Carolina Dean

What is Ritual?

Elements of Ritual

Cleansing of Self

Creating Sacred Space

Casting the Circle

Calling the Quarters

Invoking Deity

Working/Honorings

Raising Energy

Thanksgiving

Releasing the Quarters 

Opening the Circle

Simply stated, a ritual is a set of words and actions, which are mainly performed for their symbolic value but which also have an internal value for those who perform them, that have been set down by the doctrines of a certain religion or by the customs of a community or a group of people. They can be performed at any time including at regular intervals, specific occasions, or at the discretion of the person or person's performing them.

Our lives are filled with rituals, such as marriage, laying the dead to rest, graduation, blessing a baby, etc... These are the rituals with which we are most familiar. However, we each have our own personal rituals that we perform everyday whether conscious of them or not. They may include the way we get ready for work in the morning, the way we wash dishes, or fold clothes,  the way we get dressed, etc...all are rituals. Overtime we become accustomed to performing these actions in a certain way and for many of us, if we are prevented from performing them our way it can disrupt our lives. That is because when we repeatedly perform our rituals over time they become more powerful for us on a deeply personal level. Rituals performed the same way over many generations have been known to command a great deal of power.

Like that of other religions, Wicca has it's own set of rituals and times for ritual observance such as at the Sabbats and Esbats. These rituals have been performed for countless ages, and yet they way in which they are performed by Covens, groups, and individuals differ widely. That does not mean that they are wrong, but that these rituals have a deeper meaning for those who perform them. That is why it is so important for you as a witch to find what works for you through study, practice and experimentation and then to continue with what works for you and makes sense to you on all levels.

This information below comes from my own research and practice. It does not necessarily reflect the practices of all Wiccans/Witches/Pagans, as there is no "one, true, right, and only way" in the Craft. It is simply an expression of how I practice my craft and I encourage you to find your own truth.

• Cleansing of Self- We cleanse ourselves in mind, body and spirit so as not to be distracted by stress, random thoughts, or fear of failure.

• Creation of Sacred Space- We cleanse our working area of negativity, laying the foundation for our church (the circle).

• Casting the Circle- The circle divides the world of man and the realm of spirit, contains the power that we raise within it, and protects us from negativity.

• Calling the Quarters- We invite the quarters in various forms (elements, elementals, dragons, watchtowers, fairies, etc..) to witness our rites and lend their energies to our pool of power.

• Invoking Deity- We invite deity into our circle that we may commune together and to grant us success in our magickal endeavors.

• Workings/Honorings- Workings take the form of spells and magickal rites, while honorings are celebrations such as at Esbats and Sabbats, as well as other rites of thanksgiving.

• Energy Raising- We raise energy by various means and direct it towards the achievement of our goals.

• Thanksgiving- We thanks deity for their assistance and blessings, and ground the energy by ingestion of blessed food and drink.

• Releasing the Quarters- We release the energy that we called so as not to bind their energies to one pl ace, lest it bring chaos.

• Opening the Circle- We open the circle to end our ritual and return to mundane reality.

   

To cleanse themselves, many witches take a ritual bath prior to magickal rites. To draw in the cleansing power of the elements you can add salt or herbs (earth) to your bathwater, and set the mood with candles (fire), incense (air), and music (spirit).

Other methods employed to cleanse oneself include smudging yourself with sage, anointing yourself with oil, meditation, visualization, and breathe control. These methods may be used alone or with others. For example, you can anoint yourself with oil, and visualize being bathed in white light, or breathe deeply while meditating.

Additionally, some witches design a trigger (a series of words, and/or actions which quickly brings their mind and body to a state conducive to the successful practice of ritual and magick) and use it prior to ritual. In my personal practices, I   perform the first part of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, called the Kabbalistic Cross. This is a personal choice that works for me, and I feel that it, in some way, honors my Jewish heritage. 

To perform the Kabbalistic Cross, touch your forehead with the tips of your thumb, middle, and forefinger and say: Atah (touch the solar plexus) Malkuth (touch your left shoulder) Vegeburah (touch your right shoulder) Vegedulah (clasps your hands together as in prayer) Layolam.

Fire, Earth, Air, Water,

Be now free of debris and clutter;

In the name of the Lord and Lady,

As I will so mote it be.

Next, carry the elements around the room one at a time saying:

The element of (element) now removes all,

Negativity held within these walls;

Cleansing this place,

To be for me a sacred space.

