The Dance of the Four Directions

The Dance of the Four Directions is a Native American way to become centered and balanced. The graceful and beautiful dance is from the Plains tradition and can be used to prepare yourself for deep work in the spiritual realms.

It helps you discover an important concept: you are the center of your universe.

The name of the dance is taken from the four mudane points of the compass: north, east, south, and west. Each direction has a certain property, certain symbolism.

North: the place of old age, the night, winter, earth, green or black, bear or buffalo

East: childhood, morning, springtime, air, white or yellow, an eagle or butterfly

South: adulthood, midday, summer, water, blue, a frog

West: middle age, evening, autumn, fire, red or orange, thunderbird

Additionally, there are the directions up, representing the heavens or the Great Spirit; down, referring to the earth or the Divine Mother; and center, which is the center of our own being, to visualize this, you might imagine that you are the center of compass, suspended between heaven and earth.

You are dancing in the heart of your universe, your feet anchored in the earth, with your head in the heavens, bringing in the energy along the horizontal points of the compass, and pulling this energy into your own heart.

It is a powerful image. To tap into the power of the four directions, simply align yourself with particular direction and ask it what you want to know. Each of the directions has many values, many symbols, which vary according to different cultures and customs. Those suggested are only a beginning.

The Dance

Always turn clockwise, or sunwise. Begin by facing whatever compass direction you wish to work with first. For this example, we'll start with West. The starting posting is a relaxed stance with your feet about six inches apart.

During the dance your feet will occupy an area about one and a half feet square. One foot will always remain in its half of that small space as the other foot steps out to greet the proper direction in sequence. Your hands and eyes will draw in the energy of the direction as your feet returns to its starting position.

Your hands are pulling in the energy of the direction, bring that energy into your heart. When you pull your hands in, cupped to hold the energy, bring your fingertips to your body until they touch the area of the thymus.

The exact location is not critical; if you wish to measure, it is approximately two hand-widths below your thyroid gland (located in the voice-box area of your throat). As your hands touch your chest, follow them with eyes to bring in even more energy. It may help to visualize a flowing light filling your hands, and in turn, filling your heart.

Step 1: From the starting position, step forward to the west with your right foot as far as is comfortable. Keep your left foot stationary (although the left heel will lift automatically as you step forward). When you step forward, push out with your hands from the leven of your heart, palms upward. As you bring your right foot back in line with the left, the starting position, turn your softly cupped hands back toward you and bring them back to touch your chest. As you do this, consciously feel the energy you are drawing into your heart or Anahata.

Step 2: With your feet in the starting position, twist your body a bit to your right and step our directly to the north with your right foot. Push your hands out as before, from the level of your heart, palms upward. As you bring your right foot back in line with the left bring the energy of the north to your Anahata. Create the sensation of vitalizing energy entering your chest area.

Step 3: From the starting position twist your body slightly to the left and step our directly to the south with your left foot. Draw the energy from out of the south into your Anahata as before.

Step 4: From the starting position, taking up your right foot, twist your torso completely around and step directly behind you with the right foot so you are facing the east. Your left foot remains in its starting position. Draw the energy of the east to your Anahata with your hands, as you lift your right foot and twist back around to return to the starting direction.

Step 5: From the starting position, draw energy from the east by lifting your left foot and twisting your torso, this time to the left so that you can step directly behind you. Your right foot remains stationary this time. Draw in the energy of the east to your Anahata as you move your left foot and turn to place it back in the starting position.

Splitting Clouds

In many parts of the world, one of the first lessons that a Shaman was taught is Weather working. Learning to control the weather is an integral part of a Shaman's training. A shaman was expected to call in the rains when needed, and if he couldn't, then he wouldn't get much respect.


Here is a technique called Splitting Clouds...It's really a very simple technique and most people can do it after a little practice. Go outside and pick out a cloud. Stare at it and take slow deep breaths. Do not force the breath, just allow it to be deep and natural. Now send out from your Third Eye (area in the forehead and between the eyebrows) a beam of white light to cloud. Visualize (with eyes open) the cloud splitting into two, and mentally command/will ill it to do so.


