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Rituals in Modern Life

Ritual is ultimately about fulfillment. Ritual brings about the unseen and the unknown and allows us to explore it. Ritual is both a very personal thing, as well as communal. Each ritual changes depending on the person who enacts it; with groups, each person adds their own flavor and form, making even formulaic rituals, unique.

Key Elements of a Ritual

Ambiance: The right environment for your ritual is essential. You wouldn't hold a May Day ritual indoors, nor would you celebrate a Hand-Fasting without your alter containing certain objects. Make sure to set the mood by using appropriate decoration, aromatics, alter configuration, etc. Everything should reflect the ritual's purpose. From color to types of tools.

Personal Preparation: Each person participating in a ritual is important, and each paticipant needs to be in the right frame of mind, body and spirit. They should feel wholly comfortable with the ritual and its components, understand the ritual and its goals, be well rested, and be ready to put aside daily stress and mundane thoughts to focus on the goal.

Tool and Component Preparation: Does your alter need a complete setup? Need special costumes? A ritual might require any of the following tools:

• Altar
• Athame
• Bell
• Boline
• Broom
• Candles
• Cauldron
• Chalice
• Cords
• Drum
• Foods or beverages
• Incense or oils
• Incense burner
• Masks
• Objects or offerings representing the four elements
• Pentacle
• Robes
• Salt
• Scry Glass/Mirror
• Smudge stick
• Staff
• Statuary
• Stones/Crystals
• Sword
• Tarot Cards
• Wand

All that the ritual requires should be cleansed. Any lingering energy could alter the course of the ritual.

Location: Plan with the goals of the ritual in mind, but remember that a solitary has more options than 30 people might. Where a ritual takes place has a huge effect on the participants and results.

Progression: Rituals need to follow a logical progression. Each should have a defined beginning (like casting a circle). The beginning of any ritual sets the tone for everything to follow. After casting the circle, something definitive must occur, don't allow your ritual to stagnate.

Depending on the ritual and its goals, what happens next varies dramatically. There might be the weaving of spells, dancing, singing, drumming, meditations visualization, divination and so on. Whatever takes place needs to be congruent with the beginning of the ritual.

Human beings like closure, solid endings bring the participants' attention back to mundane matters. A ritual without a defined ending is like missing the end of a movie, it leaves the participants, and the energy built with the ritual, hanging. Remember to thank those that you invoked to bless your circle, releasing them from the protections they provided. The closing also allows the participants time to gear down.

Sample Blessings:

Earth and air, fire and water too.
Hear this call, from me to you
Lend to me your powers, to guard well this space.
And together shall we bless this place.

Lord of Day, Lady of Night
I call you here to lend your might
Assist me now, smile on this space
With your help, I do bless this place

Sample Calling of Quarters:

Spirits and guardians of the east and air, realm of the mind, I call to you to join in [insert name of ritual]. Merry meet!

Spirits and guardians of the south and fire, realm of passion, I call to you to join in [insert name of ritual]. Merry meet!

Spirits and guardians of the west and water, realm of peace, I call to you to join in [insert name of ritual]. Merry meet!

Spirits and guardians of the north and earth, realm of healing, I call to you to join in [insert name of ritual]. Merry meet!

For samples of various rituals, go here.

© 2005 Bernita Balekian