Astral Projection (Part 2)

In the first post on astral projection, I explained what astral projection actually is, what happens in the brain during dreams (which are necessary in order to achieve astral projection) and also described some techniques which can be used to achieve it. I announced two more posts on the same topic in which I plan to explain what can be done on the astral planes, but also give some useful tips and warnings. :)

This is the first of the two announced posts in which I will be dealing with the lower astral plane (I'll deal with the higher one in the next post).

In order to explain what I mean by "lower" astral, I ask you to imagine yourself in an airplane. You are just taking off and you are observing everything getting smaller and smaller; first the houses, then the cities and soon enough, you can't tell where something begins and where it ends. The moment when you ascend the clouds, your perspective changes completely! You lost all contact with the earth since you can't even see it anymore because of all the white hills surrounding you. That is the equivalent of the lower astral plane. An equivalent of the higher astral plane would be you taking off in a rocket into space where all the rules change and where no earthly rules exist. But more on this in the next post. :)

I would now like to get down to business, so let us continue where we left off in the previous post. If you remember, I explained how to achieve astral projection. The last thing I mentioned is that, after you reach the height of the "vibration" period, you have to abruptly turn onto your side (of course, not physically, but you have to imagine it, or even better...you have to FEEL yourself turning onto your side so you can achieve this with your astral body instead of your physical body). If you do this correctly, you will feel your astral body fall onto the floor!

What Do I Do Once I'm on the Astral Plane?

Your astral body, or rather you (in one way or another) will now be on the floor. It is important to mention that the astral body doesn't depend on sight, but rather the sense of touch. This is why you will find yourself in complete darkness (at least that's how it usually is in most cases, but that doesn't mean it has to be this way for you), and the only way for you to create an image of where you are is by feeling everything around you. By doing this, you will slowly find out where you are and you will also move away from your physical body (and this is preferable because the farther away from your physical body you are, the clearer and more intensive your astral image is). Remember that you must always do something in the astral world, even if it's only walking around in circles our looking around idly. If you concentrate on something too long, then your astral image becomes unclear until you slip out of the astral world and return to the physical reality. Therefore, concentration is the enemy of the astral plane! Or more precisely, concentrating on the space around you is your enemy, whereas concentrating on a certain goal or your plan of action is necessary for improvement.

To make things easier for yourself, it is recommended that you make a plan of action. You will have this plan in your head while you are in the astral world (even though it may be hard to remember it sometimes) and it will help you to avoid getting to that point when you ask yourself: "What should I do now?". Because the moment you ask yourself that and you stop doing something, your concentration slips and you return to your physical body.

You can add several things to your plan of action from the very start:

1. Look at your reflection in the mirror
2. Teleport yourself (for starters, try somewhere nearby like outside your bedroom or out onto the street, but never teleport yourself into a closed space with now doors or into any kind of basement)
3. Fly (yes, you can do that in the astral world too! But remember that your astral body isn't your physical body. It doesn't even have to resemble you and you also don't have muscles in the literal sense of the word. This is why you will have to use your will to fly and not your muscles)
4. Meet someone/something (that is not deceased, but more on this later)
5. Teleport yourself further away (by this I mean stay on Earth; do not go into outer space)
6. Meet your angel/guide (this is a very difficult thing to achieve so I'll save this for the last post)

There are several ways to check if you really are on the astral plane. One great way is to shut your mouth and nose and try to breathe. You will find that it is possible even though it's biologically impossible (remember that physical laws don't rule in the astral world). Also, you can try to turn on any light in the astral world (I mean by using a light switch on the wall or something like this) but you will see that lights don't work there.

Tricks: How to Stay in the Astral Plane As Long As Possible

Something that is very likely to happen the first time your enter the astral world is that you will be excited or bewildered. It is possible that you will return to your physical body because of all this excitement, but don't worry. That will sort itself out in time. It will also be quite difficult to stay in the astral world for a longer period of time in the beginning but there are a few tricks that could help you with this.

It is natural that your brain will want to return you to your physical body because this whole experience is new and "frightening", but you can control this. I already mentioned that your main sense in the astral world is the sense of touch. If you notice that your image of the astral plane is somehow fading or becoming blurry or in any other way unclear, just start feeling everything around yourself (or even yourself) and this will make the image clearer. There is another trick which is actually an exception. I also said that concentration is your enemy so if you concentrate on your hand for a few seconds the image will start to blur, but if you divert your gaze from it at the right moment (when it seems to get deformed/melt), then the image will be clear again.

The Problem of Your Subconscious

Even though you are in the astral world, remember that your physical body still exists and that you are still connected to it. Therefore, your brain still plays an important role in this whole story, as do your consciousness and your subconscious. The name for your subconscious in the astral world is "the shadow". It will be your biggest barrier on the astral plane because you won't be able to run away from it since your brain knows what you are going to do even before you do it. All of your fears, desires and secrets are hidden in your subconscious. In short, your subconscious is the one who creates the lower astral plane; sort of like a matrix. It is always one step ahead of you so you have to be cautious. It won't literally harm you (don't worry), but it will try to return you to your physical body by any means possible because that is your "natural state". Better said, the shadow is selfish and wants you all to itself; it doesn't want you exploring the astral plane or travelling or to even be conscious of anything while you're there. But you could say that it only wants all the best for you in its own, strange way.

Here's an example so you can understand what I'm trying to say.

Imagine that by feeling around, you discovered that you are in your apartment (or rather its replica in the astral world). You see a door that isn't where it's supposed to be (i.e. which aren't where they usually are in your apartment) and you head towards them. Your subconscious put that door there and it knows that you are going to head for it even before you do so. You will be fascinated by that door and go through it. They will lead you deeper and deeper into a new illusion which is created by your subconscious and not yourself. Therefore, you won't be in control; your subconscious will. And remember that it will try to return you to your physical body (and in an unpleasant way). This is called the effect of Alice in Wonderland. 

For your subconscious, you are like a prisoner that has escaped from prison and it just has to catch you! You, of course, know that you aren't a prisoner and you don't want or deserve to be in prison. This is simply a case of different interests which will cause minor difficulties for you along the way. The problem with this prison is that you have to know someone who has previously gotten away with escaping from it, but that "person" doesn't exist. The only way for you succeed is by tricking the guards and getting out unnoticed. The prison is just so well-guarded that there's no point in trying to avoid the surveillance, but rather outsmart it.

Also, it is necessary to doubt everything. By this, I don't mean that you have to doubt the existence of something but its authenticity (especially that of details). Search for things that are different from the way they are in your physical reality. That is where the key lies. This difference will either be a trap created by your subconscious, or a creation of your own which will lead you on to the higher astral plane (in a very positive sense). I will explain throughout the post how to differentiate one from the other.

Travelling in the Astral World

You will surely want to travel in the astral world. Of course you can simply walk around, which is exactly what you will do in the beginning, but the following methods are more fun, as well as more practical, for most people:

• Teleportation (don't try this until you have been on the astral plane several times because you will still need some skill to achieve this). It is achieved by imagining a destination and keeping it in your head for 5-10 seconds while keeping your eyes closed. During this time, you will feel like your are moving (like wind is carrying your to that place), but don't let this distract you. The next time you open your eyes, you will find yourself in the place you imagined.
• Translocation (it is different from teleportation because it is random, while teleportation is intentional). It is achieved by looking at your hand and holding your gaze on it for a while. It will look different that it does in the physical world, but that isn't important now. What is important, though, is that, when you move your gaze from it, you will be in another random place.
• Using doors (it seems obvious enough, but I have to emphasize it). You can use this method even at the very beginning while you are still walking around the astral world. These doors can lead you into another room, or to another completely different place. They can also lead you to other worlds (this is achieved by drawing a symbol of that world on the door/above the door/on the door knob). This falls under the category of the higher astral plane so I'll leave that for the next post.

I have to mention one more important thing regarding travelling in the astral world.

When you find yourself in it for the first time, you will probably be in your apartment/house. Your goal will firstly be to leave this building. When you head out, do not use the elevator! Basically, any sort of descending motion as sudden as this (or basically any descending that isn't done using the stairs) is forbidden unless you want to pass through a few uncomfortable experiences. Let me explain. Your subconscious has control over the "lower" parts of the astral world which you will enter by using elevators and other similar enclosed spaces. These "lower levels" are actually a trance (the depth of it depends on how close it is to the astral plane). In other words, while you are in a closed space that is moving (actually, it isn't moving but it will seem this way to you), your subconscious is busy creating a whole new world around that space/object where you will have to play according to its rules. It's practically creating a new prison for you since you escaped from the previous one. The point of this whole story would be: do not to into enclosed spaces (that have no doors) and to not descend anywhere!!!

