Ritual 7: Monday, February 12, 2007

Waning Moon

As close as today is to the 14th, it would be a surprising soul who did not tilt her attention forward to Valentine's day — to dream or disparage. An industry sweetheart inspiring lust for (or angst about) romantic bliss, this corporate holiday does little to address issues of real love. For a "meaningful definition of love," we can turn to bell hooks, renowned feminist scholar, who endorses M. Scott Peck's definition in her book All About Love: Love is "the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth."

Within these terms, your magical Moonday explorations are vital expressions of love. You have faithfully nurtured your own spiritual growth by giving yourself sacred time and space each week to celebrate, meditate and create; to empower, witness, discover, and transform yourself. You are a pioneer on the path of self-love. In the words of Ms. hooks, "Self-love is the foundation of our loving practice. Without it our other efforts to love fail." As a self-loving soul sister, you are laying the groundwork for intimacy with others.

Tonight's magic is simple. A cup and some water are all you need. Well, a chalice might serve our purposes better than a cup, perhaps, so if you have a gorgeous goblet or a favorite champagne flute, you may want to use that instead. But if all you have handy is a disposable Dixie, that will be just fine. The magic will still work.

A cup is a symbol of love, and water is more essential to our bodies than food. Tonight, you'll nurture yourself with this essential element, by filling your cup to overflowing. Literally.

Pour drinkable water into your cup. Watch the water rise to the lip of your sacred vessel. Keep pouring. Don't be stingy or controlled. (Is that how you love?) Let the water spill all over the place. Do this simple ritual over the sink if you need to play it safe.

A waning moon is not the traditional time for an abundance ritual. In the context of our contemporary lives, however, now is the perfect time to experience the abundance of love and care you provide for yourself. You may need to practice allowing others to provide for you, but that is another working. Now is the time to recognize all the ways that you are an excellent mate... for yourself.

With your overflowing cup between your two hands, empower the water with your words of acknowledgment. Speak aloud directly into the water. Name specific occasions you acted on behalf of your own well-being. The water will absorb your words of self-appreciation. Now drink! As you imbibe, you bless yourself inside. This is called an in-drinking spell.

May your cup runneth over with love always.

After the ritual, share your experience in our community section.