IN THIS ISSUE:

Special Announcements

MEDICAL HERBS (Part 2)

Chat Room Events

A PET PASSING RITUAL

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Debbora Wiles will be appearing as a guest at MobiCon 14 in Mobile Alabama on Friday May 20-Sunday  22, 2011. Her scheduled workshops include: Psychic Relationships - Decoding the other sex, The Shift 2011-2012, Learning Psychic Tarot Workshops 1 and 2.

Other guests include; Actor Ethan Phillips of Law and Order, fantasy artist Larry Elmore, writer Candace Sams, artist Steve Moore, film instructor Dr. Guzy, Artist, writer, Judy Heathcoe, writer Eugie Foster, writer, artist, Violette Reid, illustrator Sonny Strait, actor, director, producer Todd HaberKorn, writer and MC Davey Beauchamp, Guest of Honor Weatherly Hardy, creative writing teacher, Jennie Holms, publisher Barbara Friendish.

Scheduled events include: Costume contest, the 7 minute costume contest, fantasy art show and art show auction, charity auction for the Mobile Food Bank, Slave auction for charity, anime screening, full gaming track including tournaments, Belly dancing performance, panels and workshops by special guests, dealer's showroom, room parties, psychic readings and celebrity signings.

This is a wonderful high energy convention that is well organized and done entirely for charity. Great for people of all ages.  For more information and to get your tickets go to: http://www.mobicon.org/Default.aspx

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MEDICAL HERBS (Part 2) - by DEBBORA WILES

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Last month we had a great response to my article on medical herbs.  This month I will expand on still more herbs and recipes you can use for your family and home.

 There are many herb plants that were brought over to American by early pioneers to help with common health conditions.  Many of these herbs down through the centuries "went wild" and many are labeled as "weeds" today by purist lawn growers. Some of these herbs you will likely find in your yards or find they have taken over – in some places - entire woodland areas much the frustration and horror of many.

 ANTACID REMEDY: An acid stomach is something that has plagued man from the dawn of time.  Finding plants that will kill that burn in the belly was highly sought after by our ancestors who cultivated plants that helped this condition. 

 Kudzu – Is mostly found in the south and is an aggressive climbing plant. It was first brought over by pioneers. Origins say this plant is from Japan and China - this herb was used as an antacid and a heart tonic.[1]  Following World War II this plant was imported to the US from Japan as a way of holding soil against erosion.  This climbing plant is great for holding soil together on hill sides.  It is mostly found in the south where it has taken over HUGE tracks of land smothering trees, and all other plants. The only thing known to eat this plant are goats –which the US has few – and this is why it grows unchecked in so many parts of the south.

 Dandelion: Is a common plant that grows to about 6 inches high. It has medium green leaves and sunny yellow cushion blooms that later turn into white globes of fuzzy seeds that will float way on a breeze.  All of the Dandelion plant has its uses.  The slightly bitter leaves can be added to salads, the roots are good for tonics and the flowers can be made into wine.  The leaves and flowers are great as a digestive aid, stimulates the appetite, acts as a liver cleaner and it is a mild diuretic good for mild flushing for the kidneys.[2] 

 Antacid tea recipe: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried Kudzu or Dandelion leaves (or flowers) [If using fresh about 2 leaves] to a cup. Pour 8 ounces of boiling water over leaves, cover with cup with a saucer and let steep 5 to 10 minutes.  Strain and add sweetener and what ever else you like to make it drinkable – this is a bitter drink so a little doctoring does well.  Also you can add peppermint or spearmint leaves to hide the taste.

 NOTE: If you are wild crafting these herbs and picking them yourself, be sure to pick in locations well away from roads (fuel exhaust), yards (chemical sprays) and yards with dogs.

 HEALING OINTMENT: The best selling multi-use ointment today is Vaseline. However, I would not put this in a category of healing – through it has been used for that for many years.  Vaseline is still used as a moisture barrier for conditions such; diaper rash, burns, other rashes and to moisturize the skin and treat chapped lips or skin.  Sometimes just locking moisture in is enough to get the skin healing, however in other cases Vaseline can make skin conditions much worse, especially for those with sensitive skin.

