Simply Raw Nature –
A touch of magic

gita@awakeningtouch.ca

819 323-1455

shop
Cart
Participate to a SHAMANIC RETREAT, at Glastonbury from 19 - 22 March 

Transition – A Shamanic Perspective

Transition – A Shamanic Perspective

Transition is never just change; it is a sacred passage. From a shamanic perspective, transition is a journey between worlds, a threshold where the old dissolves and the seed of the new begins to stir. These times ask not only for courage but also for devotion to practice—the thread that keeps us nourished and connected.

Entering the Season of Darkness

Autumn transition invites us into a season of letting go, a descent into the fertile darkness—the season of the soul. The mind, with its analysis and control, cannot lead here. This is the feminine journey, a surrender into the night within, where mystery guides us in unseen ways. In mythology, we meet the Dark Mother—the goddess who births the light. Too often portrayed as villainous or terrifying, she is in truth a healer, a guide, and a portal of transformation. She shows us that unless we allow the old to die, the new cannot come forth. Like winter receiving and sheltering the seed, we too must trust the unseen process. In the depths, wounds rise—personal, ancestral, and collective. Healing comes through witnessing: to see, to feel, to sense. When brought into consciousness, the sacred feminine moves us through transformation.

Transition calls for flexibility, flow, and clarity of vision. This is why a daily practice is vital—it keeps us rooted, so we can navigate change with choice rather than being swept away by it. For us to move through transition consciously, we need anchors, practices, and ways of reflection that keep us connected to the thread of our becoming.

The Anchor of Practice

What is your minimum practice? The one thing you will not abandon, as natural as brushing your teeth before leaving the house, regardless how rushed you might be. This practice is your anchor, your bridge across the threshold. It doesn’t have to be complicated—what matters is that it is steady, nourishing, and effortless. In times of transition, when so much is shifting, this practice keeps your energy from scattering, it keeps you focused and allows you to be witness to the movement, rather than being swept away by it. It is what allows you to cross without losing yourself.

Portals All Around Us

Equinoxes, Solstices are portals.
New moon and full moon are portals.
Even sunrise and sunset open thresholds.

Each one is an invitation to pause, to root into your practice, and to step across with awareness. These portals remind us that transition is not an exception to life—it is the rhythm of life itself.

Trusting the Descent

The shamanic path teaches that growth does not come only from striving upward but from surrendering inward. By entering the depth of transition—holding steady to your simplest and most essential practice—you align with nature’s rhythm of death and rebirth. The darkness is not the end. It is the womb of the light to come.
✧ Points of Reflection.
Take time to pause and ask yourself:

  • What signs show you that you are in transition?
    Look for subtle shifts: a sense of restlessness, old patterns resurfacing, or do you become overwhelmed and drop what nurtures you, like your personal practice, your walk in nature, time with your favorite book etc.
  • How do you personally experience transition?
    Do you resist it, fight against it, or collapse under its weight? Or do you find yourself leaning into it, curious about what it might reveal?
  • What is your minimum practice?
    Identify the one ritual, prayer, or embodied presence that feels essential—the practice that holds you steady no matter what changes.
  • What portals call to you most strongly?
    Is it the moon, the sunrise, the silence before sleep, or the seasons turning? Noticing which natural rhythms speak to you will help guide your passage.
✧ Daily Practice & Accountability
Practice is your compass. Here are ways to keep steady during times of transition:

