The basic ritual below is just a sample of the structure most often followed in the grove. The elements used are in most cases the most basic, and are quite obviously adapted from the Gardnerian/Alexandrian format.

It is important to be aware that these are not necessarily the most commonly used elements of any particular ritual. It is actually more common to use customized and creative elements (such as songs and chants) appropriate to the specific ritual

Here the more common Wiccan forms are given, for the most part, in this sample as they are most widely used in the Wiccan community, so that ritual participants will be familiar with them. Where this sample deviates from the more widely known Wiccan forms, it is noted and credit is given.

Prior to Ritual

  1. Planning of Ritual
    1. Select facilitating celebrants.
    2. Write the ritual
    3. Establish specifics (who, what, where, when, why) and invite participants.
  2. Prepare Sacred Space
    1. Clean and organize ritual space as needed
    2. Ensure all ritual items and tools are present.
  3. Preparation of Self.
    1. Ritual Bath (participants are expected to this before attending ritual!)
    2. Meditation
      The Priest & Priestess will usually perform appropriate personal meditation(s) prior to the ritual.

The Ritual

  1. BANISHING/CLEANSING
    1. Priestess, Priest and Maiden go to prepare the circle.
      • Priestess and Maiden - Setup altar.
      • Priest - set up circle if necessary, checks boundaries and ensures the safety of the area.
    2. High Priestess – Purifies the elements:
      • {Takes chalice and traces astral circle widdershins around top}: I exorcise the o’ creature of water and banish from thee all phantasms and unclean spirits.
      • {Traces a solar cross over chalice} With this sign I bless thee and dedicate thee to the purpose of this ritual. Let all malignancy and hindrance be cast forth, and all good enter in. By Demeter & Dionysus, so mote it be.
      • {Takes athame and drops three blades of salt into the chalice & stirs 3 times deosil.
      • {Traces Earth invoking pentagram over chalice} With this sign I bless thee and dedicate thee to the purpose of this ritual. By Demeter & Dionysus, so mote it be.
      • {Passes chalice to Maiden. Passes censor, smudge stick & feather or smudge bowl to Priest,}
    3. Maiden & Priest – Purify the circle.
      1. Maiden & Priest transit the circle 3 times, asperging and censing while chanting the following:
        • Maiden: Water & Earth, where thou art cast , no spell or adverse purpose last, Not in complete accord with me. As I do will, so mote it be.
        • Priest: Fire & Air, this charge I lay, no phantom in your presence stay, Not in complete accord with me. As I do will, so mote it be.
  2. GROUNDING
    • While the circle is being prepared the Summoner will lead participants in the Tree of Life Meditation to ensure that they are grounded & centered. Once the circle is cast, the Summoner will finish the meditation, bringing the coveners back gently, instruct them in the password for the ritual, and lead them to the ritual area. Coveners wait outside the circle to be admitted.
  3. CASTING THE CIRCLE
    1. Priestess – Casts the Circle
      • The Priestess transits the circle 3 times with the athame, tracing the circle with tip pointed first at the floor, then at heart level, then above head level, each time leaving a doorway for the coveners to enter: I conjure thee, O Circle of Power, to form our sacred meeting place;To harbor us, within this hour; outside of time, outside of space.
    2. Variations
      • It should be noted that this site contains other variations of the basic circle casting shown here. Those can be substituted for this portion of the outline.
  4. The Challenge & Passwords
    • Note: The coveners are challenged in gender opposition (the Priest challenges female coveners, the Priestess challenges male coveners, beginning with the Summoner.) Although the challenge / passwords, along with anointing or asperging and a kiss, are used at all rituals, the “traditional” challenge and passwords are only used in closed rituals (i.e., among Initiates & for Initiations.) For open rituals a challenge & password(s) specific to the ritual is used, or just the covener’s name.
    • Priest/ess: Who comes before the Gods this night?
    • Respondant: {gives name}
    • Priest/ess: Welcome, {name} in Love and Joy.
  5. CALLING THE QUARTERS
    1. This involves a spoken or chanted quarter call, followed by invoking pentagrams traced by the caller and all coveners, then the lighting of the quarter candle. Quarter calls may be given to 4 different coveners, called by an individual, called by the Maiden & Summoner or called by the Priest and Priestess. When the callers speak they should do so in a manner that is loud enough and clear enough to be heard and understood by all in the circle, but shouting at a level higher than that might be considered a bit bombastic unless there is an audience as at a public ritual.
    2. East (Air):
      1. Caller says: “Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, Mighty Ones of Air, realm of thought, I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard our Circle tonight.”
      2. Caller: Draws pentagram and says “So Mote it Be!”
      3. Coven responds: “So Mote it Be!”
    3. South (Fire):
      1. Caller says: “Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, Mighty Ones of Fire, realm of passion, I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard our Circle tonight.”
      2. Caller draws pentagram and says “So Mote it Be!”
      3. Coven responds: “So Mote it Be!”
    4. West (Water):
      1. Caller says: “Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, Mighty Ones of Water, realm of intuition, I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard our Circle tonight.”
      2. Caller draws pentagram and says: “So Mote it Be!”
      3. Coven responds: “So Mote it Be!”
    5. North (Earth):
      1. Caller says: “Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, Mighty Ones of Earth, realm of substance, I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard our Circle tonight.”
      2. Caller draws pentagram and says: “So Mote it Be!”
      3. Coven responds: “So Mote it Be!”
  6. INVOKING DEITIES & SPIRITS
    1. A standard invocation for the Goddess & God is rarely, if ever, used. This sub pages on Invoking Deities & Spirits provide several variations.
    2. The invocation for the Goddess & God is almost always ritual specific. Both invocation (calling in) and evocation (calling out) may be used, although evocations are more advanced and should only be done by an experience Priest and Priestess.
    3. The most common postures used during invocation / evocation are the Goddess Invoking (“open”) position and the God Invoking (“Osiris”) positions.
    4. When invoking, the Priest may say the Goddess invocation, calling the Goddess down into the Priestess, while the Priestess says the God invocation, calling the God down into the Priest, or the Priestess may invoke the Goddess herself and the Priest the God.
    5. When evoking, the Priestess always says the Goddess evocation while the Priest says the God evocation.
    6. The Gods may be invoked as specific aspects only (Lord, Lady, Maiden, Mother, Crone, Horned God, Green Man, God of the Underworld) or by specific manifestation (Isis, Demeter, Osiris, Dionysus, etc.)
  7. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

