Outdoor Ritual & Bad Weather

[Flar's Freyja]

While I believe that Sabbats and Esbats should be conducted outdoors whenever possible, my fibromyalgia doesn't allow me to be out anymore in extreme heat or cold.

Last night, we got an unexpected rainstorm that started just before a planned Esbat ritual. Since I'd driven for 75 minutes to get there and the person who was facilitating didn't cancel the ritual, I decided that I needed to participate, both to support her and to confirm my commitment to my path.

It was cold (a relief after a 100+ degree day) and wet and I was wearing good clothes, but it was a great experience and I highly recommend having circle in the rain if the opportunity presents itself......but bring some dry clothes to change into afterward :ggrief: especially if you have a long drive :blushake:

When I got home, I was inspired to write about it:

Ritual for the Rain (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?p=1964701#post1964701)

Today, I had my usual morning cry but I got a few things accomplished, including some moving meditation, studying my new deck and performing a house blessing.

[Jenne]

Ooh, I love doing rits in a light rain...I did one once alone and ye gods it was powerful!

:hugz: for the cold and wet Frey tho! Hope you're warmer now, Hon!

[~Elise~]

It was a good ritual last night, even though I kept wringing out my clothes. And we are a nature religion, after all.

Granted, if it'd been me, I'd moved the thing under the shelter instead, but that is neither here nor there.

We have rituals outside during the winter...and have done meditations in the snow. It is great to get Nature Herself involved in the rituals.

Elise

[KEishin]

I had something similar with my Beltane this year.

The clouds above us decided right after the Circle was up to deluge upon us. All our candles went out and the spiffy words for the May Queen and King ran right off the paper. The Maypole ribbons became covered in mud and the umbrellas we hastily put over the altar blew away twice. There were a few glares to the extent of "okay who invoked Water" but the ritual managed to go ahead for the most part. We did laugh when the cauldron refused to ignite, but the ritual was sucessful in its own way.

[KellyP]

I keep all of my High Day (aka Sabbat) observances outdorrs. Which has forced me to adapt to my SW Oklahoma environment. Though a sacred fire is always used in my ritual, I am almost never able to keep a small flame going in the wind that is ever-present here. Over time I have just accepted that an unlit candle or even the sun can work as a representation for a sacred fire as well as a burning flame.

I do have a new candle lantern that I made, waiting for a tryout with Lughnasadh later this week.

[Flar's Freyja]

I keep all of my High Day (aka Sabbat) observances outdorrs. Which has forced me to adapt to my SW Oklahoma environment. Though a sacred fire is always used in my ritual, I am almost never able to keep a small flame going in the wind that is ever-present here. Over time I have just accepted that an unlit candle or even the sun can work as a representation for a sacred fire as well as a burning flame.

I do have a new candle lantern that I made, waiting for a tryout with Lughnasadh later this week.

I'll never forget a public ritual at Chandler Park I attended a few years ago, where the wind kept blowing out the smudge. The HP finally said, "Well, we may have to be satisfied smudging with the memory of sage :rollingla

The ritual I posted about did me so much good that when it poured the other night, I actually went out in the yard - in a good dress again - and walked around in it chanting Lisa Thiel's "I Am Pure" chant. The lightning was quite heavy and they had blown the tornado sirens earlier in the evening so I was a little nervous about staying out too long, but I did get thoroughly soaked before I went inside.

I'm going to make a regular practice of this.

[RubyRose]

Sounds like a great time.

I remember, during winter of last year my fiancee and I planned to have our ritual outside, and then the rain came. So we moved it indoors, and it worked just as well if not better.
I thinking this summer, I might start holding some rituals outdoors.

[9-2-2]

An ecstatic rite done in a raging storm is truly a primal and powerful act. Magick is too often used in dainty, sanitized manners (which I don't disagree to), I seriously don't remember the last time I've experienced or even seen a ritual done with such animal passion that boundaries were torn down and the essence of human existence was released with pure, unbridled honesty. :(

[Sibylle]

An ecstatic rite done in a raging storm is truly a primal and powerful act. Magick is too often used in dainty, sanitized manners (which I don't disagree to), I seriously don't remember the last time I've experienced or even seen a ritual done with such animal passion that boundaries were torn down and the essence of human existence was released with pure, unbridled honesty. :(
YES! I completely agree. A rite in the storm is a very liberating, powerful experience - or can be, if the people are up for it.

I draw the line at freezing temperatures though... don't want to conduct rituals with my teeth chattering :shaker: I spent the night before my dedication outside this year at Beltane, without a tent, and I remember praying for good weather, lol. Got my wish too - but if it had rained, I would have dealt with it somehow. It wasn't too cold anyway...

Hugs!!

[9-2-2]

I draw the line at freezing temperatures though... don't want to conduct rituals with my teeth chattering :shaker:

Yeah, I gotta agree with this one. There does come a point where it gets hard to concentrate once your body turns to ice, lol :smash: