Basics of a ritual ...

[RubyRose]

Okay, I'm just wondering, what is and isn't necessary when putting together a ritual.

As I have limited space to perform a ritual, and am really limited to using my bedroom for spells and rituals etc.

For example, are all the points below necessary, which ones are the most necessary.

Also I'm not too comfortable with the idea of circle casting, and I don't really understand the whole cakes and wine idea, so if anybody can give me a perpective on why both things are used when carrying out a ritual it will be muchly appreciated.

Before you begin planning:

To Know - Purpose
To Will - Action
To Dare - Commitment
To Keep Silent - Follow Through

Special purpose = spellwork

Esbat = Full Moon
Sabbat = Holy Day (see Wheel of the Year)

1. Altar Devotion / Create Sacred Space

2. Cast the Circle

3. Call the Quarters

4. Invoke the Goddess and the God

5. Raising Energy

6. Performance of Magical Work (special purpose)

7. Grounding or releasing energy

8 Thanking Goddess and God

9. Releasing the Quarters

10. Release the Circle

11. Feasting!

I'm really looking for the simplest way of calling upon such entities as the quarters and so on. As this is really my first ritual, I'd like to keep it as simple as possible.

Being that this is a dedication ritual to Morrigan, as she has chosen to work with me, what other things would be useful in calling upon her/dedicating myself to her. I know people and books, often say that you can't just say a simple 'thank-you' so such a Goddess, so what would be a suitable 'thank-you' for Morrigan?

Once again, I'm new at this, and I don't want to anger Morrigan ... being who and what she is. I'd like to keep on her good side ...

Blessed Be, and thanks
RubyRose )0(

[dr_zeus440]

i dont pretend to know much about the actual performance of formal rituals, but here's what i do know...



I know people and books, often say that you can't just say a simple 'thank-you' so such a Goddess, so what would be a suitable 'thank-you' for Morrigan?


well, first of all, you seem to know alot about what youre getting into, goood for you :)

secondly, i've said simple thankyous to deities and haven't been struck by lightning yet, i take that as a good sign. one thing to note about this is that waaaaay waaaay back when these gods and goddesses were being worshipped by the original races that created them, im guessing that alooot of the thankyous were in the sacrifice of animals etc. (someone with some historical accuracy, please correct or endorse me here). the people nowadays who dont sacrifice animals but say "you cant say a simple thankyou" are still around, does that tell you something?

[badkitty]

In my opinion grounding pre ritual is as important as grounding after it.

[MoonDust]

It depends on how elaborate of a ritual you’re talking about.
All are basically needed, but it’s up to you how elaborate you want each of them to be. There are long beautiful calls/poems I’ve seen for the Goddess, God, or elements. I’ve seen short calls one or two lines.

Circle casting is not for everyone. What circle casting does is create a space where you can work. that is spaced off from the regular everyday… stuff. You feel a bit funny the first couple of times, but as time passes it feels right. Mainly because you can feel your energy being contained in that little area you’ve created. It’s a very cool thing.

Cakes and wine is basically a “bring you back” mini-ritual. The food and drink are to remind you of your body and bring you back from the spiritual realm to the physical.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

My personal opinon is that there is several things that can be left off that list. And this is one of the few times I will ever say that it depends on what you want to do. I don't like a lot of very formalized ritual activity.

When I preform a ritual, I usually take a shower to get myself into the proper state of mind. Once that's done I dress in something comfortable, sit down in front of my alter light my candles/incense and engage in rhythmic breathing to clear my mind. I don't feel a need for creating sacred space as I believe all space is sacred. I don't cast a circle as really this step never made any sense to me, and only rarely call the quarters/elementals to attend. When I do call them I don't turn to each quarter/direction with some formalized words or poems; I simply ask them to attend. If by invoking the Divine, you mean something more elaborate than simply asking them to join you then I don't do an invoking either. I don't do perform magic so that also gets left out of any ritual I do - which also means I usually leave out the raising and releasing of energy too. Though sometimes I will raise energy for other purposes. Usually my rituals are there for the purpose of my asking for Divine blessings/advice and reflection on the cycle of the year. It's really not much more than a formal prayer. When I'm do I will thank the deity I'm working with, usually in the form of a sacrifical offering (ie I will offer apples and grains to Nehelennia). Again, I don't call the quarters or cast circle so releasing them is not necessary. At the end I just clean up my alter space and "feast" afterwards, as it helps to return me fully to the mundane world.

I do however feel that ritual is something that is highly personal. If you're not comfortable with something then by all means I don't see why it can't be left out. I certainly leave out a lot of the usual, so-called necessary steps because they aren't something that suits me. I'm not a formal person, so going through a lot of formalized steps would just make me uncomfortable and that wouldn't do at all.

~Saoirse Aiyana

[BeingNotThere]

its all about personal preference,when i cast magick i just use visualization in meditation.
and make my mind the alter,and my percpetions the tools.
use what feels natural for you,and stop second guessing if your doing something right or
wrong,just do it the way you like.

