Templong Anituhan

In the revival and preservation of Anitism—our indigenous animistic foundations—we often explore how the rhythms of the cosmos align with the spirits of our land. When we align the energetic phases of the moon with the specific medicine of our anito and deities, we unlock profound paths for personal and communal healing.

As the night sky shifts and the light of the moon begins to decrease, we enter the domain of subtraction. The waning moon is a celestial green light to stop building, stop collecting, and instead, to let go. In spiritual work, this phase is universally tied to banishing, releasing, and clearing away. It acts as a receding tide, pulling out what no longer serves us.

To deepen this practice, we can invoke the grounding, fierce, and protective energy of Pawi, the traditional Agta (Aeta) God of the Forest.

The Ecology of the Soul: Why Invoke a Forest Deity?

In the ancient, untamed wilderness protected by Pawi, the health of the ecosystem depends on constant clearing. Deadwood must fall to become compost. Invasive weeds must be pulled so new seeds can find the light. A forest that never sheds its old growth eventually chokes itself out.

When we bring Pawi’s forest medicine into our spiritual lives during a waning moon, we aren’t just doing abstract “energy clearing”—we are performing vital psychological and spiritual maintenance on our own internal ecosystem. Pawi helps us address three major blockages:

1. The Weeds and Parasites of Life: Pulling out stagnant energy, draining obligations, and toxic relationships that act like parasitic vines, feeding on our vitality.
2. Primal Fears and Survival Anxieties: Releasing deep-seated trauma responses, the scarcity mindset (“never having enough”), and the paralyzing fear of the unknown dark.
3. The Overgrown Path: Cutting through the thickets of mental confusion and removing the obstacles that keep us wandering aimlessly in circles.

If you are feeling heavy, anxious, or spiritually claustrophobic, use the script below under the light of a waning moon to invoke Pawi and reclaim your clear path.

✦ The Guided Meditation Script

How to Use This Script: If you are reading this for a group, a circle, or recording it for your personal practice, adopt a slow, rhythmic, and deeply grounded tone. Allow for long pauses (indicated by ...) to let the imagery settle.

Part 1: Grounding into the Forest Floor

“Close your eyes and take a deep, centering breath in… hold it at the very top… and let it go with a long, slow sigh. ...

Feel your physical posture settle completely into the space. Imagine your feet, or the base of your spine, sending deep, thick roots down through the floor, cracking through the concrete, reaching deep into the cool, dark, living soil of the earth below. You are safe. You are anchored. ...

With every exhale, let the tension in your shoulders, your jaw, and your racing mind drop directly into the ground. ...

In your mind’s eye, see yourself standing at the edge of an ancient, dense forest. The night sky above holds a thin sliver of a waning moon—a fading crescent of light, whispering to you that it is finally time to empty, time to shed, time to release. ...

As you step into the cool shade of the trees, the air smells of damp earth, moss, and wild pine. The forest is quiet, holding a sacred space just for you. Walk forward.”

Part 2: Invoking Pawi

“As you walk deeper into the woods, you feel a powerful, ancient presence watching over this wilderness. This is Pawi, the Guardian and God of the Forest. ...

You do not need to see a physical form. Instead, feel his energy all around you: he is the immovable strength of the towering trees, the ancient wisdom of the deep roots, and the fierce, protective boundary of the wild. ...

In your heart, silently or out loud, speak to him now:

‘Pawi, master of the untamed woods, I stand beneath the waning moon. I ask for your strength to pull out what is dead, banish what is draining, and clear the path before me.’ ...“

Part 3: Banishing the Weeds and Parasites

“Pawi steps closer in spirit, holding the sharp, unyielding intent of the natural world. He points toward your energy field. ...

Look closely at your mind and your spirit. See the weeds and parasites that have taken root. These are the toxic relationships, the exhausting obligations, the loops of self-doubt, and the stagnant habits that have been choking your growth like parasitic vines. ...

Feel Pawi’s fierce, protective energy wrap around you. He reaches into these energetic weeds… and with a firm, steady pull, he begins pulling them out by the very roots. ...

Feel the physical relief in your body as these heavy, draining cords are unraveled and detached from your throat, your heart, and your stomach. You are no longer feeding what drains you.

(Pause for 3 deep breaths, visualizing the vines being pulled away) ...“

Part 4: Releasing Primal Fears into the Soil

“Now, Pawi asks you to look at the shadows lurking beneath the trees—your primal fears. ...

Acknowledge your scarcity mindset—the ancient fear of not having enough. Acknowledge your fear of the dark—the dread of the unknown and the future. Acknowledge your untamed instincts—the fight-or-flight anxiety that keeps your body on edge. ...

Pawi places a heavy, comforting hand on your shoulder. He reminds you that the forest always provides, and that the dark is simply a place of rest before rebirth. ...

Gather these heavy fears in your chest. Breathe them in… and as you exhale, blow them out into the forest floor. Watch as the rich, dark soil of Pawi’s forest immediately absorbs them, turning your fear into neutral, powerless compost.

Let it go. The waning moon is carrying it away.

(Pause for 3 deep breaths) ...“

Part 5: Clearing the Path Ahead

“With the weeds pulled and the fears composted, Pawi raises his hand. A sudden, cool, crisp wind sweeps through the trees, blowing away the thick fog of confusion. ...

Look down at your feet. The dense thickets, thorns, and fallen branches that blocked your way are parting. A clear, open path is revealing itself right in front of you. It is illuminated by the gentle, honest light of the waning moon. ...

You are lighter. You are freer. Your space is entirely your own again. ...

Thank Pawi for his protection and his medicine:

‘Thank you, Pawi, for clearing the woods of my soul. What has been released is gone. My path is clear.’ ...“

Part 6: Returning

“Slowly bring your awareness back to your breath. Feel the rising and falling of your chest. ...

Wiggle your fingers and your toes. Feel the solid ground beneath your body. When you are ready, gently open your eyes.”

Closing Remarks & Blessings

Welcome back, travelers. Take a moment to stretch, drink some water, or place your hands over your heart to seal in this clearing work.

What you have done tonight is a profound act of spiritual maintenance. Banishing and releasing is not always comfortable; it requires the courage to face the overgrown areas of our lives and trust the darkness of the waning moon. By letting Pawi pull out those roots, you have reclaimed your personal power and your space.

As you go back into the world, remember that you do not need to invite back what you just cleared away. Let the space stay open. Let the path stay clear.

The Blessing

May the fierce protection of Pawi guard your boundaries in the days to come. May the wisdom of the ancient forest remind you that you are always provided for, and that you need not live in survival fear. And may the fading light of the waning moon gently carry away any leftover remnants of doubt, leaving your path clear, your mind sharp, and your spirit untamed.

Go in peace, grounded and free. Mabuhay.