| Rituals |
| There are rituals for everything....... drawing down the moon, the sabbats and as a framework for magickal practices. Some people don't have a structed ritual format, they are spontaneous, making up the ritual format as they go along but others follow a structure like the one outlined below. And many do both, I (Ary) do. For Sabbats and Esbats I have a set ritual outline which I usually follow, and any other time I make up the whole thing as a go along. Each method has an advantage....... Having a set outline - you can learn it off meaning it can be easier to slip into a ritual frame of mind as you dont have to worry about making it up. Being spontanious - you can adapt to suit what ever you are doing. I tend to use it to incorporate new ideas and methods of practise, experimenting to see if it works. One way is not better than the other, experiment about with your rituals ideas until you find something that works for you. |
| The easiest way to explain this is to explain each numbered point....... 1. Clear the working area of any obstructions and set up your altar. Well the first part of that is pretty self explanitory; you don't want to be trying to do a ritual and continully trip over a rug, a pile of books, empty coffe mugs etc etc. Animals can prove a problem...... my aunts cat was staying with us once and liked to wander around my circle and my altar. If this happens let them be. Removing them is pontless coz they will just come back and stroking them is, in its own way, very meditative. Setting up your altar. Everyone is different but I think the standard working altar should have a represention of the God and Goddess, a representation of each of the 4 elements, any tools you choose to use and any materials you will need for your ritual working eg spell ingredients. Set it up on a coffee table, on the top of a chest of drawers, on the floor, on top of a stone or piece of wood... the ideas are enless, experiment!!! How you set it up is another thing.... here's an idea...... place the 4 elemental representations at the appropriate compass point (check here if you're not sure), to the back right place the God representation and any tools of the God (check here) and to the left back place the Goddess representation and any tools of the Goddess (check here), if front of them place your ritual materials....... there you have an altar! |
| 2. Create scared space There are any number of ways to do this as well. The purpose of doing it is to remove any negative energies within the area and consecrate (literally bless) the space. Method 1 - Bry Cleanse the area using the broom to sweep all the negative energies away. Then consecrate by walking around the circumference of your circle sprinkling salt and water as you go. Method 2 - Ary Cleanse and consecrate the area by sprinkling salt and water all over the ground saying 'I cleanse, consecrate and empower this space'. Now is the time to set up a physical boundry if you feel you want to have one. Draw a circle with chalk, set up a ring of stones, crystals or candles, gather loads of small branches and set out arround your boundry, thats just some examples. That just the way both of us do it, these aren't 'the right ways', there are no right ways! |
| 3. Cast the Circle A circle is very basically a sacred space that is created around you for protection, when you feel threatened or exposed you can cast a circle around yourself to avoid being noticed. The purpose of a circle is to protect and to contain. It is created from your own energy, so it is best not to cast a circle when you are tired or drained, Also, once in a circle, it is important to stay focused, otherwise the circle will start to weaken and fade. A circle should ideally be cast before doing any magickal working, as it says in the Wiccan Rede, First off, circle casting, like all these things, can be done using many different methods. There are no right and wrong ways to go about it. Some methods are more effective than others depending on the witch who casts them. Method 1 - Bry Sit, stand or lie in the centre of your circle and concentrate on your breathing. When you breathe out, visualise ripples expanding out from you and stopping at the edge of your circle - I generally see my edge as a ring of blue fire, obviously not everyones will be the same - when the walls of your circle feel strong enough, let them rise up into a protective sphere, in whatever colour and form you feel like. Method 2 - Ary Stand in the middle of your working area, relax your body and free your mind. Ground and center if you find that helps. Lift the object of your choice: dominant hand, wand or athame and hold it in your hand. Imagine a ball of energy inside you, around your navel area. The colour will come to you, some people see it as blue, others golden yellow - but dont force the colourlet it come naturally. Start to move the energy up throught your body and out your dominante arm throught the object of your choice. Hold your arm out at shoulder height and turn around on the spot projecting the energy out through your object and becoming a wall around you. That is your circle. Method 3 - Other source Realx and focus your mind. Stand at the north edge of your circle and slowly, but steadily begin to walk around it deosil (clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, anti-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, aka the direction of the sun) or use an athame or index finger to run around the circumference. As you do this chant words like these below: 'Circle of Power, Circle of Might, I call you now, As is my right, By Earth, By Air, By Fire, By Water, I call you now, As I desire, Oh mighty line that has no end, Protect me now, From without and with in!' Along the line you have traced, now visualise a ring of fire springing up and closing over you into a sphere. |
