photo by wampus
Ocean stands in the middle of the stone circle, holding a white candle sitting in a silver candlestick holder. Placing the unlit candle at her feet, she lifts her face to the sky… and then both signing and speaking, shares her thoughts:
Mother, I stand here at the Crossroads to mourn those who lost their lives in the terrible tragedy at Virginia Tech. I join with those who try to make sense out of this madness, I reach out to comfort those who must now put back together lives that were shattered one Spring morning. I have seen the response of good people since this incident occurred ~ of people who have given what they can to bringing sanity back to the world. I have viewed their prayers, seen their acts of compassion, felt their sense of healing and hope… all of which has been given freely. I now stand before you to give in my own way. With the blessings of the Lady, the Lord, and the Spirit that resides within me, I give the gift of magick to those at Virginia Tech, and everyone everywhere who has been affected by this tragedy.
Pointing to the candle at her feet, Ocean continues:
This gift cannot be touched, cannot be felt by mortal hands… but it can be sensed – by the heart and by the soul. On this day I will use the power of the five elements to send healing out into the world.
The candle is the earth… that which will be consumed to send my thoughts of healing.
The flame is the fire, purifying and bright… bearing those thoughts and prayers to the Goddess and God.
The wind through my hands and the breath from my voice are the air… carrying on the four winds my prayers and magick to those in need.
My tears are the water… cooling and soothing balm for my pain and the pain of others.
And my thoughts and prayers are the spirit… infusing something of myself into my work, that the world might feel it.
Ocean picks up the candle and lights it, and then places it on top of a flat rock used as an altar, where it will continue to burn in remembrance of this occurrence, and as a symbol of the magick which has been raised here for those in need.
Deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to all.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE YOUR OWN THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, OR A CANDLE IN THE COMMENTARY SECTION. THIS RITUAL IS FOR ALL, REGARDLESS OF YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL BELIEFS.
THANK YOU.
This sculpture shows the sign for "connect"...and that is what Deaf Pagan Crossroads is all about - making connections. Connections between Deafhood and Paganism, connections between the Deaf Community and the Hearing Community, connections between myself as the writer and you as the reader. I hope you will take the time to read my various posts, some of which are listed below. Welcome to the Crossroads, and I hope you make some connections here!
I bow my head, acknowledging the tragedy. There is always a purpose for everything, even for the tragedies..
I, too, will light a candle and join you in sending out thoughts, prayers, sympathies, and love.
I would like to add my candle. I went there briefly and still have friends on campus. It hurts my heart that this happened…
I posted my own thoughts on my website.
Your entry was lovely and well written.
But I’m not ready to light that candle. It is something I have to do in my own time. Your lovely words will be part of the ritual I will create.
Thank you for that.
I’ll share my ritual with you then. 🙂
that was beautiful may the blessings of the goddess and the god go out to all that have suffered from this madness
Thank you! Wonderful and well written thought of yours.
I’m here to join you to send out prayers.
Beautiful ritual, Ocean. My candle is on my blog.
I was equally saddened to learn this morning that 200 people were killed in the latest bomb attack in Iraq. Our thoughts and love should go out to those people and their families too.
@ Karen: personally I don’t believe there is any purpose to such things. There is an effect – that it makes the rest of us a little more open to others’ suffering, and I hope more caring – but that’s not the same as a purpose.
Very beautiful ritual. I hope to have my own this weekend when I won’t be interrupted. People blame the university, the gun seller, the gun, the people that picked on him, but the real person to blame is the gunman. Something in him wasn’t right, and he didn’t know how to make it right. Let’s hope in his next life, he gets it right.
The poetry is poignant and beautiful.