INTRODUCTION TO THE
CIRCLE PATHWORKING
This is a circle
casting pathworking designed to balance the person and prepare the area for any
ritual undertaking, magick, worship, seith or communion.
It has been written
with a group in mind – whereby one person would lead the guided
meditation. Although, it could easily be
adapted, recorded on a tape and played for a solitary worker.
Make sure it is recited
slowly to allow the images and feelings to take shape within you – and when it
says, (pause), it is better to wait too long than to speed ahead.
The aim of the circle
is to protect the person and balance the energies of the body and soul to
prepare for magickal work or divination.
It is designed to enable one to set aside a space and time for a
particular purpose.
Pathworking or guided
meditation, is much akin to the ancient method of story telling – it is the
pictures and the input of those taking on the path that creates the
magick.
This is by no means the
only way to form a protective and sacred space – but the benefit of using this
method is that the ritual space is prepared and balanced and the mind, body and
soul are attuned to the work through one intense and powerful exercise without
some of the rigidity of some other methods.
I would love to hear
from anyone who tries it and would be most interested to hear your experiences
of using this particular working.
If you feel it is
appropriate, soft drumming or soft repetitive music in the background can be
most helpful.
Once the pathworking is
complete, the space can be cleansed with incense and water – and you are then
ready to invoke runic forces or gods if you feel that is appropriate.
Here, I must state, DO
NOT under any circumstances carry out any kind of invocation for ‘fun’ or ‘to
see if it works’. The powers worked with
are very real – and although they are not malevolent, they are not to be used
and abused. Always work with respect and
honesty – pretending you are doing a working as a way to honour or commune with
a deity when you secretly only want to ‘see what happens’ or are skeptical and
insincere will not go unnoticed by the powers! Odin’s eye sees all – including
things you pretend not to see!
When you are finished
with the work at hand, it is important to earth yourself (usually by feasting),
banish the circle and thank any beings invoked (including those beings of the
quarters that have been protecting and helping you), before you bid them
farewell. It is also good manners to
make an offering appropriate to any deities you’re worked with - this could be incense, a candle burnt to
them, food or drink poured onto the earth or even a small gift (a crystal or
coin maybe), buried in their honour.
I hope you will enjoy
using this exercise and wish you enlightenment and blessings.
In frith and with love,
Enjoy your work!
MGxx
CIRCLE CASTING
PATHWORKING…by MGxx
Close your eyes and
quiet your mind.
Relax your body one
part at a time…be aware that it is becoming warm and heavy…the warmth starts in
your feet…then moves into your legs…the warm and heavy feeling moves up through
your torso…your hands relax and become warm and heavy…the relaxing power moves
through your hands and into your arms…your shoulders and neck become loose and
warm…and now your scalp relaxes…you feel a warm glow filling you…the muscles in
your face relax…
Your consciousness now
moves to your heart…you become aware of your heartbeat…feel the blood pulsing
through your body…sense the life within you…(pause)
Take 3 deep and slow
breaths…on the third your whole body relaxes further still…
We are sitting on top
of a high hill…there is a large and ancient tree at its height…its massive
branches spreading wide and strong above us…the leaves are green and
whispering…we are all sitting with our backs to the tree…we feel safe…the tree
is our protection… from the summit of this sacred mound, we can see for miles
in every direction…the sun is just rising and the air is warm…smell the summer
sun on the soft grass we are sitting on…feel yourself breathing in the light as
the warm and gentle breeze plays around us.
(pause)
Take a moment to look
around – surveying the land spread out before us…fields and forests…hills and
vales…streams and mountains…and in the distance, between the hills, we can just
make out the dazzling, deep blue-green of the sea far away…(pause)
We join hands around
the tree…as we do this, we feel the energy of the tree embrace us…the tree is
ancient…primeval…the tree is holds the deepest truth of ourselves…it is who we
are…the mighty tree exults in our contact and shares it’s power with
us…supporting us…loving us…and protecting and sustaining us…the tree is the
axis of the universe.
