SPELLWEAVING - Ritual StructureThe Basics - Magic - http://www.chuckxc.com/gypsiefire/Spellweaving

Here is a very rudimentary outline of the ritual structure we utilise in our group. It comes from the Church of All Worlds. I personally like to share the work around, and so I have given some indication of what happens when I am the person conducting the ritual. Of course, in our group which is fairly eclectic, it will differ from person to person. I like the idea of sharing the "power", if you like, because I believe it is the best way to learn. I am far from a traditionalist in my point of view, so please bear this in mind as you are reading my outline.

The Structure of the Ritual

(Preparation, including individual bathing 'with intent to purify')
Everyone should do this - bathing or showering is quite acceptable, in your home, in the river or sea - wherever you like, provided you are bathing with the intention of cleansing and purifying for a ritual.

Banishing
This is usually conducted by the High Priestess (HPS) and High Priest (HP). It includes such things as consecrating salt, water and incense, purifying the space and preparing the circle for the participants in the ritual. Usually the rest of the people are welcomed into the circle after the banishing has taken place, although I did work in a group for a while where each person was encouraged to conduct part of the banishing. (One person would consecrate the salt, another would sweep out, another asperge and so on...)

Anointing
This is performed by the HPS and HP. The HPS welcomes each man and boy to the circle and the HP welcomes each woman and girl. Anointing with oil takes place and a welcome is made.

Introduction & Statement of Purpose
The HPS (usually) will welcome everyone, introduce the ritual, its meaning and then declare the purpose of the ritual (for example, healing the planet, creating unity in the group, formalising a coven and so on).

Grounding Visualisation
The grounding visualisation aims to bring each person closer to the earth and sky and to each other - at least this is how I see it. The purpose of grounding is to also bring a solid foundation to the working, to bring everyone in touch with the energies they will be working with in the ritual.

Water Sharing
This ritual signifies a bond of shared principles and tribal community, a momentary sip from the chalice that represents the Goddess, whom we all honour and adore. In drinking water, we are drinking from the magical law of "perfect love and perfect trust". This means that even with people we don't know, we behave in a way that would not betray this law. We agree to be excellent to each other.

Casting Circle
The circle is cast by the HPS. In the generic ritual there are a number of circle casting chants that I use. The purpose of casting a circle is to define sacred space, and to create a protected space, where the ritual, magick, the working can be performed.

Calling Quarters
The four quarters - the four elemental quarter - are called to guard the circle and witness the rites. There are a number of definitions of the four quarter entities. They are variously called Guardians of the Watchtowers, Lords of the Watchtowers, Guardian Spirits. I have seen several others used as well. Whatever you call them, they are there for protection and to add their power to the working. In our group, each quarter is called by a different person, although the Earth quarter is always called by the HPS. In more traditional covens, the HPS will call each quarter.

Thanking the Ancestors of the Land
At this point, because we are on Aboriginal land, we give thanks to the ancestor spirits. Usually the HPS will say this, or it will be given to a group member to say.

Invoking Deity
The invocations of the Goddess and the God. Generally the Goddess is invoked into the HPS by the HP and the God into the HP by the HPS.

Working and power raising
This will differ from ritual to ritual. There are a number of ways to raise the energy, the cone of power and so on, including chanting, dancing, fire leaping, drumming. use whatever is most appropriate for the ritual purpose.

Consecration and Communion of Sacraments
The blessing of the wine and cakes, sharing of the wine and cakes by everyone in the circle. (Our group prefers mead, but you can also use fruit juice.) The consecration of the wine is symbolic of the Great Rite, or sexual union of the Goddess and God or female and male principles. The consecration of the cake is to give thanks for the food we eat.

Discussion, Sharing, Music
This is the part where, still in the circle, we talk, laugh, tell stories, sing songs, play music, tell jokes and generally have a good time.-

Thanks and Dismissal of Deity and Elements: In reverse order of invocation
We thank the Goddess and God for their presence, dismiss the four quarters. This will generally be done by the HP and HPS (God and Goddess) and whoever called the quarters.

Opening the Circle
The circle is taken down by the HPS.

Consecrations

Place the bowl of salt on the pentacle which is on the altar.
Trace the invoking earth pentacle with the athame over the salt, saying:

Blessings be upon this Creature of Salt; let all malignity and hindrance be cast forth thence from, and let all good enter therein. Wherefore I bless thee and invoke thee, that thou mayest aid me in my work. So mote it be

Set aside salt and replace with water
Trace the banishing earth pentacle saying:

I exorcise thee of creature of water
That thou cast out from thee
All impurities and uncleanliness of the spirit
O the world of phantasm
May only the essence of the Goddess remain

Trace invoking water pentacle, saying:

IN THE NAMES OF THE GODDESS AND THE GOD
SO MOTE IT BE

or say:

Add the salt to the water, stir anti-clockwise, remove from pentacle and set aside

Replace with Altar Candle. Trace over it with invoking fire pentacle, saying:

I bless thee and consecrate thee
Oh Creature of Fire
That thou may aid me in my work
In the names of the Goddess and God,
So Mote it Be!

