Is more power created with more people?

[piglet]

Does it matter if you worship/pray/make magic along with a group? Is more power created with more people? It is a belief in Islam that more power is added to their prayers and to try to always pray with at least more than one other person. Many religions congregate for rituals. Many people also pray, work magic, and have religious rituals all by themselves. I am not too sure about the answer to this question but I wanted to open it up to discussion and see what you all think.

Group ritual or solo ritual?

[Shanti]

I think there are to many variables for me to say either way. Heck, given the right circumstances, the power of one can be more than many.... and visa versa. So I would have to say..either!! :)

[Lunacie]

Sure more people can create more power, but unless they are all focused on the very same thing the power may be so scattered that one person focusing strongly may create more energy.

[-Ember]

More people create more energy. That doesn't mean they will always be more effective... As pointed out above, if it is scattered (or if some of it is counter to itself) a single individual can at times be more effective.

[Rick]

Here's the rule of thumb... power output = number of people squared... example: 2 practioners doesn't equal 1+1, it equals 2 to the second power (2 x 2)... 4 practioners equals 4 X 4... etc...

...to paraphrase my sweetie, Just My Experience & Your Mileage May Vary...

[labyrinth]

I'm inclined to say that yes, more people, more energy, more power. Unless you belong to a coven though, the solitary practicioner must be responsible for both the raising and directing the energy that draws on. It may be difficult to get multiple people involved in your magickal operation though if it doesn't suit them. Aleister Crowley was known to hire a plethora of prostitutes for his rituals. However, he instructed them on what he wanted them to do in order to increase the energy involved but always intentionally failed to tell them what the operation was for.

[Verthandi]

Yes, more people does equal more power, but if you're trying to decide whether or not to celebrate the next sabbat with a coven or not, keep in mind that you all might be there for the same purpose (for Ostara, for example), but you might all have different reasons--fertility, new growth, rebirth, etc. Unless you're all focused on achieving the same result, more energy might not be better.

[piglet]

There is also the possibility of feeling more in-tune with/focused on/immersed in a ritual if there is more than one person there which may impact one how much energy each person is able to generate.

[alarah]

Like someone above me said, yeah, while more people would generate more energy, it really isn't necessarily more effective. So much effort and focus and overall awareness is required, that working independently might be a lot more effective--groups can be distracting, have different goals and could easily scatter and misdirect energy. But it really depends on the individuals involved, I guess. Working with complete strangers, like in a congregation setting, would be difficult, I think, for something as delicate as energy like that...

[Eclecta]

More people create more energy. That doesn't mean they will always be more effective... As pointed out above, if it is scattered (or if some of it is counter to itself) a single individual can at times be more effective.
I am in agreement with this statement. However, just because you have more people doens't mean it is going to be the energy you are hoping to have to empower whatever it is you plan to do. Personally I would be selective and hand pick those whom I felt had the right type of energy in order to achieve whatever it is that I am doing.

[ibonewits]

The good news is: More people means more potential power.

The bad news is: More people means more difficulty in focussing and coordinating the power.

The weird news is: More people means more serendipity and high weirdness is possible.

For religious rituals, I have an entire book on the topic—Rites of Worship: A Neopagan Approach.

For magical rituals, see the books by Deborah Lipp and Willow Polson.

_wiz_ bright blessings,
Isaac

[DebLipp]

A group of people working together can be firm proof of the saying 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' Many religions have room for both solitary and group work, and praise both. Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Santeria, and Wicca all agree that certain sorts of things require a group, while other sorts of things either can be or should be done alone.

Groups add raw power (provided no one is purposely detracting from that power). Clergy who know how to deal with large groups can help handle the problem of lack of focus, and in smaller groups, the nature of a group itself usually handles the problem. The group feels bonded together and that adds to the focus.

Groups also add the power of community, the sense that 'wow, we're doing this together.' That is a power that is very real indeed, and it is a reason that solitaries often travel to group events such as festivals.

[Dawa Lhamo]

In my experience, things can be more effective and much richer with a group. BUT, that is if the group is working harmoniously. Sometimes with my campus pagan group, it just feels out of synch and I think people are too hesitant or not confident enough or something. With my coven, well, things are always in synch. I think it's borne of the intimacy that we share or something. I always feel more power if there is one or more other people. But, then again, I'm a covener, so I'm biased. :smile:

Tashi delek!
Dawa Lhamo