  • Keep a daily journal.
    I love when things are practical—bullet points, simple reminders, little sparks of joy that feel light and easy to follow. Just check them off and let them guide your day.
    If you’d like an example, have a look at the EN daily planner – Introduction from the Wisdom of the Season Cycle teaching.
    Keeping a daily journal is a powerful way to witness your own journey. With time, the pages reveal the map of your transformation—showing you how far you’ve come and inspiring the next step forward, creating a supportive momentum.
  • Anchor in ritual.
    Even a small ritual—a candle lit at dawn, a whispered prayer at sunset, a cleansing breath before sleep—creates sacred space and reminds you that you are moving through a portal, not just a schedule.
  • Visualizations to witness your transition:
    In the audio section of my website, you can find a guided visualisation. You are invited to enter a reflection on the process of transitioning. What supports this process and what hinders it. Transition – guided visualisation
In the Wisdom of the Seasons, the Celtic medicine wheel teachings, we are journeying deeper into the vibration of autumn. In this tradition, autumn marks the beginning of the year. It is a time to lay strong foundations before moving deeper to the dream of your soul (winter teaching), followed by planting the seed of this dream (spring teaching) to bring it into manifestation and maturation (summer teaching).
Autumn brings transition, guided by the element of water, reminding us to honour and tend our emotions. One of its key teachings is to complete cycles in a good way. Even when the new awaits us with promise, there is always a touch of sadness in letting go. This cleansing process is essential—it creates the space for the new to enter.
Transition is not a linear path; it is a spiral. Each time we descend, we return with more wisdom, more strength, and more light to share. The darkness is never an end—it is the womb of becoming.
Step across the threshold:
Wisdom of the seasons program – the cycle teaching
Awakening the Dark Goddess  activate the divine feminine
Resources :
Unlock Nature’s wisdom codes (free recordings on cycle teaching)
I would love to hear from you—leave a comment below and share how you are embracing autumn. What rituals, practices, or simple joys guide you through this season of change?
 

The Sacred Circle

The Sacred Circle

Remembering stirring in the hearts of women across the world. A call to gather, to sit in stillness and truth, to listen and be heard—not with judgment, but with reverence. This is the call of the Sacred Circle—a space outside of time, deeply rooted in the ancient, Earth-honoring ways of our grandmothers and ancestral lineages.

 

Reclaiming Ancient Wisdom Through Women Gathering

From a shamanic perspective, the Sacred Circle is more than a gathering—it is a living temple, shaped by the wisdom of the natural cycles, the turning of the seasons, and the timeless rhythm of the sacred feminine in all its faces. Here, we step beyond the contemporary hierarchy or separation. In circle, all are equal, all are honoured, and all are held.
The Power of Circle: A Sacred Remembering

The circle is one of the oldest and most universal symbols across indigenous traditions. It represents wholeness, unity, and the cyclical nature of all life—birth, death, rebirth. In shamanic cultures, the circle is a sacred container where the invisible becomes visible, and inner alignment happens as a natural expression of presence. When women come together in this way, something ancient awakens. The Sacred Circle becomes a mirror for the soul, a sanctuary where each woman is invited to lay down her burdens, speak her truth, and be witnessed in her wholeness.

Why We Gather: The Gifts of a Women’s Sacred Circle

🌕 Equality and Sacred Space

In the circle each woman is a reflection of the whole—a sacred thread in the collective weaving. We enter not to teach, fix, or advise—but to witness, listen, and hold space with open hearts. This spirit of shared wisdom and equal presence creates an atmosphere of profound safety.

🌿 Deep Listening and Witnessing

To be seen without masks. To be heard without interruption. To be held without judgment. These are rare gifts in today’s world. Within the circle, each voice is sacred. Each story, a piece of the greater whole. We practice deep listening as an act of devotion, not only to each other, but to the Spirit that moves through us.

🔥 Healing through Shared Presence

The Sacred Circle becomes an energetic womb—a place where grief, joy, anger, and longing are all welcome. As one woman shares, she speaks for the many. In her release, others soften. In her strength, others rise. Resonance invites renewal; fixing is not required.

🌙 Connection to the Natural Cycles of the universe

Rooted in ancient shamanic teachings, many circles align with the cycles of the Moon, the seasons, and the greater Cosmic Wheel. By gathering in rhythm with nature—whether at the New Moon, a Solstice, or an Equinox—we reconnect with the wisdom of the Earth and the sky. These Cosmic Cycles teach us that all life moves in rhythm—and we are threads in the great cosmic tapestry.

​

🌀 Remembrance of Ancient Ways

Through drum journeys, plant medicine, song, and story, we reawaken the old ways—the ways of the priestesses, medicine women, midwives, mystics and witches. We remember that we carry the wisdom codes of the Earth in our very bones.

