It was a good day, on the last quarter Moon, to be at the Ocean, to offer what wanted releasing. The normally fogged-in beach was ablaze with sun, families, lovers, solitaries and friends. Seagulls, crows, crabs, sandpipers, dogs...the feeling of flow, of joyful movement was palpable as I walked barefoot down the shore. The water was freezing at first and then gradually my feet got used to the cold as the water elementals swirled and danced around my ankles.
Earlier I had felt moved to work on my water altar, set up on the west wall of my office. I played around with it a bit feeling into what was being asked to be placed there. I had been looking through my
Oracle of the Mermaids deck by Lucy Cavendish and one card,
Time and Tide, in particular drew me.
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| Time and Tide ~ Oracle of Mermaids ~ Lucy Cavendish |
I liked the keywords for it,
Oceanic Spells and Rituals, which I took to mean as the spell and magnetism the ocean weaves upon us, the ocean as a great cauldron of ritual which we attend to as we're so called. The LWB talked about how we might honor that inner attunement and as I read I could feel the impulse arise to spend time there, something I haven't done in ages. I felt drawn to create my altar around this mermaid energy with its invitation to take time out to journey to the ocean, to be immersed in its saline truths, its story of wave and particle, flow and release, magic and mystery. And as I went about setting it up part of me was already aligning with the rhythm and sounds of that queendom where earth meets water in that most sacred of alchemies. What came through, as I stood back to take it in, was a curiously airy water focus which felt just right for what has been arising lately.
Offerings were made, songs sung, arms flung wide, time spent sitting and watching wave after huge wave unfold, tears released, magical mother stones found, goddess mandalas drawn and offered to incoming waves...I came away from my time with the Mother of all Waters cleansed, lightened, the taste of salt on my lips, feel of sand in my toes and an expansive breath in my heart. It was a wonderful couple of hours and I thank the mermaids for singing me there.
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each...
I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black...
