Ritual in Theory and Practice

Page 17

AIR

 

For this ritual we will cleanse the space by smudging. This can be done by you or any member of the group.

 

Light a charcoal beforehand, so that it is ready for use by the time you are ready to begin. Make sure the charcoal is in a heat resistant censor suitable for the purpose, which has a chain or handle which will not get hot, so that it can be picked up and carried.

 

When it is time to begin, have the people assemble OUTSIDE the ritual space. After the space is cleansed, they will be brought in one at a time.

 

Place dried sage or a powdered incense such as sage, cedar, or sandalwood, in the censor. Take the censor and walk tuathal around the ritual area: fan the smoke throughout the space, either by hand or using a ceremonial fan. Imagine all negative energy being forced out of the area and see the area being filled with yellow-white light.

 

Once the space is cleansed, move deosil around the area. Continue to fan the smoke throughout the ritual space and as you do so imagine it filling with blue-white light. It might be good to say something like:

 

“I Bless this space…I Bless this space… I Bless this space…”

 

Now begin to bring the people in. Cleanse each person individually: Hold the censor before them and fan the smoke over them. Fan the smoke all up and down the front of the person’s body, then have them turn around and do the same to the back side of their body. Now welcome the person and allow them to enter the Circle. Repeat this process for each person until all have entered the Circle.

 

We will now cast our Circle. For this ritual we will cast the Circle from hand to hand. To do this, begin by turning to the person deosil to you. Take their hand and say something like:

 

“From hand to hand I cast this Circle.”

 

Or

 

“From heart to heart I cast this Circle.”

 

Or

 

“In perfect love and perfect trust I cast this Circle.”

 

Or however you prefer to do it.

 

Then this person will take the hand of the next person and repeat the same words. The next person will do the same thing, and so on around the Circle until it returns to you and everyone is holding hands. Now say something like:

 

“Behold, we join together to cast this Circle, that it may be a token of the bond of love between us. Imagine the energy running from hand to hand, person to person. See the energy as beautiful, clear white light filled with strength and love and power. See the energy grow and strengthen. See it begin to expand around us, the Circle of energy moving out around us to fill our ritual space and make a barrier at its edges. See that barrier become a wall of clear, strong white light: A wall to contain and strengthen our energy as we work.

 

“Behold, we do cut apart a place between the realms of humankind and of the Mighty Ones: A Circle of Art to focus and contain the powers we shall raise herein! The Circle is cast! So Mote It Be!”

 

ALL

”SO MOTE IT BE!”

 

Now release hands and continue.

 

FIRE

 

We will invoke the Quarters using animal imagery. Using animal Guardians at the Quarters is a very ancient idea and is especially good if you have a Shamanic bent.

 

Begin in the East. Use the Wand, Sacred Tool of Fire, or if you prefer, use your fingers. Raise the Wand, imagining as you do so a column of pure white light arising in the East, at the border of the Circle. See the column as strong and pure and filled with energy. Say something like:

 

EAST

“I do invoke You, O Golden Eagle of the East! Power of Air! The beating of Your wings raises the winds of inspiration and enlightenment! Share with us Your powers of thought and delineation, that we may have clarity of mind and thought. Join us: be with us: guide and inspire us in this our holy ritual! We bid You Hail and Welcome”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

 

SOUTH

“I do invoke You, O Red Dragon of the South! Power of Fire! You breathe forth the flames of passion and manifestation! Share with us Your powers of creativity and courage that our actions may be confident and effective! Join us: be with us: guide and inspire us in this our holy ritual! We bid You Hail and welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

 

WEST

“I do invoke You, O Blue Dolphin of the West! Power of Water! From Your blow hole You spout waves of sensitivity and compassion! Share with us Your powers of love and empathy that our emotions may be open and free flowing! Join us: be with us: guide and inspire us in this our holy ritual! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

 

NORTH

“I do invoke You, O Black Bear of the North! Power of Earth! You make Your home in the cave which resonates with wisdom and understanding! Share with us Your powers of focus and integration that we may be steady and well grounded! Join us: be with us: guide us and inspire us in this our holy ritual!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

Now it is time to invoke Deity. Since Grand Sabbats are Lunar ceremonies, the Goddess will be invoked first. In this case we shall invoke the Goddess not in any particular personal form, but in Her Archetype as Crone. You might choose to invoke Deity for this ritual through a Personal form. As you will remember from your First-Degree studies, Personal forms of this Archetype include Hekate, Morrighan, and Kali.

