Wiccan LBRP

[Raevyn]

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bos/bos025.htm

(note, the title says Witches', I say Wiccan because I consider it Wiccan, and it seems the author here uses the terms interchangeably - in short, your mileage may vary)


I have taken the liberty of doing some research into alternate symbols for the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram since I know that you work a lunar-feminine current (Wicca) whereas I use more solar-masculine symbols in my current (Thelemite).

Just wanted to comment, I'm not sure how he means Wicca is "lunar-feminine" whereas Thelema is "solar-masculine", unless you take it as Wiccans understanding the importance of the feminine as creator, whereas the creator in Thelema (in his opinion) is masculine (I'm not sure any creator is necessary to Thelema, though certain ceremonial practices might center on a deity that transcends gender, or none at all, I think).



- Establish on your right side the Active Principle -- Yang -- the Projective Energy of the Universe. A God image, I should think.
- Establish on yourleft side the Passive Principle -- Yin -- the Receiving Energy of the Universe. A Goddess force I feel.
- Strongly visualize yourself at the center of these axes between the Infinities. This centers you at the middle of the Sacred Space to be created -- the still point at the center of the universe.

I think this is logical - Yang is masculine and Yin feminine, and each of us are feminine and masculine, right? At the same time, we are both and energy transcends, imho.

Of the Pentagram


It is an essential part of the rite and there is no symbol that can take its place as effectively.

Not sure about the reasoning - what about a personal sigil created for the same purposes?


and you may want to use different attributions:

An important note - who's to say that fire and air are always masculine or God related, or that water and earth are always feminine and Goddess related?

As to the rite itself, it's interesting that it isn't mentioned that the names should be vibrated - a lot of the original LBRP is in the vibration of names and evoking magic through use of them. You don't just *say* them, you use them as words of power (like heka). When creating the circle by drawing pentagrams at each direction, again it's interesting in that where I've read the original LBRP it's important that each pentagram is connected by a horizontal line to eachother - all are One, and the circle itself is created by the horizontal line through each direction.

Comments?

[Azure]

Well, just my opinion, but I think the LBRP is a ritual designed specifically to be used within a framework of CM and not Wiccan at all. There are really good effective Wiccan ways of accomplishing the same task, and I think if one is a Wiccan, it is more worthwhile to develop techniques that are specific to a Wiccan worldview, rather than that of Ceremonial Magic.

[Raevyn]

Well Azure I could see how you feel that way - I'm kind of skeptical of adapting it too, because I considered it CM and wonder if any of it's lost in the adaptation (for example, I mentioned the vibration of words). But then some consider CM magic to be a good part of Wicca, and some just like to adapt, you know?

I tend to agree with you, and I'm interested what others think.

[Pan]

I don't like the LBRP.. at all.. and I don't feel that converting it to Wicca would be the best thing. It's designed for CM..

Each time the LBRP was performed.. I had to leave the room. I went outside in the snow, barefoot, short sleeve shirt to get away from it.. it just bothers me. :(

[Raevyn]

Originally posted by Loki Panwit
Each time the LBRP was performed.. I had to leave the room. I went outside in the snow, barefoot, short sleeve shirt to get away from it.. it just bothers me. :(

Why?

[Azure]

You know, though, I've used it to clean house for my Christian sister, who had some ghost problems, and it worked very effectively there - probably because it was within her system of belief.

[Ben Gruagach]

Since Wicca draws quite freely from ceremonial magick (for example, the Athame markings were drawn from The Key of Solomon - see the chapter on "The Witches Tools" in Janet and Stewart Farrar's "A Witches Bible" and Ronald Hutton's "The Triumph of the Moon") I personally don't have any problem with using either the standard LBRP or a modified one that uses specifically Wiccan symbolism. I'm an eclectic Wiccan.

There is plenty of room within Wicca, though, for each Wiccan or group to decide what they want to use and what they don't. People who don't like the LBRP in whatever form don't have to do it if they don't want to.