 The reason this happens is that Vaseline is made from distilled and purified petroleum products.  So you might say it's made from gasoline!  So if some people have a violent reaction to it, this may be why.  Who wants to put gasoline on their skin?  Is there something better? Oh yes!

 UN-PETROLEUM OINTMENT: You can make your own HEALTHY un-petroleum ointment in just a few minutes and infuse it with any fragrance or healing herbs you like.  I save tiny pimento jars from cooking and put my un-petroleum ointment in these.  The lids will not seal well on their own, but you can add a small amount of melted wax to the lid, let it get semi hard then seal and label.

 Before you begin making this, you need to spend a few minutes thinking about HOW you will use it.  If you are going to use this as a healing ointment for the skin or will you be using it on the lips?  If you plan on using it for chapped lips, be sure to stick with edible herbs and oils. Remember once you get the basic mix made you can separate it, save some plain and add different herbs or oils to each pot.

UN-petroleum Ointment Recipe:

 Natural Bee's Wax 4 ounces

Extra Virgin Olive oil (the lightest color you can find) 1/4 to ½ cup (approx.)

Water

PREP: Wash jars and lids and boil for 8 minutes to sterilize.  Or run through sterilize cycle in a dishwasher.  Lay jars and lids out on clean paper towels to dry. Lay out any other herbs you plan to use – take off jar caps – when you get to the point of blending SPEED is important before this sets up.

 PREP: Cut bee's wax into small chucks and set aside. Lay out a metal spoon, funnel or any other equipment you might need. 

 ADD an inch or two of water to a small double boiler and bring to a gentle boil. If you don't have a small double boiler just add a small metal bowl to a larger pot with an inch or two of boiling water in it.  

 IN ANOTHER small pot: add in olive oil over low heat to very warm – do not bring it to fry temperature.

 SEALING WAX: If using recycled jars – set an ounce or two of wax to melt to seal the jar lids.  Small canning jars can be used too – set sealing lids to soften in gently boiling water.

 ADD: bee's wax chunks to top bowl of double boiler bowl. Stir often until wax is completely melted and in the liquid state.

REMOVE WAX FROM HEAT:  Slowly drizzle warm olive oil into wax stirring constantly until well blended.  Go slowly stirring constantly to desired thickness.

 NOTE: This ointment can be made very stiff like Vaseline – ¼ cup oil - or more creamy up to ½ cup oil.  You can do some of each if you like.

 STIR in any other herbs or oils you like. (You can do this in each jar too.)

 POUR ointment into jars and seal.

 OPTIONAL ADDITIONS:

 Healing Oils: Cut olive oil back by 50% and replace volume with: Coconut oil and/or Almond oil.

 Essences Oils: Add a few drops per batch.

 NOTE: Essences oils are oils that are made by pressing the oil from the plant. Then this oil is highly concentrated through a reduction process.  Be careful when buying essences oils – many companies sell infused oils. This is oil that is INFUSED or "flavored" with chemical scents which are added to the base oil.  Essences oils are the raw oils extracted directly from the plant. They are almost always expensive and are sold in half ounce or ounce bottles.

 For lip balms –

 Peppermint oil - (stimulating, cooling and may be used as a driver)

Orange oil – (High vitamin C - healing – great flavor)

Cherry oil --  (High vitamin C – very healing – great flavor)

 For Skin Healing: Add one half ounce or less. Feel free to mix and match!

 Lavender oil – (Stops the pain of burns INSTANTLY – strong scent.)

Aloe Vera juice – (Fresh squeezed is best. Heals skin 45% faster – very soothing)

Fruit Fresh – (Get in canning section of grocery store. This is pure powdered Vitamin C and is really good at healing skin faster – Dissolve 1 teaspoon in a couple tablespoons of warm olive oil and add in.

Rose oil – Add a few drops (Strong vitamin C – heavenly fragrance.)

