Dark Moon Mysteries

Close your eyes and imagine that a soft white glow is forming at your feet. It begins to swirl upward and it forms a protective shell around you. It lifts you up and takes you on a journey to the core of your being.

The misty glow sets you down and dissipates to reveal a marble staircase that spirals downward. The light is very dim along the walls of the staircase and you can't see all the way to the bottom, but you know that this is a place into which you must venture.

You begin down the staircase and you notice that it spirals in a counterclockwise direction. The light in the staircase comes from candles flickering in small carved niches along the walls. The staircase walls are made of smooth, cold marble that you occasionally touch as you continue to journey downward.

As you work your way down the stairs, notice on the walls that there are occasionally sigils, magical symbols formed out of metal and embedded into the stone walls. These are the symbols of your shadow masks. Take note of whichever one is most prominent. This is the symbol for your primary shadow mask.

Reach up and touch the symbol of your primary shadow mask and you'll find that it comes loose from the wall. As you hold it in your hands, you can feel the cold weight of the metal symbol and you can see it from all sides. (Pause) Hold on to this symbol as you continue down the stairs.

When you reach the bottom, you find before you a great golden door. YOU try the door, but it is locked. Look at the keyhole and you will find that it is oddly shaped. Slip the metal symbol you hold into the keyhole and you'll find that it unlocks the door. Open the door and enter the chamber.

The room is cold and quite dark, except for a single point of illumination that emanates from the far side of the room. The light comes from a mask that hangs on the far wall. Go over to it and look at it. You notice that it is well within reach, so you take it down and examine it thoroughly. (Pause) On the inside of the mask is its name. Take note of it.

After you've examined the mask, place it on your face and ask: "How do I resolve this shadow mask?" Listen carefully to the answer.

Once you've heard the message, ask this: "What do I have to learn from this shadow mask?"

Once you've received your message, ask one more question: "What does this shadow mask keep me from doing?"

Your eyes seem to be more accustomed to the dim light now and you can see features in the room you couldn't see before. In the adjoining wall there is a fireplace, with an old heather broom leaning close by. There is a small table near the fireplace, too. On the table is a jar with ancient designs inscribed on it.

This jar contains the sacred ointment of the priests and priestesses. It is the ointment of sacred visions. Open the lid of the jar, take a dab of the ointment on your fingers, and rub it into your third eye, which rests in the middle of your brow, at a point between your eyes.

When you do this, notice that your body becomes lighter, almost weightless. Your feet barely touch the floor and your arms are like feathers. Hold on to the mask and stand before the opening in the fireplace. Before you know it, you are pulled up into the dark recesses of the chimney. Feel your body rush skyward through the chimney. Soon you are out of the tunnel-like space of the chimney and you are flying through the night sky with your mask.

[Partner: pause for a moment.]

Soon you are gradually set down on the mist-covered ground. The time is midnight, and you find yourself on a dirt path that travels through a gully between two close, wooded hills.

As you walk along this path, you look into the night sky and see the waning moon. It is a thin, pale yellow crescent in the heavens. As you journey along this path, you see a small cottage or hut just ahead. A flickering of light emanates from what appears to be a window or some other opening in the side of the structure. Approach this cottage. Go to the doorway, knock on the door, and wait to be admitted.

The door opens silently by itself to reveal an elderly person sitting by a fire. This wizened one beckons to you.

Ask this wise one's name.

[Partner: pause for a few seconds.]

Show this wise one your mask and ask what questions this mask will ask of you. Ask what you will need to know in order to confront this mask and pass its initiation.

[Partner: pause for two minutes.] If you do not understand how these answers apply to your shadow, ask now.

[Partner: pause for one minute.]

After you have received your answers, this wise one will hand you a magical tool that you can use to transform the darkness. What is this tool, and what are the powers associated with it?

Thank the wise one when you are finished. Leave the hut and let the blue mist begin to swirl once again around your feet. It begins to cover your body once more. When indeed you are covered, you begin to lift up. You return through the chimney and find yourself standing in front of the fireplace once more.