Your Higher Consciousness - Your Friend

Just as your subconscious will try to make things difficult for you in the astral world, your higher consciousness will be there to protect you and contradict your subconscious.

You will have to learn to differentiate the signals it leaves your from those of your subconscious. Your subconscious will leave large traps for you such as the aforementioned misplaced doors or perhaps the ringing of a telephone (don't answer phones in the astral world) and try to use such things as bate. Your higher consciousness will leave very small details for you to notice (for example, a switch that usually isn't there, or a camera or any other sort of emphasized small object) which will then lead you to the higher astral plane. Remember, the higher and higher you go regarding astral planes, the less influence your subconscious will have. :) Therefore, pay attention to details! The subconscious is primitive and will notice only large changes in its creation (i.e. the dream/astral plane). This is why your higher consciousness will always choose small enough details which your subconscious won't be able to notice, but they will be big enough for you to notice. Then again, your intuition will be able to tell you a lot in the astral world, since gut feelings to exist even there. So, if you feel uncomfortable somewhere, simply leave that place.

Except by going to the higher astral plane, another way to get further away from your subconscious is by leaving the building you found yourself in after "waking up" in the astral plane. You can leave it by simply walking out (remember to use the stairs and simply make sure that you are in control of where you are going and not some machine like an elevator!). The other way for you to do this is by teleporting yourself out, so let's discuss this a bit more. :)

Teleportation

This can be an excellent method of moving around the astral plane because you will never be able to stay long there (approximately 5 minutes) so you will want to save time. Actually, you will stay as long as you have sufficient energy and a plan of action. Therefore, you have to use the time you have there fully and not waste time just walking around. Teleportation is a much faster way of getting around. :) So here are a few techniques of doing this:

• Imagine the place you want to go, while doing so, keep your eyes closed for 5-10 seconds and open them.
• Spin around your axis with arms stretched to your sides (like a helicopter) once again imagining the place you want to be.
• Stick your head into the earth like an ostrich would do (yes, it may seem silly and funny but id really does work...just don't forget you get your head out later).
• Fly towards the sky and let yourself fall back to the ground (once you return back to the "earth", you will find yourself in the place you imagined).

To me, the best method seems the first one because you have the most control over where you go and I prefer to have control over my surroundings if possible.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Don't try to teleport yourself straight away. If you try to teleport in the lower astral plane (which we are talking about here), you will go straight back to your physical body (just as would happen if you were to look at your hands too long). Firstly, you should reach the higher astral plane (your goal is to GO HIGHER I.E. TO HIGHER ASTRAL PLANES). You will go there by following the clues your higher consciousness leaves for you.

How to Return Back to Your Physical Body

Even though this will happen to you spontaneously in the beginning because of lack of energy or because you concentrated on something for too long, had nothing left to do etc., it is important to know some methods which you can use to willfully go back to the physical world.

Don't listen to those stories which say that you can "get stuck on the astral plane". This is what makes a lot of people worried about the inability to return back to their bodies but this just can't happen. You will return to your physical body sooner or later be it spontaneously or intentionally. Some ways by which you can return to your body intentionally are:

• Closing your eyes - remember that you don't really have a physical body on the astral plane and, ultimately, no eyelids so this will create that physical bridge that is needed for you to return.
• Squinting - it achieves the same effect as closing your eyes but less sudden.
• Teleporting - I already mentioned that you will return to your physical body if you try teleporting on the lower astral plane (even though doing this on the higher astral plane will only lead you higher and higher).
• Looking up - when your eyes roll backwards a bit, it reminds us of that spinning motion that we did to achieve the vibration stage so this literally takes us back into our previous state (the physical one).
• Pinching yourself or rolling your head - these are very physical actions which will also create that necessary bridge to the physical world.
• Concentrating on something - this is the simplest method. If you focus too long on something, then the image around you starts melting and you find yourself in your physical body again. A good example is looking at your hands (which I mentioned before). If you look at your hands in the astral world, they will start to melt after a while and if you don't look away, you will return back to your physical body (but if you do look away quickly, then you will find yourself on a higher astral plane).

Remember that you can always return to your physical body if there are any problems (e.g. if your subconscious takes control, which you don't want because it can create very unpleasant situations for you in an attempt to scare you back into your body). In that kind of situation, it's easiest to just concentrate on something but if that doesn't work, then spinning around yourself will (this wall cause random translocation) and if even that doesn't work, then sticking your head in the ground will.

To Revise: What to Avoid in the Astral World

• Closed spaces (although you can get out of them by trying to walk through any wall backwards!!!)
• Moving spaces (elevators, airplanes, submarines etc.)
• Trying to achieve astral projection two nights/days in a row (at least in the beginning) because this could cause an imbalance in your sleeping clock and REM phases
• Apparent differences from the physical world (remember that these kinds of big differences are usually made by your subconscious)

These would be the main comments I had to make, but you will probably emphasize some more things for yourselves depending on what you think is most important. :) 

Before I finish, I would just like to say that there really is no harm to be done by achieving astral projection. Nobody has ever got stuck there or died there. The only "danger" is of you returning to your physical body earlier than planned (and even if this happens, you can just try spinning backwards to try and achieve the vibrations and return to the astral world...that is, if you have enough energy for this). This can only do you harm by making your sleeping patterns (and, consequently, REM phases) a bit disrupted, which would result in your being a bit tired. This is also why it isn't recommended to go into the astral world two days in a row because this time would replace your last REM phase during which you get the most sleep (because it lasts the longest).

Don't forget to write down your plan of action as well as your experiences after your astral voyage because that will all come in handy for future trips. Learn from your mistakes. :)

I wish you the best of luck with achieving astral projection! :D and I'm eager to hear your experiences. :)

Until next time. Yours,

Witch's Cat

Crossing rituals

In this post, I will write about three rituals. What they all have in common is that they signify a turning point in the life of an individual. What these rituals mark are birth, marriage and death.

Just recently, I was asked if there was such a thing as a Wiccan wedding. Inspired by that question, I decided to write a post on this subject but add two more rituals which are connected to it. Certainly, the birth of a child is a big moment in the life of any couple just as their marriage or the death of a loved one is. The rituals which I will describe here aren't similar to Christian ones for several reasons which I will try to explain in the following paragraphs :)

Wiccaning

The Wiccaning is almost the equivalent of the first communion in Christianity - the Baptism. The difference is that a child, when baptized, automatically becomes a Christian, while a Wiccaning doesn't do this. This ceremony serves as a way to ask the Goddess and God (or the gods) to protect the child. The child does not become a member of the Wiccan society/religion  nor will it be until it decides and wants to do so. In Christianity, the child becomes a Christian with baptism and merely confirms this at their Confirmation (the second communion). There is no second communion in Wicca, in the sense of the word. There is the act of self-initiation/initatiation, but then again, there can be more of them so they can't really be compared to Confirmation.

The Baptism can be performed for several reasons: 1) the parents simply follow traditional beliefs and deem it normal for the child to be baptized (as in "everyone does it" or "that's normal"); 2) because they truly believe that the child will go to Hell if it isn't baptized and they just want to save their baby's soul. Both reasons are completely invalid in Wicca. Why? Most of us aren't brought up "in the Wiccan spirit" or in a Wiccan community where the Wiccaning is something commonplace. Also,  most Witches believe in reincarnation and the belief in your child going to Hell (or even the existence of Hell) would be completely contradictory. Therefore, there is no reason for such worries in Wicca.

The only thing which a Baptism and Wiccaning have in common is that they both ask of the God(s) to protect the child and that, in both rituals, there is an emphasis on showing love for the child. Wiccans are aware that the child doesn't have to choose that path in life and that is completely all right :)  In the end, every religion (or "non-religion") is good as long as the child grows up to happy, satisfied with him/herself and good-intentioned.

I have never heard of a Wiccan couple that tried to make their child "convert" to Wicca. We should let our children decide for themselves what their right path is when they are ready, because they will then be happy. If the child asks about Wicca, though, it is normal that the parent(s) will explain the basics though there should be no soliciting.

In the book Eight Sabbats for Witches by Janet and Stewart Farrar, you can see a wonderful Wiccaning ritual in which they decided to include a godmother/godfather. I think that this is a nice thing to have in every religion and I approve of their including these roles. They use the same terms as  in Christianity, but then again...why not use them? Is there anything wrong with those terms? I think not. :) Of course, the godfather/godmother don't have to share the parents' religious beliefs, just like they don't have to be Christian in a Baptism ceremony (I'm talking about mentally believing...what's on paper is another thing). What IS necessary is for them to love the child, that they agree with the ceremony as well as its purpose and that they get acquainted with the ritual itself beforehand.

