Begin as you always begin.
Relax yourself,
Set your body in place,
And begin to breathe in and out.
In and out.
Watch your breath for this moment.
Let it flow through you and fill you.
Let it slip from you.
Here,
Breathing,
Feel yourself centered and in tune with yourself.
As you continue your breath,
Feel your heart beating in your chest.
Seek its rhythm and its flow.
Let yourself be present in both breath and beat.
This is your center.
Let it calm and comfort you.
Spend just a few moments now alone with your center,
Your breath,
And your beat.
Now,
From your center,
Cast your mind into the heart of the earth.
Let it flow down,
Seeking the cool waters of the earth,
The well of wisdom,
The spring of memory.
Let your mind be filled with a vision of these waters.
You may see a spring or a flowing underground river.
You may see mists arising in the heart of the earth.
However you see them,
Envision those waters now and begin to draw them back toward you.
Let them flow up from the earth through stones and clay and dirt,
Past the roots of mountains and trees and grass,
Out from springs and over the land,
Until they reach you where you meet the earth.
Feel them as they flow into you,
Filling first your feet and legs,
Rising up to the base of your spine,
Pooling there in your belly.
Feel them now as they rise again,
Seeking your center,
Filling your chest and heart,
Rising still to cool your torso.
Feel them now as they rise again,
Flowing up to your shoulders and down your arms,
Rising like a tide into your head and reaching your crown.
And now,
Feel them as they rise higher still,
To pour forth from your crown down your arms and legs to return to the earth.
Feel them as they flow from earth to belly to center to crown to earth again.
And here at the center,
You are filled with the power of the earth.
Filled now with that power,
With it still cycling through you,
Raise your face to the heavens.
Breathing as you have,
Your heart filled with the rhythm and flow of the waters of earth,
Turn your vision eye to the sky and send it out among the stars.
Let your mind's eye flow freely to the heavens,
Seeking the fire of the cosmos,
The light of the star that is meant for you.
From deep within that turning wheel of heaven,
Find your light among the many.
The light may be a star or a moon or the bright forge of some god.
It may be the blush of dawn or the brightness of the noon sun.
In whatever way you see this light,
Let it warm you and comfort you and begin to draw it down to your center.
Down through the vault of heavens,
Draw it.
Through the roof of the sky with clouds and spirits,
Through the atmosphere that separates the land from the heavens.
Until that light reaches you,
Where you meet the sky.
Feel the fire of the heavens as it alights on your brow,
Filling your head with light,
Warming your upturned face,
Touching your shoulders and hands.
Feel the flame as it rolls down your body,
Seeking your center,
Warming your chest and heart,
Spreading to warm your torso and lungs.
Feel the flame as it rolls again down to your belly,
Touching the base of your spine,
Rolling down your legs to reach your feet.
And now,
Here at your center,
You are filled with the power of the sky.
You are now filled with the earth and sky,
With fire and water,
With order and chaos that makes the world.
Feel the presence of these two powers for a moment.
Their ebb and flow,
Their give and take,
Their mixing and mingling.
And once again,
Return your attention to your center.
There,
The fire of heaven and the waters of earth begin to shine,
To brighten you.
They warm you and cool you.
They center your breath and the beat of your heart.
The waters begin to magnify the fire,
Brightening it and you,
Like sun on the waters,
Like gold behind a waterfall,
Like the bright eye of an illuminated mind.
And here,
In a sudden moment,
The flame of your center is kindled,
Brightly.
Springing to life,
The flame ignites within you,
Warm and bright,
Intense and joyful.
As the waters of earth flow,
The flame dances.
As the fires of heaven shine down,
The flame brightens.
This flame is the holy stuff of magic,
The mutable,
Mixable,
Mercurial inspiration and light that allows you to work your way in the world.
It is bright,
It is joyful,
And it is yours.
Watch now for a moment as the fire and waters mix in your heart,
In your center,
And brighten you with joy and with love.
Know that this flame burns within you always,
That some spark of it remains at all times.
Know that this flame is your bright flame.
Even in the darkest of times,
An ember from it burns brightly.
And fed by the breath of prayer,
It will spark anew.
Fed by the act of offering,
It will grow.
Fed by connection to earth and sky,
It will thrive.
Let this flame always burn at your center.
Let the fire and water never be far from your reach.
Let your path be one of joy and balance.
Remain focused on your center and find your joy in the flame.
Now,
Let the waters flow back to the earth.
Now,
Let the fire return to the heavens.
Now,
Carry with you the flame they have brought to your center.
Let it always be close to your heart.
So be it.
