Ritual

Newaygo, Michigan 2011

Priestess Kimberly and Priest Thorin the Skald

Requesting precense of the elementals

Invocation of the Gods

Smudging

Blessing the Bread

Offerring of the Cider

Cakes & Ale

Ritual Songs

Maypole tree with hanging ribbons

After the Maypole dance

After the Maypole dance

Written by the young folks of the Magickal Media crew

You will need:  Two males, two females
Flowers
Boiled Eggs
Cakes and Ale

Each person helps to invoke and invite the elements.  Suggested words:

Watchtowers of the (insert direction, echo), power of (element, echo), we call on thee
to aid us in this our rite, at this our spring equinox ritual. 

One young lady says:  Please join us as we celebrate Ostara.
(Blessed Be, echo)

After the circle is cast, by two young women, then two young men open a doorway between north & east to let people enter.

One “smudges” with a fan and one asks “How do you enter the circle?”

People enter clockwise

After door closed, Join in chant (wt. Drumming)
We are one with the Lady,
We are one with the Lord,
We are one with each other,
We are one.
Repeat 3 times.

This summons the God and Goddess.

Focus energy raised into the eggs and flowers.

At this time we call the partcipants forth to help pass out flowers from one quarter to another
(such as North to East, etc.)

Chanting, dancing, singing, sharing positive stories.

Pass cakes and ale, thank Ancestors, Deities, Gods.

(Backwards from beginning) Watchtowers of the (insert direction, echo), power of (element, echo), we thank you for your aid in our spring equinox ritual.  Thank you also for being here to celebrate Ostara.  (Echo: Stay if you will, Go if you must).
Merry meet, merry part & merry meet again.

www.thewitchescollective.com

Priestess/Devotee

Supplies:
-Basil (ground up)
-Small bowl of salt
-Cup of water
-Picture or statue of Hestia
-6 candles (with holders or in fire safe containers. Preferred colors: white, cream, pale yellow )
-One large red or brown candle
-Plate

Prepare for ritual by bathing and cleansing yourself of negativity.

As you gather your supplies together place them on your altar, or table.

The candles should be in a straight line, with three candles on either side of the large main candle. The bowl of salt you can place in front of you and the cup of water also, so both can be in arms reach.  

Place the plate under the main candle. Sprinkle basil around the main candle, this should appear as the candle sitting in a plate of basil. The other candles should be in safe containers. Keep the picture/statue of Hestia on the other side of the altar and out of harm's reach.  

Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and visualize your home as a beacon of warmth in the cold of yet-to-thaw spring.  Let that visualization sink in. Open your eyes. Take a pinch of salt and sprinkle it into the water. Feel the salt purify the water. Next, add a pinch of ground basil into the water. Take the cup of water and walk around your ritual area. Sprinkle water around your ritual area to cleanse it of negative energies.  After your area is cleansed and blessed return to your altar. Place the salt and water back on the altar.

When you are ready to begin, light the main candle. Take a minute and look into the fire. Take a deep breath, turn your palms up to the ceiling.

Invocation of Hestia:
"Goddess of Home and Hearth,  Hestia. The light of self burns brightly within the sacred house of our hearts. It is this great mystery that you hold. Please bring us to the threshold of knowing. Hestia, Goddess of purity and craft, initiate us into the wisdom of Self. Through your glimmering example, show us the deep mystery of our hearts."

Reach out and touch the plate the main candle sits on. Look into the candle flame and imagine the goddess Hestia. See her in your mind and feel her all around you. Continue.

In each hand, take the two candles that are on either side, closest to the main candle. One in your right hand, one in your left. Hold them up in front of you.

"That which is closest to our hearts is our home. May our home be warmed by the fire of our hearts."

Light these two candles with the flame of the main candle. Hold them and walk a circle, clockwise, around your altar. Return to the altar.

"By the Flame of Self the home is kept safe. Initiated into the light of Self. Hestia bless this home."

Place the two candles back on either side of the main candle. Take the next to candles on either side of the previous two. Hold them up as you did with the others.

"That which is within our home is our family. May they be blessed by the warmth of our love."

Light these two candles with the flames of the previous two. Take these candles and walk another circle around your altar, clockwise. Return to altar.

"By the Flame of the Home, family is blessed.  Enfolded in the light of home through the light of Self. Hestia bless my family."

