REFOCUSING OURSELVES
This is where we begin to get into that “Circle
state of mind”.
Saltbathing:
Bathing before ritual to rid ourselves of negative
energies we may have gathered in the day. Several ways of doing this…shower,
sink, bath. See also Saltbathing
Ritual
Smudging:
A way of using the smoke from burning herbs
as a way to cleanse the body, an object, or a given area of negative influences.
We cleanse the aura of negative energies that we may have gathered in the
day.
Anoint:
v : administer a sacred oil or ointment to in
a religious ceremony of blessing [syn: oil, anele, ambrocate]
So this is the initial blessing of the cleansed
person.
Anointing can also be seen as consecrating
ourselves.
consecrate \Con"se*crate\, v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Consecrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Consecrating.] 1. To make, or declare
to be, sacred; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or
devote, to the service or worship of God; as, to consecrate a church; to
give (one's self) unreservedly, as to the service of God.
consecrate adj : solemnly dedicated to or
set apart for a high purpose; "a life consecrated to science"; "the consecrated
chapel"; "a chapel dedicated to the dead of World War II" [syn: consecrated,
dedicated] [ant: desecrated] v 1: of clerical posts; "he was ordained in
the Church" [syn: ordain, order] 2: dedicate to a deity by a vow [syn:
vow] 3: render holy by means of religious rites [syn: bless, hallow, sanctify]
[ant: desecrate]
Omming aka Grounding and Centering:
Centering: the act of feeling solid, balanced
and focused emotionally. Grounding: the act of dispelling negative emotions
and energies from the physical body. This is also where we see who is in
Circle with us. We look into one another’s eyes to acknowledge ourselves
and each other as spiritual beings who walk on the same sacred path.
CASTING THE CIRCLE
Call Quarters/Invoke Watchtowers:
WATCH TOWERS- {Enochian branch of Ceremonial
Magick}Many Trads of Wicca use theseas the four elemental "directions"
or
"quarters" (corresponding to the appropriate points on the compass) called
to protect the Circle during its erection and during its use. Each of them
have a correspondence between the compass point, an element, and (varying
amongst different traditions) color associated with them.
Skeletal invocations
East (Invocation)
Facing East: "Guardians of the watchtower
of the east, we do summon, stir, and call you up to protect us in our rite.
Join us as we celebrate (season) and guard us from all perils coming from
the East. We ask that you bring with you imagination and new beginnings
(etc...you will need to be aware of the Eastern Correspondences) So Mote
It Be!"
Responsorial: "So mote it be!"
South (Invocation)
Facing South: "Guardians of the watchtower
of the south, we do summon,stir, and call thee up to protect us in our
rite. Join us as we celebrate (season) and guard us from all perils coming
from the South.. We ask that you bring with you passion and excitement
(etc...you will need to be aware of the Southern Correspondences) So Mote
It be!"
Responsorial: "So Mote it Be!"
West (Invoking)
Facing West: "Guardians of the watchtower
of the west, we do summon, stir, and call thee up to protect us in our
rite. Join us as we celebrate (season) and guard us from all perils coming
from the West. We ask that you bring with you deep emotions and intuition(etc...you
will need to be aware of the Western Correspondences) So Mote It be!"
Responsorial: "So mote it be!"
North (Invoking)
Facing North: "Guardians of the watchtower
of the north, we do summon, stir, and call thee up to protect us in our
rite. Join us as we celebrate (season) and guard us from all perils coming
from the North. We ask that you bring with you steadfastness and courage(etc...you
will need to be aware of the Northern Correspondences) So Mote It be!"
Responsorial: "So mote it be!"
BLESSING THE ELEMENTS:
We are casting out negative energies
from the elements on the altar. We do this so that all things in Circle
are as pure as possible.
Air, Water, Fire, Earth. Say the following
(or words of your own choosing) as you come into contact with each element.
NOTE: Fire and Air can be seen as one in the incense or you can use the
Spirit candle for that. I place my athame and NOT my finger into the flame!
"I do cast out any and all impurities both of the spirit and of the mundane.
Be cast out that which is not in perfect accord with my will. As I will
it, so mote it be"
Responsorial: "So mote it be!"
CASTING THE CIRCLE THREE TIMES ROUND:
1. With water and earth (feminine first
in the Lady's time)
2 With air and fire (masculine first in
the Lord's time)
3. With the energy
I cast three times to acknowledge the Triple
face of the Lord and of the Lady. Also to incorporate all the elements
including Spirit which is Energy.
