Chapter 7 The Flower of Life
This sacred ritual honors the Flower of Life, focusing on its 18 outer circles while leaving the central one implicit, symbolizing our connection to the unseen essence that unites and balances all existence. This pattern mirrors life’s cycles, the web of creation, and the harmonious flow of infinite energy. The ritual celebrates 18 as a number of balance, unity, and interconnectedness, offering an experience of spiritual attunement and awakening.
Preparation:
Sacred Space: Create a meditative space where you can focus fully. Place a representation of the Flower of Life, emphasizing 18 outer circles without marking the central one. Use candles to form a hexagonal pattern, representing the sixfold symmetry that organizes the circles.
Numerical Symbols: Write the number 18 on a slip of parchment to signify interconnectedness and balance. Include secondary slips with the numbers:
- 6: The foundational pattern of symmetry.
- 9: Completion and cyclical flow, mirrored by the doubling of 18 into two groups of 9. Arrange these around your space to frame the ritual’s intention.
Energy Tools: Prepare a singing bowl or chime to infuse vibrations into the ritual. Surround yourself with stones like moonstone or citrine, which radiate balance and clarity.
The Ritual Steps:
Deepening Breath: Begin by sitting comfortably. Breathe in a rhythm of 6 counts per breath (inhale-hold-exhale) to embody the foundational symmetry of the Flower of Life. Envision each breath awakening the invisible central force that pulses through all 18 circles.
Visualizing the Interwoven Pattern: Hover your hands above the Flower of Life representation and trace with your fingers the 18 outer circles, leaving the implicit center untouched. Imagine threads of light weaving between these circles, forming a glowing network. See the energy gathering toward a radiant, unmarked center, pulling all toward unity. Speak softly:
“Eighteen spokes, the wheel is cast,
Threads of life connect the vast.
Unity whispers from the unseen,
Center holds, both felt and seen.”Resonating Soundwaves: Strike the singing bowl or chime 18 times, each tone reverberating through the geometric network you’ve visualized. With every sound, allow your awareness to spiral outward through the circles, then return to the implicit center. Feel the resonance behind and beyond the visible pattern.
Circle of Light Meditation: Close your eyes and imagine the Flower of Life expanding and contracting like a breathing organism. See the 18 circles glowing brighter with each breath as the unseen center gathers their energy, radiating outwards in return. Unify your heartbeat with this cycle, feeling both distinct and inseparable from the greater web of life.
Mantra for the Unseen: Recite the following mantra nine times, merging your intention with the implicit center and the outer circles:
“Eighteen radiates, unseen core,
Life expands, creation sows more.
Centerless yet all contained,
I am the web where all is sustained.”
Completion and Integration:
Anchoring the Unseen Unity: Take the parchment with 18 written on it and place it at the center of your work. Layer the additional slips with 6 and 9 nearby. Slowly cover them with your hands, feeling the cycles of balance and flow converge into a singular cohesive force. Whisper:
“From eighteen paths, all harmonize,
The hidden center never lies.
Balance lives where structure ends,
Infinite flows, eternal bends.”Extinguishing the Light: Snuff each of the six candles in turn, meditating on an elemental balance for each (earth, air, fire, water, spirit, and life flow). Feel gratitude as you release the energy of the ritual, allowing it to settle into the everyday rhythms of your being.
Final Affirmation: Sit in silence, holding the image of the Flower of Life in your mind. See the implicit center glowing within your own heart, connected to the wider pattern extending through all existence. Affirm:
“Eighteen circles weave their flight,
Unity hums in unseen light.
I am the thread, the pulse, the key,
Life eternal flows through me.”
The Ritual of Interwoven Circles captures the profound beauty of the visible and the unseen. Eighteen represents the harmony of balance and cyclical energy, while the implicit center speaks to the organizing force that binds all. This practice reminds us that within every outward expression of life lies a quiet, unseen truth that sustains all things. Repeat when seeking alignment, clarity, or a deeper sense of connection with life’s infinite web.