It is important to note that there are basic differences in the Wiccaning ritual for boys and girls. The High Priest leads a girl's Wiccaning, while the High Priestess leads a boy's Wiccaning. In any case, what we should include in the circle are: candles and greenery, a cauldron (filled with flowers and fruit), anointing oil, a very mild incense, gifts for the child, food and drink. The parents usually choose a witch's name for the child (similar to the middle name which is given at Baptism in some countries, except that this name is usually kept secret i.e. as little people as possible are allowed to know it) which they can (but don't have to) tell the child when then think it is the right time.

What follows is the ritual from the aforementioned book by the Farrars so you can understand what a Wiccaning should look like :D In all the following texts, I will use the abbreviation HP for the High Priest and HPs for the High Priestess. 

The ritual (for a girl):

• Everyone stands in a circle which is then marked only by the HPs. Note: nobody repeats her gestures because movement should be kept to a minimum so as not to frighten/overwhelm the baby. It is also for this reason that everyone is sitting down except for the HP and HPs.
• The Opening Ritual is then performed up to the invocation of the God.
• The HP and HPs consecrate the wine (or any other appropriate drink) and return the chalice to the altar.
• The HP stands in front of the altar facing the cauldron and says:

"We are met in this Circle to ask the blessing of the mighty God and the gentle Goddess on ____, the daughter of ____ and ____, so that she may grow in beauty and strength, in joy and wisdom. There are many paths, and each must find his own; therefore we do not seek to bind ____ to any one path while she is still too young to choose. Rather do we ask the God and the Goddess, who know all paths, and to whom all paths lead, to bless, protect and prepare her through the years of her childhood; so that when at last she is truly grown, she shall  know without doubt or fear which path is hers and shall tread it gladly."

"____, mother of ____, bring her forward that she may be blessed." 

• The father helps the mother to get up and they take the child to the HP together who takes her into his hands (but a  bit more firmly so that child can feel secure).
• The HP asks:

"____, mother of ____, has this your child also a hidden name?" 

• The mother answers:

"Her hidden name is ____." 

• The HP anoints the child on the forehead with oil, marking a pentagram and says:

"I anoint thee, (ordinary name), with oil, and give thee the hidden name of ____." 

• He repeats the same thing, but with wine and says:

"I anoint thee, (hidden name), with wine, in the name of the might God Cernunnos." (Note: you can put any other name here if you have another deity which you are very close to, or you can simply choose to use the universal "God".)

• He does this again, but with water and says:

"I anoint thee, (hidden name), with water, in the name of the gentle Goddess Aradia." (Note: you can replace the Goddess' name in the same manner as you did with the God's name.)

•  The HP gives the child back to the mother and takes the parents (and child) to the quarters starting at the east, and then going to the south, west and north each time saying:

"Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East (South/West/North), we do bring before you ____, whose hidden name is ____, and who has been duly anointed with in the Wiccan Circle. Hear ye, therefore, that she is under the protection of Cernunnos and Aradia."

• The HP and HPs return to their places in front of the altar and the parents and child stand in between them. They raise their arms and say:

HP: "Mighty Cernunnos, bestow upon this child the gift of strength." 

HPs: "Gentle Aradia, bestow upon this child the gift of beauty." 

HP: "Mighty Cernunnos, bestow upon this child the gift of wisdom." 

HPs: "Gentle Aradia, bestow upon this child the gift of love."

•  The HP, HPs and the parents turn towards the rest of the circle. The HP asks:

"Are there two in the Circle who would stand as godparents to ____?"

• The godparents then step out. The godmother stands in front of the HP and the godfather in front of the HPs. 
• The HP asks the godmother:

"Do you, ____, promise to be a friend to ____ throughout her childhood, to aid and guide her as she shall need; and in concord with her parents, to watch over her and love her as if she were of your own blood, till by the grace of Cernunnos and Aradia she shall be ready to choose her own path?"

• The godmother replies:

"I, ____, do so promise." 

• The HPs asks the godfather:

" Do you, ____, promise..." (the same as above)

• The godfather replies in the same manner as the godmother.
• The HP says:

"The God and Goddess have blessed her;

The Lords of the Watchtowers have acknowledged her;

We her friends have welcomed her;

Therefore, O Circle of Stars,

Shine in peace on ____,

Whose hidden name is ____.

So mote it be." 

•  Everyone says: "So mote it be."
• The HP tells everyone to sit inside the circle (everyone sits except the HP and HPs who taste the consecrated food and drink and then pass them around in the usual manner i.e. with a kiss)
• The presents and food for the celebration (cakes and such) are then taken somewhere else, the HP and HPs join the others and everything from now on is informal :)

Note: the ritual for a boy differs only in that the HP and HPs switch roles. So, when you see HP in the ritual, read HPs and that's it. The only thing that remains the same is the part when they ask the God and Goddess for beauty, strength, wisdom etc.

Handfasting

A Handfasting is, simply put, the equivalent of a Christian wedding. The traditions my vary, but the essence is the same. Keep in mind that his isn't a legal procedure, just like it isn't in Christianity. For a couple to be married in the eyes of the law, they have to be married by a Marriage Commissioner.

This ritual is called "handfasting" (binding of the hands) because the man and woman's hands are tied together during this ceremony as a symbol of their unity in marriage. The are usually bound with a decorative ribbon (which can be made out of several ribbons of appropriate colors, most often red - the symbol of women, of menstrual blood, and white - the symbol of men, of sperm, or out of the couple's favorite colored ribbons). I think that an appropriate moment for the couple's hands to be tied would be the moment when they turn to hold hands, which you will see in the ritual written just below :)

This ritual is also taken from Eight Sabbats for Witches with the addition of a comment from me every now and then :)

The ritual should begin with the circle being made. Its perimeter can be decorated with flowers and a door should be left open on the north-east part of the circle (but keep more flowers nearby to close this door as soon as everyone has entered). There should be a broom nearby in case the coupe wishes to jump over it (remember that this is a very old tradition where the couple holds hands and leaps over the broom as a symbol of unity, but also because it was believed that this was a sort of prayer for a long, happy and successful relationship/marriage). The cauldron (also filled with flowers) should be in the west part of the circle (west=water=emotions=love).

The ritual:

• The Opening ritual is done normally with the exception of two things: 1) the bride and groom are left outside of the circle for the time being (in the south-east part, and keep in mind that the circle still isn't closed); 2) the Charge of the Goddess isn't enacted just yet.
• After the invocation of the God, the HPs lets the groom into the circle and the HP the bride with a kiss (on the cheek).
• The HP closes the entrance with flowers and the HPs ritually with the sword/athamé
• The HP and HPs stand with their backs to the altar. The groom stands facing the HPs and the bride facing the HP in the center of the circle.
• The HPs asks:

"Who comes to be joined together in the presence of the Goddess? What is thy name, O Man?"

• The groon answers:

"My name is ____." 

•  The HP asks:

"Who comes to be joined together in the presence of the God? What is thy name, O Woman?"

• The bride answers:

"My name is ____." 

• The HPs says:

"____ and ____, we greet you with joy." 

•  The coven dance the Witches' Rune around the couple and return to their places in the circle.
• The HPs says:

"Unity is balance, and balance is unity. Hear then, and understand."

• The HPs takes her wand and continues:

"The wand that I hold is the symbol of Air. Know and remember that this is the element of Life, of intelligence, of the inspiration which moves us onwards. By this wand of Air, we bring to your handfasting the power of Mind." 

• She puts down the wand. The HP takes up the sword and says:

"The sword that I hold is the symbol of Fire. Know and remember that this is the element of Light, of energy, of the vigor which runs through our veins. By this sword of Fire, we bring to your handfasting the power of Will."

• He puts down the sword. The HPs takes up the chalice and says:

"The chalice that I hold is the symbol of Water. Know and remember, that this is the element of Love, of growth, of the fruitfulness of the Great Mother. By this chalice of Water, we bring to your handfasting the power of Desire." 

• She puts down the chalice and the HP picks up the pentacle and says:

"The pentacle that I hold is the symbol of Earth. Know and remember, that this is the element of Law, of endurance, of the understanding which cannot be shaken. By this pentacle of Earth, we bring to your handfasting the power of the Steadfast."

