Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: jaybird@netcom.com (Jaybird)
Subject: Self-empowerment ritual using runes and colors
Date: Sat, 2 Jul 1994 20:08:19 GMT

One person responded to my post about the anger release ritual asking
if I had any rituals for strength and self-confidence or self-
empowerment.  I spent some time meditating on this topic, and was
inspired with the following ritual.  You are welcome to make any
changes you feel necessary to the format for establishing and
dismissing the circle, or other changes to the ritual that you feel
will work better for you.

(Note: The colors I associate with the runes are correspondences from
Amber Wolfe's _Personal Alchemy_.  I find that they do seem to enhance
the effectiveness of the rune energy, at least for me.  Try them
yourself, but if you know or find other colors work better for you,
use them.  The purpose of magickal symbols is to resonate with your
subconscious and Higher Self; these are not necessarily the same as
anyone else's.)

You will need a set of colored markers, paints, or pencils including
red, orange, yellow, green, light or sky blue, dark blue, violet or
purple, black, and grey.  You will also want something that marks
white, silver, and gold.  (I have used paints or fabric paints for the
latter, sometimes for all of them.) You need a medium to work
on--cloth or paper on which all the colors will show up (beige or
brown for example).  In addition to your usual altar setup, you will
want a red candle, and a fiery scented incense, such as sage or cedar.

The purpose of this ritual is to tap into your own personal lifeforce
and amplify it into a personal statement of self-confidence and
strength.  Afterwards, when you feel yourself dragging in one area or
another, concentrate on the appropriate rune in the appropriate color
for a bit, and you will find yourself tapping back into the energies
you established in the ritual.  I hung the finished rune-piece on my
wall where I could see it every day to reinforce its lessons, as well.

First, establish your working circle, after you've gathered all your
materials together.  Make sure you have a comfortable place to sit and
draw or paint--you'll be here a while.

(When I'm doing a spell-working such as this in my temple space, I do
not generally go through an elaborate circle cleansing and casting
ritual--unless the temple feels that it needs it!  I start by calling
in the directions and visualize them forming a sphere of power
centered around the altar.)

Face the east and say: "Spirits of the East, powers of Air, I ask that
you be present at this spell-working.  Help me find inspiration and
visualize the runes clearly that I may partake of their essence."

Face the south and say: "Spirits of the South, powers of Fire, I ask
that you be present at this spell-working.  Help me find the spirit
within to empower the runes and tune into their color energy."

Face the west and say: "Spirits of the West, powers of Water, I ask
that you be present at this spell-working.  Help me to seek the
mystery within, that the runes I draw here may work upon my emotions
for my Highest Good."

Face the north and say: "Spirits of the North, powers of Earth, I ask
that you be present at this spell-working.  Help me to manifest the
runes in the third-dimensional world so that their energies may become
a part of my physical existence."

Face the sky and say: "Father Sky, I ask that you watch over me in
this spell-working.  Lend me your wisdom so that I may bring safely
link my inner vision with the outer Self."

Place your hands on the earth and say: "Mother Earth, I ask that you
watch over me in this spell-working.  Let me ground myself deeply in
you and draw on your strength and energy to sustain me in my work."

Face your altar in the center of the circle and say: "Sacred center,
Spirit of all that is, of whom we are all only aspects, unite this
sphere into a protected space for the spell-working I plan to do
here."

(I find that the magickal "sphere" feels more protected to me than a
traditional 4-point circle casting, and so I use a 7-direction casting
to accomplish it.)

Once the circle is cast, invoke the deities with whom you want to
work, if any.  (Father Sky and Mother Earth are deities.  :-) If you
want more "personable" energies in the circle with you, I'd suggest
Freya and Odin, or Celtic Brigid and Merlin.  But we each have our
favorites.  You want to emphasize magick, fire, and inspiration in
your choice or choices.  Raise energy through chanting, meditation, or
whatever other method you use for magickal work.  (The energy for this
spell will be drawn primarily out of yourself, because you are
attempting to change your own internal energy states.)

(I will attempt to draw an ASCII rune at the left of each set of
instructions, but you will probably want to consult a book on runes to
see what it really looks like.)

  /     Now to the work.  Mediate on the rune Sigel in red.  Red 
 /_    symbolizes the lifeforce, and Sigel brings to the lifeforce the 
   /    energy of essential power.  This rune will link and empower 
  /     all the others.  Once you have visualized the rune and felt its 
energy, draw it in red in the center of your sheet of paper or cloth.
We are going to encircle Sigel with seven runes in rainbow colors,
corresponding to the seven chakras, plus one in white to unite them
with the source, then we will bind the energy with four runes at the
"cardinal points".

   ^
  / \   Next, meditate on the rune Tyr in red.  Here, red represents 
 / | \  strength and protection--the essential warrior within.  Once 
   |    you have visualized it and felt its energy, draw it in red below
   |    Sigel.  (This corresponds to the root chakra at the base of the 
spine.)

 |\    Next, meditate on the rune Os in orange.  Here, orange represents 
 | \   vitality, and the rune brings in the essence of potency, courage, 
 |  |  and strength.  Once you have visualized it and felt its energy, draw 
    |  it in orange above and to left of Tyr (below and left of Sigel).  
(This corresponds to the sacral or sexual chakra below the navel.)

 |\ /|  Next, meditate on the rune Man in yellow.  Here, yellow represents 
 | X |  the intellect, and Man is a request for self-knowledge.  When you 
 |/ \|  have visualized it and felt its energy, draw it in yellow above and 
 |   |  to the left of Os (directly left of Sigel).  (This corresponds to 
the power or ego chakra at the solar plexus.)