I'm curious too about the comment from Loki Panwit about feeling the need to leave the room when the LBRP was performed by someone. What about it was unsettling?

One last comment on the idea of modifying rituals - the LBRP is drawn from Kabbalistic ideas, which was originally a Jewish mystical body of knowledge, but was modified and Christianized (the use of the cross in the ritual.) Changing it a bit more to fit a specifically Pagan theology seems like a logical variation to me.

[Pan]

I don't like the LBRP because it just.. forced all the energy out of the room. It gives it such a forceful SHOVE that I feel it with all the strength of a somethin-or-other. It just.. gets me winded and I get shaky. So.. yeah.. I can't be in the room when it's being done.

That and the vibration of the voice saying it.. just.. messed me up big time.

[Danustouch]

Well, just my opinion, but I think the LBRP is a ritual designed specifically to be used within a framework of CM and not Wiccan at all. There are really good effective Wiccan ways of accomplishing the same task, and I think if one is a Wiccan, it is more worthwhile to develop techniques that are specific to a Wiccan worldview, rather than that of Ceremonial Magic.

I agree with you as well, Azure. Not that Wicca hasn't adopted various CM symbols, etc, over time, as Ben pointed out. But Wiccan rituals seem to be a little LESS formalized, restrictive, and formulated than rituals that are used in Thelema. From what I have read about Thelema, they take their rituals very seriously, and intellectually. Performing them almost Scientifically. And to tell the truth, when I read the Temple of Set's website, the worldview of this group just seemed so drastically differen't from a Wiccan Worldview, PURPOSELY so, that I cannot imagine consciously trying to adapt their practices to my own Wiccan Practices. It isn't that I necessarily look down upon Thelema, its just that it seems so incredibly differen't than my own path, that I couldn't even incorporate their practices into my own, consciously, for a second. What has been done in the past, has been done. Wicca adapted many Crowleyan and CM practices. However, through the progress of time, they've become so indelibly woven into the Wiccan Ritual Fabric, that the knowledge of its' roots is not something that is foremost in most Wiccan minds when they go to perform a circle. However, if I were to deliberately go about taking one of their rituals, and trying to fit it into my own religious practices, I would probably feel really uncomfortable. To tell the truth, while I don't look down upon Thelema, I DO feel uncomfortable, even STUDYING their practices. It seems like such a highly initiatory and esoteric group, that it get's to the point where I almost feel a "Stay OUT" type vibe. It's not my thing, It's not my belief system, so I just don't bother anymore. I am fairly sure that I would never be accepted into their group, as I am not MENSA and do not fulfill many of their requirements, so to me, trying to adapt their practices into my own, is a waste of time, IMHO. This is not the case for everyone, I'm aware of this. It's just MY personal feeling on the subject. I think part of it is that I enjoy the nonrestrictive nature of the Wiccan Rituals that I have created for myself. If I miss a step, or go out of order, or flub my words, the energy of the ritual is not thown off to me. But...the thelemites that I have known, put a great deal of emphasis on the perfection of their rituals. And this is something that I could not be comfortable with. Coming from a worldview of "All acts of love and laughter......" when I flub my words, the Goddess laughs with me, and all is ok. But my experience with Thelema (which, admittedly, is not FIRST hand experience) this is not the same attitude that they hold.

Anyway...blabbering. If I missed the point of the question, please tell me.

My point is, no. I would not feel comfortable adopting a Thelemite ritual into my own practices. I feel there are many rituals within Wicca which hold just as much power. And for me, if I am going to do any ritual, it must be one that I feel at ease, and comfortable with. If not, I worry too much about "screwing up", and that to me, would really screw up the energy. So I tend to stick to what I know, or what I feel in my heart :)

[Ben Gruagach]

I just want to point out - Thelema is just one group within the larger category of ceremonial magick. There are lots of ceremonial magick groups that are much less "dark" and have very little or nothing to do with groups like the Temple of Set or the Satanic groups.

