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SACRED CIRCLE The
Earth,
our chakras, the wheel, bubbles….
All these spherical forms have no beginning and no end.
Circles are symbols of the eternity of life and they are as old
as life. They represent
one-ness and wholeness, centeredness and focus.
Yet they also encompass all there is in thought and form, time
and space, and beyond. The
circle is multi-dimensional, and yet it has only two dimensions:
the inside and the outside.
The inside contains energy and the outside radiates energy. Primitive
peoples from all cultures throughout history and beyond have used the
circle to define space for dwellings and for sacred ceremonies.
Stonehenge in England is one such example.
The medicine wheels of our North American Indians are another.
The myth of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table is one
more example of the sense of equality, which is generated by the circle. We
may draw upon the energy of the circle to accomplish our goals.
Anything which is performed or thought within a
consciously-created circle will come into being.
The aspect of containment comes into practice here and magnifies
our intentions within. It is necessary to create the circle first, just as you would
draw a circle on a piece of paper to define it’s existence.
In the following notes I will explain in detail one method of
creating a powerful circle, which you may use within your living space
or on the surface of the Earth. You
may call these circles medicine wheels or sacred circles or ceremonial
circles; the names are endless. The
design that follows is of my own creation but based on ancient truths
and proven wisdom. I have
borrowed from Native traditions and sacred teachings of India, but
it’s primary structure is based on the sacred geometry of the Mayan
calendar (see The Mayan Calendar by Jose Arguelles). The
Mayan calendar
is the oldest known record of time and space and is based on sacred
numbers and sacred space. Just
as a square has four corners, a triangle has three, so a circle has
none. When we create
structures based on numbers and their corresponding definitions of space
we shift our own consciousness to that level.
For this reason it is of vital importance to understand what our
dwellings and places or work do to our energy field.
It is of greater importance to know how to correct that and how
to enhance our spiritual dimension.
Building
and using a circle on the Earth helps us to connect with our Mother
Earth at the most profound level possible.
This means we are becoming more solidly in our body and less
spaced out, bringing in abundance of all levels: mind, body, spirit, as
well as having our physical needs provided for.
We are able to manifest our goals by collecting and magnifying
Life Energy within the wheel. We
may do healings for ourselves and for others within the circle.
Our prayers are answered, our wishes come true, and our life gets
better when we acknowledge and worship our Divine heritage. Building
a sacred circle
requires close attention to the purity and the quality of Light, which
we want to instill. For
this reason we must do each step of preparation and construction with
reverence and focus. What
you put into this work you will receive back many times over.
The
number 13
in ancient times was a sacred number because it cannot be divided and is
thus close to the nature of a circle.
We have 13 lunar cycles per year, of roughly 29 days each.
When we follow the patterns of Nature, as in the lunar cycle, we
are put us into harmony with Nature.
The Gregorian calendar, established during the reign of Pope
Gregory, is an imposed structure on humanity designed to shift our
consciousness back into a structure. It uses 12 artificial months, which are not based on natural
cycle. This calendar was
set up for the purpose of shifting the balance of power to the
patriarchy, which it successfully did.
This dis-empowered every living soul on the planet as it shifted
the balance towards yang (masculine) energy.
We all lost the power of the yin (feminine) energy and have
suffered accordingly. Because
the number 13 brings us all back into our power and our balance, this
circle using the power of 13, shifts us back into natural rhythm and
expanded consciousness.
Building
the Circle
Choose
the time of year and month to build your circle.
Solstices and equinoxes produce the most energy so they are
always good choices. Build
within the waxing Moon (new towards full) since this is a time of
growing and constructing. If
you have knowledge of astrology, choose times when Mercury is direct and
when the moon is not void-of-course.
Preparation
and construction may take several days and you must prepare yourself
before each phase of the work. First,
be sure you are in a positive state of mind.
Next, be sure to shower, smudge, and do any prayers you choose.
Wear clean clothing and sacred objects you have.
Have tobacco and cornmeal with you for offerings.
Collect
rocks.
There will be 52 in total and they should be large enough to
clearly define the perimeter and directional spokes.
Usually 8” to 12” diameter rocks are quite good for the outer
circle and smaller ones may be used for other places.
Before you collect rocks you must purify your energy by smudging
with sage and then sweetgrass and doing suitable prayer or energy work.