Jasmine oil - Add a few drops (Strong vitamin C – heavenly fragrance.)

 TIP: Be creative when doing these – if you get them too thick or too thin – just return mix to double boiler to melt again – then add more wax or oil as you need – this is almost goof proof.  Have fun with it.

 Many products are used to treat and heal skin which is the biggest "organ" area- wise in the body.  Many people don't take much notice of their skin and that is a huge mistake.  Everything that touches your skin is absorbed straight into your body, this includes ANYTHING you handle including, soaps, shampoos, cream rinses, face creams, laundry soap & dryer sheets and deodorants are absorbed directly into the body.

 On the commercial market there are millions of toxic chemicals put into these products.  The instant they touch your skin the body sucks in these chemicals as surely as if you had dosed yourself with them orally.  Take your bar soap, shampoo or other body care products and read the labels – then type some of those chemicals into a search engine and read – I'm sure you will be SHOCKED.

 My daughter was singing the praises of a new (and expensive) shampoo she had just found and wanted me to try it.  I put on my glasses and flipped the bottle over to read.  I handed the bottle back to her and said, "No thank you. I have strong objections to putting animal placentas and urine (urea) on my scalp."   She was horrified and the shampoo went straight into the trash.  Good for her!  But take a lesson here stop shopping with your nose and READ THE LABEL!

 The BEST place to get products to use on your skin is in the health food store. Even there you need to read the label.  The fewer the natural ingredients in these products, the better it is for you.  Many of these products are pure and smell heavenly.  Or you might choose the make your own personal care products.

One of the most popular homemade healing products I have ever developed came out of a situation of total misery.  I had just gone through a gall bladder surgery that went very wrong.  Bile was tearing through my system like a daily tsunami leaving blistered and bloody flesh in its wake.  This had been going on for SIX months and even seeing FIVE specialist doctors they did not know or care to give me anything to stop the flow of bile or help heal the skin. What I needed was something that numbed the pain and healed the skin quickly.  It took some experimenting but finally I nailed down the perfect recipe that WORKED to heal and gave BLESSED relief at the same time.

HEALING NUMBING LOTION (Makes 4 ounces)

 1 plastic flip-top squirt bottle 4 ounce size

3 ½ ounces of St. Ives lotion with Aloe

1 Bottle of LIQUID Anbesol .41 ounce size (20% benzocaine)

 Fill the flip-top squirt bottle ½ full of St. Ives lotion.  Add entire bottle of Anbesol. Shake to blend well. Mix will turn light pink. Top off bottle with more St. Ives and shake.  Label and use as needed.  This lotion can be used anywhere on the body except the eyes and mouth.

Don't substitute other lotions.  The St. Ive's lotion has a low alcohol content (less burn when you apply it) and has more aloe in it than the other lotions.  If you can't find the St. Ive's Aloe lotion get another St. Ive's and add a teaspoon or two of fresh squeezed aloe to it and shake to blend.

 Don't substitute other tooth numbing liquids.  I have tried other brands and all of them I tried will cause the lotion or glycerin to set up like concrete – making it worthless.

 When I first developed this lotion I really didn't think anyone needed it but me – but over time we kept discovering more and more ways to use it.  Today it's in every household in my family, in every bathroom and kitchen in my house, on my desk and in every tool box too.  Why?  Here's what it will heal and blessedly numb.

 Insect bites, itchy rashes, mosquito bites (stops itch and pain), small cuts, scrapes and small burns (numbs the pain and heals – so you can get back to work or play INSTANTLY). Heals delicate raw pink flesh, kills the itch and burn of plant contact allergies and sunburns.  Apply to skin let set two minutes then wipe off to remove splinters, sand burrs or thorns for painless extractions (Kids LOVE it! No more fighting to dig these things out!)  Also works well for topical numbing when working with ingrown toe nails and minor surgeries – also works on dogs!

