February is often associated with love and Romance. Thanks to Valentine’s Day and its predecessor, Lupercalia, these themes pervade all aspects of our society for this short month. Many of us began our magical journeys with love at the forefront of our thoughts: we wanted to find, attract, or even test the strength of our love. If you’re a spiritual reader, you will know that love is one of the most common themes in reading for other people.
The connection between love and magic is so strong in our culture, that it even makes its way into our literature and storytelling.
Witchcraft as an Act of Self-Love
One important aspect that often gets glossed over in the conversation of love and magic is the love we need to have for ourselves. Self-love needs to precede any romantic love, otherwise it lacks a good foundation. Many of us come from cultures steeped in patriarchy and colonization, which encourages our own self-loathing. Choosing to practice witchcraft is in many ways a denial of that culture and a rejection of self-hatred. Walking the path of the witch is a decision we make to empower ourselves, and that very decision is an act of self-love. The rituals we practice show us that we matter to ourselves and that we believe we deserve better. Any magic we perform, whether for ourselves or as a service to others, is fueled and empowered by that self-love.
What is a Cord-Cutting Ritual?
This month, we wanted to share a cord-cutting ritual for letting go and inner healing. Releasing past relationships and making way for new ones is an act of self-love. Cord-cutting has its roots in shamanism and Eastern philosophies, although cords and knots have been used in spell crafting all around the world. A cord often represents ties to a person or object, and in mythology, it also represents a person’s life. Today, a cord-cutting ritual is performed to release energetical ties to a person, an object, or a memory. These rituals can be beneficial in helping you to move forward from a past relationship or situation that is no longer serving you. In releasing these unhealthy ties, you free up your energy and make way for new connections. The ritual outlined below is designed to do just that.
Cord-Cutting Ritual
This ritual is for anyone who is ready to move on from an energy/person/place/habit that energetically seems to be taking a slow time to transform. Sometimes we get entangled with energy, willingly at one point and time in our lives, but are feeling the call to grow and expand. We are ready for that new beginning but are finding it hard to get that movement going forward or just feel plain stuck and unavailable for new energy. Our conscious minds and hearts are saying “YES PLEASE I'M READY!!”, but the energy still doesn’t seem to be moving. Well cord cutting the energetic ties of the old, outdated patterns may be exactly what you need. It can release you, to then start anew. It may be the last thing that needs to happen for you to move on properly, so the same patterns don’t repeat. It’s a clean start. A resurrection if you will. This time of the year is perfect for this. Releasing yourself with a cord-cutting ritual and resurrecting the pieces of your soul that have laid dormant. Once wholeness is obtained you may manifest more wholeness instead of fragments.
1st- Gather ritual items: 1 white chime candle and holder and fireproof dish, a pair of tweezers or small tongs, 1 small bowl and fill with water, Salt in a small bowl, lighter or matches, Incense or smoke bundle of choice, 4 small pieces of paper or bay leaf, and a pen or ink of choice. 1 flower or offering to be left at a crossroad.
2nd- Set the sacred space. Make sure you set the tone of the ritual by giving yourself private sacred space. Pick a nice quiet space with no distractions, no phones, or extra people.
3rd- Ground. Protect. Connect. Consecrate your space with smoke by lighting the incense and saying a beginning incantation that calls on the elements to awaken the forces within the elements assisting your ritual. Something like, “I call on the spirit of water to come forth and assist in this ritual” holding the bowl in your hands whilst doing so. Set your altar and light the candle. On the 4 pieces of small paper, write the name of the person, place, or things/aspects that you are energetically cutting or releasing on one side of the paper. On the other side draw an upside-down pentagram for releasing of the energy. While the candle is burning focus on all the ways that you see your life as whole and complete. It is entirely important that what is focused on is your wholeness. While the cords are being cut out of your life it is vitally important you fill your energetic space with more of you and where you see yourself going.
Suggestions- Take out a journal and write about where you visualize yourself and your life at its highest and best. Contemplate your soul’s purpose and what you feel called to during this time of your life. As you release you are also calling in your soul’s purpose to take up more space in your life from here on out. You can also meditate or listen to soft music or meditations that are inspiring. This will set the tone for a new way. When the candle is almost burned out fold up all the pieces of small paper with the pentagram on the outside as it is folding in on the things being released. Burn all 4 pieces over a fireproof dish. You can hold them with a pair of tweezers or tiny tongs. Recite if you feel called, ‘I release myself from all negative attachments and I dedicate all thoughts to union.” Thank the spirit of fire and make sure the candle burns all the way out. Next release the water into the toilet then flush or pour down the sink, while reciting the words and thanking the spirit of the element. If there are any ashes left from the ceremony release them into the wind, and again reciting the words and thanking the spirit of Air. Bring the salt from the ceremony and any wax, if any is left, at a crossroads of choice. Preferably away from where you reside. Dig a tiny hole, pour in the salt and wax cover with dirt, and on top leave a flower or offering of choice. Recite the words and thank the spirit of the earth. When you turn to walk away, DO NOT LOOK BACK. Walk with gratitude and know it is done.
Blessed be.
Take some time this month to perform an act of self-love. This cord-cutting ritual can be part of a wider journey to healing and empowering yourself spiritually and physically. Another important tool in your spiritual journey will be a Grimoire or magical journal. Historically a grimoire was used by a witch to record spells and incantations. As Mercury transits through Pisces over the next few weeks, you will want to write down your spiritual thoughts and ideas and record any spellcrafting you perform. Use these magical tools to build yourself up and release anything that is not serving you right now. May we always remember the immutable connection between witchcraft and self-love.
All materials for the cord-cutting ritual can be found in our online store or at Asheville Raven & Crone on Merrimon Avenue.