Replace the candles to their spots beside the previous candles. Take up the last two candles. These two candles should be the two ends of your line of candles. Hold them up as before.

"That which is our family spreads throughout the World. Reflecting the passion of the family, the warmth of the home, and the light of the Self."

Light these two candles with the flames of the previous two. Take these candles and walk another circle around your altar, clockwise. Return to altar.

"By the Flame of Family which is held within the home and ignited through the Self, the world shines brightly. Radiating the wisdom  of the world within the family, held within the warmth of home, made true by the fire of Self."

Place the candles back in their line. Take a few deep breathes and close your eyes. Imagine your home again, the small glimmer of warmth in the cold landscape. Across from you, on the other side of the altar, see Hestia holding her sacred flame. It illumines all depths and darkness, bringing truth within reach of all that seek it. You may converse with the Goddess, ask questions of pray. When you are finished, see Hestia take a portion of her sacred flame and place it in your hands.  Open your eyes.  Place both hands to your heart and feel the flame of the Goddess burning within you.

"The Truth of Self is as the winter cold. Hard to uncover and difficult to face. By the grace of the Goddess, love of our family, and support of our home, we can illumine our hearts. This is the mystery of Self, which we are initiated into. Bless us at this hour, Hestia, that you will continue to hold the sacred fire within ourselves."

Say a private thanks to Hestia. Keep the candles burning safely until they burn themselves out. When the candles are burnt out, bury them around your home.  Keep the picture of Hestia, putting it in your living room or kitchen as a reminder of her grace.

PDF version of this ritual.

Beginners to Intermediate

Neo-Pagan & Wiccan

These are the basic steps in performing nearly any neo-Pagan ceremony or ritual.

Explain the purpose of the ceremony, what you hope to accomplish, any rules or expectations, general overview, tradition-specific requirements. Please give participants a chance to ask questions, opt out, or suggest changes to accommodate their needs.

Create or consecrate a Sacred Space. This could be sanctifying a building, casting a circle, or just shielding oneself. Make the area safe for working or ritual. (This may take place after preparing and connecting, but always before the actual working.) There are many ways to cast a circle, found in Wiccan and neo-Pagan books. Other methods of creating holy space is by sprinkling salt and/ or water around the perimeter, envisioning wards at the boundries or horizon, singing or using sound to invoke a sacred place, placing flowers or leaves around the consecrated area, and envisioning a ring of flames around the area being sanctified.

Prepare yourself and others for the ceremony or working. Ground, center, engage, shield self and others, meditate. There are many methods for performing this as well, found in many books. A subsequent article will be written on this topic.

Connect with others, deities, elements, spirits, ancestors, Nature. Ask for help from the unseen world. This may include grounding, centering , invoking, evoking, avataring, and / or aligning. (Anchor if avatar for astral travel, may be included under preparing self.) Call upon elementals, Gods, spirits, guides, and ancestors for assistance. Welcome them to your sacred place.

Engage in the Working: Raise and / or contain energy in an object (or banish energy from space or object). Create desirable conditions and / or remove undesirable conditions. May include creating and charging an object, performing ritual theatre, spellcraft, remembering and telling stories & lore, prayer, song, reverent acts, divination, cleansing, healing. Raising energy may include drama, dance, song, action, or mentally “conjuring” energy for a specific purpose. Energy may be released & / or sent for a purpose. Or the individuals may wish to bring themselves into balance, or create harmony within themselves, or connect with the spirit world.

Dismiss & Thank unseen helpers, banish, possibly release sacred space now. Thank participants.

Disengage from the working. Ground, center, return to self if avatar (anchor), possibly release sacred space now, retract shields.

Other elements which may be included in ceremony: Trance work, vision quest or long meditation; becoming totems, thanking and toasting spiritual beings, sharing stories, food, drink, lore, gift; connecting with others outside the ceremony; teaching or training; setting permanent or future conditions.

Things to Consider when Creating Ritual

What is the Purpose of the ceremony? Holiday, life event, banishing or cleansing, spellwork, honoring entities, healing, divination, connecting with others, creating repository for energy, trancework or meditation, other. Try not to accomplish too much in one ritual. Take into consideration participants.

