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Hey SkanzorOrion, welcome to the board.
About Rituals and Spells
Rituals, hmm. Well, there are cyclical ones, like what some call,
"sabbats" and "esbats." This is probably your easiest place to start, since they come regularly. When you think about it the civic holidays, and the personal rites of passage that we all undergo, like graduations, marriages, birthdays, funerals, etc....those are actually types of rituals, as well. Pledging allegiance to the flag is a kind of ritual, and some might say reciting the words are a type of spell.
Spells, in general, to me, are specific energy workings designed to create specific results. So, you could incorporate a spell (or several spells) within a ritual. But you don't necessarily
have to do a ritual in order to do a spell. Yes, I think you could even whisper a spell under your breath, and it could still be effective. And I agree with scaravich, writing it can be powerful, too. Even a single symbol, like
a sigil, can "contain" a spell in it. A crystal can be programmed with a spell ("programming" or "charging" are just terms for "molding" energy according to your will), and objects programmed or charged might be considered "enchanted." People under the influence of a spell might also be considered "enchanted" (it's even become a cliche in mundane terms: "I was enchanted by her beauty," etc.).
A good place for you to start might be by celebra-
ting the seasons. Fun with like-minded souls, mean-
ingful rituals, good food ...what's there not to love?
A Womb of Spirituality Would Be Nice, But...
I believe the best way to learn more formal ritual is within a safe, nurturing group of experienced people (study group, church, coven, whatever they call themselves) --and
good luck finding that. Firebirdflys, the Moderator who commented above, seems to have found a really great group, but such are few and far between, trust me. The good thing about working with a (good) group is that it adds a structure to your practice. There are experienced people you could observe and emulate. If they're a friendly group, you could ask technical and spiritual questions, and grow by leaps and bounds. Plus, there is a synergy that is built up in group activities that is unique and powerful. But, like I said, good luck finding such an environment, "needle in a haystack" and all that. It would be nice, though.
As far as this message board, it is very ecclectic. Everybody is not just Wiccan here (and even within the Wiccan community itself, you will find many differences in approach and belief - see video
Different Types of Wicca). So, there are no "set" rituals that "everyone" does...and that's a good thing, because we all learn from and inspire each other! As you see, we are helpful and enthusiastic.
But that also means, ultimately
you have to decide for yourself what the "basics" are, based on the path you choose to walk. That path will reveal itself to you over time as you stay true to yourself. If anyone says, "These ARE the basics, period," they are speaking to you from the perspective of THEIR path, not from some ubiquitous, universal spiritual path in the sky somewhere, Wiccan or otherwise ...
that just doesn't exist. In the end, I think, it's best not to look for any hand-holding, but to hold your own hand.
First thing that comes in mind when a lot of people
think of covens is this. But no, all witches don't dance
around naked under the moon (unless, they want to...).
I have had many people tell me their coven experiences
were deeply rewarding and unforgettable, where res-
pect and generosity were enjoyed. Others have told me
some horror stories of soap operas and jealousy. Guess
it all depends on the group.
Just Do It!
So, along those lines, I think the second best way to learn is to take Nike's old ad slogan approach:
Just Do It! Many people practice "solitary" and are quite happy with that. Don't try to left-brain this thing to death. Don't feel you have to "decide" this early in the game.
Work some energy in your life first, i.e., do a few spells, try different approaches, then decide which path is right for you and get more serious from there. Again, an easy place to start is with sabbats and esbats --try different celebration styles.
Then later, to narrow things down more,
Examine your life. Ask yourself, "What are my personal needs right now? Base your choice of rituals and spells on what you need to happen in your life, then make it happen! This is actually the fun part! This is the real magic, the alchemy. A lot of people visit this board only looking for a "love spell," or some way to get "vengeance" on someone else, etc., a sadly narrow-minded approach to magic, in my opinion. Isn't there so much more to life than obsessing, or sucking on sour grapes? I think so.
Look for areas in your life you would like to improve or otherwise change, for example...
* Is there a relationship you'd like to improve? (this could be a love relationship, or an employment issue with a co-worker, a schism you'd like to heal with a relative, or a better relationship with yourself, etc.)
* Is there a relationship you'd like to end? (sometimes, we need a boost to leave a relationship that we've gotten accustomed to out of habit, or we're fearful to leave it, etc.)
* Is there some goal you have, but are experiencing a block that needs to be removed?
* Is there a habit you'd like to end, or some other personal change you would like to effect?
* Is there insight into a certain topic you'd like to gain, and you desire to open the door of your understanding?
* Is there a death of someone, or some other life transition, that you need to further process mentally and emotionally? (for example, here's a simple ritual for dealing with a death:
Samhain Ritual for a Friend's Passing)
There are spells and rituals to address all of the above, and much more.
Working on Behalf of Others
Also, ask yourself what your loved ones need. Are there people you care about who are struggling and could use your magical help right now, could they use the "boost"? This is a more advanced question to ask yourself, because you haven't gotten grounded in your own path yet. But still, keep it in the back of your mind, because as you learn to master working with energy, your natural sense of caring for other people will kick in and you will want to use your abilities to help them. Note that
there is a standing debate among all energy workers as to whether or not one should obtain permission first before doing energy work on behalf of someone else, so that is something else you have to decide for yourself (we have a discussion thread about that here:
http://everythingunderthemoon.net/forum ... 18658.html).
And if you feel so moved, don't just wait for "Earth Day" to do rituals to help the Earth (hey, at least you don't have to ask her permission to work on her behalf
). There is so much war and pollution and fear and tragedy here --she could use all the help she could get! Why not tip the balance of the Earth's energetic scale toward
love, peace, healing, beauty and enlightenment any chance you get? After all, your children will inherit this planet when you're gone (scary thought, I know). Why not try to make it the best it could be? In Asia there's a saying, "One grain of rice could tip the scale," so your energy work on the Earth's behalf might make a big difference (or did I get that saying from a Mulan cartoon? ...after all, I thought
this was a "real" saying, but Holdasown informed me it is just a movie script, hehe).
Places to Look on EUTM
Once you've assessed what
you want done in your life, then look for rituals and spells that will meet your needs. As far as Everything Under the Moon (EUTM) goes, here are some places you might look (but don't limit your search by this):
* The main website has a ton of spells
* You could thumb through the "
Post a Ritual or Spell" forum
* You could thumb through some of the many
Books of Shadows posted here. There are some great rituals people have posted in there.
* Post a question in the forums, and maybe someone will suggest a ritual (but again, first spend some time thinking about what your personal needs are). Remember, everyone speaks from their own path, which might not resonate with you, so be flexible when requesting responses
* Do a keyword search with the
search feature
* Some tips:
Thirteen Steps for Successful Spellcasting
DIY
You can make secular holidays special, as well, by using your imagination to incorporate magical aspects into them. All the so-called "Christian holidays" are excellent for that, since they
all have pagan origins anyway (research any of them, and you'll see). This is good if you have to stay on the down-low in your household because they are against paganism or witchcraft of any sort (some people have to stay in the broom closet out of necessity).
Or at your birthday, you could celebrate by doing a ritual of "renewal," or "rebirth"...
what do you want to give birth to in your life going forward? etc. Focus the ritual on that theme. Or, on your birthday you could set up an ancestral altar, with pictures of them. flowers, cake and whatnot. You could have a ritual meal with them, then do a reading (if you're handy with divination tools, or naturally mediumistic) and ask them what advice or insight they have for you about your life. Then, close out the ritual and thank them.
These are just a few ideas to get you started and/or inspired.
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