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Lesson Five - "Creating Sacred Space"
Part I
Preliminaries:
Let's focus a bit now on creating sacred space...in particular, casting the circle.
When we cast a circle, we are creating sacred space, a space charged with magick within which we may perform rituals and spell casting. Does every situation call for casting a circle? No, not at all. For instance, if the spells we'll be working are intended to effect our own households, then we wouldn't cast the circle. We would want the energies to spread out into our homes.
Purposes for Casting the Circle:
1. It can help to protect an inexperienced witch from wayward energies that someone more seasoned would be able to deflect.
2. A circle secures personal space for spell casting.
3. A circle of power contains energy within it and increases the chances for a spells' success.
4. A circle becomes the temple of the gods.
Self Preparation:
The most important thing to do prior to casting the circle is to prepare yourself for magick.
There are several ways to do this.
Grounding and Centering:
Before really getting involved with Wicca, I studied the Tarot. I went to various classes, but one in particular stands out in my mind. The woman who taught was herself Wiccan and she got into the subject rather extensively. Here are a few ideas:
1. A ritual bath with salt or herbs thrown in. Salt and herbs both come from the earth.
2. Physically go out of doors and "hug a tree". :-) Or you can find the oldest one possible and sit under it with your back against its trunk and feel yourself becoming one with it and the ground beneath you. Some form of meditation at this point would be very appropriate.
3. Meditative techniques. These don't have to be elaborate. They can be anything from guided meditations to simple rhythmic breathing exercises.
4. Tai Chi is also good for grounding and centering...becoming one with your Chi...your life force. It is also very empowering.
5. Visualization exercises such as the Full Moon exercise where you sit quietly for several minutes and then visualize a Full Moon over your head. You see it enter the top of your head. You see it moving down through your body, bit my bit, expelling all negativities as it moves. Then, once it's reached the bottom, it moves back up and out once again leaving you charged and ready for magick.
Being employed Full-time and a single mom of 3 active teens, it can be really difficult to sit and meditate undisturbed, but it's very important find some method that works, so what I love to do is take that ritual bath and then get out of doors into nature. I especially enjoy going out at night when the moon is full and bright. I try to find a body of water...for me, I live on the Long Island Sound, so I head to the beach. There is a pier that goes way off shore so I'll go stand out there gazing at the moon. I watch its glorious reflection in the water. When I've gazed at it long enough, I imagine that the long reflection it casts is a magickal stairway or pathway that will lead me to the gods where all sorts of ancient wisdom will be revealed to me so that upon my return, I will be empowered for the magickal work.
Then, once I have finished drinking in all that I'll need, I'll have prepared some simple spell work that I can do right on the beach…something that won't attract attention, but will leave me feeling powerful and fulfilled.
I remember a time that I was very hurt by someone who I was friends with since childhood. She later rejected me and unfortunately I'm the type who finds it difficult to let go of things that break my heart. Anyway, I did a simple earth magick technique of writing her name in the sand. Then I sat and meditated on it. I watched the tide come in and bit by bit wash her name away which represented my releasing the negative energy that held me captive emotionally. It was a very releasing experience. I then pulled out my wooden flute and began to play allowing the wind to carry the soulful tune out into the atmosphere.
One of the most important things that we must discipline ourselves in is visualization. Why? If you can’t see it happening, it won’t! There are many works available with visualizations you can record on a tape recorder with the sound of your own voice guiding you. If the sound of your voice bothers you, there are many tapes available today you can purchase and work with.
Here is a simple visualization that I have found in Marian Green’s book, A Witch Alone: Thirteen Moons to Master Natural Magic . This book is an excellent source by the way and is available through our website. You’ll want to read the words a few time to familiarize yourself with the flow of it.
“You’ll want to sit in a comfortable upright position with your back supported by a chair or a tree. Breathe deeply half a dozen times, slowly and gently, feeling all tensions leaving your body, yet remain awake and alert, though physically relaxed and at peace. Close your eyes without screwing them up, and feel around inside your body for any discomfort or tension, making sure that neither your arms nor your legs are crossed, so that your energy flow will not be impeded as you enter the Otherworldly state. Then, bit by bit, build up these images. As slowly as you need and as completely as you can, enter in each image in turn…
First, see a soft brown cloak of natural wool being wrapped around you. Feel its pleasant texture, its warmth and comfort. This will protect you, making you invisible if you are out of doors, or reduce your awareness of intruding thoughts or disturbances indoors. Become really aware of it before you go to the next image.
