The Elements of Ritual

by Lipp, Deborah

• ISBN13: 9780738703015
• ISBN10: 073870301X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-07-01
• Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd

Summary

If you've got the basics of the Craft covered and you're ready to take your practice to new levels of spiritual meaning and magical power, The Elements of Ritual is your guidebook. This is intermediate Witchcraft, literate and sophisticated, written by an experienced High Priestess. Become truly familiar with the Elements and their role in every phase of ritual. As you gain insight into the nuances of this essential magical relationship, your own creative and magical abilities will flourish. Many books tell you how to cast a circle; this one explains why. When you have finished reading The Elements of Ritual, you will know what each step of the circle-casting ceremony means, why it's there, and what it accomplishes. With this knowledge, you can confidently create your own rituals, using sound magical, theological, and pragmatic principles. Also included are practical how-tos, how-not-tos, and much esoteric, hard-to-find information. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

The Wiccan Circle Step by Step	p. 1
The Steps of Ritual	p. 3
The Four Elements	p. 5
The Universe in a Nutshell	p. 5
The Qualities of the Elements	p. 6
Is There a Fifth Element?	p. 14
The Elements of Religion	p. 15
Elemental Structure of This Book	p. 17
Preliminary Steps	p. 19
Preparation	p. 19
Grounding and Centering	p. 62
Declared Opening and Stated Purpose	p. 70
Making the Ritual Space	p. 77
Sacred Preparations	p. 77
Casting the Circle: Making the Space	p. 92
Calling the Quarters	p. 107
The Center	p. 133
The Steps	p. 134
Invoking the Gods	p. 134
Giving Offerings to the Gods	p. 162
Cakes and Wine (Receiving the Blessings of the Gods)	p. 186
Using the Blessings	p. 215
Closing the Circle	p. 229
When to Close the Circle	p. 230
Thanking the Gods and Dismissing the Quarters	p. 230
The Final Steps in Closing the Circle	p. 240
After the Circle Is Over	p. 247
A Ritual Script	p. 253
Preparation	p. 253
Grounding and Centering	p. 254
Declared Opening and Stated Purpose	p. 256
Sacred Preparations	p. 257
Casting the Circle: Making the Space	p. 258
Calling the Quarters	p. 260
Invoking the Gods	p. 261
Giving Offerings to the Gods	p. 262
Cakes and Wine (Receiving the Blessings of the Gods)	p. 263
Using the Blessings	p. 265
Thanking the Gods	p. 266
Dismissing the Quarters	p. 267
Uncasting the Circle and Declared Ending/Reconnecting to Earth	p. 268
Index	p. 269
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