 My brother-in-law was next to car battery at work that exploded splashing battery acid thickly up one leg.  He went to the ER, had pain meds – but he had not slept in two days for the pain was horrific.  When he stopped by my house looking like the walking dead – he showed me the huge burn.  He was in agony with it yet they were giving him the strongest pain killers on the market – which didn't help!  I mixed him up a bottle of my Numbing Healing Lotion and told him to apply it as often as needed.  The next day he came back and gave me a bear hug looking like his old self. He said it killed the pain on contact and he slept all night long.  He showed me the burns - over night these went from an angry red to pale pink.  This lotion is now in all his bathrooms and at his desk at work too.

This also works well for healing the genitals of both males and females.  My hubby once had a violent reaction to an antibiotic that blistered all the pink tissue on his body.  Doctors gave him a numbing rinse for the blistering in his mouth but nothing for his highly blistered genitals – this lotion numbed and healed him and gave him blessed relief.  This can also bring blessed relief from the pain, swelling and burn of yeast infections that often results from treatments with antibiotics.  Use the over the counter cream or garlic to check the yeast and add this lotion to numb and heal the outer enflamed tissues and raw spots.

 This can be used as often as you need it.  Usually for minor pain the numbing effect can last 6 to 8 hours.  If the pain is very bad you may need to reapply it every 1 to 2 hours.  But this tends to build up in the tissues and usually after a day – this lasts much longer.  When you first apply this to very raw skin there will be a slight burn for about 30 seconds – followed by blissful numbing for hours.

 You can also make this Healing and Numbing lotion in a more pure form and add specialty things to address specific conditions.

 Glycerin 1 and ½ ounces

1 Bottle of LIQUID Anbesol .41 ounce size 20% benzocaine

1  -2 ounce bottle with an eye dropper

2 to 4 large leaves of fresh aloe squeezed out to extract the jell

 Mix ingredients a little at a time in bottle and shake well after each addition.

 I make this too, but I use this more for minor surgeries where I need a precise area numbed and I want nothing to block my view – like digging out a piece of glass or a bigger splinter.

 Try mixing and matching these other ingredients with the lotion or the glycerin formula's for specific indications:

 FOR BURNS: 10 to 20 drops of lavender oil

FOR FAST HEALING: Vitamin C (Fruit Fresh)

FOR SORE MUSCLES: 10 to 20 drop cayenne tincture (warming)

FOR CIRCULATION: 10 to 20 drops of peppermint or spearmint oil (cooling)

ANTIFUNGAL: Juice of 6 cloves of garlic

 ANTIBIOTICS: In today's world almost everything we eat is tainted with steroids, hormones, chemicals or antibiotics.  Steroids and antibiotics are given to nearly all food animals to: (a) increase productivity—eggs, milk, dairy, (b) to prevent infections and death in crowded unsanitary commercial growing environments—beef, pork, chicken, fish, lamb, etc., and (c) to stimulate more lush and productive plants—plant steroids, chemical fertilizers, herbicides, bug sprays and powders, radiation, etc.

 Because of the sheer bulk of chemicals in our foods many people are becoming antibiotic resistant at an alarming rate.  The fact is if you are taking in small amounts of antibiotics in your foods every day - the body builds up a tolerance against them. Once that tolerance is built up, antibiotics don't work. In the last few  years we have seen a sharp rise in the number of hospitals and clinics that have sprang up for the specific purpose of "wound healing." 

 Chronic wounds affect 6.5 million patients in the U.S. in a growing epidemic… [3]

 While NationalHealing.com points the finger at diabetes, obesity and "cancer" as the root cause, a look at the figures shows that only a tiny portion of those affected has these conditions.  The problem is widespread and crosses all gender, race and age barriers. And the only explanation for that is DIET and a bumper crop of elective surgeries that are systematically disabling our immune systems.  For example each one of these organs are part of our immune system; tonsils, appendix, gall bladder, pancreas, spleen, teeth and liver.  Yet removing these organs are a hugely popular medical profit business. Add to that, the sheer glut of chemicals that the body cannot handle and you have a recipe for a wound healing "epidemic."

