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Supplemental Lesson
Creating Sacred Space:
Bringing It All Together
by Sagewoman 3/8/2000
Hail and Welcome All! We've been talking about creating sacred space,
casting the circle and the role of the gods in Wicca. Now I'd like to
provide you with a simple but brief outline of the steps in ritual
construction as a way of pulling it all together. It will help you to
have direction, and enable your ritual to flow like a river, enabling
an even flow of energy throughout.
The nine basic steps are as follows:
1. Purification of the Self.
2. Purification of the Space
3. Creating Sacred Space
4. Invocation
5. Ritual Observance (on Sabbats and Esbats)
6. Raising Energy
7. Earthing the Power
8. Thanking the Goddess and God
9. Breaking the Circle
Now, we've talked about ways to purify the self via a.) the ritual
bath, b.) meditation, and c.) smudging. (The Shamanic practic of
Smudging is simply done by passing smudging sticks of sage, cedar or
sweetgrass in front of youself from head to toe; behind yourself from
head to toe, and over the top of your head visualizing all negative
energy dissipating.)
Purification of the space simply involves sweeping the space where the
circle is to be cast with a witches' besom broom. The bristles don't
necessarily have to touch the ground, but simply sweeping the negative
energy away from the area is all that is needed. Then again, there is
smudging where you simply carry the smudge stick around the space
dispelling negative energy. Another way we spoke about was in the
actual casting of the circle. Going around the circle three times
clockwise with incense, a candle, salt and water and then the athame.
The final time around the circle is the actual casting of the circle
where you visualize the bluish white light coming from the blade of the
athame and creating the circle.
We spoke of invoking the gods and/or the elements to guard and watch
over the circle and protect you while performing your work within it.
We also acknowledged that its ok to use generic terms for the gods or
not to use them at all. It is all in accordance to your comfort level.
When the elements/quarters are called to witness the rite, we ask that
they bring the powers that are unique to them to add power to our work.
Raising Energy - This can be done in a couple of ways. Chanting raises
energy. Usually it is simple verses where if you are working in a
group, everyone can catch on easily. It starts out in a slow and
steady pace and gradually pick up momentum until everyone can feel the
energy. You MAY, (more likely not), experience dizziness,
lightheadedness or nausea at this point. This is a sign that you are
holding on to too much energy and you need to ground it, or earth the
power. We've touched upon this subject before as a pre-ritual
activity, but if you are in circle and you find yourself a little too
wired from the energy, you don't want to leave the circle. Simply sit
or lie down on the ground, palms touching the earth (or floor), and
allow the energy to flow from you earthward. This is another reason
that in circle after the ritual has been performed you may see a time
for celebrating with cakes and ale. Eating is an activity of
grounding. This can be pieces of cake and wine or ale, or just cookies
and punch. Whichever you prefer. They are consecrated and then
distributed to the group to enjoy prior to the breaking of the circle.
When all is said and done, we thank the goddess and god for their
participation. We express appreciation and bid them farwell until next
time we meet. At this point the circle is uncast, 3 times widdershins
(counterclockwise). It makes perfect sense that if you cast the circle
in a clockwise direction to close it, then to open it again you would
go counterclockwise, similar to closing and opening a door.
You may wonder what you do with your altar set-up at the close of
ritual. If you are able it's ok to leave it up until the following
day, particularly if you've been working into the late hours of the
night. You water should be offered to a tree out of doors, your wax
from the candles and ashed from the incense or any burned paper if you
did something like that should be buried. The leftover cakes and ale
should be left out of door for the faeries and elves and animal spirits.
That's it! In a nutshell. I hope this helped to give you a better
idea of what is going on in ritual. Use the outline to plan yours.
If you haven't started already, you should have a book (book of
shadows) where you are keeping this information. Don't keep the
contents of the whole lessons, but the steps that are outlined that you
find beneficial. Also writing in the invocations in the appropriate
part. Consult your books or sites on line if you need extra help with
this.
Well, that's it for now...short and sweet. Until next time...Hail and
Farewell. Sage |
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