Practise

Like the Rede, the Rule of Three is another one of the basic tenents held by all Wiccans, regardless of tradition or path. Here I will discuss the Rule and its meaning.

"Ever mind the rule of three; three times what you send out shall come back to thee"

So basically, what you give out, you get back three times stronger. Therefore, some act of good (donating to a good cause, for example) will be rewarded in good time. Likewise, doing something "bad", (such as stealing) will result in a misfortune. Its a simple Rule, but at times, difficult to follow.

Some Wiccan's tie the Rule in with Karma. Karma is something you accumulate, sort of like a record of all you've done that deserves reward (or punishment, for that matter) I myself believe that Karma effects us in our current lives, and that we are paid off within a year or so. Others believe that we accumulate Karma, and recieve our "payback" in our next lives. Either way, our actions and choices will eventually come back and affect us.

If you're still confused, than I'll relate you to the movie "The Craft". Although the majority of it was an insult to Wicca as a religion, some of it rang true. Near the end, the girl who cast a spell to have someones hair fall out looks in the mirror to find she appears bald. One of the other girls cast a spell to make a guy like her. In the end, he was obsessed with her, showing up at her house at all hours of the night. The message here? Magick is unpredictable, but by following the Rede and the Rule of Three, you should be fine.

However, like with the Rede, the Rule of Three can be applied to many different aspects of life. One of the ways in which I apply it most regularly is when I'm upset with my sister. If she challenges me, tries to get me upset, I remind myself that by walking away, I'm helping myself in the end. By accepting her "challenge" and calling her names, I am only hurting myself in the end. Likewise, if someone is calling you names, try and remind yourself that that person will eventually get their Karmic dues.

Lastly, remember that you make your own "luck". If you go through life being negative and hateful, you will only get negativity and hate in return. Thinking and acting positivly and responsibly will get you results.

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The Sabbats

Like in almost any religion, Wicca has holidays. There are eight sesonal celebrations throughout the Wiccan year, starting with Yule and ending with Samhain. To me, the Sabbats tell a story of the God and Goddess, of life and death and rebirth.

Yule, or the Winter Solstice, usually occurs on or around the 21st of December. The Sun begins gaining strength, symbolically the God is born. This is a time of celebration. We are reminded that the winter and its darkness is soon coming to an end. Gifts are given (much like the Christian Christmas) in celebration of the Gods birth.
February 2nd is Imbolc (pronounced Im-bol-g). The Goddess is now recovering from giving birth to the God, and is beginning to awaken in His growing warmth and light. She is in her Maiden form, and the God Himself is a young boy. This Sabbat marks the coming of spring, when seeds planted in the fall begin stirring under the soil, and the days grow a little bit longer. This is a time of purification and renewal after the long winter months.
Ostara, or the Spring Equinox, occurs on or around March 21st. It is a time when Day and Night are equal (hence equi-nox). The Goddess has fully recovered and is discovering the young, strong God. This is a time of balance, and a time to think of the things you would like to accomplish in the coming year. Spring is truly here, and this is evident in the first seasonal flowers poking above ground.
April 30th is Beltane. The God and Goddess discover one another, falling in love. The Earth is awash with this fertility; gardens are in full bloom, animals begin to give birth to their young. In my tradition, this is the equivalent of the "marriage" between the God and Goddess, however it is more commonly believed that the God and Goddess make love, and the Goddess becomes pregnant of the God.
The Summer Solstice,Midsummer occurs on or around June 21st. The powers of the Earth are at their peak, and this is regarded as one of the most magickal Wiccan holidays. In my own tradition, Midsummer is the time when the God and Goddess lie together and make love, and the Earth is filled with their love and passion. This is traditionally a time for love spells.
Lughnasadh (pronounced Lugh-nas-ah) falls on August 1st. Traditionally, this marked the first harvest. The crops which flourished in the summer are harvested, offering their fruits to us. The God begins loosing his power. However, this is a time of promise, as we know that the Goddess is pregnant of the God, and that he will be reborn at Yule. This is a time to reflect over the summer months, and to give thanks for their warmth.
The Fall equinox, or Mabon occurs on or around the 21st of September. Day and night are equal, and the final harvest takes place. The God is dying, but has left behind his bounty, which promises to get us through the cold winter months. Our goals have come full circle at Mabon, and now we reflect on what we have accomplished.
Finally, is Samhain (pronounced Sow-en) on October 31st. This marks the passing of the God. The days are shorter, and we prepare for the cold of winter. The Goddess retreats under a blanket of snow, the God growing promisingly inside of her. This is a time to reflect over the past. It is believed that the Veils between the Worlds are thinnest at this time. We honour those who have passed on before us with offerings of food and drink. (This is where the tradition of dressing up as ghosts and trick or treating for candy may come from)This is also a good time for divination and contacting spirit guides

You may also notice similarities between many Wiccan holidays and Christian holidays. This is because when the Christian religion attempted to win over followers, they turned many pagan holidays into their own. (Samhain=Halloween, Ostara=Easter etc) Scott Cunningham points out in his book Wicca:A Guide for a Solitary Practitioner that "The Winter Solstice has long been viewed as a time of divine births...The Christians simply adopted it for their use in 273 Common Era."