It may take a few seconds or minutes, but if this technique is done properly, the cloud will usually split. Once you have learned how to do this, you are well on your way to becoming a weather worker.

~Source Unknown~

Shell Correspondences

ABALONE:
General use. Use to contain empowered herbs, stones, and other magical uses.

CLAM SHELLS:
Used for purification and love. A small clam shell may be etched with a rune and made into a potent talisman.

CONCHES:
Love magic.

CONE SHELLS:Used in protective spell crafts.

COWRIES:
Cowries are specific tools of prosperity and money; many cultures once used them as money. Some contemporary religions associate cowries with goddesses and with female mysteries. In this respect, they're fine for enhancing spirituality.

LEFT HANDED WHELKS:
Use for making dramatic, positive changes in your life.

LIMPETS:Courage, confidence, physical strength.

MOON SHELLS:
Psychic awareness, purification, and peace.

OLIVE SHELLS:
Healing.

OYSTERS:
Love and good fortune.

TOOTH SHELLS:
Money.

SAND DOLLARS:
Wisdom

SCALLOPS:
Useful for spells involving travel and movement.

Cherokee Dream Pillow

The following recipe is said to keep away nightmares and bring prophetic dreams.

Stitch a small pillow of muslin of another light weight fabric. It is best to create a pillow that is able to be opened by putting velcro at one end, so you can refresh the pillow from time to time with new herbs without having to unstitch the end or make a new pillow. You may wish to cover muslin pillow with a light weight, washable "casing" as well. Once you stitch the pillow together, fill with:

4 oz dried lavender flowers
4 oz dried sage
2 oz ground orris root-as a preservative-(optional)
4 oz deer's tongue herb
2 oz cedar shavings
4 oz coltsfoot herb
4 oz sweet fern
2 oz violet

Keep dream pillow under or inside of your regular bed pillow. When storing your pillow each morning you may either leave it where it is or put it inside of a plastic bag by your bed. Storing it in the bag will help the herbs retain their freshness for a longer period of time.

Feather Magic

FEATHER MAGIC

In natural magic feathers are used in spells and ceremonies to promote change. They are used as catalysts to help focus concentration while carrying out spells and wishes.

The medicine bag, also called power pouch or sachet, often includes special feathers which have meaning to the wearer and help attracting good luck as well as driving away bad things.

Feathers are often used to focus concentration in spells.

Feathers are magically ruled by the element of air. This makes them good communication helpers. But each feather also can hold other special powers; depending on the bird it came from, its color and place of discovery and other factors.

The knowledge what kind of feather is best used for what kind of intent can only be found out for oneself by trial and error. A pigeon feather is not as helpful for creating a defense strategy than a feather taken from a bird of prey.

The general rule for future feather magicians is always to use self found feathers rather than bought ones. A shop cannot substitute a walk in nature, nor the joy when the wanted feather is finally found.

Feathers are often used to focus concentration in spells

Feathers used for magical undertakings are mainly determined by the energy which is brought into the feather by the magician him/herself through concentration and thought. Beside from the energy the magician brings into the object, feathers hold certain natural abilities.

PEACOCK:

Peacock Feathers were thought to be very unlucky, because they resemble an eye. The eye shape represented the evil eye which people were afraid of. Today the beauty and natural strength of the peacock feathers are again recognized. They are specially valued for their multicolored eyes.

BLUE JAY BIRD

Blue Jay feathers are valued as bringer of light and joy and are said to have the ability to brighten up even the darkest places.


FEATHER COLOR CORRESPONDENCES

WHITE:
Purification, spirituality, hope, protection, peace and blessings of the Moon.

GREEN:
Money, fertility and growth.

BROWN:
Health, stability, grounding and matters in the home.

ORANGE:
Attraction, energy and success.

YELLOW:
Intelligence and blessings of the Sun.

PINK:
Love.

GRAY:
Peace and neutrality; hope and balance.

BLUE:
Psychic awareness, peace and health; change.

BLACK:
Not recommended.

RED and BROWN:
Healing animals.

BROWN and WHITE:
Happiness.

BLACK and WHITE:
Union and protection.

GREEN and RED:
Finances.

BLACK and PURPLE:
Deep spirituality.