Ritual to the Local Ground Goddess

Offering to the Local Ground Goddess

The Local Ground Goddess rules the place where the house (or area of ground being consecrated) actually is.

Regularity in this practice is important. Promise Her to perform this Ritual once, twice, thrice or more a lunar month. Promise only what you know you can do. Auspicious days are the days of the Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. The best time is between Noon and Midnight.

Pray before starting. A short spontaneous prayer is best. Prepare a dinner of whatever you normally eat for your largest meal. Be mindful of what you do and where the food comes from while you make the meal. Offer thanks to each of the ingredients.

Put each item of the meal in a seperate bowl or dish, and prepare glasses or cups of your normal beverage. Serve everything in cup and bowl before starting.

Light 5 cones of incense and place the incense in a suitable vessel that is filled only with incense ashes or rice.

Arrange the meal in a circular pattern in front of you, and place the incense at the four cardinal points and in the center. Sit yourself with your back to the front door of your house, or with your back to the entrance to the area you are in.

Offer a spontaneous prayer or recite a specific prayer that pertains to the Goddess, as you know Her, that rules this area. Recite the prayer seven times.

Visualize the local Goddess, as you already know Her, or in Her usual manifestation as a well-fed, elderly lady with a gold (daytime) or silver (nighttime) bowl in Her left hand, and a tree branch for a cane in Her right hand.

Bid Her to enjoy your humble meal.

Pray.

When She directs you to join Her in the meal, begin to eat with reverence and knowledge of the foods. Share the meal with any humans or animals with you. After the meal is finished, humbly ask Her to listen to what you need to tell Her at this time. You may ask for assistance, direction -- or just acknowledge your thankfulness to Her. Make your words clear, detailed and directly to the point.

Pray and meditate until all the incense has burned out. Acknowledge and accept Her response. Thank Her. Clear and clean the table and the dinnerware.