Wicca Course Lesson 13. Planning and Designing Rituals

Transcription

1 Wicca Course Lesson 13 Planning and Designing Rituals Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others. excerpt from Return To Love by Marianne Williamson

2 The Essence of Ritual some quotes "Ritual is any ordered sequence of events or actions, including direct thought, especially one that is repeated in the same manner each time and is designed to produce a predictable, altered state of consciousness within which certain magickal or religious results may be obtained". Bonewits: Taped Letter From Berkeley 1978) The purpose of a ritual is to put one into an altered state within which you have access to and control over your psychic talents "almost every magickal-religious ritual known performs the following acts: emotion is aroused, increased, built to a peak; a target is imaged and a goal made clear. Then there is a follow-through; this encourages any lingering energy to flow away and provides a safe let-down". (Bonewits: Real Magick). "Magickal rituals are psycho dramas designed to facilitate the generation of psychic energy and the focussed disposition of that energy in order to accomplish a given result" (Second Epistle of Isaac from The Druid Chronicles - Editor: Bonewits/Berkeley 1976). "Ritual is one way of re-integrating individuals into the cosmos and to tie in the activities of daily life with their ever-present, often forgotten significance rituals have the power to reset the terms of our universe until we find ourselves suddenly and truly 'at home'" (Adler: Drawing Down The Moon). "Many craft rituals are primarily religious and mythical. The rituals touch on the mythic themes of death and regeneration and assert the unity or mortals and deities. It is these aspects that seem to link to the mystery traditions... both assume that human beings can become as Gods". (Adler: Drawing Down The Moon). "The idea expressed is that we are Gods in potential. Many Western magickal traditions have thus sought a path to the Divine by strengthening the self rather than by obliterating the ego". (Adler: Drawing Down The Moon). All rituals in Neo-Paganism at some level celebrate the myth and history of the Goddess. Robert Graves describes the true function of poetry as religious invocation of the Goddess. The quarter guardians are archetypes who serve to remind us that they have risen through the spiral of life and death and re-birth and represent the goal toward which the spiral of re-incarnation strives: to become fully human and fully divine. Most Neo-Pagan groups also have the ceremony of "cakes and wine" during which the ritual dagger is lowered into the chalice and so the cakes and wine are consecrated and distributed to all, often with the phrase "may you never hunger, may you never thirst".

3 "This is the sacred marriage, the great rite of fertility, in a single image not just between male and female, but between spirit and matter, between the heavens and Earth, between the worlds of Gods and men, between death and birth. What is being said by the symbols is then something like 'sex is a true vehicle for the spiritual evolution of humankind for death and rebirth are the two halves of the cycle that drives us up the spiral to the Goddess' realm'". (A.Kelly: Why Craft Ritual Works - Gnostica Volume IV No ). "Paganism is a religion of ritual rather than theology. The ritual is first; the myth is second. And taking an attitude that the myths of the craft are true history in the way a fundamentalist looks at the legend of Genesis really seems crazy. It is an alien headspace. This is one of the ways in which the Craft is a true mystery religion, because the classical mysteries functioned similarly. The promise of the mystery religions in the classical world was that of immortality and regeneration. And in one of the associated legends after death the soul confronts the Guardian of the Portals and is asked the question "who are you?" The reply given was never "I believe in such and such" but a statement like "I have eaten from the drum, I have drunk from the cymbal, I have tasted the things within the holy basket, I have passed between the bridal chamber". These are statements of having passed through certain experiences and this seems to be very much the Gestalt and tradition of the Craft as well what makes a person a witch is having passed through certain experiences, experiences that happen down on a sub-conscious level and bring about a type of transmutation". (A.Kelly from Adlers: Drawing Down The Moon). "The Craft is not an ancient system of knowledge of metaphysics or doctrine but an ancient way of perceiving reality that is again becoming available. It depends upon an open metaphysics reality is infinite. Therefore everything you experience is in some sense real. But since your experiences can only be a small part of this infinity, they are merely a map of it, merely a metaphor; there is always an infinity of possible experiences still unexplored. What you know therefore may be true as far as it goes but it cannot be the whole truth for there is always infinitely further to go. In brief: it is all real, it is all metaphor, there is always more". (Kelly: Aporrheton No. 1 To The New Witch. March 1973). "Knowing that all truths are merely metaphor is perhaps the greatest advantage you have at this point of history. Thinking that you know the whole truth keeps you from learning anything more; hence you stagnate, hence you die. But knowing that every truth is merely a metaphor, merely a tool leaves you free to learn and to grow, by setting aside all metaphors as you learn or evolve better ones". (Kelly: Aporrheton No 1 To The New Witch. March 1973). "A religious ritual is a formal, spiritually orientated, symbolic experience". (Blacksun, The Spell of Making).

