u/sidhe_elfakyn

As I've mentioned quite a few times in this subreddit, I'm devoted to an unnamed Storm Goddess. A lot of my practice centers around storms and lately I've been called to share more of that more widely. This is a ritual I've been doing in some variation for a few years, and at its core centers around raising storm energy. You can raise it for protection, for energy, for the strength to do something that's difficult, but I've also found it to be a powerfully centering ritual especially if I'm anxious or stressed and want to gather my inner strength.

You don't need any supplies for this ritual, you just need yourself and your energy.

Without further ado:

The Ritual

Find a space where you can stand and take one or two steps in any direction without bumping into anything.

Stand in the middle of your space with your arms down by your side. Storms rise by feeding off of the latent energy around them, in the ground and in the air. Extend your hands and your feelings outwards and search for that energy. Pull it towards you. You can move your hands in a gathering motion, too, inwards and upwards, like a rising column of convective air (in towards your body; then upwards; then outwards; then down; and repeat in circles). Pull that energy into a rising column of storm air. Give it a spin, like a tornado or cyclone. You can start spinning yourself, too. Feel the rising storm. You are at the center of it, with storm all around you.

Feel the storm's energy as your own. When you breathe, the storm breathes. When you move, the storm moves. Notice how your stress and worries are taken away by the storm. Anything that might attack you or threaten you has to contend with the storm before reaching you. Your strength is that of the storm; what seemed difficult is now easier. This energy is your own and you can set it into motion in whatever way you see fit.

Stand in the middle of your space and feel the storm flow through you for however long you want. Once you're ready, gradually stop your spinning motion and your arm movements and slowly dissipate the energy. You can let it dissipate on its own, or you can gradually bring it back down into the earth and outwards from where it came.

Take some time for aftercare; grab a snack and drink.

Notes

I've been doing this ritual for a long time. I learned it a few years ago as I was working with the Storm Goddess—she showed it to me when I was starting out in my practice. It's proven to be useful to me in many situations. It's helped me with my anxiety and stress, especially if I'm facing a difficult challenge that I want to gather courage for. I've been doing activism work; it's helped me with protection. It's helped me move more calmly and with focus. And, in my work with the Storm Goddess, it's helped me connect with her and feel her energy as my own.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Some more notes:

• If you can't stand, you can still do this ritual while sitting.
• I prefer to spin counterclockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere, to follow the natural formation of the storms.