ACT OF POWER '>3
Earth Healing Stones

For our third Act of Power for Lammas, we are going to focus on Earth Healing. Of course Earth Healing is always appropriate but because Lammas celebrates the harvest and the fecundity of the Goddess in Her form as Earth Mother, Earth Healing is especially appropriate to this holiday.

For this Act of Power you will need a bowl. In the bowl should be one stone for everyone in the circle.

Begin by passing the bowl around the Circle. Ask each person to take one stone.

When everyone has their stone, you will want to explain how the process will work. You might say something like:

"Hold your in your hands and focus on it. Now think about the Earth. In a way, every stone is a microcosm of the Earth -a little bit of the Earth, often similar in shape, indissolubly connected to the whole. Think about the Earth, and the difficulties She faces today. The Earth needs much healing, and there are many different aspects in which the healing is needed. Let us each think about any one aspect of the Earth that is need of healing. It may be an animal species that is endangered: or it might be environmental pollution: the destruction of the rain forests: or even issues of political freedom. Think about this and focus on it: Any aspect of the Earth which you feel particularly in need of healing energy.

"Focus intently upon that which you have chosen for healing. Picture it clearly in your mind. Now imagine it being healed -imagine the healing already complete and successful.

"As you hold your stone, imagine a ball of white light around it –clear, strong, beautiful white light. See the light as bright and full of energy. And within that ball of light, think about the thing you have chosen to heal. See that thing being healed -becoming whole and healthy and well. visualize the healing being accomplished.

Now have everyone place their stone at the center of the Circle.

Join together in a healing chant. You might also wish to dance, depending upon room and inclination.

A good chant might be:

"We the children of the Earth and Sky
Must heal our Mother by and by
With hearts and minds we all must try
To bring Her healing -by and by!"

When you feel that people have danced enough, stop the dance and stand in a circle around the bowl of stones: have everyone focus energy into it at once. You might instruct them in this manner:

“Let us focus our energy into the stones. See them filled with beautiful, clear white light. Imagine the stones shining with light, radiating in all directions, glowing brighter and brighter –imagine the stones filled with energy, strong and pulsing: Stronger and stronger. Think about what you have healed –concentrate on it and see it whole and healthy! See the fire glowing brighter and brighter, the energy stronger and stronger, and send it forth into manifestation –NOW!"

And release the energy all at once.

Now follow with a final benediction, perhaps something like this:

“Divine Mother Goddess, Divine Father God, lend Your aid we pray: that these stones now blessed shall carry our Working forward into manifestation as surely as the Moon passes through Her phases, as surely as the Planets revolve around the Sun, as surely as the rivers run –even so inevitable is the working of our Charm! So Mote it Be!”

The stones have now been blessed.

When the ritual is ended, form a procession and take the stones to the place where you will release them to the elements –this symbolizes the goals becoming manifest. There are several things you can do: you can bury them in the ground, or indoors in a pot of soil: you can release them into a river or lake: you can toss them from a hill: If instead of stones you are using something like pinecones, you can throw them into a fire or fireplace. It doesn’t really matter how you release them, so long as it symbolizes the release of the goals into manifestation.

although we are including this Act of Power for Lammas, it is of course suitable to any occasion. It can be used for Earth Healing, which is always needed, or if you prefer you can use it to manifest personal goals instead.

Variation '>1

A variation on the theme is to have each person take their stone and use it as a talisman, rather than releasing them to the elements. In this way, whether they are used for Earth Healing as above or for more personal goals, by using the stone as a talisman the person will keep the energy around them and be able to add additional energy at will. Moreover keeping the stone as a talisman will help the person by more mindful of what they have manifested.

Variation '>2

As we have mentioned, though we give this Act of Power as an example for Lammas it is appropriate to any occasion.

Though we have used stones here, many other items can serve just as well. For example, if you are near water, seashells can be very atmospheric: Likewise if you are in a wooded area, or perhaps if it is winter, pinecones can be very appropriate: in fact, any similar thing will do. Nor must the tokens used necessarily be natural -charms or medallions can also be used.

If you are using something like pinecones, they can be released by being tossed into a fire. Burning pinecones make a lovely scent. If this Act of Power is done in a Winter ceremony, pinecones can be particularly appropriate and atmospheric.

 

 

Mabon is the Autumnal Equinox. It is the time of the waning Sun. Days grow shorter; nights grow longer. The fields are being felled as the harvest continues, the life of the God ebbing away. It is the Sunset of the Year.

Darker colors tend to be used at Mabon -dusk colors. Grays, purples, blues.

Because it an Equinox Mabon is associated with ideas of balance: a party-color theme in polar colors is very appropriate. Purple and green are very fitting, and recall the association of the holiday with Dionysus, because of the grape harvest.

Sometimes the harvest theme is stressed, and Fall produce is used to decorate for Mabon: pumpkins, gourds, corn. Haystacks and scarecrows are also sometimes used. Again, another common theme is grapes and grape vines.

Mabon is the last festival of the Wiccan liturgical year. It is often associated with ideas of Karma, justice, and tying up loose ends. It is a time of reflection and appreciation for the year soon to end.

As always, emphasize those aspects of the festival which speak to you. It is most important that the ceremony have meaning for those taking part in it, so stress those themes which will have the greatest relevance to those present.

AIR

For this ritual we will cleanse the space with mineral salts and alcohol. To do this you will need some mineral salts of the sort used for making bath salts. These should be readily available in a craft store. Epsom salts also work well. You will also need rubbing alcohol. It is best to use the mineral salts in their natural state: you can sometimes successfully use bath salts depending on how they have been made, but they will not be as effective.

Have everyone already assembled.

Place the mineral salts in a fire resistant container –a tin foil container, such as are used for baking, is ideal as the mineral salts will leave a residue which is hard to clean. Add alcohol to the mineral salts: enough to soak them well.