Check out Dion Fortune's books for a style of ceremonial magick that is a lot closer to Wicca - Wicca actually draws bits from Fortune the same way it draws from Thelema and ceremonial magick. Check out http://servantsofthelight.org/ for lots of Dion Fortune's work and influence. Donald Michael Kraig's book "Modern Magick" is another example of a ceremonial magick approach that isn't Thelemic and very accessible to people who are Wiccan.

The LBRP is a specific ritual that is used by many groups - ceremonial magick and also some Wiccans and other Pagans. It wasn't invented by Crowley and the Thelemites although they do use it.

It sounds like some people are getting their first exposure to it through Thelemites or Temple of Set people, and allowing their opinions of a perfectly useful ritual to be coloured by those groups. That's too bad. But then people practicing magick can adopt it or not as they feel appropriate.

I just hope that people aren't dismissing specific ideas or rituals or bits of lore because of where they first heard about it.

[Raevyn]

Originally posted by Ben Gruagach
It sounds like some people are getting their first exposure to it through Thelemites or Temple of Set people, and allowing their opinions of a perfectly useful ritual to be coloured by those groups. That's too bad.

Thank you Ben, I was just about to type about the same thing :) I was also going to add though that Thelema is *not* synonymous with the Temple of Set etc. Actually I think of the latter as closer to Satanism then Thelema but jmho. :)

[Danustouch]

Temple of Set, Thelema, Satanism, all practice CM though...that was my point. My exposure to most paths who practice CM, and the ritual of the LBRP, has been similar. I do not feel comfortable adapting their rituals.

[Ben Gruagach]

Originally posted by Danustouch
Temple of Set, Thelema, Satanism, all practice CM though...that was my point. My exposure to most paths who practice CM, and the ritual of the LBRP, has been similar. I do not feel comfortable adapting their rituals.

More comparisons:

Jerry Falwell is not the only "flavour" of Christian out there. There are also Catholics, Presbyterians, Quakers, Shakers, Puritans, and many many more sects that have very little if anything to do with Falwell and those who are like him.

In the same way, the people who are part of the Temple of Set, Thelema, or Satanism are just a small part of the ceremonial magick community. To assume that all ceremonial magickians are like the Satanists, Thelemites, or Temple of Set people is like saying all Pagans are like Kevin Carlyon (who has his website at http://www.kevwitch.co.uk/ ) or like http://sardonahighpriestess.tripod.com/Satanism/id13.html -- which I'm sure many many Pagans (myself included) agree do NOT represent us!

It's unfortunate that some people's personal exposure to ceremonial magick has been through less than ideal representatives. Perhaps in your area (or in the online communities you have explored) they were in the majority. I just want people to realize that they are NOT representative of the whole ceremonial magick community. There is a LOT more to it than just Temple of Set, Thelema, and Satanism.

If you don't believe me, then do a Google search on "Golden Dawn," "Dion Fortune," "Kabbalah," or "Western Mystery Tradition," and you will find a lot more than things Satanic.

[Danustouch]

Ben...I didn't once claim that they are the only paths which practice ceremonial magick. I'm well aware that they are not. However, for the reasons I mentioned above, AND the fact that much ceremonial magick simply evokes the "images" of these other paths in my head, I choose not to practice it. I'm not saying that all CM paths are akin to these three, however, in style of ritual, it is too close for me to be comfortable with. I don't know if that makes sense, but..that's the best explanation that I can come up with. It's the same reason I don't practice Kabballah, because it is too close to Judaism. The same reason I don't invoke angels..too close to Judeo-Christian practices, etc. It's not that I think there is anything WRONG with those paths, nor that I think that practitioners of Kabballah are all orthodox jews, or that all people who invoke angels, are of Judeo Christian belief systems. It's just that the archetypes, symbols, methods, etc, sit uncomfortably with me, because of my prior exposures to them.