[Xander67]

connecting with your infinite innermost source, that is the first step,,, and the most important, without it, all the bells and whistles are jsut bells and whistles :)

[RubyRose]

Thanks guys. Well I'm still very much into the planning stages, so it's not like I'm going to be doing the ritual tomorrow or anything. What, between work, sleep and daily chores, my time is pretty much chewed up.

One other thing though. As my room is pretty small, I'm limited pretty much to doing any sort of ritual on my bed (as it's the largest flat space in my room) and I was wondering, can I set up my altar on my bed, when carrying out the ritual, normally my altar sits on my chest of drawers, but I think for this particular ritual sitting would be more comfortable than standing.

Blessed Be,
RubyRose

[DarkSidhe]

We'll start at the top, and work our way down. :)

Noscere, Audere, Velle, Tacere. To know, to dare, to will, to be silent. Purpose, action, commitment, follow-through. Yup. These are necessary. (And I love Latin!)

The Morrigan is more noted for being conected to the New Moon, instead of the Full Moon. She is the Dark Crone. Your Special Purpose is to invite her presence, and acknowledge your devotion to her. To ask her to teach you what you need to learn, not what you want to learn.

1. Preparation, in the form of cleansing. You cleanse your mind, and body, by taking a bath/shower, puting on your whatever clothes, and calming yourself so that you can focus without minor distractions that'll pop into your mind. Clearing the area in which you will do this ritual is just as important. You cleanse the area's body and mind. You vacuum or sweep the floor, and also remove any negative energies, or unwanted entities. You do this for the same reason that you do it for yourself. Yes, all space is sacred; but some spaces are not quite nearly so sacred, and require a good cleansing, some are just too 'unholy'. I would not wish to do ritual work in the Tower of London...sacred or not.

2. This must be the third or forth time I think I've posted about circles :D. A circle is a sphere. It's a bubble. It's a protective barrier. It's a energy containment device. A circle protects somewhat against unwanted invasion by either stray energy or random entities. It also keeps any energy you raise inside the circle (sphere) until you release it. In this way, it's the difference between a fireplace in an enclosed room, and a fire outside in a field. One keeps you a lot warmer, because the heat doesn't just disappear into the field, it stays in the room.

The actual casting of a circle is varied, from drawing a visualized blue flame on the floor in a circle and visualizing it growing up and down to surround you, to placing a circle of 4-ton rock dolmens in a field. Personally, I stand in the center, and slam the tip of my staff into the floor, instantly expanding my sphere with the accompaning shock wave. I don't worry too much about widdershins or deaseil.

3. Calling the quarters is basically acknowledging and asking for help from the five elements, or watchtowers, etc, to help you protect and contain, by adding their energies to your circle. No circle, no need for watchtowers. This one is not necessary. In fact, some pagan traditions don't have an equivalent. The simplest way: "Elements of Water, Earth, Fire, Air, and Spirit; Please Watch, Guard, and Help me."

4. Acknowledging them, and asking them to aid you in whatever. This step depends on how strongly you feel about them. If you thank the gods every time you use the washroom, then you'll want them with you now for sure. If you really don't bother with them, then it's not necessary. You can use the blanket "God and Goddess" or pick a particular one, two, or more.

5. Raising energy, only needed if you're going to do spellwork. Sometimes done at a certain time in a spell, not necessarily beforehand.

6. No need explaining...

7. Grounding and releasing. Necessary. Especially if you did do spellwork. Even the most focused mind, will have a hard time channeling every little bit of energy raised. Any electrical appliance that is instantly un-plugged will still contain a minor charge. Cakes and Ales, whatever you want to call it, is basically slowly collecting and placing any random, loose energy back into a physical form, so that you can eat and digest, to put it back inside you. Relax a bit, cool off. Offer some to any witnesses as good manners. This prevents a tired mind and body, headaches, nausea, etc.

8. Thanking. Only if you asked them to come. And as far as upsetting anyone; as long as you are not curt in your 'thank you', you won't. It's been written about that certain Fae consider it offensive if you say 'thank you' because they take it as 'being dismissed'. It's the way you say it, not the words themselves. You're not using their native language anyways...

9. As above.

10. Only if you put one up.

11. The same as #7, but kinda like second breakfast, or elevensies...

That's pretty much it for my opinions...What everyone else said can be concidered true as well, everyone is different in practices, traditions, etc. Knowing 'why' is just as important as the 'what, where, when'... And there are a lot of books (recipe types) that give you everything but the 'why'. So, I'm hoping this helps.

While I agree that there are times that "whatever feels best" is the way to go, there are also times when "what has worked before will work again". Every recipe has it's basics. You don't make a chocolate cake with mustard, pickles, and vinegar; even if it feels right.

[RubyRose]

Thank you DarkSidhe you've been very helpful.