Sea Magic * Connecting with the Ocean's Energy*

[Neamhain Riona]

What is magic?

Magic is an attitude toward the world and an awarness of its natural rhythms. It's way of perceving and living in the world. It's the small occurrences that remind us who we are and where we, as individuals, fit into the vast web of life. Magic has much to do with our connection to the natural world. For example, trees are living entities and when we open our spirits to their energy we can sense a living connection that adds new dimension to how we preceive our neighborhoods and the places we visit.

Discovering the Sea's Magic

Water is symbolically associated with emotion, with inner flowing. Water is formless and yet forming. It represents transformation; we sometimes refer to this process as a sea change. The sea is great icon for ongoing change because its own constant shifting also endlessly changes the shoreline.

The sea is mysterious; its primal call draws us and holds us spellbound. It's energy speaks to us on a level where we don't often venture, distracted as we are by our cultures' superfiecal, materalistic ideals. However, the more we are swpet into the shoals of banality, the more we lose touch with the depth of our souls, those we love, and the natural world around us. Physically we may live in riches, but spiritually we are proverty stricken. We are left hungering to find out who we are, and where we belong in this world.
What happens when we land dwellers connect with mother ocean?

* We honor our primordial source

* We connect with the nurturing of the natural world- food, beauty, solace.

* We tap into one of the greatest powers on this planet.

* We acknowledge the largest portion of this earth-after all, we live on the "big blue marble" the planet that is 70% water

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Current and Waves

Currents can be thought of as rivers, within the ocean. Some flow only a few feet under the surface while others move far below the depths. The Gulf stream, running from the east coast of the United states to the Alantic north of scotland, may be the most well-known current, but it is only one of many.

Ocean currents are caused by a combination of factors; the earths rotation, winds, differences in water density and temperature, and the shape of the underwater landscape. For the most part, currents move in that sacred pattern found throughout nature-the spiral. IN the Northern Hemisper they move clockwise and in the southern (H) they move counterclockwise, resulting in a global cauldron of balanced energy.

Perhaps most fascinating are the waves- the ceaseless rolling across open seas, and the breakers that was the shores and creat that betwixt and between mixture of land and water. Coastal dwellers who are in tune with nature learn how to read waves. Pacific islanders know that certain type of waves indicate that a typhoon is on its way. IN the aftermath of december 2004 tsunami, news reported noted that tribal people on remot idonesai islands saw the signs and headed for high ground.

Waves move in groups called " Wave trains" frequently in threes. The last wave of the train is said to be the most powerful. To the Celtic people, the ninth wave ( three sets of three) was a symbolically signifcant barrier. A welsh sea poem tells of the dead being buried " where the ninth wave breaks"

To be banished beyond the ninth wave meant you were an outcast. Beyond this point, however, high adventure began. This marked the magical boundary of the "otherworld". Beyond the ninth wave one had to rely on the power of wisdom, the power of ancestors, and the power of soul.

In Irish Myth, the Tuatha De Danann requested time to prepare for battle and asked the MIlesians to "withdraw the length of nine waves from the sore and then return" With their foes at the magical boundary, the Danann were able to raise a mist that hid Ireland- at least temporarily.

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Practice: Ninefold Sea Blessing

In more recent times, the people of ireland and Scotland have used a nine-fold blessing of water asking the sea to impart good qualities to an infant. If you are ready to step into practice of Sea Magic, this is a nice gesture with which to begin your journey. The Ninefold blessing is slighthly reword here to fit our purposes. You can simply read it to yourself, or if you perfer a more formal entry, make a personal ritual of it.

First, prepare some saltwater, Collect a little ocean water if you can or create it by dissolving a large pinch of sea salt into a small jar of warm spring water. ( Avoid using tap as it contains fluroide and other chemicals ;water for blessing should be as sure as possible) When the salt as dissolved, hold the jar in both hands in front of your heart as you speak the words of the seawater preparation.
When you are finished, close your eyes. Continue to hold the jar at your heart and Visualize the ocean. With your hands, feel the sea's energy emanating from the jar. When feeling is strong, open your eyes. YOur seawater is ready to use.

Seawater Preparation

"Mother Ocean, from whom life flows,
bless this water with your love and nurturing power,
your endless beauty and strength.
For this I am grateful.
Blessed be"

Now place a blue or other sea-colored cloth on your meditation altar or table. A seashell such as a scallop or clam or even a shell-shaper dish can be used as a vessel for the seawater.
Take a few minutes to quiet your mind.
" These are the tests of the sea: The thrid wave is for courage, the sixth wave is for perseverance, the ninth for surrender. Becoming a seeker and wanting to go beyond our everyday experiences takes courage. Once we begin to tread the inner path, it takes perseverance to stay the course. At the point where we uncover truth, we have a choice: we can go back to what we know, or we can trust our intuition and surrender its wisdom, letting the journey unfold.

