Post by seleena on Oct 6, 2005 8:39:52 GMT -5
You've decided that the path of witchcraft is one that you want to explore. You don't want to dedicate yourself to it quite yet, but have the need to acknowledge this profound moment with some sort of ceremony or ritual. What follows is a ritual that can be used for committment to learning the craft. This oath is usually made for a year and a day to allow you time to learn and grow and experience in your path.
This is best performed at the full moon. The waning moon is the time to draw into oneself. I like this one just after the cusp of the full moon, when the moon is just starting to wane.
This is a very special ritual and shouldn't be entered into lightly. Make sure you are in the right frame of mind spiritually and mentally. Spend the day before in meditation and reflection. On the day of your ritual fast until you perform your ritual.
Get up and have some herbal tea. I find that a nice green tea for detoxification is wonderful. Make sure you drink plenty of water. You will need it. This is a day of rebirth and you want to start fresh and anew.
About two or three hours before your ritual have a bath in salts and lavender or any essential oil of your choice. Light four white candles and place around the tub (if possible). Imagine all the elements witnessing this rite and filling your mind with loving and spiritual thoughts. As you wash your body, image your doubts going away. Imagine washing away all the spiritual, physical and mental negativity. Imagine the Gods hands washing and preparing your body for the ritual to come. Meditate until the water cools and exit the tub, blowing out the candles, thanking the gods for being witness to the cleansing.
As you watch the water drain, imagine all the doubts, negativity and stress of normal life draining out of you and down with the water. Dry yourself off and put on clothes that you have prepared especially for this occassion. You don't need to buy new clothes, just make sure they are clean and comfortable, preferably out of natural fabric.
Once you have done this, prepare your supplies. You will need paper and pencil, ribbon or coloured yarn or string(about 12-24 inches long - three strands - thin ribbon), candles (white, green, blue and red and yellow) You will also need a wand (finger will suffice) a chalice and caldron (a cup and wine glass will do), some light food (soup, rice cookies) water or wine, salt and a cloth and stones.
Go to where you want to have your ritual (outside or inside - outside is preferable, but not always practical). Clean the area, removing physical dirt and spiritual and emotional dirt as well. Imagine the space being purified by white flowing light starting with a small pin prick and moving out over the whole space. Set your candles to the corresponding corners - blue for water (west) green for earth (south) red for fire (north) and yellow for air (east). Do not light them. Spread the cloth in the centre and put the stones on each corner (corresponding with each direction also (to hold the cloth down and further strengthen the corners). Put the white candle in the centre, the chalace to the left and the caldron to the right. Put the wand in front of you and the salt and water on each side. Arrange the food in a convenient place.
Begin by casting your circle
Walking Deisil (clockwise) around your circle chant three times:
Blessed be this sacred space. I cast this circle round and round, never ending never found. Within this circle I will be safe and secure in love and peace."
At the third time say "So mote it be, with the will of the devine and myself"
As you are walking imagine a blue pin prink of light building out and filling your circle all around you like a snow globe. Your circle is cast.
Invite the Lord and Lady to join you. You can use the Charge of the Goddess and the Lord of the Dance or something very simple.
"Lord and Lady, the honour of your presence is requested to witness my most special night. I wish to honour and dedicate my learning to you and ask that you will bear witness and join me in love and peace."
Once you do this, invoke your corners. Starting at the east and moving clockwise (deisil) light your candles. As you light them, say:
Watchtowers of the East, join me to tonight during my sacred ritual. Watch over me as you blow the physical and spiritual negativity from this space. Cleanse my mind and my spirit on this most spiritual of nights.
Watchtowers of the North, join me to tonight during my sacred ritual. Watch over me as you draw your firey breath upon my face. Warm my heart and my spirit on this most spiritual of nights.
Watchtowers of the West, join me to tonight during my sacred ritual. Watch over me as you wash my fears and doubts away. Drown the doubts and insecurities away on this most spiritual of nights.
Watchtowers of the South, join me tonight during my sacred ritual. Watch over me as you ground my lifeforce to the earth and to the gods. Ground me firm to this space on this most spiritual of nights.
Once done this, sit within your cicle crosslegged and meditate on what you want to achieve during the year and a day. Meditate on your goals and achievements that will come to you during this time. Once you are clearn in your mind what you are seeking during this year of reflection and learning, write it down on paper. Don't worry about spelling and grammar. Speak from the heart. Don't be too specific or long winded. Be realistic and honest. Realize that the real world will intrude and there are things that we have to do in the physical world as well as our spiritual growth.