    When necessary, this is where the intention or purpose of the ritual is clarified. In Sabbat rituals this seldom occurs unless some working is being done, as the common purpose of Sabbats is celebration.
  8. WORKING

    Elements of the ritual are symbolized and/or represented by participants. Dynamics between chosen elements are dramatized; healed, transformed or energized (this is the most creative part).
  9. POWER RAISING/RELEASING
    1. Chanting and/or Drumming
    2. Dancing
    3. Meditation
    4. Great Rite (actual if appropriate / symbolic if actual Great Rite is not appropriate.)
      • Priest: As the athame is to the male…
      • Priestess: So the chalice is to the female.
      • In unison: And together, they are one.
  10. Cakes and Ale
    - See dedicated pages
  11. HIATUS
    1. Meditation
    2. Discussion
    3. Sharing
    4. Business
  12. THANKS & DISMISSAL OF ELEMENTS & SPIRITS
    1. Deities
      1. We thank the Deities and bid them farewell, but we never “dismiss them”. We say farewell in the opposite order from which they were invoked/evoked. The same person who invoked / evoked Them says them farewell. The coven may respond.
      2. Priest:

        Great Goddess, Blessed Mother.
        Gracious Lady of the Harvest.
        We thank you for your presence and blessings.
        We would ever have Thee here with us.
        Now the time is come to break the circle and return to the world.

        May Thy love be ever with us and Thy wisdom guide our steps.

        Blessed Be.

        Response:

        Blessed Be.

      3. Priestess:

        Great God, Blessed Father,
        Merry Lord of Vine and Grain.
        We would ever have Thee here with us.

        Now the time is come to break the circle and return to the world.

        May Thy love be ever with us and Thy wisdom guide our steps.

        Blessed Be.

        Response:

        Blessed Be.

    2. Directions/Elements
      (also in reverse order of invocation)
      The same individuals who called the quarters, dismiss them.

      North (Earth):

      Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, Mighty Ones of Earth, realm of substance, we thank you for attending our rites. Go if you must, stay if you will. And ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, we bid you hail and farewell!

      Response:

      Hail and Farewell!

      West (Water):

      Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, Mighty Ones of Water, realm of intuition, we thank you for attending our rites. Go if you must, stay if you will. And ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, we bid you hail and farewell!

      Response:

      Hail and Farewell!

      South (Fire):

      Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, Mighty Ones of Fire, realm of passion, we thank you for attending our rites. Go if you must, stay if you will. And ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, we bid you hail and farewell!

      Response:

      Hail and Farewell!

      East (Air):

      Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, Mighty Ones of Air, realm of thought, we thank you for attending our rites. Go if you must, stay if you will. And ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, we bid you hail and farewell!

      Response:

      Hail and Farewell!

  13. OPENING THE CIRCLE
    • See subsections on Opening the Circle

Sub Pages Found