Rituals for Magic and Meaning - Cerridwen Greenleaf

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his crystal ball with him at all times. At the height of the Renaissance, Paracelsus, a great philosopher and physician, claimed that conjuring crystals should be used in “observing everything rightly, earning and understanding what was.” They still appear in fairy tales and Disney movies, too. This proves how ingrained the notion of a crystal ball is to our culture. From these examples, we can see that crystal balls have been an integral part of our folklore, myth, magic, and metaphysics for a long time. When even mainstream people are familiar with the power of crystal balls, you can be sure their popularity has not declined in the slightest! The reputation and the power of crystal balls have not dampened, either. We still use them today for the same purposes they were used ages ago.

      When selecting a crystal ball, your choice should not be taken lightly. This is a very personal tool that will become instilled with your energy. Crystal balls have their own authority and they can strongly influence the development of our psychic abilities. You should think of the crystal as a container that houses your energy and make sure it feels right for you. The crystal should feel comfortable to hold—not too heavy and not too light. You should not allow anyone else to touch your crystal ball. If someone does touch it, place the ball in a bowl of sea salt overnight to cleanse it of outside energy and influence. Because quartz crystal balls have an inherent power, you have to practice working with them first. Pure quartz crystal balls can be quite expensive, but the price is worthwhile if you are serious about harnessing your intuition and using it for good. Don’t expect your experiences to be like the movies. Most of the people I know who use crystal balls, including many healers and teachers, see cloudy and smoky images.

      Work with a partner to sharpen your psychic skills. Sit directly across from your partner with the crystal ball between you. Close your eyes halfway and look at the ball and into the ball while harnessing your entire mind. Empty out all other thoughts and focus as hard as you can. You will sense your third eye, the traditional seat of psychic awareness, begin to open and project into the crystal ball. By practicing this way, you will train your mind. The patterns you see will become clearer and your impressions more definite. You should trust that what you are seeing is real and find a place of knowing, as I do with my stomach. Verbalize to your partner what you see, and then listen to your partner as she reveals her visions to you. After at least three rounds of individual reading and revealing, share visions at the same time to learn whether you are seeing the same things!

      You should also do crystal ball meditations on your own. In a darkened room, sit and hold your crystal ball in the palms of both hands. Touch it to your heart and then gently touch it to the center of your forehead, where your third eye is located. Then hold the ball in front of your physical eyes and, sitting very still, gaze into it for at least three minutes. Envision pure white light in the ball and hold on to that image. Practice the white-light visualization for up to a half hour and then rest your mind, your eyes, and your crystal ball. If you do this every day, within a month you should start to become an adept at crystal ball gazing.

      When we gaze into a crystal ball, it is possible to see into the fabric of time, both the past and the future. At first you may be able to see a flickering, wispy, suggestive image. Some of you may be able to see clearly defined visions on your first try. Most of us have to practice and hone our attunement with the energy of the ball. You must establish clearly your interpretation of what you see. Many psychics use a crystal ball in their readings, and some report seeing images of clients’ auras in the ball. Projecting information about people’s lives is a huge responsibility, so you need to feel sure about what you are reading. Learn to trust your body’s center of intuition. For me and for many other people, it’s a gut feeling—literally in my stomach. If I don’t get a feeling of confidence, of knowing in my gut, I simply explain that I don’t know what I’m reading or I’m not really “getting anything.” Be wary: It is far better to say you don’t know than to fake it.

      Making Wonderful Wands

      Most likely, you will use a wand in many of your daily activities. I recommend making your own wand, though you can find beautiful pre-made wands in metaphysical shops.

      To make your own wand, you should find a tree branch that has fallen to the ground on its own (no pruned branches!). Sand and polish the rough edges of the stick. The smoke of burning sage will nicely smudge the wand if you pass the stick through the smoke. You’ll need a variety of crystals to complete your wand. Affix large quartz near the handle. You should then find crystals with properties that will complement your magic to the wand. I recommend using citrine as the pointer for the wand, as it aligns your self-identity with your spirit. Refer to the table for more on stones you can use to harness various powers.

      Stones for Your Wand:

      Amber—Grounding

      Amethyst—Balance and Intuition

      Aventurine—Creative Visualization

      Bloodstone—Abundance and Prosperity

      Calcite—Warding Off Negativity

      Fluorite—Communicating with Fairies and other Unseen Beings

      Garnet—Protection From Gossip

      Geode—Getting Through Periods of Extreme Difficulty

      Hematite—Strength and Courage

      Jade—Wisdom to Interpret or Realize Powerful Dreams

      Jasper—Stability

      Lodestone—Bringing a Lover Back into Your Life

      Mahogany Obsidian—Feeling Sexy and Emanating Sensuality

      Moss Agate—Powers of Persuasion and Healing

      Quartz Crystal—Divining Your Dreams

      Rhodochrosite—Staying On Course With Your Life’s True Purpose

      Rose Quartz—Love

      Turquoise—Safety When Traveling

      Watermelon Tourmaline—Help with Planning Your Best Possible Future

      Consecrating Your Ritual Tools

      You should design a personal consecration ritual for your magical tools. Use the following ritual as a simple “temple template” to build on. In essence, in this ritual you are dedicating yourself and your tools for the betterment of all and setting a foundational intention for your good works. Every time you acquire a new tool or treasure, perform this rite. As you grow in experience, you can embellish the ritual. Refer to your Book of Shadows. Is there a certain phase of the moon that brings you more clarity? Should you use corresponding colors, crystals, essential oils, incenses, and herbs for your own astrological sun and moon sign? Is there a specific deity with whom you feel an affinity? Use these correspondences to begin designing the rituals of your dreams. The more associations you learn and use, the more effective your power will grow. Keep good notes of your ritual work in your BOS, and soon you will become a “maestro of magic.”

      Ritual Tools That Need Charging

      You will need a symbol of each of the four elements—air, earth, fire, and water—such as: a candle for fire, incense for air, a cup or water, a bowl of salt.

      One way to design your own ritual is to look at Chapter 8, which explains the four elements. Choose a symbol from the information there or from the appendices. Also let your instinct guide you to choose as you wish or what you are inspired by.

      Take the new ritual tool and pass it through the scented smoke of the incense and say:

      Now inspired with the breath of air.

      Then pass the tool swiftly through the flame of the candle and say:

      Burnished by fire.

      Sprinkle the tool with water and say:

      Purified by water.

      Dip the tool into the bowl of salt and say:

      Empowered by the earth.

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