Some witches use chalk or rope to physically mark the circle on the floor before ritual. This helps to facilitate casting the circle by serving as a visual reminder of its size and border. However, the circle is not a circle, in as much as it is a bubble of energy. When casting the circle ones visualizations should center on this idea. A properly cast circle is said to exist between the world of man & realm of spirit, in a place thats not a place, and at a time thats not a time.

To Cast the Circle, begin at the North, and move Deosil (clockwise) around the altar with the Wand in your projective, or dominant, hand drawing the circle as you go and say:

I conjure thee, Circle of art,

The veil between the worlds to part;

Round and round the circle is bound,

That within protection shall be found.

Contain the power raised within,

Until I set it free again;

In the name of the Lord and Lady,

As I will so mote it be.

To call the Quarters, begin by standing in the North and move deosil around the altar facing the direction that you are calling. Using your Athame, draw an Invoking Pentagram in the Air towards the direction and say at each point:

 
I call upon

(Earth, Air, Fire, Water)

element of the

(North, East, South, West-ern)

quarter,

To witness this rite & maintain order;

In the name of the Lord and Lady,

As I will, so mote it be.

As you send out the call, your thoughts should center on a clear picture of exactly what you are calling. Do not rush through this step, and only proceed when you feel that the energy you have called is present.

Facing North, ground and center. Assume the God or Goddess position according to the gender of the deity that you wish to invoke. Focus on your concept of the deity, visualizing him or her, or a symbol associated with that deity, and/or chant the deitys name over and over to yourself.

When you are ready, draw an invoking pentagram before yourself and say:

I call upon (deity) to descend,

Upon this circle & to lend;

Your energies to this rite,

And grant success unto my plight.

A Working is a ritual in which spells are cast and magick is made, while Honorings are celebrations such as at Esbats and Sabbats. Sometimes a working and an honoring can be done within the same ritual. When this occurs, the working is performed first, and then the honoring.

According to traditional Wiccan theology, there are eight paths to power, they are:

1. Meditation or concentration

2. Chants, spell, poetry, or invocations.

3. Trance, or projection of the astral body.

4. Incense, drugs, or alcohol.

5. Rhythm such as drumming or dancing.

6. Biofeedback, or blood control

7. Flagellation, light scourging.

8. The Great Rite (ecstatic sexual energy)

These methods can be used alone or with others. For example, you can chant a spell while visualizing your goal, or beat a drum while deep breathing, etc...Of these, chanting and visualization are my favored methods of raising energy.

Many chants have been written to raise energy, such as the Mill of Magick:

Fire flame and fire burn

Make the mill of magick turn.

Work the will for which I pray

Io Dea He Ha Yea!

Earth without and earth within

Make the mill of magick spin.

Work the will for which I pray

Io Dea He Ha Yea!

Air breathe and air blow

Make the mill of magick grow.

Work the will for which I pray

Io Dea He Ha Yea!

Water heat and water boil

Make the mill of magick toil.

Work the will for which I pray

Io Dea He Ha Yea!

Energy is released when during the process of chanting and visualization your body can no longer hold the energy raised and you completely relax your body all at once.

In many traditions, the Gods are released at this point in ritual; however, I feel that this is un-necessary. Much of this energy is directed towards your goal along with the power that you raised, however since the Gods are a part of us and not apart from us, some of this energy remains with us. Therefore, I prefer to ground it in myself by ingesting blessed food and drink.

Ceremony of Cakes and Juice

Pass your wand over the cake and juice and say:

I bless this yield

Of vine and field,

With Divine energy,

In the name of Spirit,

So mote it be.

Begin by standing in the West and move widdershins (counter-clockwise) around the altar facing the direction that you are releasing. Using your Athame, draw a  Banishing Pentagram in the Air towards the direction and say at each point:

(Name of Element)

Element of the (direction) you are released,

In perfect love and perfect peace,

Stay if you like, go if you must,

In perfect love, and perfect trust.

So Mote It Be.

To Open the Circle, begin at the North, and move widdershins (counter-clockwise) around the altar with the Wand in your receptive hand drawing the circle energy back and say:

Circle of art open wide

The realms of man & spirit divide;

Round and round now be unbound

Energy sink into the ground.

Let us now return again,

To time & place that are the same;

In the name of the Lord and Lady,

As I will so mote it be.

You should pace yourself and your wording so that in the time it takes to chant the circle opening, you can successfully circumambulate the altar three times.

EXERCISES