Drawing Down The Moon Rituals

[magick_faerie]

merry meet everyone
just wanted to ask....does anyone have a good DDM ritual?? I have found one but it doesnt feel right...just feels a bit wooden, want one that feels good to do if you understand my meaning...

love and light people

brightest blessings

fae
xx

[mtpathy]

theres plenty of books around to give you full drawing down the moon
rituals,but instead maybe you would like a method that is very simple
and yet accurate.
fill a bowl full of water,just touching the rim.
place it outside so that the water reflects the moon.
use a stone with a hole in the middle of it,or perhaps a moonstone to
"call" upon her,or maybe make a doll of goddess or moon to "draw down"
that vibration into the item/fetish for whatever usage.
or better yet just add whatever you like of this method into your own
ritual to make it less stiff and more you.

[ancestral_lee]

um... first off, what do you think drawing down the moon actually involves?

the 'poem' is only there to be used when the actual thing isnt working.

you need two people to do it too.

lee

[LisaT4P]

you need two people to do it too.
leeNot familiar with that. Would you please clarify? I have drawn down without a 2nd person, so I'm not sure what you're referring to. Thanks. :)

[ancestral_lee]

drawing down the moon involves trance, so its a lot easier to have a second person to push things along so to speak.

[mtpathy]

thats the first time ive ever heard of trance being involved
in any kind of wiccan ritual,and the only place ive ever read
anything about drawing down the moon is within wiccan texts.
i just woke up though,so maybe im to tired to think very hard
on such matters.

[Morgandria]

Drawing Down the Moon is an invocation of the Goddess into the body of her Priestess. It is, in fact, a form of trance possession. There is already a very good thread on it on MW: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=84682

[Theres]

thats the first time ive ever heard of trance being involved
in any kind of wiccan ritual,and the only place ive ever read
anything about drawing down the moon is within wiccan texts.

like many (most?) Wiccan rituals, 'drawing down the moon' is not originally Wiccan.
this particular concept is based upon the practices of the ancient witches of Thessaly (in Greece), and was in no way a benign form of personal gnosis.

[Nacken]

It is essentially channelling a deity. Definitely it is far easier working with someone else, preferably of the opposite sex. And especially when you are just learning to do it. With another person, they can add their energy to yours. Having someone of the opposite sex seems to work better because they balance out the yin and yang and the total energy you put out is increased. Once you can do it, generally you don't need the other person although it can make it easier. Simplest is best I think. Perhaps use a simple ritual so that your focus is uninterrrupted and go into meditation. With most people it takes practice so don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen the first time. From what I've seen, it takes months with most and at first the deity only enters you part ways. Oh there is another thread on this.

[AlleyCat]

Maybe you could try a variation such as trying to scry for any meanings the Goddess may wish to give instead of attempting to draw her into yourself?

Just a thought :)

[Shanti]

You can do it on your own. Why not develope your own way for what works for you. Let you guide you and whatever help from beyond you may desire to turn to.

The best work comes from your own heart and spirit.

People make rules.

Fly free.

[omar]

Drawing Down the Moon is an invocation of the Goddess into the body of her Priestess. It is, in fact, a form of trance possession. There is already a very good thread on it on MW: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=84682
If DDM is lunar spirit possession then would the same be true if you done it with the Sun?

[LisaT4P]

Yes, but you would more than likely be talking about drawing down a God vs. a Goddess due to the fact that Goddess=Moon & God=Sun (usually, there are a few exceptions). :)

[Seshata]

Drawing Down the Sun would be invoking the God into a male (usually). Essentially if you're going to be going into a trance and channelling a Deity etc, it's also useful to have someone else there so that they've (the Deity) got someone to talk to if you're going into full trance state. Also the other person is there to help you when you come out of that trance state or aid to to 'return'. DDM isn't meant to be a light trance.

BB

Seshata

[brymble]

ok, maybe i'm going out on a limb here...what about drawing "up" the earth?

i've been practicing for 15 years and pretty much have already come to my own conclusion on this one, but i'm dying to hear what other people think.

this is an interesting thread, btw.

[LisaT4P]

I don't see why not. :) "Drawing Down the Moon" is really just a poetic turn of phrase. What you're doing is channeling a deity. Any deity that will consent to come, I'd imagine, not just those associated with the Sun or Moon.

For example, if you were Drawing Down Amaterasu then you'd be Drawing Down the Sun, due to the fact that she is a Sun Goddess. The same reversal would go for male moon deities (although I can't think of any off the top of my head right now).

So "Drawing Up the Earth" would be another poetic turn of phrase for perhaps channeling Gaia? I can also see where you might use it for other things, like contacting other Earth related deities (perhaps Pan, Cernnunos or "green man" type Gods?).

[brymble]

[QUOTE=LisaT4P]I don't see why not. :) The same reversal would go for male moon deities (although I can't think of any off the top of my head right now).

Thoth, for starters, and some Mesopotamian deities.

[David19]

I've got a question about drawing down the moon/sun/whatever, i know that a deity takes over your body, but how do you know which deity is coming like would you just get some general moon deity or spirit coming in or is it a god that is a patron (i'm kind of coming from a hard polytheist view) or a god that you have a connection in.

Hope that made sense.

[brymble]

i think it would depend mainly on what deity/energy/spirit you open yourself to.

[Dawa Lhamo]

Yep, I agree with brymble. It depends whom you call upon.


Obviously it works better with a deity you are familiar with and who is familiar with you.

