of it, or on behalf of others.




  If there is a large gathering, we may have a Brigid's mantle.
 A circle of rope, large enough for people to step through. Each person ties a bit of red ribbon or yarn with  prayers and wishes for cleansing, healing and inspiration.  As we chant and walk around the circle we step through the Brigid's mantle.

Holy Water, Sacred Flame
Brigid, we invoke your name.
Bless my hands, my head, my heart.
Source of healing, song, and art.




 Each person removes a piece of ribbon to keep for healing throughout the year.

 We then create a Biddy or corn dolly, or simply a Brigid's Cross and place it in a cradle of straw by the fire and place the wand beside it. Light two candles beside the cradle. 

The Biddy represents Brigid and her return to earth. The wand represents the renewed life, fertility and strength of  God.  

Fire scrying is done.

Let your vision soften as you gaze at the flames. Allow all thoughts to pass by unheaded. If you become distracted, refocus on the flame. Do this until you reach a place of stillness. Let images rise into your mind observe them and let them pass.

Blessing of food and Drink. 

It is not we that bless food and drink, but it that blesses us. For by it's nature it nourishes us and in it's sharing we have the opportunity to create community. Blessed Be.

Discuss your experiences during the circle. Healing, Scrying, the stories and creations.

Close the circle when you feel ready to do so.

I will raise the hearth-fire

As Mary would.

The encirclement of Bride and of Mary

On the fire, and on the floor,

And on the household all.

The lovely Bride and her Fosterling.

The fair loving Mary and her Lamb.

The King of the sun, He himself.

The Son of Life without beginning, without time.

May Brigid bless the house wherein you dwell
Bless every fireside every wall and door
Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof
Bless every hand that toils to bring it joy
Bless every foot that walks its portals through
May Brigid bless the house that shelters you.

                                         Blessed Be and Blessed Imbolg.

The Horned God

                                                            A Christian Perspective

The Brazen altar of the Tabernacle had four horns on it, one on each corner.

The horns stand for God’s strength, his power to save. It was upon the horns that the sacrifice was tied. The horns on each corner of the altar, represent the corners of the cross, each direction representing the whole world. His salvation is for all, for the whole world.   -  From Under the Shadow of the Almighty. wordpress blog.

The Horned God is the Holly King. The God of the Wilderness, the place of darkness and of winter . We meet Him when we begin to pass into this domain, at the waning of the year at the summer solstice.
Within this darkness we also come face to face with our own weaknesses, the flaws of our human nature and the voice of the ego that drives us.
The desert is the wilderness within us where we all  turn at some point to really learn who we really are.
It is here where all pretense is torn away and we stand "naked before God".  Our own flaws are to be our freely offered sacrifice to God.
 It is in the darkest time of the year at the Winter solstice, that God has sent His Son to be our salvation.  Without the darkness, we cannot be brought into the presence of God, and it is He who sends his light to save us. The Sun. God of life and growth. The Oak King of the waxing year
As Jesus says "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Just some more of my musings. 

Sophian Esbat Ritual

This ritual is adapted from the Sophian Full Moon Ritual from the Ecumenical Companions of Sophia.  

It is a lot more " Witchy" than theirs. This ritual can be used for either a Full Moon or a New Moon.

Prayers  for a Full Moon are focused on thanksgiving for things that have come to fruition, and for things we wish to come to an end. Work is focused on things we want to decrease. Prayers for a New Moon are for thanksgiving for things that have come to an end, and for things we want to come into being. Work is for things we would like to increase. 
It also lends itself to a Brigidine Ritual with the use of water and flame.  The invocations can be changed as appropriate.

Sophian Esbat Ritual

Clear: Using a smudge, walk around the circle, with the intnent of clearing all negative energy from the space.  If you do not want to use smudge you can use sound (bells) to clear the space. You may also use branches or a broom.

Cast: In a clockwise direction, starting in the east walk around the circle visualizing a white, or pale blue light coming from your hand or wand. While saying:

This is a place that is not a place in a time that is not a time, half way between the world of God and of man(kind). Between the here and now and the eternal.

Calling of the Quarters: Moving clockwise face each direction while saying:

East: Blow from the east on the morning breeze, O Holy Spirit, come!
Breath of creation, Light of life, O Holy Spirit come!

South: Shine from the south in the blazing sun, O Holy Spirit, come!
Fires of passion and inspiration, O Holy Spirit come!

