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Welcome to your first Thalian ritual! While Hearth rituals may differ
radically from each other, there are some common factors. What we'll
cover here is the basic structure of a Thalian ritual and some of why we
do what we do.
- Sharing
Every ritual we do has a theme. For the eight High Holidays, the
Quarters and Cross-Quarters of the Wheel of the Year, we use the
traditional meanings. For Full Moons, we theme each ritual according to
what the group needs and whatever inspiration strikes the ritual
author. Before each ritual, we usually do what we call a
sharing. This can be poetry, song, artwork, a favorite quote, anything
that means the ritual's theme to you. This is a way to help Younger
Self (the subconscious mind, root of magick, and link to our Deep Self,
or God-Self, and thus the Gods) understand why we are gathered together
besides fellowship.
- Preparation of Self and Space
We prepare the area by blessing it and setting up the altar. The altar
is sectioned into four parts for the Four Directions and Elements, and
symbols of each element are in the appropriate quarter; for example,
the salt and pentacle are in the North, the athame in the East, the
incense in the South, and the cup in the North. The cauldron is in the
center to symbolize the Goddess's cauldron of death, life and rebirth,
and the Lord and Lady candles are in the center of the altar.
We prepare ourselves by taking a moment to relax, ground and center
("pull ourselves together", get in balance, and connect with the world
around us), and get in the mood for ritual.
- Gathering In
Upon entering the Circle area you will be greeted and blessed by the
Priest and Priestess. We may also sing as we enter.
- Casting the Circle
This is an essential part of ritual and will always occur in some
format. When the Priestess casts the Circle, she is actually creating a
sphere of sacred space, the space in which we will celebrate with the
Gods, the elements and each other, a space that is "between the worlds",
a space that feels comfortable and secure, like home. We should always
send our own energies with the Priestess to create this sphere because
this is sacred space for all of us; we should also try to leave as much
negative energy as we can outside the Circle, to help it be a place of
love, joy, magick, and worship.
- Calling the Quarters
This will also occur at every ritual in some manner. The four ancient
Elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water symbolize balance and wholeness,
and as such we ask for this wholeness in our rituals. Our Quarter
invocations will differ depending on the ritual theme. Unlike
traditional Wicca, we do not tend to invoke entities at each Direction
but rather ask that the essence or qualities of each Element be present
within us and in our Circle. Each participant should personally,
mentally, invoke the Elements at each quarter even if you are not the
person speaking.
- Welcoming the Lord and Lady
Obviously, this will occur at every ritual, although the Aspects
welcomed will differ, again depending on the theme of the ritual. We
are primarily Monists, believing in many Gods and Goddesses but
believing that at some level all the Gods and Goddesses
are One. Because of this, we may mix pantheons in our rituals if the
Deities invoked seem to go together with the theme. We do not command
the Lord and Lady to appear! Rather, we welcome their participation in
our celebrations, and may speak Their words to all.
- Ritual Observance
Whether this is a seasonal celebration or a magickal working, the
activity involved will occur at this time and will usually be explained
before we go on.
- Feasting and Fellowship
We bless and partake in ritual bread and drink in thanksgiving for the
bounty of the Earth and fellowship with others in the Hearth, as well as
grounding any excess magickal energies. When you take the food or
drink, please pass it to your neighbor, saying something appropriate
like "May you never hunger/thirst" or "The God and Goddess be with you".
- Closing the Circle
A formal closing is necessary to signal our subconscious and conscious
minds (Younger and Talking Selves) that ritual is over and we are back
in the "ordinary" world. We thank the Lord and Lady, but do not
"dismiss" Them, since They are with us and of us always. We do thank and
say farewell to the Elements, and at this time you personally should
"undo" whatever you did at the beginning of the ritual to welcome them,
be it visualization or welcoming entities. The conscious "undoing" of
whatever you did to invoke them helps close the ritual for you.
We end our rituals almost always with the traditional phrase, "May the
peace of the Goddess and the love of the God go in our hearts. Merry
Meet, and Merry Part, and Merry Meet again. Blessed Be, and Divine
Do!" (You might as well memorize it now...)
The other closing needs some explanation... when we first started doing
rituals together, someone said at the end of a ritual, "Let's call it a
ritual," like you say "call it a night", and everyone else together
went, "One... Two... Three... It's A Ritual!" That closing stuck, and
now we close durn near every Thalian function with the appropriate
adaptation. Muses are so amusing...
Well, that's what you should expect today. No bloody chickens, I'm
afraid, but hopefully a time of celebration, worship, fellowship,
magick, and above all, fun. Remember, She says that all acts of love
and pleasure are Her rituals. Let's all work together to make sure that
all our rituals are acts of love and pleasure.
Blessed Be!
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