Now say something like:

“Behold, we shall join together to cleanse this space. Even as these salts burn, so too shall all negative energy in this space be transformed and transmuted, consecrated and blessed. So too shall our own energy be cleansed and blessed as well. So Mote It Be.”

ALL
”SO MOTE IT BE!”

Now light the mineral salts using a match, candle, or consecrated lighter. They will set up a bright, pale, cleansing flame which will raise the vibration of the energy.

Allow the mineral salts to burn for a bit, then lead the people in a visualization to internalize the effects. You might do it like this:

“Behold the flame, dancing before us. Feel the strength in it –the power. Feel its energy, moving and transforming all it touches –transmuting all negativity. Imagine the flame growing brighter, expanding: growing larger and larger. See the flame expand to fill the space between us –then expand beyond us: see it grow and expand farther and farther, until it fills our entire ritual space with transformative light. Feel the energy moving all around you –feel the energy moving within you as well. Feel it raising your vibration, cleansing you: eliminating all negative energy. Even as the fire burns, the vibration raises. Negative energy is transformed and becomes positive. The Circle is cleansed, and we are cleansed with it”

Allow the fire to burn until it goes out. Then say something like:

“Behold, it is done. So Mote It Be.”

ALL
”SO MOTE IT BE!”

We will now cast our Circle. For this ritual we will cast the Circle from hand to hand. To do this, begin by turning to the person deosil to you. Take their hand and say something like:

“From hand to hand I cast this Circle.”

Or

“From heart to heart I cast this Circle.”

Or

“In perfect love and perfect trust I cast this Circle.”

Or however you prefer to do it.

Then this person will take the hand of the next person and repeat the same words. The next person will do the same thing, and so on around the Circle until it returns to you and everyone is holding hands. Now say something like:

“Behold, we join together to cast this Circle, that it may be a token of the bond of love between us. Imagine the energy running from hand to hand, person to person. See the energy as beautiful, clear white light filled with strength and love and power. See the energy grow and strengthen. See it begin to expand around us, the Circle of energy moving out around us to fill our ritual space and make a barrier at its edges. See that barrier become a wall of clear, strong white light: A wall to contain and strengthen our energy as we work.

“Behold, we do cut apart a place between the realms of humankind and of the Mighty Ones: a Circle of Art to focus and contain the powers we shall raise herein! The Circle is cast! So Mote It Be!”

ALL
”SO MOTE IT BE!”

Now release hands and continue.

FIRE

In this ritual we will invoke the Quarters through the forms of the God. This can be particularly good for the Lesser (Solar) Sabbats or other rituals that honor the masculine Polarity.

Begin in the East. Use a Wand, Sacred Tool of Fire, or if you prefer, use your fingers. Raise the Wand, imagining as you do so a column of pure white light arising in the East, at the border of the Circle. See the column as strong and pure and filled with energy. Say something like:

EAST
“I invoke You O God in Your form as Golden Lord of the East: Hero -Champion of the Goddess, Lord of the Dawn and of Spring! Your breath is in the Air and the greening buds of leaves and flowers. May Your wind bring fresh ideas and inspiration to our Circle!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

SOUTH
”I invoke You O God in Your form as Red Lord of the South: Lover –Consort of the Goddess, Lord of Noonday and of Summer! Your spirit is in the Fire and the growing crops of the fields. May Your flames bring passion and vitality to our Circle!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

WEST
”I invoke You O God in Your form as Blue Lord of the East: King –Right hand of the Goddess, Lord of Sunset and of Autumn! Your blood is in the Water, in the harvest which is reaped and in the falling leaves. May Your waves bring empathy and compassion to our Circle!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

NORTH
”I invoke You O God in Your form as Green Lord of the North: Sorcerer –Guardian for the Goddess of the Gates of Life and Death, Lord of Midnight and of Winter! Your flesh is in the Earth, the frosted trees and seeds which wait for rebirth. May Your soil bring wisdom and understanding to our Circle!”

Now it is time to invoke Deity. Since the Lesser Sabbats are Solar ceremonies, the God will be invoked first. In this case we shall invoke the God not in any particular personal form, but in His Archetype as .....You will remember from First Degree studies that some Personal forms of this Archetype include Jupiter, Ra, and Nodens.

The Priest raises his arms to call upon the God. He might say something like:

PRIEST
“O God, we do invoke You in Your form as King! Lord of the Wheel of Karma! You turn the Wheel of the Goddess upon which the threads of Fate are spun, that actions return upon themselves and Divine balance is maintained. Lord of the Harvest You sacrifice Yourself that life may endure through Winter -illustrating the Karmic interdependence of life upon life. Join us O God, we pray, in this sacred festival! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now imagine the God entering the Circle -imagine it in any way which makes sense to you –perhaps by imagining the God in human form, or as a shower of glittering light, or as a ball or tower of light appearing in the Circle.

Now let us invoke the Goddess in Her archetype as Mother -in this sense the ruling Mother of the harvest. You will remember from First Degree studies that some Personal forms of this Archetype include Isis, Yemaya, and Mati Suira-Zemlya.

The Priestess raises her arms to call upon the Goddess. She might say something like:

PRIESTESS
“O Goddess we do invoke You in Your form of Harvest Mother. All-bountiful and Provident One -You sustain Your children through the Winter with the food of the earth, Your body. It is You Who decree the fall of the crops. You Who decree the death of the God. You weave the threads of Karma from which the web of life is fashioned. All things depend upon all others -and all proceed from You. Join us we pray, O Goddess, in this our holy rite! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now visualize the Goddess entering the Circle.

Finally, invoke the Ancestors. You might say something like:

“O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, We invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us –lend us Your inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray. Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”