[Ben Gruagach]

Danustouch -

I didn't mean to make you feel defensive. I just wanted to make sure that for the "newbies" who are reading this discussion the impression doesn't come across that ceremonial magick is all about Satanism.

If this discussion had been just between you and me in private email, I wouldn't have tried so hard to make my point clear. Since it's a public forum, it's important (at least in my opinion) to make sure the issue is very clear and balanced.

Our discussions here are in front of a rather large audience... (grin) And not all of those in the audience have as much background knowledge or experience in the Pagan and Occult communities as you or I might, Danustouch. We have to be careful to not take things for granted.

[Raevyn]

Ben : *nods* Also it should be noted that magic can be practiced separately from beliefs or with personal understanding - ie. as in Wicca, or as in say my case where I consider YHVH to be an all encompassing deity that far transcends the common way we know Him.

I wanted to add, I don't mean to suggest it's not an ok progression, and as you might say it's almost natural (since again, so much of Wicca is from Ceremonial beliefs like that). Of course, if it works for someone and they feel comfortable adapting it they should - in my case, I use the regular LBRP because I feel/recognize that the archangels and YHVH transcend the beliefs they originally came from as much as deities from various beliefs transcend their own cultures when people use them with Wicca. To me, working with YHVH outside of the normal context, if it works, isn't much different then using deities from other belief systems out fo context (as is done here).

But again, as someone noted, some people are uncomfortable because of the previous trappings they knew. One should never work with something they fear!

Loki - Ah I can understand that. Sometimes the energy is disconcerting, huh? I was just curious if it was due to some part of the beliefs or what have you.

[Danustouch]

Yes..but Wicca has evolved through the years, and the specific type of Wicca that I practice, is very eclectic. So, the roots that are connected to CM are far more distant feeling than some of the specific rituals of CM traditions. I don't see it as a bad thing, just a matter of personal preference :) And for me, there is plenty enough to study besides Thelema, Kaballah, and other such paths, that I keep myself busy :) Studying Celtic Lore and History alone can take years of devotion. That was MY logical next step in my path.

[Raevyn]

Uhm, if you'll look, you'll notice I just edited that part of my post because I decided there was no point in discussing it, and that someone might feel I was attacking "their path", when in reality I was just commenting on my own.

[Danustouch]

Yep.....just noticed your edit..AFTER I posted. You must have been editing...AS I posted. Thanks for the clarification.

[Ben Gruagach]

Originally posted by Danustouch
Yes..but Wicca has evolved through the years, and the specific type of Wicca that I practice, is very eclectic. So, the roots that are connected to CM are far more distant feeling than some of the specific rituals of CM traditions. I don't see it as a bad thing, just a matter of personal preference :) And for me, there is plenty enough to study besides Thelema, Kaballah, and other such paths, that I keep myself busy :) Studying Celtic Lore and History alone can take years of devotion. That was MY logical next step in my path.

I know it's opening a whole new can of worms, and also straying off topic, but I feel compelled to mention that Wicca only traces back as far as Gerald Gardner, and that was in the 1940s - 1950s. Check out Ronald Hutton's excellent historical study, "The Triumph of the Moon," or Isaac Bonewits' "Witchcraft: A Concise Guide" for the history of Wicca.

Wicca is definitely a varied enough religion that there is plenty of room for both people who want to focus heavily on "ceremonial magick," and also for those who don't. That, to me, is one of the greatest strength in Wicca - its diversity and flexibility. There's no such thing as a "One True Way," in my opinion.

[Raevyn]

Whoa. I just want to comment (just in case it's not clear) I didn't mean this to be about whether there's "one true way" or not. I'm sure we all know we can and should do things our own way - I just wanted to see what people's opinions and thoughts were.

