Here is a copy of tonight’s ritual at The Welcoming Circle. We had a powerful discussion about how all emotions serve holy purposes in our lives.

EMPOWERING YOUR EMOTIONS

ANOINTING WITH DARK SUN OIL—David Taliesin (It was charged during the solar eclipse of 2017.)

Whatever emotion is causing you harm,
May it be transformed into a source of power and strength.

CALLING THE QUARTERS—David Taliesin

We turn to the East and ask the Elemental Spirits of Air
To be with us tonight.
Guardians and Ancestors, teach us the value of fear
Which alerts us to danger
And helps us to prepare for battle.
Hail and welcome!

We turn to the South and ask the Elemental Spirits of Fire
To be with us tonight.
Guardians and Ancestors, teach us the value of anger
Which give us the motivation we need
To fight for what is just and true.
Hail and welcome!

We turn to the West and ask the Elemental Spirits of Water
To be with us tonight.
Guardians and Ancestors, teach us the value of sadness
Which helps us to mourn what we have lost
And becomes a healing balm for our hearts.
Hail and welcome!

We turn to the North and ask the Elemental Spirits of Earth
To be with us tonight.
Guardians and Ancestors, teach us the value of envy
Which challenges us to look within
And discover the gifts we already possess.
Hail and welcome!

Divine Presence, Great Mystery,
Who is known to us by many names,
Guide us in our process of discernment tonight.
Teach us how to harness the power
Of all the emotions we experience in life.
Hail and welcome!

A PERSONAL EMOTIONAL JOURNEY—David Taliesin

Instruction: Make sure everyone has a pen and paper.

On the table there are four different colors of yarn, each corresponding with one of the directions.

To the East we have white, which represents FEAR. To turn “white as a ghost” is a common expression associated with fear. When used negatively, fear can paralyze us. Fear can render us helpless and make us want to hide from whatever challenges we need to face in life. If you feel like FEAR is holding you back this week, take one of the white strings and sit with it. Tie it around your wrist if you like. Use the paper to explore the nature of your fear and to seek Divine wisdom regarding how you can use this emotion in a positive way in your life.

To the South we have red, which represents ANGER. To burn “red with anger” is a common expression associated with this emotion. When used negatively, anger can cause us to harm others physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Anger can cause us to make rash decisions without thinking them through. It can quickly set things into motion we cannot take back. If you feel like ANGER has a stranglehold on your life this week, take one of the red strings and sit with it. Tie it around your wrist if you like. Use the paper to explore the nature of your anger and to seek Divine wisdom regarding how you can use this emotion in a positive way in your life.

To the West we have blue, which represents SADNESS. “Feeling blue” is a common expression associated with sadness. When used negatively, sadness can paralyze us. It can cause us to withdraw from the support of others. Sadness can put us in a spin cycle of depression, regret and mourning that never ends. If you feel like SADNESS is holding you back this week, take one of the blue strings and sit with it. Tie it around your wrist if you like. Use the paper to explore the nature of your sadness and to seek Divine wisdom regarding how you can use this emotion in a positive way in your life.

To the North we have green, which represents ENVY. To turn “green with envy” is a common expression associated with this emotion. When used negatively, envy can cause us to do whatever it takes to possess what we desire, even if it is harmful to others. Envy can also make us blind to the blessings we already have in our midst. If you feel like ENVY is holding you back this week, take one of the green strings and sit with it. Tie it around your wrist if you like. Use the paper to explore the nature of your fear and to seek Divine wisdom regarding how you can use this emotion in a positive way in your life.

[SPACE FOR QUITE DISCERNMENT. This is followed by an opportunity to anyone to share what insights they gained during this time of meditation.]

DISMISSING THE CIRCLE—David Taliesin

Guardians and Ancestors of the North,
Elemental Spirits of Earth,
Teach us how to use envy
As a force for good in our lives.
May it challenge us to work harder
For the resources we need to accomplish
The Holy Work you have called us to do.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the West,
Elemental Spirits of Water,
Teach us how to use sadness
As a force for good in our lives.
May it call us to journey within
And emerge a stronger person.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the South,
Elemental Spirits of Fire,
Teach us how to use anger
As a force for good in our lives.
May it inspire us to fight for that
Which is just and true!
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the East,
Elemental Spirits of air,
Teach us how to use fear
As a force for good in our lives.
May it alert us to situations
That might cause us harm,
And get us ready to either fight or flight.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!

Divine Presence, Great Mystery,
Who is known to us by many names,
All of our emotions are gifts from you.
Teach us how to use them wisely
To bless and benefit ourselves and others.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!

And now, the circle is open but never unbroken
Because it is a circle woven in love.
Whatever energy is left in this space
We return to the earth with a spirit of gratitude.
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.

Copyright ©2018 David Taliesin, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com