BARE BONES INITIATION RITE


This is a bare-bones rite designed for the solitary practitioner to initiate 
him/herself into the Wiccan religion.

Materials: none

Note: The initiation rite should be performed only after a minimum of about a 
year of study. You are not a Witch just because you call yourself such. It is 
important that you understand all aspects of your craft before you initiate 
yourself as a bona fide Witch.

Cast the Circle. Invoke the God and the Goddess.

The most important thing about this rite is that you mean what you are saying 
and that you are willing to dedicate yourself to the Craft. There will be many 
trials you will have to go through, and you may be persecuted for your beliefs, 
so it is important that you really want to dedicate yourself to the Craft.

Let the Goddess and the God know what you plan to do. Let them know that you 
wish to dedicate yourself to Wicca and that you wish to become a Priest/ess in 
their name. There are no fancy words that you need to use; this rite is 
extremely personal and casual. It is between you and the Gods what happens. 
Anything that you feel is right to say, is right.

I have heard of people choosing to consecrate themselves in a sort of Wiccan 
baptism upon initiation into the Craft. They do this in the same manner that 
they consecrate tools. After they consecrate/bless themselves, they lie on the 
floor in a sort of offering to the Goddess and let her Powers fill them.

I like this idea because it recognized the fact that the Deity makes a Witch ñ 
NOT other witches. Some people mistakenly believe that only other witches can 
make a Witch, but this is a folly. Only the Goddess can consecrate a person and 
only she can know what is in their hearts. Don't let anyone tell you that a 
solitary Witch is not a real Witch ñ your intentions and your dedication make 
you a Witch, not belonging to a group.

There is another rite which involves being outside in a personal location ñ 
either on the beach, in the woods, or in the mountains. It involved communing 
with nature, talking to the Goddess and the God and making yourself one with the 
Deity in whatever manner you feel is appropriate. That's the beauty of this 
rite, it's just you and your God, and no one needs to interfere.

After initiation, you will become officially a Witch. This is a respected and 
high title, no one reaches this honor without practice and study. To be a Witch 
is to be more then a spell caster, it is to be a priest/ess of the gods and to 
give yourself freely to the Earth, to be compassionate, loving and sensitive to 
the vibrations around you. Most witches decide to take a new name for 
themselves. Many take the name of a Goddess, or a magickal name, which will come 
to you when the time is right. You don't have to use this name in your daily 
life, if you don't wish to, but perhaps in your book of shadows, or when you 
talk to other witches, or in you heart when you commune with the Deity. It's up 
to you. Your new name is a symbol of your rebirth into a new life.

After your rite, enjoy cakes and wine. Your rite is completed.