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| 'Cast the circle thrice about, To keep unwelcome spirits out'. |
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| 4. Call the Elements There is a lot more on the elements (also known as Watchtowers or Quarters) on our Elemental Correspondences Page, so it can be used to get more ideas, for example, as the wand is the tool symbolising Fire, it can be placed in the south, the direction of fire. They are usually called in the following order : North, East, South, West. However this can be changed if you want to do it another way. Method 1 - Pentagrams Usually the first element to be invoked is Earth. This can be one by facing north and tracing a pentagram in the air. Some choose to do a different pentagram for each element, but most prefer to cast circles/invoke the elements and so on from memory, without having to dip into a book every few moments. For this reason, most use the Earth pentagram to invoke all the elements. Shown below are the ways of drawing a pentagram for each element along with a few words you might want to say. |
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| EARTH "I evoke the spirits of the North, spring up from the Earth and aid me in my work. Hail and welcome, so mote it be" |
| WATER "I evoke the spirits of the West, emerge from the Water and aid me in my work. Hail and welcome, so mote it be" |
| FIRE "I evoke the spirits of the South, arise from the Fire and aid me in my work. Hail and welcome, so mote it be" |
| AIR "I evoke the spirits of the East, appear from the Air and aid me in my work. Hail and welcome, so mote it be" |
| Method 2 - Calling Another method of invoking is to go and each quarter (compass point) and basically 'call' the elements to your circle. Below are some different examples of calls you migh want to try. |
| "I summon, stir and call, Mighty Ones of the (North / East / South / West), Great Guardian Spirits of Wisdom Witness these rites, Guard this circle, So Mote It Be." |
| "Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Elements of Astral birth I call you now, attend to me! In the circle, rightly cast, Safe from psychic curse or blast. I call you now, attend to me! From cave and desert, sea and hill, By wand, blade, cup and pentacle, I call you now, attend to me! This is my will, so mote it be!" |
| "Spirits of the North, Stability of Earth, Come to this circle, And bless this rite. Spirits of the South, Warmth of Fire, Come to this circle, And bless this rite. |
| Spirits of the East, Tranquillity of Air, Come to this circle, And bless this rite. Spirits of the West, Fluidity of Water, Come to this circle, And bless this rite." |
| To go with these you might also want to try this: as you ask and welcome each element to you circle, open your arms out as if you are gonna hug someone, I believe this shows openess, honesty, a trusting in the power of the elements and a willingness to work with them. |
| 5. Invoke the Goddess & God This is usually a spoken prayer, chant etc. You can find invocations everywhere, in books, on the internet or make one up your self. The following are a sample of the one I have and use along with their sources. |
| Diana, queen of night, In all your beauty bright, Shine on us here, And with your silver beam Unlock the gate of dream; Rise bright and clear. On earth and sky and sea, Your magic mystery Its spell shall cast, Wherever leaf may grow, Wherever tide may flow, Till all be past. O secret queen of power, At this enchanted hour We ask your boon. May fortune's favor fall Upon true witches all, O Lady Moon! Doreen Valiente "Witchcraft for Tomorrow" pg 189 - 190 |
| By the flame that burneth bright, O Horned One! We call thy name into the night, O Ancient One! Thee we invoke, by moon-led sea, By the standing stone and the twisted tree. The we invoke, where gather thine own, By the nameless shrine forgotten and alone. Come where the round of the dance is trod, Horn and hoof of the goatfoot god! By moonlit meadow on dusky hill, When the haunted wood is hushed and still, Come to the charm of the chanted prayer, As the moon bewitches the midnight air. Evoke thy powers, that potent bide In shining stream and the secret tide, In fiery flame by starlight pale, In shadowy host that rides the gale, And by the fern-brakes fairy haunted Of forests wild and woods enchanted. Come! O come! To the heart-beat's drum! Come to us who gather below When the broad white moon is climbing slow Through the stars to the heaven's height. |
| We hear thy hoofs on the wind of night! As black tree-branches shake and sigh, By joy and terror we know thee nigh. We speak the spell thy power unlocks At solstice, Sabbat, and equinox, Word of virtue the veil to rend, From primal dawn to the wide world's end, Since time began- The blessing of Pan! Blessed be all in hearth and hold, Blessed in all worth more than gold. Blessed be in strength and love, Blessed be wher'er we rove. Vision fade not from our eyes Of the pagan paradise Past the gates of death and birth, Our inheritance of the earth. From our soul the song of spring Fade not in our wandering. Our life with all life is one, By blackest night or noonday sun. Eldest of gods, on thee we call, Blessing be on thy creatures all. Doreen Valiente "Witchcraft for Tomorrow" pg 190 - 191 |