Spells to heal the Earth

All over the world today people are working together to help the planet, so why not join in - with a little magic.

Every year, April 22 is Earth Day, a global event to raise awareness of ecological issues and encourage environmental projects. With people all over the world focused on saving the planet, this is a great day to cast a spell to heal the Earth.

Earth energy is often visualised as a dragon, and Raising the Dragon is the name often given to a spell to use this energy to help the Earth heal herself. The Raising the Dragon spell is described in full in Kate West's book The Real Witches' Handbook: A Complete Introduction to the Craft, but the essence of the magic is quite simple.

Imagine a great dragon curled up inside the centre of the planet. Take time to visualise it, then call to it with your heart and mind. When you feel you have its attention, tell it about a particular environmental concern and the result you would like to see. Ask the dragon to combine its own energy with that which you are offering, then ask the dragon to rise up into the sky, circle clockwise around the Earth three times while working its magic, then return once more to its home. Then, give thanks to the dragon and bid it farewell.

When choosing an environmental issue it is often best to tackle something close to your own home and heart. For example, saving a wood in your area might be more effective than asking the dragon to generally save the world's trees. It is always good to back up this spell with your own practical efforts, such as taking part in a green activity day.

There is another simple spell to heal the earth on the website Pagan Magic. This involves planting a tree, shrub or bed of wildflowers that are native to your area. As you water what you have planted, say:

"Gentle Goddess, mighty Earth.
Take this offering of mine.
Blessings I shower upon your earth.
And heal you in the fullness of time."

For April 22 this year, Llewellyn's 2009 Witches' Spell-a-day Almanac offers a more traditional Earth Day spell.

Take some freshly baked bread and a square of cloth out into your garden. Kneel on the ground and sprinkle crumbs onto the earth. Take a handful of soil from the garden, knead it into a ball and place it on the cloth. Let it dry in the sun - or take it back into the house to dry if the weather is wet. When the ball of soil has dried, tie it up in the cloth and place it on your altar or on a sunny window sill. While you are doing this, reflect on how the Earth provides us with crops and offer your thanks.

Whatever you do on Earth Day, remember that we should treat the Earth with respect. If we use the planet's resources responsibly, we ourselves will benefit in the long run.

The Heal the Earth poster pictured above is available from the online store Pagan Magic for £22.99.

Llewellyn's 2009 Witches' Spell-a-day Almanac is available from Amazon for £6.49. The Real Witches' Handbook: A Complete Introduction to the Craft by Kate West is also available from Amazon.

Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_day
http://pagan-magic.co.uk/shop/heal-earth-colour-poster-11x17-p-3655.html?ad=badwitch
http://pagan-magic.co.uk/shop/spell-heal-earth-a-1071.html?ad=badwitch
Llewellyn's 2009 Witches' Spell-a-day Almanac
The Real Witches' Handbook: A Complete Introduction to the Craft
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/04/gaia-bad-witchs-goddess-of-week.html