Grounding and Centering

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

10th Day of the 11th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Hera
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Gort/Ivy
Moon Phase: waxing Half
Moon sets: 1:23AM EDST
Moon rises: 3:16PM EDST
Moon in the Fixed Air Sign of Aquarius
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The message of the blood
Sun in Scorpio
Sunrise: 7:43AM EDST
Sunset: 6:24PM EDST
Solar Question for the Day: "Which old habits
do you need to change?"
Lughnasadh (Gwyl Awst) Quarter of the Year
October 27th, 2009

  Grounding and Centering:

  Magickal breath is incorporated in the two Craft-related techniques called grounding and centering, which help to put you in the right frame of mind before (or after) a magickal working. Grounding means to feel secure, to root yourself to planet Earth, to bring nature into yourself, and yourself into nature. Centering means to find the ultimate, peaceful calm at the center of where you are standing, out to the center of the planet, into the center of the universe. It is the still point - the absolute moment of calm when you feel like you are the one with the universe.

  The practice of grounding and centering comes in handy for a variety of circumstances, including relaxation, p-reparation for magick or ritual and removing stress and negativity from the body. Some Wiccan teachers require that the student ground and center before and after any magickal or ritual practice, where others require grounding and centering only after the work. While you are still in a student practice time of your magickal life, it is probably best to be doing it before and after any magickal application you are learning.

  There are several techniques for grounding and centering, including meditations that can encompass the four elements, the planetary energies, and archetypes (gods and goddesses).  The act of grounding and centering itself can take only a few moments or blossom into a full meditation. These practices become easier each time you use them, and will enhance and strengthen your psychic and magickal abilities. There is an added benefit to learing grounding and centering - anytime anyone treats you unfairly, or you lose your cool, or you feel that you are disconnected and lost, floating in this big universe all by yourself, practice the technique.
   Use grounding and centering techniques:

•  Before and after meditation.
• Before and after any spellcasting procedure.
• Before and after ritual.
• When you are angry, upset or sick.
• Each morning as part of your daily devotions. Some Witches perform grounding and centering at the four sacrd hours - dawn, noon, dush, and midnight.

  Grounding and centering can be done while standing or sitting, and doesn't take very nlong to do. The more you practice, the faster you will be able to ground and prepare for magick by centering yourself - sort of like a diver preparing to make the jump of his or her career into the magickal waters below. It is easier to learn grounding and centering by going outside the first few times.

To Ground:  Take three deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Close your eyes. Imagine that you are a tree and that your feet (your roots) grow deep into Mother Earth. Feel the stable, secure energy of the planet.

To Center: IMagine that your energy is merging with that of the universe. Allow the sounds and smells of the world around you to pass through you, like you are floating in a magickal pool. Let your concentration center on your solar plexus area. Imagine there is a beautiful sun burning there (some prefer to visualize a ball of light). Slowly, allow yourself to become one with the universe. This is the still point. Now you are ready for magick and ritual.

[Excerpts from Silver Ravenwolf's "The Ultimate Book of Shadows For the New Generation Solitary Witch"]