Fire Making

Here is a ritual that requires diligence and patience. Fire making by rubbing sticks together is very difficult and time consuming, but the few folks I know who have accomplished it have certainly felt transformed.

I was inspired by the teachings of the incredible ritual designer, Luisah Teish, who told me she keeps a candle burning in her fireplace at all times to approach Maui’s Magic Fire in another way. On the next full moon, gather a group and build a bonfire on the beach or a beautiful fire in a safety-certified fire ring in a park. Ask everyone to bring a glass-encrusted votive candle, preferably one of the seven-day candles you find at grocery stores or metaphysical shops. Begin a round of storytelling with the tale of Maui stealing fire. After you have told the story, light your own candle from the bonfire and say:

Thank you for the fire, Mahuika.

Next, go around the fire and let each participant tell a “fire story.” This can be a personal story of fire, or another myth or legend. After each story, the storyteller lights a personal candle from the fire and gives thanks for the fire that warms us and keeps us alive. 

The Sacred Element of Fire

Fire inspires us as it seems to spring directly from the divine. Early people regarded fire as power, as a destroyer, and a regenerator. The sung invigorates us each day and we feed on his fire for passion, action, and zeal. Fire is the giver of light and warms us all, man, woman, child, and animal. Fire feeds the passions of the human soul. The fire of the sun warms our hearts and illuminates our imaginations.

Fire Rituals

Fire, giver of light, source of illumination and warmth, is a basis for the following rituals.

Maui Magic

Maui was the trickster god of Hawaii for whom the pacific island was named. Hawaiian peoples were given the gift of flame by the fire giantess herself, Mahuika. However, since it had been handed to them as a gift, the people did not know how to start a fire on their own. Maui visited in the night and stamped out all the fires because he was curious to see what would happen. All the islanders were scared to go to the cave and ask Mahuika for more fire, so the trickster took on the task. Once there, however, Maui made more mischief and swindled the not-so-gentle giantess into giving up nine of her ten fingers, the source of her sparks and flames. Once Mahuika figured out the ruse, Maui was incensed and Mahuika chased him with a wall of fire.

In order to escape the inferno of Mahuika’s fire, Maui transformed into a hawk and flew away, using his power as a god to bring on rain to dampen the goddess’s fire. Sadly, the storm brought on flooding and the giantess was drowned. Her last act of generosity to the people of Hawaii was turning her stack of firewood into a forest. Mollified, Maui taught the islanders how to spark fire from the wood.

Designing Your Own Earth Rituals

Drawing on the power of the earth, you can perform ceremonies of immense strength and richness to further your personal and spiritual goals. You can begin new projects, deepen your dreams, and ground yourself in nature. You can plant a magical garden with seeds of change. You can sculpt or carve a wooden or stone goddess for your altar. You can cook a sacred meal to serve after ritual work. You can perform rituals outdoors, celebrating the beauty of our planet, a gift we all share and must preserve.

Other earth elemental rites you can design on your own could include ceremonies for fertility, bodily health and strength, prosperity, property, success, and manifestation.

Earth Deities

In addition to Gaia, there are other gods and goddesses who can represent the element of earth. On your home altar or shrine, they can represent earth in your ritual work.

• The Green Man: the forest god who represents the power and divinity of nature.
• Buddha: He achieved enlightenment under the sacred Bodhi Tree.
• Venus of Willendorf: Her appealing and ample shape represents fertility and the feminine.
• Artemis: The huntress or woman warrior who travels with a pack of devoted dogs.

Walking Meditation

This is the simplest of rituals you can do every day of your life. As you walk, take the time to look and really see what is in your path. For example, my friend Eileen takes a bag with her and picks up every piece of garbage in her path. She does this as an act of love for the earth. During the ten years I have known her, she has probably turned a mountain of garbage into recycled glass, paper, and plastic. Goddess bless! This is one type of walking meditation. This very simple daily ritual honors the earth and helps preserve life for all beings.

