Ritual for Growth, Healing, and Renewal

Amy D. Guthrie

Tools

• Black candle
• White candle
• Athame
• Goblet filled with water

Note: this is best performed skyclad, but the same effect can be obtained while fully clothed.

Diety

Ereshkigal, Assyro-Babylonian goddess of the Underworld, known for the ability to shed dead skin to grow and the deep power of renewal.

Setup

Facing north, place the black candle on the altar at south, the white candle at north, and the goblet in the middle.

Cast the Circle

Invocation

Light the black candle.

"Oh, great goddess Ereshkigal, join me in this sacred place. Help me to grow and leave behind the petty ways of the world. Assist me in healing the scars that I have been inflicted with through other's cruelty. Teach me to respond with love and kindness."

Passing your athame three times through the fire of the black candle, say:

"Great goddess of the Underworld, as this black candle burns, help me to also burn away the blackness in myself."

Feel and envision yourself burning away the blackness that you carry with you. Blow out the candle.

Take a drink of water from the goblet. Say:

"With this drink of purity, help me to flush away the cinders left by the burning, so that I may be completely free from maliciousness."

Take a drop of water from the goblet and place it on the wick of the black candle.

Light the White candle.

Reflect on the purity of the color and the healing power of the light. Say:

"Ereshkigal, assist me in this time of renewal. Help me to heal from the scars that the world has left on me and to rejuvenate myself. Through this renewal, I will be better able to act with compassion and patience towards those that seek to hurt me."

Take time to reflect on this renewal proccess. Feel every part of your body become stronger, healthier, and more pure. Say:

"Oh, Great goddess Ereshkigal, help me to carry this growth and renewal with me in daily life."

Extinguish the white candle.

Open the Circle