4 "Wiccan rituals tend to be more varied than other faiths varying from the formal to the spontaneous and differing from coven to coven according to their individual preferences and school of thought". (Farrar. Eight Sabbats For Witches). No matter what symbols are used rituals employ them because they need very little translation and speak directly to the unconscious mind where the meaning of our universe and ourselves lie. Just as a story is made up of words a ritual is made up of symbols. To mix them up is to destroy their meaning and effectiveness hence the need for an ordered and organised form. The form is just as important to the meaning and ability to invoke unconscious awareness as the symbols it employs. This is why so many religions and covens stress the precise order and way in which things must happen for an effect to be realised. "The effect to be realised in religious ritual is that of awareness of the unity of all and of the divine; in Pagan terms our unity with divine and realisation that all is linked together. Sacraments are acts which help us commune with the Gods and realise that we are all one, yet many. "Eat drink and make love, all in My name for all acts of love and joy are My sacraments". To dispense sacraments to each other we provide experiences which establish that communion and to do this we must include our fellow beings in that sacredness and to live the sacred. As a result every religious ritual is a sacrament. To perform or participate in ritual provides opportunity to discover and affirm our connection with the Divine". (Blacksun: The Spell Of Making). Ritual is the dramatic enactment of myth designed to make a sufficiently deep impression on an individual to reach his unconscious (Tom Chetwynd, A Dictionary Of Symbols, P 342). A ritual is an enacted psychic truth, a myth is a spoken or written psychic truth. Pursuing the myth origins of a ritual can be interesting but success or failure in tracking them down does not alter the validity of the ritual. In fact, myth can originate in a ritual. "Communal myths" were the ritual worlds of the great cultic festivals of the ancient world and the typical features of mythology gave symbolic form to a man's life, his longings and his needs Ritual performs the same psychic function as myth but with the added impact on the individual of personal participation. (Tom Chetwynd, A Dictionary of Symbols, P 276.). "Awareness of energy is awareness of the great dance of the universe. Seemingly intangible it underlies all we can touch. It is the only constant, although it is constant change, eternal flux. Awareness of your own energy is the awareness that flesh and spirit are one, that thou art Goddess, eternally linked, connected, at one with the moving spirit of All" The Spiral Dance by Starhawk.

5 Basic ritual format & design How to do ritual is not carved in stone, even though there is often a certain order of events, it is how you perform each event and what you say that differs you are limited by your imagination If you belong to a coven, you will likley learn from others how to do rituals and likely how to write your own. How rituals are organised and performed will differ from coven to coven. If you are a solitary, then it is up to you to learn about doing ritual. You can just limit yourself to pre-written rituals, but you will likely want to start creating your own at some point. Even the pre-written ones can seem intimidating until you grasp the overall basic structure of a Wiccan ritual. Here is a good outline for a basic ritual. 1. Decide on the purpose of the ritual intent! 2. Determination of the type of rituals - celebratory, working, open to all, closed to only those in your group, family or whatever 3. Timing 4. Establish the area, Preparation of the area - cleaning and setting up the props 5. Preparation of yourself - cleansing and meditation 6. Creating space, casting the circle 7. Invite people in and cleanse them 8. Cleanse the sacred space & declare the circle sealed 9. Summon Quarters 10. Evocation/Invocation of Goddess and God 11. Welcome all and statement of intent 12. Actual workings/magicks 13. Raising Energy 14. Cone of Power & Ground 15. Cakes & Ale 16. Libation 17. Thanks & Farewell to the deities 18. Farewell the Guardians 19. Open the circle 20. Feast (grounding) 21. Keep silent - do what is necessary on the physical plane to help the workings become reality. 1. Determine Type of Ritual Decide on and define the purpose for the ritual. The key to understanding everything that goes on in any ritual is to understand the purpose and your intent. Ritual performed without clear understanding of its purpose ceases to be meaningful or powerful. The cultural basis of a ritual must coincide with the day and age of those performing it - if a ritual uses displaced symbols, which have lost their meaning, the ritual, is meaningless. Without deep knowledge and understanding of what is aside from the ritual the ritual will be without value. Thus a goal should be defined and written down. Furthermore the goal should be refined with continuing questioning and examination to get to a deeper level of meaning eg.

6 I want to perform a ritual to protect my home. Why? To protect damage to property and persons within and to keep everything safe. Why? So that we can feel secure in our home without worrying. Why? So that we can relax and know that we have a place we can feel ourselves in and be happy. Why? So that we can love together and grow as a family. So the goal is to create a haven with elements of trust, security, peace, love, relaxation. By use of the symbolism that you will develop you can bring those elements into the ritual. Furthermore you can define a specific goal somewhere in the ritual to get a very focussed magickal effort in the ritual and so increase the likelihood of its success and duration. "By constantly trying to find a reason for the stated desire or plan, new and more profound meaning is uncovered. This goes on until there is a collection of statements giving a more accurate and deeper understanding. This collection is then synthesised into a single statement which can then be put through the why? process again if necessary". 2. Determine Type of Ritual There are two types of ritual: a) celebratory - created to honour the deity or mythic event such as the Sabbats, Rites of Passage; and b) working rituals created to bring into being a specific act of magick eg. healing, material wealth etc. Initiatory and dedication rites combine both being both a celebration of your initiation unto the Wiccan path and a working to change yourself and a commitment to a new way of life. 3. Timing Timing needs to be considered for when you will hold the ritual - many rituals are performed at certain times eg. the Sabbats (or closest weekend) and Esbats (the actual date of the full or dark moon etc) or make use of various timing methods eg. astrological, lunar phases, days of the week etc. 4. Establish the area, Preparation of the area - cleaning and setting up the props Ritual needs a place to be conducted. Its boundaries need to be delineated. A protocol for entry and exit must be defined and protection set against unwanted intrusion or escape of wanted energies. Other religions have specific buildings for their rites and most witches have a special area in the physical world - sacred space - set aside for various rituals. The important thing is to

