Ritual 11: Monday, March 12, 2007

Waning Moon

Ninety-five years ago today saw the birth of the first Girl Scout troop. As a former Girl Scout myself, I recognize the importance of structures that support sisterhood. Goddess-worshipping women often converge in covens. Spirited women of many faiths and none in particular create what I would call quasi-covens, like the famed Ya-Ya Sisterhood. (I only just discovered that Rebecca Wells, the author of the Ya-Ya series, offers up a full moon greeting on her website!) Whatever you call your circle of gal-pals or your goddess group, there's some kind of agreement that bonds you all. Girl Scouts have a "promise" and a "law". Your group has its own rules (plus maybe even an oath, secret names or a handshake).

Tonight's magical adventure is to articulate the agreement you have with your spiritual sisters — your "promise" or "law". If you tend to fly solo, then consider, instead, the agreement you have with yourself.

Create a sacred space to settle in for some writing. A few candles, a cup of tea, your favorite journal, a comfortable chair. Invite the Egyptian goddess Nephtys to sit with you. Nephtys was the twin sister of Isis and always came to her sister's aid during her times of need. Ask Nephtys to help you tune your mind and heart to the theme of sisterhood.

Free write for at least five minutes about your sisterhood, however you define it, or sisterhood in general. Then ask yourself the following questions, and give yourself plenty of time to respond to each in your journal:

"What am I committed as it relates to my spiritual sisters?"
"How do I conduct myself in a way that supports this commitment?"
"What is my promise to my sisters?"

For you staunch individualists, swap "self" for "sisters".

Don't make anything up in this exercise. A fabricated commitment unravels quickly and its threads tend to trip us up. Really look at what is so for you. What are you committed to? How do you support your commitment? What really is your promise?

Now ask yourself an important magic-making question:

"What simple statement can I back with action that reflects my true commitment to my sisters?"

Chew on that a bit. Say it aloud. Then jot some notes. Ask your heart and Nephtys to guide you now in crafting an oath of sisterhood.

Write down your new oath, but don't swear to it just yet. Let it sit for two weeks until after the new moon, the time of fresh starts, after it's had a chance to percolate. For now, bid Nephtys farewell. We'll pick this up again on the 26th. Between now and then, do something kind for one of your spiritual sisters.

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