 

” When women sit in circle, they remember their songs.”

Structure of the Sacred Circle: Weaving Spirit and Earth

While each circle is unique, many follow a sacred structure rooted in shamanic tradition:

  1. Opening the Circle

We begin by calling in the Four Directions, the elements, our guides, and the ancestors. The space is cleansed with sacred smoke or sound. An altar is created at the center, anchoring the energy and honoring the unseen.

  1. Creating Safe, Sacred Space

Intentions are shared. Agreements of confidentiality, presence, and non-judgment are spoken aloud. We co-create the container together, each woman a guardian of the sacred.

  1. Sharing and Witnessing

A talking piece is passed. Only the woman holding it speaks, allowing for slow, soul-full sharing. There is no cross-talk or advice—only presence.

  1. Ceremony, Journey, or Ritual

This may include shamanic drumming, guided meditation, dance, moon ritual, ancestral healing, or working with oracle cards. The ceremony is guided by the energy of the group and the spirit of the moment.

  1. Integration

Time is given to journal, reflect, or share insights. Sometimes there is music, chanting, or simple silence. The energy is gently grounded.

  1. Closing the Circle

We thank the directions, the guides, and each other. The altar is cleared, the space is released, and the circle is closed—but its energy continues to ripple through our lives.

In Circle, We Remember Who We Are

In the stillness of the Sacred Circle, our souls return to the knowing: we are part of the whole. We remember that healing does not come from doing, but from being held. That wisdom is not learned, but remembered through silence, song, and story.

This is the ancient way returning—not through grand declarations, but through quiet gatherings, one circle at a time.

“The drum is a doorway. The circle is the key. The journey is your remembering.”

If you feel the call in your bones,
If you long to sit in sacred space and walk between the worlds,
If you’re ready to trust the wisdom that already lives within you…

Then sacred circle is for you.

I invite you to step into the Sacred Shamanic Journey Circle—
a traditional gathering of women honoring the Earth, reclaiming inner wisdom, and awakening spiritual alignment.

I offer both online and in-person journey circles, where we gather in sacred space to explore the ancient practice of shamanic journeying.

This powerful tool is at the heart of my 6-month Awakening the Dark Goddess and the year-long Wisdom of the Season program.

Over the past few years, I’ve been called to hold deeper, wider spaces—spaces where real transformation unfolds. I’m excited to offer a new 8-week journey circle designed to support that depth.

To me, shamanic journeying is a direct, soul-guided path to reconnecting with your inner wisdom, deepening your intuition, and remembering your own truth.

You are warmly invited to join me—come as you are, and step into the rhythm of Spirit.

 

 

Celebrating Ostara, the spring equinox

Celebrating Ostara, the spring equinox

Spring Equinox marks the midway point between Winter and Summer Solstice. It is also the second of the three spring celebrations, the first one being Imbolc and the last one Beltane. Ostara has its roots in pagan Germanic traditions and honours the goddess Ēostre. In our contemporary life Spring Equinox might simply inspire a moment of marking spring and is an invitation to allow this season to inspire our personal reflections.

 

Why should we celebrate Equinox or Solstice?

Most of our lives are governed by modern life routines, an energy which is linear and left brain oriented. The cyclic rhythm of the seasons and presence of sunlight in the wheel of the year offers us moments of inspiration, to take time out, stop, and remind ourselves of our goals as well as to connect with our inner needs and soul’s wisdom. It offers a moment of calm, a moment to make time to take care of our needs, a time to connect with our family and friends, a time to honour the presence of Spirit in our lives.

As more and more people distance themselves from organized religion, nature offers us an undeniable powerful guidance and beauty. The sun governs the rhythm of our days and the cycle of our year. The solstices and equinoxes are therefore highlights of the cycle of the year – neutral yet so personal.

“The seasons carry a wisdom which inspires us to make positive changes in our lives.”

– Gita

Spring is a time of new beginnings

In the wisdom of the seasons teachings, Spring Equinox is the height of the spring season. We are called to step into the manifestation of our plans and ideas.

