A Witch's Sacred Journey

Artwork: Cynthia Re Robbins

Blessings of the Equinox!

September 22nd marks the Autumnal Equinox. This post is a reprint extracted from an article posted in WitchVox-September 2013. Enjoy! Read the full article here: Opening to the Anima Mundi

..I invite you to join me at this time of the Autumnal Equinox and celebration of the wild. I offer a solitary ritual that you may use to quicken the memory of your place and purpose in opening to the Anima Mundi as you restore the balance of man and animal; beginning with the restoring of that balance within yourself. Blessings of the Equinox!

A Simple Ritual of Balance:

You will need:

1/White and 1/Black candle
An object that represents your concept of yourself (a ring, lock of hair, picture, etc.)
An object that represents your concept of the natural world (a leaf, stone, flower, herb, etc.) and
An object that represents your concept of the animal world (picture, feather, tooth, etc..)

Place the white and black candles approximately 5-8” apart from one another envisioning them as representing the extremes of humanity and the natural/animal world. Place your object of self in front of the black candle and the objects of animal and natural world in front of the white candle.

Center and ground yourself in preparation for this ritual. Visualize yourself as a tree, reaching roots deep into the earth and drawing up the energy of the core of Mother Earth below into the center of your solar plexus. Visualize yourself as reaching upward, full-leaved and branches extended in anticipation of Father Sun’s potent kiss. Draw this energy down into the center of your solar plexus. Breathe into these two streams of energy, light and dark, sky and earth and see them co-mingling and entwining, one into the other. Breathe into the synthesis and harmonious balance of what has become a singular stream and feel yourself anchored in earth and sky, strong and resilient, ready to begin the work at hand. So Mote It Be.

Call the energy and protection of the your space of working into being in whatever manner is in accord with your spiritual practice. Call to witness any spirit guide, patron, deity or power animal that you wish to aid the work.

Make declaration of intent in witness of those seen and unseen:

“At this time of balance held within the Autumnal Equinox I call to the balance within myself and that of the natural world. I call to the world soul and all of its inhabitants as intrinsically interwoven creating the rich tapestry that is the living soul of this world. “

Come to stand in front of the black candle. As you look into the flame envision all that you are. See all the aspects and titles you carry as you move through your daily responsibilities. See yourself as a distinct and separate individual and what that individuality means to you. Fill this vision with your thoughts, emotions and will defining as clearly as possible. Look upon the object you have chosen as representation of yourself and fill it with all that you have envisioned. Breathe this picture into that object; enlivening it with your individuality and uniqueness.

Move to stand in front of the white candle. As you look into its flame, envision the many layers that comprise the natural world. Look upon the landscape of the earth as though soaring high above. Look upon the life that takes the form of the animals; mammal, fowl, amphibian and fish. Look upon the varied shapes, sizes and structure of the buildings, streets, cities and shopping areas that are scattered on the living land. See them as part of this natural world, as well; each being anchored in the earth. Breathe into what you see and envision this space as a kaleidoscope of diversity. Look upon the object you have chosen as representation of the natural world and fill it with all that you have envisioned. Breathe this collage of nature into that object; enlivening it with the energy of the world.

Move to stand directly at midpoint between these two candles. Pick up the object of Self and place it at this mid-space; front and centered at what would be the point of a triangle, with the candles as its base. Pick up the object of the natural world and place it next to and touching the object of self. Both now centrally held at a triangular point between the two candles. This is the triangle of will that holds the flame of the Divine spark. It is from this space that our souls yearn and hunger to be at one with all of life and strive towards quickening those links of connection. Soften your gaze, and breathe deeply envisioning a line of energy drawn from each of the candles towards this center point of balance held by self and the natural world. Allow this energetic strand of connection to build and become stronger and stronger in clarity. As you continue to breathe into this flow see yourself and the natural world as one. Envision yourself as part of this fabric of life and allow this vision to take the form that its wishes.

You may find yourself swimming in the ocean surrounded by sea otters, whales or dolphins. You may find yourself soaring high above a city-scape as you migrate to warmer weather. You may find yourself in the forest, deeply rooted and standing tall and strong amidst the mighty oak and grove of ancient trees. You may find yourself standing before Gaia, herself as she holds you gently within the valleys and peaks of her body. Breathe deeply and fully in this vision and allow it to move in and through you. Enlivening and informing all that you are. Allow a circuit of energetic flow to open between you and the vision held within the union of the objects of self and the world. Each inhalation receiving the gifts of this state of balance and union and each exhalation, returning the transformed synthesized form back to its origins.

When you have received all that is needed at this time, breathe deeply and allow the streams of connection to withdraw, each returning to their own source. Breathe deeply and see with renewed clarity each of the candles distinct in their individual form and each of the objects also distinct in their individual forms. This is your reminder that it is only through the union of the individual parts that the whole of its creation may be achieved. Turn your awareness to the balanced and connective energy now running through you. Offer up thanks for this experience and know that at any time you may quicken this connection and make use of the energy to heal and enliven yourself and the world around.

Give thanks to those patrons or guides that you called into your space of working. Give thanks and ground the energy of your space of working. Blessed Be!