Opening the Gates Between Worlds

Prepare an offering and say: 

Oh Manannan, powerful son of the sea, holder of the magics of the crane bag, I ask that you hear my call. Oh Lord of the Otherworld, bearer of the silvered apple branch, join with me this day, so that you may guide me in my workings. Mist-shrouded rider of the maned waves, accept my offering and open the gates between my realm and yours.

Chant (3X):

Gatekeeper open the portals
Between the Gods and mortals,
Power freely flows,
As out magic grows.

Make offering, saying:

Manannan mac Lir, accept my sacrifice.

Let the fire open as a gate, let the well open as a gate, and let the tree connect all the worlds as Manannan walks with me in all ways. Let the gates be open!

–source

faeryhearts:

Listen to the tales the Dark Forest tells. The wind blows through the boughs. Is that a sigh… or a shriek… or just a snicker?

Dangerous places, woods: here spirits roam untamed, ready to snare the unwary. Here ancient gods walk. Here eerie elves live, and wizened witches, giants both clever and clumsy, and magical creatures beyond our imagining. Here in these woods, the Brothers Grimm gathered their tales. Opening their pages, we are given names: Little Red Riding Hood, Hans, Rapunzel, or Gretel. By facing the unthinkable — in the guise of predatory wolves or cruel stepmothers or cannibal witches or creatures made of the darkest shadow — lessons are learned.

As we wander these woods, by foot or in story, beings strange and beautiful talk to us from amongst the leaves. Faerytales, faerie places, and faerie paintings provide us with thresholds, past which we can explore transformational landscapes.
— World of Faerie, by Brian Froud.

[Artwork: Into The Woods, by Brian Froud.]

theastrarium:

“The three females represent Hecate’s powers over heaven, earth and underworld as well as her control over birth, life and death. Her six arms carry three torches, a key, a rope and a dagger. The key illustrates her role as the guardian of the deep mysteries; only Hecate possesses the key that unlocks them. The rope possibly symbolizes the umbilical cord, or represents her role of bringing souls into the underworld and helping them to be reborn. The dagger symbolizes cutting through illusions to true power.”

– Joy Reichard
Celebrate the Divine Feminine: Reclaim Your Power with Ancient Goddess Wisdom
http://amzn.to/1zZ9pq7

Image Credit: http://amzn.to/1wdf9kQ