In the teachings and deep wisdom that nature reveals to us, this season is all about new cycles, exciting opportunities, a call for clarity and commitment, the planting of new seeds, cleansing the old, and releasing the dust of winter.

Equinox is a moment of perfect balance in a season of transition. We are moving from winter into summer. Transitioning can be challenging if we do not pay attention. Yet, in the middle of the season, we are offered this moment when day and night are equally long, when the sun offers us a moment of perfect balance.

This is a great opportunity for meditation, to find our center, to rest, get clarity and receive divine wisdom.

It is the season in which we welcome new opportunities, take on new collaborations or move forward with new ideas. We are also asked to step up, shake off winter fatigue, and let in the new and fresh energy. Spring cleaning comes to mind.

“When we connect to the teaching of the seasons and mother nature, and when we invite sacred moments into our daily routine, we bring magic back into our life.

– Gita

Create your personal spring ritual

The wisdom and inspiration which is offered to us in this spring season could fill books and hours of conversation. Over the years, inspired by the questions and comments of my students, I have put together many resources through which you can get inspired.

Some are simple and encourage a daily short practice, others will carry you deeper and open the door to a journey towards your inner knowing.

Integrate a daily practice

In the Shamanic Journey circle groups and in the Wisdom of the seasons in-person and online workshops, we pay a lot of attention to creating a daily practice. For it is only through daily practice and inspiration that we can be fully present and autonomous in our life.

Here are some ideas for daily practice:

        Meditation is a lifelong journey which should be done regularly.

The art to create a ritual is a simple act of being present and connecting to spirit and your inner wisdom. It is an act of honouring yourself and your connection with your integrity.

I would encourage you to find ways of making ritual relevant to your personal needs and the needs of your community. Your intention is what counts.

Throughout your practice, hold your intention with clarity in your heart and mind.

Spring Ritual Box

The ritual boxes are designed to help you celebrate each season. I have carefully selected the products and plant allies for their properties, in tune with each season, which calls for healing and transformation. They will help you to create a sacred space for your daily ritual and to follow your path inspired by the wisdom of each season. The Spring Ritual Box includes all you need for your very own ‘planting new seed’ ritual.

Do a Spring Cleansing

This beautiful season of bringing forth new life and new opportunities calls also for the release and cleansing of the old and stagnant energies of winter. A spring cleansing can be part of your ritual. Make room for new, inside and out. 

Each ritual should begin with a moment of smudging. Different burning herbs can be used for purification, although for this time and purpose, sage is the favorite.

The sound of a shamanic rattle can also be used to purify your home and sacred spaces.

Tending your sacred space and your altar is particularly important to renew your commitment and invite new energy.

 

Get issue #1 of the publication Wisdom of the Witch to accompany you in creating your sacred altar.

Connect to your community

The path towards inner wisdom and discovery of ourselves is a path which, ultimately, we have to journey on our own. Knowing who you are and what gift you carry is revealed in this path of discovery of the Self. It brings sovereignty and autonomy.

Community is the way we nourish ourselves on this journey. We find safety in the sacred circle with others and inspiration when we listen to their own discoveries.

 

  • Journey the medicine wheel and discover the wisdom of the seasons, a 1-year online programm. You can follow the program at your own pace, with access to additional inspirations and in-person support when needed. Once you have completed the one-year cycle, you will have a new vision and understanding of your life and your relationships. This teaching will inspire and nourish your live journey.
  • Join the community The witches cauldron on FB to have access to hours of video, inspiration to your own journey and an opportunity to join the conversations on different subjects and teachings.
  • Sign up to the newsletter to stay tuned for offers and opportunities, recipes, and inspirations.

May this spring season blow new wind into your journey of self-discovery and open your heart be filled with new buds of gorgeous fragrant joy and beauty.

Celebrating Yule, the winter solstice

Celebrating Yule, the winter solstice

Yule is an indigenous winter festival with its roots deeply in the pagan traditions of Germanic peoples, northern European traditions and modern pagans. It is marked by the Winter Solstice, the longest night. The way it is celebrated may differ depending on the tradition, but essentially it is a celebration of conquering the dark and turning towards the light. In the ancient customs people come together to offer food to the Gods, followed by a large feast. Rituals are being performed to call for blessings as we prepare for the new cycle. Traditionally it is a 13-day celebration, honouring the elements. It begins with the element of fire celebrating the return of sunlight.

