Hexennacht - A Ritual for Renewal + Healing
Introduction:
In the Northern Hemisphere, we sit upon the break of spring. Spring - traditionally associated with rebirth, rejuvenation, and possibility - arrives in 2020 during a particularly barren and dark time for many of us. Crisis makes it hard to imagine a future. Fear keeps us from seeing opportunity. It’s hard to pull ourselves out of the grief we’re experiencing to see anything more than what’s immediately in front of us.
Yet optimism - the ability to picture a better future even in the midst of trauma - is what pulls us through difficult times. This Hexennacht, I challenge you to reacquaint yourself with hope. Rekindle your romance with desire. Imagine a better world.
I bring you my Hexennacht ritual - an excerpt from my book The Devil’s Tome. This particular ritual is a take off of the Hexennacht group ritual I performed at The Satanic Temple Headquarters in 2019. Feel free to mold it to your needs and adapt as you like. Visit my shop for Hexnnacht candles, incense and custom ritual kits.
I’ll be posting more thoughts on Hexennacht and as well unreleased content from my 2019 Hexennacht ritual on my Patreon.
Speramus Meliora,
Shiva
Hexennacht
A Spring Ritual
Background: I like to create seasonal rituals that engage the natural world. Over the last few years, I’ve brought planting rituals into my practice. I think they are the perfect way to set intentions in the springtime.
This particular ritual is a take off of the Hexennacht group ritual I performed at The Satanic Temple Headquarters. Feel free to mold it to your needs.
Tools:
Soil
Seeds
Planting pot/land
Biodegradable/seeded paper
Music Player
Lighter/Matches
Pen
Tome
Water
Sacred Space: A spot outdoors where you can plant your seeds or, if using a planting pot, simply be immersed in nature.
Preparation: Create a comfy, reflective space to engage in the ritual. The space can be indoors or outdoors, but should be a spot where you are alone and free of distractions. Prepare these spaces for the ritual by laying out anything you may need ahead of time so that you can move from space to space without worry or hesitation - this could include a music player, pillows, wine, water, a trowel, candles, altars, etc. Create a space where you feel inspired, relaxed, and powerful.
Create a music playlist that is 30 minutes to an hour long. Include songs that make you feel hopeful, inspired, and in charge. Have the first track be the song that brings out those feelings the most.
Ritual: Sit in your reflective space and start your playlist. While listening to the first track, take 10 deep breaths - breathe in for 10 seconds and then out for 10 seconds. Become aware of your body. Feel your breath reflected in the music. Feel yourself relaxing. Deeper and deeper, relax.
Once you complete the series of breaths, light your candle. Focus on the flame. Let yourself melt into the sounds and enjoy the music.
Once the track has ended, recite over the flame three times:
“I awaken to Spring, my will and desire,
I awaken my power, through the fire.”
As you listen to the next track, close your eyes, get in a comfortable position, and begin to fantasize about what you would like to have happen over the next year. Let your imagination run wild. As you go through this process, really try to imagine the details of your desires. Focus on being in that moment through your visualization. Imagine sounds, smells, tastes, and touches.
Do this for the duration of at least one song. If you feel moved, continue visualizing for several tracks. After your visualization session, take strips of paper and write down your desires. They can be as general or specific as you like.
Record your desires in your tome. Under each of these goals, write down ways you can help bring your vision into reality.
Use your trowel to loosen the earth and plant your seeds under a thin layer of soil in either a pot or a sunny spot in the garden. Bury each strip of paper to accompany your seeds. As you put the seeds in the dirt, imagine each individual intention being planted in the earth. Imagine its roots extending and see its eventual blooming. Visualize your desires becoming reality. Once all are planted say,
“I stand here, filled with my desires, planting seeds of will. May my power grow. My desires blossom.”
Once you are finished planting, blow out your candle.
Check on your seeds on a regular basis and refer to your tome to check in on progress.
Additional Resources
If you’re having a rough time and need professional support, please also consider these resources:
Crisis Text Line - 24/7 text line where every texter is connected with a Crisis Counselor, a real-life human being trained to bring texters from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening and collaborative problem solving
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255). The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.Vets can press "1" to be connected to VA specialists for resources
Trans Lifeline’s Hotline - Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support service run by trans people, for trans and questioning callers
The Trevor Project - A free, confidential service that provides live help to LGBTQ youth 24/7 via hotline, chat and text service
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