West: Flow from the west as the river flows, O Holy Spirit, come!
Waters of mystery and transformation, O Holy Spirit come!

North: Rise in the north with the strength of the land, O Holy Spirit, come!
The hills and fields, our comfort and rest, O Holy Spirit come!

 Come trees, birds, plants, and the animals, come earth and sky and sea.

Come sisters, brothers, family all, a web of life are we.

Come Ancient Ones and those to come, all creatures of the grove.

Come worship now the Living God, Her sacred name is Love.

Invocation (centre):

O Abba, Father, Mother God, O Source of all that is.

O Jesus, Mary, Lord and Lady, Light of all that lives.

O Spirit of the Living God, Sophia, Wisdom, come.

O Holy Three, Eternal One, your sacred name is Love.

Raising. Chant:                                              Earth my body

Water my blood
Air my breath
 And Fire my spirit

 or

 Ubi caritas et amor, Ubi caritas, Deus ibi est.

        
                                          

R.

Tree of Life Meditation:

 Visualize roots growing down from your bottom or your feet deep into the earth. With each exhale the roots go deeper. As you inhale, visualize earth energy flowing up through your body. Visualize branches sprouting from your crown chakra and connecting with your eighth, also known as the Dove, Soul Star. This is the Seat of the Soul. With each inhale, draw up energy from the earth, with each exhale, draw down energy from the Spirit through your eighth chakra. 

Let the branches extent down to the earth, creating a complete circuit.

The Lord's Prayer

Abba, who art in heaven, 

hallowed be thy name.  

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread, 

and forgive us our trespasses, 

as we forgive those who trespass against us.  

Lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil.  

For thine is the kingdom, 

the power , and the glory,

forever and ever.  Amen.

The Charge:

God is Love        

                And Her Body is All Creation

She is a Tree of Life  +

                Who Gathers Her Children in Love

She who is the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars,
 and the mysteries of the waters,

calls upon your soul to arise and come unto her.

For She is the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.

From Her all things proceed and unto Her they must return.
She is the Mother of all living, who's love is poured out upon the earth.

Let Her worship be in the heart that rejoices, 
for behold, all acts of love are Her rituals.

Therefore; let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion,
 honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

And you who seek to know Her, know that the seeking and yearning will avail you not,
 unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, 
you will never find it without.

For behold, She have been with you from the beginning, 

and She is That which is attained at the end of desire. 

Centering and Blessing:       
Full Moon;                                  Water Scrying and Water Blessing

Have a bowl of water in the centre of the circle. All sit around it and softly gaze at the surface of the water. Let all images and thoughts pass unheaded as you gaze on the water, until you have reached a place of stillness. Then visualize any negative energy that you may be holding onto. Let it pass from you into the water as you hold your hands over the bowl, either silently or speak it aloud. Visualize the water becoming darker.
While a blessing is said over the water, visualize the water being filled with light.
Say: Beloved God, bless this water that it may nourish our souls and enrich and heal our bodies for our greatest and highest good. Blessed Be.

 One person can sprinkle the others with the water , or each person can anoint themselves with it.
After, the water is then poured into the earth.

New Moon;                                    Candle Gazing and Fire Blessing

Light a candle in the centre of the circle. As in water scrying, let your vision soften as you gaze. Allow all thoughts to pass by unheaded. If you become distracted, refocus on the flame. Do this until you reach a place of stillness. A blessing is said over the fire:

May the fire be in your thoughts,
Making them good and just.
May it protect you from all harm
May the fire be in your eyes,
May it open your eyes to see what is good in life.
May it protect you from speaking against another.

May the fire be in your ears.
That you may hear with deep listening
So that you may bear the flow of water
And of all creation and the Spirit.

May the fire be in your arms and hands,
So that you may be of service and build up love.
May the fire protect you from all violence.

May the fire be in your whole being, In your legs and feet,
Enabling you to walk the earth with respect and care,
So that you may journey in ways of goodness and trust.

And protect you from turning away from what is true.

Hold in your mind an intention for positive change in your life, silently or speak them aloud. Place you hands behind the flame and draw them up and over your head, drawing in the warmth and light over you. Blessed Be.

Reading:                    Selections of  bible passages or, poems, stories, songs, and reflections.

Work: Prayers, Healing, Teaching.