Who is Participating in the ceremony? Solitary, small group, large group, huge group, children, infants, pregnant women, elders, the handicapped, diabetics, all one tradition, many traditions, family members, complete strangers, animals / familiars, adepts, people of other religious paths. Don’t forget unseen helpers: deities, spirits, ancestors, natural entities / elements / totems. Are you going to “link up” with others at a distance? Can you trust everyone in the ritual implicitly? How much explaining will you have to do? Will you need security personnel, a summoner, help with the ceremony?

Where are you holding the ritual? A private home, a building, outside – in the yard, in a park, in the woods… at a festival, in a public place. If outdoors, consider the weather. What facilities are available? Is there water, a fire pit, a place for candles? Watch for unseen hazards – poisonous plants, wet areas, no shade, cords to trip over, small space with lots of breakables. Consider the rules of the location, what etiquette is proper, who will be observing or passing by. (For instance, is alcohol allowed? Fire? Noise?) Consider places to sit, how sound will carry, and other things unique to the locale. If you are dancing, please check the area to ensure that it’s smooth and safe. Again, will you need security?

How are you going to conduct the ceremony? What time of day or season is appropriate? Determine the order of progression, make it fit the purpose and be right for the expected participants. Consider how to invoke, evoke, banish, shield, create sacred space. What tools will you use (if any)? Directions: where are you going to place the altar (if any), ritual tools, candles, drummers, etc.? (ask Jolandra why NROOGD altars are in the West…!) Where are you going to enter / exit? Are there any special items that you will need to bring? Are there any unique considerations or needs? Will you be sharing food and drink, talismans or ritual tools? Consider a contingency plan for emergencies. What will you do in inclimate weather? Decide on any songs, chants or group participation in advance, and teach it to the group before the actual working. Determine if there is any special needs for participants – fasting, no metal, no electronic devices, skyclad, polarity (boy /girl order), initiates only, appropriateness for children. Can people leave the sacred space once it’s in place? Inform particpants ahead of time!


Caer na Donia y Llew
Ceremonies

Almost every Caer holiday ceremony is public, advertised by mailings and on the Internet. Members are encouraged to bring family and friends. There may be non-Pagans, neighbors, animals, children and total strangers present. Adepts as well as newcomers will be participating. Some rituals are in public places, most take place in private homes or on private land. People of many traditions may participate.

Caer holiday gatherings must include everyone, including small children, teens, elders, and handicapped people – mobility and visually impaired, diabetics (cannot fast prior to ceremonies, drink alcohol or have sweet food or drinks). Many participants cannot stand for long periods of time, dance, sit on the floor, or engage in highly mobile activites. If there is motion, an alternative activity should be suggested as well. Small children with short attention spans cannot meditate, hold still or be quiet for long periods. If necessary, gatherings can be split into two ceremonies – one for kids / adults, or one for adepts / neophytes.

Other Caer gatherings, such as life events, banishings, house blessings, educational activities, etc. may be designed for certain individuals only, and may exclude some members. Examples: A croning, a baby shower, a handfasting. These exclusions must be publicized in advance (or the event can be by invitation only).
Participants in gatherings must obey the “house rules” for that location. Rules may include no alcohol allowed, no drumming allowed, no smoking, fires in designated areas, certain parts of the location off-limits, etc. Please check with home owners or public place officials to ensure what activities are acceptable and what are not. Consider safety (placing lit candles out of toddlers’ reach). Some locations may be shared with non-Pagan roommates, family members, pets and farm animals, or the public. Illegal activities are not allowed at any Caer event. Security, festival staff, park rangers and home owners have the final say!

It is up to the clergy persons officiating at the event to define parameters for the ritual. This includes the method by which the ceremony will run (order and nature of the ritual.) Priest/ess or ritual leader(s) will work with the home owner or location official, security, and participants to ensure that everyone has a positive experience. (If the clergy person says to butt your stogues and put down your beers, participants must agree or sit out the ceremony). It’s strongly suggested that public Caer rituals last for less than an hour. Other activities may be going on during a holiday celebration.

Every public Caer holiday ceremony includes:
Introductions
Activities for the kids
Ritual
Potluck

Many (not all) Caer ceremonies include: Ritual theatre, making a craft, divination, nature walk, networking, bonfire and drumming & dancing (late), offerings / libations, perhaps another ceremony (ordaination, birthday party) and the ever-popular fundraising.

CopyLeft 2002 Caer na Donia y Llew. Individuals may not make a profit by selling, publishing or manufacturing this notice. It is for the public consumption and FREE!