The winter season is dream time

In the wisdom of the seasons teaching, the Winter Solstice is the height of the winter season. We are called to journey within, to connect to our roots and sit with our ancestors to remember who we are.
 
This year we are also blessed with the new moon, which falls on the 23rd of December, enhancing the presence of the energy of darkness, offering a rare opportunity to be cradled by the dark silence to truly perceive our most precious light, the spark we hold within us – the spark of limitless opportunities.
 
The archetypes of the hermit and the crone will allow us to discover the teaching which lies in this magical period of the year. We are called to create moments of true silence and stillness. It is in those moments that we get a glimpse of our deepest knowing.
 
This inner wisdom holds the wisdom of our ancestors as well as the wisdom formed through our life’s journey. So, each year as we repeat this process, the experiences from the previous year will join the wisdom of our ancestors and our soul’s gift, to bring forth the beauty and light, which will carry us into our new cycle.

The question simply is this: will we have the courage and patience to sit in the dark and listen to the sound of silence?

Inspiration for practices during this period:

  • Create time for yourself in preparation for the winter solstice.
  • Do some shamanic journey with the teachers, the crone and/or the hermit. Ask to be taken to your soul spark of light which is ready to journey with you into the new cycle.
  • Prepare a winter solstice ritual or join others in their celebration.
  • Make a list of questions you would like to ask yourself to prepare the journey back towards Imbolc (2nd of February) which marks the beginning of spring in the wisdom of the seasons teaching.
  • Allow rest for your body and nourishment for your soul.

Winter Solstice is the tipping point after which we are moving again towards the growing of light and longer days. It is therefore the end of our growing circle and can inspire the following questions:

  • What have I outgrown?
  • What am I ready to leave behind to make space for the new?

Moving towards the light and a new cycle of growth, we are reminded that the future holds infinite possibilities. The teaching of the winter encourages us to dream the dream of our soul. To remember that we carry within us the spark of limitless opportunities. Ask yourself:

  • What new inspirations are sparked within me?
  • What transformation and what growth would l like to bring to life in this new cycle.
This time is dream time; no dream is too big. It is time to seize the moment, to connect to your gift and pure potential.

Keep a journal! Note your questions and write down answers which might come in dreams, during meditation, while walking in nature or any other time. Don’t limit yourself by judging them or thinking of limitations. Simply collect them. Dream! 

May the longest night and the shortest day, bring rest to your mind and soul, I pray. May you find guidance, and may you find peace, as the cycle of light will slowly increase. Embrace the magic that the darkness bears, breath deep in the chill and shift in the air. May you always be blessed with the light from within, and may well-being be yours as the new cycle begins.

Get issue #3 of the publication Wisdom of the Witch to know the wisdom of the seasons.

Celebrating Samhain

Celebrating Samhain

Samhain, pronounced (Sow-in), is a Gaelic festival celebrating the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the ‘dark half’ of the year. It is also known as the Celtic new year or the Witches’ New Year.
Samhain marks the mid-point between autumn equinox and winter solstice and with this the beginning of the winter season. In the outside world the darkness takes over the light, and nature is truly coming to rest. We are asked to firmly begin our journey of looking within.
It is the night when the veil to the otherworld is thin and therefore offers an opportunity to be in contact with our ancestors, to receive guidance and inspirations for the new cycle – the journey towards our inner wisdom. In many cultures November 1st is recognised as the day of the dead. In contemporary life it has been expanded into what we know as Halloween.

What is Samhain?

Samhain is the celebration of the dead. It is at this time when we take a moment to contemplate and remember the importance Death plays in our life’s cycles.
 
In the teaching of the wisdom of the seasons, Samhain is the moment when autumn finishes and winter begins. We know autumn to be the season of transition, the season when we harvest. Nature teaches us how to let go, how to bring things to completion, and how to allow our energy to return to our roots, where we stay dormant during winter.
 