7 make the area special - both before the circle casting by physically tidying it up, perhaps decorating it, and deciding what you want on the altar {correspondence charts help with all aspects of ritual, including what to put on an altar and we will be going into these correspondences in detail in future lessons} The first thing is to ensure privacy and lack of interruption. You cannot focus on a ritual if you're worried about being interrupted, and interruption itself may cause disruption of energy raised. Therefore, draw the curtains, close and lock the doors if you are doing this inside, or put up signs "Do not disturb" if you are outside. Move furniture and other obstructions out of the ritual area, including ash-trays and any other foul smelling objects, and if you are outside make sure that the ground has no obstructions which could cause damage to bare feet, clear the area of cow dung, branches, stones etc. Cover any clock-face that you can see from within the ritual area and remove all watches. Your ritual area is to be a place "out of time" and if you look at a clock you will break that sensation. It may also be seen as "clock watching" which is definitely disrespectful to any watchers or spirits you invite into the circle. They could be offended if they feel you are "watching the clock" instead of enjoying the time spent in communion with them and the Gods. Therefore any timing of rituals to occur at astrologically correct time should be done beforehand. Finally vacuum the ritual area or sweep it or rake it. The first reason is for safety (toes have a propensity to find the pin that you lost whilst sewing your robe and feet enjoy nothing more than stepping in cow dung and ankles stubbing themselves against a branch or stone). The other reason is for respect and as a symbol of cleansing of the area of all unwanted energies. Outside this may be mowing the lawn or ridding the ritual area of residual branches, cow dung, leaves; tidying the area. Other methods are scattering powdered herbs such as thyme, rosemary, frankincense, sage or salt water or rose petals. You may simply burn an herb as an incense or essential oil in an aromatherapy burner, stop and play a musical instrument or drum continually as you go throughout the area. Creating sacred space consists of arranging the altar and tools in a private place 5. Purification of Self/Meditation Just before you get ready for the ritual yourself with a shower or bath and dressing in your ritual robes, make sure that the ritual 'props' are all set up and that everything is ready, including matches or gas lighter for candles, water and salt present, the incense and charcoal burner is present etc. Nothing spoils a ritual more than having to open the circle to go into the kitchen to get the ritual cakes that you left sitting in the refrigerator. As a warning to those who have smoke alarms, disconnect any smoke alarm that your ritual incense may set off and also write a note to yourself in large block letters "re-connect the smoke alarm" and put it on the mirror in the bathroom or the refrigerator door. The symbol of purification of self may consist of bathing with or without special bath oils, anointing the body with oil, meditation, deep breathing, or otherwise purifying your body eg. a dip in the ocean. The meaning behind this is to purify your mind and soul and ready it for the coming rite whether this be spell; or working ritual such as an Esbat; or mythic re-enactment such as a Sabbat. Other methods of purification are standing in a rush of wind; or visualising wind carrying away negative thoughts and emotions; music, either drumming softly or listening

8 to appropriate music; bells, gongs, guitars, violins and harps are of particular use, as are singing bowls. Most of this purification is to rid us of the negativity we accumulate each day, from other people, the environment, scenes of carnage and destruction in the news and our own dark thoughts. They are not intended to chase away demons and devils from the astral plain, but mainly to free us from the negativity we all accumulate in daily life. Bear in mind that salt can be harmful to plants and it is best not to use this outdoors, if you wish to use salt (it is nature s purifier) then have a ritual bath with sea/rock salt. You always want to enter a sacred circle cleansed.. 6. Creating Sacred Space casting the circle The space within your circle is sacred, and considered to be 'between the worlds'. It serves to keep your energy in and the energy raised until it is ready to be released. All life and all spaces are sacred. Therefore sacred space can be a natural reservoir of energy eg. creek, bushland, clearing etc. This type of space belongs to everyone but no-one in particular. This is the way in which Aboriginal cultures revere the land and is why the concept of land ownership is alien to them and why they are paying such a bitter price for such a belief when they come against the Western civilisation's greed for land ownership. Not all land however is useful as sacred space. Much has been polluted physically and psychically by socalled civilisation with wars, hatred, land clearing, and erection of concrete jungle for tourist villages. However to successfully work as a witch one must make an effort to meld with the land and its energies, wherever one is working. For this reason our circle seeks to create an awe for the Dreamtime values and a sense of unity with this ancient land of Australia and respect for its peoples, human and otherwise, who held it in reverence for so long before white man came and "improved" it (such that within 100 years we have created the deserts of North Western Victoria and the deforestation and soil degradation of much of New South Wales and Queensland and excessive salinity of the Darling and Murray Rivers). Sacred space is also an area whether tangible or intangible, where people meet in perfect love and perfect trust. There must be balance, harmony and peace (or at least lack of discord) within this space, be it circle or study group. Resolutions of differences between people should occur before entering the circle. Sacred space is also where you live. However, your every day environment soaks up energies you deliberately raise, cast off or manipulate as well as the energies raised by you and your family including quarrels, love, discord and plain chaos. Nevertheless it is important to consider your home and property as sacred and accordingly take care of it. Every quarrel harms that space, every act of kindness heals it. Growing things on your land, even if it is only a pot on the apartment balcony adds to its harmony. When the reactions of others threaten the harmony of your home you must hold firm to the balance required for harmonious actions with other people. There are mundane things, which can be done to ensure that the environment remains sacred. You could repair, clean and be pleasant. Learn interaction skills and know when to speak and when to keep silent, when to listen to others and when to stand out. A home shrine is a very special sacred place. It can also exist, and should do so, on the mental and astral plane as well as the mundane plane. A light should be ever alight on the astral plane