Download a PDF copy here...

 

This call and response is intended to honor the Olympian Gods. With each God, it is appropriate to pour a libation such as wine, olive oil, honey or milk to honor the Theoi. This is intended to be done with groups but could easily be adapted to be used by a single person. The only items needed are the offering and your presence.
We gather in honor of the Olympian Gods. We will please them now with our words and libations.
Hestia, you are the fire in the hearth
All: Hestia we honor you
Zeus, you are the lightening in the storm
All: Zeus, we honor you
Hera, you are the eye of the cow
All: Hera, we honor you
Poseidon, you are the crashing sea
All: Poseidon, we honor you
Demeter, you are the sheaf of wheat
All: Demeter, we honor you
Aphrodite, you are the lover's embrace
All: Aphrodite, we honor you
Apollo, you are the music of the lyre
All: Apollo, we honor you
Ares, you are the sword and the shield
All: Ares, we honor you
Artemis, you are the hunter in the wild
All: Artemis, we honor you
Athena, you are the wisdom of ages
All: Athena, we honor you
Hephaistos, you are the anvil and the hammer
All: Hephaistos, we honor you
Hermes, you are the guide of the dead
All: Hermes, we honor you
Dionysos, you are the vine and the grape
All: Dionysos, we honor you
Hestia, you are the fire in the hearth
All: Hestia, we honor you
[At this time, those gathered are encouraged to offer any personal prayers or offerings]
You are the eternal ones
You are the deathless ones
You are the Gods of Olympos
We shall assemble in your honor again

Laura M. LaVoie lives in Atlanta Georgia with her partner and hairless cat while they are building a 120 square foot cabin in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She is a current contributor to the Pagan Newswire Collective pop culture blog, The Juggler, and was on the committee for the first annual International Pagan Coming Out Day. She can be also found brewing her own beer and enjoying the local craft brew scene.

Laura LaVoie and her partner are going to South Africa to help build a shelter for Zulu orphans who have been affected by the AIDS epidemic. For more information about the Zulu Orphan Alliance, visit

http://tinyurl.com/3so67d2

Avataring the Gods

By A.C. Fisher Aldag

Intermediate to Adept

Wiccan, neo-Pagan and oldline traditions

Adult

Computer users often think of an “avatar” as a cartoon icon of themselves, used for posting on blogs and Facebook. Others might think of the popular movie where the protagonists took on the living forms of the alien culture they wished to infiltrate, and became large blue cat-people. In magickal terms, an Avatar is a person who manifests a God or Goddess within a ritual, or an individual who takes on the personification of a spirit, hero or other powerful entity.

The person serving as an avatar literally “becomes” a deity for a short period of time, such as a Wiccan Priest playing the role of the Horned God during a Beltane gathering. For as long as he assumes that role, the priest is not himself, but actually has the traits, powers and consciousness of Cernunnos.

The word “avatar” comes from the Hindu religion, and refers to people such as Krishna or Shakti who were originally human but who gained godlike qualities. It has been adopted by many varied magickal traditions. To be an avatar is to become something greater than oneself to achieve a spiritual goal, if only for a short period of time.

My definitions may be somewhat different from traditional Wicca or other neo-Pagan practice. Not all Pagan religions employ all of these concepts. Some come from ceremonial magic, others from traditional shamanic ways. Some have differing names for the same principles. To make sure we’re on the same page, please discuss the concept of invocation, evocation or the avatar with others involved in a ritual before you begin the working.

Invoke: To summon a God, element, spirit, ancestor or entity into a ceremonial area. Example: Calling an archangel as guardian of a watchtower, summoning the West in ritual, asking Herne the God of the Woods to join you in a circle.

Evoke: To summon an element, quality or entity into a specific object. Example: Calling the spirit of West / water to inhabit a chalice, creating healing energy for a talisman used by a sick person to get well.

Manifest: 1.) Deity or spirit speaks to an individual, or shows a person a vision during a dream; OR 2.) A spirit, entity or element is called forth “into manifestation”. Examples: 1.) A god gives you advice through a card reading, a totem spirit gifts you with a feather for knowledge. 2.) Summoning the East as air to calm a windstorm.

