It's been a roller-coaster sort of week. My birthday weekend was unspeakably lovely. A weekend to remember forever. It was marred only by the information that Dave has returned to town. He had the grace and good sense to stay away during that weekend. Starting Monday night, though, we've had a few efforts at communication. They were spectacularly unsuccessful.
An interesting (to me) thing to notice is that he doesn't have the power to fundamentally de-rail me anymore. He can't hurt me. I'm pretty sure he can't hurt me legally, and I'm certain that he can't hurt me emotionally. Directed hatefulness (or maybe it's just disdain. Who can say?) can slow a person down for a bit, right enough. But when you realize that it only says anything about the initiator of it, it loses its power.
But I want to keep it that way. Our Wiccan sisters and brothers cast a circle when there's a need for safety. Positive energy and power are kept in and negative energy is kept out. I don't have any interest in casting a spell (unless someone knows how to turn a mathematician into a water slug. No....No... I'm trying to rise above!) But I want to borrow their metaphor, creating a circle of joy that he can't penetrate.
Maybe everyone has a little magic ;) How would I do this?
2 comments:
You might try Swami Radha's Divine Light Invocation. You can do it by yourself (per the instructions) but I have found it more powerful to do it with a small group, you stand in a circle and take turns putting each member of the group in the middle of the circle. The power of group intention.
Here are the instructions:
Instructions for Divine Light Invocation
Stand erect, feet shoulder-width apart. Keep the eyes closed and focus them on the space between the eyebrows. Lift the arms above the head at the same time as you smoothly and gradually tense the whole body, while you inhale. The arms should be kept straight and the tension maintained throughout the body. Hold the tension and the breath.
Make the following affirmation to yourself, silently and with all the concentration possible:
I am created by Divine Light
I am sustained by Divine Light
I am protected by Divine Light
I am surrounded by Divine Light
I am ever growing into Divine Light.
Slowly lower the arms as you exhale and relax.
Keep the eyes closed and use your imagination to see yourself standing in a shower of brilliant white Light. See the Light pouring down upon you, flowing into the body through the top of the head, filling your entire being.
Now, without raising the arms, keeping them at your side, tense the body and inhale. Hold the tension and the breath. Mentally repeat the Invocation:
I am created by Divine Light
I am sustained by Divine Light
I am protected by Divine Light
I am surrounded by Divine Light
I am ever growing into Divine Light.
Slowly exhale and relax. With the arms beside the body, concentrate on feeling a warm glow of Light suffuse your entire body, outside as well as inside.
Acknowledge silently to yourself: Every cell of this, my physical body, is filled with Divine Light. Every level of consciousness is illumined with Divine Light. Divine Light penetrates every single cell of my being every level of consciousness. I have become a channel of pure Light. I am one with the Light.
The Divine Light Invocation is an exercise of will as well as an act of surrender. Be receptive to the Light and accept that you are now a channel of Divine Light. Express your gratitude with deep feeling. Have the desire to share this gift with someone who you wish to help. Turn your palms forward.
You can now share the Divine Light with any friend or relative. Keep the eyes closed and visualize him or her standing before you. Mentally open the doors of your heart center and let the Light stream forth towards the feet of this person. See the Light encircling the person and spiraling upwards in a clockwise direction, enveloping the body completely. See the spiral moving high up into the sky, taking his or her image along with it. Finally the person merges into the source of the Light and becomes one with the Light.
You may even lift your head to follow the spiral of Light, keeping the eyes closed. When the person has passed from your view, relax and silently give thanks for having the opportunity to help someone in need.
Remember, in helping others we are also helping ourselves.
We do the same thing at high Mass when we cense the altar before the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Same thing when we walk around a new house with holy water.
Ed Hays, in Prayers for the Domestic Church, offers the following (start of the blessing for a home, p.23):
"Lord our God, You whose home is in heaven, on earth ...and in that undiscovered beyond, come and bless this house. Surround this shelter with Your Holy Spirit. Encompass all its four sides with the power of Your protection so that no evil or harm will come near. May that divine blessing shield this home from destruction, storm, sickness and all that might bring evil to us who live within its walls." (Adapted somewhat, but mostly faithful to the original.)
The NCCB (Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers) suggests the following as a prayer to be offered up on returning home each day: "Hear us, Lord, and send your angel from heaven to visit and protect, to comfort and defend all who live in this house."
Then there's this, from the Breastplate of St. Patrick:
"I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of demons,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude."
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