Category: Spring Awakening

Dates:  April 26th to May 3rd

Natural Element: The Universe

Affirmation: I live with gratitude in my heart for the whole world.

Altar Building: Your Image of All

Home Release: House Blessing at your Spring Altar

The Universe is the final natural element of your Spring Awakening.  We have focused on parts of the Universe and this week contemplate the whole.  What a wonderful way to end this journey!  As you say the affirmation, allow all the elements to gather, breathe deeply, and exhale with a sense of wonder and thankfulness.  It’s a good day!

Your Altar is now so beautiful.  You have gathered your pieces and placed them where you feel balance and peace.  The last item to add is very personal.  Find a representation of your image of all.  This can be anything from a stone to a photograph of a lovely vista to a statue of a divine persona.  As long as looking and holding this item reminds you of the whole, the all, then this is your piece.

You have cleared so much of your space.  Old haunts and energies have moved out with the physical items you have cleaned out.  And now it is time to perform a whole House Blessing to welcome the new abundance you deserve.  At your Altar, use the whole thing.  Light the candles, fill the bowl with water, burn the incense, dab on the oil, touch your plant and crystals and metals.  Sit in front of your sacred space, close your eyes, breathe deeply, inhaling and exhaling, express gratitude.  Now imagine a bubble of beautiful energy around yourself.  Let this bubble grow to include the whole room you are in.  And even further to include your whole home.  Include your yard if you wish.  Let the gratitude you have for the Universe, spread around your whole living space entering all the spaces.  Say, “Blessing for this space I call home.” Allow this to fill the whole bubble.  Enjoy this feeling as long as you wish.  When you are ready, allow the bubble to shrink back to about you and about your heart.  Breathe deeply again, inhale and exhale.  Your home is blessed.  You are ready to accept abundance into your life.  Expect it.

Namaste to you, Traveller.  I look forward to meeting you for the next adventure. Kestrel

Dates:  April 19th to April 26th

Natural Element:  Thought 

Affirmation:  My thoughts connect me to others in the world. 

Altar Building:  Incense and Holder

Home Release: Trapped Energies

The element of Thought is something that appears less tangible than our other elements, but it is as much a part of the world as any other we have contemplated.  Our thoughts and perceptions are what connects each of us to others.  This week, pay attention to your Thought and take moments to consider how what is in your mind connects you to the others around you.

For you Spring Altar, add an incense and a holder.  If you purchase incense cones, the packages often come with a holder inside.  The incense sticks are available in many places and the holders are sold along side.  If you want to make your own holder, find a bowl or plant pot and place some sand inside.  Now your sticks or cones will stand tall.

We move our clearing now to something a bit more internal.  We all harbour fears of our choices and of the future.  This manifests as trapped energies in ourselves and our home.  Over the past weeks, you have cleared the way for new ideas, opened the door to opportunity, and shifted energies.  This week, use the smoke of incense to gather the remaining trapped energies and blow them away.  Feel confident and release any fears that may be blocking your way to abundance.

Dates:  April 12th to April 19th

Natural Element:  Breath

Affirmation: I build my future by freeing my ideas of today.

Altar Building: Add a special pen or pencil

Home Release: Clean hidden dusty spots

From the Trees, we are shifting focus to the very personal element of Breath.  Each inhale brings us new life and opportunity with the air; each exhale removes the depleted air so it can be recycled and cleansed.  Pay attention to your Breath this week. Notice when you feel out of breath or when breathing becomes deep and nourishing.

The altar is a dynamic place – sometimes we set it up and forget to use it.  This week, add a special pen or pencil to the altar to remind you to work your magic, write your dreams, and document your successes.  Keep this implement sacred to use only for your altar work.

We have done a lot of clearing already, but sometimes there are places in the home that harbour trapped energies – and some of these are dusty!   Spend some time dusting where you don’t usually go.  Think about the tops of the doors or picture frames, behind the washer/dryer, or under other appliances.  Perhaps your other clearing identified spots that are obviously dust collectors – how about moving the furniture to open up these hidden spots of low energy?

Dates:  April 5th to April 12th

Natural Element:  Trees

Affirmation:  I open the door to wisdom for my well-being and that of others.

Altar Building:  Add writing paper or a notebook

Home Release:  Remove unused or unusable clothing

Today we shift focus from Crystals to the element Trees.  The wisdom of the Trees goes beyond knowing.  This week, connect with Trees by taking a walk in the woods and touching the bark of some favorites.  Our faithful friends Trees have provided the means to travel in ships and wagons, lumber for homes, and communication through paper.

Sometimes we will write when we have special paper to write upon.  Add some wonderful papers or a personal notebook to your altar.  You can even make some paper yourself if you choose.  Don’t be afraid to write on a blank page – this is how new ideas have the best chance of coming into being.

Clothing that is torn, worn out, doesn’t fit, or no longer suits you has to go.  Be ruthless.  We wear our power outwardly.  Clear your closet for items that better share your power with the world.  New items … and energies …  will come when you clear space for them.

Dates:  March 29th to April 5th

Natural Element:  Crystals

Affirmation:  I focus my energies where I need to.

Altar Building:  Add a lovely crystal

Home Release: Remove unused technology

Crystals are lovely mineral formations — a gift from the Earth herself.  All colors, shapes and sizes, they are forged in the heat and pressure of our planet.  Crystals are so special that they encourage us to focus our attention and our energies.

