as it spins around the sun. Now more than ever, you feel so very alive.
Once you have arranged your altar to your liking, it is time to consecrate it. You can use a ritual of your own or follow these simple instructions.
Timing:
The best time to perform this ritual is at dusk.
Supplies:
•1 violet candle
•1 silver candle
•Incense
•1 goose feather
Directions:
1.Light the candles and place them on your altar.
2.Light the incense and fan it with the goose feather, as geese are the harbingers of winter. As you breathe in the scented smoke, pray aloud:
I welcome the winter inside of me,
I know my deepest wish is real and right.
I will my spirit to be free
Under this silver moon in this dark night.
Spirits of winter—bless this space with all due grace.
So mote it be!
Rime and Ritual—Spells for the Winter Soul
Have you ever heard the word rime? It differs from rhyme in that it means “winter frost,” which will become integral to your rituals for the Winter Soul. Once you have consecrated your altar, you can begin honoring your Winter Soul with these rituals. The spells and conjurations that follow will enhance your spiritual process as you gradually build on your magical self.
This little spell will take you deep and far inside yourself. It will greatly empower you and instill in you a much deeper understanding of who you are and what you are here to do. Each of us is as individual as a snowflake, and our souls are imprinted with a stamp of specialness. The closer you get to the revelation of your soul’s mission, the more you will know why you are here, and more important, what you are here to do. That is real magic.
Timing:
The best time to perform this spell is during the dark of the moon, when the night sky is at its darkest.
Supplies:
•1 votive candle
•Incense
•Pine essential oil
•Glass jar
•Compass
Directions:
1.Go outside and find a solitary space in which you can cast a circle. Use the compass to find true north. When you feel comfortable and safe to begin, cast a circle of energy.
2.Starting at the north point and moving clockwise or sunwise, you will now acknowledge each of the Four Directions and call in the winter guardians.
3.Stand in the center of the circle, and with your forefinger, anoint your candle with the essence of pine, a tree that stays strong, green, and alive all through the winter.
4.Place the candle in the glass jar and light it, setting both carefully and securely on the ground. Then light the incense with the flame of the candle and stick it into the ground beside the votive candle.
5.Breathe slowly and deeply; make yourself mindful that you are here in the darkest night, celebrating the sacred.
6.As you breathe, look around at the majesty of nature and the world around you. Feel the ground beneath your feet. Listen to the silence around you.
7.Now open your heart completely to the awesome power of the universe and the magic both inside and outside of you.
8.Using the same forefinger, anoint your third eye, the chakric place above and between your eyes. With your eyes closed, speak aloud this rhyme of rime:
Sitting here beneath the moonless sky,
I open my heart and wonder why
I am here.
Tonight, I will learn
The reason why I yearn
To serve the Goddess and the God.
This night, I’ll hear the reason
I serve this darkest winter season.
Guardians, I call on you now!
9.Remain at the center of the circle and keep your eyes closed. You may hear an inner voice, or you may hear an outer voice right beside your ear. Listen calmly, staying centered with your two feet on the ground. You will know when it is time for you to close the circle and leave with your new message and mission.
10.Thank the guardians as you seal the sacred space, being sure to leave everything exactly as you found it. Incense, jar, candles, and matches all leave with you.
11.When you return home, write the message on a slip of paper and place it on your altar, where it will be hidden from any eyes but yours.
12.Place the candle, jar, and any remaining incense on your altar and burn it each Dark Moon night.
Final thought: You may also want to begin a special journal of your thoughts, inspirations, and actions regarding the message you received. You have now embarked on an exciting new phase of your life’s journey. Your journal will help you as you make discovery after discovery. Your journal may evolve into a Book of Shadows, or it may one day become a book like this!
Gaia Guided Meditation
This “inner work” ceremony will take you into the depths of your very being while you are exploring the depths of Mother Gaia, our earth. It is a way of getting grounded, and it also takes you to a very magical place where you can receive a gift from the Goddess which will inform you about your truest inner nature.
CRYSTAL CAVE CONSECRATION
Blessed beings, you are about to enter the Crystal Cave, our great Mother Earth, Gaia. In your mind, you are standing with bare feet on the ground. You can feel the grass with your toes, the solid earth underneath your feet. Feel the solidity and fastness of the earth fill your body with strength; we are all made of earth, of clay. We come from the earth and we are made of earth. Feel your connection to the Mother. We come from the earth, her womb. We are made of stardust, clay, and the waters of the ocean. Feel the blood in your veins, the water of life. Know that you are alive. Feel her winds, the breath of life. Breathe deeply ten times, completely filling your
