Now that we have covered some of the basic information on the elements and
working with ahigher power of your choosing. and the watchtowers.
now lets get into creating your physical sacred space. if you do not
have your tools together gather the substitutes you will be using until you
do.
First finding your space.
Many of us like to work in natur but that is not always possible.
the instructions in this lesson will assume you can not get out
into nature on a regular basis.
1. find a place in your home were you will be continualy doing your
magical work. if you are lucky enough to have a room to devote to
this purpose it is best so you can leave you alter up on a perminant
basis, but if not do not fret. small apartments, or having roomates
that do not understand may make it to were you sacred space is something
you have to hide or keep out of the way. As we present the optimal.
I will also include the alternities for those with limited space, or
those having to hide thier materials.
(small apartments)
My sacred space in my small apartment before i boought
the house was the Living room. I used the coffe table as the alter space.
I just cleaned up after I was done. Leaving the outer candles and the
center candle were they were as decoration
{having to hide your space}
At one time I had to do just this. I got a lock
for my room. and locked the door while doing magical work. My hope chest
served as my alter and a place to store my tools so they could not be
found. I dedicated a corner of my room as my sacred space. I left a
cloth draped over the chest and a candle and incence burner on top of
the chest. placing against the wall as decoration. and used incents that
were store bought so my roomates would think that I just liked th smell
of incence. I would do my riuals while they were out of the house or in
bed
2. Get all your tools in one place in your sacred space. have a box or a
place to set them for easy access
(Small Apartments)
If your tools match the dacor of your appartment incorperate them in
the decorations of your apartment. or find a place in the room you are
using to store them. A nicely decorate box that matches the dacore of
your room or in side or under a table in a space saver box helps. a
place you can get to easily.
{having to hide}
I find that inside a chest in your room, a dresser drawer or even a
box in the closet helps here.
3. Dressing you sacred space. The set up of the alter will be the same
for everyone were you put everything when done will be diffrent.
Clean the room you will be using thuroghly. this is not just a
cleansing of dirt but a cleaning away of all the negitive energy
in the room. do this every time you will be using your sacred space
find the item you will use as your alter.
place it in the center of the room. drape a cloth over it (if you do
not have an alter cloth a top sheet folded and used like a table cloth
can do the job)
place your Atheme (knife)on the eastern side of the alter, Wand on
the Southern, Chalice (cup) on th western, Pentical (or stone) on
the northern side. In the center Place the cauldron (pot)
Incence burner placed caddy corner between the atheme and wand.
saltwater bowls (one for salt,for water for cobinig the two) in a line
cady corner between the Penical and chalice Bowl of Salt closest to
the pentical empty bow in the center, bowl of water closest to the
chalice. The offering bowl on the west side of the caldron with the
liguid and cakes place on either side.
Candles On the alter Place the Large white center candle in the center
just east of the Caldron. the Black or dark color cnadle place just
south of the center white. The small white candle Place Just North of
the Center Candle.
On stands, tables or what is sturdy eough to hold
the outer candles safely around the outside of your sacred space at
least 2 feet away from your alter. (you'll need room to walk around)
Place the Yellow candle on the eastern edge of your space, the red
candle on the Southern, The Blue Candle on the Western, The green
candle of the nothern edge.
(note to my students south of the Equator. review you element
corispondance charts and place the candles and tools according
to the direction changes for your side of the world)
***** Have a small bucket of water or fire estinguisher near your *****
***** space in case thier is ever an accident. *****
***** we must remember fire safety when dealing with candles. *****
***** Practice smart. *****
Have a small candle set aside for lighting the oher ones. this is he
only one you light with lighter or match. it is called a pug candle.
it is used to light your ritual candles.
4. Now your space is dressed. now it is time to pepare you for it.
take as small amount of Salt (about 2 tsp. teaspoons) a towle and
go into your Bathroom draw a bath as hot as yu an comfortably stand it.
Pour in the salt. (if all you have is a shower mix the salt in a ptcher
of warm water to Pour over your head at the end of your shower Do the
visualistion to the water in the pitcher as you would if you had a tub)
When the tub is full Look into the water visualize and feel all the
postive feeling in your life. happyness, love, humor let your self fell
the emitions let them well up as a streem in side of you and flow from
you to the water as you breath. see the water turn bright and clear in
respoce to your feelings. feel you higher power with you as that he/she
blessed the bath. enter the tub let your self relax. let the tennsion
and stress of the day leave you as you bath as you clean away the dirt
of the day you clean away he negitivity of the day. when you feel clean
and stress free stand up. let the water out of the tub dry yourself
and get dressed to enter your space.
(for those in the showere feel the water wash away the dirt and stress
of the world as you wash. when you feel clean slowly pour the water
from the Pitcher over you head and body. feel it cleans away the
negitivity and hardships of your life.)