 

The Priestess raises her arms to call upon the Goddess. She might say something like:

 

PRIESTESS

“Hail unto You, O Crone of Endless Ages! Grandmother! Ancient One! Mistress of Magic and the Night, Lady of Dreams and Visions! Enchantress, Queen of Spirits and of the Otherworld -on this night when the Veil is thinnest, this night when we are most conscious of our mortality and of our immortality- we call to You! Stygian Lady, Who holds the Keys of Life and Death -Who transforms matter and Who comforts the Soul! Come to us now! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

Now imagine the Goddess entering the Circle -imagine it in any way which makes sense to you –perhaps by imagining the Goddess in human form, or as a shower of glittering light, or as a ball or tower of light appearing in the Circle.

 

Now let us invoke the God in His archetype as Sorcerer. As you will remember from your First-Degree studies, Personal forms of this archetype include Cernunnos, Odin, and Santa Claus.

 

The Priest raises his arms to call upon the God. He might say something like:

 

PRIEST

“We invoke You O Sorcerer, Lord of Dreams and Midnight! Psychopomp! Guardian of the Gates of Life and Death! Guide and Guardian of the Spirits! Horned Hunter of the Night, Who leads the Wild Ride of Souls! On this dark night, when we reach out to those who have gone before, we call to You, Lord of Visions! Guide us on our journey as You guide those who travel between the worlds! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

 

Now visualize the God entering the Circle.

 

Finally, invoke the Ancestors. You might say something like:

 

“O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, we invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us –lend us Your inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray. Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

 

ALL

“Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

WEST
“I do invoke You, O Blue Dolphin of the west! Power of Water! From Your blow hole You spout waves of sensitivity and compassion! Share with us Your powers of love and empathy that our emotions may be open and free flowing! Join us: be with us: guide and inspire us in this our holy ritual! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

NORTH
“I do invoke You, O Black Bear of the North! Power of Earth! You make Your home in the cave which resonates with wisdom and understanding! Share with us Your powers of focus and integration that we may be steady and well grounded! Join us: be with us: guide us and inspire us in this our holy ritual!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now it is time to invoke Deity. Since Grand Sabbats are Lunar ceremonies, the Goddess will be invoked first. In this case we shall invoke the Goddess not in any particular form, but in Her Archetype as Crone. You might choose to invoke Deity for this ritual through a Personal form. As you will remember from your First-Degree studies, Personal forms of this Archetype include Hekate, Morrighan, and Kali.

The Priestess raises her arms to call upon the Goddess. She might say something like:

PRIESTESS
“Hail unto You, O Crone of Endless Ages! Grandmother! Ancient One! Mistress of Magic and the Night, Lady of Dreams and Visions! Enchantress, Queen of Spirits and of the Otherworld -on this night when the Veil is thinnest, this night when we are most conscious of our mortality and of our immortality- we call to You! Stygian Lady, Who holds the Keys of Life and Death -Who transforms matter and Who comforts the Soul! Come to us now! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now imagine the Goddess entering the Circle -imagine it in any way which makes sense to you –perhaps by imagining the Goddess in human form, or as a shower of glittering light, or as a ball or tower of light appearing in the Circle.

Now let us invoke the God in His archetype as Sorcerer. As you will remember from your First-Degree studies, Personal forms of this archetype include Cernunnos, Odin, and Santa Claus.

The Priest raises his arms to call upon the God. He might say something like:

PRIEST
“We invoke You O Sorcerer, Lord of Dreams and Midnight! Psychopomp! Guardian of the Gates of Life and Death! Guide and Guardian of the Spirits! Horned Hunter of the Night, Who leads the Wild Ride of Souls! On this dark night, when we reach out to those who have gone before, we call to You, Lord of Visions! Guide us on our journey as You guide those who travel between the worlds! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now visualize the God entering the Circle.

Finally, invoke the Ancestors. You might say something like:

“O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, We invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us –lend us Your inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray. Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”