Today, we are just a few days past the Last Quarter of the Moon Cycle where we at The Wild Woman Project have been exploring Tiny Revolutions: Rebirth.
Each Moon Cycle it is part of our collective practice to look to Nature and take in the Wisdom it offers. It has become a part of my personal practice to study the symbols in Nature and folklore closely and then work to identify these symbols within my body and my life. No matter how far away they may seem at first glance, I almost always discover their mirrors close to my bones. To take it one step further, I sometimes build a Ritual to harness the energy of the symbol I am contemplating.
During this Moon Cycle’s exploration of Rebirth I have found two symbols, the Phoenix & a shedding snake, particularly helpful and powerful for me. Below, you will find two mini rituals to help you harness the energy of these Symbols. I would like to invite you to take everything as a suggestion, and do what works for you. There is no wrong way to do this. Perhaps you would like to create a ritual of your own!
SYMBOL ONE: THE PHOENIX
As many of you know, in Greek Mythology the Phoenix is a bird who is completely destroyed and then rises, reborn, from the ashes. The most powerful aspect of the Phoenix is the destruction before the rebirth. It reminds me that although sometimes things may appear completely destroyed – something new, something “better”, something more powerful may be waiting to be born out of the destruction.
RITUAL QUESTION:
Is there something in my inner or outer life that has been destroyed/broken that I am ready to turn into something new?
Sit with this question for as long, and in whatever way you need to. This is deep work, and certainly isn’t easy. Often this question can be painful or bring up a lot that we haven’t looked at. Remember to be gentle with yourself here.
RITUAL ACTION:
Once you are clear on your answer I invite you to both physically demolish and create something.
Some options may be:
– Write down/ draw on a piece of paper both what has been demolished and what is being born. Then, rip the paper up and glue back together.
– Paint or draw on a terra-cotta pot images of your journey. Next, wrap the pot in newspaper and gently break it with a hammer. Then, glue the pot back together or create a mosaic out of the pieces.
– If there is a possession that is directly connected to what has been demolished in your life (but for whatever reason you would like to hold onto that object) IF AND ONLY IF it feels right, I invite you to demolish it and rebuild it. Or perhaps, repurpose it into something new. For example, maybe a jacket is cut up and turned into something new.
As you move through this Ritual I encourage you to be present with what arises (in both the demolition and the creation), and I ask that you find the beauty in the aftermath of the destruction.
SYMBOL TWO: A SNAKE SHEDDING THEIR SKIN
In contemplating the symbolism of a snake shedding their skin I was drawn to the simplicity of allowing the aspects of myself that do not serve me to fall away. I was left with the question: “THEN what happens”. Instantly, I thought “now, I can feel more”. This was followed by flashes of times when I instinctually shed something physically followed by a feeling of Rebirth washing over me. The most obvious example I can give you: who among us has NOT cut their hair after a break up?
RITUAL QUESTION:
Is there something in my inner or outer life that would be beneficial for me to shed? (maybe a thought pattern, an outdated belief, a behavior, or even a goal that is no longer in line with my highest good)
RITUAL ACTION:
Once you are clear on your answer I invite you to do the following:
– Make a special body scrub. You can easily make a simple one using: coconut oil, sugar, and a few drops of essential oil (or you can look up hundreds of other recipes!)
– Before you use your body scrub spend some time getting clear on what you’d like to shed. Meditate on what it means to release this.
– Imagine now in your mind’s eye that this thing you are shedding has risen to the surface of your skin
– Take your time gently and lovingly using this body scrub all over your skin. As you do this bring into your awareness that you, like the snake are shedding your dead skin (both physically and energetically).
– Once you are finished spend a little time checking in with how you feel now that this has been released. Do you feel lighter? Do you feel more? Do you feel like there has been a Rebirth of sorts?
Your Turn
We’d love to hear from you!
Did you do one of these rituals? How did it feel? What did you release?
Did you perform a ritual of your own?
Tell us about it? Or show us a picture of what you created?
On the Horizon
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Amanda is the Director of Communications & Creative Development for The Wild Woman Project, as well as: Wild Woman Project Circle Leader, a member of the Love Crew at the annual WILD WOMAN FEST, and a Mentor for The Wild Woman Project Circle Leader Training Program. She holds a B.A. in Theatre from California State University, Fullerton where she intensively studied Movement for the Stage. A self described Mystic, Artist, Witch, People Person, Beverage Aficionado from Los Angeles California; She is particularly passionate about the space where Art, Activism, and Spirit collide.
