Witches Haven

Rituals

Maybe you have been to a public ritual, perhaps invited to a private one or your only exposure has been the television or other entertainment media. If it is the latter? Do me a favour? Just forget what you've seen; most of it is crap, with a very small percentage of actual factoids.

I am not a fan of public rituals. Oh sure, it can give you a vague idea of what a ritual is supposed to look like but rituals are as individual and SHOULD be as personal as your fingerprints. Each one different because if they are not? It becomes, very quickly, an exercise in rote.

Even a Sabbat ritual should be new, not relying on some formula from Sabbats past. Every day is different, we've managed to learn something new and so it should be with Sabbats. None of us are the same people we were from one Sabbat to the next and ritual should reflect that changing, the growth or the regression of our lives.

There is a pattern to ritual, guidelines to follow but don't get mired down in detail. It defeats the purpose. Details obsession will rob you of the opportunity for a successful and significant celebration.

Okay, so you have flubbed words, forgotten a stanza or three. So? You think someone is grading you on this? If someone is? Then grab your shoes and blow the joint.

This is your ritual, make it your ritual, not High Priestess Sunny Rosefart's but your ritual.

There are basics that most Neo-Pagans follow with a few exceptions and if you have been doing any research, you'll already know this. Astaruars, for example, have their own rituals - Blots, with their own way of doing things. For the most part however, in North America - what you'll find next is pretty much standard bones of the thing.

Make sure you are clean, inside and out. By inside, I mean that you are free of any negative emotions or overtly positive ones. You want to be in a state of calm. The Deities will inject you with whatever They feel you need during the ritual. Your job is to be an open bowl, accepting of what They give you.

If there are other people present? Demand that all cell phones are turned off. Not put on vibrate but turned completely off. Period. They emit energy and you don't want that polluting your circle. Get them to leave the phones in their coat pockets or in another room - TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. Needless to say, or sadly, not so needless to say - this goes for any personal listening devices as well. No cameras or other artificial energy sources. Even watches should be removed to another room.

Here is a practical example of a Ritual that was performed about 5 years ago: Practical Example Take a look and then continue on with this page.

So, here we go - the bones of a ritual:

1. Cleansing of the area.

2. Calling of the Quarters/Watchtowers/Watchers/Guardians/Elements (we invoke Archangels but we're Thelemic in our bent and I don't recommend you try this at home.) You should be going in a Sunward direction - clockwise, in other words. You wil hear the word "deosil" in the Pagan community and someone may try to tell you it is gaelic. It isn't. There is no such word in any of the Gaelic dialects. I checked nor does show up in any entymology books I've ever seen. Leave it alone, it sounds pompous and to anyone with any language skills? It sounds silly.

3. Invoking God and Goddess

4. Actual Ritual - things you want to say to the Deities, a bit about the Sabbat, it's importance in the grand scheme of things.

5. We do a metaphorical Great Rite, with the Chalice and the Athame because 3 of the members of our coven are our sons. A very, very few people actually practice the Great Rite in deed. It is celebrated between the Priestess and her High Priest. Yes, it is what you think it is. The Greatest of all Rites - copulation done in the name of the Deities, for the Deities, as the Deities. I also don't recommend you do this at home either. It is an intensely personal thing and a choice that needs to be very well thought out. It is ONLY the High Priestess and her Priest that conduct the Great Rite. Don't let any horny bastard tell you otherwise. You WILL NOT automatically be a High Priestess because you did the Priest. It doesn't work that way. Period.

6. Cakes and Ale (kind of like a religious cookies and milk thing)

7. Bid good bye and thank you to the God and Goddess.

8. Ground yourselves if necessary.

9. Close/dismiss the Quarters/Elements/Watchtowers/Watchers (many terms).

10. You are done.

A Little More Detail

Establish how large a circle you'll need - if you're Solitary, that particular point is moot. If you aren't and there will be others involved - figure out a comfortable amount of space, where people have some freedom of movement. Not ballroom dancing movement, just the ability to breath without doing it in somebody else's face. You are looking for intimacy, not an invitation to orgy although..if that's what you want? Whatever rocks your boat - I wouldn't recommend it however.

Find your directions - get a compass if you are directionally challenged; you're looking to mark off North, East, South and West. I like a little something down on the floor that represents the elements associated with the directions. Without getting into complexities - I'll use our interpretation. It isn't universal or even terribly common but we have our reasons.

North - something of the earth - like a rock or a piece of mineral, gemstone, whatever. Something OF the earth.

East - something of the sun and air. A yellow marble? A fan or a feather? Wheat. An egg coloured bright yellow.

South - for us, south is Water. For others it is Fire. A shell works for me in the South.

West - again, for us the West represents fire. The sun setting, it's fire as it sets. A photograph of a fire is good here or something red.

