Preparing For Ritual:
        (i.) Defining the ritual Goal
        (ii.) Cleansing the Ritual Area
        (iii.) Purification of Self

(i.) Defining the Ritual Goal:

Prior to performing any ritual, one must have a concrete idea of what they wish to achieve. A
defined goal that they can clearly visualise. It has been said that the key to comprehending
everything that goes on in any ritual is to understand the purpose. If a clear purpose does not exist,
or there is any misunderstanding, then the ritual ceases to be as meaningful, or as powerful.

The ritual must also use symbols that are relevant to those performing it. Use of culturally
inappropriate, or displaced and meaningless symbols, weakens the value of the ritual for those
participating.

In order to define a goal, it should be written down. And then continue examining, probing and
questioning the deeper meaning until the goal is crystal clear. An example here may help. (Note: All
examples used within this course will be from actual rituals written and conducted by practicing
witches.).

A colleague of mine had a friend and lover arrive from the United States to live and work. There
was a visa mix-up, and he came out on a limited, one month, non-working visa.

Our goal was a ritual to help Brad stay.

Why?

Because he chose to be here and didn’t want to go back to the States so soon.

Therefore, our defined ritual goal became:

"A ritual to define Australian soil as Brad’s home. To link him physically and spiritually to this place
so he will only have to leave by his own choice. A ritual of residence that he may live here as long
as he chooses."

Now that the goal was clearly defined and visualised, the wording and actions of the ritual working
could take shape. Part of preparing for rituals is looking at timing and the magickal
correspondences when writing them. The ruling element of this ritual was to be Earth. This was
simply because it was earth-based and we wanted to anchor this person to Australian soil. It was to
be done at the earliest possible time (due to approaching visa expiry), se we decided when the
Moon was in the next earth sign. This would add correspondent power to the ritual.

The next earth sign was Capricorn. Saturn rules Capricorn and we were lucky enough for the Moon
in Capricorn to fall on the next Saturday (the Goddess was truly smiling upon us in terms of
aligning the astrological correspondences for us). It was to be a night-time ritual as at dusk the sun
slips beyond the horizon and hides beneath the mountains or plains. In this we have strong earth
symbolism too.

So, using the symbolism of earth and residence, we can bring these symbols or elements into the
ritual. And it is possible to define the specific goal somewhere in the ritual to gain a focused
magickal effort and increase the likelihood and duration of its success.

Also, in preparing yourself and the environment, it is a good idea to assemble all the needed
equipment, tools, props and magickal accouterments well before you begin casting the Circle. There
is nothing better for breaking concentration and causing forehead slapping than being ready to
perform the ritual and finding you are missing a key ingredient. In addition to the normal tools we
use for casting the ritual Circle, this magickal ritual called for:

     A pair of the petitioners shoes
     A lock of the petitioners hair
     An opal pendant
     Earth coloured candles

(Note: more of this specific ritual will be shared with students in upcoming classes (lessons four
and five).

This means cleansing the area where the ritual is to be held of any unwanted energy. It is about
preparing the physical and surrounding area for ritual practice. This happens prior to Circle
casting.

    a. Indoor ritual areas:

Indoor living spaces tend to accumulate a certain amount of negative energy from day-to-day living.
This can be termed "astral garbage", and it can be highly disruptive to ritual workings. This is
because rituals tend to operate at high energy levels and unwanted forces can intrude on this quite
easily as they are attracted to strong energy fields. To start, physically clean the floor either by
sweeping, mopping or vacuuming.

Follow this with magickal cleansing to remove negativity and psychic clutter. There are several
ways to do this:

   1.Physically by sweeping briskly with a besom (magickal broom). The bristles needn’t touch the
      floor - simply visualise them sweeping away all negativity.
   2.Visualise a strong wind whipping through the place swirling away psychic clutter.
   3.Scatter salt or salty water. Salt has the ability to neutralize negative energies.
   4.Burn purifying herbs or resins such as sage, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, or any
     combination of the above. Or any other herb that resonates with you and that you feel is
     purifying.
   5.Walk around the ritual area ringing a crystal bell. The pure notes of crystal will dispel
     negative energy.

    b. Outdoor ritual areas:

Outdoor areas often require very little cleansing. Most natural environments are far less polluted
than indoors in terms of psychic garbage. If you feel the place needs to be cleansed, visualise a
strong wind removing all traces of negativity. And perhaps a brisk sweep with your besom. Avoid
using salt as this may be harmful to natural flora. Again, you could use incense to cleanse the area
you have chosen for your ritual.