(and I'm not suggesting someone said it *was* or anything or directing this at anyone, just wanted to throw out that thought)

[Danustouch]

Yep, Ben :) I didn't mean to imply that the roots of Wicca were ancient. It's something I discuss often with people who are new to the path. That it is a modern religion. However, in the last ten to twenty years, Wicca has really begun to shift from it's beginnings with Gardner, Valiente and such. Eclecticism is now very common, as is Solitary Work. And within many of today's paths, especially the more eclectic ones, the Gardenarian, Alexandrian, and CM elements in ritual and practice are barely visible. As Raevyn pointed out...


Also it should be noted that magic can be practiced separately from beliefs or with personal understanding

(assuming i've interpreted this quote correctly).

Thus, while I may be Wiccan in much of my belief (reincarnation, duality of God/Goddess, Esbats, Sabbats being observed, belief in threefold return, and in the basic CONCEPT of the Rede), my magickal and ritual practices have definitely diverged greatly from Gardenarian and Alexandrian roots. I define myself as Wiccan in belief, but Eclectic in Practice.

And as for your earlier post :) Don't worry about it. You didn't put me on the defensive, and I do understand your goal of clarifying that Thelema, Satanism, Crowleyism, etc, etc, etc, are not the only CM paths. It was for the same reason that I felt I needed to clarify that I wasn't trying to lump them all together :)

[Raevyn]

Originally posted by Danustouch
And within many of today's paths, especially the more eclectic ones, the Gardenarian, Alexandrian, and CM elements in ritual and practice are barely visible. As Raevyn pointed out...



(assuming i've interpreted this quote correctly).

Actually, I'm not sure how you interpreted it. If it was that I was saying the CM elements are barely visible in Wicca, no that's not what I meant - the CM elements are very easy to pick out. Many times I've thought "Oh! That's where that came from! Now I understand why it's that way!"; a lot of people may not recognize these things as from Ceremonialism, and I guess you could say they are thus "barely visible" to them, though to someone who studies CM they are very visible.

If I misunderstood you please feel free to clarify.

[Pan]

Oh it's no problem! It's just the energy thing.. maybe if I had heard someone other than a man with a deep voice do it... his voice just resonated in the room and it shook me to the core. He would raise his hands and say the name with such force and confidence that it rattled me.

I just couldn't stay in the same room with him! Neither could a good friend of mine.. we both went into the kitchen and ate bread to ground ourselves while he did that. :)

But, yeah, no certain beliefs or anything.. in fact, I'm reading up on CM. I don't know if I'd ever try the LBRP myself.. possibility, of course. :D Doesn't it involve calling 4 archangles to help?

[Ben Gruagach]

Raevyn - I don't think anyone was implying that there is a "One True Way" in Wicca. I was just expressing the thought that Wicca's great diversity is probably its greatest strength (and is a wonderful antidote to the "One True Way" way of thinking.)

Danustouch - I'd like to mention that eclecticism isn't a new trend in Wicca - it was there from the very start. The fact that Gerald Gardner felt comfortable in including ceremonial magick, Crowley stuff, Rudyard Kipling ("O do not tell the priests of our arts/ For they would call it sin" in the May Eve sabbat ritual) and all sorts of stuff from all sorts of sources tells me he didn't have a problem with being eclectic!

In my opinion, the problems with the anti-eclectic feeling came in when Gardner tried to pass off what he was doing as an "ancient, intact, handed-down" tradition. People who got their Book of Shadows from him treated it like "gospel" with the idea that it is unchanging. The historical information we have now indicates that Gardner's Book of Shadows was far from being something he obtained from an initiator - the evidence strongly points to it being his own compilation. If it was an "intact tradition" that was taught to him there isn't any evidence to support the claim.

