By Land, Sky & Sea (6 page)

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Nature is the physical reality of spirit. It is not separate from the human spirit. Seeking a greater truth than the physical world reveals, you have entered this natural flow.

—Michael J. Roads,
Journey into Nature

The land itself is Spirit incarnate. It is a manifestation of the Divine right before our eyes and under our feet. We can connect and work with the land directly because as physical beings, it is a simple and nourishing act to delve into our environmental surroundings. As all is connected in a great web of life, we are able to access anything we can possibly imagine. We can find meaning through the beauty of synchronicity and discover omens and portents in the natural world, because it is in the middleworld in which the Divine expresses through the medium of what is apparent and what can be sensed with our innate animal instincts. The land is a wisdom keeper of secrets, which can be discovered through the right channels. The efficacy of these channels depends, of course, on the preparedness and state of consciousness of the individual who is doing the divining.

Many ancient indigenous traditions teach ways and methods of omen interpretation. These omens, signs, and portents, products of a world of synchronicity, can be found in the landscape just as much as they can be glimpsed in the heavens or seen in the tarot or the runes. One such example can be found in Ross Heaven’s brilliant account of his tutelage under one of the last remaining Welsh sin eaters in the Celtic healing traditions—
The Sin Eater’s Last Confessions
(Llewellyn, 2008).

In Heaven’s book, he speaks of Adam, his Welsh sin-eating teacher, guiding him in a practical exercise called
rhamanta
in his wisdom tradition. Ross is directed to intuitively find three places in which he is to close his eyes, hold a question in mind, spin around three times, open his eyes, and mark the first sight as an omen. This process is repeated three times (once for every place), and the three omens are then woven together to create a story—a divinatory pattern, or theme. As Adam says, “Dream yourself into this story, and see what it tells you about your life.”

Omenwalking

Nature, you see, is the visible face of spirit and will reveal the truth to us. All we need do is listen and have faith in what we are told.

—Ross Heaven,
The Sin Eater’s Last Confessions
(Adam’s words)

Most of us take walks. However, a walk with a purpose is something not everyone has considered. In many indigenous societies, there are various spiritual pilgrimages that can aid the individual in discerning one’s fate, purpose, or truth/s. In many Native American cultures, these pilgrimages are sometimes called vision quests. Omenwalking is another interpretation of the concept.

Taking an omenwalk is as simple as clearing the mind, focussing on a question/goal/purpose, and then taking a walk! Open yourself to the influence of fate/divinity and move around the world in keen consciousness; however, it doesn’t pay to be
too
alert. Move as if through honey or in a dream, and cultivate an attitude of innocence and wonder. Take note of everything you see and feel on your walk. Once you feel you have your answers, or at least have gained some understanding, gratefully return home (or continue the walk) and reflect on the experience. Just as with the sin eater’s technique, look for the patterns joining each “discrete” thing, and a story will unfold.

To ground this technique in reality, I will provide a personal experience. When I lived with my mother and sister in Toowoomba, I used to go on regular walks to the local Japanese gardens. It was one of my sacred spaces—a power place. I took a walk one Ostara to bathe in the blessed newness that is spring. As I journeyed, a breeze sailed through a jacaranda tree and sent all the purple blossoms fluttering through the air—I showered in the cascade and relished it! Upon entering the gardens, I received a call from a friend of mine; we spoke about a big party that we were attending that night. Not a moment after she rang, I stumbled into a bush beside a stream in which two geese were guarding their nest of eggs; it was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. Despite the absolute appropriateness of my experience on the day of the spring equinox, my “pilgrimage” meant a lot to me, as I had felt for some time that I was coming to a rebirth. The shower of jacaranda blossoms felt like a cleansing, and seeing the eggs (the potential for new life) confirmed my feelings.

Cairns and Labyrinths

Divining the land isn’t only about receiving answers through the omens, signs, and wisdom of nature; Paganism is a spirituality of sacred exchange. We receive manifold gifts from the Divine, and so we give back to honour what is given so freely.

Many Pagans enjoy capturing, channeling, and enhancing the natural flow of the life force that runs through the land by creating specific physical alignments to do the job. In megalithic times, the various tribal people of Europe did just that—with stones. Similarly, many ancient shrines, temples, and altars are built on sites where lines of power (variously called ley lines, dragon lines, or song lines) intersect. This principle of the intersection of lines, or paths, also surfaces in the folkloric belief that crossroads are potent places for magickal workings.