Rocks have energy and thus are deserving of respect.
You must approach each rock individually and ask permission to
remove it from it’s present place to it’s new location.
Do this silently or aloud and wait for an intuitive reply.
If you get a “no” do not take that rock.
If you get a sense of ‘yes’ for this rock, take it with you
and leave an offering of tobacco or cornmeal to the Earth, in gratitude.
Place
all rocks
in a pile as you collect them. Smudge
them all, individually.
Before
building
the circle it’s helpful to do prayers or ritual energy work for
yourself and for the space you will building your circle.
It is also a grounding and empowering gesture to offer smoke to
the 4 directions, beginning with the East (because that is where the sun
rises). Hold your sage and
point it in the direction of the East, perhaps offering a few words of
acknowledgement or prayer. Next
move to the South and do the same.
Next go to the West, and then the North, all in the same manner.
Choose
the center
of your circle and decide how large you want it to be.
It may be small, say 10’ or it may be as large as 40’ or
50’. Have string handy to
measure out from the center and to keep the circle round.
You may choose to bury crystals at the center and around the
perimeter or along the spokes as this gives added magnification
properties.
Build a
fire pit
in the center if laws permit and if you have space.
Make sure it is well protected.
If you cannot build a fire then bury crystals here to give
energy.
Build
an inner circle
of 7 rocks about 2’ out from the fire pit (based on a 40” circle).
Seven rocks are used to represent 7 days of a week, 7 chakras,
and the directions of N-S-E-W, up, down, and within.
Always start circles in the East.
Choose
4 large rocks
to mark each of the four directions and place them at these points along
the outer circle now, beginning with the East and moving clockwise
(sun-wise). It helps with
the energy if you do prayer or ritual energy work pertaining to each
direction as you lay the rock. You
may bury crystals at these four points, using citrine for East, rose
quartz for South, smoky quartz for West, and clear quartz for North.
Use compass for directional accuracy and string for a round
perimeter.
Build
the middle
circle of 13 rocks now, starting in the East, and offering prayer and
maintaining a reverent and respectful mind.
Place
16 more rocks
in the outer circle, starting just past the East rock, using string for
perimeter, and maintaining a reverent mind.
You now have 20 rocks in the outer circle.
According to the Mayan tradition, 20 is a number of empowerment
and enlightenment.
Spokes
are used
to provide strength, and focus to the four directions.
Build these by placing 3 rocks from center to East, center to
South, center to West, and center to North.
Wheel
is complete.
You have used a total of 52 rocks, one for each day of the year: 7 for the inner circle, 13 for the middle circle, 20 for the
outer circle, and 12 for the spokes to the four directions.
These numbers give strength and purpose and Light to your circle.
Smudge the circle
thoroughly inside and outside by walking sun-wise around the perimeter
with your smudge. It is
further energizing to do more prayer and ritual energy work within the
circle now. You may also
bury more crystals within the circle.
Building
the Energy of the Circle Enter
the circle from the East always. Do
this by using your hands to part an invisible curtain as you enter, or
by holding a candle in front of you as you pass through the portal to
the inner circle. Sit
in any place you like. Close
your eyes and feel the energy. Move
to another spot and do the same. Be
aware of how you feel as you sit in the four directions, with your back
to the outer edge of the circle. Meditate,
pray, do ritual energy work, or merely sit in silence, as you get a feel
for your circle. When you
are comfortable in a certain direction it means you are comfortable with
the energies and the issues pertaining to that direction.
Check the Direction list to see what these are as they help you
to know yourself better. Build
the energy in the circle by using rattles, drums, bells, chimes, Tibetan
bowls, singing, chanting, meditation, prayer, pipe ceremony, sacred
objects, and offerings. Build
the fire in the center of the circle.
Have a bowl of water, burn sage or incense, use feathers,
crystals, and copper wands. Have
many like-minded people in your circle since more positive people can
generate more positive energy. Do
sacred ceremonies on the solstices, equinoxes, solar and lunar eclipses,
new moons and full moons, planetary stations, birthdays, religious
holidays. Use this space
for healings, baptisms or weddings.
Be creative, but always be of a reverent and respectful mind.
Exit
through the East in the same manner in which you entered. Never walk through the walls of the circle. Copyright © Gail 1992
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