Preparing for Ritual

Whether working alone or with a group, Ritual consists of more than walking into Circle with fine robes while gesturing and chanting. A lot of work goes into crafting a successful ritual, and much of it is done long before the first cut is ever made between the worlds.

Timing

Most of us today must work our Circles around home, family, and employment obligations. Since we aren't the dominate religion in this country, our holy days are not recognized as such. Therefore, many of us use either our personal or vacation days to cover our Sabbats whenever possible. Still, timing may not be perfect and most of us plan our Sabbat celebrations around the weekends closest to the Sabbat, itself. For this reason, groups usually start Sabbat preparation a month or more ahead.

While the remainder of this is written primarily with a group in mind, basically everything will hold true for the Solitaire, as well. The only difference will be the Solitaire is completely responsible for everything, whereas the group will hopefully divide responsibilities among themselves.

Pre-Ritual Preparation

The first aspect to consider is the type of ritual are we trying to craft. A Sabbat ritual will be different from an Esbat ritual, which are both different from Working rituals called for a specific reason. The type of ritual we are crafting will be determining factor for the purpose of the ritual.

Second, we need to consider whether or not the Ritual will be closed, open by invitation to anyone, or open by invitation only to other Craft practitioners. This determines what is and is not included when writing the ritual. As I stand opposed to the homogenization of the Craft for acceptability to the general public, I feel there are some aspects of our Craft that are simply not appropriate to share with the general non-Craft public. These aspects have special meaning to us and the context in which they're intended is a shared common knowledge among us; but they would be confusing and call for too much explanation to the uninitiated in order to avoid confusion or misinterpretation.

Once we have the frame of reference as to who will be attending, it's time to write the ritual. Crafting rituals is an art, in itself. Not everyone is adept at putting into words or actions that which they feel in their heart. The task of writing the ritual, therefore, usually falls to one or two people who have shown an interest and talent in this artform. The group will gather initially to lend ideas and possibly write pieces for which they feel strongly, or to state any special work that needs to be done during that ritual. Those responsible will then take these ideas and craft them into a ritual form.

Good ritual should speak to everyone, regardless of their degree of growth in the Craft. It should be basic enough that a beginner will understand and appreciate the words, gestures, and energies but it should also be carefully woven with the higher aspects that will speak to the more advanced in the group.

After the basic form of the ritual is decided upon, the group should then assign responsibilities for gathering together the necessary tools and materials. These include not only personal and coven working tools, but any extras that will be necessary, depending upon the type of ritual. For example, extra candles and candleholders, flash paper, pencils, herbs, incense, oils, etc.

In addition, this initial meeting should also cover preparations for the feast after Circle. Most groups with whom I'm acquainted make it a point to share feast afterwards. It's a time for group members to spend quality time with each other; to bond closer; and to share experiences, questions, talents and skills. In this day of schedules filled nearly every waking minute, and most of us suffering from some degree of sleep deprivation, these gatherings may be the only times in the year when the group can come together and share in this way. Breaking bread together has, through the ages, symbolized unity and the strength that comes with that feeling of unity. We still need this feeling of belonging and sense of unity even today, despite all the technological wonders of our global community.

Feast preparations are some of the most practical aspects of ritual planning. These include deciding who's going to bring what; whether or not the food will be prepared ahead of time, and whether or there will be a pre-circle gathering to prepare food at the covenstead's kitchen. I also recommend assigning two or more people to be responsible for primary cleaning duties. Too often I've seen (and been personally involved in) groups that can destroy a kitchen, and then blithely walk away from the mess. I feel strongly enough about this that it will also be covered in "Ritual Etiquette."

Time has passed, the ritual is written, and everyone has had a chance to make any changes they deem necessary. It's now the day of ritual, and the preparations shift from ABC's to getting down to business. Now is the time to clean and prepare the Circle area, especially if doing circle indoors. Vacuum the carpeting and dust the area, move furniture out of the room, if necessary. These are just normal housecleaning types of things.

But while this is being done, you're putting yourself into the ritual frame of mind. This is the start of cleansing your mind and body to prepare for Ritual. You slowly let go of the worries of the outside world. For just a little while, financial problems, the irritant at work, and anything else that's bothering you is surrendered. Your mind begins to focus away from the mundane and towards the spiritual.

