Coven of the Unicorn's Realm
First, for Solitaries
On this page, I will offer you the basic "how to's" on making an altar, tools required, elemental information and how to create a circle. The first thing you should know is that sometime in the near future when you feel you've studied enough, know all the history and definitions of all the tools, altar layout, circle creation and use, you'll need to do a self dedication ritual. Please note that I will not provide one here. Why? Well, I've read hundreds of books--all with different self dedication rituals. There's no ONE ritual that fits everyone. I suggest you read a few books, take the most common information and add that to a ritual that fits you. The greatest feeling is the one you get from creating a ritual or spell that you feel will work for you. Let's get down to business. There's going to be a lot of information here, so you might want to print this page for future reference. Yes, I'm pre-approving you to print this page so please stop asking for permission. NOTE: If you find anything below that "you do differently," please know that no one follows the exact same rituals. Your rituals may be slightly or VERY different.
T O O L S Broom Wand Censer Cauldron Magic Knife (Athame) White Handled Knife (Bolline) Crystal Sphere Cup Pentacle Book of Shadows Bell
T H E C I R C L E
Purification of Self The first step is a good hot shower. Physically clean yourself. Afterwards, you might want to meditate in a warm bath, anointing yourself with oils. Purification of Space Outside rituals are recommended, but we all understand that you sometimes need to be inside. If inside, sweep the area that you're going to make your circle in. No, don't get out the vacuum cleaner, take your ritual broom, and sweep the negative energies from the area, never having the broom physically touch the floor--keep it about one inch above the floor. Creating the Altar Please make sure you have ALL the items to place on the altar before beginning. If you don't have all the items, wait until you do--you're not ready yet.
Notes on Tools:
Goddess Tools:
Cup, pentacle, bell, crystal, cauldron (Broom may lay on the left side of the altar). Green, silver or white candle. Cauldron is sometimes placed on the floor to the left side of the altar if it's too big to fit on the altar. God Tools: Censer, wand, athame, bolline. Red, yellow or gold candle. Middle of the Altar: Flowers in a vase or cauldron. The pentacle may be placed before the censer.
Here are the Directions of Elements:
East = Air West = Water South = Fire North = Earth
Creating Sacred Space
Stand before your altar facing East. Build power within you. Hold your projective (right) hand down waist level. Point your Athame (or finger if you have no tools) toward the edge of the future circle. Feel the energy leave your Athame/finger in a blue light. Walk the circle clockwise. Visualize the circle making a sphere around you. At this time you may invoke the four quarters if you wish. Some do, some don't. A circle is usually nine feet in diameter. Nine is the number of the Goddess. If you like, some do this: Place a Pentacle and bowl of salt at the North corner. Place a censer with smoldering incense in the East corner. Place a candle in the South corner. Place an bowl of water in the West corner.
Invocation
A spoken prayer or verse, music, dance, gestures or song. Ritual Observance This specific part is not necessary unless the ritual is being held on a Sabbat or Esbat. Energy Raising The best times for this is the Full Moons, Equinoxes and Solstices. This is magic: The movement of natural energies to effect needed change. Make sure that the need is real, you are emotionally involved in this need and you know that your magic will work. The simplest spells are the most effective! After finishing the ritual, thank the God and Goddess in words, by lighting a candle or leaving an offering of food & drink on an offering plate on the ground. Now... Relax.
Earthing the Power
Once you've focused and sent your energy, some residual still exists--this should be earthed. Also known as "Cakes and Ale," ritual ingestion of food and drink eases us back from energy raising (Making sure you blessed the food prior to ritual). Before eating, make a small offering to the God and Goddess by scattering cake crumbs and pouring a few drops of liquid onto the ground. If indoors, place these things in a special libation bowl. Bury the contents outside in the ground as soon as ritual is complete.
Thanking the Gods
Thank them for their presence and attendance at the circle. This can be done by gestures, dance, song or something made up on the spot. Ask they come again.
Breaking the Circle
Stand in front of the altar and act like you are casing the circle--but the energy will be absorbed! (OPTIONAL: Thank the rulers of the four quarters at this time and ask they watch over future rites.) When the circle is gone, put away ritual tools. Quench the candles LAST. Use a snuffer, fingers or Bolline handle. Start with quarter candles then God and Goddess candles. The rite has ended.