9 and you should make an effort to keep a candle alight for a period of time each day in your own shrine as a ritual spell of protection, purification and blessing on your home. Many covens place the altar in the centre of the circle and some place it in one of the cardinal directions (usually the Earth quarter) and yet others will move it from quarter to quarter depending on the season. Our Circle uses an altar in the centre as indicative of the place of the Spirit and symbolic of the unity of all but this varies depending on ritual. In permanent circles there is usually a boundary that is visible and is always present, either of flowers or rocks or wood, or a circle drawn on the carpet or a cord arranged. Sometimes there is no visible permanent area. A circle is created by using visualisation and focussing on energy rising from the Earth, coming down from the cosmos and being directed through your hand, wand or athame to the perimeter of the circle which flows both up and down to form a sphere. It is important to see and feel the energy flowing from your fingertips or tool in a stream of vibrating light, usually visualised as electric blue or purple blue. Walk the circle, usually best with the flow of energy (clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, anti-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere ie. in the same direction as the Coriolis effect). The circle should be a living, growing, reality, which you can feel. Sacred space may be ritually created for long-term and short-term purpose. Shrines, outdoor circles, hearths, stone altars are all long-term sacred space. They should be ritually and physically cleaned, consecrated and empowered for positive use, as they will be used regularly. On the other hand, short-term sacred space to encompass a ritual circle or a meditation space is usually created by first banishing unwanted influences (a broom ritual is perfect for this); casting a circle by someone (usually the High Priestess with or without the High Priest); purifying the space (the use of a broom and incense or aromatherapy burner is good here); strengthening the circle with the elements; summoning Guardians to guard the circle, witness the rites and strengthen the ritual. Most cast the circle first and call a Guardian second, some even cast and summon together, often with poetic rhymes eg. Often three passes are made: one with the athame, wand or hand, actually drawing the circle; the second with mixed earth and water, the Goddess elements; and the third with fire and air, the God elements. Sacred space can also be created by people before you eg. sacred Aboriginal sites, Druid groves, sacred areas (sanctuaries or permanent circles) set up by other witches. When visiting these places, it is appropriate to leave an offering (such as a blessing or prayer) or, if permission is given, to do a token task eg. Weeding around the quarter stone, as an honour to the sacredness of that place. New space and new time are defined whenever a circle is cast to begin ritual. It is between the worlds; the seen and unseen; the space in which alternate realities meet; in which the conscious and unconscious can speak freely to each other and connect with the cosmic realities and the world around us. Time is no longer measured out but dissolves into a meeting of past, present and future. A circle creates an energy form, a boundary that limits and contains the movements of subtle forces. In Wiccan (as opposed to some other ceremonial magick) practices, a circle is raised not to protect from outside influences (usually malevolent) but mainly to contain energy and so enable it to be focussed; and finally to create a "place that is not a place, a time that is not a time", which is sacred and more enabling of ritual mythic awakening of the divine within ourselves and from the universe and beyond. Circle casting marks the formal beginning of the ritual and is a complex cue that tells us to switch our awareness into a deeper mode. We suspend disbelief and enact out mythic, archetypal patterns that will bring us into a feeling of 'oneness' with divine truths that we are one, that we are God, that we are Goddess.

10 Note, however, the outer forms used are always less important than the strength of inner visualisation. One person may perform the outward actions but all should internally visualise the casting of the circle. Circle Casting By the earth that is her body By the air that is his breath By the fire that is his bright spirit By the living waters of her womb, The circle is cast. Within this secret place, Hidden from the world, Outside of time and space, We worship in this sacred centre. We greet the old Gods once again. In a time, that is not a time In a place, that is not a place On a day, that is not a day We stand at the threshold between the worlds, Before the veil of the Mysteries. May the ancient Ones help and protect us On our magickal journey. 7. Cleanse People & Invite People In In formal ritual an athame may be pointed at adult s heart {finger is pointed at child s heart} and they are asked: How do you enter this sacred space? The reply is given: In perfect love & perfect trust. Entering a sacred space with anger or animosity undoes all the hard work you have put into preparing the area and cleansing yourself & others, which is why one must always try to work out any problems beforehand, prior to doing the ritual unless you are making it part of the workings. Place a symbol on each participant who enters the sacred space e.g. in Wiccan groups, entering the circle at a particular point, and having a pentagram drawn on your forehead with moon water or using a smudge stick to cleanse each person as they cross the threshhold. Often a period before the ritual is spent in preparing oneself - a ritual bath, symbolic washing away of unwanted negativeness; a guided meditation in which the specific goal of the ritual is introduced and developed; as well as a ritual procession to the area to be consecrated.

