Ocean Ritual

As a water sign I feel compelled to visit and connect with my element often.  It can be as simple as standing beside a stream or feeling the rain on my skin; but sometimes I need a bit more.  A few years ago I wrote this ritual for a friend and I to do together while camping on a lovely island in the Pacific ocean.  As two depleted mamas you can imagine what we were asking for from the waves but anyone needing to connect to water could use this ritual and adapt it as necessary.

We sat in the ocean in sacred space, the tide was coming in which created a beautiful movement for us.  Rocking us gently.  I would recommend being as close to the water as you can when you do this.  Summer is of course a great time to be immersed in cleansing waves.

Before beginning ground and center in which ever manner you are accustomed to.  Cast a circle if that is your normal practice or if the circumstances are favorable for it.

The Water holds our emotions
we ask for cleansing
we ask for healing
we ask for rest
we ask for calm
we ask for release

Great Mother Ocean please share with us your wisdom and strength
Please help us as we mother
help us to flow and move like the waves
help us to soothe others but not deplete ourselves

After these words evoke a rhythm with singing or chanting.  We sang the song in this post which I wrote years ago.  But any song or chant about water will work.

Great Mother we offer you ___________ today and thank you for your love and abundance.  
Blessed Be.

Though this is short and simple we sat for over an hour in the waves.  Connecting with the water and it's healing powers is the key. 

Art of the Month: February

I devoted my spare minutes last week to finishing Elliott's elements box which we filled with meaning during his naming ritual.  I decided to keep the original wood finish and not paint the entire thing.  Instead I wanted it to have a softer look so I used very little paint and accentuated the images with black ink.

For each element I picked an animal: Bear for earth, Crow for air, Salmon for water and Snake for fire.  And then on each side of the box I wrote out the elemental words.

I had this project on my to-do list for both January and February.  It's nice to have it done.  Kyan was very curious to see his own naming day elemental, which in his case is a round basket.  I hope that the boys enjoy these when they are older regardless of what spiritual path they choose.

Family and Summer's Farewell

Today I dropped my parents off at the airport. They were here for a week visiting from back east. We loved having them here with us. It is so nice to spend such quality time together. We took a Harbor Cruise, visited the UBC Botanical Garden and went to Whistler. It is hard to live a 5 hour plane ride away from them, but as my father said several years ago when I considered moving home: "You have to be where your life is..." and my life is here. I consider the end of their visit as my cue to say goodbye to summer. With that I have posted the photos of my little witchy places in my home. These are the summer places which will be changed this weekend. Soon the house will be full of autumn and Halloween. The inspiration for this post comes from a blog I frequent; Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom. This is the post that began the idea for me. Check out the original and pass it on.

My kitchen witch, a gift from my Mom years ago. And elemental objects: feather (air), shell (water), stones: carnelian & aventurine (earth), candle (fire). My happy little altar.

Seed pods, dried lavender, and a crow feather found in the season, my newest treasure the Goddess candle holder, and the iris cloth that is a vintage handkerchief. These sit on the kitchen table.

My journals which sit on the shelf with my elemental altar. My day planner, my Book of Star Shadows (now full), my Book of Leaf Shadows, my garden journal and my Celtic Devotional by Caitlin Matthews.

Our family charm. I made this with beads, a long glass ornament, some small bells, and the ten of cups mini tarot card that I received at a Pagan Gathering several years ago. It depicts a family of four happy and dancing in the country side. I consider it to be a wish for our family. I also included four star charms for protection; one for myself, my husband and my son and for the future soul we hope will join us in a few years. It hangs in the entryway of our home to keep us safe.