To learn how to let go, to surrender to the natural movement, to truly receive the harvest and acknowledge the feeling of loss as well as of gratitude for the abundance we receive through this process, is the blessing offered to us in this teaching. When we do this process well, we create space for new insights, for a moment of rebirth, promised to us in the depth of the silence of winter.
 
In nature we observe how trees and plants return their vital energy back to their roots. Equally we are called to connect to our roots during the dark half of the year. Samhain is therefore the moment when we call to the wisdom of our ancestors, to share with us their knowledge and teaching. Through their inspiration we are now ready for the journey within. The silence and external darkness offer the gift of listening to our intuition and learning how to use our senses to connect to our intuition.

Guardian spirits of Samhain

All ancient traditions will have a guardian and archetype which is particularly related to the celebration of transformation, death, and rebirth. I have journeyed with and would like to introduce to you the following three.

Morrigan

Goddess and guardian of the dead. The
goddess of witchcraft and death, protection and retribution.
 
She carries the gift of moving the soul through the cycles. She is the triple source of power needed to regenerate the cycles of life. The symbols of circles and spirals are associated with her. The raven and vulture and the owl are her companions. Shapeshifting, death and transformation, regeneration and renewal are only some of the powers she is known for.
 
She is the moon goddess, representing the three phases maiden, mother and crone.
 
The Celtic gods Dagda and Lugh are named to be her consorts.
 
Dancing with her energy demands courage. She will take you to meet your shadows, she will move you through the process of death and letting go.
 
And if you call on her, if you put your trust in her, she will take you through the cycles from surrender into rebirth.

La Catrina

La Catrina is Mexico’s lady of death. She is a reminder to enjoy life and embrace death.

In this tradition the day of the dead is a celebration rather than a somber event. Altars are set up in the homes and filled with the favorite foods of the departed. The celebration also includes visiting family and friends and sharing gifts and sweets.

Raven

Magic is the first force which comes with the presence of the raven spirit. The raven assists us in becoming one with our will and intent, achieving great change, allowing dreams to become reality while opening doors to deeper powers of healing.

He signifies rebirth, renewal, and healing. He helps with transformation and transitions bringing light into darkness. He is the perfect companion for shapeshifting. He is a master of dismemberment, teaching us how to let go and move onto the next cycle.

The raven is a guardian and keeper of secrets.

Call on the raven to unleash your inner magic. He will teach you to hear messages from the otherworld and show you the real beauty of your shadow side.

Celebrating Samhain

Any celebration should be in resonance with your personal practice and means. It is the intension which counts. Keep it simple and relevant. Make it fun. Allow yourself to be surprised.

Celebrating life while embracing death can seem like a bit of a challenge. I invite you to include a sacred ritual in your celebration which will give you the space and opportunity for a calm reflection. Then when the ritual is done you can continue with different forms of your celebration. As Samhain marks the moment of transitioning from autumn into winter season, we are called to make a last effort of releasing negative energy from our lives, our habits and our mind. When we cleanse, we make space for new visions and opportunities. Begin with a cleansing ritual and let it naturally flow into the celebration of life.

Prepare your Samhain ritual

1. Cleanse your space

In shamanic healing cleansing is done through smudging and using sound in particular the rattle. You may choose to do a cleansing ritual before setting up for your Samhain ritual or include it, thus beginning your celebration with cleansing.

Prepare your smudging bowl and burning incense. Cedar or sage are particularly good for this purpose.

For your ritual light your incense and smudge your room, tools, sacred space and all people participating. State clearly your intension of releasing negative energies and blockages. Letting go of behaviors, dependencies and attachments. Then play your rattle and repeat the process using sound. Call on the spirit guides for release – the raven if you are courageous!

Continue with the incense and rattle until you feel the energy has shifted.

 

2. Build your altar

Take some time to prepare your altar space. I take this time to cleanse my existing altars and move things around. I clean away decorations and offerings from autumn. I change the spirit mask and other elements. I make sure I have a representation of Morrigan and La Catrina. I add candles and new offerings: fruits, sweets, mead, lotions and magic potions, herbal blends in tinctures, incense, herbal bath sachets, smoking blends to name just a view.
 