When you are ready, read the ninefold sea blessing. After you speak each line, dip your finger into the seawater and then touch the top of head ( crown charka), your energy center of spirit.

Ninefold Sea Blessing

" A small wave for my smile,
A small wave for my voice,
A small wave for my laughter,
A small wave for my choice,
A small wave for my sight,
A small wave for my wealth,
A small wave for my generosity,
A small wave for my health,
A small wave for my truth;
Mother Ocean, I ask for nine waves of grace upon me"

When you are finished, close your eyes. Sit for a minute or two and bring into your minds eye an image of the ocean. if you are at the beach, just listen to the surf. Don't try to do anything, with the image or sound; don't try to hold it for a long time. Just be with it, then let it fade like a spent wave receding from the shore. When you are ready, open your eyes. Your voyage into Sea Magic as begun.

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Sea Journey ( finding your Fetch)

Here is the narrative part:

Listen to the gentle surf and feel yourself standing on the beach facing the water in early morning. The light is soft, and the gentle breeze is warm. Feel your bare feet on wet sand. You hear a wave crash and the surf hiss towards the shore. Cool water washes over your feet and up to your ankles.

The water seems to pause before it reverses direction and head out to rall the next breaker that is gathering height. You stand, listening and watch as the wave rushes ashore one by one to bathe your feet. Each time a wave withdraws, you feel it take a little sand from under your feet until your toes are snuggled into the sand. Slowly draw in a deep breath of fresh air, and enjoy the slight tinge of salt in your nostrils. AS you listenin to the sea gulls' call, you become aware of something small floating in the water. Bend down to retrieve it, and inspect it more closely.

At first it looks like any number of shells you've seen. But then you notice that the folds of its spiral are a deep, rich purple. As it dries in the air, the white shell turns to a sparkling pink-lavender that seems to glow in your hand. Looking up, you notice another shell several feet away. As you lengthen your gaze, you see a trail of these shells twinkling as they dry in the sand. You decide to follow them.

You walk for a few minutes, following the trail at the edge of the surf. When you glance back, you see the shells you have passed are no longer twinkling; they simply appear ordinary. Looking forward again, the shells seem to glow in sequence, beckoning you onward,. You continue to follow them over a rocky area, around several large boulders, and into an enormous sea cave. The temperature is unexpectedly warm and comfortable inside. Only part of the cave floor is covered with water, and it will be several hours before the tide begins its slow return.

Continuing, you follow the trail of shells to the back of the cave and find what appears to be a narrow doorway. Turning sideways, you fit through the passage and enter a room filled with soft lavender glow that draws you in. Even though you are in a strange new place, you feel at ease. A large rock next to a deep pool of water in the center of the chamber looks like an elaborately carved chair. You take a seat, close your eyes and listen to the gentle echo of the surf outside.

As you sit there, you become aware of the presence of another being in the chamber. Allow a moment or two to feel the others energy. Slowly open your eyes and greet the being who has come to meet you. Because sight is not our strongest sense, you may not have clear images in front of you. Let your intuition and energy accommodate your vision.

Introduce yourself and the ask if the being is your sea fetch ( explain what this is in a bit). if it seems appropriate, ask his or her name.

[ Insert drumming or rattling audio here. Let it play for ten to 15 minutes ,then read the remaining text]

It is time to begin your return journey. Thank your sea fetch and offer a gift. It may be a piece of jewelry that you wear, something in your pocket, or a piece of your clothing. Give something that has value to you and give it freely.

Now you are back in the center of the glowing chamber. The twinkling light of the moon shells begins to dim as you walk to the narrow passage. After retracing your route, pause briefly to let your eyes readjust, then step out of the sea cave onto the beach. Before rounding the bend at the large boulder, you glance back towards the cave but find that the rock face appears as a solid wall. Even so, you know that you can find the cave and your sea fetch again by following the trail of twinkling moon shells, which will always reappear when you need to find the way.

After the journey

Take your time as you cross the threshold back to your everyday world. You may feel disoriented. Do not panic if you did not receive anything on your first journey. A lot do not. Try again at a later date. If you meet your sea fetch confirmation will come to you during your everyday life. For example, a dolphin has presented itself to you in a cave's pool, you will soon find dolphins in pictures, television programs, books, and elsewhere.

