Ritual from the Chandi (Wiccan influence)

[Guest guest]

Jai Ma!  This excerpt below lends itself to a ritual of protection.  Place a

bell to the North, and to the South, a bow (or anything that can be plucked -- a

guitar, a harp, a coffee can with rubber bands drawn across the opening).  To

the East, a spear (a wand or staff will do), to the West, a blade (kitchen knife

or athame works well).  Two goddess images should be on the altar, one

wrathful-looking, one peaceful.

 

From Chandi Path Chapter 4, verses 24-27

 

24.// shulena pahi no devi pahi kadgena cha'mbike/

ghanta svanena nah pahi chapajyanih svanena cha//

 

Oh Goddess, protect us with your spear; Ambika, protect us with your sword/

Protect us with the sound of your bell, and with the twanging of your

bow-string//

 

[annoint wand and athame; ring bell and pluck bowstring.]

 

 

25.// prachyam raksha pratichyam cha chandike raksha dakshine/

brahmanenatmashulen asya uttarasyam tathesvar//

 

Protect us in the East and in the West, Oh Chandika, protect us in the South/

Then rotate your spear and protect us in the North//

 

[make stabbing motions to the East and the West with the blade; point the spear

threateningly to the South, then slowly about-face and point to the North.]

 

 

26.// saumyani yani rupani trailokye vicharanti te/

yani chatyarthaghorani tai rakshasmams tathabhuvam/ /

 

In the Triple Worlds some of your forms are conceived of as exquisitely

beautiful/

and others are exceedingly frightful.  With all of them protect us and protect

the world//

 

[wave incense over the peaceful goddess; then wave incense around the wrathful

goddess]

 

 

27.// khadga shula gadadini yani chastrani te-ambike/

karapalla vasangini tairasman raksha sharvatah//

 

Oh Ambika, protect us everywhere and every time, with your sword, spear, and

club/

Protect us on every side with every weapon in your pliant, lovely hands.//

 

[press palms together, and bow at each of the quarter directions; envision

Durga/ Ambika taking the bell, bow, blade and wand, and many other weapons, and

radiating protective energy to everywhere it is needed.]

 

Om Durgam devim sharanam aham prapadye/

 

I take refuge at the feet of Goddess Durga

 

om shanti shanti shantih//

 

[chant accompanied by bell-ringing. ]

 

-- Len/ Black Lotus