Some people become so overloaded with these chemical food additives that their bodies do not heal and wound or viral infections slowly turn septic.  For example, Jim Henson the creator of The Muppets, died of a Strep throat infection[4].  Christopher Reeve (Superman star) died from an infected bed sore that soon spread the infection to his whole body[5].  Roy Scheider (Jaws) died of a staph infection[6].  So what can we do to boost our savaged immune systems?  Here are some suggestions.

 GARLIC: Garlic has extremely strong healing and antibiotic properties and has been known to heal out-of-control systemic infections where no drug would help.  To take as an antibiotic – begin by eating 2 fresh cloves of garlic a day and work up to 24 or more a day.  To get these down, peel the cloves, rough chop and drop into a blender with juice and hit puree – tomato juice works well.  Divide your doses into equal parts and take 3 times or more a day – so your system gets a steady supply. Make this FRESH each time – after 15 minutes garlic looses about half it's effective healing oils – so don't peel or cut the garlic until you are ready to rock and roll.

 Yes, I know this seems like a lot of garlic but it does work – one seventy year old lady at Dr. Schultze's clinic got up to 67 cloves a day – stayed there for over a month to heal a rampaging infection after a surgery that no drug or doctor could touch.  They sent her home to die because she was resistant to all antibiotics. She made an amazing recovery using the garlic!

 Garlic can be used to check yeast infections too. Begin by peeling one clove of garlic and inserting it vaginally at night. Allow it to drop out in the morning.  On the second day make 2 slits in the garlic clove and repeat. Increase the slits in the garlic over the next 5 days and stop.  This REALLY gets rid of the problem. Cost about fifty cents!

 GOLDEN ROOT SEAL: This is an herb that has super powers to heal infections and detoxify the body and blood.  It has enjoyed a new popularity in recent years as it will flush mild illegal drug residue from the body in a few days. Young people have learned of this and will often take it for a week or so before getting drug tested – to pass with flying colors. You can buy golden root seal capsules at the health food store and some department stores.  This is NOT a cheap herb and a small bottle may cost ten dollars and up.  But it's good to have on hand – just incase you need it.

 To use this as an antibiotic, begin with 2 capsules on day one and work up to 6 capsules (2 capsules 3 times a day) by adding one a day.  Take for two weeks and stop for ONE week.  Check to see if the infection is improving. If not, take for another two weeks and stop.  This stop and start method of taking herbs is called PULSING.  This prevents your body from building up a "tolerance" to the herb so it keeps working on the infection.

 HONEY: Honey has strong antibiotic properties and has been used for centuries as a wound dressing. Bee's add something to the honey that causes it to be antibacterial - so bacteria will not grow in honey. You can apply a few drops of honey to a wound before bandaging to prevent the development of infection.  As an added perk, the honey prevents the wound scab from sticking to the bandage. 

 COLLOIDAL SILVER: Is silver that has been added to purified water to the tune of 100 parts per million.  In the days before there were chemical antibiotics, this was THE standard antibiotic to heal the body.  This works especially well for systemic infections involving swelling under the skin that nothing else will touch.

Years ago I developed an industrial case of vasculitis, this is an infection of the tiny capillary veins just under the skin that causes the capillary veins to burst under the skin with stabbing pain that creates a red "rash" (blood under the skin) as a result. Often there is severe swelling, burning and itching in the legs, fevers and dehydration.  This condition gets worse when you are standing still or lying down. The early stages of this is now called RLS or Restless Leg Syndrome – a rather mild name for the feeling of someone stabbing you in the legs all night long with an ice pick until your legs are burning all the time.  For two years I suffered with the burning pain and the alarming disfigurement of the rash. Doctors shuffled me from one $pecialist$ to another.  In two YEARS I saw five specialist in five categories, underwent thousands of dollars worth of tests – many painful and all they could tell me was that I had vasculitis caused by some infection in my body they could not locate and there was nothing they could do because there was no cure.  So they never even offered me an aspirin.   In other words they told me to "live with it."

