Tides and Cycles

The Moon is representative of the Goddess. She guides the tides. As the Triple Moon Goddess she reminds us of life's phases.

This brings us to the basic rite of Paganism... That of the Full Moon.

Index

1. Call Thee Forth
2. Statement of Purpose
3. Ground
4. Call the Watch Towers
5. Cast the Circle
6. Ritual Work
7. Closing

It is a generally accepted practice of the Pagan Community to worship at least every Full Moon. The triple moon image above reminds us of the lunar pattern. It shows First Quarter, Full, and Last Quarter. What's missing is the New (or Dark though dark moon occurs just before new) Moon. It's missing because it's the beginning, It's not quite there yet but the thing has been put into motion. (For a more in depth discussion of moon phases check out http://www.paganspath.com/magik/moon.htm)

In the Pagan House Tradition we do a Dark Moon Ritual just before New Moon (first visible crescent). This ritual focuses on moving old energies out to make room for bringing the new in, starting new projects, bringing new influences into ourselves and our lives. We wait until Full Moon for it to manifest and if things aren't looking so good we do another at Last Quarter to see what needs adjustment. Then we repeat the cycle with the adjustment. Clear out the old influences at Dark Moon. Bring in the new influences at First Visible Crescent. Wait until Full for Results. Results positive, work over. Results less than what you want, reflect at Last Quarter. Perform revised ritual at Dark Moon and so on and so forth until you have what you want.

After full moon is the time for reflections and introspection. The moon is resting from Her duties to brighten our night and so we rest in our duties to brighten our world. It might also be that as you begin to see the results of your spell, you don't want the original spell. Stop the cycle, perform a closing/cleansing. Wait one lunation (Tide) before beginning again.

Slight changes in the flow of your work may be done at First Quarter. It's also best to end things here if they're going badly. A quick end before momentum has really built is best.

Ritual can be done at any time, day or night, but we run a church so we have a set schedule! (Or so we tell ourselves....)

Ritual Format

1. Call Thee Forth

Imagine living in a village: rolling green hills, a forest down the way, peace, prosperity, etc... You know ritual is tonight it's been the "talk of the town" all morning. Waiting and waiting you've been trying to occupy yourself with menial tasks. Actual work would detract from the ritual! At last! The Priesthood begins:

Darksome night and shining moon,
Harken to the Witches' Rune.
East then South, West then North,
Here and come I call thee forth.

By the powers of land and sea,
Be obedient unto me.
Cup, Wand, pentacle, and sword,
Harken ye unto my word.

Chalice, Censer, Flame and Knife,
Waken all ye into life.
Powers of the witches blade,
Come ye as the charge is made.

Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hel,
Send your aid unto this spell.
Horn'ed hunter of the night,
Work my will by Magick rite.

By the powers of fire and tree,
Do as I say! “So mote it be”
By the might of Moon and Sun,
Do as I will it shall be done.

IT SHALL BE DONE!

The above has about a zillion versions: http://www.boudicca.de/wrune-e.htm. We'll post an audio copy of ours soon. You are called forth to ritual, with, of course, the exception of the individual or couple. Once the song has ended no new people will be allowed to attend the Rite. (some exceptions exist but Pagan House strongly recommends against this exception!).

2. Statement of Purpose

Even in a small ritual of one a statement of purpose should be given. Just what exactly are you doing here anyway? The statement of purpose is the thesis of the Rite. Without it your in a boat without a rudder!

All rituals have a purpose: To heal, to observe, to manifest, to banish..... And if your ritual is to 'creative' to be boxed into a single thought then your going to fail. Magick doesn't multi-task well. Magick is a flood-gate the more directions it goes the less force it has. It is better to do two seperate rituals back-to-back than to do two things in one ritual.

3. Ground

Now that everybody knows we are here it's time to begin the ritual proper. Grounding is the process whereby you let go of everything. You are moving into Sacred Space nothing Profane is allowed to enter. You may be barred from a group if you insist on keeping your profanity.