• He puts down the pentacle and continues:

"Listen to the words of the Great Mother..." etc. until he gets to the introductory part to the Charge of the Goddess (you will find several versions of the Charge in this post, but feel free to choose the version you feel most comfortable with)

• The HP and HPs carry out the Charge of the Goddess in the usual way. When they are done, the HP says:

"Golden Aphrodite cometh not as the virgin, the victim, but as the Awakener, the Desirous One. As outer space she calls, and the All-Father commences the courtship. She awakeneth Him to desire, and the worlds are created. How powerful is she, golden Aphrodite, the awakener of manhood!" 

• The HPs says:

"But all these things are one thing. All the goddesses are one goddess, and we call her Isis, the All-woman, in whose nature all natural things are found; virgin and desirous by turn; giver of life and bringer-in of death. She is the cause of all creation, for she awakeneth the desire of the All-Father, and for her sake He createth. Likewise, the wise call all women Isis." 

• The HP says:

"In the face of every woman, let man look ofr the features of the Great Goddess, watching her phases through the flow and return of the tides to which his soul answereth; listening for her call." 

• The HPs says:

"O daughter of Isis, adore the Goddess, and in her name give the call that awakens and rejoices. So shalt thou be blessed of the Goddess, and live with the fulness of life. Let the Bride show forth the Goddess to him who loves her. Let her assume the crown of the underworld. Let her arise all glorious and golden from the sea of the primordial and call unto him to come forth, to come to her. Let her do these things in the name of the Goddess, and she shall be even as the Goddess unto him; for the Goddess will speak through her. All-powerful shall she be on the Inner, as crowned Persephone; and all-powerful on the Outer, as golden Aphrodite. So shall she be a priestess in the eyes of the worshiper of the Goddess, who by his faith and dedication shall find the Goddess in her. For the rite of Isis is life, and that which is done as a rite shall show forth in life. By the rite is the Goddess drawn down to her worshipers; her power enters into them, and they become the substitute of the sacrament."

• The HP speaks to the bride:

"Say after me: "By seed and root, by bud and stem, by leaf and flower and fruit, by life and love, in the name of the Goddess, I, ____, take thee, ____, to my hand, my heart and my spirit, at the setting of the sun and the rising of the stars. Nor shall death part us; for in the fulness of time we shall be born again at the same time and in the same place as each other; and we shall meet, and know, and remember, and love again." 

• The bride repeats after the HP taking the groom's right hand in her right hand as she speaks.
•  The HPs says the same thing as above to the groom and he repeats (while speaking, her still holds the brides' right hand in his right hand)
• If the couple want to exchange rings, then this is the time to do so. Or it is the ideal time to bind their hands.
• The HP says:

"Let the sun and the moon and the stars, and these our brothers and sisters, bear witness; that ____ and ____ have been joined together in the sight of the God and the Goddess. And may the God and the Goddess bless them, as we do ourselves."

• Everyone says: "So mote it be."
• The HPs takes the broom and lays it on the floor in front of the bride and groom for them to jump over it while holding hands. 
• The HPs picks up the broom and ritually cleanses the circle with it.
• The couple now enacts the Great Rite, consecrate the food and drink in an appropriate manner and after this, everything becomes informal :)

Note: if the food includes the Handfasting cake (the wedding cake), then this is the only occasion in which it is allowed to use the sword for cutting.

Requiem

Death doesn't mean the same thing to Pagans as it does to Christians (don't mind my comparing the two since I have being doing this throughout the whole post). Namely, the belief in reincarnation changes one's perception of death. Death then isn't something bad, it is similar to getting a college (or any other) degree. With death, that person simply passes the year (or possibly even several which make up a whole phase) and goes on to the next one. In Christianity, there is only the option of Heaven and Hell. Even when we think that the decease is going to Heaven (you know..."for sure" since they were a good person etc.), people  cry, but this act of crying is selfish in a way (we cry because WE will never see that person again), but it is understandable. After all, as a human being, I cannot deny my fellow human beings their emotions.

The Requiem ritual is there to help the relatives and friends of the deceased person to bid farewell to him/her in an appropriate way, but also to help them celebrate his/her life. Because or this, you will often see dancing and other celebratory elements in this rite, so don't be surprised.

What follows is once again the ritual from the same book I mentioned in the previous two sections. But before I go on to the ritual, I have to emphasize the relevance of the Myth of the Descend of the Goddess, which is, in itself, an allegory of death. Because of its intense symbolical meaning, this myth is often recreated as a part of the Requiem ritual, as is the case in the ritual I will show you here. :)

As for the circle, it is decorated according to the taste of the departed, the season etc. A ceramic bowl (or cup) is placed next to the altar and a silver string is tied to it (of course, no made out of real silver, but just silver-colored). You will also need a hammer and a cloth to break that bowl, but I will get back to that later. If you plan to enact the Descent of the Goddess, then you will need some jewelry (especially a necklace), a veil and a crown somewhere near the altar.

The ritual:

• The Opening ritual is performed until the end of the invocation of the God. After this, the HP and HPs stand in front of the altar facing the coven.
• The HPs says:

"We meet today in both sadness and joy. We are sad because a chapter has closed; yet are we joyful, because, by the closing, a new chapter may begin." 

"We meet to mark the passing of our beloved sister, ____, for whom this incarnation is ended. We meet to commend her to the care of blessing of the God and the Goddess, that she may rest, free from illusion or regret, until the time shall come for her rebirth to this world. And knowing that this shall be so, we know, too, that the sadness is nothing and that the joy is all."

• The HP stands where he is. The HPs leads the coven in a spiral dance. slowly from the inside going widdershins (anti-clockwise), but without closing in too much.
• The HP says:

"We call to thee, Ama, dark sterile Mother; thou to whom all manifested life must return, when its time has come; dark Mother of stillness and rest, before whom men tremble because they understand thee not. We call to thee, who art also Hecate of the waning Moon, dark Lady of wisdom, whom men fear because thy wisdom towers above their own. We, the hidden children of the Goddess, know that there is naught to fear in thine embrace, which none escape; that when we step into thy darkness, as all must, it is but to step again into the light. Therefore, in love and without fear, we commend to the ____, our sister. Take her, guard her, guide her; admit he rto the peace of the Summerlands, which stand between life and life. And know, as thou knowest all things, that our love goes with her."

Note: the Summerlands are the Wiccan equivalent of Heaven, except that souls don't go there forever. Even in this rite, it is explained that souls only stay here between lives. It is something like a rest stop or a waiting room where souls get ready for a new life which is to come.

• The HP takes the bowl, cord, hammer and cloth. The dancing stops at this moment (not earlier) and the coven part as to let the HP come to the center of the spiral where he lays out the cloth on the floor and puts the bowl on the cloth. He gives the free end of the cord to the Maiden (the HPs' "helper" in rituals). The HPs says:

"Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel be broken at the cistern; then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to the Goddess who gave it."

• The HPs unties the silver cord and the Maiden gathers it up. The HP wraps the bowl in the cloth and breaks it with the hammer. He puts both the hammer and the cloth (with the broken bowl in it) next to the altar. The coven then return to their places in a spiral.
•  The Maiden carries the silver cord around the circle deosil (clockwise) and "offers" it to the Lords of the Watchtowers of the West (The Lords of Death and of Initiation), to the Lords of the Watchtowers of the East (the Lords of Rebirth). The then leaves the cord next to the east quarter candle and joins the HP at the altar (always walking deosil).
• In the meantime, the HPs starts the spiral dance again, but this time going deosil as to unwind the spiral until the coven is standing in a circle again, which then continues to move deosil.
• As soon as the HP places the cloth and other things next to the altar, he turns to the coven and says:

"We call to thee, Aima, bright fertile Mother; thou who art the womb of rebirth, from whom all manifested life proceeds and at whose flowing breast all are nourished. We call to thee, who art also Persephone of the waxing Moon, Lady of Springtime and of all things new. We commend to thee ____, our sister. Take her, guard her, guide her; bring her in the fuless of time to a new birth and a new life. And grant that in that new life she may be loved again, as we her brothers and sisters have loved her."

•  The HP and the Maiden join the coven who are circling at the moment and the HPs then starts the Witches' Rune. When she yells out "Down!", the coven sits on the floor in a circle facing inward.
• The HPs then hands out the roles for the Myth of the Descent of the Goddess (the Narrator, the Goddess, the Lord of the Underworld and the Guardian of the Portals. The Goddess should be adorned with jewelry and a veil. She stands at the south-east part of the circle. The Lord of the Underworld puts on his crown and the Guardian of the Portals takes his athamé and a red cord and stands facing the Goddess.
• The Narrator says:

"In ancient times, our Lord, the Horned One, was (as he still is) the Consoler, the Comforter. But men knew him as the dread Lord of Shadows, lonely, stern and just. But our Lady the Goddess would solve all mysteries, even the mystery of death; and so she journeyed to the Underworld. The Guardian of the Portals challenged her..."