For those in a small apartment or having to hide. don't fret
this is the one part that no one should have a problem with
you doing. your bath time should be soley your own. if not
make it that way. we all should have the right to bathe in peace
now go to you sacred space
Your sacred space is clean and dressed. your outsides are clean and dressed.
now we can get started bellow you will find the rituals you will use each
time you use your sacred space. Plus the one time dedication of your space.
to be done whenever you move your sacred space.
Erecting your sacred space
now you are ready to erect your sacred space.This is were you do your
magical work,meditations,prayer,devotions, seasonal and lunar observances,
divination, healing, and Spell work. words in Parenthisies are the changes
for those who live South of the Equator.
1. enter the circle from the east(west if South of the Equator) walk
around clockwise to the west (east) side of the alter. Turn and face
the east (west). Do the breathing grounding and centering rituals.
2. Light the puc candle. with it Light the center candle.
blow out he puc candle
3. BANISHING RITUAL
walk around your circle vocaly or silently brocasting mentaly
{as your situation allows} in a demanding manor, conviction
and belife in your words say the folowing, as you slowly walk
around the circle clapping your hands.
" Begon spirits that would cause harm or mischift.{3 times}"
" you are banished from this place. {3 times}"
" soon the gods will be called and the circle erected,
leave or suffer thier wrath. {3 times}"
4. Return to your space on the west side of the Alter
5. SALT WATER PURIFICATION RITUAL
Pick up the saltwater water bowl. Say" with water from the west"
(the direction of the element) pour the water into the empty bowl
set the now emptied bowl down.
Pick up the Salt bowl and say " And Salt of the Earth" set bowl down
using your Atheme put 3 knifetips of salt in the water. stir clockwise
and say "I do start the creation of the purifing water of life"
Place the atheme back in it's spot.
Pick up the salt water. hold it in both hands. Let all the negitivity in
you weel up like a streem. as you exhale visulize it leaving you and
entering the bowl. know and belive that the spiritual confinds of the
bowl are big enough to hold all you negitive feelings. When you feel
purged of negitivity. think of things that make you happy. let the
positive feelings now swell in you as a river as you exhale let them
flow from you into the bowl. Disolving and transforming the negitive
energy already thier into positive clensing energy. able to purge the
negitivity and conver the negitive into the positive.
Place your hand over the top of the bowl raise it over your head and
ask you higher power to bless the water. when you feel ready bring
the bowl to your lips and take a drink. Feel the water clens you on
the inside emoving all imputities from in your body.
{if others are with you share the bowl with them}
Dip your finger in the bowl and sprinkle some of the water on the alter
saying "With Sallt and Water I Purrify the alter"
Sprinkle the ground and say "With Salt and Water I Purrify the ground
on which the circle will be cast"
Taking the bowl walk roung the circle to the east. sprinkle
any animals in the room. (west if south of the Equator)
Sprinkle the water towards the east (west) say "With Salt and Water
I Purrify the east (west)"
Move clockwise to the south(north) and say "With Salt and Water
I Purrify the South(North)"
Continue to the West and North (east and South) and purify those
directions like the east and south.
Return to your spot on the west(east) side of the alter. set the
bowl down at the end of the night you will pour it out outside
on the earth to help the earth.
6. INCENSE PURIFICATION RITUAL
Light the puc candle. with it light your incense saying
" with the embers of fire, and the smoke of Air"
Pick up the incese wave the smoke to you and say " With fire and
air I cleansed the outside of th body as Salt and water has clensed
the inside" {do this to any who are present wave the incense over
any animals in the room}
Walk with the incense to the east (west) side of the room. Starting
with the Incense waist level and moving the incense to the top of
your head draw a large pentical wit the incense smoke. stab the
center of the pentical with the incence and say " with fire and
air I charege the East (west)"
Continue to the other cardnel Points and charge the directions.
then return to the west(east) side of the Alter. put the incense
on the alter in it's place
7. CALLING THE WATCHTOWERS
take up the Atheme in your dominant hand walk around the circle
to the east(west) Feel the Atheme as part of your hand. direct
your own energy into the dagger. as a blue light even if you can
not see it know it is there. As you drave the penticlal starting
from your left waist going up towards your head. say the following
in an inviting Voice
" Hail, Watchtower Guardian of the East(West)"
" Spirit of Air"
" Come be with me {us if more than one} in this circle"
" Protect me, Guide me and teach me"
" Join us now"
" Come honorable one"
Do this call at every Quarter saying the apropriate direction
and element for each Quater ie South (north) spirit of fire,
West(east) spirit of water, north (South) Spirit of Earth.
Return to the west (east) side of the alter place the Ateme back
in it's space.
8. CALLING THE GODS/GODDESSES
the call her is generic. as you grow in the craft you may talor
the calling to the gods/desses as you choose.
