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The
Tao of the Medicine Wheel & Sacred Space
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Aromatherapy,
Astrology,
Astrological Signs, Candles, Crystals
and Gemstones, Earth Celebrations,
Heavenly Bodies, The
Five Elements, Chakras, Medicine
Wheels, Energy, Essential
Oils, Alternative Parenting,
Flower Essences,
Healing Herbs, Incense,
Smudging, Music,
Runes, Tarot,
Spiritual Guides and Teachers,
Sacred Sexuality
Ceremony
is a method for honoring and recognizing the connections to all life
through
the expression of gratitude in chants, dances, meditations, and rituals.
It
is always done with the guidance of Spirit and the Great Mystery.
-A
Prayer-
We
return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us. We return
thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water. We return
thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.
We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters, the beans and squashes,
which give us life. We return thanks to the bushes and trees, which
provide us with fruit. We return thanks to the wind, which, moving the
air, has banished diseases. We return thanks to the moon and stars,
which have given to us their light when the sun has gone. We return
thanks to the sun, that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness,
and who directs all things for the good of his children.
The Medicine
Wheel
The Medicine
Wheel is used to gather together the energies of all the animals or creature
beings, the Stone people, Mother earth, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, Grandmother
Moon, the Sky World or Star Nation-The Cosmos, the Subterraneans, the Standing
People or Trees, the Two Leggeds or Humans, the Sky Brothers and Sisters,
and the Thunder Beings. They consider these to be "all our relations" in the
Native American teachings among so many other religious cultures.
The Medicine
Wheel teaches us that all lessons are equal, as are all talents and abilities.
Every living creature will one day see and experience each spoke of the wheel
and know these truths. The Medicine Wheel is a pathway to truth and peace
and harmony. The circle is never ending, life without end. It is the Wheel
of Life, afterlife, rebirth, and the honoring of each step along the way.
(Excerpt: The
Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams & David Carson)
The
Seven Directions
Celtic
Meditation
"Gifts of the Directions"
Star of the East, give us kindly birth,
Star of the South, give us great love,
Star of the West, give us quiet age,
Star of the North, give us death.
~Fiona
MacLeod, IonaTraditional society throughout the world has its own understanding
about the gifts of the four directions which have been handed down
through the folklore of that tradition.
In Europe, the gifts of the directions are commonly accepted. The
East, where the sun rises, is a place of new beginnings which guards
the time of birth and development. The South, the place where the sun
is the warmest, is a place of growing and where our love is most
strongly activated. The West, where the sun sets, is a place of
maturity, and the place of vision. The North, where only the midnight
sun shines, is a place of endings, commonly thought of as the place
of death and still-abiding.
Fixed definitions of the gifts of the directions is impossible
because much depends on the geographical location and the topography
of the land whereof the use of the four directions is considered.
Seek the wisdom and gifts of the four directions where you live, not
from a book, but from your own experience with them. This discovery
will then allow you to receive and experience the gifts for yourself
and to give thanks for their guidance."Standing or sitting outside,
face each of the directions in turn.
With eyes closed, meditate upon each direction, feeling for its
particular gift and opportunity. Try repeating this at different
times of the day and night. How do these qualities intermesh with
your life?"
Source
of Information:
The Celtic Spirit-Daily Meditations for the Turning Year by Caitlin Matthews
Within
This
direction to your Hearts Joy and how to be faithful to your own personal
truths.
Below
This direction
is to Inner Earth and how to stay grounded and on your path.
Above
This direction
teaches you about the Galactic World, the "Star nation" and reminds
you that you came from the stars and to the stars you will return. Access
to other dimensions.
North
This direction
gives you wise counsel and reminds you when to speak and when to listen. It
also reminds you to be grateful for every blessing every day.
West
This direction
leads to your personal truth and inner answers. It also shows you the path
to your goals.
East
The direction
of spiritual challenges, inspirations and visions. A path to illumination.
South
This direction
protects the child within and reminds us when to be humble and when to trust,
so that innocence will be balanced in our personalities.
Whatever
befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth."