For me personally, my sacred Circle does not accumulate any negative energy. It is well used and
well consecrated that nothing of a negative nature stays. Also, Arachne has set up several
guardians in the trees above and surrounding my Circle. I find these tend to capture any incoming
negativity which is then consumed by the Goddess and grounded through her.

Like purifying sacred space, this step is concerned with the dumping of accumulated negative
energy prior to entering Circle. Every day we are subject to negativity and psychic garbage -
people yelling at us, traffic jams, road accidents on the television, and personal negativity within
our own psyches. This purification is geared towards freeing us of this negativity. Purification of
self also allows the mind to move into a ritual state more easily. Purification, although it occurs
before the actual ritual commences, should always be considered an integral part of the ritual
preparation stage. Some simple methods of cleansing the self are:

   1.Standing in a breeze or rush of wind and visualising the negativity being blown away on the
     wind.
   2.Music: drumming, chanting, bell ringing and such are ways of removing negative energy.
   3.Smudging with incense or native scents.
   4.Aural cleansing: removing negativity attached to the aura with the use of feathers and such
     instruments.
   5.My favourite method is the ritual bath. Bathing has always been a time-honored custom of
     cleansing not only the body, but the mind and spirit as well. Think how relaxed, calm and
     centered you often feel following a soak in a tub with oils and bath salts of your choice.
     And it is very powerful to pull the plug and picture all the negativity from yourself dissolved
     in the bath water and disappearing in a rush down the plug hole.

There are specific rituals for consecrating the ritual bath (as a ritual act), and for self-blessing
and cleansing whilst in the bath. These are available to those in the class should they wish them.

A large part of preparation for ritual concerns grounding and centering for the work ahead. This
can be done quite successfully whilst enjoying the pleasures of the ritual bath. Grounding and
centering is necessary so that you can be more effective in your ritual working. Centering and
grounding allows you to focus and draw on energy from above and below more effectively. It also
stops you from "getting lost" in the energy vortex that may be created. Grounding will then also
give you a conduit to release excess energy at the end of the ritual. If excess energy is not
grounded, it can attach itself to you and leave you feeling fazed, listless, irritable and
disconcerted. Some simple methods for grounding are:

   1.Imagine yourself as a tree with a strong root system anchoring you to the ground. Feel the
     roots penetrating deep into the heart of the Mother.
   2.If you wish to ground up, ground up into a "higher self." Tap into the greater Cosmos above
     and feel yourself connected to a higher level.
   3.When grounding to return excess energy, you can imagine energy and light flowing from the
     fingertips back into the earth. Grounding and returning energy through the feet is most
     effective.
   4.Breathing: Breath work is a powerful tool for centering and connecting with the highest
     working essence. Breath is the movement of life itself - breath can be used to find the
     quietest and most centered place within you. It can be used for bringing things into your
     life, and for ridding negativity. It is a powerful tool that deserves classes of it’s own at a
     later stage.
   5.Many witches work in bare feet as this is a classic means of ensuring one is centered and
     grounded - it is a direct connection with the Mother and the Goddess primordial.

There will be further lessons at a later stage on grounding and centering and working with energy.
Such lessons will look at working with energy centers within the body called chakras.

This now concludes lesson two within this course.

Optional Exercises:

   1.Explore some rituals you would like to conduct. Practice writing ritual goals until they are so
     clear and concise and you can actually picture the outcome and see the results of your ritual
     come into being.
   2.Read up on correspondences (books, articles, web sites) - see what correspondences would
     be appropriate for the ritual you would like to do. How do these correspondences "feel" to
     you? What would you add, delete or change?
   3.Explore the methods for self cleansing - see which ones work best for you and adapt them to
     your needs.
   4.Practice grounding and centering - experience how it feels and see which methods resonate
     for you.