Earth Day Ritual: The Sacred Grove

In much the same way that animals, stones, and stars were totemic to early peoples, so were trees. Greco-Roman spirituality had sacred groves, as did the Aborigines in Australia, Hindus in India, Germanic tribes, and the Celts of Europe. To the Celtic Druids, the oak was the major sacred totem tree.

Pliny the Elder pointed out that groves of trees were the first temples.

A wonderful way to celebrate our planet and engender the ideals of preservation and ecological sanctity of our precious resources is to return to the sacred grove. Essential elements necessary for the ritual are colored ribbons and colored markers.

Gather your friends on Earth Day, April 22, and go to a mutually agreed upon park, farm, or forest. Find the largest oak or largest tree with low-hanging branches and circle around it, holding hands while chanting:

We are the wisdom of the stars.
The beauty of this green Gaia.
To the planet that gives us life, we return the gift.
We are one
We are the stars and the stones and the sea.
We are one.

By casting the circle with voice and action, you create a boundary within which magic can take place. One by one, each member of the circle should speak a wish for universal healing, write the wish on a ribbon, and tie the ribbon on the tree. Each flutter of the breeze will speak of your hope and good wishes for our planet. If you are lucky enough to be on the property of a member of your circle, ask if you can leave the ribbons there as the mark of the sacred grove. 

Earth Element Rituals

Earth is the ground beneath our feet, the solidity of terra firma. The goddess of this element is Gaia, as the Greeks named Mother Earth. Earth is a primal element of rock and stone, soil and tree, plant and flower. Calling forth the element of earth in your ritual work can help you put down roots to reinforce yourself and build a foundation under your hopes and dreams.

As I stated earlier, we are all part of the earth, and this is an important thought to ponder as you engage in the following rituals.

Getting Grounded Through Guided Meditation

Because the world we live in today is very much about getting in your head and staying there, many of us have to make a concentrated effort to become grounded and in touch with our bodies and the natural world around us.

Grounding is the technique for centering yourself within your being, getting into your body and out of your head. Grounding is the way to reconnect and balance yourself through the power of the element of earth. When you see someone driving past talking on their cell phone, you know that they are not grounded. For deep grounding, I recommend a creative visualization or, better yet, a group guided meditation.

Chaji: the Art of the Japanese Tea Ceremony

You might do well to go to a Japanese teahouse to fully experience the tea ceremony before you undertake one yourself, but don’t be intimidated if you cannot. As with all ritual, your intention is the most important aspect. I am fortunate that I live in San Francisco, home of one of the last North American Japantowns. Thus I have several options for tea services in this unique shopping district, where there is a Japanese tea garden near a Shinto shrine. Following are the steps to take in the Chaji, a full tea presentation.

Establish a chashits, which is the special room for the ceremony. If you are like me and don’t have a special room just for tea, clear out space in the living room and place pillows on the floor and set up a low table. I find it rather amusing that the stone basins whose purpose it is to provide cleansing water for the housemaster’s hands and mouth are now sold as fancy garden ornaments for those modern folks who like a Zen look for their house. Establish a peaceful environment—no clutter; perhaps set out a lovely flower such as a single orchid or artfully arranged flowers in the high art form of Japanese flower arranging, ikebana. A Japanese teahouse has no distracting decor and is the ultimate in simplicity and serenity. One decoration, the exquisite scroll painting kakemono, is carefully chosen by the host. Choose a painting or drawing to represent the spiritual sense you want to suggest to your guests through the ceremony. I have friends who have done some kanji characters in the brush painting style to express the emotions they felt at that moment. A light and clean scented Japanese incense is the perfect energetic balancer and cleanser. Now you will take on the role of the host: the teishi, or housemaster.

Invite four people, the traditional and ideal number, and offer them hot water for the tea, referred to as sayu. The guests are to choose someone to act as the hanto, or “main guest.” In formal Japanese tea ceremony, the host actually has a guest who is the hanto. The main guest is not set apart by hierarchy; it is just an arbitrary selection by the host to have

a person with whom to engage first in the formalities of this high ritual. Also, there is an anteroom for a reception and a special flowerless garden that has been anointed with water for the purpose of offering a place for the guests to shrug off the cares and grime with which the world burdens them. This garden without flowers is the roji, or “dew ground.” After leaving the mundane world behind, the guests go to a waiting bench called the koshikake machiaii. Complete silence reigns as the housemaster takes the guests through a symbolic gate in order to leave the material and physical world behind, and enter into the magical realm of the tea ceremony.