 | / / Next, meditate on the rune Feoh in green.  Here, green represents 
 |/ /  expansion, and Feoh abundance, prosperity, growth, and universal 
 | /   love.  When you have visualized it and felt its energy, draw it in 
 |/    green above and to the right of Man (above and left of Sigel, lined 
 |      up with Os).  (This corresponds to the heart chakra in the center of 
the chest.)

 |\    Next, meditate on the rune Wyn in light or sky blue.  Here, the light 
 |  >  blue represents expression and communication, and Wyn spiritual 
 |/    gain, joy, and self-achievement.  When you have visualized it and 
 |     felt its energy, draw it in light blue above Sigel, lined up with 
 |     Tyr.  (This corresponds to the throat chakra.)

 |\    Next, meditate on the rune Lagu in dark blue or indigo.  Here, the 
 | \   indigo represents synthesis, and Lagu inner wisdom.  When you 
 |     have visualized it and felt its energy, draw it in dark blue below and 
 |     to the right of Wyn (above and to the right of Sigel, aligned with
Feoh).  (This corresponds to the third eye chakra in the center of the
forehead between the eyes.)

   /   Next, meditate on the rune Ken in violet or purple.  Here, the purple 
  /    represents spirituality, and Ken spiritual guidance.  When you have 
 <     visualized it and felt its energy, draw it in violet to the below and to
  \    the right of Lagu (to the right of Sigel and even with Man).  (This 
   \   corresponds to the crown chakra at the top of the head.)

 \ | / Next, meditate on the rune Eolh in white.  Here, the white represents 
  \|/  healing and integration, and Eolh spiritual assistance, shielding, and 
   |   protection.  When you have visualized it and felt its energy, draw 
   |   it in white below and to the left of Ken (below and to the right of 
   |   Sigel, even with Os).  (This represents the body's connection to the 
Higher Self and Spirit--the universal Mind of the Universe, if you will.)

Now that the central pattern is complete, and we've linked your life-force 
into the Higher Self, we'll surround the pattern with runes to bind and 
   |   activate the desired qualities.  First, meditate on the Is in silver.  
   |   Here, the silver represents receptivity to the changes you wish to 
   |   make, and Is the inner journey you have embarked upon.  When you have 
   |   visualized it and felt its energy, draw it in silver to the left of 
Man and Sigel.

 \ |    Next, meditate on the rune Nyd in grey.  Here, the grey represents 
  \|    flexibility, and Nyd the endurance, persistence and resolve that you 
   |\   will need to accomplish the changes you desire.  When you have 
   | \  visualized it and felt its energy, draw it in grey above Wyn and 
   |    Sigel.

 |\ /| Next, meditate on the rune Man again, this time in gold.  Here, the 
 | X | gold represents activity, and Man self-activation.  This rune activates 
 |/ \| the energies of the others you've linked with to accomplish the 
 |   | changes you desire.  When you have visualized it and felt its energy, 
 |   | draw it in gold to the right of Ken and Sigel.  (You should have a 
horizontal line through the center with Is, Man, Sigel, Ken, and Man.)

 |   | Finally, meditate on the rune Haegl in black.  Here the black 
 |\  | represents release, and Haegl the energy of change and 
 | \ | transformation.  You are releasing the energy of your spell onto the 
 |  \| Inner Planes to do its transformative work.  When you have 
 |   | visualized it and felt its energy, draw it in black below Tyr and 
Sigel.  (You should now have a vertical line through the center with
Nyd, Wyn, Sigel, Tyr, and Haegl.)  Visualize the energy of the circle
being bound into your work.

Thank the gods and goddesses you've invoked in whatever manner you
usually do.  Then release the circle, thanking the spirits you invoked
in all seven directions for their presence and help, e.g., "Spirits of
the east, powers of air, thank you for your presence and aid in this
work.  Depart in peace, my thanks and blessings."

Open the circle, and say "To all spirits visible and invisible that
have been present in this ritual, depart in peace, my thanks and
blessings."

Put your runic mandala up somewhere so that you can see it and
meditate on it daily to achieve its affects in your life.

*******
The ritual makes the rune energies part of you, and attunes your
Spirit Self to them so that they will be available to you at need.
Visualize them singly or in groups according to your need of the
moment.  For example, suppose you feel a need for strength--simply
take a few moments and visualize Tyr in red.

Feeling frightened and insecure?  Visualize Tyr in red in your right
hand like a spear, Eolh in white in your left like a shield, and Nyd
in grey covering your center for endurance.

Need energy to get yourself going?  Visualize Man in gold for self-
activation.  And so on.

You're on your way!
Jaybird

P.S.  I welcome reasonable feedback and comments on this ritual for
the sake of improving it, and I'd like to know what sorts of results
you may have.  I have done this and similar rituals in the past with
great success.  Don't bother flaming me over my ritual style--I firmly
believe we each have to find our own way, ultimately.  (I'll just
visualize Eolh in white, and it will all bounce back.  :-)

P.P.S.  Although the ASCII runes are a bit hard to draw, if there is
sufficient interest I will post Amber Wolfe's table of correspondences
with the rays and lights.  I have used a number of the other runes
from her table for other purposes with equal success.

--
Lady Starsheen, founder of the Temple of Isis of the Stars, member of the 
Fellowship of Isis, and eclectic witch.  Blessed be!