KALI NEW MOON RITUAL ------------------------------------ Circle is cast by the priestess... ------------------------------------- Priestess: INVOCATION TO THE HINDU GODDESSES OF THE FOUR DIRECTIONS In the East we call in Ushas, Goddess of the Dawn, to begin this new cycle and help us see through our illusions and seek the truth. In the South we call in Parvati to bring us the fires of purification so we may be cleansed. In the West we invoke Durga to teach us to look into the dark places in our beings to that we may not be afraid. In the North we call in Sarasvati to bring us the wisdom of India, her music and dance, so we may be wise in the traditions of the Goddess. And now, we call in Kali-Ma, Dark Mother and Goddess, Creatress of all there is... (_The_Dark_Goddesss_ by Marcia Starke) ---------------------------------- INVOCATION TO THE NEW MOON Greetings to you, New Moon, Kindly jewel of guidance! I bend my knees to you, I offer you my love, I bend my knees to you, I raise my hands to you, I lift my eye to you, New Moon of the seasons! Greetings to you New Moon, Darling of my love, Greetings to you New Moon, Darling of the Graces, You journey on your course, You steer the flood-tides, You lift up your face for us, New Moon of the seasons! Queen of Guidance, Queen of Good Luck, Queen of my love, New Moon of the seasons! (-Ed Fitch) --------------------------------------------- The New Moon is when we remember the black Hindu Goddess, Kali. Although she is known for her ferocity, she is also recognized for her motherly qualities. While the Full Moon is a time of manifestation of desires, the New Moon is a time of removal of negativity in our lives. Let's contemplate the negative influences in our lives and visualize Kali cutting away the negativity with her mighty swords. Meditate on this image for a few moments. As you do this, I will annoint your Third Eye with musk oil -- the sacred oil of Kali. Pay special attention to the smell of the incense -- Sandalwood -- the sacred incense of this Hindu Goddess. ------------------------------------------------- KALI POEM by Ramprasad Sen Wht is Mother Kali so radiantly black? Because she is so powerful. even mentioning her name destroys delusion. Because she is so beautiful, Lord Shiva, conqueror of Death, lies blissfully vanquished beneath her red-soled feet. There are subtle hues of blackness, but her bright complexion is the mystery tht is utterly black, overwhelmingly black, wonderfully black. When she awakens in the lotus shrine within the heart’s secret cave, her blackness becomes the mystic illumination that causes the twelve-petal blossom there to glow more intensely than golden embres. Her lovely form is the incomparable Kali-black, blacker than the Kind of Death. Whoever gazes upon this radiant blackness falls eternally in love and feels no attraction to any other, discovering everywhere only her. This poets sighs deeply: “Where is this brilliant Lady, This Black Ligh beyond luminosity? Tough I have never seen her, Simply hearing her name the mind becomes absorbed completely in her astonishing reality. Om Kali! Om Kali! Om Kali! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The New Moon also represents a dark time, a time of spiritual rest, a time of planting new seeds to incubate and grow as the moon grows towards fullness. Spend a few moments in this stillness thinking about what seeds or desires or goals you wish to sow this evening. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarasvati, Goddess of the North, we bless thee and release thee. Durga, Goddess of the West, we bless thee and release thee. Parvati, Goddess of the South, we bless thee and release thee. Ushas, Goddess of the East, we bless thee and release thee. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The circle is open yet unbroken, may the love of the Goddess go in our hearts. Merry meet, merry part, and may we merry meet again.