Of Dolphins & Sand Dollars

I had such a beautiful, magickal experience recently, that I felt compelled to share it.  Before I dive in to the story itself though (pun intended), here are a few important pieces of exposition:

1) A couple weeks ago I flew to Austin to attend a class on Mer Magick taught by Dr Theresa Bullard at The Modern Mystery School Texas.  In the class we learned rituals and meditations to connect with the ancient, powerful beings that inhabit the waters of the earth known as the Mer or Aqua people.

b) A few years ago, while taking Barbara Segura’s Creating Magickal Altars class at Limitless Light, she spoke about some of the ways to use commonplace items to create inconspicuous altars in public spaces so as not to frighten the muggles. One item that she mentioned specifically was a sand dollar, which could be used as a discrete pentagram.

iii) Several years before that, I was given a beautiful silver ring with three gold dolphins on it. The ring was from Mykonos, Greece and was given to me by a dearly loved family member. Now I very rarely wear jewelry of any kind, so it admittedly spent most of it’s time with me in a glass box keeping company with a watch and a set of cuff links that I pull out for special occasions. Also, this loved one is still alive and well. (Auntie, if you’re reading this, I’m so sorry.) Still though, it was a beautiful ring that I did wear every now and then, and it held a good amount of sentimental value for me.

Got it? Great! Just keep swimming.

Imagine: It’s this past weekend. I’m finally home and have some time to go to the beach to do these newly learned rituals and meditations to connect with our local water beings. As I gather up various items to take with me and set up an ocean altar, I’m aware that most of what I’m grabbing is a little generic. Sure, I’m representing the elements, but not with anything that feels inherently ‘ocean-y’ and none of it really carries the energy I feel like it should. Specifically, I'm very aware that the white star I'm using as a pentagram to represent the fifth element of spirit is most definitely not a sand dollar, and I remember distinctly thinking that I was going to have to find one to use for this in the future. Still though, reminding myself that perfectionism is the greatest enemy of progress, I pack up what I have and get ready to head to the beach.

Just before I leave though, as I’m grabbing something off my desk, a glint of gold catches my eye. I then notice the dolphin ring sitting in a bowl there; a place where it would not normally be. “Perfect!" I think. “What a great time to wear this!” So I slip it on my finger and go on my watery way.

It's an overcast and slightly rainy day, which works in my favor because there are very few people around and I’m able to find a fairly secluded place to set up my altar. It comes together rather nicely, makeshift items and all, and soon I’m ready to start flowing into the Magick itself. The meditations go by beautifully, if uneventfully, and I’m feeling very peaceful and connected to the water around me.  After the second meditation which involves touching the sand, I’m down at the water rinsing off my hands. I notice then how shiny the ring looks: the three gold dolphins glittering in the water, their jeweled eyes sparkling in the little light there was peaking through the clouds. That’s when it hit me. “Aw man,” I whine a little to myself. “I wasn’t just supposed to wear you here. You’re my offering.” I had been warned about this, of course. When working with this energy, an offering is always expected, and we were told not to bring or wear anything that you aren't willing to let go of. I had an offering that I intended to give, but it felt very clear at that moment that the beings in question weren’t much interested in my intentions. What they were very interested in, however, was this beautiful dolphin ring.

Well, as my grandmother always said, “If you’re gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough.” So I slip the ring off my finger and hold it to my heart with both hands. Taking a few deep breaths, I fill it with all the desire in my heart to establish a powerful and pure connection. Then I wind my arm up and throw it as far out into the water as I can, seeing it sparkling in the light as it flies through the air, finally hitting the water with the most delicate of splashes and sinking beneath the gentle waves, glittering all the while. I sigh a little, feeling a slight sense of loss, but it’s easily overpowered by the sense that what I had done was right.

Next up is the actual ritual, so I begin the preparation process. The prep work and the ritual itself involve a lot of movement, flowing in and through the space around the altar. As I’m doing this movement and weaving the energy, I start to catch glimpses of something in the water a short distance away. I’m moving quite a bit, so it’s hard to be sure at first, but eventually I’m certain that I’m seeing something breach the water here and there. Trying to maintain my focus on what I’m doing but also keep an eye on the water, I finally manage to catch sight of two dolphins arcing out of the water, and the tail of a third not far away from them. 

I have been to this beach plenty of times and have never seen a dolphin there before. There’s also a sandbar not too far out, so I know the water isn’t but so deep. Yet there they are, clear as day. Three dolphins, just like the ring I had given. Beautiful. I don’t see any more of them as I conclude the ritual, but my heart is so full in that moment. I have no doubts about what their presence means. My offering has been received. The connection has been established. Mischief managed.

Before I pack up and head out, I decide to go stand in the water for a bit enjoying the waves, the breeze, the sounds and the smells; secretly hoping to see more of the dolphins, but also somehow knowing that they had moved on. As I’m standing there though, I feel something tapping my foot, being tossed around by the water, as if it’s trying to get my attention. I see what looks like it might be a sand dollar and my heart swells a little in excitement, but that excitement soon fades. Sand dollar, yes, but it’s just a small broken piece of one. I convince myself that I’m not disappointed. “I’ve already received a beautiful sign,” I tell myself. “Don’t be greedy.”

My attention drawn down there now, I see a few small but perfectly shaped shells in the sand around me. Thinking that “these will be so much better than the store bought ones I have,” I gather up a few of them, allowing myself to be grateful for the gifts that I was receiving, instead of pining for the one I wasn’t. That’s when I see it, only a foot or two away: one beautifully formed and fully in tact sand dollar.

Now, to be clear and perfectly honest, I consistently deal with major issues around doubt, skepticism and a general lack of faith. I realize that may seem odd and incongruous, given the content of this story and the nature of what I do, but it’s true. The programmed, analytical part of my mind is always at the ready, waiting to pounce in and explain away every instance of magick and wonder in my life; consistently trying to convince me that powerful, spiritual experiences are actually just the result of mundane coincidence and an overactive imagination. This part of me is crafty, conniving, has had decades of practice and is far more successful than I usually care to admit. Every once in a while though, I’m blessed with a moment of pure magick. A moment so beautiful, so profound, and so clear, that even my math-loving, logical mind can’t devalue it, not even with all its talent and experience doing so. Finding that sand dollar was one of those moments.

So there I stand holding it to my heart, overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude so strong that I can still feel it even now. After a few prayers of thanks I manage to tear myself away from the water. I start walking back towards my little clearing with the altar in the center, carrying the sand dollar in one hand. The shells are in my other hand: representations of the water element for my new ocean altar. On the way I find a pelican feather on the sand, a lovely representation for the element of air. Then I pass a small piece of driftwood shaped like a wishbone, which felt appropriate. Did someone say earth? Don’t mind if I do. Finally, I notice as I enter my little clearing that the dark spots in the sand all around it are pieces of charred wood, the remnants of a fire. Perfect. I gather up a few of those pieces and lay out my new-found treasures, almost dizzy with the magick of it. All five elements: water, air, earth, fire, and spirit. All gifts from the ocean. All beautiful reminders of this magickal day.

So there you go. That was my first experience doing Mer Magick by at ocean (or the Gulf, technically). I share it with you now while my heart is still full of the wonder of it all, not to brag or impress anyone. I share this story to give you hope. Hope of future magick to come, or maybe to remind you of some past magick that your mind has already explained away or forgotten. With so much pain, so much suffering, so much confusion, division and hatred in the world right now, our sense of wonder is more important than ever. So do whatever you have to do to keep that wonder, and don’t ever be ashamed of it. Fight fiercely to keep the magick in your life, and don’t ever let anyone take it away from you, especially yourself.