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Different Rituals

 

Self Dedication Ritual

Rituals for Self Dedication can be found in many books. Scott Cunningham offers a good, simple one in his book, "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner". You can read several different Self Dedication rituals and combine elements to create your own, or design it completely from scratch using those in the books as a guideline.

Adopted from another website

Following are some elements which have been included in Self Dedication rituals:

Preparation - You may want to make tools, an altar cloth, a robe or other special items for your Self Dedication ritual. None of this is necessary but will add to special feel the experience. There may be parts of the ritual you want to memorize, but if this is difficult do not feel bad if you must write some or all of it down. We suggest that you write it by hand on nice paper rather than bringing a computer printed page into ritual. The way we achieve a feeling of being outside of time and space in ritual is by leaving those things which mark our ordinary, everyday existence. You may also want to choose a new name for yourself which you will use only in ritual. Do not feel pressured to pick one that will be perfect for you forever. People often change "magical" or "circle" names as they progress through their studies. Having a special name which you use only in ritual helps add to the special, magical feeling. Do not be tempted to use your magical name in your e-mail or on-line communications, nor should you use your on-line nick name as a magical name. Again, the idea is to leave behind the everyday world as you enter the special space of a magical circle.

Purification - This can include purifying and defining the space in which the ritual will take place, purifying yourself, and purifying the clothes, tools and other items which will be used in the ritual. Suggestions for spiritual cleansing and purifying can be found in any basic Wicca book. Do not over look physical cleaning though! Take a bath, polish your tools, sweep and dust the room (or, if working out doors pick up litter). The idea is you are making a fresh start in your life and also, you want to show the gods that you are serious.

Introductions - The main point of Self Dedication is to introduce yourself to the god(s) and goddess(s). At this point you do not have to have chosen a particular god and goddess to work with. You may not even be clear on who or what they are. What you will be declaring in your Self Dedication ritual is a desire to get to know them and to understand what you can do for them. You may also want to take this opportunity to introduce yourself to the elementals (Air, Fire, Water, Earth). Again, you do not need to have a full understanding of the nature of the elements at this point. You need only to have a desire to get to know them better.

Promises - At the very least a Self Dedication rite will include a promise to the god and goddess that you want to get to know them and that you want to understand what it fully means to be Wiccan, and that you will do your best to learn how to honor them and the Earth. Sometimes more specific promises are made during a Self Dedication ritual such as a vow to recycle, do volunteer work, read a certain number of books, meditate on a regular basis or anything else which seems appropriate to you. You may also want to made promises to each individual Element.

Offerings - Many rituals, including one of Self Dedication, will include an offering of food and drink which is shared between the gods and the participant(s) in the ritual. This is usually in the form of wine or juice and some type of cookie, bread or cake. Fruit or nuts are good alternatives. Sometimes milk or water are substituted for the wine or juice. Incense is also considered an offering to both the gods and the Element of Air. Those offerings or parts of offerings which are not consumed by you can be placed outside under a tree, buried in the ground or placed into a stream or the ocean. If circumstances make it impossible for you to place parts of your offerings outside you can offer them symbolically by holding them in your hands and declaring that you are offering them, and then consuming them yourself so that nothing is wasted.

Journaling - If you have not yet begun to keep a journal of journey into Wicca or have not yet begun a Book of Shadows, your Self Dedication ritual is a good time to begin this discipline. You may want to keep track of such things as when you do rituals, the books or other information which inspired you, what you did, the tools and incense you used and how you felt about what you did.

Goddess Rituals

Drawing Down the Goddess or Moon

     Perhaps the best known of all Rituals (after the casting of a Circle), Drawing Down the Goddess (also known as Drawing Down the Moon) this is a wonderful, relaxing, energizing and uplifting Ritual to experience! Offten used for Esbats. In a Coven setting, the High Priestess draws down the Essence of the Goddess into herself, to bring all present closer to the essence of Divinity. It can also be used for replenishing the energy that we use in our lives, leaving you feeling recharged and ready to battle with the problems, trials and tribulations on in your mundane life!

It is also used by Solitaries, both male and female, and is usually done within circle at Full Moon and if possible within the light of the Moon, though if not practical a candle can be used as a substitute. Usually it is done by standing in the Goddess pose (both arms held high, palms up, body and arms forming a 'Y'), using one of the Charges below, and then using a Visualization technique to feel the power of the Goddess flowing into your body, filling you from toe to head. I usually combine the visualization with an extended Pranayamic breath (Yogic breath control technique), which in itself leaves you feeling fully charged, but in conjunction with the Ritual leaves you on an absolute natural high!

Charge Of The Goddess

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of all was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arienrhod, Brigid and by many other names.

"Whenever you have a need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me who is Queen of all the Wise. You shall be free, naked in your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My presence, and Mine is the ecstacy of the spirit and the Mine is also the joy on earth. For my law is love of unto all beings. Mine is the secret that open upon the door of youth and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the Cauldron of Cerriwden that is the holy grail of immortality. I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death, I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before. Nor do I deman aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am mother of all things, and My love is poured upon the earth."

Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, whose body encircles the universe: "I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto Me. For I am the soul of nature that gives to the universe. From Me, all things proceed and unto Me they must return. Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals."

Let there beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And you who see to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery; for if that which you seek, you find not within your self, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

God Rituals

Drawing Down the God or Sun

This is the counterpart to the Drawing Down the Goddess Ritual, where the High Priest (in a Coven Setting) draws down the Essence of the God into himself. It is used to bring those present closer to the essence of the Deity, (especially at the Solar Sabbat Festivals) and to replenish the Energies of those present. It's not as well known as the Drawing Down the Goddess Ritual, but does have a place in our Rituals. It can also be used by those of us that are also Solitary Practitioners, and is a way to connect with the Male energies of Divinity. Both male and female practitioners can Draw Down the God (also known as Drawing Down the Sun), connecting with the energies of the Horned One to enhance our lives.

Usually the Ritual is performed during daylight, outside within the view of the Sun, and is normally practiced by standing in the God position (arms folded across the chest, palms on opposite shoulders, similar to the poses that Ancient Egyptian Mummies are usually shown holding) and by using one of the following Charges (the basic Charge is the usual one that most use, the Charge of the Dark God is one that we've come across that is useful when you need to contemplate more of the darker side of life in general, when the mood is darker than normal, and at the Darkest point of the Year, at Samhain when the God dies!), followed by a Visualization of the power of the God entering your being and filling you from foot to head. I've found it useful to combine this with an extended Pranayamic Breath (Yogic breath control technique) which helps with the feeling of being replenished within.

 

Charge Of The God

Listen to the words of the Great Father, who of old was called Osiris, Adonis, Zeus, Thor, Pan, Cernunnos, Heren, Lugh and many other names.

"My Law is Harmony with all things. Mine is the secret that opens the gates of life and mine is the dish of salt of the earth that is called Cernunnos that is the eternal circle of rebirth. I give the knowledge of life everlasting, and beyond death I give the promise of regeneration and renewal. I am the sacrifice, the father of all things and my protection blankets the earth."

Hear the words of the dancing Gods, the music whose laughter stirs the wind and whose voice calls the seasons. "I who am the Lord of the hunt and the Power of the light, sun among the clouds, and the secret of the flame. I call upon your bodies arise and come to me. For I am the flesh of the earth and all the beings. Thru me all things must die and through me are reborn. Let my worship be in the body that sins, for behold all acts of willing sacrifice are my rituals. Let there be desire and fear, anger and weakness, joy and peace, awe and longing, within you for those are a part of the mysteries found withing yourself, withing me, all beginnings have endings, and all endings have beginnings."

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