• The Guardian of the Portals challenges the Goddess with his athamé. The Narrator continues:

"Strip off thy garments, lay aside thy jewels; for naught mayest thou bring with thee into this our land." 

• The Goddess takes off her veil and jewelry; nothing should be left on her (if the Requiem is carried out robed, then she should be left in her ordinary clothes). He then binds her with the red cord in the manner of the first-degree initiation, with the center of the cord round the front of the neck and the ends passed over her shoulders to tie her wrists together behind her waist. The Narrator says:

 "So she laid down her garments and her jewels and was bound, as all living must be who seek to enter the realms of Death, the Mighty One."

• The Guardian of the Portals takes the Goddess to stand facing the Lord of the Underworld. The Guardian then steps aside. The Narrator says:

"Such was her beauty that Death himself knelt, and laid his sword and crown at her feet..." 

• The Lord of the Underworld kneels before the Goddess, lays his sword and his crown on the ground on each side of her, then kisses her right food and her left foot. The Narrator continues:

"...and kissed her feet, saying: 'Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways. Abide with me; but let me place my cold hands on thy heart.' " 

•  The Lord of the Underworld raises his hands, palms forward, and holds them slightly above the Goddess' heart. The Narator continues:

"And she replied: 'I love thee not. Why dost thou cause all things that I love, and take delight in, to fade and die?' "

• The Lord of the Underworld spreads his arms outward and downward, with the palms of his hands forward. The Narrator continues:

" 'Lady,' replied Death, 'it is age and fate, against which I am helpless. Age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace and strength, so that they may return. But thou, thou art lovely; return not, abide with me.' But she answered: 'I love thee not.' "

• The Lord of the Underworld rises, goes to the altar and picks up the scourge. He turns to face the Goddess. The Narrator continues:

"Then said Death: 'An thou receivest not my hands on they heart, thou must kneel to Death's scourge.' ' It is fate - better so,' she said, and she knelt. And Death scourged her tenderly."

• The Goddes kneels, facing the altar. The Lord of the Underworld gives her three, seven, nine and twenty-one very gentle strokes of the scourge. Note: this ISN'T whipping/scourging. The scourge is a symbol of  devotion and sacrifice. The Threefold Law in Wicca says that everything will return to you threefold and this is why noone will ever hit hard because they know that if you hit someone hard, you will be hit even harder. This a symbolical touch of the scourge, actually.
• The Narrator then says:

"And she cried: 'I know the pangs of love.' "

• The Lord of the Underworld puts the scourge back on the altar and helps the Goddess to rise and kneels facing her. The Narrator continues:

"And Death raised her, and said: 'Blessed be.' And he gave her the Fivefold Kiss, saying: 'Thus only mayest thou attain to joy and knowledge.' " 

• The Lord of the Underworld give the Goddess the Fivefold Kiss (but without the usual spoken words). He then unties her wrists and lays the cord on the ground. The Narrator says:

"And he taught her all his mysteries and gave her the necklace which is the circle of rebirth." 

• The Lord of the Underworld gets the necklace from the altar and places it round the Goddess' neck. The Goddesss then takes up the crown and replaces it on the Lord of the Underworlds' head. The Narrator continues:

"And she taught him the mystery of the sacred cup, which is the cauldron of rebirth." 

• The Lord of the Underworld moves in front of the altar at its east end, the Goddess moves in front of the altar at its west and picks up the chalice in both her hands. They face each other and the Lord puts his hand around hers (which are on the chalice still). The Narrator says:

"They loved, and were one; for there be three great mysteries in the life of man, and magic controls them all. To fulfill love, you must return again at the same time, and at the same place as the loved ones; and you must meet, and know, and remember, and love them again." 

• The Lord of the Underworld lets go of her hands and returns the chalice to the altar. He takes the scourge in his left hand and the sword in his right and stands in the God position (forearms crossed on his breast and sword and scourge pointing upwards) with his back to the altar. She stands beside him in the Goddess position (feet astride and arms outstretched to form a pentagram/the Vitruvian man). The Narrator continues:

 "But to be reborn, you must die, and be made ready for a new body. And to die, you must be born; and without love, you may not be born. And our Goddess ever inclineth to love, and mirth, and happiness; and she guardeth and cherisheth her hidden children in life, and in death she teacheth the way to her communion; and even in this world she teacheth them the mystery of the Magic Circle, which is placed between the worlds of men and of the Gods."

• The Lord of the Underworld puts the sword, scourge and crown on/by the altar. This completes the Myth of the Descent of the Goddess, and the actors rejoin the rest of the coven.
• The HPs says:

"Let us now, as the Goddess has taught us, share the love-feast of the wine and the cakes; and as we do so, let us remember our sister ____, with whom we have so often shared it. And with this communion, we lovingly place our sister in the hands of the Goddess."

• All say: "So mote it be."
• The wine and cakes are consecrated and passed around.
• As soon as possible after the Requiem, the pieces of the bowl are ritually thrown into a running stream/river, with the traditional command: "Return to the elements from which thou camest."

Note: If this ritual is for a man, then simply make the appropriate changes (she > he, her > his, etc.).

These would be the three Crossing rituals :) I hope I cleared up some things for you and have answered at least some of your questions.

Until next time. Yours,

Witch's Cat

Self-initiation

Many discussions have been held on the accuracy of this term and its practice in general. I can tell you from personal experience that this topic is a very painful one for those who follow the BTW (British Traditional Wicca) path or who are traditional in any other way because this traditionalism dictates that knowledge is passed on from generation to generation, or rather than people can be initiated into Wicca only if one or more of their ancestors (preferably close relations) were initiated. They claim that self-initiation doesn't exist or, more accurately, that it isn't justified. Then again, every coin has tow sides. There is the opposition which says that self-initiation is completely valid and that they see nothing bad in it. My opinion on the subject has always been divided, so I would like to take this opportunity to give a personal view on the topic at hand but also give you suggestions and useful facts, if you will let me :)

The verb "to initiate" comes from the Latin word initiare (to begin, to originate from somewhere). In Latin, there is also the noun initium which can be translated into "beginning". It was only around 1600 AD that this word started to be used in the context of being introduced to a new system or practice. It is quite obvious that there is nothing negative in the meaning the word, but we can also say that any person can take up a new practice, belief system or system of any kind by themselves, although there is always the problem of where to start when one is working alone. It is this starting point, this beginning that will be of great importance in the future growth of the individual in the field that they chose. We all know how hard it is to correct something that has been wrongly learnt at the beginning of our search for knowledge. It is because of this that it is always recommended that every "student" finds another person (or way/method) at the beginning of their journey who (or which) will make their life easier and show them the best way to get to their goal. This doesn't always have to be the easiest way, or the fastest or possibly not even the proper way in some cases, but it will be a way that suits that particular practitioner. And not to mention that learning is made easier and goes much faster when you have someone to teach you.

Despite everything that I have said up to now, I have to contradict myself and say that I do not agree with the accuracy of this name. I find that the term "self-dedication" is a much more precise phrase. This term has begun to be used more and more often nowadays (at least on the Internet) as a replacement for the aforementioned name primarily because it is less scandalous. It gives us the visual image of a practitioner merely dedicating him/herself to a certain belief/way of life, but not in the way that you would consecrate food, drinks or ritual tools, but in the sense that this person is truly going to commit to this path. Of course, you can be dedicated to something even before any ritual, but this religious act is a mere formality which some people may want to perform, while others won't. 

You may be familiar with the fact that Wicca isn't a globally-accepted religion and that it will need a lot more time to achieve this status (if this ever happens, but I don't want to be a pessimist). Automatically, there are not formal papers that you get as a confirmation of your "official" initiation from any Initiate (a person who has already been initiated). What does exist, though, is one's sense/awareness of initiation, wonderful memories and a feeling of fulfillment. If the practitioner chooses to continue working as a Solitary, there aren't even obligations that they would really have to complete. Although, if I were to be initiated, I would choose a more traditional approach. This approach would include getting to know the coven at hand for a year and after a year and one day, I would be initiated. This time span of a year gives you the opportunity to experience all of the eight Sabbaths with a group of experienced people, thoroughly get acquainted with all the aspects of Wicca and Paganism and gain enough knowledge. Keep in mind that this is just me theoreticizing :) but I guess I'm just a more traditional person. I hope you won't hold that against me. ^^

To get back to the topic, there is a saying I find interesting: only a witch can make a witch. Many well-known Wiccans stuck to this motto, but times are changing. Some of them even changed their opinion over time. A very good example are Janet and Stewart Farrar who were initiated by the famous Alex Sanders (the founder of Alexandrian Wicca). Sanders was quite traditional and claimed that he got both his knowledge and his Book of Shadows from his grandmother. The problems started when people found out that Sanders actually managed to get his hands on Gardner's Book of Shadows  (which was by then already edited by Gardner and Doreen Valiente) and copied it later establishing his own coven based on what was stated in this book. It is also known that he tried to get into several Gardnerian covens but was rejected every time. All of this points to the conclusion that Sanders actually initiated himself and according to this logic, all of the numerous authors and other practitioners of this tradition would be illegitimate. I think that these people are examples of bold, intelligent and dedicated witches.