When you feel the work has been completed it is time for blessing food to share.
Blessing of food and drink:

 It is not we that bless food and drink, 

but it that blesses us.  For by it's nature it nourishes us, 

and in it's sharing we have the opportunity to create community.

Blessed Be.

Pass the plate to the next person while saying, never hunger.
Pass the cup to the next person and say, never thirst. 

Sharing:                                   The circle is open for discussion and sharing.



Close:   When we feel it is time to close, we start at the north and move counterclockwise to each direction around the circle, including the centre, thanking the Spirit 's presence. It can be more formal as in the beginning or more informal with a simple thank you and farewell.

By the air that is His breath and by the fire of His eyes,

by the waters of Her womb and by the earth that is Her flesh,

we go in peace to love and serve, thanks be to God.

The circle is open, but not unbroken. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again. Blessed Be.  

* Hugs*

Gnostic and Pagan World Views.

I found this article interesting so I pasted it to my blog.
An article by Tristram Burden

While the vast majority of scholarship in the past two-thousand years mentioning Gnosticism sourced its studies in historical documents that presented Gnosticism as 'heresy' against the Christian church, many contemporary authors, starting perhaps with Elaine Pagels' studies of the Nag Hammadi library, present a more balanced view of Gnosticism, presenting it as both a source and a contemporary of early Christian practice, rather then merely its enemy. Gnosticism is then, a means by which the human can experience the divine, and refers to any system that purports to bridge the gap between human and divine experience, rendering the practitioner with a refined sense of self and the universe. Seminal spiritual teacher G.I. Gurdjieff's description of the True and the False centre is one example of this teleology at play, as his teachings, communicating a system he termed The Work, encourage the practitioner to move away from the False Centre through the manipulation of attention during mundane tasks, and thereby come to know and embody the True Centre. Here is a clear example of a Gnostic teleology, a practice whereby the student refines consciousness towards a currently unperceived truth.

In this way, Gnosticism is concerned with means towards an end. An end which almost universally results in improvement of the human condition.

PAGAN PERSPECTIVES
Pagan worship and lifestyle tends not to have a teleology, or look beyond the now towards a time when things will be perfect. Everything is already perfect, what's necessary is to recognise the sacredness of Nature and her cycles, and find means of connecting with them. There is no drive towards Enlightenment, or Gnosis as an end. While goals of understanding and bonding with nature and receiving communion with and favour from spirits is one goal of paganism, there is no particular teleological scheme.

Read on
New Age Definitions
Pagan Origins of Spring Myths
Who are the Gnostics?
What might complicate these particular divisions are certain streams of Hinduism which involve pagan worship but often, particularly with Tantric traditions, evidence a teleology moving towards Moksha, or liberation, again corollary with the idea of Gnosis, seeing things as they truly are and not as they appear to be to the unrefined senses. Another difficult hurdle in the clear division between the Gnostic and the Pagan are the modern Wiccan movements, grown from such occult orders as the Ordo Templi Orientis, whose central tenets and practices are again, Gnostic. Within the three grades present in most Wiccan systems is encoded a teleology and initiate schema modeled along the lines of the eleven degree, psuedo-masonic grade structure of the OTO. Wicca even shares the term 'Craft' with Freemasonry to refer to its practices. A perusal of Freemasonic doctrine hints towards Freemasonry being a Gnostic spirituality, with a wide open teleological structure. It is with movements such as Wicca that Neo-pagan serves as a useful description. I would even volunteer the description Crypto-Gnostic to refer to such movements as Wicca and Druidry, as they present a pagan face while maintaining a definite Gnostic teleology. This places a further division possible within the modern pagan revival, championed by Graham Harvey in his study of contemporary paganism, Listening People, Speaking Earth, that views pagan religiosity in terms of a Mystery Religion, focusing upon initiation and revelation of divine truths, and a Nature Religion, centering upon the worship of nature as divinity embodied.

The most clear-cut 'pagan' religions are the remaining indigenous traditions of scattered tribes, from the tundras of Siberia to the Amazonian rainforest. The vast majority of modern pagan religions in the west have developed from the same streams as the New Age movement itself, in some cases being a continuation of the Occult tradition which as a practice in history possesses an unbroken line from Ancient Egypt (at least!) into the present day.