When I was travelling through the British Isles, my friends and I were lucky enough to happen upon Castlerigg Stone Circle in Cumbria, England. This understated megalithic monument is cradled in a picturesque Cumbrian valley and surrounded by beautiful blue mountains. While at the circle, I began to walk widdershins subconsciously, but by the end of the full circuit I realised I had released quite a weight! I also had time to speak with some of the stones. I asked one stone rather straightforwardly why it was placed there to begin with. The stone’s answer was curt and matter-of-fact: “To channel power, of course!” How could I forget?

Below, you will find a ritual of consecration for the creation and devotion of a cairn. A cairn is simply a pile of stones that have been placed with clear intent and purpose, often fulfilling the function of a shrine, or spirit house. I have built cairns several times before, and I find the process to be highly meditative. It has even been suggested to me that cairn building can be a great way to cast spells; simply think about the desired outcome as you build, charge, and dedicate your cairn. If you decide to construct a labyrinth instead, you only need to create the labyrinth pattern with a viable boundary marker—this could be eco-friendly paint on grass, spaced-out candles, or perhaps, if you felt up to it, you could make and mark cairns as the boundaries. The same ritual of consecration can be applied to a labyrinth—merely prolong the meditation for the entirety of the labyrinth making, and then bless, charge, and consecrate with the elements.

A Ritual of Consecration for the Creation and Devotion of a Cairn

You will need:

• Frankincense, sage, or sandalwood stick incense (for air)
  
• One white taper candle (for fire)
  
• Jasmine or rose essential oil (for water)
  
• Flowers (for earth)
  
• Stones (various sizes, similar shape; flat and oblong work marvellously!)
  

Ground and centre. Gather the stones around you, and begin to build the cairn. Remember to place the sturdier, flatter, and larger stones at the bottom to create a strong foundation. Generally, cairns are tapered and somewhat hollow structures; however, in this case, make sure you leave enough space in the centre for a candle to fit nicely and for your hand to fit through to secure it.
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As you build the cairn, enter a meditative state, and with each placing of a new stone, think about or feel a different quality or emotion to imbue your offering to the Divine with potency and magick. If you like, you could even write down a list of words beforehand that you could say aloud during the building process.

After the cairn is physically complete, you may bless, charge, and consecrate it with the power and aid of the elements. Firstly, insert the candle into the space inside the cairn and light it, praying to the spirit/s of fire and calling forth its gifts. Approach each element in turn as you light the incense and smudge the cairn for air, anoint the cairn with the essential oil for water, and adorn it with flowers for earth. Hold your hands over the cairn and direct and channel power into it to animate it. When you feel ready, proclaim the cairn blessed, charged, and consecrated! If you like, you can chant my tradition’s blessing chant as you pour energy into the cairn:

I bless, I cleanse, I consecrate, I purify, I charge!

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This ritual can be celebrated either as a solitary or with a group. It is a Neopagan ritual with Celtic, Wiccan, and Witchcraft influences, and this will be the general trend of most rituals presented within this book.

You will need:

• One white taper candle
  
• Incense made up of 3 drops of patchouli essential oil,
  1 part copal, and 2 parts frankincense resin
  
• Brazier and charcoal disc
  
• Natural offerings (e.g., flowers or food)
  

The land ritual will work best if it is carried out beneath a tree.
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You can choose to set up an altar, but in this case, simplicity is key.

Ground and Centre

Ground and centre using the tree of life alignment meditation. Now, in this calm and centred state, verbally acknowledge the indigenous guardians and spirits of the place and ask for their blessings on the ritual. Now it is time to form the space (to cast the circle).

Cast the Circle

The circle will be cast through sacred pressure touch. If alone, place pressure on the ground at the four directions and visualise the circle forming as you go. If in a group, it is better to form a physical chain and for each person to touch the person next to them in a deosil manner. The person in the east will begin, and then, going deosil, the touch will continue until a physical chain is created and everyone is linked through sacred touch. Each person should speak one line of the following chant as they touch the neighbouring person:

By the land,

By the Mother

By my body…

The chant should continue for a minute or two, with everyone chanting together. At the right time, the circle should be affirmed:

The circle is cast. I/We are now between the worlds, in all the worlds. So mote it be.

Acknowledge Land, Sky & Sea

If alone, make all three gestures independently while mentally or verbally acknowledging the corresponding realm. In a group situation, appoint three different people to a respective realm (one for land, one for sky, and one for sea). The gestures/words for each realm are as follows:

Land: Place both hands on the ground—
“By the land”

Sky: Hold hands open and up to the sky—
“By the sky”

Sea: Cup both hands together in front of the navel—
“And by the sea”

All together, say,
“By the ancient trinity, so mote it be!”