Once done, pass the paper over the four stones on the corners. As you do this say, "Lord and Lady I ask you for assistance in my chosen path. I pledge to you that I will dedicate myself to this path for the next year and a day in learning and reflection and growth. I feel a calling to this path and am worthy of your love and guidance. Bless this oath with the breath of your kiss, the fire of your love, the liquid of your tears and the roots of the earth. As you will, so mote it be"
Just before you light the centre candle, pick up your ribbons, setting your paper on the cloth (represents you and the Lord and Lady) and start braiding while imagining your spirit melding and merging with the spirit of the Lord and Lady and a white bright light filling you from your solarplex to your head, your arms and your feet then out to the earth and the sky. Feel the warmth of this light flowing through you taking away your old life and reimerging with the power of the Lord and Lady and your new path. As you braid feel the energy of your path before you and reflect on your purpose. Imagine yourself as part of a garden, slowing being fertilized with the nutrients of the Lord and Lady, and starting to bud as a new life forms. Your journey over the next year as you blossom and thrive. When finished your braiding light the candle, set down your braid on the cloth and while meditating, set the paper on fire (carefully) and put it in the caldron. Once the paper has burned, sprinkle it with a little (very little) salt to ground your oath. Wrap the braided ribbon around the candle or tie it. It represents the circle of your life and your faith as you embark on this journey.
Your ritual is finshed. Sit and mediate for a moment and feel the pride and energy flowing through you.
Thank the Lord and Lady for witnessing your ritual and thank the corners.
"Thank you Lord and Lady for bearing witness to this most special night. As your love flows through me, I will treasure the gift you gave me always. Go if you must, but stay if you will."
Watchtowers of the elements (say this inserting the element you are thanking), thank you for attending and witnessing my most special night. May you continue to bless me with your wisdom and protection. Go if you must but stay if you will." Blow each corresponding candle out. Don't blow out the white candle.
Once you are done thanking the elements, close your circle. Imagine the circle closing in on you until it is a small pink prink of light in your solarplexis and then is absorbed within you.
"The circle is open, but never unbroken"
Ground yourself, imagining you are a tree with branches that reach to the sky and whose roots go far, far beneath the earth. Sit for a moment reflecting on this. Then enjoy your feast. Revel in your new found knowledge.
Many people experience a surge of energy once they are finished, then become very tired or wired afterwards. If you become over wired you haven't grounded yourself properly, so repeat your grounding and imagine the excess energy flowing from your body and into the earth. A little excitement is wonderful, but over excitement is not grounding properly.
You may experience a tingling sensation throughout your body, or feel slightly emotional. All this is normal. It is a very profound moment on your path to becoming or deciding to be a witch.
You are finished. Let the white candle burn down or burn out. When done, bury it and the ribbon and the ashes of your note in a sacred spot, making you part of the earth and part of the Lord and Lady.
This is best performed at the full moon. The waning moon is the time to draw into oneself. I like this one just after the cusp of the full moon, when the moon is just starting to wane.
This is a very special ritual and shouldn't be entered into lightly. Make sure you are in the right frame of mind spiritually and mentally. Spend the day before in meditation and reflection. On the day of your ritual fast until you perform your ritual.
Get up and have some herbal tea. I find that a nice green tea for detoxification is wonderful. Make sure you drink plenty of water. You will need it. This is a day of rebirth and you want to start fresh and anew.
About two or three hours before your ritual have a bath in salts and lavender or any essential oil of your choice. Light four white candles and place around the tub (if possible). Imagine all the elements witnessing this rite and filling your mind with loving and spiritual thoughts. As you wash your body, image your doubts going away. Imagine washing away all the spiritual, physical and mental negativity. Imagine the Gods hands washing and preparing your body for the ritual to come. Meditate until the water cools and exit the tub, blowing out the candles, thanking the gods for being witness to the cleansing.
As you watch the water drain, imagine all the doubts, negativity and stress of normal life draining out of you and down with the water. Dry yourself off and put on clothes that you have prepared especially for this occassion. You don't need to buy new clothes, just make sure they are clean and comfortable, preferably out of natural fabric.
Once you have done this, prepare your supplies. You will need paper and pencil, ribbon or coloured yarn or string(about 12-24 inches long - three strands - thin ribbon), candles (white, green, blue and red and yellow) You will also need a wand (finger will suffice) a chalice and caldron (a cup and wine glass will do), some light food (soup, rice cookies) water or wine, salt and a cloth and stones.
Go to where you want to have your ritual (outside or inside - outside is preferable, but not always practical). Clean the area, removing physical dirt and spiritual and emotional dirt as well. Imagine the space being purified by white flowing light starting with a small pin prick and moving out over the whole space. Set your candles to the corresponding corners - blue for water (west) green for earth (south) red for fire (north) and yellow for air (east). Do not light them. Spread the cloth in the centre and put the stones on each corner (corresponding with each direction also (to hold the cloth down and further strengthen the corners). Put the white candle in the centre, the chalace to the left and the caldron to the right. Put the wand in front of you and the salt and water on each side. Arrange the food in a convenient place.
