Twilight Path Ritual: Earth Burial

Approach the altar, prepared and attuned for entrance into the sacred space. Stand between the candle of life and the candle of death. Light these, raise your hands, and meet the eyes of your reflection beyond the veil. Address the spirits thus:

“Spirits! Guardians! All you immortal beings who walk the shadows between darkness and light! I call to you and ask that you attend me, here in the twilight. I stand on the threshold between the living and the dead, and I open myself to the secrets you have to share.”

Light incense as an offering. Gently waft the smoke. First, guide it toward your own body, inhaling the mingled scent of precious resins and herbs. Then waft the smoke towards the candles of life and death in turn, and, finally, waft it toward your veiled reflection in the mirror. Listen inwardly for the response of the spirits. When you feel their presence crowding around you, dip your finger in the water on your altar and anoint your forehead, lips and heart, opening each to a better perception of the threshold state.

“I open my mind. I open my lips. I open my heart. Gather round, ye spirits, and witness me in my rite. Tonight I commit my body to the earth, so the earth may receive me and wear away the bonds that tie my spirit to my flesh. Gather round and lend me power as I call to the element of earth.”

Hold in both hands the bowl or other vessel of elemental tokens you have gathered and raise it before the mirror in blessing. Once you have focused your power and intent into this collection of items, set the bowl on the floor. Arrange these items in a U shape at the foot of your altar. The U shape should point out from your altar and contain enough space within the U for you to lie down comfortably without disturbing any of the items. Eventually, you are going to lie down at the foot of your altar, and this collection of items will curve around your head and shoulders. Depending on how many items you have collected and how distantly you space them, the items may run down along your torso as well. Once you have outlines the space where your body will lie, place the small pillow, together with the scented funeral shroud, in the center of the U. Still kneeling before this, cross your arms upon your chest and say:

“Although I have not passed beyond the veil of life, I ask that you receive me as one dead. I commit my flesh to earth, that the earth may accept me and return my body to the dust from which it came.”

Lie down amidst the tokens of the element of earth. Stretch out fully on the floor with your head lying on the pillow at the very foot of your altar. Unfold the funeral shroud, then lay it across your body, covering everything from your feet to your head. Fold your hands on your stomach or cross them upon your chest and close your eyes. Lie there, breathing slowly and evenly, holding yourself as one who is dead.

Imagine that you lie beside an open grave. Family and friends gather round you. It is a simpler time, so there is no coffin and no embalming has taken place. You are simply a body, washed and wrapped in a funeral shroud. The scent of the newly turned earth is strong in your nostrils. You can smell the grass beneath you and the open air above. You feel yourself lifted and placed upon another length of strong cloth. Those who have gathered at the graveside use this to lower your body into the ground. Gently, gently you are eased into the arms of the earth.

The walls of the grave rise around you, and everything is thick with the loamy scent of earth. Then you feel the first few spadefuls of earth falling onto you like hard clumps of rain. The scent of the earth grows ever thicker as the loose soil is returned to the open grave. It descends upon you, blocking out all other scents or sensations. But rather than feeling smothered or crushed, the weight of the earth upon you is like an embrace, the firm arms of a mother holding you tight against her breast.

Around you, the tomb is dark and moist, and, like an infant in the womb, it takes you days, weeks, months to change and develop, trading your flesh for naked bones. Other life gathers round you - insects, moles, mice and worms. Each of these does its work upon your body, helping the earth to reclaim you as her own. And yet, this is not a taking, but a giving. Bit by bit, your flesh is gathered up and becomes part of something more. The earthly part of your body returns to the earth; eventually, even the bones of your skeleton degrade, becoming one with the soil of your tomb.

Feel the weight of the earth and the gentle insistence of this cycle: your physical flesh will remain a part of the physical world, even after your spirit has flown. Let the simplicity of this truth be a comfort as you lie stretched out at the foot of your altar, the funeral shroud soft against your face.

When you feel replete with the knowledge of your relationship with earth, draw the funeral shroud away from your face and sit up. Uncross your arms, and gather some vital energy into your cupped hands. Turn and present this energy in the direction of your altar as an offering to the element of earth.

“Hail to thee, Mother Earth! You are the dark of the grave and the mystery of the tomb. You take our flesh back into yourself, holding us as infants in your womb. May I not forget this lesson when it is my time to surrender up this precious flesh.”

Continue to kneel for a few moments and reflect upon the revelation of earth. Then stand and ask the spirits to depart.

“Spirits of the threshold! All you beings who walk between the darkness and the light! I thank you for attending to bear witness to this rite. As you have gathered, may you freely depart!”

