Welcome to a meditation in the Temple of the Moon.
Begin in a position that is comfortable for you.
This can be sitting or lying down,
Allowing the body to sink into the earth and be supported by the earth.
Be comfortable,
Making any adjustments you wish.
Relax the shoulders.
Allow the jaw to soften.
Allow the muscles to relax.
Now,
Allow the eyes to close and keep them closed for the entire practice.
If you feel any tension or tight spots in any part of the body,
Take the awareness to that body part and consciously relax that body part.
If you become uncomfortable,
Please feel free to make changes using minimal movement.
Know that you are in a safe environment and sacred space.
Become aware of any external sounds you can hear in this moment.
Start by focusing on the most distant sounds,
Moving the attention from sound to sound without labeling the source and without judgment.
Now move the awareness from external sounds to the sound of the breath as it flows freely and naturally between the nostrils.
Become aware of the natural breath,
The spontaneous breath that moves in and out of the body without effort.
Notice the feeling of the breath as it enters and leaves the body.
Feel the flow of the natural breath,
The normal,
Spontaneous,
And effortless flow.
Maintaining awareness of the breath,
Continue to breathe through the belly.
With each inhale,
The abdomen is expanding.
With each exhale,
The navel is drawn in towards the spine.
With each inhale,
The body is becoming more and more relaxed.
The body is becoming soft,
Free,
And calm.
Allow this feeling of relaxation to grow inch by inch throughout the body.
Inhale inspiration.
Exhale all negativity.
Breathe in transformation.
Breathe out all obstacles in your path.
You are safe here.
You are welcome here.
You are wanted here.
We call upon the element of air,
Provider of the breath of life.
We call upon the element of fire,
Eternal source of inspiration and might.
We call upon the element of water,
The constant flow of energy.
We call upon the element of earth,
Strong support for all forms of life.
We call upon the Lord God and the Lady Goddess to create this sacred space with us and to watch over us.
Spirit before me,
Spirit behind me,
Spirit to the right of me,
Spirit to the left of me,
Spirit above me,
And spirit below me,
Bless my intentions and keep me safe.
Enter we now a place that is void of space and time,
A gateway between the worlds.
This circle is now hallowed.
Now begin to create an image in the mind of the moon,
The silver goddess.
As you open yourself up to divine love,
See the moon above you in your mind's eye.
Enjoy the way you feel in this safe space.
You feel calm,
Secure,
And empowered here.
Allow your heart and your spirit to be open and glowing so that the divine energy of the moon may fill and flow through you,
Transforming burdens into joy.
Around the cauldron gathered are we.
Merry meet and blessed be to maiden,
Mother,
And the crone.
Make we now our magic known.
The night is ours at long last.
Hand to hand this circle is cast.
Love we reap and love we sow.
We tread where only wise ones go.
Upon the cauldron fix your eyes.
Through its smoke the truth will rise.
In the cauldron our intentions go.
Under the moon's blessed glow.
Through powers of the stars this night we watch our magic taking flight.
The power is ours.
We use it well.
Together we weave and craft this spell.
For the good of all and to the harm of none,
My sisters and brothers,
The spell has begun.
Great goddess,
You appear before us in your majesty as the maiden,
Mother,
And crone.
As the maiden,
The moon shows us purity and the promises of youth.
Take a moment now to recognize new beginnings and new life forming within yourself.
As the mother,
The moon shows us maturity achieved and teaches us the art of nurturing.
Take a moment now to recognize strength,
Compassion,
And creativity within yourself.
As the crone,
The moon shows us the light of wisdom and teaching.
Take a moment now to recognize introspection,
Transformation,
And rebirth within yourself.
We gather here today to celebrate you,
Mother moon,
In each of your forms as you surround us with your protection.
You are constantly changing,
But never ending,
Showing us the unbroken cycle of birth,
Life,
Death,
And rebirth.
Just as you,
The great wheel always turns,
And although we cannot see the whole at once,
We know that the unseen part of the wheel is ever-present.
Without darkness,
There can be no light.
Without light,
There can be no darkness.
Blessed be the maiden.
Blessed be the mother.
Blessed be the crone.
Mother moon,
Come to us.
Maiden,
Cherish us.
Mother,
Nourish us.
Crone,
Enlighten us.
Mother moon,
Come to us.
Bring your awareness back to the breath,
The natural,
Quiet breath going in and out of the body.
Maintain awareness of the breath and feel it growing stronger and steadier.
Take a slow,
Conscious,
Deep breath in and release it completely.
Allow the mind to become external now.
Shift the attention to sounds within this room.
The sound of the breath,
Sounds around the earth,
The sound of my voice.
Now move the attention to sounds outside the room,
Sounds you can hear without straining.
Be aware of the sounds around you.
Be aware of the body.
Be aware of the breath.
To the elements of earth,
Air,
Fire,
And water.
To the Lord God and the Lady Goddess,
We thank you for joining us in our circle.
May there be peace between us now and forever.
Hail and farewell.
Invite subtle movements into the hands and feet,
The fingers and toes.
Perhaps you will choose to stretch slightly.
Do what feels natural and comfortable to you.
Take a deep breath in and exhale completely.
We now cast the circle out into the cosmos.
The circle is open but unbroken.
Mary,
Did we meet?
Mary,
Do we part?
And Mary,
Will we meet again?
Blessed be.
