Exploring Ritual & Ceremony in the EarthDreaming Tradition

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In the EarthDreaming tradition,  a ritual is something that

o takes place within sacred space, and
o involves some form of symbolic or ceremonial action
with the intention of
o celebrating the cycles of the Land and our lives,
o communing with that which we hold sacred, and/or
o raising energy for personal, collective and/or earth healing.


Our rituals and ceremonies are designed to be participatory and transformational.

This means that everyone can expect to be involved in the action in some way.

It also means that over a period of time we can expect the impact of our experiences within sacred space to spill over into our daily lives
- 'She changes everything She touches!'
 

The Facilitating Priestess or Priest

The role of the facilitating priestess or priest is to facilitate the smooth flow of the ritual.

This is achieved by knowing what is supposed to be happening, prompting others as needed, proactively watching the flow of energy and keeping a weather-eye out for problems or disturbances.   The role is essentially a combination of group memory and watch-dog!

An experienced priestess or priest will ensure  at the outset  that everyone is clear about the intention of the ritual, the broad outline of what will happen and who is doing what.

Circles as sacred space

It is traditional to work in a circle.  A circle is a self-contained form which has no end and no beginning.  It reflects the cyclical nature of day and night, of the seasons of the land and of our lives.  In a circle all are equal - each person can see and hear and be heard and seen.   The circle is a primordial symbol of unity.

When we cast a circle, we are creating a space and time apart from the rest of our lives.  We are declaring this time and place as special, as sacred.  We are invoking reverence, affirming our intention to open ourselves to mystery, preparing to enter an expanded state of awareness.  Traditionally it is said 'the circle is between the Worlds'.

In preparation for casting or entering a sacred circle, it is traditional to cleanse one's self, eg. by bathing, sprinkling with consecrated water, smudging, drumming and/or meditation.  Getting dressed in special clothes, or robes reserved for this purpose also helps create an appropriate feeling of reverence and excitement.

When a circle is cast for magical purposes, it is created as an energetic sphere, visualised as a sphere of light.  This sphere of energy which is the boundary of the circle acts as a protective barrier to  keep unwanted energies out of the sacred space as well as forming a container to hold the energies which are invoked within it.   Whatever energies you take into the circle, whether consciously or not, are magnified by this energetic boundary, which is why traditional wisdom stresses the importance of some kind of preparatory purification.

At the end of the ritual, the circle is ceremonially and energetically banished.  This helps create a sense of completion, and facilitates our return to mundane consciousness.   If you have entered a trance or 'altered state of consciousness' during the ritual, it is important to ground at the end - to return to a full awareness of body sensation.
The Directions
The quartered circle is an ancient image of wholeness and balance.  To the psyche, the number four evokes qualities of stability, solidity, manifestation in time and space.

In our rituals, we work with an awareness of the four cardinal points of the compass - east, north, west and south travelling sunwise around the circle.  The four 'quarters' are associated with the energies of the four elements,  four times of day  and the four Paths of Transformation.

The centre of the circle corresponds to spirit, and to the Great Goddess herself who is the source and destination of all of our journeys.   Occasionally we also work with the directions of above, below and within making seven directions in all.

In magical workings, the elemental qualities of each quarter are invoked by tracing the symbol of the pentagram at the appropriate points on the perimeter of the circle.  These symbols function both as an energetic protection and as a gateway through which the elemental energies may enter the circle.
 

The Altar

More than just a handy place to put objects and symbols which will be used during the ritual or ceremony, the altar can be used to arouse and focus the kinds of energies and feelings we wish to work with.  For example, an altar might be decorated with a green cloth covered in fresh green leaves and sprinkled with images of frogs and young children to help evoke the seasonal energies of Coming of the Rain.
The altar is a sacred space, and whatever objects and symbols are placed upon it should be treated with respect and handled with care.

In northern hemisphere Wiccan traditions, the altar is generally placed in the northern quarter of the circle, the place of greatest darkness.  In the EarthDreaming tradition the altar is rotated around the four quarters to reflect whichever Pathway of Transformation the coven is currently working with.   Family Circles may prefer to situate the altar at the centre of the circle.
 

Invocation

To invoke something is to call it forth, into ourselves or into our circle or temple.
The rationale behind invocation is that through concentrated effort, an energetic force, a deity, or the energy of that deity can be brought into the energetic sphere of a temple or magic circle.  Invocation presupposes that the deity or an energy form of the force we wish to invoke actually exists within the non-physical realms, and that we can, through our intention and emotions, tap into this energetic source.
The ceremonial traditions of magic have developed more elaborate techniques for this process.  However, in the EarthDreaming tradition we rely largely upon the use of words (either prepared or spontaneous) and emotions, to bring the desired energy or presence into our own energy field and, through us, into the circle.

Tips for Successful Invocations

1. Always expand your aura to encompass the whole circle.
2. Connect with your crown chakra and Higher Self prior to starting
3. When writing an invocation, use lots of repetitions and divine names
4.  Feel the emotion. Let go of all inhibitions and really yearn for divine ecstasy.
5. Even if you don't feel like you can do it, act like you can.
6. Use as many props resonant with the nature of the deity/force in question as possible.

In EarthDreaming we make a point of always inviting the Goddess into all we do.  Similarly, we consciously invite the EarthDreaming Ancestor Beings - Snake, Frog and Magpie, as well as the indigenous guardian spirits of this land, to witness and guide our rituals and magical workings.
 

Worship

In the EarthDreaming tradition, a primary purpose of ritual is to worship and celebrate that which we hold sacred.   Dictionary definitions of worship point out that the word derives from 'weorth', or worth.  This shows us that we need to clearly see the worth and value in what we worship.

Worship can be described as 'becoming one through love'.  When we worship, we experience a yearning desire to be united with Goddess.  Our love enables us to move beyond our ego-limited perception and enter a state of divine bliss.  For some people this comes naturally and easily, for others we need to work at it.

Many witches would say that we are naturally born worshipful, full of wonder and amazement, and it is our socialisation and maturation that removes or limits our capacity for worship as an adult.  This has occurred to such an extent that there is an underlying derision in western secular culture for anyone who worships anything.  This has even spread into the Pagan and magical community with some witches saying that they do not worship the Goddess or God.

To fully worship a Goddess or a God involves a recognition of our own limited personality and ego.  When a divine presence moves into our sphere of consciousness, we will find that, in contrast to this presence, we often, at first, feel ourselves limited and powerless.  When this occurs it is an invitation to stand, naked and humbly before divinity, not as a lowly supplicant but as one half of an intimate relationship between Goddess and human.   If we cannot or do not accept this invitation, if we cannot own our own limitations and ego restrictions, we will find worship difficult.  What may occur then is that we, out of need to protect our ego, may block off or shut out the divine presence.  One of the fundamental truths of magic and spirituality is that an act of magic or a ritual will effect us to the extent we can be open and vulnerable to the energy it raises.  If we are not open to the Goddess, She will not enter our beings.  If we are open She will touch us and change us.
 
 

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