11 The important component is in making participants aware that they are participants, not observers - and hence the need for consecration; and as well of their coming union with all in the circle. A statement about being at peace with each other or perfect love and perfect trust is often a good way to achieve this as mentioned above. 8. Cleanse the Sacred Circle Give the area a sense of specialness, a sacredness or holiness. This changes our relationship to the area - it is not only a circle on the beach or an area circled by stones above a beautiful lake, but an area of special purpose and meaning. The method of consecration differs from group to group. It usually involves the use of symbolic representations of the elements or by using a besom (which doesn t touch the ground). So many rituals that I have read online or in books seem to have the very strange concept that you cleanse the circle before you even create it! As I mentioned, you can prepare an area and clean it up and get it ready, but how on earth can you cleanse a sacred space that hasn t been cast? Ok, so now that you have cast your circle you can now cleanse it. Salt and water are both cleansing elements and together are symbolic of the ocean, the womb of life, beginning of life on earth; and tears, the physical enactment of purification of intense emotions (usually, but not always, grief). They are used commonly as elements to create and strengthen a circle. There are some that seem to think you have to purify the salt before adding it to the water which also needs to be purified wow, they exorcise it and cast out impurities and this goes on and on! I scratch my head and wonder why on earth would you want to purify something that is nature s purifier anyway, and where do they think water comes from? Why spend what seems like an hour purifying something that is already pure when you can spend this time enjoying your ritual. Incense and fire are also seen as cleansing and purification media and also are used to purify and strengthen the circle. So, to cleanse the circle you might use the four elements by asperging the salted water around the circle tuathail and then smudge the circle tuathail, finishing off with a statement to declare the circle sealed. The circle casting is done with careful visualisation eg. a mist that slowly springs up and forms a bubble or a blue fire that springs up and forms into a sphere of fire etc. At the end, clearly state the circle is sealed eg. Declaration of Circle's Sealing "In the centre the circle is cast where between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow meet as one."

12 The most important thing is to remember that you are conjuring a sphere not a circle. In addition protocol should be established to ensure that once the circle is cast special activity is needed to leave or enter the circle eg. Cutting a temporary doorway. 9. Summon the Quarters Following this there is evocation/invocation of various entities, usually at the four quarters of the circle. Evoke means to summon or call an entity to attend whereas invoke means that whatever you have called or summoned enters you. Some summon elements, some elemental guardians, watchtowers, archangels' etc. They may be used to watch over the ritual, or to lend strength to the workings (magicks), or even both. It is important that when they are summoned that not just the person doing the summoning but everyone in the circle visualise the power of the particular spirit and element being called upon. Once the circle has been completed it is important not to leave the circle except for very important reasons and even then to cut a doorway (with your athame) as you leave and close it behind you, then do the same upon returning. This will help to preserve the flow of energy around the circle; otherwise careless walking in and out will cause dissipation of the whole circle (and any sensitive person will receive a jolt), not to mention the time and energy wasted. The Quarters (also sometimes called Watchtowers) are the guardians of your circle. They are usually directional and/or elemental in nature. The exact wording on how to summon the quarters is varied, and can be adapted to your needs. You might consider these Watchtowers to be the solid corner-posts of your circle. Anything that corresponds to that quarter can be summoned, depending on your needs eg: elementals, animals, flowers, element, gods, tools etc Also, not many realise this, but all four quarters do not need to be summoned if they aren t needed. Evocation of the Guardians Various entities can be summoned eg. Elements which are unthinking energy forms of air, fire, water and earth or the elementals which are normally invisible, spiritual beings with some thinking process made up of pure elemental energies eg. sylphs, salamanders, gnomes and undines. The South, the sylphs, the knowledge, the word, Positive forces are summoning you in The East, the mers, the love, the water, I conjure my need into matter The North, the drakes, the hearth, the fire, Aid this night in my desire The West, the gnomes, the roots, the grove Bring your gifts, I make it so The Centre, the spirit, the life, the force, I call you now to open your doors. Watchtowers are Guardians, usually working in a square. Some see them as the angelic being,