Put your mask back on the wall. Exit the chamber and lock the door with the metal symbol you retained. As you climb the stairs, you can place the symbol anywhere along the wall and it will set itself within the marble. Continue to head to the top of the stairs, this time moving much more quickly than before.

Once you have reached the top, the white glow enfolds you once again, lifts you up, and brings you back to your body. When you are ready, open your eyes.

After the guided meditation to the chamber of masks and meeting the Keeper of Wisdom, answer the following questions.

Use the space below to draw the symbol of the primary shadow mask.

Next, use the following space to draw your shadow mask. This will help you in the mask-making exercises to follow.

What is the name of your shadow mask?

What part do you play in keeping this shadow mask alive?

What are the effects of this shadow mask on your life?

What does this shadow mask keep you from accomplishing?

What action must you take in order to resolve your primary shadow mask?

What have you to learn from this shadow mask?

What is the name of the wise one you encountered?

What are the questions this mask will have for you?

What are the answers you need to know in order to face the shadow effectively?

What was the tool given to you and what were it powers?

Assimilating the Subshadow

This may be a very deep, intense exercise and should be done in a safe place with well trusted friends. Because this is a fairly casual group, it is not the appropriate place for such deep work. I have included this meditation and the questions about it so you can perform this or not, as you choose.

Close your eyes. Begin to scan your body for tension. Begin at your feet and slowly move your consciousness upward through your body. Where are you holding tension? Wherever that is, take a deep breath and as you exhale, breathe through the tension and allow it to melt away from your body, into the ground where it is neutralized.

After you feel relaxed completely, take another deep breath and imagine that a blue mist is beginning to swirl at your feet in a counter- clockwise direction. The mist covers your body completely, and when it does, it lifts you and takes you back to the shadow mask chamber.

When the mist sets you down, you are at the top of a spiraling staircase that leads downward. Follow the stairs until you see your special metal symbol, inlaid within the marble walls. This symbol represents your shadow mask. Take that symbol from the wall and continue to spiral downward until you reach the doorway to the chamber.

Unlock the door with the metal symbol and enter the chamber. You will see your primary shadow mask illuminated on the far wall. Go over to it, take it down, and place it on your face.

As soon as you do this, you find yourself speeding through a tunnel of time. Colors and faint images pass on all sides of you, and soon you are transported to a scene from your past. This is the moment in the past when your subshadow was created. Allow this scene to play before your spirit eyes. Notice what age you are in the scene. Notice the people involved in the scene.
[Partner: pause for at least two minutes.]

Now allow yourself to feel the emotions that this scene is evoking. Bring these feelings into full conscious awareness. As these emotions come forward, take note of where you feel them in your body. If you have a partner, tell this person now where you feel the emotions. If you do not have a partner, take a mental note of where the emotional energy is held.

[Partner: wherever in the body the emotions are felt, place your hands on that spot and carefully, gently begin to massage that area.]

Wherever in your body that feeling is being held, breathe into it, make it bigger and bigger with each out-going breath. Continue to watch the scene in front of your spirit eyes and allow yourself to feel the enlarged emotion.

Sustain this feeling with your breath for as long as is possible and allow yourself to physically let out your feelings as you watch the scene-cry, moan, yell-do whatever your body needs for you to do to dislodge the pain that was once stuck inside of you. Do this while you continue to lay on the ground with your physical eyes closed.

[Partner: pause for at least five full minutes, or until the meditator has completed her or his catharsis.]

Special note: It may take the meditator several minutes to open up to her or his emotional states. Continue to encourage the meditator to express the emotional state. If there is no catharsis, discontinue the meditation and try again in 28 days, during the dark moon phase.

Allow this feeling to subside now. Let it soften.

[Partner: again allow a couple of minutes for the charged emotional state to subside and soften. You may end the massage work at this time.]

Now imagine that you lift up and float above the scene you've been watching. Feel how you are becoming lighter, easier, more tender and tranquil as you rise up out of the scene. You are taking the vantage point of the higher self-the wisdom self, where you are beyond the extremes of human emotion. Imagine that you actually become your higher, wisdom self.

