Blessings and Welcome to Day 6
of Thirty Days of Walking with Mary
Today you can add an oil burner to your altar (if you have not done so yet)
and burn lemon oil. I like to add water to my oil in the
burner and some people add salt.
Later on in the practise I will share with you a powerful
meditation blend of the other two oils listed previously.
You can continue to burn lemon oil every day.
It is also a good practise to burn lemon oil throughout your
house and even to add lemon oil to a water spray bottle,
add holy or blessed water as well, and spritz in the rooms.
A few years ago I became obsessed with both the smell and taste
of lemons. I started with drinking lemon in my water, burning lemon oil,
wearing lemon oil and eventually I travelled to the south of Italy
to immerse myself in the culture and traditions related to the use of lemons.
Since then I have uncovered so much research on this sacred fruit!
The lemon is a citrus which is a variegation of the Etrog, also known as
Citron and Citron Medica. I am sharing the following from the website
that I share below.
The etrog originated in India. From there it found its way to Persia
(modern-day Iran), Aram-Naharayim (modern-day northern Syria),
Israel and Egypt. Archaeologists have discovered etrog seeds in
Iraq (ancient Babylon) dating back to 4000 BCE, and etrogs
were found in Egyptian tombs and wall murals dating to 1500 BCE.
We can learn about the antiquity of the etrog
from Jewish sources. According to one tradition, the “Tree of Knowledge” in
the Garden of Eden was an etrog tree.
In the Midrash, the Sages taught that one of the distinguishing features
of the earliest trees was that all of their parts were edible.
“Go and see which tree …can be eaten just as its fruit.
You will only find the etrog” (Breishit Rabba 15, 8). In the time
of the Mishna and the Talmud, it was customary to eat the sprouts
and the young leaves of the etrog tree.
It is still customary in the Jewish tradition to gift others with
an etrog or citrus on the religious feast day of Sukkot.
In Italian folklore and herbal craft and tradition, it is a practise
to plant a lemon tree at your front door for protection.
It is also still a practise in some areas to keep a branch
from a lemon tree in your kitchen, as well as a bowl of the fruit.
At many hotels and guesthouses you will still see a bowl of lemons
at the front door – for purification and protection!
At the feast of the Madonna in Tropea entire
bouquets were created from lemons and her statue
had lemon trees on either side.
 |
| a wreath that I created from lemons and oranges |
In India you will see lemons perched on to the trident of Shiva
and after the puja or ceremonies, the lemons are handed out
as sacred items to be taken home to bless and protect the home.
As always we start with the prayer to Mary
Daily Prayer
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou among women
and Blessed is the fruit of thy womb
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
oh Rose Queen
You bestow your Blessing upon us
Now and Forever
Whilst in a meditative state, draw a card from your deck.
If you have an amulet or charm set, you can also pick an amulet.
Keep the keywords of the card in your mind whilst doing the japa mala
(repetition of the mantra for today)
A powerful practise is to choose an amulet from the set that reflects the card
or you may choose to pick a crystal or a herb or flower.
Place these on your lap or in the hand
that you do not use for the rosary mala. This way the energy of the card, the rosary,
the amulet and crystal are all merged and we are engaging many of our senses.
Afterwards you may want to wear the amulet and/or crystal around
your neck or in your pocket. Maybe you choose to carry your card with you
or leave it on display on your altar.
Here is a prayer written for the Walking with Mary novenas
Radiant Mary, shine radiantly upon me.
Bright Lady who illuminates my inner darkness
Yours is the incorruptible fire;
As it is clean, it cleanses; as it is pure, it purifies.
Pick up your rosary
and repeat the daily mantra.
Complete the rosary at least twice and a 108 bead mala at least once.
As you become more comfortable, or if you are already a seasoned meditator,
then repeat this mantra up to 6 times around the rosary.
For a mantra we use the rosary in the same way as we do a mala or prayer beads :
you move the beads one by one through your fingers, repeating the line of the mantra on each bead.
The more we work with a mantra, the more
it vibrates through our cells and energy and transforms our mind and energy bodies.
Om Jai Mata Mary Ma Namaha
Sit quietly for a few minutes, just allowing yourself to absorb the energy you have invoked.
Enjoy it …… feel the presence of the Sacred embracing you, flowing all around you.
We rejoice in our physical nature, appreciating this time to pause and remember the holy
purpose of our lives. We feel gratitude for those travelling with us on this path of love
and freedom. Feel a smile forming on your face. You are happy to be here in this
peaceful inner place. Let there be peace. Gently refocus on the outer world and carry this peace
with you into the world.
Close your communion with repeating the prayer again.
As you feel your heart filled with peace and gratitude to the blessings received from
Mary, the Rose of the World, you can scatter some of your fresh flower petals, or sprinkle some
of your blessed water, over her image.
thank you
thank you
thank you
And so it is.
blessings
Hettienne