While the Chaji could easily take up its very one book, the way any Westerner can enjoy the spiritual aspects of tea is to receive the gift of tea from the master, pass it around, and share it with the other guests. The gift of tea is the gift of fire and water, yang and yin. Taking tea in this ritualized style is to help keep the world in balance, to escape the material world for a time, and then to return, refreshed and rebalanced.

Inspiration Infusions

Along with healing and energizing properties, herbal teas can aid the mind. Try the following blends:

• Bergamot dissipates negativity and uplifts.
• Basil lends a sense of serenity.
• Rosemary supports physical well-being.
• Orange creates sheer joy. 

Designing Your Own Water Rituals

From the depths of your imagination, you can create a water ritual of your own by invoking other water deities. By inviting the energy of water into your sacred space, you will find the words will flow into you as you fashion ceremonial language appropriate to that god or goddess.

You can create your own ceremonies and spells to call forth the power of water for psychic development such as dream work, emotional balance, healing, creativity, joy, love, and letting go.

Water Deities

Lakshmi is also called Padma and is associated with all forms of wealth and abundance, both spiritual and material. It is said that Lakshmi can be found in gems and jewels, money, newborn babies, and in all cows. She is depicted floating on a lovely lotus blossom.

Naiads are freshwater nymphs that inhabit various bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and springs. Naiads have the power to seduce, inspire, heal, and tell the future. You will do best by calling forth their gentle energy for healing rituals.

Poseidon is the Greek god of oceans and can use his might to create tidal waves, earthquakes, and typhoons. You should always appease Poseidon when you travel over water with an offering of olive oil; pour a few drops into the sea and you will enjoy smooth sailing all the way. His consort is Amphitrite, the Queen of the Sea.

Nereus, the “old man of the sea” from Greek mythology, is an oracle. You can invoke Nereus to inquire about the future, and for safety during travel by water.

Taking the Waters—a Releasing Ritual

Sarasvati is a Hindu goddess of the arts, and originally a river goddess. She is invoked by individuals seeking to improve the flow of their creativity and self-transformation.

A bath blessing that will both relax and purify you is a rare and wonderful thing. To prepare yourself, place 1 quart of rough sea salt or Epsom salts in a large bowl. Add the juice from 6 freshly squeezed lemons, 1⁄2 cup of sesame oil, and a few drops of rose and jasmine oils. Stir until the mixture is completely moistened. You can add more sesame oil if necessary, but do not add more lemon because it will make the mixture overly astringent and potentially irritating to your skin.

When your tub is one-third full, add one-quarter of the salt mixture under the faucet. Breathe in deeply ten times, inhaling and exhaling fully before you do this recitation. You may start to feel a tingling at the crown of your head. The water should still be running when you proclaim:

Sarasvati, O Harmonious One,
Goddess and mistress, I ask your guidance.
Remove from me any impurities
Of heart, spirit, and mind. I open myself to you.
My wish is to once again become whole,
Free of pain, sadness, and all that is better in me.

When the tub is full, it is time to step inside and breathe deeply ten more times. Repeat the prayer to Sarasvati, and use the rest of the salt to gently massage your body. Rest and rejuvenate as long as you like, allowing yourself to feel refreshed and renewed by the ministrations of this Hindu goddess of harmony and artistry from whom eloquence, inspiration, and blessings flow. 

Elemental Rituals: Water

 The human body is made mostly of water, and our connection to this sacred element is primal. People are especially drawn to the ocean, whose water is a blend of minerals and water similar to the chemical mix of our blood. Have you ever noticed how blissful you can feel when you’re at the beach? The negative ions produced by water are soothing and create an overwhelming sense of optimism. In the presence of water, we feel refreshed. The ocean tides are a rhythm of life and a regulating force of nature.