Aspect: To bring one trait of a deity, spirit or entity into one’s self. Example: I would like the strength and skill of Brighid during my job interview, or I summon Thor to be with me during a battle, or I call upon the Eagle to give me power. This helps to reinforce one aspect of an individual’s personality. It can be indefinite, as in summoning Isis to help you be a good mother.

Avatar: To actually become a deity, spirit, element, ancestor or entity for a period of time, to allow the entity to “take over” your body and mind, to act as the God/dess in a ritual, to allow the entity to “drive the bus”, assuming their consciousness. Example: Becoming Lugh / Llew the Sun God to banish the baneful monsters (energy creatures) on the Lughnassadh holiday. Drawing down the Moon into a priestess in the Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wiccan traditions. Merging your spirit with the Salmon to gain wisdom, perspective and floating, tranquil peace.

Skill Levels: 

Beginners or novices are taught to respect entities, spirits, elements, and to summon and invoke, and banish or devoke, these entities during ceremonies.  A beginner can usually evoke or call forth a spirit or element.  Some people have a natural talent for invoking and banishing, others must practice.  Sometimes the entities or deities choose you… roll with it!  Occasionally beings from conflicting pantheons will cause unsettling energy.  If I were to invoke Balder and Loki during the same ritual, there may be trouble.  Calling on Llew, Gofannon, Arawn, Bran and Taranus during the same ceremony might cause an imbalance of strong male energies.  Care must be taken to acknowledge the contribution of a deity or element and thank them for their presence and assistance.  Token gifts such as bread, wine, cheese, a burning candle, a song or a blessing are always appreciated. 

            Skilled:  This may require the equivalent of a Wiccan first or second degree, hereditary “young adult”, or a journeyman in ceremonial magick.  As an individual becomes more skilled, they can learn to manifest energies or powers of a deity, element or entity.  The person can begin to practice taking on the aspect of a deity to enhance their ceremonies or personal lives.  Sometimes, these things just happen to a talented person, and they must learn to control it.  Working with divination tools, calling upon entities before bedtime to guide your dreams, talking to the spirits of a particular location, summoning the beings of a certain element into a ritual tool, or requesting that a God help you to perform a specific task are examples.  Care must be taken to not over-do any working, for instance, summoning the rainbirds to soak your flowerbed and causing a three-month storm.  The magick-user must strive for balance and humility – if you get too cocky, there are plenty of feisty entities that will take you down a peg!  Working with spirits or deities requires self-knowledge as well as a healthy respect for both the positive and negative qualities of the magickal being.  Pan is a fun-loving woodland God, but he might not be the best deity to invoke during your company picnic.  Remember that some entities may have their own agenda.

            Avataring should not really be attempted unless a person is adept, and has had some training, a great deal of individual practice or a really high natural skill level.  If a god simply “takes a person over” the individual must somehow learn to deal with it.  The exception is Drawing Down the Moon or Sun, which can be done by a priest/ess and seems to require cheerful spiritual attunement rather than years of practice or training.
Here are some steps to take while learning to merge the energies of a deity with your own physical being:

Methods:
Shield:  Ensure that no baneful energies or harmful entities can bother you while you are doing your work.  Cast a ritual circle, establish personal energy shields, set wards, create a sacred boundary, fast or sweat and perform other traditional preparation for a spirit journey, whatever method works for you.  Ground and center.  Note – if you have no idea what I am talking about, you don’t have any business avataring a deity at this point in your spiritual path.  There are many sources to prepare you including books, online courses, face-to-face magickal teachers, and preparatory energy work. 

Compartmentalize:  Within your physical and mental body: Move aside your personality.  Create a bubble to contain your spirit, soul or essential being within yourself.  Mentally prepare a box or other container to house your personality.  Shoving your personal life-spark down into your foot or hold it in your hand, or center your spirit / soul in your head or heart.  Outside your physical and mental body – if you are accustomed to astral travel:  Place a wall between you and your personality. Isolate your soul, spirit or being within an external trunk, chair, or clear energy container, visualizing a safe space and placing your personality there.  Use trancework to send your soul or spirit to your own personal dreamtime or otherworld.  Be sure it’s familiar so you can retrieve it afterward!  Use a thread or cord to “anchor” your personality to your physical body (see below).

The idea is to keep your spirit / being / personality separate from the energy of the deity, spirit or entity.  If the god/dess whom you are avataring is your own personal patron or matron, or if you are working with a totem that you trust implicitly, this step may not be necessary.  However, if you suffer a great deal of confusion, nightmares or personality dissociation, it’s absolutely vital.