In frustration, I went looking for information on herbs that would heal it.  I happened into a health food store and when the clerk asked me if there was anything else he could help me with. Being flip, I said no not unless you have something that will cure vasculitus.  He directed me to the nutritional ND on duty and he said, sure. He stepped over to the shelf and handed me a bottle of colloidal silver and told me how to take it.  I bought it and started on it right away.  Long story short, in FIVE DAYS the rash, swelling and pain was completely gone. 

The thing is I have to keep taking it – it only controls the symptoms and if I stop taking it for more than three days – it comes back.  For me it's a small price to pay to be pain and rash free.  About a year ago my hubby developed Gout – his big toes were swelling and very painful.  He was limping and even touching the swollen toe would send him into fits.  I suggested that he try taking the colloidal silver.  He did and the Gout disappeared in three days – no swelling or pain – he now takes it every day too.

I really don't know what it is about colloidal silver that causes it to do such an awesome job at reducing swelling in legs, joints and the body in general.  I suspect it has anti-inflammatory properties as well as antibiotic properties. But I know I have passed on the information about colloidal silver to anyone that is having trouble with RLS, vasculitis, gout or any kind of swelling or infection in legs, arms and joints.  It works FAST.

You can buy colloidal silver at large department stores (like Wal Mart) or at the health food store.  Be careful of the brand you buy.  I have gotten a couple of bottles that did not work at all.  If it says "homeopathic" on the label don't buy it. There is as much fraud in the herbal world as there is in the medical world.  I recommend Water OZ brand because it works. Cost is about $20.00 a pint.

Dosage: If you have a really raging infection start with ONE teaspoon three times a day.  Once you have the infection under control (usually takes about 7 days) then you can cut back to one teaspoon a day as a maintenance dose.  To make taking this easy, I use one of those needleless plungers that holds 1 teaspoon of liquid.  I take that and follow it with a quick drink.  While it doesn't have a bad taste, it does have a bit of an after taste – so take it quick!  LOL!

You can also apply colloidal silver with an eye dropper directly to wounds to assist in healing them.  This really is a miracle in a bottle and I would keep a bottle in my medical kit at all times.

While there are many more herbs and recipes I'd love to cover, this is getting a bit long.  So we will have another workshop on Medical herbs on April 14th.   Hope you will join in to learn and share more about making your own medical herbs and products.

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 A PET PASSING RITUAL - DR. CHARLOTTE PIPES

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Figure 1. Altar for Pet Passing Ritual.

In the summer of 2010 we met online in PSH to perform a special ritual to honor our companion animals. We made that ritual the focus of our online Litha (pronounced LEE-tha) or Summer Solstice celebration. We gathered to recognize and celebrate the wonderful animals in our life, those special creatures who have chosen to share their lives with us as we walk the path. To show our appreciation, we crafted and “charged” small animal amulets for each one of our pets.

 There is another important ritual for pets, the Pet Passing Ritual. It is a special ceremony in which we celebrate the life of our companion animal and wish them well in their new existence beyond the veil. Even though the politically correct term is “companion animal” some traditions linger. Many of us still call this ceremony a Pet Passing Ritual

 I recently participated in such a ritual for friends of mine here in the city. The ritual was sponsored by the Covenant of the Pentacle Wicca Church (CPWC). I always like to begin with music. I often arrive early for rituals and walk about the area that will be used for the circle. I find a good spot and set up to play my recorder and sing. It is a nice way to set the mood for the ritual. I play melodies that are suggestive of the particular ceremony we are about to perform. And we know that music and singing attract nature spirits. I consult with the Priestess/Priest who will be officiating at the ritual and discuss musical choices with them.

 For the Pet Passing Ritual I also speak to the owners of the departed animal and offer suggestions for music that I can perform as people are entering the circle. For this recent ritual, I played and sang music from the Lord of the Rings movies. I knew the owners of the animal and I knew that they were LOTR fans and would recognize the music. In the past I have used music from many sources, based on the wishes of the owners.

Figure 2. Altar set-up.