Of course, if we continued to go back in history in this manner, we could ask ourselves when Wicca was actually founded? It is well known that the people who initiated Gerald Gardner (the "father" of Wicca) didn't call themselves Witches. Dorothy Clutterbuck (the leader of the "coven" he belonged to, even though they didn't call themselves a coven and the person who initiated Gardner) has to this day remained a mysterious persona. We don't know much about her except that she lived in the New Forest part of England (which is why the coven was later named the New Forest coven) and that she worked with a group of people who she met through a theater group (I plan to get back to this story in another post because it is very interesting!). But we still don't know who initiated her! I mean, it all had to start somewhere.

So where DID it all start?
Well, from solitary Witches, of course!
By claiming this I don't want to imply that Solitaries are better but rather that they existed in the past and that they still do and will exist. You can read more about this in my post on Solitaries vs. Covens.

Therefore, self-initiation/self-dedication cannot be bad, but Solitaries should be careful about where they get information from. I can say with confidence that the Internet is not a trustworthy source (and yes, that gives you the right to say that by blog isn't trustworthy either :) but I really am giving it my all to get this blog on the "trustworthy sources" list on the topic of Wicca and Paganism). Book are always the better alternative. Though the best alternative is always learning from flesh-and-blood people. Though not everyone has to know someone who can teach them. For instance, in my country (Croatia), you can barely find a single coven that works seriously or at all. In fact, you can find yourself lucky here if you find two or three other Solitaries with whom you can work on a semi-regular basis.

So what is left then? Well if you can find anyone to work with, then work alone. It's not always glamorous since it can be harder to work than in a coven though it also gives you a lot of opportunities. You can be independent  be your own leader, do things the way you want to, be more free in your rites, not worry about whether or not you will make a mistake in your rituals etc.

Although, if you do decide initiate yourself (i.e. do a self-initiation ritual) I will give you a few examples of them and state my sources. I find my ritual of self-dedication a bit too private to put it on the Internet, but maybe I decide to even post that one day :)

If you manage to find people who are ready to work with you by any chance, all the better! :D it would be ideal if the polarity of sexes was in balance (an equal number of men and women), but if that isn't possible, then you'll just have to manage somehow. In case you succeed in finding a group, it is recommended that you first define who the High Priest and High Priestess will be (of course, if there are only two people then this is defined by itself). The High Priestess first initiates herself and then she initiates the High Priest. It is then left to her to initiate all the women and to him to initiate all the men in the group so that the flow of male/female energy remains unbroken. Therefore, it is best if there are as little self-initiations as possible, but you can decide for yourselves :)

I don't plan to go on with my philosophies, so I'll just start with the examples that I found in the following books:

Janet & Stewart Farrar - A Witches' Bible (The Complete Witches' Handbook)

Raymond Buckland - The Tree (The Complete Book of Saxon Witchcraft)
Raymond Buckland - Wicca For One
Doreen Valiente - Witchcraft for Tomorrow

1st Example

(from A Witches' Bible, pp. 248-250, or rather Eight Sabbats for Witches, pp. 156-159, follows the Gardnerian tradition)

Necessary tools: candles, a sword/athamé, a white-handled knife, a wand, a pentacle, incense, a scourge, cords, a chalice, some wine. consecrating oil, bowls for salt and water (don't forget the water and salt), a necklace/pendant

The initiation (i.e. the person who initiates) and anyone else taking part in the ritual should work skyclad (naked). Any jewelry that is usually worn should be removed and put on the altar so you can put it back on after the initiation.

(Personal note: I am aware that the words "scourge" and "naked" are ringing in your ears right now, but keep in mind that the scourge is simply a traditional part of the Gardnerian tradition which you can take out of the equation of you're uncomfortable with it. I also think that you don't have to work naked at all if and in front of anyone if you feel the least bit uneasy about it, but this was just be saying what the authors said so don't blame me) :)

We will assume (just to simplify things) that the initiator is a woman and the initiate (person being initiated)  is a man. 

The Process

The initiator consecrates the water and salt and makes the circle in which everyone present stands. She walks around the circle with the water and sprinkles everyone with it (and herself last). She then walks around the circle holding the incense and calling the Guardians of the Watchtowers. If her partner (the High Priest) is present, then he gives her the Fivefold Kiss (I have explained this and other terms in previous posts). She stands facing the altar and lifts her hands in the air and says:

"I invoke thee and call upon the,, Mighty Mother of us all, bringer of all fruitfulness; by seed and root, by stem and bud, by leaf and flower and fruit do I invoke thee to bless this rite, and to admit me to the company of thy hidden children."

She then turns her back to the altar and recites the Charge of the Goddess but exchanges "she", "her" and "her's" for "I", "me" and "mine/my". She then returns to face the altar with her arms up, holding her hands in the Horned God salutation pose and speaks the Great God Cernunnos invocation.

She then kneels or sits in the middle of the circle facing the altar. If others are present then they sit/kneel behind her. She pauses to recollect herself and then says:

"Gentle Goddess, powerful God; I am your child, now and always. Your breath is my life. Your voice, Great Mother, and yours, Great Father, speak within me, as they do in all your creatures, if we will only listen. Therefore here in your Magic Circle, which stands between the world of men and the realm of the Mighty Ones, do I open my heart to your blessing."

She then meditates on the Goddess and God and truly opens her heart to them. This is done as long as is necessary. If  others are present then they will be there to prevent anything from disturbing her and to protect the circle. Her partner will be aware of his role as her protector and student. The others will be aware that this woman is being initiated in that very moment and in the name of them all and that she will soon become their High Priestess.

When she is ready, she will stand up and the others will follow. She will then go from quarter to quarter saying:

"Take heed, ye Lords of the East (South/West/North), that I, _____, am properly prepared to become a priestess and witch."

 After this she takes her vow standing in front of the altar, while holding her right hand above her heart:

"I, _____, in the presence of the Mighty Ones, do of my own free will and accord most solemnly swear that I ever keep secret and never reveal those secrets of the Craft which shall be entrusted to me, except it be to a proper person, properly prepared within the Circle such as I am now in; and that I will never deny the secrets to such a person if he or she be properly vouched for by a brother or sister of the Art. All this I swear by my hopes of a future life; and may my weapons turn against me if I break this my solemn oath."

She bows before the altar and then takes the consecration oil. She puts some of it on her fingers and says:

"I hereby sign myself with the Triple Sign. I consecrate myself with oil." 

 She touches herself with the moistened fingers above her womb (i.e. in the area of the womb), on her right and left breast and again on the womb, hence making the symbol of an up-side-down triangle (which is the symbol for the first degree initiation).

She then wets her fingers with a bit of wine, repeats the above sign and says:

"I anoint myself with wine."

After making the sign mentioned above she then finished the statment by saying:

"...priestess and witch" 

If others are present, then the ritual is paused so congratulations my be said. After this has been done, the ritual continues with another witch who takes the tools from the altar in the following order and gives and explanation to go along with this (she also kisses every ritual tool before returning it to the altar):

"Now I take up the Working Tools. First, the Magic Sword. With this, as with the Athame, I can form all magic circles, dominate, subdue and punish all rebellious spirits and demons, and even persuade angels and good spirits. With this in my hand, I am the ruler of the Circle.
Next I take up the Athame. This is the true witch's weapon, and has all the power of the Magic Sword.
Next I take up the White-Handled Knife. Its use is to form all instruments used in the Art. It can only be used in the Magic Circle.
Next I take up the Wand. Its use is to call up and control certain angels and genii to whom it would not be meet to use the Magic Sword.
Next I take up the Cup. This is the vessel of the Goddess, the Cauldron of Cerridwen, the Holy Grail of Immortality. From this, brothers and sisters of the Art drink in comradship, and in honor of the Goddess.
Next I take up the Pentacle. This is for the purpose of calling up appropriate spirits.
Next I take up the Censer of Incense. This is to encourage and welcome good spirits and to banish evil spirits.
Next I take up the Scourge. This is the sign of power and domination. It is also used to cause purification and enlightenement. For it is written, "To learn you must suffer and be purified.".
Next and lastly I take up the Cords. They are of use to bind the sigils of the Art, and also the material basis."

