Creating Circles and Ceremonies: Rituals for All ... - reading...

18 Creating Circles & Ceremonies
Magick Circle Mandala
By Oberon
This Mandala diagrams the Magick Circle
with the corresponding alignments of the various
cycles of the Sacred Year. A ritual area
laid out in this design may serve for virtually
any form of magickal ceremony. In the Northern
Hemisphere, all cycles begin in the North
(at the top of the picture) and move deosil
(clockwise). In the Southern Hemisphere,
North and South should be reversed, and the
cycles (and movements in the Circle) go
widdershins (counterclockwise).
The outermost rings mark the 52 weeks
of the year, each of seven days, totaling 364
days, plus two intercalary days: Π (Pi) following
the Winter Solstice each year; and Φ (Phi)
following Summer Solstice every four years.
The next ring inward marks the 13 Lunar/tree/consonant
months of Robert Graves’
Celtic Tree calendar: Beth (Birch), Luis
(Rowan), Nion (Ash), Vearn/Fearn
(Alder), Saille/Ztraif (Willow/
Maple), Huath (Thorn),
Duir/Fith (Oak), Tinne
(Holly), Coll/Quirt
(Hazel/Apple),
Muin (Vine),
Gort (Ivy),
Ngetal
(Reed), Ruis
(Elder),
These are
illustrated
with
“axerian”
glyphs.
The third
ring in links the
eight Sabbats and
the Elements of the
Four Directions: Yule
(North/Earth)—Winter Solstice;
Oimelc (Northeast);
Ostara (East/Air)—Spring Equinox;
Beltaine (Southeast); Litha (South/Fire)—Summer
Solstice; Lughnasadh (Southwest);
Mabon (West/Water)—Fall Equinox; Samhain
(Northwest).
The fourth ring inward marks the 12 astrological
signs of the Zodiac, with their
glyphs: Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries,
Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio,
Sagittarius. (If you would like to use this
design to make a henge of wood or stone, the
small circles on the inner edge of the astrological
ring indicate the positions of Summer Solstice
sunrise (NE), Winter Solstice sunrise (SE),
Winter Solstice sunset (SW), ad Summer Solstice
sunset (NW). These must be adjusted for
local latitude.)
The next area inside the astrological ring
marks the four Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer,
and Fall—with their respective glyphs.
The Pentagram—emblem of magick,
Witchcraft, and the Pythagorean Mysteries—
marks in its points the five Celtic vowels: Idho,
Ailm, Onn, Ura, and Eadha. The Pentagram
also represents the five magickal Elements:
Spirit, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.
The center circle marks the
Altar, and its symbol is the universal
glyph representing
Earth, our Holy Mother
and Sacred Home.
Tables of Correspondenceprovide
the symbolicassociations
that
may be made
when addressing
any of these
aspects. In
practice, the
Correspondences
of the
Four Directions
are almost universally
used in Pagan
rituals, while few of
the others are.
Axerian glyphs for the Celtic consonants
and vowels were designed by Fred
Adams of Feraferia. They may be constructed
as staves or wands for henge and temple work.
This Mandala may be painted on the floor
of a temple, printed on an altar cloth, or used as
a design for a stone or wood henge.