Looking Into The AbyssCreating Sacred Space:
Spend some time thinking about yourself and your inner landscape.
Take a hard look and then add some compassion.
How does compassion differ from rationalization?
Begin with the room as dark as possible (use common sense and keep a light on so that you can see to do the activities of the ritual).
Cast the Circle:
Make a circle that you can see, using yarn or thick thread.
Do this in complete silence, ending with a deep breath and say,
Blessed Be."
Summon the Guardians and the Elementals:
Summon the East:
Lovers of the mind and of learning,
Join me in my rite;
Sylphs of the East,
The breath of inspiration,
Join me in my rite.
Welcome Air Guardians and Sylphs to my circle.
Summon the South:
Lovers of passion and will,
Join me in my rite;
Salamanders of the South,
The fiery spark of resilience,
Join me in my rite.
Welcome Fire Guardians and Salamanders.
Summon the West:
Lovers of emotion and compassion,
Join me in my rite;
Undines of the West,
The drop of love,
Join me in my rite.
Welcome Water Guardians and Undines.
Summon the North:
Lovers of silence and respect,
Join me in my rite;
Gnomes of the North,
The soil of new growth,
Join me in my rite.
Welcome Guardians and Gnomes of the North.
Hail and Welcome.
Evoke the Goddess:
Goddess of the Sacred Well,
Guardian of the Forge,
Join me in my rite and bring the excitement of new beginnings.
Hail and welcome.
Blessed Be.
Evoke the God:
God of the vegetation,
He who comes to us in the spring.
Though I do not yet see you,
Welcome and Blessed Be.
Center and Ground:
You are standing on the edge of the forest.
Note that your trunk, arms, and legs are that of a tree.
Send your roots downward into the earth, deep into the warm bosom of the Mother Earth.
Find a rock and anchor your root there, safe and secure in the Mother.
Raise your arms to reach the sky.
See the branches stretch far out into the sky.
Feel the embrace of the sky reach down and welcome you.
Come back to yourself, grounded in the Earth and embraced by the sun.
Statement of Ritual Intent:
Looking into the abyss of myself is a frightening act and I could see monsters.
I am surrounded by the unseen world who will guide me, protect me, and comfort me.
I am going to ask for their wisdom.
Meditation
You are standing on a very dark plain.
You cannot see with your eyes so you extend your senses.
Notice what you "see" with your other senses.
The sky suddenly becomes illuminated with moonlight and you are standing on the edge of an abyss so large and so dark that you have no perception of the beginning or end of it.
It is scary but know that the creatures of all the directions are there to catch you if you fall.
Stand there and learn what the abyss has inside it.
You do notice that the abyss is looking into you as well.
Ask what the abyss sees, no matter how "good" or "bad".
In a passionless, nonjudgmental way, the abyss tells you what it sees.
Because there is no judgment, there is no sting and you receive the information.
Thank the abyss for the information.
You notice that there are other beings around you.
The Guardians of the East come to you with the Sylphs.
Note what they look like and how they appear to you.
Ask them for words of wisdom.
Listen.
When they are finished, they will stand back and the Gurardians of the South will come to you with the Salamanders.
Ask them for words of wisdom.
Listen.
When they are finished, they will stand back and the Guardians of the West with the Undines will come to you.
Ask them for words of wisdom.
Listen.
When they are finished, they will stand back and the Guardians of the North with the Gnomes will come to you.
As them for words of wisdom.
Listen.
Finally, all the Guardians and Elementals will stand around you in a comforting embrace.
Say thanks and ask for any final words of wisdom or comfort.
Suddenly they are gone in a sparkling swirl of confetti, like dots of colours, bright, brilliant, and sparkling.
You say final thanks to the abyss and walk away into the light.
And as the light grows, you open your eyes and you are back in the room and back in your sacred circle.
Raise the Cone of Power:
Cleanse and strengthen my mind,
May they tune my heart in accord with theirs,
May their power and love manifest in my life,
May they surround me with inspiration and grace,
Shield me from pettiness, including my own
Because I am worthy of their love.
Love, love, Love, love, Love, love, Love, love,
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.
Whoosh!!!!!!!
Cakes and Ale:
This is a celebration and a thanksgiving.
Say a prayer and eat a little something.
Center and Ground:
Gently remove your embrace from the sun, taking the energy of the Universe with you.
Feel your roots deep in the ground.
Gently detach yourself from the anchor and pull the root back.
Keep what energy you need.
Remember that you are always connected to the love of the Universe.
Farewell to the God:
God of the Forest,
The Vine,
And the Leaf.
Thank you for your wisdom that everything dies and everything is born.
Go with my thanks and my blessings.
Hail and well met.
Farewell to the Goddess:
Bright Brigid,
Lady of the Well and the Forge.
Thank you for the wisdom of the fire that refines and creates.
Go with my thanks and my blessings.
Hail and well met.
Farewell to the Guardians and the Elementals:
Dismiss the North:
Thank you for your presence in my rite.
Go with my thanks and my blessings.
Gnomes of Dark Mountains,
Thank you for the wisdom of connection.
Guardians and Gnomes,
Go with my thanks and my blessings.
Hail and well met.
Dismiss the West:
Thank you for your felling and your presence in my rite.
Undines of the watery deep,
Thank you for the beauty of the sea.
Guardians and Undines,
Go with my thanks and my blessings.
Hail and well met.
Dismiss the South:
Thank you for your passion and will.
Salamanders,
Thank you for the fire of creativity.
Guardians and Salamanders,
Go with my thanks and my blessings.
Hail and well met.
Dismiss the East:
Thank you for your intellect and clarity.
Sylphs of the feathery light touch,
Thank you for the refreshing breezes.
Guardians and Sylphs,
Go with my thanks and my blessings.
Hail and well met.
Open the Circle:
Going widdershines, take up your physical circle and the circle in your mind and your spirit.
When you are finished take three deep breaths and say,