If building an altar is new to you, you might like to look at the post ‘Creating a sacred altar for daily connection’ and the Wisdom of the Witch publication ‘Creating your altar’.

Prayer to the dead

In your preparation for your Ritual think of the people and ancestors you would like to honour. If you know their likes, consider making a dish or include an offering of a food or drink they liked. Prepare a short prayer or song to connect with them, so they know that they are not forgotten and included in the celebrations.
 

Samhain invites you to…

Reflect on the following questions:

  • What part within me am I ready to let go of? What is ready to die?
  • What do I need to release to transform?
  • What can be revealed from my shadows? What light can emerge from the darkness?
  • What magic is awaiting me in the dark?
  • What is the message from my ancestors?
  • How can I best nourish myself in this winter season?

You may like to do a shamanic journey to receive answers to these questions and be in communication with Morrigan and the raven to ask for assistance in this process.

 

“Samhain is here, cold is the earth, as we celebrate the cycle of death and rebirth. Tonight we speak to those through the veil, the lines between worlds are thin and frail. Ghosts and spirits in the night, magical beings rising in flight, owls hooting up in a moonlit tree, I don’t fear you and you don’t fear me. As the sun goes down, far to the west, my ancestors watch over me as I rest. They keep me safe and without fear, on the night of Samhain, the Witches’ New Year.”

Morrigan, Morrigan Three times Three,

Hear the words I ask of Thee.

Grant me vision, Grant me power

Cheer me in my darkest hour.

As the night overtakes the day,

Morrigan, Morrigan light my way…

Morrigan, Morrigan Raven Queen,

Round and round the Hawthorn green.

Queen of beauty, Queen of Art,

Yours my body, Yours my heart.

All my trust I place in thee,

Morrigan, Morrigan be with me…

Luna’s Grimoire

 

Celebrating the change of seasons by celebrating the related festivals will allow you to live more in tune with them, awakening the energies associated with them and allowing them to manifest in your life. By celebrating Samhain, the passage from fall to winter, you will allow yourself the opportunity to enter a new cycle dedicated to the journey inward. I hope you will take full advantage of this season to take time to listen to the messages and connect with your intuition.

Get issue #3 of the publication Wisdom of the Witch to know the wisdom of the seasons.

A ritual to support you in your spring cycle

A ritual to support you in your spring cycle

Ritual is a powerful transformative tool which can be incorporated into the daily routine or done at specific times. Ritual often marks the beginning or end of a period or activity. Other times a ritual is used to honour and celebrate a specific moment. The more connected you are to the cycle of life, the more you will see that there are many occasions that can be honored with ritual. As we move out of winter and into spring, I invite you to live this transition through a ritual of connecting to your roots and calling upon the support and strength that will sustain you in this new cycle, by connecting to an element of nature: the tree.

The intention for this ritual

Begin your ritual by setting your intention.

Decide on a tree of your choice with which you would like to connect. Then formulate your intention using the following inspiration:

  • To remember your own roots and the strength and grounding they give you.
  • To experience strength.
  • To remember all the support available to you in your next cycle.

This ritual can be done outside if you have access to a tree in your garden, park or woods near your home. Choose a place where you feel safe and will not be disturbed. If not, you can do this in your home connecting to a tree through a photo or image.

Take the time to write down any personal intentions you would like to include in this ritual. Use a notebook or journal to write down any keywords or ideas that come to you, then formulate a clear intention. For example:

  • Remember all the support available to me which I can draw on to thrive in this new cycle.
  • Reconnect to the faith in my life that will fuel my confidence.
  • Connect to the power of nature to awaken the strength within me.
  • Experience a moment of rejuvenation.

Ritual is a powerful transformative tool which can be incorporated into the daily routine, mark times of transition, or to celebrate specific moments.

The setup of your ritual space

The next step is to begin with setting up your ritual space which can be very simple or as elaborate as you like!

