. bb 1. Define Ritual, pg 117 of Pagan
Rituals Ritual is the systematic working procedure dedicated to achieve
a particular aim or effect on individuals or groups. a. Purpose of ritual
transitions, turning points, life movement, worship, formalizing meaning.
b. The need for ritual - Rituals deepen the psychic and spiritual awareness.
Our inner selves - subconscious if you like - needs ritual and ceremonial
behaviors in order to mark and acknowledge significant events. Rituals
are an expression of the human need to belong. 3. Define the differing
groups that practice ritual and their characteristics
A. Solitary
B Circle Small core groups with visitors.
Usually has a fairly set format. Visitors may be asked to participate in
a key role. Circles come and go and are seldom static for any length of
time.
C. Coven Committed group with a identifiable
spiritual basis. At least in intent they are long term and constitute a
community. D. Gatherings Has many of the same elements as circles but are
often one time or special event functions organized by a group of temporary
leaders.
E. Festivals Often use theater as
ritual. To mark the ritual -- that is, to acknowledge the value of the
ritual in the mind of the participant -- the entire process must be moved
from the mundane to the "special" or sacred. Whoever is leading the ritual
has a responsibility to guide the group so that the physical, psychic,
and emotional attitude of the group members is in some way altered. Without
these alterations, a ritual may become shallow or even meaningless. It
is the responsibility of the leader to provide: Permission, Protection,
and Potency (leader, structure, subject)
POTENCY:
The potency of the leader is not
a matter of charisma. Rather, leadership potency comes from the leader
being prepared, knowing what they are doing, and being familiar with the
structure that is being used. Hurried or last minute ritual preparation
leaves everyone floundering. A well-planned, well-formulated, well-thought-out
ritual gives everyone permission to truly involve themselves in what is
happening. In effect, the entire ritual becomes more meaningful when the
H.P. knows what they are doing.
PERMISSION:
We live in a society where we are,
by necessity, required to wear masks. When we involve ourselves in a spiritual
ritual, we in some way, loosen those masks. If it is a group ritual, those
who are participating allow their neighbors to see a little way beneath
the masks. Although it can be a scary process, the loosening of the personal
masks is a necessity. It is a lowering of the wall and boundaries that
we all carry around with us. We all have inhibitions and they are necessary
in our society. The fewer inhibitions we carry into a ritual the more powerful
the ritual will be for all concerned. In order to put those inhibitions
aside for awhile, there must be: trust freedom honesty openness How do
you encourage those qualities? Option Exercise
SCENARIOS:
1. Open circle -- Full Moon You are
regular H.P. Four regular members Two visitors
2. Open circle -- Full Moon Rotating
H.P. You're it! Four regular members Two visitors
3. Closed circle, Newly Formed --
Full Moon Eight Members You are the H.P. because of a game of hot potato
4. A CUUPs Gathering 23 people for
a full moon Very eclectic group
PROTECTION:
All groups have boundaries (circle,
arrow drawing) Once the structure has been established, any intrusions
from outside the groups are viewed with a certain degree of hostility by
those inside the group. Even if it is not expressed, the hostility is there
and can interfere with the purpose of the ritual. The small the group,
the more intense the psychic and emotional states of the group, the more
they will feel threatened by any outside influence. It is my belief that
the H.P. and the significant members of the circle have the responsibility
to see that level of protection is adequate for the type of ritual being
celebrated. Ritual Outline, pg 118 Pagan Rituals
1. Establish intention
2. Construct ritual outline
3. Set up temple
4. Cast Circle
5. Invoke Higher Forces
6. Invoke God and Goddess
7. Perform work.
8. Thanksgiving
9. Close Circle
10. Reconstruct Temple.
ELEMENTS
of RITUAL:
A statement of intention - a group
contract of a sort, eg: We are here to celebrate the Full Moon, lend our
energy to healing Mother Earth, sink the Spanish Armada How this statement
of intention is made is a matter of individual style, but it should be
done out loud prior to getting to the meat of the ritual. The Statement
allows everyone to focus on why they are a part of the ritual. In some
cases, you may find that the circle members have other ideas than the leadership.
When formulating the statement of intention, keep in mind: a. why you are
here b. what you intend to do c. how you will do it d. who will do what
e. when you will know that you have accomplished your purpose. Know your
time frame
PREPARATION:
Information on the ritual format
should be supplied to the participants before the ritual starts. If it
is a consistent groups, such as a closed coven, then it doesn't hurt to,
at least, give the general form out a week ahead. If a coven member is
to do something special or out of the ordinary, let them know well ahead
of time. Don't keep secrets -- the mysterious will take care of itself!
All H.P.'s, all circles and covens develop their own style of preparation.
There are some groups, particularly druidic groups, that begin the accumulation
of materials and psychic preparation at least a week ahead of the actual
ritual. In effect, this concentration on the preparation of the various
aspects of the ritual focuses the intent of both the individual and the
group. It allows the psyche -- the subconscious -- to be prepared and is,
therefore, more effective in carrying out the intentions of the ritual.
MANIFESTATION:
-- The Actual Act of the Ritual If
you jump right into the opening of the ritual, you will leave some people
unprepared. Therefore, it helps if there are some warm-up exercises --
similar to stretching exercises before you begin jogging or working out.
