Air; The Gift of The Ancestors

This story is from the book The Earth Path by Starhawk.  I think  it's an important and enlightening story for us all to read as we study the Air element.  It gives a very life-affirming understanding of Air and it's role in life on this planet... and the other elements as well.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and I hope it will help open your heart and spirit to what the Element of Air really represents to us.  It is Life; past, present, and future.  We are breathing the Gift of our Ancestors!
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The Gift of The Ancestors
by Starhawk, The Earth Path

Life on earth was still relatively new.  At first, simple, one celled beings filled the seas, living by changing the energy patterns around them, breaking down large molecules - complex clumps of dancing energy and form - into smaller clumps, using the energy released to move and dance.  They filled the seas in promiscuous abundance, constantly exchanging bits of DNA, sidling up to one another and crooning the bacterial equivalent of "Hey, hey, hey baby - the thought of trading genes with you makes me cr-crazy!"  They formed one life-whole, one global gene pool, one planetary well of information and experimentation.
But after a time, life reached a crisis point.  Life began to run out of food.  There weren't enough of these complex molecules for all of life to continue, and life began to starve and die.
Yet life has always been inventive and creative.  Those simple, one-celled beings were already experimenting with different forms.  Some were long and skinny and wriggled and swam.  Some were round and fat.  Some adapted to hot and some to cold.  And always they were trading genes, shifting forms, changing and transforming.  At that time, there wasn't yet a brain on the planet, yet life came up with something so brilliant, so amazing, that it transformed the whole nature of existence and the atmosphere itself.
Life invented a mandala.  A beautiful molecule, like a patterned flower, with a magic quality.  For when a photon of sunlight struck the heart of this pattern, it began to vibrate and shiver and set off a chain of reactions that harvested the sun's energy to turn carbon dioxide and water into food.  Chlorophyll and the process of photosynthesis were life's next great invention, and the green things, the sunlight harvesters were born.
Green things filled the seas and the crevices of the shores, flung a smear of filmy life over rock and sand.  Life flourished as never before.
But there was one problem.  The miraculous process that used sunlight to make food gave off a waste product, a toxic gas that burned and destroyed everything it touched.  And as life grew, over hundreds of millions, and then billions of years, the very air became polluted by this gas, so that life could no longer avoid it's touch of death.
But life continued to experiment and invent.  Some of tiny creatures dug down in the mud to avoid the toxic gas.  Some clumped together for protection.
And some discovered another miracle, that by reversing one of the moves in the dance of photosynthesis, a new process could be born - one that could take the toxic gas, which we call oxygen, and use it to burn food and make energy.
And so the breathers were born, those who dine on the sunlight-harvesters, burning their bodies as fuel for life.  In burning food, the breathers give off carbon-dioxide, which the green things (with help from the sun) transform to food again.  And the green things give off oxygen, which the breathers again use in burning food.  Gaia began to breathe, passing her breath back and forth from red to green, continuing to build up oxygen, to transform herself.
And after millions of years, the breathers took the mandala of the chlorophyll. switched the atom at it's heart to iron, and formed the hemoglobin that swims in the cells of our red blood.
And so the cycle is complete, and the earth breathes in and out, red to green to red.
And this air we breathe is a gift of the early ancestors.  With each breath in, we take in the results of their great creativity.  With each breath out, we give back.
And the balance is so perfectly kept that oxygen remains at just the right level to sustain life.  For if there were only a few more percentage points of oxygen in the air, any spark would light a fire that would ignite the whole atmosphere.  And if there were only a few percentage points less, no fire would ever burn and we could not live."
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Take some time to read this story to yourself slowly.  You may even ask someone to read it out loud to you so you can close your eyes and use it as a guided meditation.  Breathe in and out slowly and evenly.  Contemplate the miracle of the exchange of oxygen and carbon-dioxide.  Think about how your ancestors many years ago, breathed in oxygen, and created carbon-dioxide which then fed the plants and trees.  Those plants and trees became a part of your breathing ancestor by taking in the carbon-dioxide they created.  Those plants then created oxygen, which your ancestors' children breathed in.  And the cycle continued, and even now, every breath you take, contains a particle that has at some point passed through every one of your ancestors, every breathing life form, and every green, light-eating thing alike.  You are breathing the history of this planet.

Full Moon Spell to Heal The Earth

Air Element Study, Lesson Two

Air Pollution and what we Can Do About It.

