Subject: creative rituals 1. Define Ritual, pg 117 of Pagan Rituals Ritual is the systematic working procedure dedicated to achieve a particular aim or effect on individuals or groups. a. Purpose of ritual transitions, turning points, life movement, worship, formalizing meaning. b. The need for ritual - Rituals deepen the psychic and spiritual awareness. Our inner selves - subconscious if you like - needs ritual and ceremonial behaviors in order to mark and acknowledge significant events. Rituals are an expression of the human need to belong. 3. Define the differing groups that practice ritual and their characteristics A. Solitary B Circle Small core groups with visitors. Usually has a fairly set format. Visitors may be asked to participate in a key role. Circles come and go and are seldom static for any length of time. C. Coven Committed group with a identifiable spiritual basis. At least in intent they are long term and constitute a community. D. Gatherings Has many of the same elements as circles but are often one time or special event functions organized by a group of temporary leaders. E. Festivals Often use theater as ritual. To mark the ritual -- that is, to acknowledge the value of the ritual in the mind of the participant -- the entire process must be moved from the mundane to the "special" or sacred. Whoever is leading the ritual has a responsibility to guide the group so that the physical, psychic, and emotional attitude of the group members is in some way altered. Without these alterations, a ritual may become shallow or even meaningless. It is the responsibility of the leader to provide: Permission, Protection, and Potency (leader, structure, subject) POTENCY: The potency of the leader is not a matter of charisma. Rather, leadership potency comes from the leader being prepared, knowing what they are doing, and being familiar with the structure that is being used. Hurried or last minute ritual preparation leaves everyone floundering. A well-planned, well-formulated, well-thought-out ritual gives everyone permission to truly involve themselves in what is happening. In effect, the entire ritual becomes more meaningful when the H.P. knows what they are doing. PERMISSION: We live in a society where we are, by necessity, required to wear masks. When we involve ourselves in a spiritual ritual, we in some way, loosen those masks. If it is a group ritual, those who are participating allow their neighbors to see a little way beneath the masks. Although it can be a scary process, the loosening of the personal masks is a necessity. It is a lowering of the wall and boundaries that we all carry around with us. We all have inhibitions and they are necessary in our society. The fewer inhibitions we carry into a ritual the more powerful the ritual will be for all concerned. In order to put those inhibitions aside for awhile, there must be: trust freedom honesty openness How do you encourage those qualities? Option Exercise SCENARIOS 1. Open circle -- Full Moon You are regular H.P. Four regular members Two visitors 2. Open circle -- Full Moon Rotating H.P. You're it! Four regular members Two visitors 3. Closed circle, Newly Formed -- Full Moon Eight Members You are the H.P. because of a game of hot potato 4. A CUUPs Gathering 23 people for a full moon Very eclectic group PROTECTION: All groups have boundaries (circle, arrow drawing) Once the structure has been established, any intrusions from outside the groups are viewed with a certain degree of hostility by those inside the group. Even if it is not expressed, the hostility is there and can interfere with the purpose of the ritual. The small the group, the more intense the psychic and emotional states of the group, the more they will feel threatened by any outside influence. It is my belief that the H.P. and the significant members of the circle have the responsibility to see that level of protection is adequate for the type of ritual being celebrated. Ritual Outline, pg 118 Pagan Rituals 1. Establish intention 2. Construct ritual outline 3. Set up temple 4. Cast Circle 5. Invoke Higher Forces 6. Invoke God and Goddess 7. Perform work. 8. Thanksgiving 9. Close Circle 10. Reconstruct Temple. ELEMENTS of RITUAL A statement of intention - a group contract of a sort, eg: We are here to celebrate the Full Moon, lend our energy to healing Mother Earth, sink the Spanish Armada How this statement of intention is made is a matter of individual style, but it should be done out loud prior to getting to the meat of the ritual. The Statement allows everyone to focus on why they are a part of the ritual. In some cases, you may find that the circle members have other ideas than the leadership. When formulating the statement of intention, keep in mind: a. why you are here b. what you intend to do c. how you will do it d. who will do what e. when you will know that you have accomplished your purpose. Know your time frame PREPARATION: Information on the ritual format should be supplied to the participants before the ritual starts. If it is a consistent groups, such as a closed coven, then it doesn't hurt to, at least, give the general form out a week ahead. If a coven member is to do something special or out of the ordinary, let them know well ahead of time. Don't keep secrets -- the mysterious will take care of itself! All H.P.'s, all circles and covens develop their own style of preparation. There are some groups, particularly druidic groups, that begin the accumulation of materials and psychic preparation at least a week ahead of the actual ritual. In effect, this concentration on the preparation of the various aspects of the ritual focuses the intent of both the individual and the group. It allows the psyche -- the subconscious -- to be prepared and is, therefore, more effective in carrying out the intentions of the ritual. MANIFESTATION -- The Actual Act of the Ritual If you jump right into the opening of the ritual, you will leave some people unprepared. Therefore, it