From this vantage point above the scene, watch all the players involved in the scene and, magically, the meaning of this scene will become clear. There was a lesson to learn-what was it?

After you come to an understanding of the scene, begin to take deep breaths. Notice that with each deep breath, the shadow mask you are wearing feels as though it is shifting and becoming warmer, lighter, brighter. The colors of the mask change, and the shape changes, too. You cannot see it fully yet, but you can sense the changes occurring. The mask has become light; it is assimilating more fully into your consciousness. It now has a new name, a name of strength. It has now become an ally of yours. Listen within, and the new name of strength will be dear to you.

When the mask has stopped changing form, continue to breathe deeply and slowly, and notice that as you do, the scene from the past fades away. Continue breathing deeply until the scene is completely gone and you find yourself back in the dim recesses of the shadow chamber. When you are fully within the chamber, take off the changed mask and look at it. What has it become now? Observe the colors, shapes, designs, and other decorations it has now assumed. Look inside the mask and there you will see printed the name that this power has become. What strength is this mask lending to you?

Once you know this, it is time to leave the shadow chamber. Climb the stairs once more and return the symbol to the wall (if it has not disappeared or changed as well). If the symbol has changed, notice what the symbol is now.
At the top of the spiral staircase the blue mist begins to wrap and swirl around your body. Once it completely covers you, it lifts you up and takes you back to the place where your physical body rests comfortably.

Once you are fully back, open your eyes, stretch, and take time to answer the journaling questions either aloud to your partner or in written form in the space provided below.

If you do not have a magical partner, locate the place in your body that held the subshadow energy and gently massage it for several minutes to facilitate subshadow movement on the physical level.

What is the new name of the mask?

What power does this new mask lend you? What action is needed on your part to retain this power?

Draw here the new mask.

*Read the "Goose Girl"

Listen to the words of the Old One who speaks about acceptance

Exercise I: Time

Keyword: Winter

Winter actions: What kind of body movements suggest "winter?" (ex. slow, sharp, quick, etc)

Winter thoughts: What are the thoughts that go through your mind at winter time?

Winter feelings: What are the emotions you associate with winter?

Keyword: Spring

Spring actions: What kind of body movements suggest "spring?" (ex. lyrical, smooth, etc)

Spring thoughts: What are the thoughts that go through your mind at spring time?

Spring feelings: What are the emotions you associate with spring?

Keyword: Summer

Summer actions: What kind of body movements suggest "summer?" (ex. quick, lively, etc)

Summer thoughts: What are the thoughts that go through your mind at summer time?

Summer feelings: What are the emotions you associate with summer?

Keyword: Fall

Fall actions: What kind of body movements suggest "fall?" (ex. stillness, unfolding, etc)

Fall thoughts: What are the thoughts that go through your mind at Fall time?

Fall feelings: What are the emotions you associate with Fall?

Now, take a look at each of the categories and decide which season best symbolizes your personal "time" at this moment in body, mind, and spirit. For the body or physical realm, begin with the "actions" lists. For the mind level, read the "thoughts" list. For your season of spirit, look over the "feelings" lists.

Physical:

Mind:

Spirit:

Which one of these lists (actions, thoughts, feelings) did you have the most difficulty completing?

This accents the level of being with which you are the least connected. Concentrate on evoking the power to accept at this level.

Which of the three lists was the easiest to complete?

This highlights the level of being with which you are most connected.

Read "Quarrelsome Demyan"

Listen to the Old One who speaks of surrender

Exercise II: Place Naming

The power to accept begins with self-acceptance, and this exercise opens the doorway for that to begin.

As you did in the time exercise, begin by answering each question quickly to avoid editing from your critical faculties. Be spontaneous and creative with your answers-spontaneity is the life blood of magic.

