Sphere of Protection and the Three Worlds
As I’m working through the work for the Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA) I’ve found that the Sphere of Protection (SoP) very readily adapts to my personal cosmology of the ADF Cosmology with Well, Fire, and Tree.
The original Sphere of Protection can be found on the AODA Website, here is my adaptation of for my city environment with my cosmology. You are invited to change up the deities, animals, and imagery to work for you.
The idea of the three cauldrons is from the “Cauldron of Posey.” You can find out more from Erynn Rowan Laurie’s blog.
NOTES:
I wrote this assuming that you can stand and can visualize but please do what works for you.
If you can't visualize, you can just do the actions and words. Consider using images or audio of the different animals and elements to remind you of the animals and elements.
If you can't stand, you can do this sitting or in your head. In the ritual, I'm turning, but you don't have to if that doesn't work for you.Sphere of Protection by Victoria S.
Elemental Cross
Stand facing the East and take three breaths to center yourself.
Raise your hands over your head and press your palms together. Lower your hands to your forehead. See a light coming down from the stars to fill a cauldron in your head, the Cauldron of Wisdom.
“By the power above.”
Lower your hands to your heart and see the light continuing to flow into the cauldron in your heart, the Cauldron of Motion.
Continue to lower your hands as far as you can and still keep your palms together. See the light flowing down into a cauldron in your abdomen, the Cauldron of Incubation.
“By the power below.”
Take a breath and feel the energy of the Universe flow through you.
Move your right hand out to your right, pivoting at your elbow.
“With Cerridwen at my right hand.”
Move your left hand out, mirroring your right.
“With Cerunnos at my left hand.”
Cross your hands in front of you, right over left.
“May the Powers protect me, this day and always.”
Uncross your hands, and let your arms fall to your sides while you chant Awen.
“Ah-Oh-En.”
Calling the Elements
With your finger or a wand, make the symbol of air in the space before you by drawing a yellow clockwise circle and a line on top.
By the yellow gate of the winds, and by the sound of the crows upon the wing, I call forth the element of Air.
Feel the breeze upon your face.
Make the symbol of Air starting with the line and going counter clockwise around the circle.
With the aid of the power of air, I banish from within and around me all harmful and baneful influences and all imbalance of the power of air.
Move your hands as if you are pushing something away from you as you banish the air-oriented gunk. Then bring your hands back in front of you in thanks.
My thanks to you spirit of Air.
Turn to face the South.
With your finger or a wand, make the symbol of fire in the space before you by drawing a red clockwise upright triangle.
By the red gate of the glowing coals, and by the activity of the hummingbirds, I call forth the element of Fire.
Feel the heat of a fire upon your face.
Make the symbol of Fire starting at the top and going counter clockwise around the triangle.
With the aid of the power of fire, I banish from within and around me all harmful and baneful influences and all imbalance of the power of fire.
Move your hands as if you are pushing something away from you as you banish the air-oriented gunk. Then bring your hands back in front of you in thanks.
My thanks to you spirit of Fire.
Turn to face the West.
With your finger or a wand, make the symbol of water in the space before you by drawing a blue clockwise downward triangle.
By the blue gate of the city stream, and by the call of the doves, I call forth the element of Water.
Feel the cool of a wet breeze upon your face.
Make the symbol of Water starting at the bottom and going counter clockwise around the triangle.
With the aid of the power of water, I banish from within and around me all harmful and baneful influences and all imbalance of the power of water.
Move your hands as if you are pushing something away from you as you banish the air-oriented gunk. Then bring your hands back in front of you in thanks.
My thanks to you spirit of Water.
Turn to face the North.
With your finger or a wand, make the symbol of earth in the space before you by drawing a green circle with a line at the bottom.
By the green gate of the building stone, and by the squirrel in the trees, I call forth the element of Earth.
Feel the stability of the earth under your feet.
Make the symbol of Earth starting at the bottom line and going counter clockwise around the circle.
With the aid of the power of earth, I banish from within and around me all harmful and baneful influences and all imbalance of the power of earth.
Move your hands as if you are pushing something away from you as you banish the air-oriented gunk. Then bring your hands back in front of you in thanks.
My thanks to you spirit of Earth.
Calling the Telluric, Solar, and Lunar Currents
Turn to face the East.
Pointing down, draw an orange spiral clockwise starting in the middle and moving out in 3 rings.
By the orange gate of the land at my feet, and by the strength of ancestors, I all upon the Spirit Below. May the telluric current rise and bless me.
Feel the power of the Earth and your Ancestors flow through you.
Bring your hands together in front of you in thanks.
My thanks to the Spirit Below
Pointing up, draw an purple spiral clockwise starting in the middle and moving out in 3 rings.
By the purple gate of the sky and stars above, by the power of deity and honored spirit, I call upon the Spirit Above. May the solar current descend and bless me.
Feel the power of the deity and all the honored spirits flow through you.
Bring your hands together in front of you in thanks.
My thanks to the Spirit Above
By the six powers here called and present, and by the word of life, Awen (Ah-Oh-En), I call forth the Spirit Within.
See the powers around you blend together into a silver column that flows through you.
Take a deep breath, and as you breathe out see that column blossom out into a sphere around you.
May the Lunar current bless and protect me and all within this home.
See the sphere expand to encompass everything that you wish to protect. Spend a moment in this space and feel the powers around you.
Cross your arms in front of you, right over left.
I thank the powers for their aid today.
References
“Introduction to the Sphere of Protection.” Ancient Order of Druids in America, http://aoda.org/publications/articles-on-druidry/introduction-to-the-sphere-of-protection/.
Laurie, erynn Rowan. “The Cauldron of Poesy.” The Preserving Shrine, 2010, https://www.seanet.com/~inisglas/cauldronpoesy.html. 