A Full Moon Spell to Gaia for Healing of the Earth

For this spell, you may choose different candle colors, herbs, and incesne based on the type of Environmental Healing you want to do.  (Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Earth Pollution)  You may choose to do this healing based on the astrological sign of the Full Moon.  For example, the upcoming Full Moon will be Wednesday/Thursday April 24th and 25th, and it will be in Libra, an Air Sign.  So I would choose correspondences to go with Air Healing.  For my full list of correspondences for Environmental healing please read this post.

Gather your herbs, incense, two candles, crystals of your choice, and a cauldron or offering bowl.

Open the circle, and meditate for awhile on your intent.  When you are ready, place the herbs you chose in the offering bowl, arrange the crystals around it.  Set one candle behind it.  Light the candle and incense.  Place both hands, palm down on the altar and chant;

"Mother Gaia, Goddess of the Earth, 
I give you honor,
for without your care and being
I would have no home.
Earth Mother, hear my words.
I have need of your Divine Presence."

Light the second candle from the flame of the first, and carry it to the East.

"Awake, Earth Mother!
Your winds are heavy and foul!
Sweep them clean again!"

Carry the candle to the South

"Awake, Earth Mother!
Your children need your cleansing rays of light.
Our atmosphere is in trouble!"

Carry the candle to the West.

"Awake, Earth Mother! 
The plants and animals and humans are in danger.
Protect your children!"

Carry the candle to the North.

"Awake, Earth Mother!
The planet itself is sick.
Do not destroy us in order to restore balance.
Rather inspire us to all work together as healers of our world.
Come again to your children, Gaia!"

Place the candle on the altar.  Stand with upraised arms

"Awaken our minds and souls, Gaia!
Teach all humans to respect their home.
Teach us responsibility, 
whether it be of chemicals or population,
Awaken us all to the needs of our Earth!"

Thank Gaia for her presense, and extinguish the candles.  Put the herbs outside as an offering to the Earth.  Or, if you wish, leave the candles lit while you do another spell or say more prayers for healing of the Air (or Earth, or Water, whatever the focus of your spell.)  Make sure you follow through by doing your part to help heal the Earth!

Read Here for another prayer to heal the skies.
Read Here for a Meditation on Healing the Earth on Pollution (You could do this meditation at either the beginning or end of your spell)
If you have chosen a couple simple ways that you want to help reduce air pollution, whether you are making changes in your lifestyle or it is something you have already begun doing, here is a simple blessing prayer to dedicate your activity to the greater good of healing The Air.

A Spell For Balance

Air Element Studies, Lesson Two

Air Pollution and What We Can Do about it.

A Spell For Balance

by Starhawk, from "The Earth Path"

"When you are faced with a choice to do something small in service of the Earth that requires some sacrifice [or change] on your part, stop first, breathe and ground and say;

"I offer up this (walk, bus ride, effort of recycling, creation of a compost pile, money spent on an energy saving light bulb... etc.) to the greater balance and healing of the Earth.  Let this small act be like a ripple that grows into a wide circle as it moves outward, leading to greater change.  With every breath in as I (walk, ride, compost, enjoy the light...etc), I will remember my gratitude to the ancestors for the miracle gift of air.  With every breath out I will renew my love and commitment to the balance"."

If you haven't yet, choose something you can do to help prevent and clean up air pollution.  Make a commitment to do it, say this prayer, and remember to breathe in and out slowly and feel gratitude, respect, balance, and intention every time you do whatever it is you have chosen.  No matter how small it seems, it is an act to restore balance and show your love for the Earth and respect to your Ancestors.

This is one small thing I have done so far.  I bought a second trash can for my kitchen, and I labeled it so my kids know to use it for items that can be recycled.  This helps them remember to sort the recyclables from the regular trash, which means we should be recycling a little bit more every week!  I am going to say the above prayer every time I empty this trash bin into our Recycling Collection bin that the city provides for us.  

Environmental Healing Spell Guide

Air Element Study, Lesson Two

Air Pollution and what we can do to help.

If you are wanting to create your own spell or ritual for Healing of The Earth, here are some correspondences you might want to keep in mind.  Creating your own spell is easy and fun, and I think sometimes a spell created on our own can be more powerful because we put our own energy into coming up with it.