THE NEO-GNOSTIC AND THE NEO-PAGAN
While acknowledging that some paganism is gnostic, and that some gnosticism is pagan, we can perhaps see how the terms Neo-Gnostic and Neo-Pagan come into use to describe the particular eccentricities and eclecticism of new forms of these old ways. As spirituality is often deeply interwoven with cultural identity, some practitioners remain picky about what particular description is ascribed to them, but these divisions are tools for understanding rather than stone-set meta-descriptions of contemporary faiths and practices. They can assist in the important task of finding where a practice came from, and further clarify the kind of spirituality one is talking about without recourse to vague umbrella terms which at first describe too much, then proceed to describe far too little.

N.B. Thanks to Prof. Michael York who as far as I know pioneered this useful classification between pagan and New Age.

Magical Theory

I was encouraged to write this guide for someone who practices Christian Wicca. It is based on my own past experience and training in Reclaiming/ AlexandrianWicca. Much in this article is taken from an article Theory of magic and Traditions by Marcus Cordy.

Magic

Magic is the exercise of will upon the natural forces in order to affect change. The universe abounds with  the living energies of Creation. So all things abound with the forces of magic.

Wicca has it's roots ( so to speak ) in Divine magic, the Principle of Consequence and Material Reality.

Divine Magic

Divine Magic is the most widely practiced and accepted form of magic in existence. It is simply the power of prayer. Prayer by the common people is called Demotic magic. Any one who practices any form of religion is practicing demotic magic when they pray.
Hieratic magic is Divine magic performed by a priest/ess or the initiated as it is believed they have a much stronger connection to the Divine and as a result perform greater magic.
Ceremonial magic relies on the use of magical tools, symbols, seals, incantations and rituals as an aid to Divine magic. These are aids for our intention, like icons and rosaries . They do not contain any power of their own, but they do need to resonate with us if they are going to do their job. They can also be charged with energy.


No matter how the rituals are performed, whether through chanting, spells, symbols, dancing, or ritual reenactment, all power remains in the hands of the deity. The only power the participant holds is the power of faith. Spells and rituals are simply "enacted prayer".

Principal of Consequence

The Wiccan Rede: "Do what you will and harm none".

The principle of consequence is also known as Karma. Karmic law is based on equilibrium. What I do I get back in return. If I do a spell to help someone in need, one day I will also be helped. If I try to hurt someone, a similar fate will befall me. This is also the principal of Homeopathy. Like attracts like. Even if I do not receive my Karmic payment in this life, I will receive it, or owe it,  in the next. This principal also holds true of all of our thoughts and actions in our daily life. Wiccans also believe in the threefold law. That a person receives three times what one puts out. If you do good, you receive three times the good in return. Like wise, if you do bad, you receive three times the bad in return.

Material Reality

We are the weavers, we are the web

We are the flow, we are the ebb.

Everything is a manifestation of the "All" and all things are connected by an infinite web of interrelations.
This is also the basis of Quantum String theory. All particles of matter are "strings" of energy vibrating at distinct resonances. The vibrations of strings make up harmonies which define every subatomic particle, together which form the particles of both matter and energy.
The very laws of nature exist in a tapestry or grand composition, like the notes and scales of a musical work with all its octaves, tones, and melodies. These notes and tunes govern how matter and energy interact and dictates how atoms are held together.
If I pluck one string, it will resonate throughout the web. I sing the song of the reality I wish to come into being and help to create this reality within the Divine symphony. Creation is a great ever flowing, ever changing love song.

These are the principle on which Wiccan magic is based.




That's all for Magical Theory.

Energy Work

I was encouraged to write this guide for someone who practices  Christian Wicca. It is based on my own past experience and training in Reclaiming/ Alexandrian Wicca.

Energy

Energy is around us all the time. It is the intuitive language of the body. It is the essence of who we are. It is the subtle vibration underlying everything physical,  both living and inanimate.We subconsciously respond to it in many ways.

We are immensely powerful beings, yet ultimately all true power and energy comes from the Divine source. The Divine is manifest in the Universe, in the Earth and all Nature through this energy. To rely only on our own generated life force, we use up our own energy reserves and we eventually become dry, and unfruitful, and are of no help to others.

There are many ways of describing this energy.
In Chinese medicine it's called Chi
In Reiki,  it is the "universal spirit" Rei meaning universal, and Ki meaning Spirit.
In Buddhism and Hinduism it's called Shakti.