She then takes her necklace and puts it on:

"With the Necklace, which is the Circle of Rebirth, I seal my commitment to the Craft of the Wise." 

Finally, she goes to each of the quarters with her arms raised and says:
"Hear ye, Mighty Ones of the East (South/West/North); I, _____, have been duly consecrated priestess, witch and hidden child of the Goddess." 

2nd Example

(From the book Buckland's Book of Saxon Witchcraft, pp. 42-44, follows the Saxon tradition, note: in this book, the ritual is called a self-dedication ritual)

The Ceorl (the witch/Priest/Priestess who already has previous knowledge with regard to this tradition) should be naked i.e. without any clothes or jewelry. Let us assume that this is again a woman just to simplify the written form of the ritual (though it can just as easily be a man). She sprinkles herself with consecrated (i.e. salted) water and then erects the temple (opens the circle). The Ceorl kneels before the altar and, with her head bowed, meditates on the God and Goddess and the meaning of the Old Religion for her. This is the last affirmation of her wish to be consecrated/initiated.

When she is sure that she is doing the right thing, she lifts her hands high above the altar and says:

"Woden and Freya, hear me now!
I am here a simple pagan holding thee in honor.
Far have I journeyed and long have I searched,
Seeking that which I desire above all things.
I am of the trees and of the fields.
I am of the woods and of the springs;
The streams and the hills.
I am of thee; and thee of me. (lower hands)Grant me that which I desire.
Permit me to worship the gods
And all that the gods rpresent.
Make me a Lover of Life and All Things.
Well do I know the creed:
That if I do not have that spark of Love within me,
Then will I never find it without me.
Love is the Law and Love is the Bond.
All this do I honor above aught else."

The Ceorld then takes her Seax (the equivalent of the athamé in Seax-Wicca) in her right hand (or her left if she is left-handed). She then kisses the blade and lifts the seax into the air and says:

" Woden and Freya, here do I stand before you,
Naked and unadorned, to dedicate myself to thine honor.
Ever will I protect you and that which is yours.
Let none speak ill of you, for ever
Will I defend you.
You are my life and I am yours
From this day forth.
So be it!"

She kisses the blade again and puts the Seax back in its sheathe. She then takes the Drinking Horn and slowly pours the left-over wine onto the earth.

"As this wine (ale) drains from the Horn,
So let the blood drain from my body
Should I ever do aught to harm the Gods,
Or those in kinship with their love.
Woden and Freya!
So be it!" 

The Ceorl has now become a Gesith. She may stay in the circle to meditate as long as is necessary or she can cleanse and close the circle.

No other ritual should be done at this time because, in the Seax tradition, the self-dedication ritual is a ritual for itself, along with the opening and closing of the circle, or course.

3rd Example

(From the book Wica for One, pp. 80-83)

Open the circle in the ordinary way and have a bowl with consecrating oil ready on the altar. Ring your bell nine times total in three sets of three (with short pauses in between). Take the oil and dip your forefinger into it and draw a cross in a circle between your eyebrows (where the third eye is supposed to be) with this finger. After this, draw an upright pentagram above your heart. Touch a point around your genitals with this same finger and then your right and left breast and again your genitals thus making the symbol of the downward-facing triangle. Put that oil back on the altar and take up your wand (if, by chance, you still don't have one, then you can use your forefinger instead). Hold it high up in the air and say:

"God and Goddess; Lord and Lady. I am here a simple seeker of knowledge, a lover of life. I here dedicate myself to you and to your service. You are the ones I have chosen to serve. I do this of my own free will, with no pressure from any other. Guard me and guide me in all that I do, for all that I d is in love of you and of all life. Help me live my life with harm to none. Help me acknowledge the depth and beauty of all life, animal, vegetable, and mineral. The animals, birds, fish, reptiles, and all living things are my brothers and sisters. The trees of the forest, the plants, flowers, herbs, and all growing things are my brothers and sisters. The rocks, soil, sand, the rivers, lakes, seas, all waters of the earth, and all that is of the earth, are my brothers and sisters. Make me one with this family. Let me guard them and work for them as they all work for me.
Lord and Lady, from this day forth I accept and will ever abide by the Wiccan Rede: 'And it harm none, do what thou wilt.' I pledge myself to you, the gods. I will always protect you as you do me. I will defend you against those who speak ill of you. You are my life and I am yours. So Mote It Be."

 Now put down the wand and ring the bell three times. Lift up the chalice (filled with wine) and say:

"To the gods!"

Pour out a bit of wine in the libation dish (this will be your "sacrifice" to the gods) and say:

"As this wine drains from the cup, so let the blood drain from my body should I ever do anything to harm the gods, or those in kinship with their love. So Mote It Be!"

Now drink to the gods (you don't have to drink everything in one go; you can always pour a bit more out into the libation dish). Put the chalice back onto the altar, lift your hands up in the air and say:

"As a sign of my being born again into the life of Wiccacraft, I here take upon myself a new name, by which I shall always be known within the Sacred Circle, which is the place between the worlds. Henceforth I shall be known as _____ So Mote It Be!"

(Personal note: you have to say your witch name here, but this is again a whole other chapter. You don't have to have it if you don't want to, but it has remained as an old tradition from a long time ago when pseudonyms were necessary for people to stay anonymous and not get caught and punished for their beliefs.)

Put down your hands and again ring the bell three times.
Now hold your wand above the altar and say:

"Now I consecrate this, the true tool of a Solitary Witch. It has all the powers of an athamé. I here consecrate it, so that it may be properly used within this Circle and in the service of the gods."

Sprinkle the want with a little bit of water and then hold it in the smoke of the incense.

"I cleanse and consecrate this, my magical wand, that it may serve as I serve the Lord and the Lady. May it be my strength and my love and my it never be used in anger nor to harm anyone or anything. So Mote It Be!"

Draw a pentagram in the air with it, kiss it and then put it back on the altar. You can now sit and meditate on the meaning of the Craft to you. Maybe you will now get some sort of sign from the gods that you really are in contact with them; some sort of vision, a sound or an inner feeling. It's not important whether you feel this or not, just stay relaxed and enjoy the fact that you are finally where you wanted to be and that you have succeeded in becoming a member of the Old Religion.

If you feel the need to dance, sing or celebrate in any other way, then this would be a good time to do so. After this, the Cakes and Wine part of the ritual should be enacted and then, of course, the Closing of the circle.

I would like to emphasize that the initiate (person who is being initiated) does in nor part of the self-dedication ritual deny his/her previous beliefs. If you may decide in some future moment of your life that Wicca is the right way to go for you, you are free to leave it behind and return to your former beliefs or perhaps continue your journey in search for something that really does fit you. Also, notice that there is no more oath of secrecy here. During the burning times, there was an obvious need for such an oath (and it was quite practical) and it also served its purpose in the early days of Paganism, a long time before Christianity showed up. None the less, the oath of secrecy is still a part of some modern-day Wiccan traditions (e.g. in Gardnerian Wicca where this is kept because it is a part of their inheritance even though there is no actual need for it now). I don't include such an oath here, but if you feel the need to have one in your ritual, then feel free to write it yourself.

4th Example

(From the book Witchcraft for Tomorrow, pp. 159-164, personal note: this ritual is much more complex than the previous ones, so I ask of you that you don't bother too much with these complicated parts. Try to look at this ritual as simply another variation from which you can learn something or take something which may help you in creating your own ritual.)

The self-initiation ritual should be held on one of the Sabbaths, during an Esbat celebration or during the waning moon.

Since it is recommended that you be naked in this ritual (as a sign of removing all inhibitions and frustrations from your past), it's best if the room is warm. Although, you are free to wear whatever jewelry you like. It is best if every woman in the circle wears a necklace since the goddess of Witchcraft, who she represents, wears one in most of the depictions we have of her. Diana of Ephesus, for example, wears a necklace made out of acorns. Adya-Kali, the great Mother-Goddess of the Indian Tantrics is also naked or "clothed in space" apart from her necklace and Garland of Letters (the sacred Sanskrit alphabet which she wears as a necklace). Men may prefer to wear a lamen i.e. a magical pendant which may have their astrological sign on it or a symbol, for example an ankh.

In addition, you can also have a cloak which you can put on during meditation, but it should be left aside for the more active parts of the ritual.