Now, still enclosed in the cloak of protection, rise to your feet and see that you are standing on a narrow path through a field of wild flowers. It is a pleasant sunny day with alight breeze touching your cheek. You may smell the scent of hay, the many flowers, and feel the wild wind blowing freely. You may hear the drowsy buzz of bumble bees, the chirrup of crickets, the hum of insects among the flowers, and the rush of the wind among the grasses. Otherwise it is very quiet.
You begin to walk along the path, seeing it wind along a hillside towards a small cluster of trees. You feel very peaceful as you stroll in the sunshine. Soon you draw near to the grove of trees, all deep green in the full leaf of summer. Perhaps you recognize young oaks, small ash trees, the darker green of holly, the feathery-edged leaves of hawthorn with clusters of green haws among them. You enter the cooler shade and begin to hear the chirping of birds, and the rustle of the light breeze in the branches. In the dimmer light you pause.
After a few moments, something brighter catches your eye and you walk on, winding among the trunks of the trees. You see the lush grasses beside the path dotted with white and mauve flowers. You begin to sense other presences, perhaps only birds or small animals, or perhaps those watching spirits which are found everywhere under Nature’s care.
Carefully you make your way forward, for the trees crowd closer here, and the path has petered out amid the loamy brown leaf mould that carpets the wood. You look around you, not sure which way to go.
You turn round, seeking the path, but it has vanished. The leafy branches seem to brush your hair, and the trunks of the trees feel as if they are closing in. The dim green twilight darkens and you begin to feel lost and alone. Before you there seems to be an arching doorway of slender rowan trees, leaning in towards each other, and beyond them a lighter glade seems to offer a safer path. You push your way through the low branches, her and there scented with the peppery aroma from the clustering white rowan flowers. It feels as if a door toward the light is opening for you as you pass between the smooth, slender grey-green trunks. Ahead there is a fallen tree, entwined with ivy and creepers, but part of the bole is clear, and gratefully you sink down to sit and rest awhile.
The light which seemed to fade under the trees now begins to brighten and every leaf glistens and shimmers with dazzling points of sunlight. The birds all sing in tuneless chorus. Around you the wind seems to rustle the branches, and small whirlwinds raise twists of dust. As you sense all these things at once, another great presence looms near to you, and a bell-like voice speaks from behind you.
‘Welcome, my child, why have you come through the Door in the Heart of the Greenwood?’
You try to turn to see who is there, but your body is reluctant and all you see is a greenish shadow out of the corner of your eye. Somehow you manage to speak and answer. New questions follow, and you receive answers for what may seem a long time.
Eventually there is silence, the light dims, the birdsong dies and the trees are still. You look round and may just catch the departing swirl of a green cloak vanishing between the tree trunks, a tall form moving swiftly into the leafy gloom. For a few moments you ponder on what has been said, and then slowly rise to your feet.
Looking between the arching rowans you see the path, now quite clear and straight. You make your way along it. The trees that seemed to press closely now lightly touch your hair, conferring a blessing. The scent of greenery, wild flowers and soft loam fills your nostrils, and you breathe deep of this free, fresh air. Soon you leave the wood, seeing how tiny it appears, how safe and familiar the trees. You cross the flowering meadow, again being acutely aware of the colours of the flowers, the touch of the grasses, the twitter of rising skylarks and the low murmur of bees.
As you look about you the scene grows misty and dim. You feel very happy and relaxed, but those images, feelings and experiences linger with you. Soon you are ready to open your eyes, and return gently yet completely to your own familiar world. Return and remember!”
You can perform this journey over and over again, always taking note of what you see in your journal. Also, note what distractions you may experience, as well as feelings and things you may hear. Each time, you will have new insights and new aspects. It’s a simple exercise, but an excellent key to unlock the door to the Otherworld.
In the next part of this lesson we'll get into the actual casting of the circle and what is involved once it’s erected.
BB Sage
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