In Figure 2 you can see the various items usually found on a ritual altar for a pet passing ceremony. The brass item on the left is an incense burner, with frankincense from the jar on the right. There is a white candle glass holder. White is the color of hope; a light in the darkness. We believe that we will see the beloved animal again one day and we look forward to the time when we will be reunited. On the right there is a small brown glass vial of anointing oil and a small brown bowl of salted water for cleansing the participants before they enter the circle. If you look closely, you will see that a plastic bag has been placed over the chalice, to keep the insects out of the liquid inside—a necessity when performing rituals outdoors! It will be removed before we begin.

 You can also include animal motifs on your altar. You can see what looks like a small carved duck. It is actually a candle lighter. You can include some items of the deceased animal, a favorite toy perhaps. The sheets of paper contain some readings that will be used by the Priestess during the ritual. Other participants may also bring poems or stories that they will read aloud.

 The description that follows is an outline of my own personal preferences for this type of specialized ritual. The CPWC ritual was a bit different from mine, according to their preferences. You should peruse my description, but don’t feel that you need to follow it verbatim. Take from it only the sections that ring true to you and craft your own personalized ritual. I have written the ritual from your perspective as the leader of the ceremony, as if you are the Priestess or Priest in charge.

A PET PASSING RITUAL

Before you begin, locate your four directions—north, south, east and west.

Instruct the participants to gather in a group away from the altar.

Light your altar candle and gaze into the flames for a time. Meditate on what you want to accomplish at this ritual. You are celebrating the life of a beloved animal companion. You will thank them for joining us in this earthly existence for a while, and wish them well in their new life beyond the veil.

 Light your incense and breathe it in for a few moments to calm your thoughts. Then walk clockwise around the altar area with your incense to cleanse your ritual space. Finish by smudging yourself with the smoke. Anoint your forehead with the oil. Then smudge and anoint your assistant, called a “Handmaiden”, for the ritual.

 After you have both been cleansed and anointed, close your eyes and engage your abdominal breathing. Focus on the motions—expand and inhale, contract and exhale. If stray thoughts intrude, block them out and refocus on your breathing.

 Using three deep breaths create your psychic shield. Make it large enough to encompass your entire sacred space.

 Drop your arms to your sides. Open your eyes. Instruct the Handmaiden to approach the opening to the circle where the participants will enter.

CAST THE CIRCLE

 Visualize drawing a column of white energy up from the ground beneath you. Channel it up through your body, down your arm and through your dagger, or your index finger of your power hand. See the light pour out of the tip. You will visualize tracing a glowing line on the ground. Point your finger/dagger at the ground or floor and slowly spin deosil (clockwise), starting in the east….

 By the Air that is Her breath,

By the Fire that is Her love,

By the Water that is Her womb,

By the Earth that is Her body.

The circle is cast.

SO MOTE IT BE!

 For group settings, such as this ritual, it is usual for the Priestess/Priest to cast the circle first, leaving a small opening where each person will be welcomed into the circle. An attendant, preferably two, stands guard at this opening. One of them is holding the cup of salted water, the other one holds the vial of anointing oil. The other participants line up at this opening and enter one by one. The owners of the departed animal should be the first in line. After everyone has been cleansed, anointed and entered the circle, the Priestess/Priest will seal the opening to the circle.

CALL THE QUARTERS

 Facing east all say: Spirits of Air, we invite you to our circle. Hail and Be Welcome!

Facing south all say: Spirits of Fire, we invite you to our circle. Hail and Be Welcome!

Facing west all say: Spirits of Water, we invite you to our circle. Hail and Be Welcome!

Facing north all say: Spirits of Earth, we invite you to our circle. Hail and Be Welcome!

 CALL DEITY

 The owners of the animal may wish to specify that certain deity be called.

 The Priestess/Priest proclaims:

 Lord_____ and Lady_____ we invite you to our circle. Hail and Be Welcome!

STATEMENT OF INTENT

 Priestess/Priest proclaims:

We meet to honor the life of ___________, dear companion animal of _________.

