Celebrating the Directions

Why connect to the Directions?

The cardinal directions - north, south, east, west - act as a reminder of the different qualities of energy. From cold and harsh to warm and soft and everything in-between.

There are many classifications of directions and some use seven, including above and below. But for the most part we use 5 for simplicity.

Traditionally they are seen to anchor the energy so that particular qualities may be drawn upon for the ceremony. We also find it a part of centering, focusing intention and energy.

2023 - Journey of the Five Directions - Tara

North..... rocks, solidity, cold, meditation, winter South..... flame, expansion, heat, activity, summer East...... air, lightness, light, beginnings, spring West..... water, fluidity, endings, autumn Centre.... ether, space, integration, death, review

I turned to face each direction and bring in the qualities represented by each; inspiration, growth, harvest, rest etc. When I got to calling in the centre I repeated a line that struck me from Summer Solstice.

"I am the source and destination of all directions"

That triggered the thought stream of..... I am north meets south, east meets west, up meets down, inner meets outer, spirit meets matter.

2022 - Fulfilled Mission - Global Spiritual Wheel - Martin's experience

	EAST	SOUTH	WEST	NORTH
	Dawn	Noon	Sundown	Night
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
	Air	Fire	Water	Earth
	Birth	Youth	Middle age	Mature age
	Potential	Growth	Nurturing	Fulfillment
	Ideas - mental realms	Health - physical realms	Dreams - emotional realms	Mystical - spiritual realms
This symbol was created by placing a stylised Brigid’s Cross within a circle. Achieved is the balanced figure of the square within the circle, the two linked together by four lines. Circle- spiritual - feminine qualities Square - physical - masculine qualities	Lover	Warrior	Magician	Elder
	Flying bird - rise high and view from above	Basking cat - enjoy the heat	Swimming fish - go in the flow	Walking animal - stay close to ground
	Seed	Sapling	Young tree	Mature tree
	Dependence, impulse	Breaking free, development	Independence , mature reasoning	Stability
	Simplicity	Ambiguity, complexity	Uncertainty	Clarity
	Identify need	Give attention to need	Hold commitment to need	Receive reward for work well done
	Initiate, start, Insight, resourcefulness, spring	Experiment, expand, development, summer	Maturity wisdom experience, autumn	Deep inner reflection, thinking, ending, withdraw, retreat, regroup winter

Walk sideways around the outer circle, facing inwards and leading with left foot.

When ready balance the walk (life) and take one of the 4 lines to the square.

When you reach the square continue facing inwards but lead with the right foot.

When ready leave the square along the same linking path to the circle.

Now walk around the circle facing the line, walking normally, left foot then right foot. Walk the circle until you feel balance in both feet and sides of body. The line chosen between circle and square subconsciously may provide suggestions to helping achieve balance in life, as each line represents certain qualities.

Garden with the Directions

Maximise the sun by running rows east to west and tallest plants to the north and shortest to the South. Shared by Garden gate magazine

Pythagorean Numerology

2020 - Goodbye Hello - Donabate Beach.

"No one else joined us, so John and I walked along the cliff path in a northerly direction, looking for a suitable spot, a spot that would be sheltered and also suitable for our ceremony. We looked at a few places on the beach and finally found a lovely little, somewhat sheltered, location where we opened our circle and called in the elements.

We were mindful that Martin was tuning in from the West, and Nora from the East, and with John as North and me as South, it seemed like there was a good flow and connection. I was getting a diamond shape (north, south, east, west) and that felt appropriate."

Extra comments by NJ.

Martin starts his piece, "ten to ten" = 10 2 10... echoes of numerology from the directions above. See also his and Anne's experiences during the Global Spiritual Wheel below.

Direction and colours of the Winds

From the East, the smiling purple, from the South, the pure white, wondrous, from the North, the black blustering moaning wind, from the West, the babbling dun breeze. Creation of the winds with their colors from Saltair na Rann - Hull (1913).

A simple connection

Set a candle in the centre – light it saying / thinking- ' Thank you energies of the centre for your wisdom and inspiration'. Other words / attributes for the direction may arise as you do this.

Then repeat placing candles in the east, south, west and north each time lighting them and saying / thinking – 'Thank you energies of the (east/south/west/north) for your wisdom and inspiration'.

• East: Rising Sun, Element of Air, The Mind – Knowledge/Learning/Intellectual curiosity
• South: Element of Fire, Heat, Light & Powerful change.
• West: Element of Water, Emotions – flowing through us like water, sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent, always flowing
• North: Element of Earth, Grounding, Connecting with Physical self.

The Seven Kingdoms © Bernadette Weyde

The following invokes the ancient and on-going energies of the Western Isles

“Have you ever seen seven kingdoms all in one day?” “Seven kingdoms?” says you, “Aw - get away!” “It’s true as I’m breathing, not a lie do I tell, now let’s take ourselves up to the top of Snaefell.” It must be clear like, and no clouds and no rain, when the sun’s gaily dancing o’er mountain and plain; And Manannan’s away riding Enbarr his horse, and the hillsides are clothed in the galloping gorse. (Now see here, pay attention, and let me show otherwise you’ll never know…) The Kingdom of Erin lies there to the west, where the ancient and Shining Ones, ever are blessed. ‘Tis a land of sweet music, of bards and of song, air is their gift and in sound all are one. And there, to the south and then to the east, are the Red Dragon people – oh that glorious beast! Long are their valleys and deep are their veins, fire is their gift that sets all hearts ablaze. The Kingdom of Alba lies high north of here, lochs are its guardians, its bens are held dear. Blue were the faces their men craft in wars, water’s their gift and all honour its course.

Now out to the east where the Angles reside, where cliffs are as clean as a white hart’s hide; Where Arthur did reign and yet will reign again, earth is their gift to the family of men. Look up! Look up! to the wonders on high. Where stars grace the darkness and souls learn to fly. The bringer of seasons, of sun, ice and storm, these are the gifts of the Heavenly Kingdom. And far down below where the waves kiss the shore,lays the bringer of memory, psyche and lore; Of fishes, adventures and journeys in dreams,these are the gifts of the Kingdom of Seas. And where are we standing? Why on top of the world! so close to the heavens where the clouds dance and twirl! Spirit is our gift and in this all are kin, so bow low to the honour that is Ellan Vannin's. Before you the Seven! The Primal! The Old! Land, sky and sea; forever betrothed. Mystical, magical, bound as a clan, and at the heart of them all is the Kingdom of Man.”

Four Corner Fool

To play "Four Corner Fool" five players are needed. A rush is made for four adjacent trees or corners and the who doesn't succeed in reaching one of the trees or corners must stand in the centre as "Fool." The "Fool" says "All change" and each player must immediately change trees or corners with someone of the other side.
While the change is taking place the "Fool" tries in his best to secure one of the trees or corners. If he succeeds in obtaining a place the player who has lost must do the "Fool" + the game continues. Duchas.ie

Pussy Four Corners

All this game needs if four corners and five boys. Four boys each get a corner and the fifth boy goes into the centre of the floor where the corners are; he is called the fool. The boys that are in the corners change places, and if lucky get safely to different corners. The fool tries to get one of the corners and if he does the boy that was running to change, and misses, is then the fool, and so the game goes on. Duchas.ie