13 others as inhabited by that being. Watchers also recall the older stellar notions where the stars are centred in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Some call both stars and angels, beings of light or the Shining Ones. Airs can also be called and are often named after the four winds of Ancient Greece and relate to the winds' quality (hot and dry, hot and wet, cold and dry, cold and wet) and these should be matched to their cardinal points. Also look for unusual occurrences in your locality - this makes use of the power reservoir of the locality. Watchtower call Aldebaran's light, South I call, come this night. Watchtower call Fomalhaut aid. East I draw with my blade Watchtower call Regulus might, North I draw, protect this site Watchtower call adventurous Antares, West I call, to work with Star faeries Show me, ones of stellar sight, Assist me please throughout this rite Animal totems can also be called with their mystical powers brought into play for the ritual and associated with the qualities of the element represented. They are also found in the environment to be called (hence our use of Australian animals). Archetypes or Deities can also be called and should be of the same pantheon that you work with in that ritual. Ancient Ones are usually humans who have transmuted themselves through many incarnations and hold ancient knowledge. They have no delineated names other than belonging to an element or cardinal direction. Element Direction Elemental Watchtower Watchers Elemental King Totem Air South Sylph Raphael (inspiration) Aldebaran Paralda Eagle Fire North Salamander Michael (protection) Regulus Djin Kangaroo Earth West Gnome Ariel (manifestation) Antares Ghob Wombat Water East Undine Gabriel (healing) Fomalhaut Niksa Platypus 10. Evoke/Invoke Deity If you are not familiar with any specific Gods or Goddesses, you can always just call on the Lord and/or Lady. Over time, you can research the various pantheons and learn about the different Deities out there. You may evoke certain Deities just get to know them better, or choose Deities that represent the energies you want for your ritual. You should always be respectful, and ask

14 Deities to join you. That is why the quarters are summoned, but the deities are called upon to join us. Some call the deities to join their rite at the four appropriate quarters instead. Evocation This is in some ways the heart of all Wiccan ritual in that these are attunements with the powers of the Goddess and God. Evocation need not necessarily refer to spoken prayers or verses but also consist of music, dance, gestures, song and drama and best used all together. Rhyme is particularly useful in words because it contacts the unconscious and drowses our material and intellectually based minds into ritual consciousness. It you forget a word or mispronounce something or entirely lose your train of thought don't be concerned. Evocation just requires a willingness to open yourself to the Goddess and God, it needn't be a perfect performance. It is more disruptive to panic and be over-concerned than it is to 'wing' it in those particular times when you have forgotten the so-called correct way". Evocation is asking them to be present in the circle. Learn not to be rigid with your rituals and enjoy them a powerful song such as Ancient Mother or chanting the names of Gods can be done, you are limited only by your imagination. Invocation In our circle invocation is sometimes done by direct invitation to the Goddess and God to "be drawn down" into the priest or priestess concerned. This is then followed by recitation of the Chant of the Goddess (written by Doreen Valiente) or using another charge as appropriate. This may then be followed by each person going up to the Goddess/God and being blessed by her/him or hearing what they may have to say. This part of the ritual ends when the Goddess or God slowly and silently leaves the priestess/priest. Invocation is asking them to be present in you and not to be done prior to initiation. 11. Welcome all those present and state your intent/purpose of ritual This is your chance to welcome everyone and thank them for being there and pass on any messages from those who couldn t attend. This is also the appropriate time to announce your intent what is the purpose of the ritual. Eg: Welcome everyone to the rise of the Full Slumber Moon which signals the wane of warmth and sunlight, and heralds the coming of the dark months of the year. Mother Earth yawns and stretches. She's tired from all the planting, growing and harvesting, and prepares to take a long and well-deserved nap. As She settles in, all of Nature follows suit. Even the snow acts in kind. It covers Her with flakes, providing an insulative blanket that keeps Her snug in Her bed, and shields Her from the harsh cold of winter. We begin to slow down too. With the Earth at rest, we spend more time indoors. We finish projects and tie up loose ends. We relax and regroup. We contemplate the goodness of the Earth and the fertile abundance She shares with us. We count our blessings. They are many and we are thankful. Tonight we honour our inner selves with a meditation followed by our workings, at which time we shall honour our bodies with reiki, clay mask, massage, tarot and whatever else anyone can offer, we are thankful.

15 12. Workings/Magicks Magicks at Esbats, a seasonal re-enactment at Sabbats, rite of passage, blessing, scrying etc It may be a meditation, transition, thanksgiving or simply a few moments to commune; in other cases it may be an elaborate drama enacting out a particular myth appropriate to the Sabbat (mystery play). You may need to do a spell or do a lesson or if it is dark moon you may need to do a banishing or work within. This moment may be followed by discussion prior to raising energy. 13. Raise Energy If you are performing this ritual with a specific goal in mind (a spell), then you need to raise energy to send that spell out into the Universe to do its thing. It's your energy and will that drives a spell. If your ritual is to celebrate the Sabbats or to give thanks to the Gods, then you may not feel the need to raise any power. Methods for raising energy could be dancing or chanting, playing an instrument, laughing or dancing the maypole, doing a spiral dance or circling - there are many ways to raise energy. This is magick - the movement of natural energies to effect needed change. The classic times to raise energy are at full moon (for magicks), dark moons (for banishing), Sabbats - for there are extra Earth/Solar energies that can be utilised to enhance the effectiveness of celebration. The raising of energy can be done in a variety of ways. Whatever the way used it is important to attempt to hold it inside your body until it has reached its peak and then to release it and send it towards a goal. It is however difficult to retain all of this power, particularly during dancing and so the circle does this job of holding the power in until it is ready to be release. The Equilibrium for Energy -The laws of Thermodynamics state that everything is interconnected. Energy is not created, nor destroyed, it is transmuted. The equilibrium of the universe is not static but dynamic. Energy is continually in motion. It flows in spirals and is cyclical and wave form in nature. No form of energy can be exerted indefinitely in only one direction. Always it will peak and then turn. No-one can be constantly creative, sexual, angry or constantly anything that requires energy. Recognising this alternation will help sustain a dynamic, healthy balance. Ritual, spells and meditations that raise energy will centre on aiding it to flow. Magick is part of nature, it does not controvert natural laws but it can teach us to tap sources of energy that are unlimited and infinite. Nevertheless there is no free lunch. To raise energy we must expend it. In working magick we expend our own physical and emotional energy and take care to replenish it. In most group rituals energy is usually moulded into the form of a cone called The Cone of Power. At the base of the cone is the circle of coveners. Its apex can focus on an individual, an object, a collectively visualised image. At times it is allowed to rise and fall naturally or it may be sent off in a burst of force directed by one person who may either be part of the circle or stand at its centre. Rhythm, drums, handclaps, dance movements can be used in building the cone. Names, Goddess and

