As I was meditating during my morning prayer ritual, the thought occurred to me to blog about it.  Something inside said, "Yes - you have to write about these incredible sunrise moments!"  And so, I am listening to my inner voice.  If you would like to use any or all of my morning ritual for yourself, please feel free to do so.  You don't have to be Wiccan to use it, just insert the name of your God or Goddess wherever you see fit to do so.  The idea is to do this first thing in the morning (sunrise is AWESOME), and use it to center yourself and commune with nature and whatever particular deity you choose to worship.

I awaken at 2 or 3 am every morning for Olivia's morning feeding.  After a quick diaper change and some breakfast, she usually drifts back off into dreamland.  By 5 am the sun is starting to rise, and I'm nice and awake.  I take my "traveling altar", and carry the two-handled wicker basket outside to my backyard garden. 

I surround myself in a circle of the elements.  At the west is a crystal bowl filled with water, the north has a handmade wooden bowl filled with sea salt of the earth, the east has an incense cone- the smoke rises on air, and the south has a white candle- the element of fire.  Sitting before me are two candles.  The one to my left is green, representative of our beautiful Mother Earth, the Goddess.  To my right is a candle of red, representative of the firey sun, the God.  As I place each element & the God & Goddess candles I ask for each of the elements as well as the Lord & Lady to be with me during my morning prayer.

The smell of dragon's blood incense perfumes the air as I sit cross-legged on the ground in the middle of the circle.  This morning was especially beautiful, with an ivory waning moon still hanging in the baby-blue sky.  The sun was just rising, and the clouds were kissed with pink blush.  It was so spiritual to be sitting under a sky being reigned by both the God of the Sun & the Goddess of the Moon.

I always recite the same prayer:

"O Gracious Goddess,

O Gracious God,

Lend me health, strength, and love during this coming day.

Assist me with the challenges ahead.

Share your Divine wisdom.

Teach me to respect all things,

and that the greatest power of all is Love.

Blessed be & Amen." (S. Cunnigham)

I then sit & meditate on the beauty of the nature surrounding me.  It is silent except for the sounds of the world awakening.  Birds are waking from sleep with quiet coos & chirps.  Occasionally a flock flies overhead & I can hear the fluttering of their wings.  This morning a small baby hummingbird flew by my face, and up to the top of our pine tree.  He perched himself on the very tippy-top branch, and for a moment stood still, silhouetted against the periwinkle sky.  A small dandelion puff floated in the air & danced on the warm wind currents above my lawn.  The clouds drifted lazily across the sky, eclipsing the moon, and then moving slowly to reveal it's silver beauty once more.

I take time to ask the Lord & Lady for any particular need I have.  I ask for inner peace & serenity.  I ask for patience.  I know that my prayers are being heard, and that the strength of the Divine is inside me and all around me.  I am like a drop of water is to the ocean.

I give my thanks for the Lord & Lady, as well the elements & directional guardians, for attending my morning prayer, and for the gifts they have bestowed upon me.  I think them for all the blessings I have in my life. 

I clean up my space, and put all my tools back in the basket.  I call Daisy to come inside with me, and we return to the bedroom where my baby & husband are still in peaceful sleep.  I crawl back into bed & snuggle with Dave until Olivia wakes again, and then we start our day.

Tags: wicca, prayer, pagan, ritual

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