Posts Tagged ‘directions’

Your Alter

{ November 5, 2009 @ 1:09 am } · { The Alter }
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The alter is going to be one of a witch’s most important tools during rituals. Any type of alter you prefer will do for this purpose. Your alter should be made of some natural material such as wood, or metal but if you would like to lay your supplies on the ground, just cover your alter area with an alter cloth. For my own purposes, I have a very bad back so I have to have an alter table that is waist high if I’m standing or I must kneel on a pillow during my rituals with an alter table that is comparable height for this position.

Your alter should be a size that holds all of the tools necessary for your rituals. For my own purposes, 3ft X 4ft seems to be a good size. That will hold all of my equipment and leave a little room to move things around as needed.

If choosing a color for your alter or alter cloth, remember that you will be using this same alter in many different types of rituals. It is best to choose a neutral color such as black or white so that you can generate the proper energies with your choice of candles and herbs during each ritual or spell. An alter cloth that can be soiled and easily cleaned should also be used to protect the surface in case of a spill.

Your alter is the representation of Earth and is your means of connecting your energy and magic directly to the Mother Earth, Herself. It should sit directly in the center of your circle and face toward the East. The direction of the sun rise is the direction of new beginnings. And when not in use, your alter should be cleaned up and put away, unless it is an outdoor alter or decorative shrine to a particular Goddess or God.

There are several alter tools that are used in ritual or spell depending on what your end goal may be. I am going to list them in several different posts with a short description of each. Some of these tools are a necessary item for every witch to have, some of them are nice to have but are not a requirement and some are what I refer to as luxury items that I feel are not something you really need to acquire unless you ask for them as gifts…You know, “What do you get for the witch that has everything.” Check back in a few days for the first of those posts about tools and a post of alter set-up as well.

Closing Your Circle

{ October 29, 2009 @ 12:35 am } · { The Circle }
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Closing the Circle

After you have finished your business in its entirety, you need to close the circle to be certain that your work is protected. This is done by performing the following at the end. (Holding Sacred Dagger over the Circle) “By the powers of the Ancient Gods, I bind the power within this circle into this spell. So be it mote. Blessed Be!”

(While putting out East candle) “Depart in peace, O Powers of Air! My thanks and Blessing. Blessed Be!”

(While putting out South candle) “Depart in peace, O Powers of Fire! My thanks and Blessing. Blessed Be!”

(While putting out West candle) “Depart in peace, O Powers of Water! My thanks and Blessing. Blessed Be!”

(While putting out North candle) “Depart in peace, O Powers of Earth! My thanks and Blessing. Blessed Be!”

“Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet again. My thanks and Blessing. Blessed Be!”

“The circle is open; yet ever it remains a circle. Around and through me always flows its magical power. Blessed Be!!”

Opening Your Circle

{ October 29, 2009 @ 12:06 am } · { The Circle }
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Opening the Circle

Once you have set up your alter for the specific ritual that you are preforming, you can get ready to open the circle and begin. Always remember to read over your ritual and opening the circle before you start. Once you have made certain all of your supplies are close at hand begin to open the circle, you don’t want to be running into the next room to get something you’ve forgotten. And remember, a ritual to the Goddess is REAL. If the baby (or pets) enter the area then that is the way the Goddess wishes it to be. However, you don’t want to stop to answer the phone in the middle of what you’re doing so turn it off. Our cat used to travel in and out of the circle during the entire ritual but the dog did not seem to be able to do that, he would lay under the alter table until we closed the circle at the end.

“The presence of the Noble Goddess extends everywhere, Throughout the many strange, magical and beautiful worlds. To all places of wilderness, enchantment and freedom.”

(To the East while lighting the Yellow {Air} candle) “Our Goddess is the Lady of Joy. The winds are Her servant.”

(To the South while lighting Red {Fire} Candle) “Our Goddess is the Goddess of Love. At Her blessing and desire the sun brings forth new life.”

(To the West while lighting Blue {Water} Candle) “The Seas are the domain of our Serene Lady. The mysteries of the depths are Hers alone.”

(To the North while lighting Green {Earth} Candle) “The Lady is Awesome. The powers of death bow before Her.”

The Circle is sealed and all herein are totally and completely apart from the outside world, that we may glorify the Lady whom we adore. Blessed Be! As above, so below. As the Universe, so the soul. As without, so within. Blessed One, Gracious One on this day do we consecrate to You our bodies, our minds and our spirits. Blessed Be!”

{Any Ritual, Spell or other business can now be conducted within the circle before closing when finished.}

The Circle

{ October 28, 2009 @ 11:26 pm } · { The Circle }
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What is the Circle?

The sacred circle is a barrier of energy (sometimes represented by a physical outline) used by practitioners of many branches of ritual magick, particularly in Wicca and other neo-pagan traditions.

Creating the circle is known as casting a circle. There are many different techniques for casting a circle, and covens as well as solitaries will often have thier own unique methods. The common feature of these practices is that a barrier of energy is traced in a circle around the working area. Some traditions say that one must go around the circle deosil or Sunwise, (East to West) three times. There may be various starting points based on cardinal directions.

A typical size for a coven circle is nine feet and an individual’s circle is five feet in diameter, though the size can vary depending on the purpose of the circle and the preference of the caster. According to the Rede it is said to: “Cast the circle thrice about To keep unwelcomed spirits out.”

Some practitioners choose to mark the physical boundary of their circle; either permanently at a time prior to uses or shortly before the casting. This can be done using a cord, a chalk line, a line drawn in the soil or by using small objects such as stones. This particular practitioners preference is to mark the four cardinal points with candles of the colours representative of the elements as follows:

  • North: green for the element of Earth
  • East: yellow for the element of Air
  • South: red for the element of Fire
  • West: blue for the element of Water

Though some practitioners, associate North with Air and East with Earth. Generally, as with most magical practices, an incantation is recited stating the purpose and nature of the circle.

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For instructions about creating your circle, see the posts Opening the circle closing the circle. They will both be listed in this category but are listed as separate posts to allow comments on each specific ritual. As with all of my rituals, the ones I post are the ones that I use myself and have come from a variety of sources including books, websites, friends and my own writing. For those that I did get from books or on the web, I don’t have the credits that are due and for that I am sorry. I hope that you find the information here helpful in creating your own rituals.

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