Water cleanses and restores us, determines our climate, enriches our crops and forests. Water has long been used in ritual and continues to this day to be employed by nearly every culture. In India, the sacred Ganges River cleanses the souls of Hindus from birth through death, when they often float off to eternity in a river burial. Christian baptisms are done with the sacrament of water. The Chinese deity Kuan Yin, goddess of compassion, offers spiritual seekers the comfort and solace of a holy lake. Aphrodite herself rose up from the ocean, and the Yoruban divinity, Ymoja (Yemaya in Brazil and Cuba), is believed to rule all the waters of the earth.

I was born with both my natal sun and moon in the astrological sign of Pisces. As a double Pisces, I receive much spiritual substance from water and turn to my element for succor. Water is the element that rules Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio. It reconnects water folk with their native element and keeps them in tune with their true nature.

The Japanese have elevated water ritual to the level of an art form with baths, water meditations, water gardens, and tea ceremonies. Through the centuries, they have perfected the presentation of tea as an inventive and spiritual practice.

 

North, South, East, and West: a Ritual for Daily Life

You can purify your home every day and create sacred space for living a life of daily ritual. After cleaning or straightening your home, bless the rooms and ensure that you are surrounded with good energy. Take a bowl or cup of water and add a sprinkle of salt. Then anoint your fingers and forehead. Now turn to the east and say:

Powers of the East,
Source of the sun rising,
ring me hope and inspiration.

Sprinkle some water in the east, then turn to the south and say:

Powers of the South,
Source of summer’s warmth and light,
Bring me joy and bounty.

Sprinkle some water in the south, then turn to the west and say:

Powers of the West,
Source of oceans and rivers,
Bring me the power of the waves.

Sprinkle some water in the west, then turn to the north and say:

Powers of the North,
Source of the winter, place of the mountains, and the polestar,
Bring me security and sight.

Close this simple ritual by sprinkling the water and salt all around your home, especially on or around windows, windowsills, doorways, and thresholds where energy passes in and out as visitors arrive and depart. By doing this, you are cleansing and managing the energy of your space. After an argument or upsetting event, or even after a visit by a person who is in a foul mood, you can repeat this ritual to clear out the “bad energy." 

How the Four Directions Relate to the Four Elements

The four directions we invoke in modern magical circles and ceremonies correspond to the four elements. Calling out to the four directions creates the sacred space of the circle, the center of ritual work. In doing this, you are also calling forth elemental entities and energies. Here are some general modern associations for the directions. Be aware that these associations are not universal. They can vary from culture to culture, as well as among traditions and from practitioner to practitioner within a spiritual path.

North

The north corresponds to earth and wintertime. Brown and green are the traditional colors and the totem animals are elk, wolf, and the mighty bear. The tarot suit of pentacles is associated with both earth and the north.

South

The south corresponds to fire and summertime. Gold and red are the traditional colors and the totem animals are lizard, snake, and the lion. The tarot suit of wands is associated with both fire and south.

East

The east corresponds to air and springtime. Yellow and pink are the traditional colors and the totem animals are all birds, including eagle, hawk, and raven. The tarot suit of swords is associated with both air and east.

West

The west corresponds to water and autumn. Purple and blue are the traditional colors and the totem animals are water beasts, including swans, whales, and dolphins. The tarot suit of cups is associated with both water and west. 

North, South, East, and West: The Four Directions and the Four Elements in Ritual

There are many layers of meaning to add to ritual that are based on centuries of mystical and spiritual source material that still influence us today. These sources are called “magical correspondences,” and the transformative process that is ritual calls for as many correspondences as possible to add to the overall effect, creating a synthesis of energies to work these changes in your life and in the world. Just as there are the specific astrological influences of the stars and planets, such as the rhythmic phases of the moon, and a range of powers in stones, there are particular powers in the elements you can call upon in your ritual work.

Earth, air, fire, and water are the four elements of the ancients. The pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, Empedocles of Sicily, taught the theory of the four elements about 2,500 years ago. Modern metaphysicians and magicians no longer believe literally in four elements but find them useful tools for magic.

