Circle of the Stars By Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki Companions, we have come together at the time of Falling Leaves. Having built up and set the wards around us and protected all herein against interference of the Unclean Ones, let us now exercise our minds and the web of our collective consciousness and go forth upon the wings of the night wind. Let us survey the world that is our inheritance. Look upon the symbol of the Spirit (The Black Oval of the Akashic Tattwa) that hangs before us, and see it as a doorway to the subtle levels. When it is so clear that stars can be seen within its depths, turn the eye inward and build there a copy of your physical body then project it outwards to the Doorway. As it passes through the Black Oval our physical shape becomes a star, a pinpoint of light that carries within itself, your consciousness, the essence of yourself. As you transform there is a moment of vertigo then, you are free, free of the encumbrance of form. You see around you a throng of other stars, seekers like yourself. Join with these companions and like a misty cloud rise up to a point far above the earth. Look round at your companions and see them as brilliant points of light. Wherever this journey is started you will be drawn towards the dark swell of the Atlantic Ocean for your destination is the Ancient and Blessed Isles of the West. Like a shining sphere of starlight you pass over the water and come at last to the land called Merlin's Enclosure. Look down on England below you. What you see is its astral form, silver and gold, blue and green and the rich purple red that is the thread of its royal bloodline. Focus your sense of sight and you will see the ancient forests that once covered its hills and valleys. Hidden within are wolves, bears, and great stags, gone now but still roaming the Time locked places where they once lived. We can see stone circles long since thrown down and broken up, and white hill figures that once guided the seekers of flint towards the white cliffs bordering the sea. Look again and tune the sight more finely yet. See the bright forms of the Elven Folk now gone into the center of the Hollow Hills away from humans and their polluted air. The small shy fairies' shapes that once lived in the woods and forest and inhabited the open downs and hidden corners of this land can be seen returning to their old haunts and dancing places. Shadowy figures of the past now become clearer. We see the brightly colored processions of knights and ladies riding the ancient roads in an eternal cavalcade of pageantry. Even finer now, tune the mental eyes and see the giant figures that ring the Isle of Merlin all along the shoreline, guarding it from harm and from the threat of the Lords of the Dark Face. In the far North, Robert the Bruce raises his standard, with Rob Roy and Wallace by his side and the Clan Chiefs in their many colored tartans and plaids. Epona the Horse Goddess comes riding Her white mare, while Brigantia the warrior Goddess stands side by side with antlered Herne and the Wild Hunt. Pwyll, the dark browed Prince of Annwn on a horse the color of midnight's hour stands upon the high ridge of Penmaenmawr, while on his right Arthur The Pendragon raises the standard of the High King of Britain. Behind and on either side of him the shining company of the Round Table springs into sight. Grey Bearded Merlin and the slender green clad figure of Nimue stand together on the top of the Tor of Glastonbury, while below them stand a band of bright forms. Human beings who long ago pledged themselves to the light: Dion Fortune tall and red-haired, a small scholarly man with bright twinkling eyes who once bore the name of Ernest Butler; Charles Seymour and Christine Hartley, and with them a group that stands beneath a golden banner showing the device of a Sun emerging from below the horizon; Owen Glyndower and a tall white haired man in the robes of a druid. A small figure perches on the top of a standing stone: Puck sometimes called Robin Goodfellow, the essence of old England. St. Columba and St. Aidan with Julian of Norwich form a triangle of Christian power with the figure of Thomas a' Becket behind them. Robin Hood and a shadowy group in dark green stand before the Oaks of Sherwood; and drawn by a common bond of the Land, Roundheads and Cavaliers stand side by side. Now more of the great past emerges from the shadows, we see Elizabeth and Drake, Raleigh and Grenville, Nelson, and the triumphant figure of Henry Fifth. They encircle the boundaries of the land guarding and keeping watch. We move down and enter the circle of their company and feel the power and the majesty of their commitment. Those of our group who are not of this land are drawn close and offered welcome and companionship and the bonds of friendship opened to them. Before The High King we come and listen to the words he imprints upon our consciousness. We are of the past and you are our future, take what we have been and use it to become what the world needs. We guard this land as we have sworn to do, but to you and those like you, it is given to guard the planet. See now how your companions come to join you in this task. We look and see all around us spheres of light like ourselves. We are filled with joy and rise up into the air singing as the morning stars sang at the beginning of the world. Higher and higher we rise, a mighty company of stars. Far below we see that every country has its inner level guardians, bright beings sworn to defend the inner planes from the darkness. Around the mighty shores of the Americas we see the shadowy forms of the early settlers, the Minute Men and Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett and the heroes of the Alamo. The veterans of both World Wars, of Korea and Vietnam and the men who led them. Then emerging from the shadows of the hills, mountains, and desert the warriors of the many tribes each with their great Chiefs: Geronimo, Sitting Bull among them. Higher and higher we rise and then arrange ourselves into a silver ring that surrounds the entire earth. From each heart center comes a thread of light that strikes down into the heart of the planet as we feed her with our love. We see also that we are linked to each other becoming one solid Ring Pass Not against Evil. This Ring begins to spin. Slowly we become a solid ring of light composed of millions of people like ourselves, dedicated to the Light. Below on the planet itself the great ones of the past fight an on going battle, we feed them strength and power from the link we have with each other. Now it is time to return. We feel the pull of our physical bodies and see before us an oval doorway of intense blackness. We disengage ourselves from the great silver ring and flow towards the doorway and pass through. We find ourselves in an astral body once more and standing before the physical self. We loose our hold upon the astral form and sink down into the warm welcome of our bodies. Return slowly and gently, remembering what we have seen and done and been. We may return to take our place among the Guardians whenever we wish. Rest and be at peace. Worldwide 1994 to Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki who asserts her right to be known as the author of this work. Pathworking is the ancient way of teaching/transmitting metaphysical knowledge/experience to a student. It is a special kind of guided meditation. In a group, have someone read the meditation for you after you are down. If alone, you might read the meditation into a recorder. Otherwise, read the meditation enough times to remember where you are going and what you are to do. It may differ a little just remembering the meditation don't force it, let it happen. Get comfortable, slow your breathing and quiet your mind, speak to your favorite deity, teacher or guide, asking for protection and illumination. Count down from any number you chose, (8 to 1, 5 to 1, even 23 to 1) slowly. Imagine a second you standing up from inside you and standing before you. Notice how your second self is dressed, the mood he or she or even possibly it is in. Your second self can look like anything: opposite sex, both sexes, no sex, mythical creature, beast or even just a color or shadow. If you have an astral temple, as described in the introduction to Dolores' first pathworking (NMR 8:3), have your second self go there to begin your journey. Or you may begin from a doorway visualized in the area where you are meditating. Remember to carefully note any changes in your second self after the pathworking and as it merges back with you. JR | 
