The Power of Words
Part One – What is an Incantation?
At the beginning of this year I was told in a journey to work with magic and spells.
This did not appeal to me at all – sounds like witchcraft, evil intent and interfering with nature – and made me think of scary things like being burned at the stake. My deep Christian background rears its head and cries no, but my inner soul-spirit is once again prodded into observation, learning and reflection. Because you see, I have told spirit I am willing – I am willing to go on, to be uncomfortable with myself, to grow – but only in the name of love and healing, only in the light of wisdom and heart. Spirit is most obliging and thus I travel new roads of experience and understanding – sometimes a little like a frightened child peeking around the corner into a room full of warmth and light, afraid to see that it is safe and alright.
On to incantations.
We use them all the time, especially in prayers and ceremonies. A prayer is an incantation. A ritual holds incantation. Songs form incantations. Incantation and chant come from the same source. A chant is a simple, repeatable phrase or song, often performed to expand or create a spiritual state of connection or sense of presence and recognition. To chant is to sing or singsong an incantation. Incantation is defined as enchantment, what we call the casting of spells, the ritual repetition of words to create and form a specific outcome. A spell is an incantation. Ritualized prayer is incantation. Last rites are incantation. Incantations are not a shortcut to getting what you want, they are a way of working with spirit and nature for light and healing. When we are “casting a spell”, or incanting, we are inviting spiritual energy in – according to our intention. Like a prayer. Like a blessing. Through use of the voice.
The sounds we make with our mouths have resonance and power in them.
Spoken or sung aloud, words send vibrations into the human collective and affect and create the atmosphere, the world, we live in. Recently we have been able to record the power of sound to affect water, plants, and people. Every time we open our mouths, we are casting spells – of love and light or darkness and fear.
The power of incantation is not just in repeating a bunch of words. Many of us have suffered the flatness of the spoken word sans heart. One who swallows their words does not want to be heard, and one who flatlines them is disconnected, afraid to be revealed, not present with you. One who speaks in anger can bear a curse and smother your power.
The power of the incantation lies in the intention and connection of the chanter, the particular vibration they bring to the words they speak or sing. There is power, or spirit, to the words themselves – the sounds of the words, open vowels and crackling consonants contain energies. Putting both together and using your body as a resonating chamber to deliver them is a powerful expression of your inner energies into the world’s daily flow. Thoughts and ideas light up the way, anger and aggression cloud it. Incantations change it.
Spirit is inviting me to use my voice to create life, hope, and joy.
To alleviate pain, lighten darkness and stir the heart and mind into joy. This invitation is given to all. I now notice that I am finding phrases and poems to use for healing, both physical, emotional, and spiritual, as I am meditating or journeying. I am beginning to ask for them. They are spells, incantations that connect us with nature, spirit, god, goddess, universe. They unleash and incorporate the power of spirit, life, and love as we chant them. Poetry is an incantation of the soul that comes to a life of its own when read out loud. I encourage you to use your voice to speak your heart’s desires, to sing to nature and to praise and thank your god or goddess. We are encouraged to do so in many forms of spiritual practice. Your voice is a Powerful Tool of Creation.
Part Two – What this is All About?
Asking for a spell!
Recently I found myself very ungrounded. I have been forgetting and confusing days and events as I have been focused on some very intense writing. In addition to this creative intensity we earth peoples are going through a massive spell of planetary retrogrades. Neptune, Saturn, Pluto, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and now Jupiter. Seven of our galaxy’s planets appear to be moving more slowly than Earth right now, in effect, going backward relative to our orbit around the sun. A big whopping heavenly hit.
This morning I asked spirit for a grounding ritual to use during this time of multiple retrogrades and seething creativity. I received a water grounding ritual and incantation I am sharing with you here. If you have been feeling ungrounded yet bursting with energy during this time, try working with earthwater for a little different grounding experience with the planets. Please let me know how it goes for you in the comments. I would love to hear.
Grounding through Retrograde using Earthwater
Find a fresh water source – either a spring, lake or pond that is spring fed – this is earthwater. Water that comes to us through the earth.
Thank the water spirits, the trees and vegetation surrounding your water source, the wind and air spirits breathing over it. The stone people standing watch around and in it.
Standing by or in the water, take some up and sprinkle yourself over the head with it three times saying:
Water, Water from the earth Bless me in my native birth Anchored in the mother’s womb Flowing swiftly with the moon Hold me, hold me As your own, blessed and wild And fully grown
Feel and envision earth vines growing up around your feet and ankles, up your legs, fed by these streams of love. Dig your toes into the mud and dirt at water’s edge and see those roots shooting down into the muggy, muddy earth beneath you.
Reach your arms up high and cry:
I am anchored, so I fly!
Take some of the water home with you to your altar to use as a daily grounding after this event. You may repeat the spell while sprinkling some on your day each morning.
Be grounded and well.
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