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Practice: SeaShell Cleansings and Blessings

As with anything used for spiritual or healing purpose, shells should be cleansed to remove any unwanted energy and empower them with desired energy. Even a shell pulled directly from the surf should be cleansed: not only does this remove old energy, but we also imbue it with our intentions. We can do this with wet or dry cleansing methods.

If you can take your shells to a beach, you can do a real "on-site" wave blessing, spoken as you stand in the water. Simply wade in far enough that you can distinguish separate waves as they come ashore. YOu need not go far. The big breakers do not have to crash over you, and your shells, the smaller and gentler waves closer to shore do nicely. If you have a number of little shells, you may want to place them in a small mesh laundry bag to prevent loss.

The Wave Blessing

Stand at the tide line and begin by saying

" Mother ocean, I call on you to bless these shells"

Dip them into the water of three successive waves, saying one of the following lines for each wave.

"Mother ocean, cleanse these with your love"

"Mother ocean purify these with your salt"

"Mother ocean, charge these with your magic"

Cup the shells in your hands and close your eyes. takea few long , deep breaths and feel the power of the sea. End with:

" Mother ocean,Thank you for your flow of blessings"

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Dry Method of blessing


If you prefer, a dry blessing ( or can't do the wave one). this can be done by sprinkling sea salt over the shells. Once you have used the salt this way, gather it into a jar. At the next full moon, place the jar outside or on a window sill where it will be bathed in moonlight as you use the moon blessing. The salt can be reused afterwords.

Moon Blessing of Salt

As you set the jar of salt in the moonlight say:

"Sister Moon, shining bright, As you guide the tides this night, Purify this salt for me with the magic of the sea"

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Finding your Sea Fetch

When seeking a spirit guide, we don't have to look mythical creatures to find a range of marvelous sea animals. Some of our potential guides or totem animals Sea magic live entirely in the sea, some split their time between earthly and watery worlds, and still others take the skies- and yet the sea is their home. Let us turn to these creatures to find our sea fetch. Known variously as animal allies, totems, helpers, spirit guides, and fetches, they common to Native american,celtc, and other cultures where shamanistic practices flourished. The Word fetch refers to the distance that a wave runs across the ocean. As a result, the sea fetch is a bringer of wisdom from Mother ocean.

Twelve Sea fetches and their associate qualities

Albatross: Solitude, survival, the ability to wonder.

Crab: Adaptability,clarity of vision, creativity, growth, renewal, rebirth.

Dolphin: Communication, community, intuition, joy,serenity, strength.

Manatee: Gentleness, ability to nuture, relaxation.

Otter:Companionship, duty, friendship,loyalty, transformation.

Penguin: Balance, indepdence, inner strength, wisdom.

Polar Bear: Ability to nurture, protection, power, spiritual guidance, strength

Salmon: Cycles, determination, healer, progress.

Sea Gull: Communication, freedom, responsibility, simplicity.

Seal: Balance, creativity, curiosity, playfulness

Turtle: Fertility, immortality, longvity, opportunity, perseverance.

Whale : Communication, community, creativity, cycles, harmony.

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Sand

A dish of sand on the altar can be used to draw norse runes, the Celtic Ogham, or other symbols, or to simply run your fingers through. Sand itself is beautiful and carries with it the power of the ages. Composed mainly of rock that has been weathered and pulverized over the millennia and transported to the sea, beach sand is infinitely variable. Most sand consisted of quartz and feldspar. Quartz is the most common and widely dispersed mineral on earth; it is physically hard and chemically stable. Its commonness belies its power as a transformer that amplifies and focuses energy.

Quartz is not the only mineral to be found in a handful of sand; pink and red garnet, black tourmaline, and beryl are also common. The sparkly flakes are usually mica. Tiny Grains also come from seashells and coral as well as silicified wood, a component in the "singing sands" on the island of Eigg in the Inner Hebrides. Acoustic sands exist in a number of places around the world. Some of their sounds have been described as singing, Barking, and whistling, as well as booming. There is no definitive scientific explanation for these sounds, despite numerous theories about the sand grains' size, shape, silica content and the air spaces between the grains.

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Albatross: This rare oceanic wanderer can show us the ethereal realms beyond this world-and within our hearts. AT one time the albatross was seen as the "restless spirits of drowned sailors" because of its cry and its endless soaring. With a wingspan greater than other sea birds, albatross can shepherd us on our journey and steer us in the direction we are meant to travel. Albatross teaches us the value of nurturing- even the male sits on the nest. aS well as the skills to survive any turbulence we may encounter. With albatross as a guide we can learn to see the magnificence in the world around us and teh worlds within us.

Associations: Solitude, survival, the ability to wonder.