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

Book I: T he Magick Circle 23
Natural magick is magick that works with the forces, fields, and energies of Nature. We do
this kind of magick best when we merge ourselves into the natural flow and become one with it.
The flow of an effective ceremony can be likened to any other sublime activity, such as sex, a
gourmet meal, a concert, a story, a movie, etc. The energy is built through organic stages to a
climax, and then returns in mirrored increments to the final anticlimactic finish.
In Wicca and many other forms of Pagan magick, especially when working in a group, we
do all this within a Magick Circle. Here is a brief outline of a basic generic 13-part ritual structure
commonly used in many rites throughout much of the American, European, British, and Australian
magickal community. If you learn this form, you will be at home in just about any Circle
anywhere, in all of their infinite variations. There are entire books, tapes, and CDs full of variations
on this basic form, with countless different chants, invocations, blessings, etc.—many of
which are in the forms of songs and poetry. What I offer here are only samples. This 13-part
outline may be used as a starting point for creating an infinite variety of more complex forms.
One of the best things about magickal rituals is that they offer so much room for creativity!
I. BANISHING/CLEANSING (optional; not
used in all rituals)
A. Smudging
and/or: B. Asperging (with salt water)
II. GROUNDING (optional; not used in all
rituals)
A. Guided meditation (“Tree of Life”)
or: B. Physical movement
III. CASTING THE CIRCLE (Deosil/clockwise
for “doing;” widdershins/counterclockwise
for “undoing.” All movements
henceforth within the ritual should follow
direction of casting.)
A. Walk circumference with a tool
(blade or wand)
or: B. Caster stands in center and
rotates with tool
C. All dance circumference
D. Chant/sing while holding hands
E. Visualization/meditation while
holding hands
IV. CALLING THE QUARTERS
A. East (Air)
B. South (Fire)
C. West (Water)
D. North (Earth)
Optional: E. The Great Above (or Spirit)
F. The Great Below (or Abyss)
G. The Center (Spirit or Faerie)
V. INVOKING DEITIES & SPIRITS
A. The Goddess
B. The God
Optional: C. Ancestors
D. Guardian Spirits or Angels
E. The Fae
F. Animal Totems
G. Higher Self
VI. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Clarifying the intention of the ritual.
VII. WORKING
Elements of the ritual are symbolized and/
or represented. Dynamics between chosen
elements are dramatized, healed, transformed,
or energized (this is the most creative
part).
VIII. POWER RAISING & RELEASING
A. Chanting and/or Drumming
B. Dancing
C. Grounding
IX. COMMUNION
A. Charging/Blessing and Sharing:
1. Food (cakes, bread, fruit, etc.)
2. Drink (water, juice, wine, etc.)
X. HIATUS
A. Meditation
or: B. Sharing, discussion,
announcements, business
C. Silence
XI. THANKS & DISMISSAL OF SPIRITS
A. Deities/Spirits (in reverse order of invocation)
XII. THANKS & DISMISSAL OF
ELEMENTS
A. Directions/Elements (in reverse
order of invocation)
XIII. OPENING THE CIRCLE (in reverse
direction of casting)
Usually done in same manner as it was cast,
i.e. by song, dance, blade, wand, etc.
NOTE: Maximum participation is desired.
Parts are often shared.