I am still waiting on my membership to be processed, but in the meantime I’m practicing the Sphere of Protection ritual. I am not sure how to visualize/trace the elemental symbols. I think Earth, Air, Fire, and Water are just the typical triangles, but when the written ritual mentions tracing them counterclockwise or points being counterclockwise, I’m not sure how to do that. I am also not sure what the symbols for Spirit Above and Spirit Below are. If this is part of the New Member packet, then I apologize for my impatience to start practicing the SOP! Haha.
I would appreciate any guidance, thank you! Is there perhaps a video of someone performing the SOP?
Archdruid Emeritus John Michael Greer (commonly referred to as JMG) has a useful series of posts on his blog that can help you with learning the SOP, and includes the visuals. I used his blog to learn and use the SOP before I joined AODA and received the Candidate Guide (which has excellent photos and details on the SOP).
JMG’s wording is a bit different than what will be in your candidate guide, but the visuals in his posts should help you with the symbols. Here is a link to the posts tagged with Sphere of Protection on his blog, but they will be in reverse order of where you should start.
Here is one video that I looked at several times while learning the SoP. She has a nice singing voice. I think she is using Iolo’s Druid god names, but you will be able to adopt or adapt this as you develop your own wildcrafted verstion over time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsD3LkfgFVs
I’ve wildcrafted a bit and call out to elemental spirits. Also added a couple gestures during banishing that just developed naturally as I’ve been practicing it. I feel like, so long as I show proper reverence to the spirits, that I can’t “do it wrong”.
Hello and Bright Blessings, when I first started my Druid path, I was clumsy with learning the AODA SOP as well…I had been wildcrafting for many years prior and practicing a similar Druidic balancing ritual, but not entirely identical, sphere of protection based on the most factual texts I could find. After following the structure of the SOP in AODA, I have found it more complete in representing and helping to balance the elemental energies, from solstice and equinox rituals to meditation sessions. I don’t believe personally that adding to the ritual is damaging in any way (so long as it is good-intentioned). I incorporate scented oils, incenses, gemstones, and representative items (for example, a hawk’s feather to symbolize the characteristics of the element of Air) that are relevant to the elements to enhance my visualizations and meditations. I suppose my point is that so long as I continue to practice and improve upon my SOP expectations and intentions, the more comfortable I have become with the fact that it is protecting me. I know this by the feeling that comes over me when I know the Sphere is complete and active, and Awens’ grace hits me like a strong wind. I hope this helps a little-I’m always learning and improving, and love to see others succeed as well. May Awens grace embrace you!!
I see you’ve already been pointed to John Greer’s blog, so you have good instructions. Lacking background, I needed a whole lot of daily practice before everything worked smoothly. Also, I noticed the sensation of heavy lifting while performing the Elemental Cross and Circulation of Light, so I changed my stance and acted as if I were moving something heavy. My neighbor who doesn’t know about this sort of thing saw me busily waving my arms commented that it looked like I was commanding velociraptors and swinging vault doors. Whatever. It works. Oh, and for Above and Below, I point down at an angle and spin around to trace circles, then move my point to the center of the circles.
