Honouring the directions of the Sacred Circle is a widespread spiritual practice in ancient and contemporary Nature wisdom traditions. For many practitioners, honoring t he directions is an essential component of all rituals. It is a way to create and to connect with sacred space. It also is a way of communing with Nature. Furthermore, it can be a way of mapping consciousness and viewing life.

The Sacred Circle with its directions is called by some, the "Magic Circle," and by others, the "Medicine Wheel." Some traditions emphasize the four compass directions of the Circle. Others work with the four compass points plus a central point representing unity. Some also include two additional directions in the centre, up and down, to create a Sacred Sphere as well as the Sacred Circle. Qualities, images, colours, and other symbolic associations with the directions vary from path to path, but the idea of Sacred Circle as a place of balancing, healing, and wholeness extends across traditions.

Here are seven directions you can try in your personal spiritual practice, in doing healing and counselling, and in guiding group rituals at Circle Sanctuary and elsewhere. The seven directions are an integral part of some Pagan's worldview and provide a framework for understanding and for action. My correspondences of the compass directions and central point with the five Elements of Nature have developed from my work with Wiccan spirituality and contemporary psychology over the past twenty years.

While the map of consciousness with its seven directions and Sacred Sphere form works well for me and for others, it is important to note that it is but one of many maps within Paganism today. Traditions vary not only in the number of directions honoured, but the correspondences associated with each direction and the order in which the directions are worked with in ritual. It is important that practitioners chart their own maps according to their own traditions, preferences, and experiences. The map I use and present here has evolved over time and continues to evolve. Feel free to adapt it for your own needs.

This map provides a framework for attunement with Nature in Her many forms. The Elements are at the compass points and other sacred life forms are on the central axis.

There are three axes in this map: North-South, East-West, and Up-Down. Each axis contains a balance. The North-South axis is a balance between the reflective sensing and the active doing. The East-West axis is a balance between thinking and feeling, or in other words, analysis and intuition. The Up-Down axis is a balance between attunement to the home Planet and attunement to the beyond. In the central Spirit point, the axes converge. Together the axes form a Sacred Sphere around the Spirit point.

In working with this map of consciousness, it is important to note some distinctions. With this map, a clear distinction is made between Earth as an Element and Earth as the Planet. The Element Earth refers specifically to the rocks and soil that comprise the land mass of the Planet, while the Planet itself embodies all the Elements in its domain and therefore is on the central axis.

This map also makes a distinction between the Element Fire and the unifying Element Spirit. While in some systems Fire and Spirit are one, in this map they are separate, since Spirit is viewed as a synthesis of all Four Elements.

The inclusion of Sky/Cosmos, or Up, direction in this map underlies my preference for referring to Contemporary Pagan philosophy as "Nature Spirituality" instead of as "Earth Spirituality," "Gaean Religion," or "Green Spirituality." I view the term Nature Spirituality as a broader term that reflects communion with Nature not only on this Planet, but beyond it. The terms "Earth," "Gaean," and "Green" are specific to Divine com m union with Nature on this Planet. While descriptive of paths that where Mother Earth honouring is central, Paganism also includes paths that are more Star focused. Nature Spirituality is an appropriate umbrella terms for these diverse forms and provides mo r e flexibility for the Pagan future. As Pagans journey off this Planet into space in the centuries to come, it will be interesting to note how ritual communion with Nature in other realms develops and what non-Planet Earth based Nature religions will emerge.

A powerful way to work with this map, to understand it more fully, and to incorporate it into your own experience is to use it ritually. The Seven Directions Ritual I present here can be used as is as a daily spiritual practice o r worked with as part of a more elaborate ritual. In addition to spiritually experiencing the map of consciousness, this ritual is an opportunity to connect with messages relevant to your own life.

To perform this ritual, find a place where you will not b e disturbed. An outdoor location in a natural setting is best, but an indoor room can also do. While this ritual can be done solely in the imagination, it is more effective when done when one's mind, body, emotions, actions, and inner Self/Spirit are all actively participating. This ritual can be done at any time of day or night and in any season.

Take a compass with you to the site you have chosen. Mark each compass point and the central point with a stone or other object. Relax, purify, and centre yourself as you would for other spiritual work, such as by using relaxed breathing, incense, and/or chanting. When you are ready, begin.

Begin in the North. Face North with upraised hands. Call to the powers of North and Earth to be with you and to bless and gu ide you. Then holding your hands to your heart, experience the power of the direction flowing into yourself and attune yourself to your body. Pay attention to any inner guidance you receive as you do this. End by giving thanks. Follow a similar process as you connect with each direction.

Next go the East and face it with upraised hands. Call to the powers of East and Air and, with hands to your heart, attune yourself to your mind. Note any inner guidance that emerges and give thanks.

Go to the South and face it with upraised hands. Call to the powers of South and Fire. With hands to your heart, attune yourself to your action part of self. Note any inner guidance that emerges and give thanks.

Go to the West and face it with upraised hands. Call to the powers of West and Water. Moving your hands to your heart, attune yourself to your feelings. Note any inner guidance that comes and then give thanks.

Move around the Circle past the North and start spiralling inward, making at least one spiralled circle around the centre. Point your hands out as you move. Feel yourself connecting with the circle that links the compass points. Spiral into the centre. Honour the Sacred Circle as you stand in the North of centre and face South.

Raise your arms above your head toward the heavens and look Upward. Call to the powers of the Cosmos. Experience yourself linking in with the Universe beyond the Planet. Hold your hands to your heart. Note any inner guidance that comes to you as you take the energy of this direction into yourself. Give thanks.

Now point your arms Downward toward the Planet. If you feel so moved, sit or lie down and place your hands palm down on the ground. Call to the powers of the Planet and the place of this rite. Experience yourself linking in with the We b of Life on this Planet. Draw the powers of this direction into yourself and note any inner guidance that comes to you as you do this. Give thanks.

Finally, stand and face the centre, with your arms outstretched before you. Call to the power of Spirit, o f Divine Unity. Call the Divine by the name(s) you know it. Then, bring your hands to your heart and experience oneness, balance, and wholeness. Pay attention to any inner guidance that comes to you. Give thanks.

The ritual can end at this point, or you ca n move into additional ritual activities. When you are done, make a note of your experiences in a journal and/or reflect on what occurred. Draw on understandings of the directions and their associations in developing your own map of consciousness and designing future rituals.