By celebrating the Sabbats, we become more intune with the cycles of Nature. From a quiet observance to a full blown ritual, these eight days of power are an excellent time to attune with the Earth and Her cycles.

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Esbats

Besides the 8 Sabbats, there are 12 to 13 more celebratory days in the Wiccan religious calendar. These are the nights of the Full Moon, called Esbats.

While the Sabbats are generally solar holidays, having to do with the course of the Sun and the Seasons, Esbats celebrate the cycle of the Goddess. Since the Moon is a symbol of Her, the Full Moon symbolizes the Goddess at her peak of power. After a celebratory ritual, many Wiccans will take advantage of Her power and preform magick. Although the God is not entirely excluded from Esbat celebrations, these are used mainly to focus our energies on the Goddess. There are usually 12 to 13 full moons in a year, occuring every 28 days (similar to the pattern of a woman's menstrual cycles)

Some Wiccans also celebrate on the night of the New Moon, however the main Esbat celebrations take place on full moons. Also, some traditions have names for specific moons. These usually correspond to the time of the year at which that particular full moon occurs. The Harvest moon is one example I know of, occuring at some point in the fall. This, however, can be up to the individual Wiccan. Observe each particular Full Moon and how it makes you feel. Perhaps you can derive a name from this.

Like celebrating the Sabbats brings us closer to the flow of nature, celebrating the Esbats brings us closer to the flow of the Moon and the Goddess.

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Ritual and SpellCrafting

There are many things that go into a ritual or spell. Tools, stones, herbs, and oils are all a part of ritual, but these things are useless without focus, energy, and personal power. These are the things that really make a ritual. You must believe in what you are doing; if its a spell, you must believe that it will bring about the desired results. You must also be totally comfortable with what you are doing (for example: don't do a ritual naked if you feel uncomfortable) However, if you are going through a ritual written by someone else, worrying about what comes next, invoking Gods you know nothing about, chances are the ritual will flop. This section is to help you plan, create, and preform your own rituals and spells.

Now I'll be more specific of the things you might want in planning a ritual. When I am planning a ritual, there's alot of brainstorming involved. Grab a few peices of paper, and write your goal on top (celebrating a Sabbat, the goal of a spell etc) Now, begin jotting down things that you associate with your purpose. Don't worry about what might make sense to others-what is important is that you are comfortable throughout the entire ritual. You might write down tools or "props" you want to use (like seasonal flowers for a Sabbat). If an idea for a chant, invocation or prayer comes into your head, write it down, write everything that comes to mind down! You'll need it later.

When you've exhausted all ideas, go back over your notes. Pick out the things that make the most sense to you. Polish off any chants etc, add things to them to complete them. Decide which props or tools you want to use (availability is key here. Don't plan on setting up a ten foot maypole in your room!) After you picked out everything you want to keep, begin constructing the outline for your ritual. Every ritual has a beginning, middle and end. Your beginning may consist of a blessing chant, or a circle casting (this is something many Wiccans do, however this is not a part of my personal tradition) and/or an invocation of the Gods (this is where we ask the God and Goddess to be present at our ritual). The middle is where you honour the Sabbat, cast your spell etc. At the end, we ground our energy, thank the deities for being present.

There you have it, your first ritual! Decide when would be the best time to hold your ritual, make any finishing touches, and you are ready to make beautiful magick!

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Raising Energy, Casting a Circle and Grounding

In the last section, I mention raising energy, circle casting, and grounding. In this section, I hope to better define these things.

Raising energy is really very simple once you get the hang of it. We all possess this energy in ourselves, and with practise we can tap into it, build it up and direct it. I do this by focusing on a combination of an object and a chant. Usually I choose a candle, gazing into a flame and repeating a chant which reminds me of my goal. As my energy builds, the chant becomes faster. When I feel that the energy has reached its peak, I release it by blowing out the candle flame, sending my wishes into the Heavens.

This is how to raise energy for the purpose of a spell, however, raising energy for the purpose of casting a circle is slightly different. The Circle is an "imaginary" circle, like a force field of energy, which surrounds our "working area", keeping energy in until it is released. It is also believed to keep negative influences out. Like I mentioned before, I don't usually cast a circle; I find a simple blessing chant works just as well (try it out, see what suits you)

To raise energy when casting a circle, first stand, feeling it build up in you. Imagine a blue, almost electric light filling you up, until its overflowing. When you feel ready, walk clockwise (in a circular pattern) around the area in which you will be working. Imagine that energy flowing out behind you, building a protective area around you. Traditionally, Wiccan's walk three times around (Cast the Circle thrice about, to keep the evil spirits out) If at any time you need to leave your circle, take your index finger and imagine yourself cutting a door in the circle (don't forget to close it!) When you're finished your ritual, close the circle by walking three times, counter clockwise, and imagine the energy being sucked back up into you, waiting for next time.