If you are good with the whole candle thing - you can mark the quarters (directions) off with candles. I am not so good with open flame. Choose candles of the appropriate colours - Black for Earth, yellow for sun/air, blue for water and of course, red or orangey-red for West.

Set up your altar. Two candles - one representing the God and the other representing the Goddess or male and female as you see fit. I put the Goddess on the right and the God on the left. No particular reason, that's just what works for me in order to accomplish a successful ritual.

I've done rituals with just the God and rituals with just the Goddess but these were for specific purposes, not celebrating Sabbat.

If you have an altar tile (usually has the pentacle on it {pentacle is a pentagram with a circle around it} could be wood, marble or any other natural product - place it between the candles or if you are working with one candle, in back/front of the candle closest to you.

A Chalice (a simple glass is just fine) to hold mead, wine, water or juice - a representation of the flowing of life from the Goddess.

The Athame. Controversial is the old Athame. Essentially, it is a knife. Not a butter knife but a sharpened knife - along the lines of a dagger. Some believe it must be sharpened on both edges, some are cool with just one side. Some folks have both black and white handled Athames - a little too, too for us. We have the one. It represents the God, hunting, protecting and phallic. You could, conceivably use a hunting knife. In a pinch, I guess a steak knife would be alright but try to keep your Athame for ritual purpose only. I wrap mine in silk when not in use.

A few decorations acknowledging the reason for the Sabbat. Mabon, for example, could see a few apples on there; they can double as the "feast" part of your ritual if you have one.

Choose some incense if you would like. Not everyone likes incense so complimentary scented candles are fine.

Cleanse the area - use water and salt if you like, sprinkling each around the exterior and interior of the circle.
Some people burn sage. Your choice. You can also visualize the circle as cleansed; this does take a bit of practice and expertise however. Not everyone is good with visualization. Do what works best for you.

Gather your Pagans in the circle. Take your Athame and begin the calling of the Quarters. As you call them, draw the pentagram in the air with your Athame.

How you call your Quarters is up to you. Look around at what is being done, do some reading and then find the way that works best in your mind. It doesn't nor should it be complicated. It should be honest and from your heart. You are invoking them to inject their energy and to protect the circle, the members inside circle. Come up with something appropriate to you.

Before proceeding to the invocation of the Deities, welcome your guests/coven members and invite everyone to take a few deep breaths and cleanse themselves, calm themselves. Do the same.

Now, you begin to invoke the Goddess - we start with her. Some start with the God. Your ritual, your choice. Light Her candle as you speak the invocation, either one you have written yourself or the Traditional Charge.

Invite everyone to allow the Goddess into them.

Now, do the same and invoke the God. Again, use a Charge if you prefer or right your own. Notes are perfectly acceptable. Just try not to catch them on fire if you are reading a little too close to the candle. It is disruptive ;)

Time for your actual ritual - any workings/spells that need doing. Things you want to impart on your coven mates; statements of goals, aspirations and pledges to the Deities that you will honour them, always. In everything you do. A ritual can be workings as mentioned or it could be just a talk on your part. I recommend that you get your coven mates involved. Have them speak up, in turn, regarding the subject matter or goals of the ritual.

Now, the Great Rite - find the words that, again, work best for you. There are a lot of examples out there. Be discerning though and always respectful. If you have never been to a ritual where Great Rite was actually performed, if you have never worked under a High Priestess or Priest to learn the whole concept of Great Rite - then don't perform it "for real". Go with the metaphorical, with the Athame being plunged into a Chalice of fluid is the best way for all concerned.

Cakes and Ale portion. And who doesn't like their cookies and milk?? A food and drink, again, representative of the Sabbat/Ritual. Apple Juice at Mabon, with apple cookies or chips. Cider at Samhain, maybe pumpkin cookies or squares.

It is a time to communicate with each other in Divine company. Relaxed and secure is the feeling you are going for here.

When the cakes and ale are done, it is time say Good If You Will, Stay If You Must with thanks. You don't order Deities around, everything is always done with the utmost respect and love.

Then the Quarters - starting at the last direction summoned. So you are going counter clockwise or widdershins. Widdershins is another word used in the Pagan community - this one ACTUALLY is gaelic. I don't use the term, personally. I try not use any terms in ritual that aren't common and familar to me; sometimes it is unavoidable though.

Now, it is important to actually DISMISS the Quarters (or whatever you call them) as they do represent some powerful and uncontrollable forces/elements. Politely and with respect. Say your thank-you's and good- byes. A personal favourite of mine is "Hail and Farewell." It is polite, respectful and to the point. It is a good-bye. The reason for this is simple - do you really want a Fire Element leaving some remnant of itself behind? No. I didn't think so. So a fond, respectful and final good bye is essential.

If you have any questions or comments - feel free to drop us a line:

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