Anatomy of the Soul

The Aura is an energy field that surrounds our body and projects at about arms length. It is formed of various colours that change with our health, mood, etc. We can learn to see the aura, yet even if you cannot see auras, they can still be felt.
Have you been somewhere where you meet someone and you seem to like them right away? Have you met someone and come away feeling tired and drained? This is your body sensing the subtle energy of another person's aura.

The Etheric body surrounds us and extends out about two to three inches from our body. This is where our consciousness resides. It is where our Akashic records, or our entries into the Book of Life are stored. This is our true body that lives on after death.

The chakras are seven channels of energy that run down a midline of our bodies. They all have their distinct colours: red(root), orange(navel), yellow(solar plexis), green (heart), blue(throat), indigo(third eye), violet (crown). The three lower chakras are associated with our physical self. The three higher chakras are associated with our spiritual self. In the core of our being, is our heart chakra or heart centre,   It is where we embody love, compassion and Divine presence.
Our spirit,  higher self, or Dove, also known as the eighth chakra, is about a foot or so above our crown or the top of our head. It's colour is white. This chakra channels energy from the Divine source, through the Spirit and Christ Consciousness. Think of it as a kind of transformer. (!)
  

This video is a quick overview of the chakra system and it's importance in spiritual development  from a Christian perspective.

Mother Clair Watts on the Chakras and Kundalini energy

Acts of love and service also serve to elevate our energetic level from lower chakras to higher ones. So that the energy we receive from the Spirit doesn't always express itself at the lower chakras.

I'm sure you have a lot of books on this.
A good book that I find helpful and explains our bodies energy is Intuitive Healing by Dr Judith Orloff. She is a psychiatrist, intuitive and an energy medicine practitioner. She is also an assistant professor of psychiatry at UCLA. It puts the energy systems of our bodies into an easy to understand format. She explains how important it is to connect to it for our spiritual, mental and physical health and gives you ways to moving past blockages and correcting imbalances in the bodies energy.

Grounding and Centering

The first thing we need to do in working with energy is to ground and centre. Always. It dispels negativity and focuses and stills the mind. We send any negative energy into the earth, neutralizing it, and receive earth energy. Grounding exercises or meditations should be part of a daily spiritual practice for anyone.  Following is a few exercises that we did, but you may find many others that you like better. Adelina, I think is going to write a book that contains many different exercises.

One daily grounding practice is the Tree of Life Meditation. This was one of our favorites, that I still do:

Sit comfortably on the floor, or a chair if you need to. As you breath out, visualize the energy in you moving down your spine. Breath out, imagine roots moving down through the floor and into the earth from your root chakra.    
Down, and down and spreading out to become firmly rooted in the centre of the earth.
Then as you breath in, visualize the earth energy flowing up through the roots, glowing with energy. Moving up into your legs. Breath in and the energy moves up into your trunk and arms, then up unto your head. Once the energy moves through your crown chakra, visualize branches growing out of the top of your head and bending back down to touch the earth.  Breathe in, energy rises through the body. Breathe out and the energy flows back down through the branches into the earth. Do this for a few minutes. When ready, place your hands onto the floor and release any excess energy back into the earth with thanks.
Once you learn what it feels like to ground and centre, it becomes easier for you to move into that space.

One traditional Wiccan way of centering is called candle gazing or scrying:

Sit still in a quiet place with a lit candle in front of you. Allow your eyes to soften as you gaze at the flame. Do not let the image of the flame split into two or become blurred. You may feel like closing your eyes. That's fine. When your mind begins to drift, open your eyes again and refocus on the flame. Do this for about five to ten minutes.

From a Christian perspective, there is also Centering Prayer. This has become part of my daily practice.

It is centering, yet it is also a relationship with the Divine. We make ourselves available to the Divine presence in this simple and gentle monastic practice. It is essentially, sitting in stillness.

Ideally, this should be done for at least twenty minutes once or twice a day. 

Fr. Thomas Keating on Centering Prayer

This practice, like any deep meditation, helps to open up our awareness. We may find ourselves unloading deep emotions or may even experience psychic phenomenon.  In this prayer we are not to dwell on these experiences but simply let them go and rest in the Divine presence.
An excellent book on Centering Prayer is  "Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening" by Cynthia Bourgeault.