Again, if you have no idea what I am talking about, more work is needed to prepare you for the avatar experience.  Practice creating a personal sacred space which you can visit on a spirit journey.  Work on astral travel.  Separate the different aspects of your personality, then concentrate on each individual trait – mother, wife, daughter, boss, employee, number 25 on the soccer team – then merge and separate these aspects of yourself until you can do it without conscious effort.  Concentrate on making a cohesive whole, then consciously “move” it aside until there is room for other roles – priestess, avatar, wisewoman.  It requires the deliberate act of making room within yourself.  There are books that can help you with this process, but it takes personal experience and practice to actually master.  If you have to switch roles in the course of your day as a regular activity – Dad in the morning at breakfast, employee at work, baseball coach in the evening – then you should easily learn to compartmentalize your personality and make room for a deity.

Anchor:  Keep your soul / spirit / personality “tied” to your physical body.  Visualize a silver cord, a chain, a ray of energy or a long-reaching hand connecting your inner being to your physical body.  Keep at the forefront of your mind a method to find your way back to your safe place, or a technique to dissolve the wall, or to break the bubble.  Envision your soul stretching out, away from your body, but still attached to it.  Place your spiritual essence into a power object, such as a stone to touch or a chalice of water to drink. When finished, you will want to “pull” your spirit back to your physical body, re-fill yourself with your own energy, or go to the place where it’s stored and return it to your body.  You might also envision a map with “landmarks” to find your way back to your own personal space.

This is essential.  If you are normally grounded but feel “spacey” or “airheaded” after your workings, you will need to concentrate more effort on anchoring your spiritual being before you share your physical and mental body with any other entity.  Practice, practice practice.  You should be able to come back from your spirit journey and be able to balance your checkbook.  If you feel ravenously hungry or it seems like you just ran the New York marathon after your magickal ceremony or astral travel, you may need some work on keeping your spirit connected to your physical body without expending so much energy.  Sleeping eight hours after a ritual of this nature is normal.  Sleeping eight days – there is a problem.

Avatar:  This is the ability to bring forth and manifest the God/dess energy, the totem, the element, spirit or another Greater Power and incorporate it into your own physical body, the realm of your mind or even your spiritual being.  Avataring can be done by yourself or with help, during your own personal working or in a sacred ritual. 

Verbally summon or request the presence of a specific entity or deity.  Visualize the spirit coming into you.  Invoke the God’s symbol or totem, “pull” it into your consciousness.  (There are varying kinds of totem; for instance Llew has a symbolic companion in the eagle, while Native Americans have the Great Eagle Spirit who is not just an eagle but THE Eagle.)  Meditate on the Goddess’ qualities or a legend of her power, then envision that it’s you performing those specific roles or feats.  Physically hold an object or symbol of the deity.  Dress as the God would have dressed, act as he would act.  Perform a song, chant or dance sacred to that entity (Can’t find one?  Write it your ownself.)  Have a partner draw down the Moon or Sun into you, but go one step further and feel the energy inhabiting every fibre of your being. 

Fill yourself with the spirit like you were a vessel – this is a cliché but that’s really how it feels.  Empty out a space for the Goddess to inhabit and fill it with her power.  This should happen if you have moved your own personality or spirit aside, thus creating a vacume.  The entity or deity is stronger than you, and should easily inhabit the sacred space you have created for them.  Become the God, become the Goddess, see with their eyes, think their thoughts.  Hear their wisdom.  Speak with their voice.  Know what they know.  Take on the power of the energy being.  While the God/dess or spirit is present, ask them for help or focus on a specific purpose or magickal working. 

Don’t force it.  Once the gateways are open, this should come naturally.  You will be able to feel the transformative power of the entity creating change within you.  It might cause the physical sensation of water flowing or the feeling of a spreading warmth.  It may create the emotional reaction of peace and serenity, an overall sense of well-being, a sudden insight or flash of wisdom, a sense of personal capability and above all power.  If you are avataring an animal spirit or totem, you may feel the strength of the Bear or the protectiveness of the Wolf.  If you are summoning the spirit of an ancestor you may take on their memories and emotions.  For the most part, it is a very enlightening and empowering experience.