Anoint your forehead, lips and heart.

“I close myself as I close this space. I stand upon the threshold, but for now walk away, passing from death back into life.”

Snuff the candles. Facing the mirror, cross your arms upon your chest and bow your head, then depart. Once you have come down fully from the ritual mindset, go back to your altar and gather up the tokens of earth. If this is a rite you want to perform again, store the tokens in a safe place. Otherwise, find time to cleanse them and use them for something else.

Prayer to Gaia (Mother Earth)

“Since the first dawn I have been
A child of the good Earth.
Giver of life, giver of home
Giver of mysteries and magicks
That echo in our legends.
Care for me, O lands of my people
As I do love and care for thee.
Hail Earth, Mother of All!”

Meditation: Journeying to the Realm of Earth

1) Conjure up the World Tree, enter it and go into your Inner Temple.

2) Orient yourself in the center of your sacred space. You will notice four doorways around you. You may have never noticed them before, but they will be very clear to you now. Each of the doorways leads to a different elemental plane. Each one will be in a different colour and have a different symbol on it for the element, such as the elemental triangles. By its markings, find the doorway that leads to the realm of earth, and stand before it. Usually the earth doorway is oriented to your northern direction in the temple, but your Inner Temple is beyond direction in the physical world, so go to whatever door calls to you as earth.

3) Hold the intention to enter the realm of earth and in your silent, magickal voice, ask permission to open the door. You are asking permission of the highest aspects of yourself, and the realm of earth.

4) If you get a yes response, open the door of earth. If you know the invoking pentagram of earth, you can use it as your key. Feel the heavy earthen door slowly sway open. In the doorway is a dark tunnel, digging deep to the earth plane. Enter the realm of elemental earth.

5) Feel each step as you walk deeper into the darkness without fear. Feel your body move into the unknown, growing quiet, immobile, and solid. Smell the fresh earth. Feel the sacredness of the land around you.

6) As you move deeper into the tunnel, you lose sight of your inner temple and immerse yourself in the earth sensations. Ahead you find a light, leading you out of the tunnel and into the realm of earth. You find yourself at the edge of a primordial forest, a place of power. This is the edge of the realm of earth, the realm of gnomes and dwarves and their ruler Ghob.

7) Before you there is a path into the heart of the forest. The path pulls you deeper. Take notice of the plants and animals you see in the forest. Walk deeper into the place of earth power. At the end of the path you arrive in a clearing with a mound and an opening. You enter the mound and find yourself in another deep tunnel. The tunnel has minerals and crystals shining in it as you descend into the land.
8) At the end of the tunnel is a cavern, and in the center of the cavern, a figure, your personal guide to the element of earth. It could be an elemental being, animal, deity, or angel, there to guide you on the path of earth. Introduce yourself, and ask the guide its name and function. Follow this guide, and receive what your guide has to offer. Since touch is the sense of earth, this experience could be very tactile. Follow your feelings and impressions. Take this wisdom in, and ask any questions you have.

9) Ask your guide upon whom shall you call as your guardian of earth in ritual. Sometimes it is the guide itself, but often the guide will point you to a deity or other being of power.

10) Your guide will lead you back through the mound tunnel, back through the forest, and to the tunnel of earth leading you to the inner temple. Your guide will bid you farewell. Thank your guide for this time and knowledge. Know that you now have a link in the realm of earth. The guide may give you a gift to inspire your own grounding and mastery.

11) Return through the tunnel of earth, feeling each step as you return. Come back to the inner temple, and close the gateway of earth as you opened it. Orient yourself in the temple. If you have a gift from the earth realm, you can put it in your temple space if you desire.

12) Return back through the World Tree tunnel, and stand at the base of the tree. Thank the World Tree. Step back through the screen of your mind’s eye and let the World Tree gently fade from view.

13) Return yourself to normal consciousness, counting up, giving yourself clearance and balance. Do any necessary grounding.

Earth

* Plane: physical, etheric

* Direction: North

* Colours: green, brown, black, tan

* Sense: touch

* Gender: feminine

* Nature: cold and dry

* Season: winter

* Zodiac: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

* Tarot suit: Pentacles, discs, coins

* Tools: stone, crystals, salt, soil, pentacle, mirror, shield, coin

* Elemental: gnomes, dwarves

* Animals: bull, stag, goat, bear, snake, beetle

* Key words: body, home, fertility, material, manifestation, law, healing, money, art, comfort.

* Deities: Gaia, Demeter/Ceres, Kore-Persephone, Pan, Danu, Dagda, Cernunnos, Modron, Preya, Frey, Geb, Osiris, Isis, Tammuz, Kishar

Correspondences of Earth

* North

* Winter

* Its energy is that of beginnings - the dream, conjured swiftly and truly. The idea made so clear in our minds that we can almost see it whole and manifest. It is not yet the seed, but the idea of the seed.