1. Name the place where you spend the majority of your time (home, office, outdoors, etc.).

2. Name the place where you spend the second most amount of time.

3. Use descriptive words and brief phrases to characterize each place (light, bright, happy, dirty, dingy, etc.).

Place #1 adjectives:

Place #2 adjectives:

4. The adjectives you chose to describe these places are words that represent aspects of yourself. In light of the descriptions you've come up with, think of how they reflect your being on one or more levels.

Note: In this part of the exercise you can slow down. It is important to make conscious connections between the words and your levels of being.

Physical level (e.g., "These places make me feel physically drained" or "They stimulate me and get me going," etc.):

Mental level (e.g., 'These places make me feel confused," or "These places help keep my thoughts in order," etc.):

Emotional/Spiritual level (e.g., "It makes me feel happy," or "These places make me feel afraid,' etc.):

Listed below are some of the traditional Wiccan associations with time and place. Read the following listings and try to associate these times and places with your three levels of being.

Time: Spring and Dawn
Place: East
Keyword: Initiation

When you are symbolically in a time of spring/dawn or in the east in our lives, you are experiencing renewal. Ideas, thoughts and communications are just beginning to bud. Spring is a time for hope, for looking forward and making plans. Are you starting something new? Are you having new thoughts? Are you honing your communication skills? Then you are in the spring, dawn, or east.

Time: Summer and Midday
Place: South
Keyword: Action

When you are symbolically in a time of summer/midday or in the South in your life, you are experiencing fruition. Fruition means that whatever you've planted is coming to full blossom, beneficially or otherwise. Plans made in the spring/dawn/east stage are carried out at this time. Summer brings into action the promises of spring. Whatever was hoped for, planned for, and dreamed of comes to pass in the summer's time. Are you in a time of fulfillment? Are you beginning to take action? Are you experiencing tremendous energy? Then you are in your summer, midday, or south.

Time: Fall and Dusk
Place: West
Keyword: Reaping

When you are symbolically in a time of fall/dusk or in the west in your life, you are experiencing a time of harvest. It is a time and a place of collecting the fruits of one's plans of spring and actions of summer. The west is a place of endings and of deep emotions. Are you reaping the rewards for your plans and actions? Are you becoming introspective or emotional? Are things coming to an end? Then you are in your fall, dusk, or west.

Time: Winter and Midnight
Place: North
Keyword: Silence and mystery

Winter, midnight, and the north bring about inertia, stillness, and silence. All things proceed from the stillness of the void and to that all things return. "Like a drop of water, flowing to the ocean" is how one pagan chant states this principles Winter is also the time of dearth, lack, and repose. Are you experiencing stillness? Is there a hint of mystery in your life? Are you taking time out to recuperate and rest? Then you are in your winter, midnight, or north.

Read "The Boy Who Did Not Know How to Shudder"

Listen to the words of the Old One who speaks of wonder

Unspoken Rules

Make a list of unspoken rules that impact your behavior. These rules can come from your family, your culture or your peers. Examples of some: "We are a happy family," "Boys don't cry," "Don't feel."

My unspoken rules:

Which of these listed rules impacts your behavior?

Which are worth keeping?

Which should be discarded?

Meditation: Gaining the Powers to Accept, Surrender and Wonder

Close your eyes and take several deep slow breaths. Be present with each inhale and each exhale. Do you inhale fast or slow, hard or soft? Do you exhale fast or slow, hard or soft? Pay attention to each breath as you continue to deeply breathe. With each breath, allow your body to become still. With each breath, quiet your mind. With each breath, imagine that you move closer to the center of your being. Mentally travel through your body, from your toes to your head, and relax each part as you go along. Let whatever tension you may be feeling flow into the ground, into the earth, where it is neutralized.

Allow a blue mist to swirl around your body, starting at your feet and surrounding you completely to the top of your head. This mist will begin to lift you and take you to a sacred place and a sacred time.

[Partner: pause for a moment.]

Invite the mist to set you down now, for you have arrived at a sacred grove of oak trees. The trees stand in a ring, and the center is covered with long grass. The time is dusk; the sun has already set, but there is sufficient light to see well. The sky is purple, dotted with a few visible sparkling stars. The moon is on the eastern horizon.