 The Priestess/Priest then defers to the owners of the animal. They will speak of the animal and how it touched their lives, share anecdotes, etc. Additionally, each participant will be allowed to say a few words of their own if they wish.

 TOAST TO THE DEPARTED

 The Priestess/Priest will hold up the chalice and say a few words to salute the animal. She/He will take a sip and pass the chalice to the owners. They will make their salute, take a sip, and pass the chalice on to the other participants. Each person will salute the departed animal and wish them well in the afterlife, take a sip and pass the chalice.

 As a final blessing, the Priestess/Priest can read aloud the burial prayer attributed to Pagan author and activist Starhawk. It is can be recited for both people and animal passing rituals.

 BURIAL PRAYER

MAY THE AIR CARRY YOUR SPIRIT GENTLY.

MAY THE FIRE RELEASE YOUR SOUL.

MAY THE WATER CLEANSE YOU.

MAY THE EARTH RECEIVE YOU.

MAY THE WHEEL TURN AGAIN

AND BRING YOU TO REBIRTH.

 BE FREE, BE STRONG,

BE PROUD OF WHOM YOU HAVE BEEN.

KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE MOURNED AND MISSED.

KNOW THAT NO ONE CAN REPLACE YOU.

KNOW THAT YOU HAVE LOVED AND ARE BELOVED.

 MOVE BEYOND FORM, FLOWING LIKE WATER,

FEEDING ON SUNLIGHT AND MOONLIGHT,

RADIANT AS THE STARS IN THE NIGHT SKY.

PASS THE GATES, ENTER THE DARK WITHOUT FEAR,

RETURNING TO THE WOMB OF LIFE

TO STEEP IN THE CAULDRON OF REBIRTH.

  

REST, HEAL, GROW YOUNG AGAIN.

BE BLESSED.

SO MOTE IT BE.

 

Everyone affirms, “So mote it be.”

 Now you are ready to end your ritual.

 FAREWELL TO DEITY

 Thank deity for attending your ritual and bid them farewell.

Thank you Lord & Lady. I give thanks for your presence here in this circle.

Hail & Farewell!

 FAREWELL TO QUARTERS

Starting in the east, thank and bid farewell to the Spirits of each quarter.

 Facing east say: Spirits of Air, I thank you for your presence here in this ritual.

Hail & Farewell!

 Facing south say: Spirits of Fire, I thank you for your presence here in this ritual.

Hail & Farewell!

 Facing west say: Spirits of Water, I thank you for your presence here in this ritual.

Hail & Farewell!

 Facing north say: Spirits of Earth, I thank you for your presence here in this ritual.

Hail & Farewell!

 OPEN THE CIRCLE

 Open your circle by retracing it on the floor or ground, but this time turn widdershins (counterclockwise), drawing the light back up into your dagger or finger. Channel that light back to the ground under you.

 Close your eyes and extend your arms out to either side. Visualize your psychic shield. Re-engage your abdominal breathing. Perform your three large inhales and retract your shield back into you.

 Open your eyes. Safely extinguish your candles and incense with a snuffer. Pour out any remaining beverage in the chalice onto the ground for the nature spirits to enjoy.

 Now is the time for food, drink, and reflection. Write down in your personal journal or Book of Shadows any impressions received during your ritual. Remember to photograph or sketch your altar area. It will provide a quick frame of reference for the next time you may be asked to perform this ritual. You may also have thought of other ideas for this type of ritual. Record it all.

 When it comes to planning any ritual listen to your own intuition. The manner of ritual that I propose here contains ideas that have been popular in Wiccan traditions. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t create your own ideas for ritual. Try to tailor your ritual to the person and the animal. Everyone has a different way of expressing their grief and finding solace. The music, the poems, and the prayers used should all be geared towards helping both the person and the departed companion move on to the next step in their respective journeys. Offering to perform a ritual can be a wonderful gift you can give to friends and family members in the time of their grief. They, and you, will remember it always.

 Blessed Be.

S

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