16 God names, simple incantations, sung chants can be used to raise power. It can be raised with something as simple as breathing. At the end of raising the energy and releasing it, grounding should then follow. This helps dissipate into the earth the residual energies that we have raised and also revitalising ourselves so that we tap directly into the unlimited sources of elemental energy in the earth. Thus power flows through us, not out of us. 14. Releasing the energy/cone of Power & Ground Once energy has been sent residual power will usually rush around within you and also within the circle. It is important that it be earthed and so that you are also able to re-charge yourself with energy from the Earth. This may consist of just falling to the ground, lying out flat, doing a formal 'grounding' exercise such as a Chakra opening and closing, laughter and talking, or performing 'Cakes and Ale'. After a while, when enough energy has been raised and at the time of releasing energy the High Priestess (or person performing the ritual) yells: SEND A hole is opened at the apex of the circle and let through to do its work without disrupting the circle (the cone of power). Arms are raised at centre of circle tilted forward to form a cone of power and the energy is sent out into the universe to do its workings. After a while, when energy has been sent the High Priestess (or person performing the ritual) yells: GROUND All participants then place their hands (and forehead if necessary) on the ground. This releases any excess energy they may have into the earth to be used by mother earth where it is needed. Even if you are indoors, and your feet aren't truly touching the Earth, you can still visualise your energy dispersing this way. Depending on the nature of your spell, you may find that most of the energy is used up in your spellwork. 15. Cakes and Ale It's traditional to eat and drink after the energy is grounded and this can be a social part of the ritual if you are working in a group. It doesn't have to literally be 'cakes and ale'. You may choose to use foods/drink that suit the nature of the ritual. This is another aspect of the grounding you did earlier. By eating and drinking, you can focus yourself back to the physical world. The ritual gesture of food and drink will kick your body back into a different mode, it will bring into play very physical processes such as salivation and digestion and elimination of waste. Food and wine are blessed before eating and drinking and the great rite may also be performed at this time - usually with the athame into the chalice (although the Great Rite is usually performed at Beltaine, Full Moon or Handfasting). Usually a priest holds the cup of wine, symbol

17 of the Goddess, into which the priestess dips the ceremonial knife, called athame, a symbol of the God. For some this symbolises intimacy between the Goddess and God, men and women, masculine and feminine. For others it shows the two divine forces ultimately reconciled in one. All drink from the cup (or as we do - pour some into everyone s goblet) and then share consecrated food, sometimes but not always cakes in the shape of a crescent moon. Cakes and ale is the common title of a "communion ritual" in Wicca. It is usually ritualised although it may be very simple. In addition to being a ritual in itself, it actually allows a more complete grounding and also time to express gratitude for the results of previous energy workings. This sharing of food and drink re-emphasises the words of the charge "Ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love". Fun, spontaneity, errors in ritual are all part of craft celebrations; humanity is not left outside the circle. A priest or priestess draws a pentagram over the cakes and ale and blesses it. Alternatively you may simply ask the Lady and Lord to bless them. BLESSING Lady and Lord of the harvest Bless this food into our bodies Bestow health, wealth, strength, joy and peace And that fulfilment of love which is perfect happiness. MAY YOU NEVER HUNGER, MAY YOU NEVER THIRST This is said to each person as the cakes and ale are passed around (direction according to ritual). 16. LIBATION A libation of drink to the Goddess and/or God should be made by pouring a few drops of what you are drinking onto the ground facing the west, or into a special bowl if you are inside (it can be emptied outside after the ritual). A few words of being thankful and returning back to the earth what is given may be said at this time. Eg: "I consecrate this offering back to the Blessed Mother Nature from whom it came, to her consort, the Great Horned God of Nature, Her animals and Her fairy beings. Blessed Be. Or: Offerings given in love return three times over. Blessed Be this gathering, the giver and the gift."