Conversely there might be fear, anger or tears.  You will have to mentally, emotionally and spiritually deal with it.  Approach the emotional and physical sensations with the knowledge that your are experiencing the ultimate authority of the entity or deity.  If it becomes too uncomfortable you may wish to go directly to dismissal (below), but it’s better to just make the journey, endure the hardship, and feel the transformation.  That is the reason you avatared another being, after all.
And remember to keep doing all the other steps while you are performing this working! 

Banish or Devoke:  This is really, really important.  Your children might appreciate a stronger, more nurturing Dad, but they won’t like it much if you constantly retain every single aspect of the Great Bear Spirit.  And your wife might enjoy Thor in the bedroom, but she really won’t like him as a companion forever – after all, she married you, not him!  Not to mention that a spirit trapped eternally within a living human being, or a God stuck inside a mortal, is going to be resentful, annoyed, and restive.  Rather than helping you with your task or granting you their positive qualities, they might decide to cause trouble.  Nor can the average human being endure that type of energy for long.  While it would be lovely to retain the wisdom of Cerridwen for a few hours, or attain her insight within the framework of your own personality, even the most skilled priestess couldn’t keep it up at a high level forever.  She would burn out. 

Therefore, you have to be willing and able to let go of a spirit, energy, deity or entity when it is appropriate to do so.  Sometimes the being will release you automatically when ready.  You may make a covenant or agreement with the God/dess at the very onset of your working, such as asking them to leave you when the sun rises and the rooster crows.  Others can be dismissed politely, just as Wiccans dismiss the elements after a ritual circle.  You might mentally walk with the entity to an envisioned “edge” where they end and you begin.  Often you will retain a bit of their energy, and that is fine.

Mentally and physically thank and dismiss the deity or spirit.  Visualize them leaving you and returning to their realm or time.  “Escort” the God to the edge of your mental wall and physically wave fairwell.  Verbally state “Hail and Fairwell” (“go if you must, stay if you will” is only recommended if they are your patron or very, very trusted).  Visualize the God/dess fading away and returning to their home.  Feel their essence draining down and out through your feet, as you do after performing a grounding ritual.  Disconnect, as you would from a conversation on a telephone.  Physically remove clothing or totems representing the deity and put them away.  Feel the God energy receding and your own energy returning.  Be respectful!

Return to your Self:  “Pull” your anchor chain or cord and draw your own essence back to yourself.  Verbally and mentally summon your own personality back to your physical body.  Go to your safe space and bring your spirit or soul back.  Dissolve the wall or break the bubble.  Do the reverse of what you did to compartmentalize and remove your own personality from your physical body.  Drink from your chalice or physically touch your power object.  Touch your physical body with your hands, touch the earth or floor, consciously ground and center to re-establish your spirit or being within your physical body.  You may feel disoriented, drained, tired or confused for a while.  Hopefully, you’ll feel that a positive connection was established and work was completed successfully!  If you are still confused, meditate on the traits and aspects you hoped to gain, connecting with them, while consciously separating them from God/dess.  Chant your name, address, lineage, work statistics – anything that makes you unique. Sleep.  Eat.   Re-establish a bond with something symbolizing you.

Devoke shields:  Have your shields recede, take down extra wards, banish circle, thank and dismiss as you would for any other ritual working.  You might wish to ask others to help in this process, or wait until you regain your true essence.

Precautions: 

Some of this information may be redundant.  This is because it’s so important.

Make sure you and other ritual participants and ceremony leaders are all in agreement as to the definitions and methods you are using.  State your intent clearly and gain consensus.  Some traditions ritually invoke or avatar, others invite, still others summon a deity with assistance – as in drawing down the Moon.  Still others leave it to the individual to avatar the God/dess by themselves.  The ritual may be performed with chants, drumming, verbal requests, play-acting, and other methods outlined above.

During a Samhain ritual we once attended, there was no prior discussion between the participants, and no consensus was actively reached before the working.  A priestess invoked Arawn, the rather surly Celtic god of death.  She politely invited him to the circle and asked him to guide the spirits of the dead.  Arawn was already present within the priest, who had previously avatared Him.  Arawn barked “I am already here!” at the hapless priestess, scaring her out of a year’s growth!

