Elements of a Ritual

What's in a ritual can vary from a little to a lot depending on a few different things. The primary consideration should be the work being done. For what reason are you doing this ritual? What do you hope to accomplish? When do you plan to do this ritual? All these questions can depend on each other and the ritual structure can depend on the answers to all of them! You will find that some elements seem to remain constant within many or most rituals that you will do. I find that I invoke "Deity" in some way in every ritual that I do. Below is a basic ritual structure that works well for many things.

1. Invocation of the power. 
     a call to the creative powers that be to be present

2. Altar dedication
    cleansing of the elemental representations

3. Purify the ritual area
    cleanse the area with the powers of the elements

4. Cast the circle
     raise you circle with the preferred method

5. Call the Quarters
     invoke the powers of the four elements 

6. Call the Goddess
     invoke the power and/or presence of the Goddess into your circle

7. Call the God
    invoke the power and/or presence of the God into your circle

8. Call any specific Deity, Elemental or other energy that you want present

9. Do your thing
    do magick, ritual enactment or whatever the ritual is for

10. Release that which you have called
       in reverse order release/thank Deities, Elementals or whoever you called in step 8

11. Thank the God

12. Thank the Goddess

13. Release the Quarters
      in reverse order

14. Take up the Circle...always
       in reverse direction from the way you cast it

15. Thank the creative power
       offer thanks to the Great Spirit for its presence in your ritual and your life

16. Ground yourself
      partake of the ritual "cakes and ale" or ground by any preferred method

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