If you are outside:

  • Choose your tree.
  • Set up a blanket to sit on at the base of the tree allowing you to lean against it during the ritual.
  • Decorate your space by forming a sacred circle around you and your tree. You can do this with stones, flowers, leaves, branches, or anything else you find in nature.
  • Choose different items to make it personal: candles, incense, instruments, crystals, a small statue, a picture, fruits (as an offering or as a feast for the end of the ritual), etc.
  • Bring into the circle any tools you may need: your intention notes, a notebook and pen for writing or a recorder if you prefer to have a natural flow during the visualization, etc.
If you are inside:

  • Choose the space where you will do your ritual. You can sit in a comfortable chair, on your couch, or even on your bed with the altar in front of you, on a desk, tray, (or anything else) etc. You can also sit on the floor or, like many of my friends, do your ritual in your bath, a place where you can close the door and not be disturbed.
  • Decorate your space in the same way as suggested for the outside. Place flowers around you in a circle, crystals, a statue… anything that speaks to you. For the bathroom, add candles in the room and scented oils in your bathwater.
  • Place an image of a tree showing its large root system near you, to support your visualization.

The ritual

1. Mark the beginning of the ritual

Once you are ready, mark the beginning of your ritual. I like to form a circle by putting salt or tobacco as an offering all around me in the outer line of the circle. I call on all my helping spirits to assist me. I say a prayer to acknowledge the spirit of the tree and the nature spirits around me. You can sing a song, ring a bell, or play a drum. You can dance or just sit in silence.

2. Connect with the tree you have chosen

Whether it is the tree you are leaning against or the image of a tree in front of you, begin to visualize the tree, focusing on the roots deeply pushing into the earth, and start contemplating what nourishes the tree, and the communication of the trees with their environment.

Connect to the root system and use this image to think about your own roots! What represents the strongest roots in your life? What gives you the most security and keeps you strong during life’s challenges? Take your time to let the ideas and images come into your mind. Think of all the strengths you have that you might take for granted. Emotional strength, knowledge through education, knowledge through experience, friends and connections in the community, spiritual practices, and more. Take your time and be open to surprises. Let your emotions guide you.

Then direct your thinking to what feeds the tree. Where does it get its nutrients from? The soil around it provides all the food it needs to grow strong. What does the soil in which you are rooted provide you with? Where do you get your true nourishment? Gather images and ideas in your mind. If you need to, you can open your eyes and write them down or record them.

Direct your final thoughts to the communication that trees have with their environment. The root system has an elaborate form of communication with the other roots of the trees around them, through which the trees inform each other of possible diseases, allowing them to develop resistance in advance. Who or what is the support that you can rely on? Allow yourself to receive all the information and record your impressions and visions.

Before you step out of your visualization, take stock of all the amazing support and strengths you have to build your own personal root system for your life. Next, set an intention for your new cycle that begins this spring and think about your plans for the new year. What do you want to add to your life? What new branches or leaves will grow on your tree in this new season? These may be specific projects or qualities in your relationships, such as peace, harmony, strength, joy, and abundance. Make a clear statement and remind yourself of all the support and strength available to you through your roots.

3. Complete the ritual

Once you are out of your visualization, take notes of your experience. Let your creativity flow by listening to the inspirations and new ideas that may come naturally. You can continue to celebrate this new energy within you with a song, dance, or other creative project. Then thank all the spirits and people who have helped you with this ritual. Take time to undo your sacred space. Clean it up, put all the objects back in their place. You may wish to keep a representation of your ritual space. Keep a crystal, flower or leaf and place it on your personal altar as a reminder of this energy. You can also keep a small altar on a tray to continue your prayer and intention for a while longer. You will see, in the days to come you will feel the presence of the energy of your ritual!

This ritual ‘connecting to your roots’ will raise your energy to another level, at a time of year when we are entering the spring season. Connected to your own roots, you will be able to draw on your strengths and what nourishes you and find the support you need to bring your projects to life. To accompany you throughout the spring season, treat yourself to the Spring Ritual Box made up of a collection of our products which have been carefully selected for you to assist you to create your sacred space, and continue in the manifestation of your seasonal intentions.