How to Design & Write a Ceremony
- Three Moon Isis
- Mar 26, 2020
- 7 min read
How to Design and Write a Ceremony
How to Design and Write a Ceremony
The Basics: The only times that magic work is not a part of ritual are the Sabbats and Esbats, which are reserved for religious purposes, at other times the two purposes may be combined. We will get into that a bit further into this article. Rituals follow a basic pattern. The circle is cast, the purpose for the ritual is stated in a “spoken spell”, and any actions are performed. Thanks are then given and the circle is opened. This includes the use of correspondences; incense, oils and other herbal preparations; crystals; candles; and other magical basics to add to the strength of your ritual and aid in it’s success. Visualization of the achievement of the goal or intent is also very important.
Step 1: Deciding on the Intent, Ingredients, & Timing of the Ceremony. Setting your Intent & Finding your Words: What is your intention or the purpose of the ceremony? What do you want to focus on or accomplish? Your ceremonial intent is your way of expressing you souls goals and opens space for spiritual guidance. The spoken words of the ritual communicate your desire. They are to be spoken aloud, not read silently. The sound of your voice conveys the meaning of the words to the universe, allowing your desire to begin it’s way toward manifestation. The words used should be specific enough to describe your desire or goal clearly and completely. It is not enough to just read the words from a sheet of paper, one must feel the wanting for the goal and express the words with appropriate emotion. After all, if you don’t REALLY want it, why are you bothering? Ingredients: The first step of designing a ritual is determining the elements to include, what correspondences will you use, do you want to use a candle as a focal point, will you be using crystals or herbs to add power to your ritual? If you want to use candles look up the color correspondence for your intent to determine the color candle to use. If you would like to add crystals to your altar arrangement for the ritual you can research which crystals align with the intent of your ritual or ceremony. Also research to find an incense that is appropriate if you would like to use one during the ritual. Once you have these bits together you are ready to move on to the wording of the spell.
Timing: What phase is the moon in? Each phase represents something different…. New Moon: Fresh start Waxing Crescent Moon: Deepen resolve/intention First Quarter: Challenges, decisions Waxing Gibbous: Refine, improve, adjust Full Moon: Let realizations come together Waning Gibbous: Gratitude, enthusiasm Last Quarter: Release, forgive Waning Crescent: Surrender, rest, recuperate Step 2: Setting Up As the time for the ritual nears, set up the altar with the items you have chosen to use for the ritual; incense, crystals, herbs, candles, and any other materials required. Arrange the items on the altar as they will be used. Double-check that you aren’t forgetting anything important, it is very disruptive of a ritual to have to leave the circle to go get something you require. Be sure you have matches or a lighter to light the altar candles for example. The space should be cleared of any stray energies by smudging the room, casting about a purification infusion or sweeping it away with your besom. Step 3: Preparation and Cleansing At this point you will want to prepare yourself for the ritual by taking a ritual bath or by smudging yourself. You may wish to anoint yourself with an appropriate oil for the intent of the ritual, or wear gemstone jewelry with appropriate correspondences, this is the time to put them on. Begin the ritual by grounding yourself (as well as everyone else participating). Find your inner peace, and become good and relaxed. Shut out all the things from your mundane life that distract you. Feel yourself being one with the earth and also connecting with your guides and the Divine.
Step 4: Performing the Ritual When the time comes begin the ritual by casting the circle. You will then light the altar candles and state the purpose of the ritual. Read your script or make your statement from memory. If you are using crystals you need only have them on the altar, no action is required, but if you are using herbs in some way do it at this point; or if you are using incense or candles it is time to light them. It is important to visualize the success of the ritual and the achievement of the goal as you perform the actions of the ritual. As the candles and/or incense burn, visualize yourself having obtained your desire. Spend several minutes contemplating this silently. When you feel that your visualization is as realistic and complete as possible you may end the ritual by giving thanks to your Goddess or God, or the forces of the universe, or however you picture the powers that you are appealing to. Then open the circle and it is done. Here is a step by step guide: 1) Now that everyone is gathered in a circle, grounded, and connected. You can begin to draw Divine light into your circle. 2) Call the elements to be present in your space; Clockwise, starting at East: * East, Air * South, Fire * West, Water * North, Earth 3) All, Spirit (ancestors… everyone takes a moment to call in their guides, totems, loved ones, and etc) Everyone says “Welcome ________. After each element/ancestors is introduced) Be sure to feel each element enter into the circle and honor what it brings. A symbolic picture or sculpture helps to focus the mind, especially in group rituals where it helps to have everyone focused on the same thing. It also helps people to get a sense of the elements coming into the circle. 4) Take a moment to honor your deity/deities. A symbolic picture or sculpture helps to focus the mind, especially in group rituals where it helps to have everyone focused on the same thing. It also helps people to get a sense of the deities coming into the circle.
5) Visualize your goal and meditate on it. Take some time to focus on your intense/magick (your purpose of the ritual). Then proceed with doing the work/arts and crafts.
6) Cakes and Ale (have some as an offering). Both solitary and group workings benefit from the sharing of wine and cake for grounding and blessing at this point. Pass wine (or drink) and then cake or bread clockwise, being blessed and blessing the next person in turn. When everyone feels settled, discussion and expression is a great idea.
7) Thank your God/Goddess. Everyone says “Go if you must, stay if you will.”
8) Thank your Ancestors/Guides. Everyone says, “Go if you must, stay if you will.”
9) Thank the elements and release them in reverse order of what you called them in, blowing out any candles that have been used as a representation. Everyone says “Go if you must, stay if you will.” Any candles used to represent the desire outcome (magick work) should be allowed to burn themselves out on their own. The incense can also be allowed to burn. You should extinguish the altar candles and watchtower (element and/or ancestors) candles as they may be reused for the next ritual you conduct. If you have prepared an herbal mixture as a part of the ritual you will want to package it appropriately for use.
10) Finally, open your circle. This will release any residual energy. Some like to do this as they release the elements. At the end you or person in charge says, “The circle is now open”. Most people end with the phrase, “Merry we meet, merry we part, and merry shall we meet again. So mote it be!” NOTES: Waxing Moon (before it is completely full) = drawing in or welcoming Waning Moon (post full moon as it is leaving) = banishing & releasing Clockwise = draw in or welcome Counter Clockwise = banish or release
Step 5: Grounding Yourself It is important to ground yourself after conducting rituals as otherwise the excess energies can produce physical symptoms such as headaches, insomnia or nervousness. At the close of the ritual you will want to seat yourself on the floor and give the energies an opportunity to go to ground by sitting or laying down and placing your palms on the floor. Visualize the energy flowing through your body and out of your hands into the earth. Return the unused energy to it’s source. Take some time to come back to ‘the now’ by grounding yourself again; visualizing roots growing into the ground to steady you. Step 6: Tidying your Space Any crystals used may be left on the altar until the candles burn out, then put away for future use. After the candles used for your intent/magick work have burned down and the incense is consumed, you take any leftover bits and pieces and bury them in the ground. If you are doing work to rid negativity then take the remains to a crossroads and bury them or a vacant lot, but do not bury them in your yard. Be sure to clean your ritual tools, you want to keep them as pure as possible. Step 7: It is Done! After the ritual is done, and the magick work is cast, you should stop thinking and worrying about it. You have done what you intended and it is complete, forget about it. Go on about your life. Continuing to second guess yourself or redoing the ritual over and over in your mind simply muddles up the process. Give it a chance to work, leave it alone!
Comments