Remove from Pentacle, replace with Censor, incense and charcoal blocks

Trace over them banishing earth pentacle, saying:

And I do bless and consecrate thee
In the names of the Goddess and God
So Mote it Be!

Light the charcoal blocks from the altar candle, add incense to block and set aside

Consecrate the Besom

Goddess and God,
deign to bless and consecrate this besom
that it may obtain the necessary virtue
through you for all acts of love and beauty

Sweeping Out

With the besom or broom sweep out the circle area, moving deosil (counter-clockwise), spiralling out from the centre, saying forcefully:

With this tool of my will,
I banish from this space
the keepers and bearers of ill-will and disorder.
Disturb us not in our rite
disturb us not... disturb us not... disturb us not...

Asperging

Sprinkle the circle perimeter with salt followed by water, moving deosil, starting at the south altar. Sprinkle the quarters in particular and all within the circle.
Return salt and water to altar.

Take up incense censor and follow the same procedure.

Welcome

The Circle members can then be welcomed into the circle. First the Priest is called and the Priestesses kisses him at the threshold, bringing him into the circle to her right.

The rest are then welcomed one by one, the Priest admitting each woman with a kiss, and the Priestess each man. The third eye may be anointed with a magickal oil, appropriate for the Rite and a blessing and/or welcome may be spoken.

Each member, if they wish, can take part in the calling of the Elemental Quarters, by duplicating the Priestess's gestures with their own Athame (or by the pointing finger of their right hand).

Casting the Circle

Using the Athame or Sword, HPS starts from the South, moving deosil, or anti-clockwise, and draws the circle, saying:.

CUT THE CIRCLE, MAKE IT SOUND
CUT THE CIRCLE THREE TIMES ROUND
BETWEEN THE WORLDS THE CIRCLE’S BOUND
WHERE LOVE AND JOY AND TRUTH ARE FOUND

Then say:

The Circle is cast.
We are between the worlds,
beyond the bounds of time,
where night and day,
birth and death,
joy and sorrow meet as one.

(You can also simply say, "The Circle is Cast")

Calling the Quarters

Light the EAST candle (yellow), trace invoking pentacle of Air, saying:

Hail! Guardians of the watchtowers of the East,
elementals of air, I do summon, stir and call thee up
to attend and give protection to this, our rite.
I bid you welcome!

When presence is felt, ring bell

Repeat for:

North (fire - red or orange candle)
West (water - blue candle)
South (earth - green candle)
using proper words and pentacles for each point

Invoking the Goddess and God

Facing South, arms raised in drawing down the moon position, invoke the Goddess:

Gracious Goddess,
You who are the Queen of the Gods,
The Lamp of Night,
The Creator of all that is wild and free;
Mother of woman and man;
Lover of the Horned God, and Protectress of all the Craft;
Descend, I Pray,
With Your Lunar ray of power,
Upon my rite here!

or by chanting:

ISIS, ASTARTE, DIANA, HECATE, DEMETER, KALI, INNANA

or other specific deity invocation

When the presence of the Lady is felt, turn to the North with arms raised in the Horned God salute and invoke the God thus:

Blazing God,
You who are the King of the Gods,
Lord of the Sun,
Master of all that is wild and free;
Father of woman and man;
Lover of the Crescent Goddess, and protector of all the Craft;
Descend, I pray,
With Your Solar ray of power,
Upon my rite here!

or chant:

OSIRIS, ADONIS, CERNUNNOS, PAN, DIONYSUS, SHIVA, DUMUZI

The magickal working or celebration or rite then takes place

Wine and Cakes

Priest holds cup, Priestess lowers athame into wine and says:

"As the Athame is to the male, so the cup is to the female
May this wine be blessed by the power of their union

The Priestess then kisses the Priest. She takes a sip from cup and they kiss again.

Priest takes a sip and sup is passed man to woman, woman to man, with a kiss around the circle, leaving a little for libation.

The Priest takes up cakes, the Priestess sprinkles wine from the cup onto cakes with her Athame and says:

"O Queen, most secret, bless this food unto our bodies;
bestowing health, wealth, strength, joy and peace,
and that fulfilment of love which is perfect happiness"

The Priestess kisses the Priest, takes a cake, kisses him again and he takes a cake. The plate is passed around as with the wine, man to woman, woman to man, with a kiss leaving at least one for libation.

Closing the Circle

Thanks is given to the Goddess and the God for their presence and blessings, then extinguish their candles on the altar. Moving then to the South kneel before the altar, then trace a banishing pentacle before you, saying:

"Guardians of the watchtowers of the South
Elementals of Earth
We thank you for your presence in this circle
And for your protection and guidance, and we bid you
Hail and farewell!"

The quarter candle is then extinguished . repeat procedure for East, North and then West, changing appropriate words and banishing pentagrams accordingly.

Note: If invoking Earth pentacle was used to call all quarters, use banishing Earth pentacle to dismiss all quarters.

Open the circle by either tracing the perimeter with an Athame or turning from centre facing out, saying:

"The Circle is open, but ever unbroken. Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again!"

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Page Updated Fri May 17, 2002 5:03am EDT