Earth

Earth is the manifestation of the “solid.” It is matter made tangible. Earth represents intransigence, constancy, and durability. We are made of earth, and so we are part of our own planet. Upon our death, we once again return to the earth. Earth is the stable material and the stable element. You can place salt in a ceramic bowl or soil in a small vial upon your altar to represent this element. You can call upon the element of earth to become more grounded or to build a new aspect into your life. Earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn should perform earth ritual on a regular basis to stay centered.

Water 

Water is the fluid state of matter, the nurturer of all life and essential for all continued existence. The blood that flows through the veins of animals is mostly water with trace minerals flowing within it. Water cleanses, nourishes crops, and washes away what no longer serves a purpose. Water is the opposite of earth in that it flows: it lacks stability. Even ice, water in a stable form, can melt. Water in our rivers, lakes, and oceans is ever-changing. Water is a very important cleansing and blessing element to bring into play in your ritual. A fountain or bowl of water in your home represents the all-important water of life. You can use water for any kind of releasing ritual. Water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces should stay in tune with their sensitive, creative natures with water rituals. 

Air 

Air is an ever-changing element, matter in its gaseous form. Air has ultimate mobility and dynamism. The oxygen in the air we breathe is essential to the continuation of our life.

Air is unseen and is, in and of itself, formless. Wind is the power of air to move and stimulate change. Air signs Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius can maintain their brilliance and superior communication skills with rituals invoking their native element of air.

Fire 

Fire is sheer transformational power, capable of changing the other elements. The most visible form of energy, fire is also heat. Watch the flicker of your candle flame, the ember of your incense, and the blaze of your council fire, and you will see a constant transmutation of matter. Fire has the ability to both excite and incite us and is used to bring about active change. Fire signs Aires, Leo, and Sagittarius will stay strong and vibrant when they employ their personal element, fire. 

Walking Meditation—How to Walk the Labyrinth

The labyrinth represented wholeness to the ancients, combining the circle and the spiral in one archetypal image. The labyrinth is unicursal, meaning there is only one path, both in and out. Put simply, it is a journey into the self, into your own center, and back into the world again. As a prayer and meditation tool, labyrinths are peerless; they awaken intuition.

Do your best to relax before you enter. Deep breaths will help a great deal. If you have a specific question in mind, think it or whisper it to yourself. You will meet others on the pilgrim’s path as you are walking; simply step aside and let them continue on their journey as you do the same. The three stages of the labyrinth walk are as follows:

Purgation: Here is where you free your mind of all worldly concerns. It is a release, a letting go. Still your mind and open your heart. Shed worries and emotion as you step out on the path.

Illumination: When you have come to the center, you are in the place of illumination. Here, you should stay as long as you feel the need to pray and meditate. In this quiet center, the heart
of the labyrinth, you will receive messages from the Divine or from your own higher power. Illumination can also come from deep inside yourself.

Union: This last phase is where you will experience union with the divine. Lauren Artress says that as you “walk the labyrinth you become more empowered to find and do the work you feel your soul requires."

May you use this learned tranquility to better participate in other rituals that focus on important aspects of your life. 

Walking the Labyrinth—A Path of Grace to the Inner Self

At the Grace Cathedral on California Street in San Francisco, scholar Lauren Artress oversaw the installation of not one but two labyrinths. Sue Patton Thoele, author of The Woman’s Book of Soul, invited me to go there one fine day a few years ago. I remember squeezing it into my schedule, feeling hurried, and hoping it would not take more than half an hour or so. I am a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I know I am not the only busy life-juggler who has found herself surprised by the Sacred.

When we got there, a magnificent stillness presided over the entire cathedral. We chose the indoor labyrinth instead of the outdoor one, as there was a distinct chill in the foggy air that day. We read the simple instructions and, as told, removed our shoes to tread the path in bare or stocking feet. For my part, I had already begun to calm down, thanks to the peaceful atmosphere. As I walked in the light of the stained glass shadows, my schedule started to seem petty. Suddenly it seemed as if I could give this just a little more time.

