Click To Listen
Written by Ivo Dominguez Jr • Narration by James C. Welch
Inspired by the Troupe of the Starry Door Ostara 2020 ritual
Pathworking:
Close your eyes and move inwards. Take a deep breath and become aware of any distractions from the outside world— sounds, sensations, thoughts and feelings that came with you to this moment. Gather these distractions together ••••• and bid them depart until you return from this journey. •••••
Open your eyes briefly and then close them again holding within yourself the image of where you are in the here and now. See a sparkling mist rolling, slowly filling your vision. See it grow thicker, and thicker, and thicker until you are enveloped in swirls of pearly mist, rosy mist, that glistens with sparkling motes. ••••• Although you are still, you feel motion all around you. Although you are still, you feel the fog swirling all around you.
The mist begins to thin and to lift up. As it thins you find that you are in a great forest with the buds on the trees just starting to open. It is early in the morning. The sun’s slanting light spreads honeyed light across the land. Smell the richness of the forest in the air and listen to the layered sounds of the wilderness. ••••• You notice that there is a faint path through the woods. A faint path where the passage of feet, paws, and hooves have pushed aside enough of the plants so that you know where to walk. You take the path and hear the crunch of leaves and twigs with each step. We hear faint chanting that grows stronger with every step. ••••• ••••• (Salt and Water chant)
You step into a large clearing in the woods and find yourself among a circle of people. The crowns of the trees are intertwined forming a living temple. •••
You hear a voice made from the breeze, made from the stirring of branches, from the notes of birdsong, and the beating of your heart. It is strange and familiar and fills you with longing. •• It speaks to you of the rising power of life returning, of the power of the green, • and the buzzing of bees, of the knowledge that life cannot be held back. The voice speaks to you with the tones of a dear friend offering comfort and encouragement. Listen. •••••
A golden shaft of sunlight rushes through the crowns of the trees and illuminates a stone altar in the center of the clearing. There you see bowls of seeds and mounds of Spring flowers, and goblets filled with water surrounded and interwoven with bright ribbons and lace. It is gloriously abundant and bright with color. •••
You look around and see the smiles upon the faces of all the people that form a ring around the clearing. •••• With unspoken agreement you all bow reverently to the center. •• Some silently and some aloud the gathered company speak the names of the Great Ones, the Shining Ones, the Powers, and all call for the blessing of Spring. •• A deep sense of presence fills the space and your heart. ••
(Sweet Water, Warm Sun chant)
You feel drawn to go to the central altar, others are doing the same. Some have started to chant again. ••• You walk up to altar. ••• With smiles of encouragement, those at the altar point to the seeds and the goblets of water. •
You lift the goblet and raise it to the sky. •• You lower the goblet and pour some water on the ground, and then you drink the water. ••
The water is crisp, cool, refreshing, and moves through you with the joy of a creek rushing with the fullness of Spring rains. •••
You reach out to one of the bowls of seeds and run your fingers through them feeling each texture and shape. • • As you run your fingers through all these possibilities, one seed seems especially right for you and you take hold of it. •• This is the seed that will go home with you and be planted in soil, or mind, or heart, as needed. ••• You return to your place in the circle. • There you watch with a full heart as others have their time at the altar. ••
All have been refreshed and given a seed of promise. As one voices are lifted in thanks and gratitude. ••• You offer your words as well. •••
(Promise of Green chant)
A fog begins to roll into the clearing •• The fog carries singing voices and you listen. •••• Although you are still, you feel motion all around you. You feel the swirling and the turning all around you. ••
Little by little, the fog lifts and you flutter your eyes open and find yourself back in the here and now. Back in the place where we began. Back in the place you held in your memory so that you could return. •••
Take a deep breath. Move your toes and fingers. Be here and in the now. Be here and in the now. And you are here!