If you're in a group the leader should guide everyone by speaking the instructions slowly, clearly, and calmly. If you're alone you should have a grounding memorized and just be able to work through the visualization in silence.

An example from http://paganfriends.forumco.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=76 :

Gather your tensions up, your energy. Bring it from your finger tips into the center of your body.

Gather the energy from your toes and legs and bring it into you center. Take the energy and tension from your head and face, from your neck and shoulders, gather it up, bringing it into the center of your body.

Now bring it down your chest, your belly, down your spine. Down your body and out through the floor and into the ground like the root of a tree, your energy grows down into the earth . Let it flow down into the earth, though the surface, down through the layers of rock and roots. Down deep into the earth, deeper and deeper down past the hot molten layer and into the core, the center, the heart of the earth. Feel your energy heat up with the earth's heat. Feel it heat to the point of purification, all the negative and waste burning away. ( Pause for a while.)

Now feel your energy , cleansed and renewed, separate from the core's mass and begin to rise. Feel it rise up the same path through the earth. Higher back through the molten layer, through rocks and roots to the surface. Back through the floor and into your body.

Let it flow throughout your body , to the extremities, through your organs up, your spine and into your shoulders and neck. Feel your renewed energy flow up into your head, into your crown and out the crown towards the sky. It moves up till you can feel the cool air of the heavens and can touch the moon and stars with your energy. Let you energy run free with the stars. Let it rain back into yourself.

You feel open, a channel between earth and sky. You feel powerful and sacred and ready. Cleansed, in touch and ready to work magic.

4. Call The Watch Towers

Pagan House deviates from the standard by calling the Watch Towers before casting the circle. We do this because when building something you first build it's supports. The Watch Towers are also the keepers of the gateway through which elemental powers flow. But I'm getting way ahead of myself.... For now just know that the Watch Towers Protect your work and keep you safe from harm.

An example adapted from http://www.freewebs.com/sadloner/ritual.htm:

Face north and say
"Hail to the guardians of the watch tower of the north, powers of earth and the great mother, come to me"

Face East and say
"Hail to the guardians of the watchtower of the east, powers of the winds and the breath of life, come to me"

Face South and say
"Hail to the guardians of the watchtower of the south, powers of fire and rebirth, come to me"

Face West and say
"Hail to the guardians of the watchtower of the west, powers of water and sustenance, come to me"

Again it is important to visualize. Like a blessing the above will do no good unless you actually do something.

The more advanced you get the better protected your work. I once had a non participant (outside the circle) feint when he accidentally stepped over the boundary. The Watch Tower image should remain throughout the whole ritual.

5. Cast the Circle

Even though this whole ritual is often called 'casting the circle' it is only a part of the ritual. There are many ways to cast a circle. Walking in a circle three times deosil (counter-clockwise:Sunwise:NOT sun dial wise!) while casting salt is a very traditional way. The point and visualization however is:
The first time around you are drawing a perfect 2 dimensional circle in/on the ground. The is liminal zone is being established. You are creating a place that is not a place in a time that is not a time.
The second time around you are bringing up the walls from the mark on the ground to create a 3d sphere. Various colors are attributed to different things. For your first few times should just go with what comes to you.
The third time around you are continuing the sphere under you. Most Pagans miss this vizualization. You are creating a complete sphere.

6. Ritual Work

Everything to this point has been in preparation of the actual work you will be performing. Raising a Cone of Power, Healing a loved one, go back to your statement of purpose. What are you doing here?

7. Closing

In closing you (un)cast the circle backwords (widdershins:Clockwise:Against the Sun).

You thank the quarters.

You ground usually be feasting (Cakes and Ale)

You wish your friends on their way:

"Marry Meet, Merry Part, And Merry Meet Again"

.... And then you through a wild party that will make Saint Peter spin in his grave HAHAHAHAHAH.

To see just how varied circles can be we've posted another example.