Add a crystal to your altar space.  You can find these at rock and gem stores or other specialty shops.  If you wish to create your own, you can look up how you can grow beautiful crystals from salt, sugar, borax or alum.  Adding food colouring gives them the color you desire.

Technology is changing so fast that we forget to get rid of the old stuff.  Are there VCR tapes hanging around, computer discs that you can no longer even put in the computer, an audio tape you made in high school?  How many versions of cell phones are in your drawers?  You may not even have any way to use these things anymore.  So let’s remove them from our homes.  Many communities offer electronics recycling as an eco-friendly option.

Dates:  March 22nd to March 29th

Natural Element:  Wind

Affirmation:  I am energized by the wind to live for today.

Altar Building: Pick a favorite essential oil for spring

Home Release: Nasty smells

It is March and the Wind can play a large part in the spring. Wind is cleansing and clearing for ourselves and our homes.  Notice the air and especially the wind.  Watch the clouds move, breathe deeply, or go fly a kite.

Your altar needs a beautiful scent to draw you in and awaken your memories.  Select an oil that you want to smell regularly during the week and that will remind you of spring.   You can use oils on your body or rub it on your candle.  Place a few drop in your bowl of water to let the vapours spread.

This week you will find and remove unpleasant odours from your home.  Check under the sinks for spills, flush some lemon peels down your drains, find new ways to store smelly things, or wash pet bedding. If weather permits, open the windows wide and let the Wind clear things out.

Dates:  March 15th to March 22nd

Natural Element:  The Moon

Affirmation:  My dreams are valid and valuable.

Altar Building:  Add a piece of silvery metal

Home Release:  Polish your metals

We share the daytime with the Sun and the nighttime with the Moon.  This week of the spring equinox, we shift into the natural element of the Moon.  Take some time to step outdoors at night and glance up.  The beauty of the Moon can inspire hopes and dreams.  Acknowledge that your dreams are as valuable as any precious metals.

For your altar table, add a piece of silver metal.  This could be a favorite piece of jewelry, a work of art, something made from wire.  If you are crafty, hammer out your own symbol. Keep this addition harmonious and beautiful to you.

We all have them – boxes and drawers of bits of metal that we once loved and now sit tarnished and unusable.  This week have a dig through old jewelry boxes, silverware drawers, and other hidey-holes.  Turn any back into useful objects by shining them up.  Or pass them on to someone else. Or recycle the metal.  A natural polish can be made by mixing of same size parts of salt, flour and vinegar.  Make a paste and spread it over the metal to dry.  When you clean it up, it will sparkle again.

Dates:  March 8th to March 15th

Natural Element:  Plant Life

Affirmation:  I accept abundance and grow freely.

Altar Building:  Select a plant or herb

Home Release:  Help sickly plants and remove dead ones

Having living things in your space reminds us to grow, patiently and purposefully.  Do plants worry about gathering abundance?  Not at all … they accept the gifts of the universe and gladly grow and expand.  How about you?

Select or adopt a plant or herb that you can care for.  Ask at a garden center if you are not much of a plant person.  Your altar is really taking shape now. Consider the placement of your items.  Traditionally (and not necessarily), the water bowl would be in the west and the earthy plant would go in the north.  But look at your own space and design it for yourself.  Whatever feels right!

If you already have plants in your home, chances are that the winter has been harsh on them.  Some may not be fairing so well.  If you can help them with a good trim then do.  Give them some fertilizer too.  If things are too far gone, then remove the plant from the home.  Perhaps clean and recycle the soil for your new altar plant. Get all those dropped leaves into the compost!

Dates:  March 1st   to March 8th

Natural Element:  Rivers

Affirmation:  I welcome the healing power of the universe.

Altar Building:  Find a bowl to hold water

Home Release:  Remove old toiletries and medicines

Today we shift focus from the Stars to the natural element of Rivers.  Traditionally water and especially rivers or springs have been bringers of healing both physically and mentally.   Often we many think we are not worthy or do not need healing.  This week allow yourself the time to welcome healing of all sorts into yourself.

To bring the element of healing natural waters into your life, dig about and find a bowl that really sings for you.  Clean the bowl thoroughly to cleanse it of all past energies. You can use the bowl in cleansing and healing rituals.  To empower items with healing energy, place water and salt in the bowl and immerse the item.  Perhaps use the intention to add your word to the magic.

This week, let’s be sure we are doing the best for ourselves by using products on and in our bodies that are not dated.  Check your medicines and toiletries for expiry dates.  Don’t forget that bag of things you keep ready for travel.  Even toothpaste gets dated!

Dates:  February 22nd   to March 1st

Natural Element:  The Sun

Affirmation:  I add my own light to the world as I shine.

Altar Building: Find a center candle

Home Release: Clear out unfinished projects

Our Sun is getting noticeably stronger already!  In the midday, we can feel the warmth.  Let the Sun pour its light on you.  Take a walk outdoors and let the Sun’s rays shine on your skin.

For your altar table, find a center candle.  This should be large enough to last through the 13 weeks so perhaps pick a pillar type.  Be sure you enjoy this candle – the colour, the scent, the size. Remember to keep things safe so place it on a fireproof saucer.  Try to burn it a little each day this week.  Perhaps as you say your affirmation.

To make room for the new, get rid of any unfinished projects.  This can be anything.  Think of the half- finished crochet square you started five years ago, or that video game you could never finish and now don’t care about.  Perhaps someone else can make better use of these?  Pass it on!