Sue, an experienced labyrinth walker, had gone ahead and seemed to be in a reverie, as did the tourists, students, and random folks who populated the nave. I checked the instructions again just to make sure I performed my barefoot ritual “correctly."

As I began, thoughts skittered through my head, and I had to struggle to focus and be in the now. With no small amount of effort, I was able to have an authentic experience. As I walked the winding path, a replica of the labyrinth on the floor of Chartres Cathedral, I felt a growing excitement. This was meaningful; perhaps there was hope even for me and my over-busy “monkey mind.” My breathing relaxed and I had a growing sense that I was going somewhere. When I reached the center of the labyrinth, I looked up at the soaring high ceiling of Grace Cathedral. At that exact moment, the sun struck a stained glass window and a golden shaft of light shone directly upon me. I was mystified, and a beaming Sue, having completed her walk, noticed what was happening to me. I studied the window to see if there was any kind of symbol from which to draw further meaning. To my astonishment, the sun had lit up a window that contained the medieval tableau of a sword in a rock. As a lapsed medieval scholar, I immediately recognized Excalibur of the famous Arthurian legend. Tears came into my eyes, and I realized this was a message. I had often felt a bit guilty for not completing my master’s degree in medieval studies. At that moment, I knew I had to complete that quest. One of my specializations was the Arthurian saga, and here, in no uncertain terms, Arthur’s sword had spoken to me as I stood in the center of the labyrinth. Exhilarated, I retraced my steps, and returned as I entered, brimming with joy. Now, I truly understand what it means to be “illuminated." 

Summoning the Muses

Whenever you embark on a new life phase, a creative project, or personal ritual, you are further awakening to your destiny. The nine muses, daughters of Memory and rulers of creative endeavors, can help you find your true path. Here is a “field guide” to the muses to help you determine which one you should invoke for aid.

Calliope, “The Fair Voiced,” is the eldest of the muses and presides over epic poetry.

Clio, “The Proclaimer,” is the muse of history. She carries a scroll of knowledge.

Erato, “The Lovely,” has domain over the poetics of love and mimicry. She carries a lyre.

Euterpe, “The Giver of Pleasure,” plays a flute. Her sphere of influence is music.

Melpomene, “The Songstress,” wears the mask of tragedy, over which she presides.

Polyhymnia, “She of Many Hymns,” is the muse of sacred poetry. She wears a veil.

Terpsichore, “The Whirler,” had dominion over dance.

Thalia, “The Festive,” wears the mask of comedy.

Urania, “The Heavenly,” presides over both astronomy and astrology.

In truth, you can call upon any god or goddess with whom you feel a deep connection, but the muses can guide you to personal inventiveness. They will help you sing the song of you and express yourself through poetry, art, dance, theater, academia, music, communication—any way in which you need to reveal unseen and unknown sides of yourself.

Place an offering to your chosen muse on your altar or shrine— perhaps a verse of poetry or a drawing—that shows your gratitude and appreciation for all you have received and will continue to receive as inspiration from your muse.

The Goddess, in all her glorious incarnations, is the supreme creative force and brings all into being. Long before the birth of Christianity, people worshipped the Goddess who represents fertility, rebirth, wisdom, and life. Decide which muse you want to work with and chant aloud:

O [name of muse], wise and true,
I will walk with thee in the Elysian Fields and back.
Anoint me here and now.
Thanks to you, inspiration I will never lack.

Song of Myself—A Ritual for Self-Expression

This is definitely one of the more entertaining solo rituals. It requires you to look hard at yourself, but it’s also fun. Essential elements that are necessary for this ritual include:

• Big sheets of butcher paper
• Color markers, glitter, beads, shells, cloth, ribbon, yarn—whatever colorful materials you respond well to
  
• Sewing kit and craft boxes with random scraps, buttons, and/or shiny objects

It is good to undertake this ritual on a Sunday, but whenever you need support, reserve half an hour of quiet time and brew up some willpower to help you with your self-expression. Light a white candle anointed with peppermint oil and light spicy incense such as cinnamon. Prepare for your Song of Myself by sipping this warm drink for encouragement: Take a sprig of mint (homegrown is best), a cup of warm milk, and cinnamon sticks and stir together clockwise in a white mug. Recite:

Herb of menthe and spicy mead,
Today is the day I will succeed.
In every word and every deed.
Today I sing the song of me.