Some time prior to going into circle, everyone should take a ritual bath. The ritual bath is not a cleaning of the body, but a cleansing of the mind and emotions. It's the final step of cleansing your mind that was begun while preparing the ritual space. Most often this is accomplished through a very warm (not hot!) bath, filled with appropriate herbs. Incense wafts through the room, and all lights are extinguished save a single candle flame. This is the time for meditation upon the coming ritual. It should not be a time of desperately trying to memorize your invocations!

Because of time and space constraints, alternatives to the ritual bath have evolved. Among these, participants bathe at their respective homes, and then retire one by one to a special room to meditate on the purpose for ritual. Among the newer alternatives is one that was included in the list of "You May Be a Yuppie Pagan If�? It's a list I used to have, and wish dearly I could find again somewhere, for included was the line "Your coven takes its ritual bath in the hot tub." Having enjoyed this, myself, I find it an exquisite site for the final transition between the worlds!

Ritual Preparation

Some groups will incorporate the following into the ritual, itself. Others will have it a separate. I've done it both ways, and find either acceptable. I prefer to have the HandMaiden and one other, preferably male, to sweep the circle clean of any residue of negativity. Those who are calling Quarters then cleanse the circle with their elements, and the HPS consecrates and casts the Circle.

The Call to Circle is given in the appropriate manner for the coven. For this purpose, we have used a Herald, the ringing of a bell, and the banging of a gong at different times. There have also been times, during open circles, where a coven member simply gathered everyone to the ready. A Challenge to Entrance may or may not be part of the coven's ritual routine at this point.

Next, the Quarters are called and honored, and invocations to the Lord and Lady follow. I like to make a formal declaration that the Circle is closed at this point, as well as pointing out that we now walk between the worlds.

Ritual

Now the ritual begins in earnest. The exact order of service is dependent upon the type of ritual, but the following is a general order that usually suffices with just minor rearrangements.

Statement of Purpose

In one form or another, the reason for gathering should be declared. This could come in the form of a guided meditation, a "Hail and Welcome" to the season, or a simply declaration. It should segue into the actual working, the start of which will be any manual or visualization tasks.

Manual tasks include things such as passing out candles, pencils, paper, etc., that the group will need. Visualization is self-explanatory, though I've found that if visualization is to be used at this point, it usually works best when the statement of purpose has been subtly declared through the form of guided meditation.

Now is the time to raise energy through chanting, drumming, or dance. These are the best known ways to raise the Cone of Energy. However, there are other creative methods, and the challenge in crafting ritual is finding the one that will raise energy the best for the circle, keeping in mind always those who will be participating. One form of raising energy in which I took part consisted of participants sitting in a circle and weaving long strands of rope while chanting. It falls upon the HPS and/or the HP to focus and direct the energy towards the stated purpose.

At this point, the cakes and ale are generally consecrated and dedicated, with the HPS consecrating the ale and the HP consecrating the cakes, each according to their nature. Depending upon the group and the reason for ritual, a symbolic Great Rite may follow consecration of the cakes and ale, which are then shared in a ritual manner among everyone in the group.

Depending upon what has been accomplished in Circle so far, some groups may call an "intermission" at this point in order to prepare for other more personal work to follow. It's also a good time for guided meditations or teaching.

After all work is accomplished, the Quarters are dismissed in the appropriate manner, and the Lord and Lady are thanked for their attendance and assistance. The HPS will often give a blessing or Benediction at this point, and from there lead the group in grounding any leftover energy.

After Ritual

Feasting is the main after-ritual function. This is time time to finish grounding, and eating is one of the best ways of grounding excess energy. It's also the time to make fairy offerings at the appropriate places outside. We have a special tree, actually two trees whose trunks inter-twine, where we leave our offerings. At our previous covenstead, we have several trees with knots or "fairy holes" where we left our offerings for the little people. Amazingly, the food is always gone come the next morning!

The last part of the celebration is just as important as any other previous aspect, and that involves the cleaning up. Ritual tools and materials that stay at covenstead should be put back in their appropriate storage places. If furniture was moved out of the room, it should now be moved back in; dirty dishes should either be washed or loaded into the dishwasher, and a general "putting back in order" of the household should ensue before anyone leaves for their respective homes.