Environmental Healing Spell Correspondences

Colors; (Colors can be used for candles you use, paper your write on, color of pen you use for writing your prayer, ribbons or string/cord you use, or fabric to make a sachet.)
For Earth Healing; Green, Brown, Black
For Air Healing; Yellow, White, or Sky Blue
For Water Healing: Blue or Sea-Green

Plants;  (Used in the form of incense, essential oils, or dried herbs you use in any other way)
Acorn, Apple, Basil, Copal, Elm, Frankincense, Lavender, Maple, Myrrh, Pine, Rose, Sage, Sandalwood, Tobacco, Willow, Yarrow

Crystals and Gemstones;
Amber, Bloodstone, Calcite, Carnelian, Copper, Garnet, Jasper, Obsidian, Petrified Wood, Quartz

Astrological Signs (For timing of your spell, or for writing / carving a sigil representing the sign's power into your candle or paper, etc)
For Earth Healing; Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
For Air Healing; Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
For Water Healing; Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Day of the Week (not necessary, but might add a boost to your spell if you can do it on the day of the week related to it's element.)
For Earth Healing; Saturday, Thursday
For Air Healing; Wednesday, Sunday
For Water Healing; Monday

Element/Direction/Elementals.  All directions may be summoned for your circle, as all elements are connected.  But you can pay special attention in calling these elements or directions depending on what kind of environmental healing you are doing.
Earth Healing; Earth/North/Gnomes
Air Healing; Air/East/Sylphs
Water Healing; Water/West/Sprites or Mermaids

Tarot Cards; (Some people like to place Tarot Cards on their Altar to represent the magick they are working)
Earth Healing; The Empress, The World or Ace of Pentacles
Air Healing; The Sun, The Lovers, Ace of Swords (or Ace of Wands depending on your deck's correspondences)
Water Healing: The Star, Temperance, or Ace of Cups

For a list of Archangels, Gods & Goddesses, and Elementals you can call on for Environmental work and Earth Healing, read this post.

Chemtrails - Info & Prayer For Healing The Skies

Air Element Studies; Lesson Two

Air Pollution and what we can do about it.

Here are two documentaries about chemtrails.  Please watch them when you have time.  Below is a prayer invoking several different Archangels and Deities to help with clearing away the toxins in the skies left by chemtrails.

What in The World Are They Spraying?

Why In The World Are They Spraying? 

Chief Calls for World Prayer for Chemtrail Healing

This is another link to someone praying for healing of chemtrails, though I can't get the video to load you can check it out as well; http://youtu.be/Toa45HexG9g 

Simple Prayer for Healing of Chemtrails.  Simply ask whatever God, Goddess, Archangel, or Elemental you wish to work with to clear the skies when you see chemtrails.

Example, "Archangel Michael, please help clear away the toxins in the skies left by chemtrails.  Heal the skies and let them shine clear.  Amen."

Or, you can even include all the Archangels, Dieties, and Elementals I mentioned in This Post.

For Example;

Archangel Ariel, please help protect the animals of the earth, including humans, by clearing away the toxins created by chemtrails.  Archangel Jophiel, please help make the skies beautiful again and clear away all traces of these chemtrails in the sky, and help all people see the beauty of nature.  Archangel Michael, please help clear away the toxins in the skies left by chemtrails and help us heal the skies.  Beautiful Amaterasu, Goddess of the Sun, please help clear the skies of pollution and let us absorb the true, healthy light of the sun, and help us show others the way to heal the planet.  Beloved Aine, Queen of the Faeries, please help heal the skies and protect the earth and all it's inhabitants.  I offer my aid to You and the faeries in doing my part to help take care of nature.  Beautiful Sylphs, creatures of the Wind, please help clear the skies and bring only weather that is natural, not man-made and toxic.  Powerful Dragons of the East and the Air Element, we would be ever grateful to you for flying through the skies to clear away these toxins, chemtrails, and smog with your powerful wings.  Swift Mercury, messenger of The Gods, carry our prayer through the skies, take our message of love and healing far and wide and let our prayer be heard by all Divine Forces, Angels,  Elementals, and Ascended Masters.  

You can say this entire prayer, or just choose the parts of it you feel comfortable saying.  Or, call upon your own deity of choice, or simply The Divine, Mother Nature, etc.  Let's join together in daily prayer to help heal the skies, and in prayer whenever you see chemtrails over the areas where you live or work.

