RITUAL, TYPES AND PROCESS
                            By Don Wildgrube



Rituals are the formalized actions used to produce certain results. Within 
Witchcraft, the rituals take on a specific form and are shaped by the Coven or 
individual traditions and the purpose for which the ritual is being done.
 
TYPES OF RITUALS:

There are four types of rituals:
1- Esbats
2- Sabbats
3- Rites of Passage
4- Specific Magic rituals
     a. healing
     b. love
     c. protection
     d. binding
     e. divination
     f. others
(Note: the rituals in #4 may be part of others)

ESBATS (F. <s'esbattre = frolic and amuse oneself)

According to Margaret Murray, in "God of the Witches", her research led her to 
the conclusion that the Esbats were weekly meetings used for both religious and 
business purposes and attendance was compulsory for the Coven and held in 
private. I do not believe that Esbats were weekly meetings. It is my belief that 
the Esbats were monthly.

According to present tradition, Esbats are celebrated on or about the time of 
the full Moon as is stated in the Charge of the Goddess. This is when Witches 
re-purify themselves, charge their psychic batteries, do the necessary magical 
work for others, share knowledge and just swap stories. There are 13 Esbats per 
year.

SABBATS (Babylonian <Sabbatu = celebration of the full moon < Sa-Bat = Heart 
rest [the menses of Ishtar]).

Ms. Murray states that Sabbats were held publicly in an open space, a moor, a 
hill top, or other traditionally common place to gather. I agree that the 
Sabbats were indeed public celebrations, intended to indicate the changes of the 
seasons to the general public. 

There are eight Sabbats a year. There is usually some form of psycho-drama to 
indicate these changes. The Sabbats are Oimelc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, 
Lugnassadh, Mabon, Samhain and Yule and occur on the Solstices and Equinoxes and 
the Cross-Quarters (half way between). More accurately, the Solstices and 
Equinoxes occur when the Sun enters 0 degrees of the Cardinal Signs. The Cross-
Quarters occur when the Sun enters 15 degrees of the Fixed signs.

RITES OF PASSAGE

This is a term coined by Arnold van Gnepp, and commemorate changes of seasons in 
a persons life. In each case of a Rite of Passage, the individual has a change 
in status in the greater community, there is a change in the persons title and 
there is an inner personal change.

The Rites of Passage celebrated by Pagans and Witches are:
 
1- Birth, naming of an infant, recognition of the parents.
2- Puberty rites.
3- Handfasting or marriage.
4- Initiation.
5- End of Bleeding (menopause) for women.
6- Croning (for women)
7- Death.

Other rites may be added later. There is work being done to recognize the 
menopausal and other aging changes of men.

SPECIFIC MAGIC

These are rituals that may or may not be a part of a regular Esbat. The specific 
magick may be the main focus of the Esbat or it may be a part of the "work" done 
by the Coven when asking their "boons".

ELEMENTS OF RITUAL

In any effective ritual, there is preparation for the ritual, then three main 
parts of the ritual itself, erecting the temple, the work, and "cleaning up".
 
PREPARATION

1- Choices have to be made, such as, who is to do the different parts or the 
whole of the ritual; what type, color, etc. of altar equipment, tools, place, 
music, etc.

2- Making yourself ready; "properly prepared" ñ ritual bathing, centering and 
grounding.
3- Set up the altar and the surrounding area. Making sure of privacy. Block out 
extraneous light and noise.

4- Light candles, charcoal blocks, extinguish other lights.

ERECTING THE TEMPLE

1- Exorcise water, bless salt, etc. (optional)

2- Dedicate sword or Athame (optional)

3- Cast the circle (thrice about)

4- Call the quarters or elements

5- HP, HPS purify each other in the Circle, then other Coveners

6- Drawing down of the Moon, or God/Goddess called

THE WORK

The work is in two parts, the first is asking of the 'boons' and/or training. 
The second part is blessing of wine and cakes and partaking, also known as 
hiatus.

Make sure that if any energy is raised, that it is sent to the proper place and 
has gone, also make sure that all within the Circle completely 'ground' before 
leaving.

CLEANING UP

Whatever was done in erecting the temple must be returned.

1- Dismiss any and all entities called.
2- Dismiss the Quarters or Elements.
3- Take up the Circle.

After the Circle is taken up, the traditional saying is "The Rite is ended. 
Blessed Be! Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!"