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

Book I: T he Magick Circle 29
songs, beating our drums, dancing our celebrations,
enacting our adventures—ritual, drama, music, poetry,
myth—all of this evolved from our prehistoric
tribal campfires.
Over the years, our simple campfire Circles acquired
more accoutrements. At Annwfn, we refined
the fire pits with rocks, cleared the grass,
leveled the areas, and made benches to sit on. Later
we planted flowering hedges around the perimeters,
and built stone and wood Altars at the four
Quarters. Gates were made at the entrances to the Faerie Circle and the Maypole Circle of
branches woven into archways (when in use, these are festooned with ribbons, bells and flowers).
At the Western Gate of the Faerie Circle we built a rocking bridge, over which one can
cross into the Underworld at Samhain (during the rest of the year, it is kept roped off and
covered with a fishing net). While we kept the fire pits at the center of the Moon Circle and the
Sun Circle on Pwyll’s Meadow, the one in the Faerie Circle was eventually replaced with a great
stone Altar. And, of course, the Maypole Circle has the Pole itself as its centerpiece.
When magickal rituals are regularly performed in a wooded place, especially one remote
from “civilization,” it will come alive in both obvious and subtle ways. Growing things will
prosper, and wild animals will find the area pleasing and appear in greater numbers. Those
who are psychically sensitive will soon observe that there is a definite charge or aura about
the place, and often Faeries, Wood-Sprites, and other Nature Spirits will be seen—first at
night, and later even by day. This is the type of “Enchanted Wood” mentioned in classic tales,
such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Of course, you can only do these lasting modifications on land you own. But lots of
simple things can work in a wooded park area or even in your own back yard, provided you
have privacy and are discreet.
Ritual Altars
By Oberon & Morning Glory
Altars are the primary stages for the microcosm of a magickal ritual. An Altar is a miniature
symbolic model of the Universe, containing representations of whatever elements are to
be addressed. Various magickal traditions have specific customs regarding the placement
and decoration of their Altars. For instance, Hindus, Moslems, Jews, and Christians place
their Altars in the East, while several traditions of Witchcraft and Ceremonial Magick put
Altars in the North. The Faerie Tradition uses the Western gate. I feel that these arrangements
can be flexible, depending on the theme, season, and purpose of the ritual itself. Here
are some of the Altars we use in our rituals:
Personal Altar
Each member of our Ravenheart Clan has a personal altar. On it, we keep one or more
Goddess and/or God statues, our personal athamés, chalices, wands, etc. Candles are a requisite,
and the colors will be changed according to the seasons and the nature of the magick we’re
working at any given time. All our altars contain at least one crystal or crystal ball, and some also
contain something for incense. Other items representing the Elements may be included, such as
feathers, seashells, fossils, acorns, stones, geodes, etc. Some of us also have a little D&D
figurine representing ourselves—one which we have picked out from a gaming store and painted
up (and which we will also use when we’re gaming). We also tend to include little totemic animal
figurines; some of our favorites come in Red Rose Tea boxes! Addionally, items of our personal
magickal jewelry will be kept on our altars when we’re not wearing them.