Begin by casting your circle
Walking Deisil (clockwise) around your circle chant three times:
Blessed be this sacred space. I cast this circle round and round, never ending never found. Within this circle I will be safe and secure in love and peace."
At the third time say "So mote it be, with the will of the devine and myself"
As you are walking imagine a blue pin prink of light building out and filling your circle all around you like a snow globe. Your circle is cast.
Invite the Lord and Lady to join you. You can use the Charge of the Goddess and the Lord of the Dance or something very simple.
"Lord and Lady, the honour of your presence is requested to witness my most special night. I wish to honour and dedicate my learning to you and ask that you will bear witness and join me in love and peace."
Once you do this, invoke your corners. Starting at the east and moving clockwise (deisil) light your candles. As you light them, say:
Watchtowers of the East, join me to tonight during my sacred ritual. Watch over me as you blow the physical and spiritual negativity from this space. Cleanse my mind and my spirit on this most spiritual of nights.
Watchtowers of the North, join me to tonight during my sacred ritual. Watch over me as you draw your firey breath upon my face. Warm my heart and my spirit on this most spiritual of nights.
Watchtowers of the West, join me to tonight during my sacred ritual. Watch over me as you wash my fears and doubts away. Drown the doubts and insecurities away on this most spiritual of nights.
Watchtowers of the South, join me tonight during my sacred ritual. Watch over me as you ground my lifeforce to the earth and to the gods. Ground me firm to this space on this most spiritual of nights.
Once done this, sit within your cicle crosslegged and meditate on what you want to achieve during the year and a day. Meditate on your goals and achievements that will come to you during this time. Once you are clearn in your mind what you are seeking during this year of reflection and learning, write it down on paper. Don't worry about spelling and grammar. Speak from the heart. Don't be too specific or long winded. Be realistic and honest. Realize that the real world will intrude and there are things that we have to do in the physical world as well as our spiritual growth.
Once done, pass the paper over the four stones on the corners. As you do this say, "Lord and Lady I ask you for assistance in my chosen path. I pledge to you that I will dedicate myself to this path for the next year and a day in learning and reflection and growth. I feel a calling to this path and am worthy of your love and guidance. Bless this oath with the breath of your kiss, the fire of your love, the liquid of your tears and the roots of the earth. As you will, so mote it be"
Just before you light the centre candle, pick up your ribbons, setting your paper on the cloth (represents you and the Lord and Lady) and start braiding while imagining your spirit melding and merging with the spirit of the Lord and Lady and a white bright light filling you from your solarplex to your head, your arms and your feet then out to the earth and the sky. Feel the warmth of this light flowing through you taking away your old life and reimerging with the power of the Lord and Lady and your new path. As you braid feel the energy of your path before you and reflect on your purpose. Imagine yourself as part of a garden, slowing being fertilized with the nutrients of the Lord and Lady, and starting to bud as a new life forms. Your journey over the next year as you blossom and thrive. When finished your braiding light the candle, set down your braid on the cloth and while meditating, set the paper on fire (carefully) and put it in the caldron. Once the paper has burned, sprinkle it with a little (very little) salt to ground your oath. Wrap the braided ribbon around the candle or tie it. It represents the circle of your life and your faith as you embark on this journey.
Your ritual is finshed. Sit and mediate for a moment and feel the pride and energy flowing through you.
Thank the Lord and Lady for witnessing your ritual and thank the corners.
"Thank you Lord and Lady for bearing witness to this most special night. As your love flows through me, I will treasure the gift you gave me always. Go if you must, but stay if you will."
Watchtowers of the elements (say this inserting the element you are thanking), thank you for attending and witnessing my most special night. May you continue to bless me with your wisdom and protection. Go if you must but stay if you will." Blow each corresponding candle out. Don't blow out the white candle.
Once you are done thanking the elements, close your circle. Imagine the circle closing in on you until it is a small pink prink of light in your solarplexis and then is absorbed within you.
"The circle is open, but never unbroken"
Ground yourself, imagining you are a tree with branches that reach to the sky and whose roots go far, far beneath the earth. Sit for a moment reflecting on this. Then enjoy your feast. Revel in your new found knowledge.
Many people experience a surge of energy once they are finished, then become very tired or wired afterwards. If you become over wired you haven't grounded yourself properly, so repeat your grounding and imagine the excess energy flowing from your body and into the earth. A little excitement is wonderful, but over excitement is not grounding properly.
You may experience a tingling sensation throughout your body, or feel slightly emotional. All this is normal. It is a very profound moment on your path to becoming or deciding to be a witch.
You are finished. Let the white candle burn down or burn out. When done, bury it and the ribbon and the ashes of your note in a sacred spot, making you part of the earth and part of the Lord and Lady.
Let me know how things go. Blessed be, my friend and I apologize for the length of time to post it. 