Air Element Study - Lesson 2 - Air Pollution

Air Element Study, Lesson 2

Monday, April 22 is Earth Day!  Even though realistically we know that EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY, I thought our next lesson on the Air Element in our Elemental Studies should be on Air Pollution and a few things we can do about it.

Please make an effort this week to pick some things in your lifestyle you can change that can help reduce Air Pollution.  There are some ideas for things you can do in these posts;

Air Pollution Info & Solutions (for kids)

Air Pollution - what you can do at home

Air Pollution - what you can do while traveling

Make a list of some of these things and add it to your Air Element section of your Book of Shadows or Element Journal.  If you want, just make a list of the things you can do.  You can even write down a pact... a promise to the Air Element to do one or two of these things, and dedicate the action you take to the Air Element & the God & Goddess.

I have also posted some prayers, meditations, and messages from the Angels and Faeries to help us focus on this problem at a spiritual level.  If you choose, you can copy or print copies of these for your Book of Shadows or Air Element journal as well.

Environmental Awareness - Message from the Fairies (including a meditation and affirmations you can add to your Book of Shadows or Journal)

Pollution - Message from The Angels

Prayer to remove toxins from the Air - not posted yet... coming soon!

Environmental Magick Spell Guide - coming soon!

Fresh Air Spell - Coming soon!

Message from The Angels; Pollution

This is from the book, "Messages From Your Angels" by Doreen Virtue.  Doreen works very closely with the Angels, who are non-denominational beings of Light and Love.  She can see, hear and feel them, and she wrote this book of messages she has channeled from the Angels for all humans to hear.  I fell this is an important message to share right now.

Message from The Angels on Pollution
     "We are grateful that you are examining this situation concerning pollution, and that you are consulting with us for our opinion and direction upon this matter.  For as much as it saddens you to face this topic, it is only through direct action that any measurable effect can come about.  The concern for pollution comes from its effect on all bodies upon the earth, in lowering their energy and morale, as the choking smog and toxic soil create heaviness everywhere.
      This is a case where Heaven and Earth must work in unison to make shifts within matter, to avoid saturating the Earth with toxins and pollutants that pierce through your body's defenses.  You, who are working for the Light, must bring more physical light to the planet by allowing the sun's rays to reach your planet without filtration from soot in the air that you breathe.
     In some areas of the universe, there is no need for oxygen because the bodies that inhabit the planet are different from your own.  They are made from lighter, less dense materials, barely visible to human vision.  Your own bodies would not be adaptable to such an environment, however, as you have lungs that inflate to propel your cardiovascular system with energy molecules.  Without oxygen, your light would still shine, but dimmer still, and without the benefit of your body as a learning tool.
     So, we seek to party the sooty darkness from the atmosphere surrounding this sacred planet, and let you breathe the fresh air that God intended for you.  This air is a gift so sweet and soft that your first breath of it would cause you to rapture.  Yet, many have forgotten the feeling if ingesting sweet oxygen, and have adapted to air of less quality.
     There is pollution on your planet today because of your intention to provide goodness to yourselves through dense, material means.  With the emphasis today that is upon the teaching or reteaching of the ancient sciences of manifestation, these old means should be eased out soon enough.  When that occurs, your lesser dependence upon machinery will create relief on the earth's soil and atmosphere.  You will witness a cleansing like the earth has never before seen!
     Yet, during this time of transition, with continued dependency upon machinery and increasing use of electrical telecommunication powers, we must advise you to seek another course for the manifestation of your cleaner environment.  We see many of you taking means to use cleaner products within your household environments, and we assure you that such efforts are not minuscule by any means!  Your intentions are charged with an energy that inspires and excites those around you, and you are thus a role model for care taking of the environment.  Never fear that your efforts go unnoticed or that they are wasted.  Beloved One, you are deeply honored for your contributions, and every action of care for your planet is viewed as a highly significant act of great love.  You who are attempting to rid yourself of machinery and electrical dependency, your intentions are honored!  You who are voluntarily changing your lifestyle to support the animals and farming to be free of noxious chemicals, you are honored!  You who collect rubbish from the grounds of nature, you are honored!  You who invest in household goods that are less harsh than others, you are honored!
     And together, we hold an eternal viewpoint of nature in her pristine glory.  We do not saddle our thoughts about the planet with anger, or cloud our vision with fear and see only the soot filled air.  No!  We refuse to gaze at the mistakes, but peer beneath them to the beautiful truth that the planet's will for health is stronger than the environmental mistakes that could be temporarily conflicted.  Join with us Angels, then, in holding this elevated viewpoint of the clean and healthy planet body.  See her body as healthy and healed, and you will soon discover the enormous power that such a viewpoint holds."