Chief
Seattle
SUQWAMISH
AND DUWAMISH We are all connected. This is what the Elders have told us
for a long time. If we are connected to all things, then whenever we harm
anything, it causes harm to ourselves. If we destroy the air, then we will
be affected by what we breathe in. If we poison the earth, we poison ourselves.
We must respect our Mother Earth and She will respect us in return. We must
open our eyes and obey the spiritual laws that govern the earth and ourselves.
Grandfather, today allow me to honor and respect the things You have made.
Let me see the beauty of all things.
SPELL CASTING
"The
process of instigating "change" through the use of a focused action.
The change is one which takes place as a direct result of the action itself
or a combination of instigated actions by one or more persons.
When we consider this definition, we can see that a "spell" is
nothing more than a combination of focused will and action. There is a famous
proverb which states the basic principle for cause and
effect, and that is "for every action, there is a reaction." So
it is very important to consider what the possible results are going to
be before we set any magickal mechanism into motion. To learn how to
anticipate the rewards or consequences for what you will be doing in the
magickal realm, you must first evaluate yourself in the area of "will
& faith" on the physical level. (Sound familiar?) Your ability
to "will" yourself to act should be complimented by your faith
to allow things to run their course without further interference. "Over
reaction" in other words, can undo anything you set in motion....."
Taken from the book
'The Celtic Spirit - 'Daily Meditations for the Turning Year' by
Caitlin Matthews
Creating
A Medicine Wheel
A Sacred
Circle
There
are circles in our lives that are needed to obtain knowledge. In ancient
and contemporary ritual there is the medicine Wheel and the Sacred Circle.
Both are sacred and both assist you in obtaining knowledge.
Each Medicine
Wheel has an energy set by the person or persons that lay the wheel. It is
a place where addiction, abuse, obsession and compulsive activities may be
studied as lessons. All things are welcome in a medicine Wheel or Sacred Circle,
with the understanding that they are lessons and actions to be studied and
learned from.
Choosing
The Spot
When building
a Medicine Wheel or Sacred Circle you are building a place you can go for
spiritual strength and discipline. The place you choose can be plain dirt
or grass or beside water-a pond, lake, river or ocean. A personal wheel is
4 feet in diameter, a family wheel is 8 feet in diameter, a community wheel
is 16 feet in diameter. The area above the wheel or circle should be clear
and open to the sky with no tree branches or limbs covering it. The circle
should have an open and clear path to the Stars.
Preparing
The Spot
When you
create your wheel or circle, you need to collect rocks that have a special
meaning to you. They all must be clean and free of negative energy, you may
want to ÂSmudgeØ them first. No anger or discord is to be connected to the
place or the rocks chosen to build the wheel. The ground should be clean and
raked. The grass should be healthy.
Placing
The Stones
Place twelve
large stones, crystals, candles or bowls of water in a circle., similar to
the face of a clock. The four largest stones are placed at the four cardinal
directions. Begin by placing the stone or object in the South, the place of
the child, where life begins. Then move to the West, to the North, and finally
to the East. The Eastern stone is placed last because the space inside of
the circle is filled by Spirit entering through the Eastern door. The golden
door to illumination is the Eastern door. In the center of the circle you
can place a rock or cairn or altar. When you are about to close your ceremony
or ritual, it is time then to ask Spirit to fill the space so that mutual
honoring and love can occur.
Many
Blessings Forever!
SunInMoon
& LionHeart
To learn
more about the Medicine Wheel and Sacred Circle's please check out these fine
authors, books and music.
Thank
You for your Beautiful Art Nancy Bright.
BOOKS
& MUSIC
The
Elements of Ritual: Air, Fire, Water & Earth in the Wiccan Circle by Deborah
Lipp
"Wicca 202: Advanced
training by an experienced High Priestess Many books may tell you how to cast
a Wiccan circle, but none really bother to explain why. When you finish reading
The Elements of Ritual, you'll know what each step of the circle-casting ceremony
means, why it's there, and what it accomplishes. You'll learn several alternative
approaches to each step, and you'll be empowered to write your own effective
ceremonies using sound magical, theological, and pragmatic principles.
