How to Become a Witch, Amber K. [new books to read .txt] 📗

worked by itself, it will often pack more power if worked within a sacred circle, as the centerpiece of a ritual.

Ritual Magick

Ritual is a very important tool for Witches everywhere. There are three kinds of ritual, broadly speaking, in the modern Craft:

Celebratory Rituals: Sabbat celebrations, some moon rituals, anything that marks the turning of the seasons or a special event.

Transformative Rituals: These involve magick to change yourself or your world. Often they are performed at esbats, but they can be done whenever needed.

Rites of Passage: These mark a turning point in an individual’s life such as a baby blessing, coming-of-age ceremony, handfasting, initiation, or croning. They are partly celebratory and partly transformative.

Ritual can be as simple as lighting a candle or a stick of incense or as complex as casting a full circle and including many other activities. But normally we are talking about a process with the following steps:

Defining the Purpose: Never do ritual just because it’s on someone’s calendar. The purpose may be to celebrate the Summer Solstice, join two lovers in a handfasting, or “perform whatever practical magick each covener needs this night, drawing the power of the full moon.” Sometimes the purpose is simple, and sometimes, with self-transformation or social change, it can require much thought and careful phrasing to be clear.

Gathering Tools and Supplies: In chapter 4 we talked about the magickal equipment and supplies you may want to obtain. Some Witches use a few simple tools in ritual; some go all-out for the most ornate and expensive. Either can be effective, for it is the will that makes the Witch, not the tool.

Setting Up the Altar: Decorate your altar with items that reflect the sabbat, the season, the phase of the moon, or otherwise enhance the purpose of your ritual. Use your imagination, and have fun!

Self-Preparation: Begin the process that moves you mentally and emotionally into sacred space. This may include a ritual bath, putting on robes (or removing your clothes), wearing special jewelry, meditating, chanting, or anything else that puts you in the mood and mindset.

Gathering: If you work with a group, decide what will help everyone make the transition. In some covens, members gather in a circle and hold hands. In other traditions, a leader casts the circle, then invites people to enter through a gateway, where they are purified and welcomed.

Attunement: This can be any activity that helps participants connect and harmonize with one another mentally, energetically, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Chant together. Hold hands and hum. Have a short drumming circle. Listen to a brief guided meditation. The activity should help everyone feel fully present and in touch with everyone else. If you are working solitary, ground and center, then think about the work you will do. You may also want to chant, drum, or dance.

Cleansing: Remove all negative or distracting energies by sprinkling the circle with saltwater, carrying incense around the edge, smudging each person with burning sage, or sweeping the circle with your ritual besom (broom).

Casting the Circle: This is also called creating sacred space or establishing the temple. You will create a spherical shell of energy around the participants (or just yourself), using an athame or sword to direct the power. The circle contains and focuses the energy you raise until you are ready to send it to your goal, and it keeps away energies or entities that might disrupt the work. To cast the circle, walk deosil (clockwise), pointing your athame where you want the circle to manifest, and will the circle to come into being. Say aloud words like these:

I conjure thee, O circle of power, that thou beist a boundary between the world of humanity and the realms of the Mighty Ones, a guardian and a protection, to preserve and contain the power we (I) shall raise within; wherefore, do I bless and consecrate thee!

Visualize a ring of blue fire springing up where you point, and when the circle is complete, see the energies rising up and extending down from the ring until they touch at top and bottom, creating a translucent blue sphere (partly below the floor) with you in the center. When done, state, “So mote it be!” to strengthen the sphere.

Which way around the circle?

Deosil is the Wiccan word for sunwise, sunward, or clockwise, from the Druid term deiseal. It is pronounced “jesh’-ul” and is the direction that Witches move around the circle when we cast the circle or raise energy. Widdershins, from Lowland Scots, or tuathal, from Scots Gaelic, mean counterclockwise, and we move that way when doing magick for banishing or releasing.

Calling the Quarters: Facing each cardinal point of the compass in turn (usually east, then south, then west, and finally north), invite the elemental powers to attend. For example: “Spirit of Air, I call upon you to be present this night and lend your powers to my/our work.” It might also involve mudras, music, dance, or song. It serves a dual purpose. First, it reminds you to be present and engaged in every way: mentally, emotionally, energetically, and physically. Second, it brings the spirits of air, fire, water, and earth to the edge of the circle to empower your magick. (Note: Do not invite the elements into the circle, or the air will blow out the candles after the priestess’s sleeve catches on fire, and she knocks over the chalice, drowning the cakes, etc.)

Invoking Deity: Your deities may be general or specific, from “Great Spirit” to “Lady and Lord” to “Athena and Apollo.” You may simply invite them to be present. But a trained and experienced Witch may aspect Deity (also called “Drawing Down the Moon [or Sun],” or “assuming the God-form”). This means that a specific deity—for example, Athena—is invited to enter the Witch’s body and speak through her or his lips. Goddess and/or God becomes incarnate; this is theurgy in its purest form.

Stating the Purpose: Because all words are Words of Power, it helps to focus energy if you speak your