Here I will share addapted rituals & those I created my self for Irish or Triple Realms cosmology (Land, Sea, & Sky)for working in sacred space or with the realms, animal allies, an Earth Mother whom I call Danu, Anu, Morrigan.
"the witch" ~ An Cailleach (pron."On Kyle-yoch" which means hag or trouble maker). I have been known as a trouble maker but not a hag, so for me I would use Bhean draoi (pron. Ban-Dree; which means woman, magic)which is one of the terms for witch in Irish/Gaeilge. I am not a Wiccan, I have never work well with deity/panthion stuff, though I respect it. I simply know & love the Earth as my creatrex or creative & resorbing spirit, also protector. The spiritual path or life of a witch has much responce ability and connection with the wounderful & that which brings up our deepest fears.
The Earth Mother, "Danu," to me is not just a caring birth mother to all beings that live or exist here, she is also a protective and distructive force to be reconded with. Look at the weather & Earth desesters, these changes of the Danu's body are balancing actions & calls of awareness to her childern I just hope we get the message. She is not getting revenge or anything like that. She is mearly reacting and doing her part in the balance. If we work with her, she will respond well. If not more balancing events will ocure. Help her childern "animal, human, plant..." when desester strikes for you will be helping your self and acting in service of Danu. When she feels us helping each other she knows there is hope for balance and reconection with us all.
Triple Realms Cosmology
In my Irish practice of Witchcraft I do not work with the 4 elements- Earth, Air, Fire, Water, plus spirit~connected to the pentacle & pentagram. That is a cerimonial construct taken from a diferent path and people. I feel it would not have been used by pre-Celtic people. I work with the Realms of Land, Sea, Sky. The triple realms of Land, Sea, & Sky is symbolised by the Triple Spiral or Triskele. These Realms are all parts of the Danu, all interconnected as well.
Here you will find The Sky, Sea, Land realms and Irish/Celtic cosmology layout and explaned as best I can. ~*this is still being writen and will be up soon*~
In creating secred space or reastablishing reality for spiritual work I use The Triple Spiral as a focusing tool instead of the pentacle & pentagram to connect with & invite the realms, as a protective amulet, and symbol of my spirituality.
I have always had problems with the idea that the Elements have roots in certain directions. When depending on where you live or are holding ritual the largest body of water maybe in the south instead of the west or whatever maybe common practice in cerimonial ritual layout. For me this did not reflect the natural world. For Danu/The Earth is not flat, nor square. She has curves and is always cycling which is reflected much better in the Triple Spiral. When we explore or study nature we notice that depending on where we are land is surounded or surounding Ocean, Sea, or lake. That a waterfall is Land, Sea, and Sky all in one. When it rains and snows we see and feel Sky and Sea togather, falling to meet with the Land. They come from any and all directions. Anyway, the piont of sacred space is to bring us closer to deity (Danu) and to allow our minds to unfocus on the everyday problems, to be able to just be. So we can focus on the momment or create change in a way that works with nature.
In other paths of witchcraft when casting circle many would draw pentagrams in the air or map it out on the ground. Insted I use the triskele & work in 3's as much as possible. Here is a Hedgewitch circle casting to give you a idea of how I go about this. It shows both the standerd Elements & Triskele casting.
As for Elementals and Elements there are far more than just four to work with. There is the winds, stones, river spirits, water its self, herbs & plant spirits, Trees, moutains, hills, Animal Allies, Fairies/Faeries, thunder & lightning storms, lakes, streams, fire through flame or desert place and so much more to know & work with. In the triple Realms there are plants, stones, animal allies, weather, winds, extra~ that are consider part of or symbols of each realm. They are alined and help with connecting and working with Danu for different perposes and lessions. Each person who wishes to walk this path & work magick must figure out what elementals, nature energys, spirits/allies are willing to work with you that you feel comfertable with.
The easiest way to start is to be in nature and experence it. If you feel drawn to a place, animal, plant, whatever. Allow your self to spend time geting to know it, learn as much as you can. Be in its presences as offen as you can ~such as~ just sitting there beside it, near, or touching (whatever is safest)...how do you feel?...breath...what do you feel it is feeling?...sketch it or part of the area that you feel is the heart or spirit of the place...or write a song, a poem...how are you like or simliar to the spirit or___... leave offerings that will not harm nature as thanks for what ever you learn or feel and to show respect. If it is a plant, like a herb, maybe grow some in your own home on the windowsill or garden and in thanks for its shared wisdom give it care.
We all must walk the path our selves to learn how to work with the Danu and the balance within our selves. The Balance of our dark & light selves that make us whole beings. The dark & light blend of Nature & Danu.
May you find Peace in the Shadows of Danu, Cloe
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