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Axis Mundi

1/14/2012

11 Comments

 

One of the things that sets ADF’s form of ritual apart from the average Wiccan ritual is that we do not cast circles, or the call quarters.  In Wicca, as I understand it, the circle is cast to hold energy in, as well as to keep certain influences out.  The quarters are called as a way to re-create the cosmos and acknowledge the elements that are part of all life. 

We in ADF do indeed re-create the cosmos, but in a different manner.  Instead of the directions, we call the three worlds and Kindreds. We light the fire, honor the well, and acknowledge the Axis Mundi. We do not cast a circle because we do not wish to keep anyone out, and do not need to keep anything in. 

Every ritual includes the Axis Mundi for several rather important reasons.  The Axis Mundi is the center of the world for the space and time of the ritual, and as the center it becomes sacred space around which all others revolve.  It is usually represented as a tree, but can also be viewed as a mountain, or pillar.  I have done a Hellenic ritual that used a stone as the omphalos, or navel of the world. 

The advantage of living on a globe is that every spot on the surface of the Earth can be declared the center of that surface, with all truthfulness and honesty.  There is nothing wrong with declaring several places at once as the center of the surface of the world when you’re on a globe. We can see this in how the ancient Greeks declared the center to be in Delphi, while at the same time having a sacred cosmic tree1 as well as Mount Olympus as centers of the cosmos. Any space can be declared sacred, and in the end there are no off-limits, outside of the local laws, or no-trespassing signs. 

This is something I love about our ritual form.  Being married to a man who studies the universe as a profession, I see the big bang slowly expanding out from a center, while there is no center to the universe, but everywhere is the center, reflected in how we establish the sacred space for our rite. 
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We use the Axis Mundi as a connecter to the underworld, upper world, and to this space we inhabit.  It becomes a doorway in which we can cast our voice and call to the Kindreds.  This is not an action to be taken by oneself!  This is why we call a gate keeper to help in the effort it takes to create that bridge. We set our altar, and the fire that burns on it, on the strong back of Mother Earth.  She upholds our actions, just as the fire carries our prayers.  The well, which waters the tree, acts as a gate to the dark underworld, but it is the Axis that connects them all.

Some traditions view the human body as the Axis Mundi.  This can be seen in some forms of Tai Chi and Yoga.  The Chakra system that many have borrowed for their magick workings from Hinduism is a type of human-body Axis Mundi2. Is it any wonder that the Buddha gained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree? Or that in the Old Testament, Jacob met God next to a ladder that was itself an Axis Mundi?3  The Axis connects us to everything, and everything to us.



1.http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Tr-Wa/Trees-in-Mythology.html#b

2.Mircea Eliade (tr. Philip Mairet). 'Indian Symbolisms of Time and Eternity' in Images and Symbols." Princeton, 1991. p.76


11 Comments
Kourtney link
1/14/2012 03:21:18 am

Very interesting and informative post! Not something I'm familiar with so I very much enjoyed it!

Blessings,
Kourtney

Reply
Amanda
1/14/2012 03:33:05 am

Cheers Kourtney. =-)

I'm glad that it something different and helpful.

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Leona Oigheag link
1/14/2012 04:40:49 am

thanks for sharing this! I'm getting more into the ADF and I appreciate the insights!

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Mike Patterson
1/14/2012 08:37:23 am

Excellent analyse of the world tree and cosmos recreation. I also really loved the anecdote about any point on the surface of a globe can be called the center. I'm still pondering how that means you can have more than one center of the world though.

Reply
Amanda
1/14/2012 08:52:36 am

You might think of it as relativity and dots on a circle. From the perspective of the person at dot one, it is the center, from the perspective of dot two, they are at the center. Neither is incorrect because the circle has no center on the surface; both dots will equally cut the circle in half.

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Dorothy Abrams link
1/14/2012 09:44:10 am

Well said. Although wiccan we were privileged to lead a marriage ceremony in a Druid Gove some years ago. I did not know much about Druid practices at the time. Your post is very descriptive of the opening and closing of the grove. We also use the axis mundi in our grounding ceremony on a regular basis, even though we also cast a circle, which I like to think of as re-entering the womb.

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Carol link
1/14/2012 02:48:48 pm

This is one of the things I love about ADF ritual as well - the Fire, Well & Tree.....I can absolutely feel the energy when I call the Kindreds and Hallow the Gates. Beautiful post! Thank you :)

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Into the Dawn link
1/15/2012 05:52:34 am

I've not heard about the Axis Mundi before, but I very much like this concept for creating sacred space. It makes very good sense to me. Very interesting post with lots of food for thought.

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Galena link
1/15/2012 09:22:53 am

Druidry is something I have been trying to learn more about, I certainly feel more leanings to this path from what I read. This post I find interesting, I just got involved with a group that is starting to practice and we have been doing "loose" circles, so I find this concept interesting.

Reply
Amanda
1/15/2012 09:47:39 am

My main purpose for this blog is to help myself and others explore druidry, so if there any questions you have and want addressed, feel free to ask ;-)

Reply
Linda L Quinn link
12/10/2018 07:46:05 am

Do you know if anyone owns this image? My boss wanted to use it in a blog but does not want to infringe.

thank you.

Reply



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    Amanda Thomas is the Grove Organizer for the Ad Astra Grove.  She also serves on the Topeka Interfaith Council.

    Hera Lakeshore is a practicing druid and contributor to the Ad Astra Grove blog.

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