Know Thyself
The Ego and the Shadow

 There are a lot of exercises that focus on dealing with negative emotions and blockages that are generated by the shadow self. The shadow is created by our repressed feelings of fear and unworthiness. The shadow squats on the threshold  between us and the Divine presence within us. The shadow puffs up our ego and uses it to hide and protect itself.  It prevents energy from flowing freely by blocking or diverting it. Our shadow also develops all kinds of diversion tactics to avoid confrontation and often projects itself onto others. What we fear in our selves, we attribute to the "other" not self. This is how much evil is brought into the world.

When someone or something makes us angry, ashamed or afraid, it has touched on our shadow. We need to accept it for what it is, in all it's rawness, if we are to get past it and out of our ruts, dependencies and prejudices and become truly powerful, become who God intends us to be. The best way to confront the shadow in ourselves and others when it arises is with compassion. It is the lost and frightened child within each of us that is just looking to be safe and to be loved. If we are deeply entrenched in the ego, confronting the shadow can open channels of deep emotion that can be difficult to deal with without help. In Prayerful meditation, this aspect of ourselves is held within the Divine presence.

 

All this is dealt with in depth in Starkawk's Book. Spiral Dance. Her work was the basis for much of the work done in my previous tradition. It is a good idea to have a supportive community when undertaking these exercises.

Sensing Energy.

Daily practice of these exercises will strengthen our sense of intuition. Intuition may manifest itself in a sense of knowing, or feeling, or a small voice of guidance, or in dreams. Intuition is very helpful in sensing energy.

The only way to sense energy is to practice with yourself and others.

To see the aura, in a softly lit room, preferably against a pale background, look at your subject, ( yourself or another ) and let your eyes soften as you gaze just past the edge of the body. Very much like candle gazing. Our vision may become dim. The etheric body is usually the first we are able to see. Some people only ever see the etheric body. It is like a pale light, or a clear shadow that surrounds the body. As  you continue to gaze, you may notice a colour flare out from the etheric body. As you continue to gaze it may become stronger. There is a ton of information written on what the different colours of our auras mean. We have our base colour that is part of who we are. The other colours ebb and flow. My base Aura colour is green. Most people never see auras. At best all they see is an optical illusion called a Mach Band.
The aura can also be felt. Lower your hand towards your body, or someone else. As your hand moves into the aura you may feel a slight feeling of pressure, heat or resistance against your hand. Slowly sweep your hand across the body. You may notice areas where your hand finds the energy field to be higher or lower. These are fluctuations the in aura.
When we are happy and well, our aura extends out to encompass people. When we are feeling sad, or unwell, our aura retracts to protect the self. If someone is very ill, in pain or emotionally needy, they may draw the energy from your aura or directly from your heart centre. Unless you shield yourself this can drain you very quickly. Several shielding techniques can be practiced. One good one is visualizing a white light surrounding yourself. You can also draw light from your "Dove", or eighth chakra.

You can practice shielding and extending and retracting your own aura, using your visualization techniques.

Sending and Receiving Energy.

We are sending and receiving energy all the time. Energy flows through each chakra. Chakras also draw in and send out energy, like breathing. Place your hands over your individual chakras.
What do you feel. A pulse, heat, pressure, tingling? Just being mindful and paying attention to each chakra will help it open more. There are also small chakras in the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet. We generally receive energy in through our left and send it out through our right.
Energy follows intention. Practice sending energy by holding your hands about two or three inches apart. Direct your energy from your heart centre down your arm and through your right hand. Feel the pressure against your left hand. Repeat with the other hand. We can not only use magical tools but also crystals and  symbols to help direct energy. The sign of the cross is an example of a symbol used to direct energy.
The quickest way to ground is simply to stand barefoot on the earth and ground through the foot chakras. Remember, energy follows intention. Always send and receive energy with gratitude.

Clearing

After working with someone else's energy field we always need to cleanse our own. Ground. Cleanse. Bathe. Be around people that make you feel good and affirm you. Spend time alone in nature.

Everything She touches, changes.

Everything that changes, She touches.

Touches. Changes.

Touch Us, Change Us.

I think that is all I have to say about Energy Work for now.

Sacred Space

I was encouraged to write this guide for someone involved in Christian Wicca. It is based on my past personal experience and training in Reclaiming / Alexandrian Wicca.

Sacred Space.