[Danustouch]

Yep, you misunderstood me :) What I was saying, was that I interpreted your quote to mean that magickal technique can be practiced independently from a religious belief system. While you may utilize this to adapt certain CM practices, rituals, etc, to your practices, I utilize it by cutting "out" the parts of ritual practice which do not necessarily work well for me. And yes, i know what you are saying about the CM practices being visible in ritual, but..only in those paths which still draw heavily from set traditions (IMHO). Since my own eclectic practices do not draw heavily from any set tradition, currently, but rather from what makes *Sense* to me, or what works for me, or my own imagination, etc, the CM elements ARE hardly visible. And it is this way with some other Eclectics that I know as well. My ritual practices draw from many sources. I'll admit, that I know some of them probably have their roots in CM practices, and I can even point out some that do. However, because the overall theme of my rituals is far more 'free flowing' and relaxed, and eclectic, they are not AS visible, overwhelming, or noticeable as in the rituals of some other Wiccan Traditions (such as Gardenarian, and Alexandrian, for example). My rituals these days, are extremely free form, spontaneous, and informal these days, because i've made the concscious decision to allow my instinct, and creativity to guide me in my rituals. I'm not saying that it will be this way forever, but at this point in my life, it makes sense. I was getting far too restricted in my practices, and it was creating pressure for me, when there shouldn't have been. To me, my rituals are a time for me to commune with devinity. To relax, to feel restored. When I have to follow a "prescribed" formula, and follow certain steps every single time, no matter what other circumstances in my day might make that difficult, I "lose" that feeling of communion, peace, and restoration. And right now, at this time in my life, and in my path, that is the very last thing I need to do. If circumstance in my life right now, prevent me from following a prescribed ritual WITH JOY...then it is better for me not to follow the prescription at all, and find Joy in whatever ritual I do, no matter how simple, or unorthodox, or free flowing, than to work myself into a tizzy trying to follow "steps" that I feel I must fulfill.

[Raevyn]

Loki - ah I see. Yes it does involve speaking to archangels for banishing and protection :)

Ben - ok, I didn't think so either but I like to be sure. As to "eclectic Wicca", with due respect to all and absolutely no intention of offending someone, I think of the the eclectic part as a bit redundant - Wicca, IMHO, has *always* been eclectic, and I agree with your comment about Gardner and "ancient beliefs" etc. It is my (humble and non expert of course) opinion that when someone says "eclectic Wicca" they mean to stress that their brand of Wicca is personal and always changing, but then I think of Wicca in and of itself as eclectic as well, unless someone specifies a trad.

(again, no offense intended to anyone)

[Danustouch]

no offense taken. The reason I specify eclectic, actually, is to clarify that I am not of any one set tradition, such as Gardenarian or Alexandrian, Dianic, or whatever :) When I introduce myself to a non wiccan or pagan, I don't say "eclectic wiccan" I say "Wiccan". But..within wicca, and paganism, when you say "Wiccan" often somebody will ask you what tradition. To avoid a lengthy discourse and detailed description of my personal path, I say "Eclectic Wiccan". Basically, it's a matter of brevity for me.

[Pan]

I thought it used Archangels.. I don't know why I wouldn't like it then.. I guess it's just the force shoving out the energy all in one great push that gets to me. I don't know but I think I'll give it a try myself once I read more about it and CM in general.

And I won't go into Dianic "Wiccans". ;)

[Ben Gruagach]

Originally posted by Raevyn
Ben - ok, I didn't think so either but I like to be sure. As to "eclectic Wicca", with due respect to all and absolutely no intention of offending someone, I think of the the eclectic part as a bit redundant - Wicca, IMHO, has *always* been eclectic, and I agree with your comment about Gardner and "ancient beliefs" etc. It is my (humble and non expert of course) opinion that when someone says "eclectic Wicca" they mean to stress that their brand of Wicca is personal and always changing, but then I think of Wicca in and of itself as eclectic as well, unless someone specifies a trad.
(again, no offense intended to anyone)

I've seen Wiccans who belong to specific traditions insist that "eclectic" Wiccans are somehow inferior. It always struck me as rather funny that they'd say that. Some of those "anti-eclectic" types are well-known Wiccan authors, too. You know, people who should know better!

