New Moon in Aquarius/Imbolc, 2009

Hi everyone,

I am combining the (late!) new moon post and the Imbolc one because they are so close this year. I hope you are feeling empowered by the energy of change and new beginnings!


Calling the circle
As we contemplate Imbolc, we summon the spirits of the East, spirits of Springtime, new beginnings, new starts. Spirits of the returning light that we celebrate tonight. Element of air, first breath, cool dawn. The power of life, springing forth. We call the spirits of the East and ask them to join our circle.

We call now to the spirits of the South, spirits of strength, power, warmth, clarity, motivation, energy, movement. Element of fire, bright fires lit at midday. The power of light, illuminating us. The fire that is our passion, burning deeply within is always. We call the spirits of the South and ask them to join our circle.

And we call to the Spirits of the West. Spirits of our deepest feelings, our strongest emotions, our truest love. A sunset over a calm ocean, a still lake reflecting back the sky, the still waters that run deep, deep within. Element of water, emanating the power of love. We call to the spirits of the West and ask them to join our circle.

Now we call the spirits of the North, spirits of Imbolc. Spirits of midnight, dark moonless skies in winter, places where truths are told. Element of earth, grounding us. Power of law, karma, ancestral wisdom, we call to the spirits of the North and we ask them to join our circle.

And we call to those spirits above us, the moon in her many faces, angels, stars, heavens, light beings everywhere, those souls not yet incarnate. Children of our children. We call the spirits above and ask them to join us.

And we call to the spirits below us, to the earth that grounds us and keeps us steady, the green kingdom with its deep roots and to the lava beneath the crust that impassions us. We call the spirits below and ask them to join us.

Finally, we call to the spirits of the center, where all the directions meet and merge and where they meet and merge in each one of us. The central flame. The sacred spirit. This circle is closed, a safe and sacred circle where everyone is welcome and free to express themselves.

Imbolc thoughts/Talking stick
I have so much going on around me, but am away with work right now (sorry NYers, no time for moon lodge this time, in meetings into the wee hours!) and so can’t write about it. But in the midst of it all I feel very powerful right now – and very grounded. I struggle still to write that; like it is ok to feel it but not say it. So for this moon I intend to embrace and love it and not shy away from the intensity of it.

On Imbolc: when I get home the sheep will have had their lambs and the little plant shoots will be starting to pop up. There is life everywhere. That is in direct contrast to my winter and many of the things that are going on in my family. But it is all a cycle and spring will come. Not here yet, but there is hope.

I will write a much better catch up at the full moon.

Meditation
Imagine yourself lying on the ground beneath a beautiful but leafless old oak tree, in the middle of a field, under a starry, windless sky. The ground feels cold, but all around you are the beginnings of Spring, small plants forming a soft green carpet. As you breathe in and out feel that you are breathing in time with the stars, that you are a part of the setting that surrounds you. Then allow yourself to imagine that you are getting smaller – smaller and smaller until you are so small that you can stand up and walk into the tree that you were lying underneath. Walking into the tree, looking up, note the vast branch system, how tall and high it is, looking down, note the vast root system, reaching down into the earth farther than you can see. Then, notice that one of the roots is larger than the others, and resembles a spiral staircase. Imagine then stepping onto the 13th step, the step of transformation, then spiraling down and around and inward to the 12th step, then down and around to the 11th and the 10th, spiraling down and around and inward to the 9th, then the 8th, then around and inward to the 7th and the 6th step. Then, pausing on the sixth step, note that as you look up you can no longer see the top, and looking down, that you can no longer see the bottom. You are standing in the middle of the spiral, in a moment of infinite perfection. If there is anything that you are carrying that you don’t want to take with you on your journey, you can leave it on this step. Continuing then to the 5th step and the 4th, spiraling around to the 3rd and the 2nd and then finally the 1st step, then stepping into a clearing with four doorways, each pointing in one of the four directions. Imagine yourself walking down the pathway that heads north.

When you step through the doorway you see a pathway lit entirely by candles, heading off into the distance. You follow the candlelit path as it winds through the night. It seems to spiral around, so that even as you are walking farther and farther, somehow you feel as though you are walking inward as well. The candles are reflecting each other’s light, a kaleidoscope of color in the darkness. The path begins to widen, and you realize that you are coming into a ceremonial circle, also lit all the way around with candles. You move into the circle, where you are joined by your friends, guides, and ancestors, and finally, your wise woman enters, carrying a large candle, which she places in the center of the circle, then comes to stand by your side.

For a while you are still, feeling the light fill the night, fill all the dark places in the circle – filling any dark places in you. You become increasingly aware of your breath, and the effect that your breath has on the flames, how it increases the intensity of the light, how it sends the warmth outward. You are aware that everyone in the circle is consciously focusing their breath now, moving the light, the flame as one flame, out into the world. In your mind you are able to direct this light wherever it is needed – to warm any of the cold places. As you do this you are able to imagine Spring, with all of her bounty, and the true abundance of the earth and all of her gifts. Your wise woman leads you to the center then and puts her hands on your belly. She says one word or phrase, offering you a blessing for whatever it might be that you are hoping to give birth to in the Spring. One by one, everyone in the circle comes and places their hands on your belly, offering you a blessing for something that you are manifesting in your life right now. You look down when they have finished, and your whole body is glowing with the light of the flames. You feel the light contained in you, but know that you have the power to direct wherever it is needed as well, that this is what you will take away from the circle.

When you feel that your time in the circle is complete, your wise woman leads you out of the circle and to a beautiful stone table that has appeared, filled with all kinds of food and drink, and those in your circle join you at the table for a beautiful celebration. You can converse freely with them here.

When the meal is finished and it is time to go, you say your goodbyes to your guides, friends, ancestors. Finally, you say goodbye to your wise woman, and head away from the circle, back onto the pathway lit by candles, but now also lit by the light contained within you. The path leads you back to the doorway where you began. You give one last look, then walk through the door.

Stepping back up onto the first step, spiraling upward and outward to the second step and the third, and upward and outward to the third step and the fourth. Then spiraling around to the fifth and the sixth step, and pausing now on the sixth step, retrieving anything that you left behind before, or just leaving it behind in that perfect moment in infinity. Climbing now to the seventh and upward to the eighth, upward and outward to the ninth, then the tenth, and around to the eleventh and the twelfth and then finally to the thirteenth step, the step of transformation, then back into to the tree. Stepping out of the tree, you find your place beneath it, again enjoying the sweet night air. Then feeling your consciousness return to the space you are in, and, when ready opening your eyes.

Prayers for our circle
Deep prayers for my family: my brothers, my mother, my sister and brother in law, my uncle, my aunt, my cousins. It is a very challenging time on many, many levels. But we have love and each other and hope for the future.

Much love,
Tara