Although I'm beginning to collect material from the different rituals I have
worked I think it might still be helpful to deliver a formula showing some basic
elements that usually form a part of the workings. It would be possible to follow
this formula every time and still come up with some varied rituals but again
it doesn't HAVE to be done EXACTLY this way EVERY time:
Overview of a "standard"
ritual:
Is usually worked individually by the coven members in preparation for the ritual ahead.
The priest and priestess often perfom this alone before the rest of the coven are brought into the circle though I have seen it done with all present. The circle may be opened by the person who cast it by ritually drawing (with the athame) a doorway in it to allow others to enter or leave.
How It's Done:
The athame is charged with the four elements:
| (Touching pentacle) | I call on earth to bind the spell |
| (Waved in the air) | Air to speed its travel well |
| (Held in incense smoke) | Bright as fire may it glow |
| (Dipped into the cup) | Deep as tides of water flow |
| (Held upright) | Charged
by powers all four fold In the fifth the circle shall hold |
The circle is drawn 3 times deosil beginning in the east using blue visualised energy and then spinning bands of white light.
If the rest of the coven were not present as the circle was being cast they are now brought in and greeted by the priestess with a kiss and a pentagram of spirit inscribed on the forehead in oil. Sometimes the priestess will do this anyway.
Once within
the circle it is usual to call upon elemental spirits from the four cardinal
compass points to assist with the work and help to keep the circle intact. The
Quarters are sometimes called the Watchtowers. In some circles the quarters
are called by the priest or the priestess but we prefer to designate four people
to do this each time. The gestures are different each time too but some make
the sign of the horns while others simply stand with their palms upraised and
open.
How it
is done:
All present face the appropriate direction and make the gestures. The caller draws an appropriate invoking pentagram in the air and proclaims:
Hail to the Watchtower
of the [North, South, East West],
Element of [Earth, Fire, Air, Water]!
We summon, stir and call ye,
Ye mighty ones of the [North, South, East West],
Guardian spirits of Witchdom.
We welcome you to our circle,
Ask you to guard and protect it,
Witness and bless the rites we hold within
In the name of Witchcraft.
Guardians of the
[North, South, East West],
Lords of the [Earth, Fire, Air, Water],
Hail and Welcome!
[All] Hail and Welcome
The priest calls upon the goddess to enter the circle and join with the spirit of the priestess as she goes about her work. They usually face each other and often touch:
I call upon the lady, our goddess, to enter and be welcome in our circle and to join with this your priestess that you may bring her grace and wisdom as she goes about your work this night. Blessed Be!
The priestess (now joined in spirit with the goddess) invokes the horned God into the spirit of the priest. Again, they usually face each other and often touch:
I call upon the lord, horned hunter, to enter and be welcome in our circle and to join with this your priest that you may bring him strength and guidance as he goes about your work this night. Blessed Be!
Either priest or priestess makes some proclamation of welcome to the sabbat (or even esbat) which usually has some information about the meaning of the particular occasion and is, if well designed, can set the mood and tone for the rest of the ritual. You can find lots of suggested ideas in the Further Material section of the main index.
Often continued from the sabbat invocation this is the part where the writer of the ritual is able to be creative. I've seen all sorts of things here from everyone sittig quietly listening to some suitable music, a chant or a dance, sacred drumming, a bit of drama and acting played out by members of the circle (and the pirest/priestess too), I've seen poems and songs, even mime (!) - again I'll be putting more info in the Further Material section.
Again an optional bit here. Of late we have been using the esbats as an opportunity for someone in the group to teach some skill or other to the coven (recent example was the use of crystals for dowsing) and again in true witchcraft style the emphasis is usually "hands on" here . . . . . For indoor rites the pathworking is very good if someone in the group is a capable orator but outdoors (especially in winter) this can bit a bit uncomfortable and harder to make it work. Naturally some connection with the particular occasion is a good idea.
This is the time for the circle to work magick together and I feel its important that no circle should go by without some act of magick taking place in some form.
We have become used to holding hands around the circle and building energy in a cone then going around the circle mentioning people we know (inside or outside the coven/circle) to whom we wish to send healing or good energy. This is then released. This part appeals to me as there is a certain amount of trust that is built upon as you send out healing energy to someone you don't know on the say so of someone you do.
Often the priest and priestess throw open the ritual to allow circle members to bring their own ideas to the event. Poems, songs or thoughts are shared here and its my experience that this can be one of the best parts of a ritual.
The goddess and god (as the priestess and priest) now bless the cakes and wine which are then shared communaly. It is important to understand that the food and drink is bounty of the earth and the important part is the sharing of them, not that they are representative of any symbolism as in a certain other religion as body and blood.
How its Done:
The priest takes the athame and the priestess the cup containing the wine (or beer) and, holding the tip in the liquid, proclaims:
As the athame is male, so the cup is female, conjoined may they bring blessedness.
[Priestess] Blessed Be!
Now the priest gives the athame to the priestess who uses it to make the first cut of the cake saying:
Lady bless this, thy bounty, the fruit of the earth that brings us life and community when we share it.
[Priest] Blessed Be!
The wine now passes deosil around the circle follwed by the cake and all drink and eat. I've seen priests carry the cup and hand it to each to drink and also seen just the cup pass from person to person, I think I prefer the second as I feel it enhances the notion of community more.
As with all magickal operations its important to set things back as they were and not leave any "open" energy channelsto drain out Thus the watchtowers are thanked for their presence and dismissed formally at the end of the ritual. Again we like to have the same four people close each quarter as opened them
How It's Done:
All present face the appropriate direction and make the gestures. The caller draws an appropriate banishing pentagram in the air and proclaims:
Hail to the Watchtower
of the [North, South, East West],
Element of [Earth, Fire, Air, Water]!
We thank ye for your presence here tonight,
Ye mighty ones of the [North, South, East West],
Guardian spirits of Witchdom.
We ask that ye depart in peace,
Returning from whence ye came,
And harming none as ye go.
Guardians of the [North, South, East West],
Lords of the [Earth, Fire, Air, Water],
Hail and Farewell!
[All] Hail and Farewell!
At this point the priest and priestess may "cut" a doorway in the circle and allow the rest to leave with a kiss and blessing before going on to banish the circle together after the others have gone.
Standing in the centre and facing north, the bands of white light around the circle is visualised spinning down and being reabsorbed into the athame.
The bell may be struck once with the following proclamation:
We know by the powers
of Air
By the powers of Water we dare
By Fire we wield our will
And by Earth are silent still
And in their heart and height
We tread our road aright.
Blessed Be!
Finally the candles are extinguished one by one, starting with the altar candle and finally the following proclamation is made:
This rite is now ended and this place returned to its former state. So mote it and most blessed be!
[Clap three times]
Is usually worked individually in a few quiet moments after the ritual has finished. The closing of the circle and the cakes and ale will close down some peoples' chakras naturally.