Getting back to the LBRP, it always struck me as being a variation of "casting the circle" - recognizing quarters and asking for guardians at those quarters, with a part where the "center" is acknowledged and honoured as well. When it comes to Wiccan versions, there are lots of versions of "casting the circle" that do the same or similar things as the LBRP. It's about recognizing and consecrating a distinct space (the circle around you) as "sacred" and "protected."

I'm going to be a bit blasphemous here for a moment (at least to some Wiccans, I'm sure) but Silver Ravenwolf gives some interesting variations on casting the circle in her chapter "Casting Circles" in her book "To Stir a Magick Cauldron." They at least illustrate there are lots of creative ways we can establish that ritual space for ourselves!

[Danustouch]

Ben---

Yes, I can agree that Wicca started OUT as eclectic. However, when someone was initiated into the Gardenarian Tradition, or any other specific tradition, it often lost some of that eclecticism, if only for the reason that many, unfortunately, did not look beyond Gardner, Sanders, or Valiente to learn where those elements came from. I think many people looked to Gardner, Sanders, and Valiente, kinda like Moses coming down from the mountain with the ten commandments written in stone. As we know, MANY people still go around claiming that Wicca is an ancient religion, and it's only recently, for instance, that people such as Janet Farrar began actively asserting that Wicca wasn't an ancient religion, and that Gardner really didn't get all of his stuff from the Strege's in Italy, etc. Unfortunately, it seems to me, that for a long time, people looked at Gardner and Valiente to give their practices a sense of validity, by using these claims of Ancient roots, and History. Rather than realizing how truly eclectic Wicca WAS from its conception. :(

[Raevyn]

Originally posted by Ben Gruagach
I'm going to be a bit blasphemous here for a moment (at least to some Wiccans, I'm sure) but Silver Ravenwolf gives some interesting variations on casting the circle in her chapter "Casting Circles" in her book "To Stir a Magick Cauldron." They at least illustrate there are lots of creative ways we can establish that ritual space for ourselves!

Well Ben you are quite right - there are some very unique circle castings and meditations in there. I do the Tapestry Meditation on a regular basis. Similarly she has a lot of good info about cleansing one's environment (home, office, etc.) magickally in To Light.

(oh please oh please no one turn this into let's bash SRW)

Loki - what kind of cleansings/banishings do you do? Such as sweeping the circle, smudging, salt, so on? I'm just curious as to what works well for you for interest's sake :)

[Pan]

Originally posted by Raevyn
Loki - what kind of cleansings/banishings do you do? Such as sweeping the circle, smudging, salt, so on? I'm just curious as to what works well for you for interest's sake :)

I use a broom that was gifted to me by a good friend. She had several hanging about her house that she'd made and she went around and found one for me. It's got fur and feathers and a dragon (Chinese) winding its way up the shaft. I really like it but don't use it often.

I use sage a lot when I cleanse.. and salted water.

Mostly, though, I don't use any material things. I just ask the Fae to cleanse the circle before I cast it. It's usually in my room that I share with hubby, for that's where I moved my altar and all my stuff. I take my athame and hold it out, asking the Fae to cleanse the circle with their magick. It works rather well.

I usually say something like "Fae who are kin to me, I ask you to help me cleanse this circle. Use your light and life, your energies and love.. I ask you to help me cleanse this circle." Though it changes a lot! I just say what comes to me.

When I first started out and for a long while while I was working, I used salted water and incense. But now I just ask my family (the Fae who come out of the closet) to help out.

Even just thinking about the LBRP causes me to be short of breath, shaky, and generally uncomfy. I'll try it someday, though, just because Gabe is that awesome. ;) And Mike, Uriel, and Raph.. then again.. Hannal's awesome, too. Such a cutie! :T