Through the course of our lives, dozens - perhaps hundreds - of umbilical cords are severed: death cuts us off from people, animals, plants, trees. Friends move or we move or our lives take different turns. Lovers go their ways. Children leave home. We ourselves once left home and school. We lost rings, jobs, dreams, high hopes for our performance, ideals for our country, expectations of life, love, and people. Maybe we left a church and lost our faith. We lost interest in baking bread, identifying wildflowers, and much
else.
Such severings are often abrupt, even violent. We are stressed and strained like an infant at birth, cut off from nourishment, kicked out of paradise. Even our self-image is a nurturing womb, even our idea of the Divine.
We must sacrifice all these severed cords if we want to grow up strong and just. The Rigveda - the oldest extant spiritual document, dating from around 1400 B.C.E. - tells us, "In the beginning was the nonexistent, from which the existent arose." The Buddha, who was raised Hindu, put a new spin on this when he told us that all suffering comes from attachment. What is an umbilical cord if not an attachment?
We are apt to think that live in the womb was paradise. Not so. Becoming the womb that encompasses all being - that's paradise. Becoming emptiness.
Here's a ritual. Select six difficult severings in your live (six is ruled by Venus). Cast the circle. In the center, place a wide-mouthed receptacle (a cornucopia would be appropriate; I used a marble bowl).
Contemplate the emptiness of the receptacle. The Goddess as Tao is the void out of which everything is created and the ground of being, the cosmic womb. Only an empty womb can conceive. We must empty ourselves of the pain and fear associated with our losses to make room for a new creation to arise.
Cut six lengths of string or darning cotton to represent cords. I used fishing line because I'm told I am never happy unless I am on a hook.
Talk to the Goddess as you drop each cord into the receptacle. Thank Her for the good things that were yours while that umbilical cord was your lifeline. Give Her the confusion, doubt, hurt, and fear you felt after that cord was cut.
When the cords are in the receptacle, allow the emptiness in you to expand. Take into yourself sky, earth, garden, trees, ocean, whatever is near you. Experience your intersubjectivity with your surroundings.
Burn or bury the cords. Open the circle. Go about your day mindful that all is inside you.
Emptiness is enormous. It cannot be filled. It cannot run out. It is nothing and everything comes from it. Void and its power is ineffable. It is terrible. It is magnificent. It is Goddess.
Keywords: pagan magic pagan magic wiccans asatru paths major hindu money spells buddhism over chinese pagan calendar wizards magic
