Posts Tagged ‘Rituals’

Important Alter Tools

{ November 6, 2009 @ 6:31 pm } · { The Alter }
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Below is a list of alter tools that I have called “Important Alter Tools”. This is not to say that the others I will post about in a few days are any less important. I have only found that these are the ones it was difficult to find something around the house to use as a substitute. Many witches will disagree with me about this point and many others will have a different list of items that they deem the important category. For my purposes, this is the list that were difficult to replicate. If you do substitute items, make certain that you do cleanse and consecrate those items before you use them in ritual and treat them as ritual items (storing them properly away after use) rather than putting them back on your shelves and using them again.

Wand
A wand should be used to direct your power and focus it. A wand should be chosen by the user for the initial power that is felt during the search. Wands chosen during the full moon are said to be charge with immense power in their own right, while those chosen during the new moon are a blank slate and can be infused or charged in any manner the user wants. Infusing it with your own power makes the wand more predictable and easier to use by the novice.
Cauldron
The cauldron is the symbol of water and rebirth, as well as a representation of the womb of the Goddess. This tool can also symbolize death and the return to the Earth as well as birth from the Earth or as a symbol of fertility and harvest. It is used in most rituals.
Candles/Holders
Candles are used for many different purposes in your rituals. They are used to intensify your energy for your purpose, to honor the Goddess and God, to honor the elements and to light your way to the magick and spiritual purpose you are trying to reach. The colors will change for each ritual performed but your candlesticks will always be a part of your alter…silver is the metal of the Goddess and for that reason I like to use silver candlesticks.
Dish of Salt
The salt is a symbol of purity and is used to cleanse and consecrate objects. Placing objects in salt or in salt water under full moonlight cleanses and charges them with Earth power. Sacred salt must be cleansed and consecrated especially when used in ritual. Any type of salt may be used but as a general rule, sea salt is a natural formation from the sea and therefore would be a better choice.
Goblet for Water
During ritual, salt is sprinkled into the water and taken into the body to symbolize the imbibing of the Goddess and Her elements. The water is also used in cleansing rituals for tools and for the home and sacred space. The water on the altar must be consecrated for use.
Incense Burner
The censer can be of any size and shape and can be made of most any material except wood. The best choice is one with feet or hanging by a chain so that it is not directly on the altar. Incense is the symbol of air and fire, the symbol of the God and is used in most rituals. Choose the incense scent that is right for your spell or ritual with regard to the overall state of mind you wish to invoke.

As I said before this is only a list of the items I found it hard to substitute with something else that I have around the house. You will notice, that I have not listed your Book of Shadows on this list. This is because, as long as you have consecrated the print-out of your ritual/spell or have it memorized, it is not necessary to have that on your alter. It is a good thing to have there with you but it is not required for you to keep it on your alter.

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.

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.

Samhain Ritual

{ October 27, 2009 @ 7:51 pm } · { Sabbats }
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What is Samhain

Samhain is the beginning of the new Wheel Year for Wicca and Pagans. The old year has passed, all the leaves have fallen from the trees and the Earth slowly begins to die around us. The harvest has been gathered and all the animals have been brought in from the fields. At sunset on Samhain (October 31st), the Celtic New Year begins.

The rituals of Samhain take place over three consecutive nights and are designed to honor the ancestors that came before us. It is a good time to contact the spirits of those ancestors because the veil between this world and the other is at its thinnest. For that reason, at least one night of celebration should be used for divination of some kind.

Always remember that a ritual is a personal thing, I will put a ritual here for you to use or as a guideline for you to write your own. I like to extend my rituals…performing the same core ritual each of the three nights and then using a different sub-activity for each night. The night before, I use the time between ritual and feast for meditation. The night of the Sabbath, I spend that time in divination exercises and the last night I once again spend time in meditation of what I learned. The way that you arrange your ritual is entirely up to you.

Decorations for this celebration should be any sort of fall decorations that you wish to use. I prefer to use pictures of family members…those still with us and those that have passed. I decorate the table with a cornucopia and fall leaves/limbs from outside as well as some fun harvest theme items that I purchase at the store. I always include the house guardian in any rituals and like to have decorative candlesticks to mark the perimeters of the circle so those can be used as decorations too.

My Samhain Ritual

Before you open your circle, arrange white, red and black candles on the left side of alter; green, black and yellow candles on the right side. Set up your alter with other alter tools and place your circle candles around the designated area. Open your circle and begin your ritual as follows…

Turn to candles on the left and say “I light three candles for the Triple Goddess…The Great Lady of three aspects. (Light white candle) Glorious Maiden, Goddess of youth and new beginnings, dawn and the planted seed. (Light red candle) Great Mother, Goddess of magic and plenty, love and knowledge. (Light black candle) Dark Crone, wise Goddess of the night, death and rebirth. I welcome the Goddess in all Her forms.”

Turn to candles on the right and say “I light three candles for the Triple God…Great Lord of many faces. (Light yellow candle) Bright Sun King, God of success and plenty. (Light green candle) Horned God of the Woodlands, God of fertility and growth. (Light black candle) Dark Lord of the Underworld, God of protection and rest. I welcome the God in all of His forms.”

“Blessed Be!”

“This is the Feast of the Dead, the night of the Wheel-turning year that brings us to the thin veil. The gate between the worlds stands open this night. I honor my ancestors; whose voices come to me on the whispering wind. All of those who wish me well are welcome within this circle.”

Place bread and salt on pentacle and say “This is Ancestor Night, the night strongest for communication with those gone to Emania, those who now dwell in the presence of the Old Gods. The veil has been lifted that I may know I am not forgotten. All those who wish me well are welcome within this circle.”

Raise chalice of wine in toast “I ask all who have gathered here to join me in this feast. May we always have good health, prosperity and happiness.”

Put wine chalice on pentacle and say “May I always be strong in body, mind and spirit. To the Old Gods! Merry meet, merry part, merry meet again. Blessed Be!

Facing the Goddess candles on the left side of alter, say “The year-wheel has turned, the harvest has come again. I have sown many thought-seeds since last Samhain. Let the good be harvested; let those that would hinder or harm me be cast aside. The Triple Goddess has covered me with Her gentle hands, guided my steps, heard my desires; for this I give her honor and love.”

Tap pentacle with your wand three times, “Give me clear knowledge of the path I must follow, hear my desires O Great Ones! Guide and protect me, lead me to greater knowledge and fulfillment.” Observe a moment of silence for spirit guidence then say “All love and honor the Great Lady and Her Lord! Blessed Be!”

Now is the time to break from the ritual area to join in the feast of all of your food choices as well as your meditations and divinations. Don’t forget to give thanks to the Goddess for the bounty of food you are eating and toast to the Old Gods. When the party is over, don’t forget to close the circle (to keep out evil) and I always put some of the left over food outside around the perimiter of my home dwelling…legend has it that if the fairies eat the food by morning, you will be under their protection.

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