In the center of the oak-tree grove is a large, egg-shaped mirror. From the trees in the west, your wisdom self, the inner crone or sage, enters the ring of trees. This guide takes you by the hand to the cosmic mirror. As you stand before it, the surface of the mirror swirls and clouds, but then an image emerges and the truth of who you are and what you are right now in time and place is revealed. What do you see? Next, a single word will emerge that describes what and who you are. What is that word?

When you have seen this, the vision clears from the mirror and the surface clouds over once again. The wise elder hands you a black shawl--a symbol of the ancient wisdom you have always carried with you. Wisdom that you can access at any time. Your spirit guide leaves you now by the west once again.

When you are ready for the next part of your journey, leave the oak grove. Notice time has past and it is now day.

[Partner: pause for a moment.]

You emerge into a warm, sunny field and find yourself in front of a large oak tree. Take note of its immense size. Walk close to it. Touch it. As you do, notice that your hand slips easily into the tree, as though it was an illusion. Let your arm go inside, then allow the rest of your body to follow, until you are completely inside the oak tree.

Suddenly, a transformation takes place. Your arms become branches and leaves, your feet become roots-you become the oak tree. Imagine how it feels to have branches and leaves. Feel your root system in the earth below you. Imagine how you take in nutrients from the soil and clear, still water from underground springs.

Now, feel the warmth of the sun on your leaves. A wind picks up now and sways your branches. Feel the rush of the breeze as it moves your body.
Time begins to speed up now; the sun moves fast through the sky, and soon it is dark outside. Look up and feel the cool light of the waning moon and stars on your leaves, branches, and trunk.

Just as suddenly as before, another transformation takes place, and you find yourself back outside of the tree. Look-at it again and know that its life is not independent. Its life falls into a vast web of interdependency that reaches into the deepest parts of the universe. See now how the web sustains your life.

[Partner: pause for a moment.]

Turn from the tree now and begin the last leg of your journey. Go into the nearby woods and follow a little used path up a slight incline.
You find yourself on the edge of a cliff looking out at the vast landscape below. The time is dawn, and you face the glowing eastern horizon. As the sun peeks little by little over the horizon, concentrate on thinking nothing at all. No words, no songs, no noise- simple stillness is called for here. Stay with this stillness as long as you can. Notice when you remain still that thoughts drift into your awareness. Simply observe them. Watch them go by and evaporate like clouds. Stay with the stillness. Notice how still and silent the landscape is below.

[Partner: pause for at least two minutes, but increase this pause by four minutes with each successive time the meditator tries this exercise.]

It is time to return now. The blue mist, once again, begins to form around your body, starting at your feet and moving upwards to completely envelope you. Allow the mist to bring you back to the place where your body rests comfortably, where you began the journey. It takes you back to your physical body. When you are fully back, open your eyes. Take a moment to assimilate the experience. Once you are fully back, take time to answer the journaling questions.

After the guided meditation to gain the powers to accept, surrender and wonder, answer the following questions.

Who did the mirror show you to be?

What is the single word that describes what and who you are?

How easy was it to enter the tree?

Write down three words that describe how you felt when you were the tree.

How easy was it for you to leave the tree?

How do you see the interdependent web of life and your place in it?

Describe the experience of remaining still from within.

What were some of the passing thoughts you had while attempting to keep your consciousness still?

Drawing Down the Gods

This may be a very deep, intense exercise and should be done in a safe place with well trusted friends. Because this is a fairly casual group, it is not the appropriate place for such deep work. I have included this meditation and the questions about it so you can perform this or not, as you choose.

Close your eyes and take several deep, slow breaths. Focus on exhaling as you continue to breathe deeply. Imagine that you are becoming the outgoing breath. The breathing, the breather and the breath are one.

Imagine that a mist of indiscernible color begins to form around your feet. It slowly spirals counterclockwise and upward around your legs, thighs, hips, stomach, chest, arms, shoulders, neck, and head. It has now completely enveloped you.

