Ritual 25: Monday, June 18, 2007

Waxing Moon

The moon and the sun join forces tonight in a waxing crescendo. We are nearly upon the Summer Solstice, the day of the year when the sun shines the longest. Tonight let's conjure Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess, whose glorious light warms the galaxy.

In one of her myths, Amaterasu hid herself in a cave, and the world began to perish in cold. Coaxed by the maneuverings of a tickster goddess, Amaterasu poked her head out of the cave's mouth and saw her face in a mirror. Stunned by her golden reflection, the great sun goddess decided she could not hide away such radiant beauty.

Amaterasu invites us to claim our personal power, our own gorgeous radiance. If you've been hiding yourself or your gifts in a metaphorical cave, tonight's the night to begin blessing the world with your brilliance. You'll need a sunflower or other golden yellow flower and two strands of yellow yarn.

We all possess an internal sun, an engine of life force and power. It lives in our will center, the third chakra, in the solar plexus area of the physical body. It's where we source personal agency. It is the fire of digestion. It is the fire of self-esteem.

Take in a deep belly breath -- breathe it in as the color yellow -- and feel the energy swirl in your will center. Stand tall and true, feeling that energy move through you.

Invoke Amaterasu with the sunflower. Behold the flower's wide, bold face as if it were the goddess herself.

Amaterasu, you are radiant, you are bright
I call your power to me this night

Wrap one of the yellow strands around the stem of the flower three times.

Amaterasu, I call upon you -- help me see the beauty in me
Amaterasu, I call upon you -- help me feel a power that's real
Amaterasu, I call upon you -- help me show these gifts I know

Secure the strand by tying a knot.

Use your will to breathe golden light into your belly. Do this several times to fuel your inner fire. Don't be surprised if you start to get warm! Now exhale fiercely onto the second yellow strand and proclaim:

I infuse this strand with the power to see my beauty and share my gifts.

Wrap the yarn around your waist, saying aloud:

This brilliant light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!

Now, tie the knot! The magic is complete!

Thank Amaterasu for her assistance and bid her farewell. Offer the sunflower to her as a gift. Wear the yarn around your waist until it falls off on its own.

You may wish to write the wise words of Marianne Williamson on a notecard to keep with you at work or at home: "You are a being of brilliance. Your playing small doesn't serve the world... as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

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