The word Sacred simply means to set aside for a special purpose.
We define a new space and a new time each time we cast a circle for a ritual. A circle is a boundary on the edge of the here and now and the eternal. Of the seen and unseen. It is where all of our daily rules melt away and only natural law exists and the Divine within us is revealed.
The circle creates a boundary to keep the subtle energy forces within, not to keep unwanted  energy out. It is the cauldron, or Ark to contain the energy, and raise it to a higher level.
The act of casting a circle is "enacted meditation". The tools and symbols used, resonate with our deeper selves to unlock the door to the Divine. They are the physical forms of our inner visualization.
The casting of the circle becomes our cue to switch to a deeper level of awareness. Where we suspend our pre-programmed responses and self judgment.
The memorization of specific invocations and chants are not as important as our inner visualizations.
Our group was very intuitive in it's practice. Each person would invoke the directions or the Divine in a way that spoke to them at that moment rather than adhering to a rigid script.
Entering and leaving a circle during a ritual agitates and dissipates the subtle energy within. If someone needs to leave the circle, cut a gateway and re seal it.

Grounding and Centering.

To ground ourselves, at first we need to become straight and  upright. We become like a mountain. You should feel solidly rooted. We stand with feet slightly apart, our tailbone pointed downward, head erect and our spine straight, and of course, barefoot, if possible.  Feel the energy in your body moving down your spine, through your feet and into the ground. If you are sitting, feel the energy move through your tailbone into the earth. Feel yourself relax and become still.
To centre ourselves, we bring our minds to the still point. The quiet place of stillness within us. Where we are neither pulled toward thought nor action, negative or positive, but where we simply ARE. Think of the sign of the cross. We ground down to the earth and centre across into our heart. A powerful symbol.
A Rosary is also a common way to centre.
There are hundreds of grounding exercises and centering exercises. Try a few, one or two will speak to you and feel right and help you connect on a deeper level. After you feel what it is like to ground and centre, you will just be able to do it. In fact, you will find that just starting to clear the circle will start you grounding automatically. Like a key that opens the door. I can deal with these in more detail later in Energy Work.

Clearing.

We usually begin a circle by banishing any negative energy in that space. Stand quietly for a moment facing the altar and ground and centre. Usually using a broom, sweep counterclockwise from the east to the east while holding in your mind the intention of sweeping away any negative energy. When finished face the altar again for a moment stilling your mind.
Instead of a standard broom, and if you are into herbs, you can use either sage or hyssop as an incense to clear a space of negative energy. Both are excellent "clearing " herbs. They can also be used to clear your own aura or the aura of another and raise  spiritual vibrations. Though I would be careful using Hyssop as an incense, as it contains pino-camphone and it has been know to cause seizures in people with epilepsy.


Casting.

In Wicca, the altar is usually set up in the north to revere the Earth mother. However, we are often limited by the area in which we build our sacred space, so you can improvise. As a Christian I would feel drawn to place the altar in the east as it is associated with light, birth and creation.


Beginning at the altar in the east, pause a moment. Give a salute, a kiss or a bow toward the direction. If you are using a wand, visualize a white light coming from the end of it creating a ring as you slowly walk around the circle clockwise. As you cast, state your intention that " This is a place that is not a place, in a time that is not a time, half way between the world of God and mankind". Or something to that effect. Then "Blessed Be" or" Amen". Whichever you are comfortable with.  Again once you reach the altar again, bow or salute and place your wand on the altar. If you do not have a wand, use a crystal or  the two fingers of your right hand.
The salute, kiss or bow is not a sign of subservience, but of reverence and respect.
In traditional Wicca, the athame or ritual blade or sword is used to cast the circle. The athame is a more direct tool and represents the channeling of power and Spirit of Air. In some traditions it is associated with the Spirit of fire.
Christians Wiccans are creating a space of hospitality. One invites the angels to come and asks God to be in the circle. It is better to use a wand, or staff. ( The staff is more associated with Druidry ) The wand is more yielding and gentle. Some associate it with air. In the Kabbalah the wand  represents the Spirit of fire,  It is also the magical tool that is most deeply connected with ourselves. Our own spiritual essence.
A circle is cast over a larger area for a group, but for an individual can be just around the outer edge of our own aura. Tools do not have to be used. Like I said they are the physical forms of our inner visualization. There may come a time when you do not need to use physical tools at all.

