Rite to Reclaim the Power of the Snake
Jane Roco Evans
This women's ritual draws upon the myth of Psyche to help women to reclaim their power in a balanced way. The myth in this ritual is adapted from Jean Shinoda Bolen's Goddesses In Everywoman. Worshippers are welcome to make up their own guided meditations. There are parts for two High Priestesses and four Quarters, though these can be combined, if desired.
Psyche (the human soul) was the mortal lover of Eros (the loving heart). Eros hid his immortality from Psyche by coming to her only in the dark. Finally, curiosity and loneliness drove Psyche to light a lamp to discover the nature of her lover. A drop of oil falling from the lamp awakened Eros and he fled. To regain her lover, Psyche had to complete her four tasks.
Opening
High Priestess I:
We are on a journey to reclaim the Power of the Snake. We will travel with Psyche, our guide, as she faces four tasks. Each task represents a different capability that women today need to develop. Each Element will test Psyche on her journey to integration.
East:
Host of ants from the East, aid us in our task. Sort the seeds, one by one into each pile.
South:
Fiery eagle of the South, fly to our aid. Swoop down to fill the crystal flask.
West:
Western gate of the Underworld, with sadness we descend your steps as we harden our hearts to say no."
North:
Horned rams of the North, give us your golden wool. Give of your power without taking away compassion.
High Priestess II:
Join with us, Psyche, Goddess of the Soul! You risk everything for love. Guide us with strength as we face each Element, meeting each test on the journey we are about to take—the journey of the human heart.
High Priestess I (invokes Serpent Goddess to
drumbeat):
Serpent Goddess, heed our call! We call upon your ancient wisdom, Your ancient ways from Death to Rebirth—from women's mysteries to women's power! Out of the Spiral that circles `round and `round, answer our call!
All face east.
First Guided Meditation
Sorting the Seeds
High Priestess I:
It is dark. Psyche, wearing a white gown, stands alone in a room filled with an enormous pile of seeds, all mixed together. She must sort the seeds, each into its own separate pile, by daybreak. The task seems impossible and she begins to despair. Suddenly, from a crack in the ground, a host of ants emerge. One by one, the ants sort the seeds.
The first task: making an important decision. The ants represent Psyche's intuition, which she honors by allowing it to guide her in making an important decision—sifting and sorting her priorities and values. Look honestly within. Sift through your feelings and values. Separate what is important from what is insignificant. What are my feelings?
Coveners call out different feelings about decisions they need to make in their lives.
High Priestess I:
What are my values? What is truly important to me?
Coveners call out values.
High Priestess I:
Stop! Stay with this. Do not act until clarity emerges.
All face south.
Second Guided Meditation
Filling the Crystal Flask
High Priestess I:
It is noon. Psyche is standing by a waterfall. She hears the roar of the water. Drops of moisture fall on her face and hair. In her hand, Psyche holds a crystal flask that she must fill from this waterfall. Dragons guard the waterfall. They will not allow Psyche to fill the flask. Suddenly, from high above her, an eagle flies out of the sky. Swooping down, the eagle takes the flask from Psyche's hand and fills it from the waterfall.
The second task: achieving emotional distance. Psyche's eagle represents her ability to get a broad perspective. She sees the whole picture and doesn't get caught up in details; she can grasp what she needs. It is important to achieve emotional distance in our personal relationships, in order to see the general pattern and not get stuck in a relationship that is not helping us to grow. Where do I need to achieve emotional distance?
Coveners take a minute of silence to meditate on this.
All face west
Third Guided Meditation
Psyche's Journey into the Underworld
High Priestess I:
It is twilight—the Sun is beginning to set. Psyche is standing at a western gate. Steps from this gate lead down into the Underworld. Psyche begins to descend the spiral steps. She is barefoot, and can feel the cool stone of the steps on her bare feet. She is filled with sadness, for she knows she might never return. Her task is to fill the small box that she holds in her hand with ointment. As Psyche crosses the river Styx, the souls of the dead appeal to her for help. Psyche, take us aboard! Psyche, help us!" Three times the souls of the dead turn to her asking for help. Three times she says no," hardens her heart to compassion, and continues.
The third task: learning to say No." This is the task of setting a goal and sticking to it in spite of requests for help. When we continually stop to respond to the needs of others, we allow them to divert us from doing something for ourselves. Thus we lose our way and remain forever in the Underworld, our lives filled with regrets about the dreams we didn't fulfill. To what do we need to say no" in our lives?
Coveners call out what they need to let go.
All face north
Fourth Guided Meditation
Acquiring Golden Wool
High Priestess I:
It is midnight. Psyche is standing in a field. The horned rams of the North lock horns on this field. Their hooves kick up dust, which flies in the air. Psyche's task is to acquire some golden wool from the rams without being trampled underfoot. At first the task seems impossible—she cannot get near the rams without being hurt. Then she has an idea. She waits until daybreak, when the rams retire to sleep. She begins to safely pick strands of golden wool off the bushes against which the rams have brushed.
The fourth task: acquiring power without losing compassion. The golden wool represents power, which women in our society need. Our task is to acquire it without losing our caring and compassion. We establish our own authority as we reintroduce the feminine principle into our culture. How do we assert ourselves without appearing hostile? How do we express our anger constructively?
Coveners take a minute of silence to meditate on this.
High Priestess II:
Psyche has now faced all four Elements and passed all four tests. She no longer wears a white gown. She is now robed in shimmering gold, and on her shoulders she bears a pair of feathery golden wings. She has completed the tasks that lead to the integration of the soul.
Raising the Power
Beat the drum, start slowly.
High Priestess I:
Imagine me as the Serpent Goddess of Crete, wearing a full, flounced skirt of many colors, with breasts bared, holding a snake in each hand. Direct energy towards me and chant, We are Reclaiming the Power of the Snake," repeatedly to the quickening tempo of the drum.
We are reclaiming the Power of the Snake! We are reclaiming power in our lives!
Coveners:
We are reclaiming the Power of the Snake!
High Priestess I:
Political power—the power to be the ones to decide what we will do with our bodies!
High Priestess II:
Spiritual power—the power to be priestesses of the Old Religion! The power once held by the Goddess!
High Priestess I:
Personal power—the power to pursue our goals!
Coveners call out the goals they want to achieve—versions of their own personal power.
High Priestess I:
We are reclaiming the Power of the Snake! We are reclaiming the Power of the Snake!
Continue to form the Cone of Power. When the energy is at its peak, release it at the command of High Priestess I.
Blessing the Wine and Bread
High Priestess I:
I bless this wine with the promise that we will never lose our capacity for love, compassion and nurturing.
High Priestess II:
I bless this bread with the strength to cope with whatever task lies ahead for us.
Share the wine and bread.
Closing
North:
Farewell, rams of the North! You have given us your strength and we have not lost our compassion. Blessed Be!
West:
Farewell, dark passage to the Underworld! We ascend your steps with gladness as we make ready to determine our own life course. Blessed Be!
South:
Farewell, eagle of the South! You have filled the crystal flask and we have grasped what we needed. Blessed Be!
East:
Farewell, ants of the East! You have sorted the seeds as we have sorted out our lives. Together we have separated the true from the false. Blessed Be!
High Priestess II:
Farewell, Psyche! You have given us the strength to complete each task. Your all-encompassing love has connected us with our very souls—with the divine, sacred Goddess. Blessed Be!
High Priestess I:
Farewell, Serpent Goddess! Your power has moved us, shaken us to reclaim our own power. We keep you within us! Blessed Be!
High Priestesses
together:
This Sacred Rite of the Goddess is ended! Blessed Be to all! | 