Light the puk candle from the center candle. Go to the East(West)
Say in an inviting voice to the east.
" Hail Gods, Goddesses, angels and spirits of the East(west)"
" Come Join us in our circle let this Lih be a becon in which
to Guide you"
Light the Yellow Candle
Go to the South Use the same invitation as above
Light the Red candle. and so on for the remaining Quarters.
Bring the Puc candle to the flame of the center candle and say
"Divine Spirit of the Universe, nameless and holy one, join us
in our circle"
Light the dark candle and say " Gods Goddesses spirits and angels of the
under world who would keep us from harm, Come Join us in our
circle, let this light be a becon in which to Guide you."
Light the small white candle and say " Gods, Goddesses, Spirits, and
angels of Balance come join us in our circle. let this light be a
becon in which to Guide you"
9. DECLARING THE CIRCLE ERRECTED
I/We come in perfect and love and trust. let us pass a hug and kiss
in erfect love and trust {If by yourself give yourself a hug}
I/we are between the worlds Between reality and spirit,
between the darkness and the light let none leave without good
and Just cause.
Note for this reason I usual visualize the outside of the circle
to encumpas more than the room I am using when casting it so The
kitchen and bathroom are both acessable to me this concesion made
sence and was practical. if you don't think so just wait untill
your in a three hour circle and are thirsty and have to pee.
this is the time I usualy take about 5 to 10 minutes to let the
gods and everyone called arrive. in my group those of us that
smoke cigeretts smoke. some may say this is not apropriate for
the circle. oh well I look at it in the area the tabacoo is an herb
burned or spirtuality and convering with the gods. nd that's why were
in the circle. so in my circles we smoke. yours may be diffrent.
this time can also be filled with talking about what your doing
singing or joting notes about the ritual so far into your
ritual diary
10. Here is were you do your magical work, meditations, holiday observance,
dedications, any magical work. te remander of this step is the
dedication ritual for your sacred space. just to keep the lesson going.
remember you can substitute any magical working as part of step 10
In strong and inviting voice say the following
" In the presence of the Gods, the Watchtowers, Spirits and Angels"
"I dedicate this circle and space as my sared Space"
"My space to come in Prayer, in meditation, nd in my magical workings"
" I petition the watchtoers to keep it safe for me. comming even when
not summoned if truble thretend me or mine"
" I pettion the divine to bless this place that my work may
please the divine"
" I pettition the gods/ goddeses spirits and angels to help guide
and teach me in my magical workings That I not profane this place"
Take up the liguid for the offering and take a drink then Pour
some in the ofering Bowl. take a cookie and eat it then place
a cookie in the offering Bowl and say
"Let this sharing of food and drink signify the parnership
of I and the in this My sacrd space"
{because the offering ie.. cakes and ale is part of the dedication
ritual you will bypass step 11 cakes and ale}
After the closing of the circle bury the contents of the
offering bowl outside
11 CAKES AND ALE
take the liguid for the cakes and ale {some have alcool, juce i use soda
because I do not drink} hold it up and say " the water of life from
the female part of life" take a drink {pass to Other} pour some in the
Offering Bowl.
Take a cookie {I like using cookies for the cakes. this is a matter of
personal prefrence I know a lady who uses mini salids for this} eat it
{Pass to Others} and say"From the grains and crops of the Male side
of life" Place some in the offering Bowl.
Say "as the gods have given us these to substain us we make them an
offing to them in hanks and grattitude for our lives."
After the circle is closed burry the contents of the bowl outside to
help the earth
12. Closeing the circle.
Now the work is done and it is time to say good by to your guests.
DISMISSING THE WATCHTOWERS VERY IMPORTSNT NEVER FORGET TO DO THIS
Go to the east(west) draw the pentical starting at your left hip up
to your right sholder and say " watchtower guardian of the east.
Thank you for comming you are free to go. May peace be
between us always.
Do this in order to the remaining Quarters.
Dismissing the gods
In the center of the circle in a stong and friendly voice say.
Gods, goddesses, Spirits and angels thank you for comming, we have
finish. you may come and go as you will may peace be between us always.
Declaration of circle closed
The Circle is now closed yet aleays part of us may we leave here as
freinds and merry we meet mery we part.
Snuff out the candles and remaining inceses that are burning turn on
the lights. Put your tools away if your alter can not be a perminant
one.
Take the remaining saltwater and the offering bowl outside.
Bury the contents of the offering Bowl. cover then pour the remaing
salt water around the site in a circle.
Clean your tools that are used for food and drink and put everything away
were it is suposed to go.
Write the results and feelings in your ritual diary. cast the circle
threetimes this week to get used to doing it. Do the elemental and
tool meditations from the meditation Brook
let me know your thought and feelings about your first circle