Rituals may be done for religious reasons or for more practical ones. Often the sort for a practical purpose is referred to as a spell, and the performing of it is referred to as casting a spell. Not all rituals are done for magical purposes, but all spells are. There is no reason why one could not combine a devotional portion with a spell in the same ritual. The only times that spells are not a part of ritual are the Sabbats and Esbats, which are reserved for religious purposes. At other times the two purposes may be combined.
Rituals follow a basic pattern; The circle is cast, the purpose for the ritual is stated in a spoken spell, and any actions are performed. Thanks are then given and the circle is opened.
Here I will outline 7 basic steps to follow for a complete and powerful spell. Obviously, these are just a guideline though and there are many variations and alternate practices out there.
Step 1. Decide on the purpose and timing of your spell
The first step is to actually decide the purpose of your spell. For example, is it a spell for health, or love, or to banish negativity ? Once you know your purpose, then you can start determining the timing and the elements to include. Find out the planetary correspondences for your purpose and then you will be able to determine the timing of the ritual based on this information. Next you want to work out what correspondences are associated with your goal. Do you want to use candles, herbs and/or crystals to add power to your ritual. If so, which ones coincide with your ritual intent? Which incense is most appropriate for your ritual? Once you have worked out these details, then you can move on to the wording of the spell.
Step 2. Writing your spell
The spoken words of the spell are what you use to communicate your desire or intention to the universe. They should be spoken out loud and be specific enough to clearly state your goal.
A spell does not have to rhyme – it can be spoken just as you might when talking to yourself quietly, or it can be chanted or sung. It is entirely up to you and what feels natural. If it feels awkward and fake to use “thee” and “thou”, then leave them out. Many people prefer to make their spells more formal than everyday speak so that they stand out and feel less ordinary.
If a particular date or person is involved in your spell it should be clearly stated, or if your intent is more general, your wording can be more general as well. It is not necessary to try to justify, argue or bargain with the universe to receive your desire, you simply need to state it clearly.
A powerful spell just has to come from within. If you can learn the wording off by heart, instead of just reading them from your paper, then they will be far more effective as it shows that you truly believe what you are saying.
When you are starting out, or even if you are experienced, it might help to write your wording down and plan the ritual out as a script to follow as there can be a lot to recall and you want it to flow smoothly and not have to keep breaking your circle to grab something you forgot!
Step 3. Setting up your Altar
Give yourself plenty of time to set up your altar and gather everything you require for your ritual. Pre-arrange your altar so that everything is in reach and you have enough room to work. Items may include; candles, incense, herbs, crystals, offering bowls, matches or a lighter, any talismans you use etc. Ensure that the area you choose is private and that you wont be disturbed by traffic, other people or pets.
Step 4. Cleanse and purify
The space should also be cleansed of any unwanted energies by smudging the room, spraying a purifying essence around, or sweeping it away with your besom. You also need to cleanse yourself to remove any negative energies you may have picked up. You can do this by either taking a purifying bath with the particular herbs, bath salts, or normal sea salt crystals. You can also just take a shower and allow the water to wash away negativity, or smudge yourself with sage or the like.
Some people like to also anoint themselves with certain oils to assist with intention or wear certain crystal jewellery or talismans.
During the ritual you can choose to either wear loose, comfortable natural fabric clothing, go skyclad (naked), or use a proper ritual robe.
Step 5. Conducting the Ritual
To begin a ritual you first cast a circle of protection around the area you will be working to ensure you are working in a safe space. Make yourself comfortable and even spend some time meditating and connecting to Earth, if you like.
Light your candles and incense state the purpose of your ritual. Read out your script and burn your herbs, carve your candles, or whatever is appropriate to your ritual. It is essential that you visualise the success of your ritual and achieving your goal as you perform the actions. Spend time meditating on the outcome and imagine obtaining your desire as the candles and incense burn down.
Once you feel that your ritual is complete, thank the Goddess, God, or whichever Deity you are appealing to, then open the circle and finish the ritual.
Step 6. Ground yourself.
After performing any sort of ritual and before packing up, it is good practice to spend some time grounding yourself and allowing any excess, unused energy to flow back to Earth. Some people experience physical symptoms such as headaches, exhaustion or insomnia afterwards.
Sit with your palms touching the ground and visualize the energies flowing out of you and into the Earth. You may also like to eat and drink something – traditionally cider or wine and cake were shared around for grounding and blessing.
Step 7. Tidy up and let the magic happen!
After the ritual is complete and the spell is cast don’t keep thinking about it and worrying about whether you did it properly, or whether it is going to work. You have done what you intended and sent it out into the universe, so give it time to work. BE PATIENT!
Tidy your space up and if you take down your altar between workings, put things away. Let any candles and incense used to represent your desire burn themselves down or go out naturally, however extinguish any altar candles for use next time. Crystals can be put away for future use. Put any herb, oil or crystal mixes prepared as part of the ritual into an appropriate vessel or bag for use later. Any left over bits and pieces that aren’t able to be reused, should be buried.
Please remember that you must give your efforts an opportunity to manifest themselves – if you did a spell for love, go out and meet people, if you asked for a new job, start applying for your dream one. If you asked for wealth, actually buy a lotto ticket! And when you do get what you wanted, be grateful for what you have received and spread some kindness into the world for others.
Blessed Be.