* The energy is also the end result - the idea brought to form, material, complete.

* Symbol: earth dish, salt, dirt, pentacle, gemstones (as they come from the soil.)

* This element allows a person to connect more intimately with Gaia (the spirit of the planet) and the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess (like returning to the womb).

* It puts one more in touch with Nature and the living things around us because our feet are always touching the ground.

* Colours: greens (for plants), brown/black (for soil)

* Just as the plant is rooted to the soil, so is our spirit to our physical being.

* Use this element for grounding.

Meditation: Earth Walking

(This exercise expands your experience beyond the realm of personal energy and into the feelings of Earth energy.)

Start in some natural setting, on grass, in a field or park, on the beach, or in the woods, rather than on concrete or asphalt. If you feel comfortable enough to do this barefoot, so much the better, but with practice, you will feel this experience through your shoes.

Walk slowly and meditatively. Be aware of the Earth below your feet. Be aware of your personal energy, the auric field around you, touching the land, where your energy mingles. As you inhale, imagine that you are not only breathing in through your mouth, but breathing in through your feet. Imagine drawing in life force, Earth energy, through your feet as you walk. This energy grounds and centers you. It bolsters your metabolism and energy level, creating health and joy in the moment. For now, don’t worry about doing anything special while exhaling. Breathe normally. The excess energy will be released naturally through your daily activity. Focus on the connection you make to the Earth.

When on these walks, look for a quiet place that could serve as a meditation spot for later exercises.

When you feel you are done with this experience, walk and breathe normally and resume your day-to-day activities. If you feel too energized, too charged, get on your hands and knees, placing your palms on the ground. Imagine the excess energy flowing out of your palms and even pouring out of your head. You release only the excess energy to the Earth, grounding yourself. As you release this energy, you can place the intent that such energy be used for healing the planet. This is a basic method of grounding yourself if you are not releasing excess energy.
When you feel comfortable with the Earth energy, you can include breathing through the crown of your head, to connect to the sky energy. Try the sky energy alone to get a feel for that particular vibration.

An Earth Meditation

Sit or lie comfortably in a favourite spot. Close your eyes. Ground and center. Acknowledge your personal guardians and gods, and project a circle around you. Breathe deeply and steadily.
You are standing in your power place, a place of safety and peace. Feel the earth beneath your feet as you look around at the landscape. It is Winter, and there is a thick blanket of snow on the ground, but you are not cold. You feel only peace and a sense of adventure. You sit on a rock and feel a pulsating energy, its vibratory frequency, the energy pattern that makes it a rock. You find you can somehow repeat this frequency in your own body, and now you can literally feel your flesh and bones with a heightened awareness. Every fibre, every cell is alive, buzzing with energy, vibrating to the frequency of the rock beneath you and the earth beneath that. You begin to rise, and suddenly find that you can’t get up. You are glued to your spot, finding yourself sinking into the rock, deeper and deeper, until you are part of the rock, the earth, the soil. You slip a little deeper, and find yourself in total darkness.

You are deep within the body of the earth, and you have no idea how deep you really are. You seem to be swimming, or flying, but the matter around you is hard, smooth as stone, but malleable as clay. You lean a little to the right, and you go right… you merely think about going another direction, and you’re on your way. You can go anywhere you wish to under the earth, and you begin to dip and dive and turn at whim, glorying in the sensation of the earth around you… You find you can even experience with breaking through the upper soil, and diving back in again, like a dolphin in water… you enjoy exploring for as long as your heart wishes to… on this earth journey, you learn much about your body, your abilities to manifest, as well as about the Mother’s body and her ability to manifest… your thoughts are as open as your journey in this dark place of Mysteries unfolding… and you soar…

After a while, you find yourself emerging into an enormous glittering cavern… all around you are ancient crystals, reflecting the tiny shafts of light streaming in from a few small holes in the cave roof. You touch the smooth, sharp jewels, and realize that this is one of the Mysteries. You are like these gems: fine and multifaceted, filled with light and colour. You are a reflection of the light, even in the dimmest surroundings, like the crystals in this cavern… you open yourself to the knowledge that you are nothing… less… than precious. Fine and beautiful… the way the gods made you. You touch your body, and realize what a miraculous thing it is. Every cell, every fibre has a purpose… you remember what you learned while you are flying through the earth earlier. You hug yourself, and glide sweetly and gently back to the surface where you began this journey, remembering all that you learned.