Advanced, sophisticated Witchcraft philosophy and practice
Delves further into the theology and theory of every phase of ritual, along
with practical how-tos and how-not-tos, and much esoteric, hard-to-find information
Every step of ritual has at least two sample scripts, including an avant-garde
example Provides detailed instructions for writing your own ritual
Includes meditations on the deeper meanings of each phase of ritual"
(Amazon Review)
Celtic
Devotional: Daily Prayers and Blessings
Celtic
Devotional: Daily Prayers and Blessings by Caitlin Matthews
Mirroring the
ancient formulaic prayers to the elements found in the Celtic tradition, along
with the wondrous invocations and declarations of the bards of the Scottish,
Irish and Welsh traditions, Celtic Devotional provides a mystical doorway
through which the modern person can re-invest their life with meaning within
the twilight times of dusk and dawn.
Celtic spirituality emphasizes the appreciation of nature and all forms of
life--a popular and universally appealing philosophy that, along with other
related pagan traditions, is having a renaissance. Beautifully illustrated
and designed, this book will appeal to readers searching for ways to practice
spirituality, offering blessings, prayers and devotions.
The
Celtic Spirit : Daily Meditations for the Turning Year by Caitlin Matthews
Discover the Living Wisdom of the Ancient Celts
The ancient Celts and their spiritual mediators, the Druids believed in the
communion of all living things and sought harmony between nature and the human
soul. Now, with this inspiring book of day-by-day mediations, renowned Celtic
scholar Caitlín Matthews shows you how to reawaken the power of this
age-old spiritual inheritance.
Using poetry, myths, reflections, rituals, and visualizations, Matthews leads
you on a yearlong pilgrimage that will help connect the cycles of your soul
to the circle of the seasons. From the winter months of Samhain the summer
months of Beltant, from mediations on the gifts and blessings of life to the
insights and promises of the soul, she enables you to complete your own sacred
circuit of the turning year.
Brimming with the legends and lore of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Britain,
The Celtic Spirit is a brilliant introduction to the sacred wisdom of the
Celtic path--and a potent resource for daily spiritual renewal.
Grandmother
Moon by Zsuzanna Emese Budapest
The
Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess by Starhawk.
Rituals,
invocations, exercises and magic. A highly informative overview of the growth,
suppression, and modern-day reemergence of witchcraft as a religion. Very
High! We are still using the spells in this book and the rituals.
Drawing
Down The Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and other Pagans in America
Today by Margot Adler.
A fascinating
and honest account of religious experiences, beliefs, and lifestyles of the
people who call themselves Neopagans. A must for any Pagan or Neopagan's library.
A huge resource and of value. We are still readin through this volume..its
incredibly interesting.
Rainbow
Medicine:A Visionary Guide To Native American Shamanism by Wolf Moondance.
Sacred
Spaces of Today's Pagans
Compiled by Dan and Pauline Campanelli.
The
magical places created by Pagans and Witches across the country, around the
world and from a wide variety of traditions.
Casting
The Circle by Diane Stein.
This book
is a useful reference for Dianic, or feminyst Wicca. It nicely summarizes
the (less extreme) views of Dianic Wicca, concentrating on the Goddess alone,
but without neccesarily denigrating the male principle (or reader). It covers
the history of the Dianic/feminyst Wicca movement, and introduces the reader
to many of the primary writers and philosophies that form the core of these
beliefs.
The rituals are moving, with real grace and power, and the entire book is
clear and well written. The information is presented clearly to the beginner,
without looking down on the more experienced practicioner. Her poetry is beautiful,
and even if you prefer a more balanced or dualistic approach to Wicca, you
will find much of value and use in this book. If you find yourself drawn to
the Goddess, rather than to the God, you will find most of these rituals ready
for your use; if not I still think that much of the poetry and power of the
rituals can be used in a more gender balanced form. (Amazon Review)
A
Circle Is Cast by Libana.
Elemental
by Lorenna McKennitt
The
Medicine Wheel:Earth Astrology by Sun Bear and Wabun Wind.
We
highly suggest this book and the Workbook.
Dancing
With the Wheel:The Medicine Wheel Workbook by Sun Bear, Wabun Wind and Crysalis
Mulligan.
Drums
of Passion: The Invocation by Babayunde Olatunji.
A
fantastic and classic drumming CD for initiation, ritual and trance.
Please
Be At Peace!