Become aware of your
roots…roots you share with the ancient tree…roots that stretch far, far down
into the deep dark heart of the earth…we feel our own roots growing down into
the earth from the base of our spines…extending deep into the ground that
nourishes and nurtures us…our roots entangle and merge with the roots of the
primeval tree…then deeper down into the shadows of the fertile earth…further
and further down…through rock…and fossil…through time and space…deeper and
deeper we reach out…to the original core of Nerthus herself…(pause)
In the dark and fertile
body of our earth mother, our roots find a spring…sweet, fresh water…pure and
untainted…secret and unseen…the blood of the earth…the waters of life that
sustain the tree and thereby all existence…the spring fills the womb of our
mother…and we feel its primal energy flowing through our roots…
As we breathe in, the
energy builds and rises up through our roots…we breathe it up and up…up into
our spines…the energy flows into our backs and starts to fill and permeate our
bodies…more and more energy floods us with every breath we take…higher and
higher it rises infusing us with the vital life force…the energy increases
until we are all completely filled with it…we breathe it up…breathe it up…we
shine with the power…
Now we all release and
let the energy flood through the crowns of our heads…forming branches that rise
up entangling with the branches of the ancient tree…as we breathe the branches
extend further…reaching out to the sky…
The branches begin to
take shape…they become dense and strong…they curve over us all and start to
move towards the earth… slowly reaching down and down with each breath…down and
down until they touch the grassy ground forming a wide circle around us and the
sacred tree…
As we breathe the
branches begin to bud and bloom…energy is flowing into them and they are
springing into life…greening and flowering with shoots, leaves and blossom…shiny
and new…inhale the scent of the blossom…and the freshness of the leaves…
The energy flows as we
breathe…from the magickal spring in the depths of the earth…up through the
roots that tie us to our home…permeating our bodies…and stretching into our
branches - rising high above us…then bending in an arch to touch the ground
before us…forming a ring….the branches are dense and covered with leaves and
aromatic flowers…the sunlight is filtered green around us…the ancient tree is
strong and sturdy at our backs…the circle encloses and protect us…(pause)
With the power of our
combined will…we open portals in the sacred sphere around us…in the east..the
south…the west…and the north…the branches part to form gateways…allowing the
golden sunlight to stream in…filling the circle with Sunna’s sacred breath…
This strikes a chord in
our hearts and our deep hearts begin to sing out together…an ancient and silent
song from the beginning of time…our hearts sing louder…sending out a call to
the corners of the world…
In the eastern corner
of the world beyond our circle…a power is stirring…a stream of yellow energy
soars towards us…over the hills and valleys…it floods through the eastern
portal filling our circle with the warmth of the newly risen sun…golden light
and the scent of dew on the early morning plains…
A raven appears in the
portal…he calls and nods to us in greeting…we acknowledge his presence and our
heartsong thanks him. The raven’s black
feathers gleam in the golden light around him…his eyes are sharp and
alert…happiness streams from him in waves…he raises his head and begins to
sing…his song is the song of air…the mystery of flight…thought…memory…and
inspiration…the song of the east fills our circle and kindles our deep-rooted
inspiration…allowing our spirits to fly…we all feel a surge of energy from the
mighty ancient tree that stands firm, supporting us…(pause)
In the southern gateway
a new light begins to seep…flying over the mountains and plains to the south
comes an ancient and essential force…the red beam intensifies…flooding our
circle with its power…surrounding us all…a large brown bear appears in the
portal…his dense soft fur reflecting the red light that surrounds him…his eyes
are hazel and ages of wisdom reside there…he growls and nods in greeting…we
acknowledge his presence and again, the song of our hearts welcomes and thanks
him…the great and noble bear raises his head…from his throat emanates a deep
and resounding growl…the primeval song of fire from the Southern quarter of the
world…it is the song of passion…of war…the song of courage, strength and
truth…the bear’s song resonates within us and fills our sacred circle with its
power…unlocking in us a passion of spirit…and bringing us back to our instincts
and truth. (pause)
We now become aware of
a blue light flowing from the western portal…it is fleeting over the seas and
following the course of streams…flying over the land and up to the mysterious
tree…it is the vital power from the western quarter of the world…the rich blue
light floods our sacred space…and the soul of the tree shudders in response…in
the gateway there appears a large seal…his slick black skin reflecting the blue
light that surrounds him…his soulful eyes as deep and blue as the realm he
calls his home…he barks and nods to us…we acknowledge his presence and bid him
welcome with the song of our hearts…a sense of freedom and security radiates
from him…he lifts his beautiful face to the heavens and begins his song…the
ages old song of the element of water…a song of dreams and love…of magick …of
death and birth…the song of the waters of the sacred womb of the earth
herself…our spirits soar as the song infuses us with this ancient power…the
tree rejoices in the song of the west and our circle fills with its sacred
force…waking in us the psychic senses and unlocking the mysteries within us.
(pause)
And now a green light
begins to glow from the northern portal…luminescent and lush…it is the power of
the Northern quarter of the world and it is coursing over the valleys and forests
to our sacred hill…a deep green light…radiant and shining…it fills our sacred
circle with the primal energies of earth…
A wolf appears in the
portal…his eyes are a deep jade…and his shining silver coat reflects the
verdant light that surrounds him…he nods and paws at the ground in greeting…our
hearts greet him in song…he raises his proud head to the sky…and begins the
song of earth…ancient chant of the northern quarter…a song of ice and
midnight…darkness…hibernation…growth…and rebirth…it is the song of the depths
of the earth and of worlds within worlds…mysterious…feral…we feel alive and
wild as the song resonates deep within us…the ancient tree stirs and its leaves
tremble and whisper…the song fills our sacred circle with the energy of
earth…stirring the wildness in our hearts and filling us with a sense of
belonging and security.
(pause)
And now we sit between
the worlds…upon a high and sacred mound…the ancient and sacred tree supporting
us…the rich earth beneath us and a strong web of branches surrounding us…the
circle is fortified and protects us…the portals are open to the corners of the
universe and the guardians join with us and defend us as we prepare to open
ourselves to the Old Ones…
Read about Asatru and
Heathenry