Thursday, February 9, 2017

Getting Answers from the Four Directions

It is often said that two heads are better than one. Well, how about four heads? When you really need some new and different perspectives on a situation or event that has been bothering you, one of the best guidance you can get is from the four directions. Tribal and religious customs have long acknowledged the power of the four directions as source of advice and guidance. They have made use of four directions ceremonies and prayer.

A simple way to receive guidance from the four directions is to ask one direction per day for help. This is a simplified four directions ceremony. You'll need a Sun Yellow candle (any candle that is bright yellow), pen and paper, and some white broadleaf sage (you can use either the leaf clusters or a smudge stick). While white broadleaf sage is primarily an air element botanical, it has enough of the other three elements (fire, water and earth) to be used in all four directions. White broadleaf sage is highly prized for its strong aromatic properties (strongest of the different types of sage) and is considered the king of all sages. It is excellent for meditation, divination, smudging, cleansing and purification.

Ready? Here's how to ask for answers from the four directions.

Four Directions Ceremony
DAY 1

  • Sit facing East, direction of the element Air (thoughts, communication, ideas, inspiration, enlightenment).
  • Write the situation on paper as clearly and succinctly as possible. Then write the outcome you want, also as clearly and succinctly as possible.
  • Light the Sun Yellow candle with a paper or wooden match (no lighters!).
  • Hold your hands up to and around the candle flame and say in a strong voice:

"Child of wonder,Child of flame,Nourish my Spirit,And protect my aim!"

  • Hold the situation and the desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes (with eyes open or closed).
  • Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry you question or prayer to the direction.
  • Ask aloud to the direction: "What ideas, inspiration or communication is needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
  • Then write whatever answers come to you. Do not question or think about the answers – just write! Write until there are no more answers.
  • Thank the East.
  • Tear the sheet or sheets of paper that have the answers off the pad and store them in a safe place. Do NOT read the answers.


DAY 2

  • Sit facing South, direction of the element Fire (action, passion, will, power).
  • Have the paper on which you have written the situation and desired outcome in front of you.
  • Light the Sun Candle and say the verse, same as the day before.
  • Hold the situation and desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes.
  • Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry you question or prayer to the direction.
  • Ask aloud to the direction: "What actions are needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
  • Record the answers, same as the day before. Again, do not think about the answers, just write them.
  • Thank the South.
  • Store the answers in a safe place, but do not read them.


DAY 3

  • Sit facing West, direction of the element Water (emotions, compassion, language of Spirit).
  • Have the paper on which you have written the situation and desired outcome in front of you.
  • Light the Sun Candle and say the verse, same as the day before.
  • Hold the situation and desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes.
  • Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry you question or prayer to the direction.
  • Ask aloud to the direction: "What emotions or Spirit changes are needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
  • Record the answers, same as the day before. Again, do not think about the answers, just write them.
  • Thank the West.
  • Store the answers in a safe place, but do not read them.


DAY 4

  • Sit facing North, direction of the element Earth (manifestation, physical reality, the body).
  • Have the paper on which you have written the situation and desired outcome in front of you.
  • Light the Sun Candle and say the verse, same as the day before.
  • Hold the situation and desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes.
  • Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry your question or prayer to the direction.
  • Ask aloud to the direction: "What physical changes are needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
  • Record the answers, same as the day before. Again, do not think about the answers, just write them.
  • Thank the North.
  • Store the answers in a safe place, but do not read them.


DAYS 5 and 6
Do not think about the situation or ponder the answers you have been given. Do not read the answers you wrote.

DAY 7

  • Sit in the South facing North, with the Sun Candle and your answers in front of you.
  • Light the Sun Candle and say the verse.
  • Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry your thanks and appreciation to the four directions.
  • Relax and read the answers.
  • Thank the four directions.
  • Meditate on the answers for as long as feels good.
  • Go where the answers suggest, following the ones that your intuition tells you are appropriate at the moment. 


The four directions never fail to give good directions. Have fun with this simple yet effective four directions ceremony.

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