Calling the Quarters.

The quarters are associated with the four elements, the four directions and  the Archangels.

Starting in the east welcome in the element of air, and the angels, spirits or guides you associate with this direction and element. Ask them to be with you in the circle and bringing the attributes they represent. Spirits of Air, Sky Father, light, Spring, Thought, birth, creativity. Blessed Be or Amen.
Moving clockwise to the south, welcome the element of fire.  Spirits of Fire, Summer,  inspiration, action, passion, power.
In the west the element of water is invoked . Spirits of Water, Autumn, emotions, transformation, reflection.
In the north, the element of earth is invoked. Spirits of Earth, mountains, forests, winter. Earth Mother, strength, belonging, solidity, protection.
The specific words are not important. But you may find a rhyming poem of invocation is beautiful and easy to remember. Once the four directions are called or invoked, we ask God to be with us.
In Wicca, each person has a Matron or Patron Godde. ( I learned this word Godde from Carl McColeman. To designate God in a way that is neither male or female, or can be both. This Old English spelling of God is halfway between God and Goddess. I like it. )
We may simply ask the Trinity to be with us. Or we may choose to call  Abba, Jesus and Mary and The Holy Spirit or Christ, Sophia and Abwoon  ( Father/Mother God ).  You may have a specific purpose for the circle where one form is more appropriate than another to call.
Or as we often did, we ask "Whomever it would be" to come into the circle. Godde knows our intentions better than we do. Blessed Be or Amen.
I know of a few people who have Jesus as their personal spiritual guide. They are deeply moved by his presence, yet they would never consider themselves Christian.

Raising Energy.

This can vary a lot from group to group. Some use chanting, some dancing, or meditation. There are many ways. The purpose of this is to elevate the energetic vibrations within the circle. While, chanting, dancing, or meditating, visualize a soft blue light spiraling upwards. When you feel it is time to stop, visualize the energy floating down and filling the circle. One chant I liked is elemental in nature:

Earth my body, water my blood, air my breath and fire my spirit.

I first learned this at a Mabon celebration. It was sung and accompanied with American Sign Language.
Very beautiful.

Intention.

Now the circle is open for devotion, celebration, or specific prayerful action. Each circle that is created has to have a purpose. This can range from simply reading poetry, prayers, music, reciting the Charge of the Goddess, magic, healing and or trance work. In our group  in each esbat circle ( new moon and full moon ) was  Drawing Down the Moon and Drawing Down the Sun.  Some groups don't do it at all.
Drawing Down the Moon and Drawing Down the Sun is when we invoke the spirit of Godde to enter into the high priestess and high priest, to embody the presence of Godde within the circle. This could be, and usually was a sense of Divine presence. Sometimes the high priestess or high priest would be inspired to say something or to address a particular person in the group. Sometimes we would get a full ecstatic trance, but this was really rare.  It's a form of channeling. This would be done during the inner circles open only to the initiates of the tradition. The Sabbat circles are for seasonal celebrations.Ours were usually outer court circles open to everyone. Most of our circles would be out of doors. Either in public parks, ravines, or backyards. In the winter, or inclement weather, indoors at various homes.

Sharing

At the end of our meetings, we always shared food and drink. The emphasis in many Wiccan traditions is the actual ritual blessing. In our tradition, the focus was on sharing. Usually seasonal, organic foods.
Since in Wicca, all of nature is part of the body of God, all food, whether it be vegetable, fruit, meat, wine, juice or water, is considered sacred.
The blessing or "Grace" we used  can be used by anyone. We say:

 " It is not we who bless food and drink, but it that blesses us. For by it's nature it nourishes us, and in it's sharing we have the opportunity to create community.  Blessed Be." ( Or Amen )

We pass the food and drink on to the person to our right saying: Never hunger. Never thirst
This generally is for use in a group.
This is the time for talking and sharing.  About what was felt during the circle, what has transpired in our lives since the last circle, and for making plans for the next. As a solitary it would be a good time for journaling.

Closing

The circle that has been created must be undone at the end.  Moving counterclockwise, say goodbye to each direction and thank the angels and spirits. Thank Godde. Ask them to go until next time. State that the circle has come to an end. Merry Meet and Merry Part and Merry Meet again. Blessed Be (or Amen).
Hugs all around. (That was my favorite part).

Well that's about it for Sacred Space.