Begin by sitting erect, and breathing deeply and rhythmically. As you breathe, remember to sit erect, and as your spine straightens, feel the energy rising... (pause) Imagine your spine is the trunk of the tree... and from its base, roots extend deep into the earth... into the center of the earth Herself... (pause) And you can draw up power from the earth, with each breath... feel the energy rising, like sap rising through a tree trunk... Feel the power rise up your spine... feel yourself becoming more alive... with each breath... (pause) And from the crown of your head, you have branches that sweep up and back down to touch the earth... and feel the power burst from the crown of your head... and feel it sweep through the branches until it touches the earth again making a circle... making a circuit... returning to its source... by Starhawk To Ground at the end of the ritual... Imagine yourself as the tree... feel the energy coursing through you... slowly let the extra energy from your ritual seep back into the ground... but leave yourself with a little of that energy... just give back what you didn't use... If you don't Ground and Center, before and after ritual, it will make you feel light headed and spaced out, and possibly sick to your stomach. It will even cause a headache. So please remember to Ground and Center. by Dana