CALL IN THE LADY AND THE LORD (and Spirit if
you will)
I normally only invoke Lady and Lord, but many
many witches will also call Spirit to Circle.
Invocation:
1) An appeal or petition to a higher power/s.
2) a prayer.
3) a request for a Diety's appearance or
attendance during ritual.
4)the practice that produces an awareness
of Deity within.
invoke \In*voke"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Invoked; p. pr. & vb. n. Invoking.] [F. invoquer, L. invocare; pref.
in- in, on + vocare to call, fr. vox voice. See Voice, and cf. Invocate.]
To call on for aid or protection; to invite earnestly or solemnly; to summon;
to address in prayer; to solicit or demand by invocation; to implore; as,
to invoke the Supreme Being, or to invoke His and blessing.
“The Circle is Perfect”
The HP or HPS turns to the group and
announces that the Circle is perfect. This signifies that the Lady and
Lord are in Circle and the boundaries are set. Also it is a reminder
of that eternal password "Enter in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust".
There is so much more to this statement than just being comfortable with
those you stand in Circle with.
BODY OF THE RITUAL
This is the portion for worship, meditation/pathworkings,
spellworking (note: I normally don’t work magic on Sabbats, but save that
for Esbats)
CAKES AND WINE
Pick up a cake and take a small piece of it.
"I bless these cakes and remember the grain from which they came and the
hands that claimed the grain. Thus do we understand both the giver and
the gift" [place in libation bowl]
HEIROS GAMOS
The Heiros Gamos is the Sacred Marriage of the
God and the Goddess. It is a sometimes real but often symbolic joining
of the balance. That balance can be seen as an outward gender or an inward
leaning. To see it as merely gender joining is to miss the greater whole
of what it truly is. Part of what it does is to remind us that They are
us. Another part is to remind us of the balance that Is.
The words she speaks are "As the cup is to
the female"
The words he speaks are "So the athame is
to the male"
The words they will speak together are "Thus
conjoined, they bring blessedness"
He hands the chalice to her "May you never
thirst". She hands it back with the same phrase. Then they pass it to the
left. The cakes follow.
Here is where the coveners can relax a bit
and talk about what they felt and saw in Circle. Think of it as “sharing
time”.
Taking the Circle Down
DISMISS OR BANISH QUARTERS/WATCHTOWERS
The Quarters/Watchtowers which were invoked,
must be dismissed. What follow are samples of the ones I use.
East (Banishment)
Facing East: "Guardians of the watchtower
of the east, we do thank you for guarding our Circle from all perils coming
from the East and 'ere ye depart for your lovely realms of beauty and Mystery,
we bid you hail and farewell."
Responsorial: "Hail and farewell!"
South (Banishing)
Facing South: "Guardians of the watchtower
of the south, we do thank you for guarding our Circle from all perils coming
from the South and 'ere ye depart for your lovely realms of beauty and
Mystery, we bid you hail and farewell."
Responsorial: "Hail and farewell"
West (Banishing) Facing West: "Guardians
of the watchtower of the west, we do thank you for guarding our Circle
from all perils coming from the West and 'ere ye depart for your lovely
realms of beauty and Mystery, we bid you hail and farewell."
Responsorial: "Hail and farewell!"
North (Banishing)
Facing North: "Guardians of the watchtowers
of the north, we do thank you for guarding our Circle from all perils coming
from the North and 'ere ye depart for your lovely realms of beauty and
Mystery, we bid you hail and farewell."
Responsorial: "Hail and farewell!"
OPEN CIRCLE
This is where the HPS formally opens Circle
by cutting the boundary of Circle with her athame or fingers.
MARK THE DEPARTURE OF THE LADY AND THE LORD
Thanking the Lord and the Lady for Their participation.
We generally ask Them for Their blessing “that You remain in our hearts
evermore”.
GIVE LEAVE TO DEPART
Often, other spirits may be drawn into Circle
because of the joyous energies. We always remind them that they must go,
but offer friendship and peace between us.
CLOSE CIRCLE
"Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again!"
Everyone together! And then a nice big group hug!
by my hand
Arwen Nightstar
July 30, 1999 during a Mercury Retrograde
(C) Rights Reserved, Ask before using this for any
purpose *other* than a single use copy in a personal, off-line Book of
Shadows.1998-2000 |