Within the swirling mist, there is a doorway. Go to it. When you get there, step through the doorway. Once you do that, the scene immediately changes. You now find that you are standing before your own body, which you see is enshrouded in mist. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly.

[Partner: pause for a moment.]

Imagine that you pick up a pentacle and hold it over your mist- covered body's head. As soon as you do this, a bright ray of light beams down through the body. This is the power of the Gods filling you. Listen closely to whatever words or sounds that may come from your mist-covered body, for these are the words of the Goddess or the God.

Whatever words you hear, utter them aloud-whether or not there are other folks attending your circle. If you wish, you may simply listen to and remember the words of the Gods. You may prefer to utter their words aloud because though it may feel contrived at first, there will come a point when the words come without your assistance. That is the point at which you have completely melded with the Gods. In this practice, some people never actually hear words; instead they sense what is being said. Sometimes the Gods will ask questions of you directly. Other times they may have messages, questions, or comments for individuals outside of the magic circle. Whatever may come of the rite, be as pure of a channel as possible.

[Partner: pause while priest/ess channels. If the priest/ess pauses for a very long time, the message may possibly be complete. If so continue reading.] Each Goddess or God carries an aspect of power. Take a moment to sense what powers are being lent to you. When the message from the Goddess or God is complete, the shaft of light will withdraw from the mist-covered body. When that happens, you are immediately transported to the doorway leading into the mist. Step through the door, and soon the mist carries you back to the room, back to the place where your body rests comfortably. After you are set back down into your body, take a moment to open your eyes, stretch, then ground yourself again in time and place.

The rite is complete. Close your circle as usual.

What did the pentacle look like?

How did you feel and what did you think when you saw your own body?

What message did you receive from the Gods? How clear was it?

With what powers or abilities was I imbued?

Close your eyes and relax. Take a deep breath, release slowly and still your mind... take another breath, deep, and quiet your body... Another breath and release, easing your spirit...

Go to your safe place in your mind. A real or imaginary place where you are completely safe...

There is a place, deep inside of you, where poverty lives. Imagine that you are traveling inside your body to that place where poverty lies...
Take note of where this place is inside you... Also, take note of what this entity--poverty--looks like. What is it's shape and color?

What does it say to you? Take a few moments to speak and listen to this shadow...

When you have taken note of all this, return to the waking consciousness and continue with the magical working.

After the meditation use crayons, colored pencils or magic markers to:

1. draw the image of poverty you saw on the paper.
2. List the effects of the lack on your life.
3. List things you do to help keep poverty alive.

Place your collection of herbs into the center of the paper. Tie this up in a bundle using the black ribbon so it makes a pouch. Burn this the very first chance you get!! Do NOT keep it any longer than you absolutely have to.

B. Magic Mirror

Pass out items for participants to use (black shards of glass, moss, shells, wood, beads, paint, etc).

1. Cleanse the items to be used. Position right hand above table and visualize power coming into your body from the surrounding air and being focused out through your palm to wash away all negative energies in the items and, moving widdershins (counter clockwise) chant three times:

Vision of night,
By the moon's dark light,
Enter my art!
All evil depart!

2. Choose and decorate the mirror with herbs and moss. Add symbols that are special to you.

3. Consecrate the mirror.

Dip your finger into the bowl of Wisdom oil and anoint the left side of the mirror while one person chants:

O undines of Water, come as I declare
And bring on thy waves the power to dare!
The West's only daughter,
The moon's flowing heart,
By fish, fin, and water
Intuition impart!
I consecrate thee, o creature of water
in the names of the Great Mother and the Horned One.

Anoint the bottom of the mirror while one person chants:

Salamanders of Fire, I call thee
Until you bring on thy flames the power to will!
Powers of Fire
Flicker and flair
Through the mirror inspire
Your prophecies rare.
I consecrate thee, oh creature of fire
In the names of the Great Mother and the Horned One.

