Four Winds

Four winds blow. Four winds burn. Four windsand the energy of lack. Begin to break sticks, one by
moisten. Four winds anchor.one; allow the energy of the agreement to dissipate,
As the Wheel of the Year turns, it begins in the Eastreleasing anything that keeps you from moving
where we are opened and inspired by Spring's freshforward and embracing your inheritance here on this
breezes blowing through our hair and across our skin.planet. Break sticks until you feel complete. Breathe
We are cleansed and purified by the sensations ofin, filling yourself with the sacred element of Air, filling
renewal and rebirth. The winds of the Equinox smellyour heart, your lungs and chest; feel the air
of new life, readying for entry as the Sun shinespenetrating every cell of your body. Place the broken
higher in the sky and the days begin to elongate assticks in a pile at the center of the crossroads.
slowly and surely as the babes make their way intoTurn to the South where the Fires of Summer burn
this world.under the heat of the Sun's highest point. Feel its
Moving past Beltane, the Wheel continues into thewarmth as your turn your face upward. Visualize a
Southern Fires of Summer. Purifying us with the heatbundle of sticks at your feet representing old
of transformation, this fire meets the energy insideagreements related to your transformation and
our bodies allowing us to digest and acceptopenness to the energy of spirit. Break the sticks,
everything we consume and absorb. Feel the warmthreleasing all programs, all lineages, both genetic and
of Summer as it exposes what we need to see,past life, and anything that stops you from moving
embrace and release.forward as spirit embodied. Breathe in, filling yourself
Passing the Lughnasa Harvest, the Wheel cranks towith the sacred element of Fire, feel its warmth
the West where the softness of Fall is enhanced bymoving from your first chakra up your spine and into
the devotional waters as they lap on the ruggedyour upper chakras; allow it to circulate continuously
shores. Matching the gentle rocking movements ofthrough your body. Break sticks until you feel
the waves, the waters inside us increase theircomplete, placing them in the pile at the center of
motility, clearing away the emotional dross,the crossroads.
effortlessly readying our vessels for spirit.Turn to the West, feeling the energy of Fall and the
Now the Wheel makes its way past the veils ofplace where the Pacific Ocean mist feeds your soul.
Samhain, collecting the ancestral vibrations and lineageVisualize a bundle of sticks representing old
long past. True North, where we remain anchoredagreements related to your creativity, your inner
deep in the caverns of Winter, sleeping and dreamingvoice and knowledge, your visions. Break the sticks,
while calling up shadowy memories from within thereleasing all past and negative emotions, anything that
dark realms of our subconscious mind. Here in thekeeps you from moving forward in present time.
safety of Mother Earth's womb, as the daylightBreathe in, filling yourself with the sacred element of
decreases, we can leave behind the excess, the pastWater. It fills your creative spaces, it cleanses your
and the foreign. In this place where all is welcome,cells, circulating through your body and all your
everything is brilliantly alchemized by the furnace inenergy channels. Break sticks until you feel complete,
her compassionate belly.placing them in the pile at the center of the
These are the elementals as they relate to thecrossroads.
directional seasons on the Celtic Wheel of the Year.Turn now to the North, the last quarter on the
Stand in the center receiving the incredible abundanceWheel. Anchor yourself, merging with the soil, so
of the four directions as it merges with our humandank you can smell it. Feel the Earth under your bare
vibration, meeting and matching, as within, sofeet growing roots to ground your body for a quiet,
without, as above, so below.reflective Winter rest. Visualize a bundle of sticks
Meditation:that represent old agreements related to your mind,
Stand in the Middle of the Sacred Cross, at thedarkness and conflict. Break the sticks, releasing
crossroads of all directions and their elementaleffort and anything else that keeps you from moving
vibrations. Connect to Gaia, calling the divine feminineforward with total freedom. Breathe in, filling yourself
energies up from the ground into to the soles offrom the feet upward, into the first chakra with the
your feet. Connect to the Heavens, calling the divinesacred element of Earth. Continue to break sticks
masculine energies down from above into youruntil you feel complete, placing them in the pile at the
crown.center of the crossroads.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Feel the energy runningSweep all four piles of broken sticks into one. Ignite
through you, knowing your body is a conduit andthem with Fire, watching as they burn away. Allow
sacred vessel for the abundance of all things. Facingyour deep Airy exhalation to expire and fuel the
North, the Earth energy moves from your feetdeath of all this energy, letting go of the old patterns
through your legs, up into the first chakra. Facingand programs. As the sticks turn to ashes, throw
West, Water fills the pool in your pelvic bowl at theEarthen dirt on the pile to extinguish the embers.
second chakra, it fountains upward toward yourPlant one seed in the soil, a seed representing who
head. Facing South, Fire expands in your belly as youryou are in present time. Water this seed and watch
breath calls it down from your head into your solarit begin to grow. Feel your body regenerating, your
plexus at the third chakra. Facing East, Air fills youremotions become neutral, your mind is quiet and your
lungs and heart; you breathe, inspiring the energy asspirit, as always, is free.
it moves up and down your spine with each inhalationBreathe in from above and below, calling in the
and each exhalation.energies of Gaia and Heaven, bringing them into your
Stand here, facing the East, feeling the Wind on yourheart. Breathe out from your heart, into your body,
face. Spring is the place of new beginnings. Visualize ainto your aura, into the world around you. Fill your
bundle of sticks at your feet representing oldbreath with compassion, breathing in, and breathing
agreements related to your birth, the physical planeout.