Second, for Covens
Set up: Place a candle in each of the four cardinal directions. Lay the rest of the tools on the altar cloth or near it. The altar can be on the ground, a table, a rock or a stump. The altar should be in the center of the Circle. Light the six candles and the incense, start the musicand begin the ritual.
The Ritual
Facing North, the High Priest and Priestess kneel in front of the altar with him to her right. She puts the bowl of water on the altar, places the point of her athame in it and says:
"I exorcise thee, O Creature of Water, that thou cast out from thee all impurities and uncleanliness of the world of phantasm; in the names of Cernunnos and Aradia"
She then puts down her athame and holds up the bowl of water in both hands. The High Priest puts the bowl of salt on the altar, puts his athame in the salt and says:
"Blessings be upon this Creature of Salt; let all malignity and hindrance be cast forth hencefrom, and let all good enter herein; wherefore so I bless thee, that thou mayest aid me, in the names of Cernunnos and Aradia."
He then puts down his athame and pours the salt into the bowl of water the High Priestess is holding. The High Priest then stands with the rest of the Coven outside the Circle. The High Priestess then draws the Circle with the sword, leaving agap in the Northeast section. While drawing the Circle, she should visualize the power flowing into the Circle from off the end of the sword. She draws the Circle in a East to North or deosil or clockwise direction. She says:
"I conjure thee, O Circle of Power, that thou beest a meeting place of love and joy and truth; a shield against all wickedness and evil; a boundary between men and the realms of the Mighty Ones; a rampart and protection that shall preserve and contain the power that we shall raise within thee. Wherefore do I bless thee and consecrate thee, in the names of Cernunnos and Aradia."
The High Priestess lays down the sword and admits the HighPriest with a kiss while spinning him deosil and whispers "Blessed Be" .
He then admits a woman the same way. Alternate male female male. Then the High Priestess finishes closing the Circle with the sword. She then names three witches to help strengthen the Circle. The first witch carries the bowl of consecrated water from East to East going deosil, sprinkling the perimeter as she/he goes. They then sprinkle each member in turn. If the witch is male, he sprinkles the High Priestess last who then sprinkles him. If female she sprinkles the High Priest last, who then sprinkles her. The bowl is replaced on the altar. The second witch takes the incense burner around the perimeter and the third takes one of the altar candles. While going around the perimeter, each person says:
"Black spirits and white, Red spirits and grey, Harken to the rune I say. Four points of the Circle, weave the spell, East, South, West, North, your tale tell. East is for break of day, South is white for the noontide hour, In the West is twilight grey, And North is black, for the place of power. Three times round the Circle's cast. Great ones, spirits from the past, Witness it and guard it fast."
All the Coven pickup their athames and face the East with the High Priest and Priestess in front, him on her right.
The High Priestess says:
"Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air; I do summon, stir, and call you up to witness our rites and to guard the Circle."
As she speaks she draws the Invoking Pentagram of Earth in the air with her athame. The High Priest and the rest of the Coven copy her movements with their athames. The High Priestess turns and faces the South and repeats the summoning:
"Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire; I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle."
She does the same pentagram and then faces West and says:
"Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water, ye Lords of Death and Initiation; I do summon, stir, and call you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle."
She faces North with rest of the Coven and says:
"Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth; Boreas, thou gentle guardian of the Northern Portals; thou powerful God and gentle Goddess; we do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle."
The Circle is completed and sealed. If anyone needs to leave, a gate must be made. Using the sword, draw out part of the Circle with a widdershins or counterclockwise stroke. Immediately reseal it and then repeat the opening and closing when the person returns.
Closing the Circle
The High Priestess goes to each of the four directions in turn, and draws a Banishing Pentacle, saying,
"Guardians of the East (South, West, North), Powers of Air (Fire, Water, Earth), we thank you For joining in our circle And we ask for your blessing As you depart May there be peace between us Now and forever. Blessed be."
She raises her athame to the sky and touches it to the earth, then opens her arms and says,
"The circle is open, but unbroken, May the peace of the Goddess Go in your hearts, Merry meet, and merry part. And merry meet again. Blessed be."