Gaia, Tarot, and Me (XXI The World)

(reposted from my blog at Witchschool.com)

Gaia, Tarot, and Me (XXI The World)

Of all my years of being a Pagan and Wiccan, I have never fully aligned myself with any certain Pantheon or Archetype when it comes to Gods and Goddesses. I have usually felt most comfortable just calling upon the Great Lord and Lady along with the Elements and Watchtowers to guide me. I am ecclectic and therefore find myself drawing from different archetypes depending on my needs or feelings at the time; and most often the goddesses I call upon are those whom represent mothering aspects, such as Gaia, Demeter, Brigid, and Diana. I have always been most comfortable with any aspect of Goddess that is aligned with the cycles of the Moon and the Earth and seasons, and motherhood, probably because I am a mother myself; it is such a main part of who I am!!

Off and on I will decide to do some further research on Gaia - the Mythology behind this ultimate Earth Goddess is fascinating to me; and when I joined the school as a basic member my enthusiasm for this particular Goddess was re-awakened when I found the course; Goddess Studies; Gaia. So once again I study this Goddess; this time in a structured "Class" environment. I am hoping that this class wll help me more clearly understand my connection and calling to Gaia, and help me understand her more fully.I have always been obsessed with Tarot cards. It is the one area of study that I never really put down; while my other interests are fleeting and I will go thru phases of learning, Tarot is always there, it is a part of me. So when I want to learn something new, I find it easier to look at it thru the eyes of Tarot cards and readings. When I started learning about astrology, I found it easier if I knew the tarot correspondences to certain signs and planets, as I could then apply them to a field wich I understood personally. So today I was thinking; what Tarot Card would be associated with Gaia? At first I thought maybe The Empress; the ultimate Mother. In most decks she appears as pregnant and full of life; and image I can easily associate with Gaia. But this correspondence seemed incomplete. After some searching and cross-referencing, I found what I was looking for. DUH!! Gaia is realted to card 21; The World!

I had an epiphony. So many thoughts and feelings came rushing over me, as I said my relationship with Tarot cards is very personal and just understanding Gaia in relation to this card has opened my eyes. The RWS deck depicts a figure surrounded by the Elements and directions, and I have always felt most comfortable invoking the Elements for guidance. The meanings of the card include fulfillment, working together, integrating different parts of yourself or a group to accomplish goals, experiencing or finding balance, and being connected to earth, others, the world, and spirit. The World is also related to Capricorn/Saturn, and I am a Capricorn; so my relationship to this card is inherently personal. I suddenly understood why I have been drawn to Gaia, I feel like this is confirmation that she has been calling to me! In the mythological tales of Gaia, her life was not easy; she was tested many times. She swallowed her own children, the Titans, in order to protect them, although it was painful to hold these giants within herself. Saturn is the planet associated with the Tarot card The World, and Saturn is a planet of testing and karma. Astrologically speaking, the tests brought upon us by Saturn are the ones that make us stronger, the lessons we learn under Saturn's influence are lessons we carry with us our whole lives, and possibly on to the next life as well. As a Capricorn, my planetary ruler is Saturn, and my life has been a seriesof lessons and challenges. Looking at Gaia in a realtionship to The World, Saturn, and Capricorn, I can see myself in Her, and Her in me, and I can no longer question my alignment to this Goddess.Along the way while I was doing my research, I found something that mentioned that one of the symbols for Gaia is a snake or serpent. Once again, I recieved confirmation that Gaia has been calling me!! I have always loved snakes, have had a few for pets over the years. I have a tattoo of a snake around my upper right arm. It is there to remind me that I was able to "shed the skin" so to speak, on my past mistakes and start a new. I have had my dark days with abuse, depression, and addiction, but I was able to walk away from that life and start again. I was able to create life out of Chaos. Gaia was born or "formed" of Chaos, and she created life and happiness; built upon the stability and structure of her own being.

XXI The World - Tarot Meanings
Gaia - some info & correspondences
Classes at Witchschool.com