For this ritual, you will need everything that is usually needed for opening the circle and also a staff made out of oak, ash, rowan or thorn wood, most preferably one which you cut personally on the night of a full moon. The circle is usually drawn with a wand or athamé, but if you don't have an athamé, then simply use your wand. You will also need a small bowl filled with consecrating oil. This should always be pure vegetable oil (although olive oil will suffice), but some will prefer to use an aromatic oil such as sandalwood.

The Ritual

Open the magical circle and then stand with your hands in raised up in the air, turn to the north and repeat the Eleven-fold invocation of the Word of Power, ABRAHADABRA:

"This is the day, this is the hour,Cry aloud the Word of Power -ABRAHADABRA!By blazing noon or black midnigh,It is my will to seek the light -ABRAHADABRA!Be far hence, all things profane,From the portals of this fane -ABRAHADABRA!Eleven-fold the right I claim,By the virtue of this Name -ABRAHADABRA!Faring forth adventurous,By the pathway perilous -ABRAHADABRA!Fend me from the fear of fear,By the Voice of the Chief Seer - ABRAHADABRA!Show within the darkest nightThe Extension of the Light - ABRAHADABRA!Great Ones who have gone before,
Speak the Blessing evermore -
ABRAHADABRA!Here between two worlds ma I,Child of the earth and sky -ABRAHADABRA!Deepls do I dare assayOne step on the mystic way -ABRAHADABRA!Aid me from the realms above,Powers of Life and Light and Love -ABRAHADABRA!"

 Take the bowl with the consecrating/anointing oil and pass it through the incense smoke three times. After this, do three consecrations: first on your forehead (on your third eye i.e. in the middle of your forehead just above the point where your eyebrows meet, knows as the Ajna Chakra in the eastern tradition), then on your breasts (above your heart) and finally on your genitals. With the first consecration say: "Let the mind be free." With the second say: "Let the heart be free." and with the last one say: "Let the body be free."

You enact the consecration by putting a bit of oil on the tip of your finger and make an X sign with it on the appropriate spot. This is the gifu Rune which symbolizes the gift of blessing (in ancient times, it used to be carved on cups because it was believed that it could protect people from poison. Even today we still use this X sign as a symbol for kisses.)

Now kneel before the altar, face north and recite the following invocation:

"By night's dark shade, and by this ritual hour,
Most ancient of the Gods, on your I call.
Remembrance of past lives in me awaken,
That day's delusion no more shall enthrall. 

I claim my life, my liberty, my light,
Part of all life that flows eternally.
I am the microcosm of the Whole,
Kindred of star and stone and greenwood tree. 

Awake in me the power to do my will,
Kindle within me love's eternal flame.
Accept me as your own, a pagan soul,
O Powers of Life, that did this Cosmos frame."

Now pause a moment in silence and keep your head bowed. After you have done this, sit yourself down in a comfortable position with your legs crossed. You can now cover yourself with your cloak if you wish. Begin to mentally form yourself and your altar in the center of a mandala and think to yourself something like this: "The infinity of the height and the infinity of the depth. The infinity of the east and the infinity of the west. The infinity of the north and the infinity of the south. The circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. I and that Center are One." 

Sit like that with your eyes closed and in complete peace and quiet. Remove all thoughts from your mind, including those that enhance consciousness. There are no instructions for this other than those of the ancient Tibetan sage, Tilopa: "Do not imagine, think, analyse, meditate, act; keep the mind in its natural state." Perhaps you will realize that your natural state of mind is much nicer than you thought it would be.

It is at this time that your true initiation will happen, if your intention is pure and if other conditions are lead by it. You may feel that you have reached a higher state of consciousness, if even for a short while. You may see a vision in your mind's eye and if you do, then this vision should be written down immediately after the ritual is done because it is sure to have some important meaning, even if it may not be clear right away.

The length of this period of tranquility is up to you. Your spontaneous feelings will let you know when to finish. When you are done, stand up, light some fresh incense if need be and walk around the circle with your censer deosil (clockwise) raising the censer when you reach the quarters. Return to the altar and repeat this Affirmation:

"I am unique. Ther is no one else exactly like me. And yet I am One with the whole of Nature.
I have the right to be what I am. My essential Self is divine and beautiful. I have the right also to be better than I am, that the outer manifestation may be more true to the inner reality.
Beloved Pan, and all the other gods who haunt this place, grant me beauty in the inward soul, and may the outward and the inward life be at one."

Now you can celebrate by dancing around the circle(deosil again) if you wish. Let yourself be free; clap your hands, play a sistrum or a tambourine and keep chanting the following over and over again until your feel it is enough:

"O IO PAN!
O IAO!
IA IA ARADIA!
IO EVOHE KERNUNNO!
IO EVOHE DIANA!"

(You will notice that this chant has fallen into a natural rhythm. It is pronounced: 0 ee-oh Pan! 0-ee-ah oh! Ee-ah ee-ah A-rah-dee-ah! Ee-oh ee-voh-ay Ker-nun-no! Ee-oh ee-voh-ay Di-an-ah!) 

Do any sort of steps, just enjoy them. Continue doing this until you are out of breath and feel like you want to stop. When you decide to stop, fall in front of the altar and lie down there until you catch your breath and you are able to get up.

Take your wine and finish the ritual by drinking a toast to the Gods: "To the Old Ones! Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!"

If you like, you can sit down for a few more minutes to meditate, or you can simply anjoy the whole atmosphere of the circle, the incense, the lit candles and bask in the sensation of nakedness and freedom. Close the circle when you are ready and don't forget to give thanks to the Old Ones for their protection. Pass around the circle with the incense, strike the bell and extinguish the altar candle(s).

A Note on the Words of Power:
ABRAHADABRA is the correct version of the ancient Word of Power from which "Abracadabra" came, which you probably know thanks to the many magicians and illusionists. This is only a mere echo of the actual word. This word is made up of eleven letters; five vowels and six consonants which symbolize the Great Work, the union of the Microcosm (five, the pentagram) with the Macrocosm (six, the hexagram). Its Cabbalistic numeration is 418 (you can read about this much more in The Qabalah by Aleister Crowley). It is the numerical equivalent of ATh IAO, 'the essence of IAO'; and also its digits added together, 4+1+8=13, the witches' number, the Cabbalistic equivalents of which are Achad (Unity), and Ahbah, (Love).

Iao is the ancient magical name of the Supreme God who contains the male and female aspects.

Pan is the ancient Greek god whose form was universal; he was the horned god of nature, the joy of life who was depicted with goat feet in stead of legs. Kernunno is a version of the name Cernunnos, the Celtic honed god, similar to Pan who was worshiped in Western Europe including in Britain in pre-Christian times.

Aradia is the name for the Italian moon goddess. She was described as Diana's daughter, which leads us to believe that she is simply a later form of the ancient moon-goddess Diana, who is Pan's lover in mythology. The American folklorist Charles Godfrey Leland gathered myths in connection to her in his work Aradia: or the Gospel of the Witches. 

There is a chance that that the name Aradia is Celtic in origin and connected to airidh, the summer pastures to which the cattle were driven at Beltane (May 1) and from which they returned to winter quarters at Samhain (November 1). The Celts originated in central Europe, and spread south into Italy, as well as westwards to Spain and the British Isles.


IO EVOHE, IO and IA are some of the ancient calls used by the ecstatic worshipers in the mystery cults of long ago.
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And there you have it. Before I go, I would like to note that, even though I have given you a few examples here, it really is best if you write your own ritual. You are free to use certain elements of these rituals and you can see for yourself that some parts are repeated in all/some of the above rituals (e.g. the making of the downward facing triangle with anointing oil, similar invocatoins etc.) so why not incorporate them into your own ritual. I noted the page numbers in each book where you can find these rituals because I simplified some parts, simply copied out other etc. so may see slight deflections.

Of course, if you have any questions, fell free to contact me. I think the authors have sufficient explanations. Some parts I mentioned here (like the opening of the circle, consecrations etc.) may be unclear to you. If this is the case, then I ask you to read my post on ritual form which will hopefully clear things up for you.

This post really is long and tiring, so don't hurry analyzing and premeditating :) If you decide to do a self-initiation/self-dedication ritual, then be confident in the way you will do it and be careful. If you have some thoughts on this subject, or feel that I have said something wrong or perhaps simply have some experiences that you would like to share, I would gladly hear it all in the comments :)

I hope that all of this will be of some use to you!
Until next time. Yours,
Witch's Cat

P.S. I would like to thank two wonderful people who helped me get my hands of Doreen Valiente's book Witchcraft for Tomorrow. They will know who they are :)