A therian journey ritual
This post from a few weeks really struck a chord for me. While I am a coyote, and an initiate of the Pack Tradition, it’s really important to me for therianthropy/otherkinness/altherumanity to be inclusive of other sorts of experience as well. Diversity and accessibility are really important. To that end, I want to share something I came up with originally for a therian retreat in 2023, as a way to bring folks along on an experience of their other side(s), whatever that may mean for them. This ritual was constructed for a group, but it should be pretty easily adaptable to individual practice as well.
Gather at a fire. Bring an offering of food or drink. Start a steady drum-beat.
Breathe deep, and set intention: “We’re here to express ourselves in ways that are difficult in the test of the world. We’re here to se ourselves and each other as we really are.” Sit with that for a few breaths.
“Start by paying attention to where you are now, a small creature in a big cosmos.”
“Look up, and see the stars above you. Hear the song of the planets as they spin. Feel the pull of the cosmos on you.”
“Look around, and see the world that surrounds you. Listen for those who live in it, large and small, all finding their own way. Feel the beat of a world full of beings.
“Look down, and see the land that nurtures you. Listen for the pulse of the slowly-changing seasons. Feel its stability and its vitality alike.”
Pass the offering around the group, letting everyone hold it briefly. “We bring this offering, for those those lights, those ways, that pulse. Add something of yourself into it with your touch.”
Give some of the offering to the fire, then distribute the rest among the group. “Take this yourself, as we’ve shared with the world, and with each other.”
“Look at the fire, and close your eyes. Breathe in that warmth, that connection we’ve kindled… Let it flow through you, reaching to every part of your body… and then let it flow beyond, filling out the shape you know as you.”
“Feel it, as far as feels comfortable, then turn your attention back to the fire. In your mind’s eye, what part of it is most important to you? The flicker of its light? The heat of its flames? The crackling of the wood? The smell of the smoke? Experience that fire with all of your senses.”
“Turn your attention now to just outside the fire, just outside our circle. There’s a river there, bending gently around where we gather. This river flows through this world and all others; across its bank is any place you could ever hope to exist in, as who and whatever you know yourself to be.”
“Focus now on that river. What do you know of it? Can you hear its murmur? See the light reflecting off it? Smell its water? Take the time you need to experience that river as fully as you experience the fire.”
“Sense them both at once, in this place between fire and water. Remember that fire, but turn now toward the river. Move toward it. What does that motion feel like? What does it feel like to be you, in this place between?”
“As you approach the river, what do you sense? What grows on its banks? What’s waiting for you on the other side? If you look down into the water, is there a reflection? What stares back at you?”
“Now, move into the river’s water. What does it feel like? Does it rush fast, or flow gently? Is it comfortable, or chilly? What part of you is submerged first? Paws? Talons? Belly? Tail?”
“As you cross the river, let the water rise as high as it needs to, but no higher. As you approach the other bank, turn your attention back to yourself. Have you changed, as you near this place that you seek?”
“Feel the water drip off you as you climb out of the river. Where are you now? What do you hear, what do you see, what do you feel under your talons, paws, hooves, or however you touch this new ground?”
“Look back across the river, for just a moment. That fire is still there. Sense it, however it called to you before; smell, sound, sight. It waits, to lead you back, but now, you have this whole new place to explore. Where will you go, as you are now?”
“Go as far as you’d like, and when you come back, all you need to do is turn back toward that fire and cross that river again, back to share with the rest of us.”
Keep a slow drum-beat going, giving time for folks to experience. Fifteen minutes seemed about right, for the first time we did this. When you’re ready to call folk back, change up the drum-beat to something a bit faster and more complex, and call folk back.
“Now it’s time to come back together. The fire waits, and your friends wait too. Let the fire guide you and the river carry you. It will take back only what you’re willing to give up. What is it like to be you on this side of the river? What shape is warmed by the fire? What did you bring back with you?”
Give time in-circle for folks to discuss. If there’s offering left, or more food, this is a great time to all share it together as you talk.
When discussion is tapering off, focus in on a moment of thanks. “Thank you fire, for guiding us, and thank you river, for carrying us. Thank you to the Pulse of the earth, that is with us through change. Thank you to the Ways that give shape to our lives. Thank yo to the Lights that inspire our explorations. Thank you to all gathered here, who’ve helped us experience ourselves, together.”
Take as much time as needed for debrief, discussion, and recuperation, alone or together.