Last Mask Center: Ritual to Transform Your Relationship with the Source

Ritual to Transform Your Relationship with the Source

by Christina Pratt

The purpose of the following ritual process is to mobilize the powers of the solstices and equinoxes to help you to transform your relationship with The Source so that next winter and ever after you are able to fully replenish your well of well-being. This winter solstice brings us the power of precision, contemplation and ownership of our life process (prepare). This spring equinox power is that of "the exuberant expression of personal failings that clears the water," bringing renewed clarity, relief and freedom (plant). This summer solstice offers us the power to ignite our will to transform (adjust). The fall equinox offers us the power to finally journey into the void and make the transformation manifest (harvest).

The process is designed for anyone who reads this newsletter. For those of you who are new to ritual and ceremony, just follow the steps and remember: the ritual isn't the thing, it begins the thing. I encourage those of you who do this ritual process to open up to the largest sense of community you can work with. Bring groups together and celebrate openly. Do everything in your power to have those present at the winter solstice be present for all four parts.

I. Winter Solstice 2007

Prepare the space and call in the spirits to open sacred space alone or with many. Your intention is to establish the personal path necessary to create a restorative relationship with The Source.
Answer the following questions through meditation, journeying or group process. What is my relationship with The Source now? What do I need it to be to support my well-being? What has to change to create what I need it to be?
Create the path or process or protocol necessary to get from "now" to what you need. Cycle Students: use your skills and Cycle processes.
Close your sacred space with a simple ceremony that allows each individual to take ownership of his/her plan for transformation.
Take action, step by step, to implement your plan over the next months.

II. Spring Equinox - You will also need: one clear quartz crystal, bowl of spring water, tobacco, small shovel, food and drink for big celebration

Prepare the space and call in the spirits to open sacred space on the earth. (If it is still too cold, bring the earth inside. Place it on the earth as part of your Summer Solstice ritual.) Your intention is to program a crystal with your adjusted plan, plant it in the earth symbolizing your commitment to work the plan, and celebrate.
Person conducting the ritual speaks the invocation of the ritual intent: simple, clear, and direct. Place the bowl in front of the eldest person to begin.
Hold your crystal with the bowl of spring water directly in front of you. Speak your original vision and plan. Share the stories of what arose as you worked your plan between December and March. What did you learn? How must you adjust the plan?
If you are uncertain or disappointed ask for help from the group to adjust your plan. Visualize your adjusted plan inside your crystal.
When all plans and crystals are ready the person conducting the ritual speaks an invocation to refocus the group. Clearly state the intent to plant the clarified plan and commit to living it.
Each individual plants their crystal with the intent to plant their commitment. Leave an offering of tobacco, chi, song or dance in gratitude to the earth.
When all are planted pour the water from the bowl over them. Decorate the earth with images of spring.
Conductor offers collective gratitude and closes the sacred space.
Celebrate and toast the stories, the failings, the lessons, and the renewed commitment.

III. Summer Solstice - Remember to return the earth to the Earth and plant the crystals now if it was too cold in the spring. You will need a bowl of spring water, simple offerings and the location of your planted crystal.

Prepare the space and call in the spirits to open sacred space alone or with many. Recall and restate your original intention: to walk the personal path necessary to create a restorative relationship with The Source.
Based on what you have experienced over the last six months, refine your commitment to your transformational process. What is essential? In what ways will you need to add to or step up your commitment? How will you do this?
Speak the changes into the water. When everyone is done pour the water over the crystals.
Call in the energy of the Full Summer Solstice to ignite your will to manifest this transformed plan.
Close your sacred space with a simple ceremony that allows each individual to give gratitude and leave offerings for the help received, to call in the additional help, and leave offerings in thanks for that help.

IV. Fall Equinox - You will need beautiful and interesting things from nature to make power objects arranged in the center of the space. String and such to make building easier. At least one drum.

Prepare the space and call in the spirits to open sacred space on the earth, ideally where you planted the crystals. Your intention is to journey for the final energy needed to make your transformation fully manifest and to embody that energy in a power object.
Person conducting the ritual speaks the invocation of the ritual intent: simple, clear, and direct. Drum for the journey into the void to ask for the energy you need to make your transformation fully manifest. Lay with heads near buried crystals, ideally.
Share what you were given as you all create power objects to embody that energy from the nature things in the center of the circle.
When the power objects are complete dance the new energy you have been given.
To close, the person conducting the ritural:

Recognizes the eldest person for the energy they have harvested from the void.
Blesses the power object and its support of the successful transformation.
Bless the person with protection.

Then that person recognizes, blesses and calls in protection for the next person and so on around the circle.
Conductor offers collective gratitude and closes the sacred space.
Everyone take your power object out onto the land and privately ask for the help that you need to complete the transformation of your relationship with The Source. Place the power object somewhere useful, like your altar, until the winter solstice of 2008 and complete your transformation.