Drink the brew while it is still warm and “sit for a spell.” You will know when you are ready.

Now take the paper and markers and begin your song of yourself. Write with any marker you pick up and finish this sentence at least twenty-four times: I am _____________________.

Be as wild and free and true as you can. You are so many things. Express them here and now, once and for all. I will share some wonderful “Songs of Self” that I have seen and heard: 

I am a wild woman.
I am beautiful.
I am wide.
I am a secret.
I am sexy.
I am brilliant.
I am a blue sky.
I am all possibility.
I am a dream come to life.
I am truth.
I am the Goddess.
I am the living incarnation of wisdom.
I am life.
I am a living blessing.
I am the road.
I am perfect.
I am a tiger.
I am yesterday and today.
I am hope.
I am angry.
I am art.
I am a crone.
I am a sister to the sun.
I am a poem.
I am creative.
I am me!

This can go on as long as you want it to. Only when you feel you have expressed every aspect of yourself should you put down your marker and begin to decorate the paper. Paint on it, glue mirror shards to it, do one or many self-portraits. Scrawl symbols on it. Write more words and allow yourself total and absolute creative freedom. There is no wrong or right; there is only you and all your myriad aspects. Celebrate yourself and reveal yourself completely. By the end, you should have a one- of-a-kind self-portrait that tells your real story.

Hang your self-song portrait in a sacred place, perhaps near your altar or shrine area. Its energy will permeate the place with your personal essence in a wonderful way. 

Animal Spirits

Oftentimes, messages come with animals, either live or in spirit vision. If this happens to you, you should study the meaning of this animal, as it may well become your personal totem or power animal. Bear in mind, too, that your animal totem might be a real surprise. You may be a 300-pound linebacker, and your totem might be a mouse. Remember, the totem picks you; you don’t pick the totem.

I was surprised when my spirit animal totem first came to me. For whatever reason, I thought I was not a nature girl. I did a personal vision quest, and while a trip to an exotic place such as the Amazon jungle was not in my immediate plans, I felt I could definitely journey to the shore and make it a spiritual trek. Between Santa Cruz and San Francisco, there is a wonderful national park by the Pacific Ocean called Big Basin. Big Basin features a waterfall with a very large creek that flows down a mountain directly into the ocean. For sheer physical beauty and drama, Big Basin is nearly unmatched. The waterfall is a “word of mouth” phenomenon that only occurs after the rainy season. If you go at any other time, the waterfall is dry and, for all intents and purposes, simply does not exist. I decided that, for my purposes, I could experience a little magic.

So I set off on the seven-mile journey up the mountain to find Berry Creek Falls. Because I was hit by a drunk driver some years back and suffered physical trauma, I am not a hiker. But I was extremely motivated to try, and the beauty of the spring day I had selected for my vision quest was sheer joy to behold. Through flowering spring trees, the singing brook, and a lush green landscape, I felt like I had rediscovered Eden all by myself. After about five miles, my ankle, which had been smashed in the accident, was begging me for a respite. I moved down the bank of the big creek and dipped my throbbing leg into the cool water. It felt so good, and I was so hot and hungry, that it seemed absolutely essential that I plunge into the creek. I think I lay in the water for at least two hours, and I felt an enormous sense of release there. I wept, letting go of deep emotions as the water flowed around me. Lichen, moss, leaves, and some small sticks caught in my hair, but these only added to my sense that I was getting closer to nature. I was in my element and very glad of it.

Eventually, I became aware of the world outside my mossy mermaid creek bed. It was getting late and, lacking flashlight or fire, I could either wash out to sea or return to the world and my life. Refreshed, a little more lucid, and a lot hungrier, but with no distinct vision, it seemed that it was going to take another trip for me to get any real enlightenment.