[Jolantru]

ok, maybe i'm going out on a limb here...what about drawing "up" the earth?


I would assume that it would be analogous to drawing energy up from the Earth. What I perceive is drawing up energy from Earth Mother (or Gaia).

Cheers,
Jolantru

[brymble]

actually, i was referring to drawing consciousness, not energy. it's a very different experience.

[LisaT4P]

Here is what I have found works best for me.

1. Lots of meditation practice for a while before hand. I used Chris Penczak's Inner Temple of Witchcraft CDs and the "program your trigger" exercise really helped me.

2. Decide upon a deity and make them a part of your everday life. I chose Brighid. I had some jewelry with Her image, I thought of Her and thanked Her for things daily and generally became comfortable with the idea of Her.

I did both of those things for about a week before my first attempt.

3. Get a "contract" in your head. Not always a necessary step, but better safe than sorry. Make sure it includes anything you don't want to have happen. For example: if you don't want to dance around naked, make sure that's in there. :) I found it to be easiest to just say "Let's stay in this position, no nudity, no sex in the circle and we're good." :D Why? Well, some deities like to do those types of things and if you don't want to be doing them while you are under Their control, then it's best to be careful. (not trying to be scary)

4. Take your time. Enter your meditative state. Relax. Let it just happen. I found the mantra "Brighid of healing, to you I surrender" to be very helpful. It didn't happen right away and it doesn't happen every time. You are asking another person to come and visit you, sometimes they have the time and sometimes they don't.

5. Make note of what you feel & "see". The first time I was successful I had a sort of "vision" of Brighid at a Well and I walked to her and then "into" her and we were one. The next time it felt like a blanket being put over my shoulders. It's all very subjective, so just pay attention to the details and you will figure out what it working, what's not, etc.

My friend uses the "bus" imagery to define what happens. Sometimes you are in the front of the bus with the driver (the Deity) and sometimes you are in the back of the bus, semi-aware but not really. Sometimes you're not even on the damn bus! :)

I have not had the latter 2 experiences. I have been in the front, with the Deity. I remember many of the experiences & things that occured, but not all. Any of those are fine. With practice perhaps I can get off the bus and go train with Yoda or something. ;)

[LisaT4P]

For safety, if you are doing this alone, I would recommend sitting on the floor. This will help you ground better when it's time. Also, have some food nearby for afterwards, which also helps to ground you. Make sure you are in a safe place. I chose not to have candles burning just in case I lost track of time, etc. :)

[KEishin]

I have not had the latter 2 experiences. I have been in the front, with the Deity. I remember many of the experiences & things that occured, but not all. Any of those are fine. With practice perhaps I can get off the bus and go train with Yoda or something. ;)
Usually you don't get the choice!

[LisaT4P]

Usually you don't get the choice!Very true, LOL. I'd still like to visit with Yoda though. :D

[Cerulean_damselfly]

Pardon, I've a slightly biased opinion...just based on a feeling and perhaps respect for history...there was a mention or suggestion of drawing in the solar divinity of Amaterasu Okami...

While one can pay tribute and joy to the solar deity Amaterasu Omikami and I've heard of a simple suggestion from my Shinto sensei for feeling the energy of the sun, if you wish to invoke energy and closeness--I'll check for the exact suggestion if it differs from my example and will include it later...it's very simple and available to all on a sunny day. I believe it's bringing your forefinger and thumb into a circle, align it with your third eye between your brows and draw thankful breath at the sunlight energy--but don't look straight into the sun, goodness, that is never recommended! The sun is to be respected and that bright face of divinity is too strong even to be seen with our eyes.

To be honest, the wikipedia reference can explain it better:

"The most widely worshipped of all kami is the sun-goddess Amaterasu. However, Japanese do not specifically worship her or invoke her name to ask for help. Her main shrine is the Grand Shrine of Ise, but many lesser shrines are dedicated to her. Within the shrine, she is often symbolised by a mirror. Alternatively, the inner sanctum may be empty. This emptiness does not mean non-existence; rather, it symbolizes that everything that one sees through the mirror is the embodiment of Amaterasu and every other kami."
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In legend, she has agreed never to hide away again, so you really should not feel that you have to invoke her when you can feel the sunlight--sometimes you feel too much of it if you walk out in her light too much without shade protection...and this may not be so healthy.

If you did wish to learn more about her as a sun deity, here's general information:

http://www.uwec.edu/philrel/shimbutsudo/amaterasu.html

If you want to know more of people who have been worshipping or respecting her in the country that she is said to be a deity of, she has been respected continuously for 2000 years at Ise and also about 1000 years or 10 generations before that (3,000 years total) as an ancestor of the ruling house in Japan:

http://www.isejingu.or.jp/english/naigu/naibody.htm

The brightest, most loving intention to pay tribute is lovely...and the wish to draw solar energy is also lovely. But to be honest, I tend to look toward the more closer-to-humankind enshrinements of Uzume-Benten for personal enrichment and would suggest checking out Shinto texts. I personally have not been born to the imperial family of Yamoto, so I looked closer to the ken (districts) of where my paternal clan originated for closeness to Japanese deities...and I saw in the referenced thread that someone suggested being or doing something close to what the deity is known for and likes...that is an excellent suggestion.

My hope is you feel the sweetness of the sunlight, but not be burnt with too much closeness to it...please pardon if your experience of being able to safely do this differs. This is what I'd suggest based on what I've heard and read in Shinto.

Regards,

Cerulean_Damselfly