To seal the blessing, trace a triquetra (
) in the air with the first two fingers of your power/dominant hand.

Place a candle at the foot of the tree; it is lit to represent the fire of the Divine, where the three realms are one.

Blessing of the Land

Now is the time to place your offerings at the foot of the tree. As you do, affirm your dedication and devotion to the Mother who is our nourishing earth and vow to always defend her and uphold her health and well-being, as we are all one in the Mother.

If you are celebrating this ritual with a group, you may stand (or appoint someone else) as challenger, and recite the following charge to inspire before the offerings are placed:

My sisters and brothers in the land, I bless you in the name of the Great Mother, who holds within herself all life. Like the first flower of spring and the ready stalk of grain, you are nurtured by the land. I pray that, in return, you will nurture and care for the land, our Mother. If this is your most sacred will, this is the time to make it known. Place your offering in the name of the Goddess and speak aloud your promise.

Guided Land Meditation

You are standing at the foot of an emerald green hill that rises in the centre of a valley surrounded by wild forest. You notice that the trees seem to be spiralling through the seasons timelessly. First you see the vivid greens of summer, then the red, orange, and yellow leaves fall from the branches and leave them bare and skeletal. Just as quickly and seamlessly, however, the flourish of green returns, and the trees blossom with life. You sigh and find that your heart beats in rhythm with the beelike hum rising from the land.

You find yourself suddenly attracted to the crest of the hill, though you feel the weaving of fate as you begin the climb. On the top of the hill stands an ancient menhir, a standing stone, and a pale woman in a flowing forest green dress guards it. Her shining red hair is twisted into a pattern of braids, almost like Celtic knotwork, and her hands rest on her pregnant belly. She smiles at you as you approach the standing stone, and you kneel and bow your head to her, for you realise who she is: the sovereignty of the land. When you look up, she has disappeared, and you discover an indentation in the stone, which you can comfortably sit in. You sit down and survey the valley, which turns into forests…mountains…plains…desert…rainforest…bushland…

You are now in a different place altogether. You can feel the sun beating down on your hardened skin, and you can see heat shimmering on the horizon. You are standing in a red desert plain, but you look to your right and see a rushing river. The black-silted banks are lined with eucalyptus and gum trees, and the air has a sharp fragrance to it. In the distance you can see a vast red earth mound, and just as you begin to ponder what this mound could be, you find yourself standing right next to it.

A black woman smiles down at you from the top of the earth mound, and wordlessly she summons a song of power. You feel it thrumming through the air, and you feel encouraged to climb up the mound to the woman. She gestures to you, smiling, giving you permission.

You reach her and once more kneel and bow, but when you look up, there she remains. You realise now that this woman too holds her pregnant belly and shines with light. You find yourself lost in her deep eyes, and in their depths you see women. Each woman is differently shaped and sized and in every colour of the rainbow. Then you begin to see men emerging in the vision, and then trees, plants, and animals. Rejoicing in this vision, you silently shout your gratitude to the universe.

In that moment, you find that your vision disappears, and all you see now are stars. Perhaps you also see the white moon and the radiant, blazing sun. You feel at one with all of this, and then slowly it dawns upon you that you are the planet Earth herself looking up at the glory of the cosmos. You feel weightlessly grounded and so at peace with yourself and your surroundings. You feel strong, and you are aware of every tendril and current of vitality that streams through your vast, deep blue/green/black/red body. You are the land, and you realise now that all that dwell with and on the land are a part of it. Blessed be.

Raise and Release the Power

To raise the power in this ritual, you will be stamping the solid earth with your feet in time with the rhythm of the piece of land you are celebrating on. As you do this, focus on the health, well-being, and protection of our Mother Earth and all that is within and a part of her holy biosphere. You may chant the following if you feel the need for words to guide you:

Deep below we/I call ye up

Power of earth, raise the power,

Twist and turn and fuel our/my spell

In this time and in this hour.

When it is time to release the power, make it known to the others (if in a group) and throw your arms into the air, directing and channeling the flow of power back into the earth. Know that your work is blessed and sealed with intent and purity of heart.

Open the Space

Snuff out the candle flame and acknowledge the blessings of the three realms, the world tree that joins them, and the indigenous guardians and spirits of place. Open the circle by moving widdershins and visualising the sphere of light dispersing into the air and the earth. Do this in silence, as this can help to ground the excess energy your body may retain after magickally intensive work. Leave the offerings beneath the tree, and eat and drink something to further ground your body.