helps if there are some warm-up exercises -- similar to stretching exercises before you begin jogging or working out. Warming up is a signal to the subconscious -- the inner self, the wondrous child within us all -- that something is about to happen. WARM-UP OPTIONS 1. Group Ohm's - rhythmic breathing 2. Group Ha Ha's 3. Singing or Chanting (don't pick songs or chants that some members of the group are unlikely to know. 4. Psych Contact (18" space, 5 to 10 minute dialogue) (don't use with a new group or a group with unfamiliar members. What other exercises? Don't settle for round robin intro's. After the warm-ups, you need to create a sacred space. SACRED SPACE OPTIONS 1. Meditation 2. Guided meditation - spirit world 3. Grounding - connecting to the earth 4. Centering - into one self (Pg 19, WR) 5. Some groups use the casting of a circle by the group 6. Calling Quarters 7. Some form of ceremony by H.P. or member The ritual spectrum theater -- individual action In most groups, there are some formalized structures to a ritual, eg: cast circle call quarters invocation recitation call and response blessing, grounding close You as a H.P. must discover what works for you. You as a member of a circle or a coven may find that you need different things. A festival is usually theater. That is, a small group will conduct a ritual and a larger group will observe. There are varying degrees of this "told observer to Oak's Samhain" The small and more consistent the group, the more powerful the ritual. The four parts to carrying out a ritual: 1. The creation of sacred space 2. Dedication and enactment of intentions 3. Invocation of larger energies 4. Blessing and closing 1. (?) The creation of sacred space includes (what are the elements of creating a sacred space): casting the circle, burning herbs or incense, creating an alter. or pg 118 Pagan Rituals I would add that any warm-ups, community building, or exercises done before the main enactment of the ritual are also part of the ritual. You must let the inner person, the subconscious, etc know that this place is different. This place is special. Different laws apply here. Intuition Imagination Inspiration Preparation and creation Clarifying the Intention (Inspiration) 1. What is the inspiration for this ritual? 2. What type of ritual is it? 3. What effect do you want this ritual to have, and on whom? 4. Clearly state the intention of this ritual: Planning (Creation) 1. What symbols are you using in this ritual? 2. Write out a draft of the ritual itself. 3. Logistics: Write out dates, times, deadlines, what needs co-ordination, and who needs to be contacted. 4. Make a shopping list of materials you need. Emotional Process (Deepening) 1. What feelings or issues have been brought up by the preparations you've done so far? 2. Have any ethical questions arisen? Is there any way this ritual could hold negative intention for anyone? How? 3. What limitations (money, space, time) have you encountered? 4. Working through these feelings, ethical issues, and limitations, what adjustments, if any need to be made to your ritual plan? Physical Preparation (Action) 1. What else needs to be coordinated? 2. What materials need to be gathered? 3. Details for arriving with helpers and checking that you have everything you need: 4. Cleaning the physical space: What needs to be done, when, and by whom? Manifestation: The Ritual Itself Creating Sacred Space (action) 1. What objects and actions will you use to clear and bless the space? 2. What emotions do you need to clear from yourself? How will you do this? 3. How will you center yourself? 4. How will you ask for guidance in conducting this ritual? Using a circle with the four directions marked, write in how you will set up the temple sacred space, including location of your chosen symbols, where participants will enter and stand, and other appropriate details. Setting the Mood (Deepening) and Declaration of Intention (creation) 1. What objects and actions will you use? 2. Music, sounds: 3. Poetry and speech: 4. What will these things inspire in the participants? Invocation (Inspiration) and Direction of Higher Energies (creation) 1. What particular energies are you invoking, and precisely what do you want them to do? 2. What words will you use to direct these energies to their purpose? 3. What emotions will be touched, and what kinds of rhythms or music will help you accomplish this? 4. What objects and actions will best represent and channel these energies and the emotions of the participants? Blessing (deepening) and Closure (action) 1. With what gift of Spirit will the participants leave the ritual? 2. Words or poetry you can use to name this gift: 3. Music and sounds to enhance the gift and mark the ending of the ritual: 4: Actions and objects used to mark the ending. How will the participants leave the sacred space? Grounding/Completion Breakdown of Sacred Space (action) 1. What is left to be done (blessed food or drink needing proper disposal, for example? 2. How will you release the sacred space back to normal space? 3. Emotional completion: How will you give thanks? 4. When will you break down the circle, put things away, and clean up? Who will help? Emotional Process (Deepening) 1. Did you experience any strong physical sensations during the ritual? 2. What emotions were raised? 3. What did you learn about yourself? 4. How does your emotional experience relate to the myth enacted in the ritual? Evaluation (creation) 1. What worked and didn't work effectively? 2. How impactful was the ritual to those involved? 3. If you were to do this ritual again, how would you improve it? 4. What new ideas or insights did you gain about the nature of ritual? Integration (inspiration) 1. How were you inspired by this ritual? 2. How can you use this inspiration to create change in yourself? 3. What form do you imagine these changes can take in the world? 4. What actions can you take this week to manifest this inspiration?