Now, after all this energy raising and circle casting, you're bound to feel some excess energy bouncing around inside you. This always gives me a very fidgety feeling-I'm constantly moving, I cannot sleep etc. Sit or lie down, and breath deeply, relaxing yourself. As you exhale, see your "excess energy" flowing into the ground in the form of tree roots. As you inhale, draw pure, cleansing light into your body. Continue this, reaching your "roots" deep into the ground, until you feel totally relaxed, and you're sure that the excess energy has been released back to the Earth, to be purified.

As you can see from this section alone, there is alot of visualization involved in Wicca. Its easy to get the hang of. Practise just the grounding, get used to that calm feeling, and you're ready to go!

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Meditation and Prayer

There are many benifits to proper meditation and prayer. These things can bring us closer to deity, relax us, comfort us, and focus our minds (amoung other things) These things, although not mandatory, can be essential and important parts of your Wiccan path.

I'll begin with meditation. This is something used in many different religions and spiritual paths. There are many different types of meditation, but all with the same purpose-to relax and open the mind and body. When you meditate is up to you, but commonly, it is done either in the morning and/or at night. To begin, choose a place where you will be undisturbed for at least 15 minutes. Sit or lie comfortably (this can be in a chair, or on the floor with a pillow) Make sure you're warm, grab a sweater or blanket if you need to. I like to do this with the lights out, and a few candles lit, but its up to you. Play some soothing music if you like, or burn a bit of incense. Now, pay attention to your breathing. Follow its rhythm, and try to slowly deepen your breath. Don't force it though. Your breath will deepen and lengthen naturally. As you breath, let your thoughts flow. Don't hold on to any particular one, but don't force them out of your head either. Just let your mind clear itself. Stay like this for as long as you like. When you're done, you should feel refreshed and relaxed.

Prayer is also an integral part in many different religions, and Wicca is no different. We pray to offer thanks, to ask for "divine intervention", for comfort, for joy. When and how you pray is up to you, aslong as you do it honestly; for example, don't pray before every meal if you don't feel its necassary, and don't limit yourself to quick "Goddess help me!" type prayers. These kinds aren't as effective and sincere as thoughtful prayer.

I myself did not begin regular prayer until a few months ago. Up until then, I had always seen it as a Christian concept, and never saw the need. However, I felt that the Divine Influence was lacking in my life. Prayer has brought me closer to the God and Goddess, and has helped me through many a difficult situation.

I prefer to pray at the end of the day, before I go to bed. This allows me to review the day and look back over any lessons being offered to me. There really is no specific way to pray, but I suggest first thanking Them for anything you feel was a blessing that day. Talk to Them, tell Them what you hope to accomplish. If you need a bit of help along the way, ask. Prayer can be very thereputic, and is a great way to get things off of your chest. No matter when or how you do it, you'll feel more connected to the God and Goddess, and your path will be enriched.

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Where do I do this?

Ideally, it is best to practise outdoors, where you can be closest to Nature and It's energies. However, there are many things that can complicate this (like being in the "broom closet, or living in the city) This section is to offer you alternatives to practising outdoors.

I myself practise in my bedroom. My family is very respectful of my privacy, and when my door is shut, they know to knock first (and if its after nine thirty, they know I'm going to bed soon) If your family is just as respectful, then your bedroom is probably the next best place. You can open up a window to allow in a little bit of nature, and bring potted plants into your working area, to make it a little more "natural". However, if your family is a little less mindful of your privacy, talk to them about it. Tell them you won't accept calls after nine, ten, or whenever. Explain to them that you like to read (write in a journal etc) before going to bed, and once your door is shut at night, you wish not to be disturbed. If this doesn't work, it may be time for a bit of visualization.

There is no law against visualizing your entire ritual; infact, I know of people who do this regularly. Not only does it allow you to be more elaborate in your surroundings, but it can be done absolutly anywhere. Decide what kind of setting you want this to be in. Deep in the woods? Next to an ocean or stream? Maybe even in the clouds! The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination.

If you do wish to practise outdoors, there are some things to consider first. If you live in the city, chances are your backyard is only a few steps away from your neighbours. Even though your parents may know of, and accept your religious practises, your neighbours might not, so consider this carefully. Parks or other wildlife type areas are your next best bet, however here you must use some discretion aswell. I don't suggest setting up circle in the middle of the local playground! Try to find an area where you won't be disturbed. Also check out local laws. The last thing you want is to be charged with trespassing on private property. Aside from these things, if you can find a secluded area outdoors where you can freely practise, congratulations!

Just remember; you don't need to be in a gorgeous setting to have a succesful ritual, because its you who makes the ritual what it is!