Winter Ritual

Printable Version

Look at books with images of priestesses, suffragettes, nurturers, say to yourself, “These women are my ancestresses. Of this line of strong women am I descended.”

Write the biography of female relatives. Imagine the world they inhabited. Wonder how they charted their way through it. What qualities helped them, sustained them? What gave them their own special spark?

Interview your relatives. They might surprise you. Most people are immigrants. Read folklore from your country of origin. Can you detect similar themes? Look for hidden or disguised Goddess ritual. These are usually talked about or performed when the men are out of the room.

Recover your personal heritage. Pass it on to your children. Share it with friends.

Put women on your altar. If your family is too “charged” emotionally, choose someone from herstory. Claim her as your own. Go to a yard sale and buy an old picture. Invent!

Intention:

Begin with a deep moment of silence and open your heart. Light a candle or place an offering in front of your ancestress images.

Invocation:

Ancestresses, this woman,your daughter, comes here to honor you today. Of your strong line I am descended, blessed be.

The Ritual:

Chant the names of your female relatives, or women who you admire. If your intention is to move into trance, then chant softly. If it is to raise energy, begin slowly and softly and very gradually increase in pace and volume.

Ending:

Sing a song learned from an ancestress or “We All Come From the Goddess”.

Extinguish the candle and sit quietly.