Now that we have covered Earth folklore and correspondences, its time to actually start working with Earth! Today I share a ritual to help you connect with Earth more intimately and start building the foundation for healing and change. There are several tasks in this post and I encourage you to perform each of them with fidelity. Before we get started, however, I'd like to discuss what I put together for the first Earth task presented two weeks ago.
There are a number of online maps that lay out where these ley lines are, but I suggested you first lookup local holy and sacred places in your area before consulting these maps. This helps you become more intimately familiar with your local area, thus helping you develop a more localized practice. I am rather close to the Etowah Indian Mounds, which are situated extremely close if not directly on a leyline running through Georgia. It's hard to tell from a map, but there aren't many scared sites in Georgia, making it difficult to completely map out the ley lines by hand. However, the Georgia Guidestones are on the same ley line as the Etowah Indian Mounds, giving me a reason to believe the mounds are close enough to be considered on a ley line. According to some maps, Stone Mountain, a large granite pluton outside of Atlanta, is also on a ley line. I used to live right at the mountain and felt a deep connection to the park. In fact, I ran through the park almost every day when I lived nearby. Its the only thing I miss about Atlanta.
Once I realized the mounds and Stone Mountain were both along ley lines, I started looking at where I have chosen to live as an adult. My current house and the one by Stone Mountain are either directly on a potential ley line or close enough to one to feel its power. I find it interesting that I was naturally drawn to these areas, and you may very well find something similar.
What were you able to find on your search?
What were you able to find on your search?
There are a number of ways you can connect with the element Earth, but one of the best ways is to go outside and touch the Earth directly. However, I recognize not everyone can do that, so I have designed a ritual that can take place indoors or outdoors depending on your needs.
Ingredients:
- Quiet place outside in direct connect with the Earth or a bowl of Earth (soil or salt)
- Blanket (if you are concerned about your clothes getting dirty or ants)
- Quartz crystal
Begin by sitting quietly in your chosen spot, whether this be in a field, deep within a forest, or in the comfort of your own home at your altar. If possible, place your feet and/or hands flat on the ground or in the bowl of Earth. Feel the coolness of the Earth on your body. Close your eyes and breathe deeply and slowly as the coolness slowly embraces you. Imagine roots sprouting from your feet and hands, sinking deep into the Earth. Follow these roots in your mind's eye, watching them penetrate deep into the Earth. When they stop growing, send out your energy and ask for the Earth to nurture your soul. Feel the nutrients from the soil enter into the roots you have placed and traveling through to your mind, body, and soul. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly, embracing the calming, stabilizing energy of the Earth. Continue this visualization for as long as you can, soaking up the nutrients and nourishing your spirit.
When ready, retract the roots back into your body and open your eyes. Hold the quartz crystal between your hands until you feel it warm with your energy. Once warm, blow lightly on the quartz, further infusing it with your energy. Bury the quartz in the soil nearby or in the bowl of Earth as a thank you. Thank the Earth for her loving embrace and if possible, spend some time exploring the area or sitting quietly with the Earth on your altar. Be open to receive any communication Earth may have for you. The lessons She has to teach us are different from witch to witch, so I cannot say exactly what you will experience, but know the message She has for you is important.
When you are finished, take a deep breath, thank the Earth for its time and be sure to journal about your experience. Keeping detailed notes is an integral part of any practice, and will help you keep track of your elemental magic journey should you need to come back to parts of it later. The messages you may have received during your ritual should be written down immediately and may require some research on your part.
When you are finished, take a deep breath, thank the Earth for its time and be sure to journal about your experience. Keeping detailed notes is an integral part of any practice, and will help you keep track of your elemental magic journey should you need to come back to parts of it later. The messages you may have received during your ritual should be written down immediately and may require some research on your part.
You can repeat this ritual over and over and over again as needed. In fact, what we have done is called grounding, but it is an extremely powerful method of connecting and building a relationship with Earth. Honestly, I see no better way of developing a relationship with Earth other than to spend time in nature, touching Earth, and feeling her loving, calming embrace as often as possible.
I love altars. I like designing them. I like looking at them. I like using them. Altars, especially when placed somewhere you frequent, are a great reminder to practice magic daily. They are also a great way to build a relationship with something, such as an element. Once you have established a connection with Earth through the ritual above, you need to continue to nurture it so it may grow and one of the best ways to do that is with an altar dedicated just to Earth.
Plan to have your altar dedicated to Earth for the next couple of weeks. How you set up your altar is completely up to you, but I encourage you to place a bowl of Earth on your altar as well as other symbols associated with Earth. Below are some ideas of items to include:
- a bowl of dirt or salt
- local rocks, stones, or crystals
- pentacle or coin tarot cards
- acorns, bark, lichen, moss, oak, honeysuckle, sage, magnolia, ivy, oak, or cedar
- antlers
- emerald, peridot, slate, iron, granite, quartz, tiger's eye, jet, tourmaline, moss agate, or jasper.
- branches, flowers, and leaves
***
And there you have it! Let me know how things went in the comments below.
Interest in the rest of the series? Here's what's to come!
Elemental Magic Series
Introduction to the Elements
Water
Water Folklore & Correspondences
Connecting With Water Ritual
Tools of Water
Water Spells and Rituals
Earth
Earth Folklore & Correspondences
Connecting With Earth Ritual
Tools of Earth
Earth Spells and Rituals
Fire
Fire Folklore & Correspondences
Connecting With Fire Ritual
Tools of Fire
Fire Spells and Rituals
Air
Air Folklore & Correspondences
Connecting With Air Ritual
Tools of Air
Air Spells and Rituals
Spirit
Spirit Folklore & Correspondences
Connecting with Spirit Ritual
Tools of Spirit
Putting It All Together
Water
Water Folklore & Correspondences
Connecting With Water Ritual
Tools of Water
Water Spells and Rituals
Earth
Earth Folklore & Correspondences
Connecting With Earth Ritual
Tools of Earth
Earth Spells and Rituals
Fire
Fire Folklore & Correspondences
Connecting With Fire Ritual
Tools of Fire
Fire Spells and Rituals
Air
Air Folklore & Correspondences
Connecting With Air Ritual
Tools of Air
Air Spells and Rituals
Spirit
Spirit Folklore & Correspondences
Connecting with Spirit Ritual
Tools of Spirit
Putting It All Together
Looking for more information on the elements? Check out my posts on the topic:
Representing the Elements with Crystals
Infograph: Water
Infograph: Earth
Infograph: Fire
Infograph: Air
Infograph: Water
Infograph: Earth
Infograph: Fire
Infograph: Air
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What lovely, tranquil workings and ideas. Like yourself, I adore altars and work with mine a great deal. Some are more permanent in their respective sets (for example, my year round fall + Samhain altar), changing relatively infrequently, others are constantly evolving, extra dynamic celebrations of various facets of my path. All feel like my soul has come home when I spend time in their company.
ReplyDeleteA feeling not unlike that which I have a real tendency to experience when mindfully connecting with the earth.
Autumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life
Thank you for your kind words as always, Autumn. You are a ray of sunshine!
DeleteI'm a long time witch of 30 years but a new baby blogger and I've come looking to see how it is done and just love, love your blog. Just wanted to take a moment to let you know. It's beautiful. <3 Thanks for sharing your craft.
ReplyDeleteAww! Thank you! Wanna share your blog with me? I'd love to check it out!
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