Warming up is a signal to the subconscious -- the inner self, the wondrous
child within us all -- that something is about to happen.
WARM-UP
OPTIONS:
1. Group Ohm's - rhythmic breathing
2. Group Ha Ha's
3. Singing or Chanting (don't pick
songs or chants that some members of the group are unlikely to know.
4. Psych Contact (18" space, 5 to
10 minute dialogue) (don't use with a new group or a group with unfamiliar
members. What other exercises? Don't settle for round robin intro's. After
the warm-ups, you need to create a sacred space.
SACRED
SPACE OPTIONS:
1. Meditation
2. Guided meditation - spirit world
3. Grounding - connecting to the
earth
4. Centering - into one self (Pg
19, WR)
5. Some groups use the casting of
a circle by the group
6. Calling Quarters
7. Some form of ceremony by H.P.
or member The ritual spectrum theater -- individual action In most groups,
there are some formalized structures to a ritual, eg: cast circle call
quarters invocation recitation call and response blessing, grounding close
You as a H.P. must discover what works for you. You as a member of a circle
or a coven may find that you need different things. A festival is usually
theater. That is, a small group will conduct a ritual and a larger group
will observe. There are varying degrees of this "told observer to Oak's
Samhain" The small and more consistent the group, the more powerful the
ritual.
The four parts to carrying out a ritual:
1. The creation of sacred space
2. Dedication and enactment of intentions
3. Invocation of larger energies
4. Blessing and closing 1. (?)
The creation of sacred space includes (what are the elements of creating a sacred space): casting the circle, burning herbs or incense, creating an alter. or pg 118 Pagan Rituals I would add that any warm-ups, community building, or exercises done before the main enactment of the ritual are also part of the ritual. You must let the inner person, the subconscious, etc know that this place is different. This place is special. Different laws apply here.
Intuition Imagination Inspiration
Preparation and creation Clarifying the Intention (Inspiration)
1. What is the inspiration for this
ritual?
2. What type of ritual is it?
3. What effect do you want this ritual
to have, and on whom?
4. Clearly state the intention of
this ritual:
Planning (Creation)
1. What symbols are you using in
this ritual?
2. Write out a draft of the ritual
itself.
3. Logistics: Write out dates, times,
deadlines, what needs co- ordination, and who needs to be contacted.
4. Make a shopping list of materials
you need.
Emotional Process (Deepening)
1. What feelings or issues have been
brought up by the preparations you've done so far?
2. Have any ethical questions arisen?
Is there any way this ritual could hold negative intention for anyone?
How?
3. What limitations (money, space,
time) have you encountered?
4. Working through these feelings,
ethical issues, and limitations, what adjustments, if any need to be made
to your ritual plan?
Physical Preparation (Action)
1. What else needs to be coordinated?
2. What materials need to be gathered?
3. Details for arriving with helpers
and checking that you have everything you need:
4. Cleaning the physical space: What
needs to be done, when, and by whom?
Manifestation: The Ritual Itself Creating
Sacred Space (action)
1. What objects and actions will
you use to clear and bless the space?
2. What emotions do you need to clear
from yourself? How will you do this?
3. How will you center yourself?
4. How will you ask for guidance
in conducting this ritual? Using a circle with the four directions marked,
write in how you will set up the temple sacred space, including location
of your chosen symbols, where participants will enter and stand, and other
appropriate details.
Setting the Mood (Deepening) and Declaration
of Intention (creation)
1. What objects and actions will
you use?
2. Music, sounds:
3. Poetry and speech:
4. What will these things inspire
in the participants?
Invocation (Inspiration) and Direction
of Higher Energies (creation)
1. What particular energies are you
invoking, and precisely what do you want them to do?
2. What words will you use to direct
these energies to their purpose?
3. What emotions will be touched,
and what kinds of rhythms or music will help you accomplish this?
4. What objects and actions will
best represent and channel these energies and the emotions of the participants?
Blessing (deepening) and Closure (action)
1. With what gift of Spirit will
the participants leave the ritual?
2. Words or poetry you can use to
name this gift:
3. Music and sounds to enhance the
gift and mark the ending of the ritual:
4: Actions and objects used to mark
the ending. How will the participants leave the sacred space?
Grounding/Completion Breakdown of
Sacred Space (action)
1. What is left to be done (blessed
food or drink needing proper disposal, for example?
2. How will you release the sacred
space back to normal space?
3. Emotional completion: How will
you give thanks?
4. When will you break down the circle,
put things away, and clean up? Who will help?
Emotional Process (Deepening)
1. Did you experience any strong
physical sensations during the ritual?
2. What emotions were raised?
3. What did you learn about yourself?
4. How does your emotional experience
relate to the myth enacted in the ritual?
Evaluation (creation)
1. What worked and didn't work effectively?
2. How impactful was the ritual to
those involved?
3. If you were to do this ritual
again, how would you improve it?
4. What new ideas or insights did
you gain about the nature of ritual?
Integration (inspiration)
1. How were you inspired by this
ritual?
2. How can you use this inspiration
to create change in yourself?
3. What form do you imagine these
changes can take in the world?
4. What actions can you take this
week to manifest this inspiration?