18 17. Thank & Farewell Deity I'm sure this part is obvious. If you've asked a Deity to join you in your circle, you must then thank them when the ritual is complete. This can be performed with gestures, chants, music, or improvised on the spot. Do not envisage this as dismissing deities but rather thank them for their attention and bid them farewell. The farewells and the opening of the circle are done in reverse order to which they were welcomed in. You welcomed in the Goddess and then God, so you farewell the God and then the Goddess. This can be kept very simple to start with until you learn more about the Gods and learn to be more creative with what you write. Eg: I thank the Lord and the Lady for being at this rite (extinguish candles) Hail & Farewell 18. Farewell the Quarters Similar to thanking the Deities. You've summoned the Quarters to assist you, and when you are done, you should thank them and release them. This is also done in reverse order to which they were welcomed in. So if you summoned South first, you farewell South last. If you summoned them in deosil, you farewell them tuathail. (Like a tap, you turn it on one way, and turn off the other way). The easiest way to work on a farewell is to look at what you wrote to summon them in: Eg: The South, the sylphs, the knowledge, the word, Positive forces are summoning you in So, to farewell south in a simply manner until you wish to be more creative, you simply say: The South, the sylphs, the knowledge, the word, Thank you for aiding in our magicks (extinguish candle) Hail & Farewell 19. Open the Circle This step will return your ritual area back to 'normal space'. Most circle casting techniques that you will find are written with both an opening and closing portion to the text.

19 Opening the Circle This is how we return to the normal earth-space time continuum. We return the area or room to its normal state. Not only should we envisage drawing up the energy of the circle into our hand or tool, of dissipating it into the Earth or universe, but also we declare it 'open' eg. With the following phrase: The circle is open but unbroken May the peace and love of the Goddess and God go in our hearts Merry we meet, merry we part, and merry meet again Blessed be. Another example is: Here is my hand and here is my heart Merry we meet and merry we part To merry meet again Blessed Be. In our circle we will go in the opposite direction which will usually be tuathail (clockwise in the South). It is important to realise that although the circle has been opened, the bonds that we have formed with the people within the circle will never completely go, nor should they. The more we continue to do rituals with people the stronger the bond that will grow between us and therefore in some sense the circle is truly never broken. Once opened the pathway between ourselves and the universal divine (which includes ourself) will never be shut away completely. When the circle is gone it is important to put away the ritual tools, to pour any liquids into the bearer for a libation bowl (or save them for future spells and rites if necessary). 20. FEAST Your rite has ended. It is usual now for the informal feasting and talking to commence. Of course, if it is a Sabbat then the feast will be a full blown dinner (usually pot-luck), whereas a full moon rite will just be healthy nibblies. It is important that it be under way and everybody be more fully relaxed before any post-mortem or discussion of the ritual be performed. Try to keep this on a positive note rather than complaining. However post-mortems are an important way that a group will grow closer into a 'group mind' as to what is and is not desirable. 21. Keep silent Do not discuss any magicks that were performed, especially to those outside the circle. Just as one tells a secret, it no longer stays as a secret and loses it power. Let the magicks work toward the goal without putting obstacles in the way.

20 Do what is necessary on the physical plane to help the workings become reality. Don t just leave it up to the Gods or the universe, you need to do the mundane work on the physical plane. If you want a job, look for one, if you want health, then eat healthy and exercise, if you want protection, don t walk down a dark road at night. There is no free ride in Wicca, you get what you put into it, to receive energy you must expend energy. Extras Salutes Salutes are used as triggers to quickly turn mundane circumstances into magickal ones and can consist of words and actions coupled with thoughts and intent. The easiest triggers to cultivate are ones you invent yourself using motions and a minimum of words. A good exercise is to create such a salute to trigger tranquillity within yourself by using hand motions and one or two words either said aloud or silently. Practise this daily and fine-tune it as necessary. The Pagan Cross is one such salute. Other salutes can be the sign of the Pentagram with the words air, fire, earth, water and spirit, or the God position (hands crossed on the chest) or the Goddess position (legs apart, hands upraised). Laughter Laughter does have its ritual in magick functions. There is no need to be stodgy and glum or over-solemn in rituals. Although rituals are serious, humour does have a place eg. truly laughing at a curse can destroy its effects; laughter does certainly release tremendous amounts of personal powers. So when you tip over a candle or the incense won't light, even on the tenth go, or you mix up the words in a verse - laugh - start over. The act of laughter itself will help "clean the slate". Wicca is a religion of happiness, which includes laughter. It needs no pomposity. The above, of course, doesn't mean that gratuitous comments or 'poking fun' or deliberately trying to take the 'mickey' out of something is appropriate. The former is powerful in a positive way, the latter is simply disruptive and negative. Ritual Etiquette The circle is a manifestation of cyclic energy in the form of a vortex. This sacred time and sacred space is separate from the world and contiguous with all other circles. The circle is an animate universe between the worlds, which we empower by our agreement, therefore: A ritual is not a spectator sport. If you don't wish to participate stay far enough away so that your conversations etc. won't interfere in the Rite. Leave your mundane self and earthly business outside the circle and enter with your magickal self. Enter the circle with "perfect love and perfect trust", having worked through personal difficulties with other people in the circle beforehand.