Be realistic about your skill level.  It may change due to upsets, tiredness, illness or other factors.  If you feel wiped out before a serious working, you might want to re-think performing the ritual on that day.  Practice control, especially in anchoring and compartmentalizing.  If you can’t successfully ground, center, compartmentalize, anchor and do basic invocations, practice until you can. You should be able to return from the ritual feeling changed and transformed, yet still able to carry on a conversation, put dinner on the table, and drive home.

Recognize consequences.  Being “touched” by a God will influence your life and create change in your personality, outlook, and experience.  Calling Fire into yourself to increase your passion and ambition might reflect on other facets of your temperament as well.  Be aware of all aspects of the God/dess, entity, spirit or element.  Think before you act the part.

Consciously release any negative or harmful traits which may cause problems later.  Odin’s power is magnificent, his temper might not be.  You might want Racoon’s dexterity but not his table manners.  Or you may wish to keep the memories of your ancestors and banish their political woes.  Ensure that any ritual or legend pertaining to the god or entity – sacrifice, actual birth, or other traits that would be physically or mentally harmful to you – stays within the context of the legend or ceremony.  Danu is a wonderful mother goddess, but you might not wish to have nine children in real life.  Ask that you retain her nurturing capabilities while releasing her abundant fertility.  Envision the quality that you wish to keep, say it aloud, draw a picture, create a chant.  You are empowered to incorporate all those lovely qualities you desire, and actively remove, cleanse and banish those aspects which might not be appropriate.

Have fun with it.  In what other religion do you get to be God for a day? 

Download a PDF of the article

Warrior Ritual

 

 

 

The Warrior Ritual is a moving tribute to veterans, military personnel, and those who serve as first responders, including law enforcement. It is a solemn rite of remembrance for Pagans, pantheists, and those of other religions. Often, our military and veterans are ignored by those in greater society. The Warrior Ritual is a time to honor those who have served, in the course an event where many Pagans are present. The ceremony seems much more meaningful when our religious traditions are included.

During the Chrysalis Moon festival, the Warrior Blessing Ritual was performed by Dave Sassman, who also facilitates this rite at four other festivals, including Pagan Spirit Gathering and the Indianapolis Pagan Pride Day. Mr. Sassman has written or adapted much of the ceremony himself. The first time that he performed the rite was in 2007 at the Pan Pagan Festival. The idea was derived from other Warrior Rituals held at other gatherings, including PSG and Memorial Day rites. One of the catalysts for the ceremony was the winning of the Pentacle Quest in 2007.

For this Warrior Blessing Ritual, altars were set up to honor the four directions, corresponding to the Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy, as well as a “table for one” for unknown soldiers and prisoners of war. Items on these tables included military sigils, photos of ancestors who were veterans, and photos of military personnel in the current conflicts. The table for one included a table service, lemons representing bitterness, salt to symbolize fallen tears, and a rose to remind us of the beauty and love of the home front.

Uniforms of each branch of the service were on display. Flags representing branches of the military, POWs and MIAs, Pagans, and the helping professions, surrounding a central American flag. Those who had served in the armed forces, and first responders, were the Honor Guard and quarter callers. Dave Sassman was the priest of the ceremony, while Gail Brown Sassman officiated as the priestess.

Musical tributes during the rite included the “Fanfare for the Common Man”, “Keepers of the Flame”, and the National Anthem. Gods were invoked, including deities worshipped by soldiers such as Tyr, Mars, Baal, Aries and Minerva. Participants stated the “Pledge of Allegiance” without the “under God” which was added in 1952. “Statements of Duty” were read aloud, including “What Is a Warrior?”, “It’s the Soldier”, and “I Am the Soldier, a Tribute to American Troops” by Penny White. Participants had the opportunity to speak aloud the names of family members and friends who served in the armed forces, veterans, current military personnel and first responders, and then the names of our beloved and honored dead lost over the past year. “Taps” was played in remembrance. At the culmination, there was not a dry eye in the circle.

A prayer was given to the “supreme commander” to bring all comrades back into our ranks. The Gods and sentinels were thanked. To end the ceremony, the color guard marched with the flags, then posted them in the circle. For more information on the Warrior Ritual, please contact Dave Sassman, P.O. Box 24072, Indianapolis, IN 46224 or email him at indywiz@yahoo.com The Pagan Educational Network (PEN) also gives assistance and gift boxes to Pagans and polytheists serving in the armed forces.

 

article

article

article