Anoint the right side while one person chants:

O sylphs of the Wind, I ask thee to blow
And bring on thy wings the power to know!
The power of Air
This mirror doth wield
It blows to this priest(ess)
Dark visions reveled!
I consecrate thee, o creature of Air
In the names of the Great Mother and the Horned one.

Anoint the top of the mirror while one person chants:

O gnomes of the Earth, I ask thee aright,
Bring from thy mountains the silence of night!
Powers of Earth
In midnight's black hour,
The mirror gives birth
To your silent power.
I consecrate thee, o creature of earth,
In the names of the Great Mother and the Horned One.

Anoint the center while one person chants:

Great Spirit, through whom I am one with all,
With Water, Fire, Air and Earth I call,
Visions of the darkened mother
And dread lord,
Let fall the deep purple veil
Of the priestess and priest!
Reveal to me thine ecstacy!
I consecrate thee, o sacred tool,
In the names of the Great Mother and the Horned One.

Take several moments to scry in the mirror for the first time.

What shape of black glass did you choose and why?

What symbols/ decorations did you choose to use?

C. Healing Vortex

Herbs you can use:

Lavender
Sage
Hyssop
Patchouli
Rose
Sea Salt

1. Take two pieces of black cloth (one for you and one for a friend). Put enough herbs and oils for two pouches into your cup. Get two pieces of red ribbon.

2. Hold the two cloths together in the cup of your hand. Visualize energies from the universe flowing through you and into the cloths. Repeat three times:

This is Cerridwen's cauldron;
The mists of change arise!

3. Lay the two cloths out on the table in front of you. Divide your herb/oil mixture between the two while repeating three times:

Lavender for love!
Sage for strength!
Hyssop for healing!

4. Tie each pouch with a piece of red ribbon while chanting three times:

Flowers and water keep sickness at bay;
The downward spiral takes it away!

5. Keep one of these for yourself, give the other to a friend. The friend does not have to be Pagan to enjoy this in their bath and if used with out the following Ritual, it will still have a positive effect.

6. When you are ready to use the Healing Vortex pouch, fill your bathtub with hot water. Make certain that the water is not so hot that you will not be able to ease your entire body into the tub. But the temperature should be hot enough to initially make you feel mildly uncomfortable--in other words, it should be a few degrees above your normal bath temperature.

After the bath is drawn, before you climb in, hold your hands just above the water and recite the following three times again:
This is Cerridwen's caldron;
The mists of change arise!

Drop the pouch into the water and repeat again three times:
Lavender for love!
Sage for strength!
Hyssop for healing!

With your hand, athame, wand or even a large spoon, stir the waters widdershins (counter clockwise) to create a vortex of downward, drawing energy. As you stir the waters, chant:
Flowers and water keep sickness at bay!
The downward spiral takes it away!

Use the chanting and your imagination to help create the downward drawing energy. There is no set rule as to when to stop stirring and chanting; it is best to use your intuition, as it is different for each person. Generally it lasts no longer than several minutes.

Carefully ease yourself into the waters. Imagine while you are soaking that all of the negativity is oozing out of your pores. It seeps out of your skin and out of your lungs with each breath. It mingles with the water and herbs. Imagine this for as long as you can. If you can keep this up for thirty minutes or so, you will effect healing.

Additional Information

Energies associated with Dark Moon Magic:

Completion
Ending
Culmination
Dissolution
Death
Introspection
Return
Reaping
Harvesting
Old age
Decay
Tradition
Wisdom
Vision

Crone Goddesses:

Hecate
Medusa
Kali
Oya
Cerridwen
Cybelle
Durga
Hella
artemis
Sekhmet
Frau Holle
Persephone
Sheela-na-gig

Sage Gods:

Thor
Shiva
Zeus
Neptune
Cernunnos
Osiris
Ra
Set
Thanatos
Wotan
Odin
Mithra
Hades
Prometheus
Tethra
Thoth

What are some of the energies you feel you need to work with in your life?

What are some of the Goddesses that resonate with you at this time?

What Gods do you feel drawn to?