I started the journey of several miles down the incline, deep in thought. After a few minutes I noticed that I was not the only one walking in the woods. I stopped, and the other footsteps stopped, too. I started and the other footsteps started again. The steps were very close. It seemed that someone or something was walking just off to my left, practically beside me. I started to get frightened; being followed was not in my vision quest plans!

Carefully and quietly, I turned to look in the dimming light. To my utter amazement, there was a young female deer walking beside me. We looked at each other, and I am not sure who was more frightened. We walked together and soon grew fairly comfortable with each other’s presence. I touched her and she didn’t flinch or run away. This was miraculous.

I marveled that she remained at my side. I grew up in West Virginia, where deer simply don’t “hang out” with humans. I came to realize that this doe was my animal totem. She picked me, and definitely let me know that she was there for me, escorting me down the mountain from my vision quest. At the end of the grassy hill, before it became sand and beach, she turned, and with a long gaze gave me her goodbye. I was practically shaking with excitement and an indescribable bursting feeling inside.

All those Native American teachings I had heard were completely real and true. Never again did I doubt the veracity of vision and spirit from the elders.

The realm of the spirit is there. It’s just waiting for you to walk in.

Animal Totem Symbology

Native American tribes have given us the great gift of animal wisdom. This wonderful lore and legacy handed down to us can act as a daily oracle. When you see an animal or a representation of one, consider these meanings.

• Bear—emerging consciousness
  
• Beaver—building, manifesting hopes and dreams
  
• Bobcat—mystery and secrets, stealth and silence
  
• Buffalo—abundance and right livelihood
  
• Bull—fertility
  
• Cat—magic, the unknowable, autonomy
  
• Coyote—wisdom, recklessness
  
• Deer—kindness and tenderness, adventure and incorruptibility
  
• Dog—faithful guardianship
  
• Whale—song and music, inner intensity, creation
  
• Wolf—ritual and spirit, allegiance and custodianship 

Personal Vision Quest

Carve out at least twelve hours for this day-long journey to your inner self. Ideally, it should begin at first light of dawn and end past twilight. Traditional Native American vision quests lasted up to four days, but this one-day version is still an effective path to self-discovery. Another aspect of this vision quest is that it is safe and easily practiced by urban spiritual seekers who only have the weekends for mystical pursuits and who lack access to mountainous regions.

To ready yourself for your inner work, you should fast with juice, weak tea, and plenty of water. If you have access to a sauna, you can perform a purification to ready your spirit. Pack a bag with a sage smudge stick, matches, water, juice, a blanket, a cell phone, and anything you feel you need for safety of in case of an emergency, such as an energy or granola bar, apples, energy drinks, and so forth. Let someone know what you plan to do, and where you plan to do it, and ask them to meet you at a specified time to bring you home; the last thing you’ll want to do is trek to the bus or drive a car. While Native shamans traditionally sent people out into the wild, it is better to be safe. Select a garden or nearby park. Ideally, your place will be outdoors but if that is not possible, you can choose someplace different to contemplate. Do some research on the place you have selected so there are no surprises that can interfere with your plans.

Draw a circle in the dirt, sand, or grass with a fallen branch or with your feet. Bless the circle with sage smoke and choose rocks to mark the four directions. Now settle into being alone, utterly alone. Pray, meditate, and contemplate for as long as you can without interruption: no food, no books, no cell phone, and no distractions. Pay attention to nature around you and be prepared to receive a visit from your totem animal in the form of a vision. Think about who you are and where you are going, your origins, and your spirit. I recommend taking a journal and making notes, as you feel inspired. Chanting and singing is a good way to open your spirit. No two vision quests will be alike. I cannot predict what will happen to you, whether you will have epiphanies, breakthroughs, visions, or how insight will come to you. What I do know, however, is that you will undoubtedly know yourself better at the end of your vision quest.

If at any time you feel endangered or unwell, end your vision quest. The pursuit of spiritual enlightenment should not come at the cost of your safety.