Rituals:
This is one of the major parts of Wicca - how we worship. There are many different kinds of rituals, but they have one thing in common - they are all done within the Circle. Whenever you do ritual you must construct a place of worship and creating the Circle does this.
Ritual by yourself:
The books will give you many rituals you can perform solo. But what really needs to be in these rituals? You and the Goddess and God. Plan what you want to do...and do it. It can be anything from a very complex ritual with tools and candles and incense or it can just be you - talking to the Goddess...
Adapting rituals for your use:
When you first start using rituals you will find many that you want to use, but!! The "but" being there are things that just don't fit what you want to do or the amount of people that are going to be in the ritual. If the ritual is going to be a Sabbat read up on what the Sabbat is about. Then look at rituals written by others for that Sabbat. Knowing the people that are going to be present - start adapting the ritual to fit your needs. At first you will just rewrite an existing ritual, latter when you get better at it you will take things you like from other rituals and incorporate them into your own rituals. Just make sure when you write out a ritual that you make sure to credit where you got your information.
Esbat:
It is the Full Moon or a New Moon and we are going to do our monthly ritual. This ritual is called an Esbat. What is it? It has several functions and the main one is the one most think less about. It is the Covens business meeting. This is where all-important decisions are made. This is were voting takes place. This is when new information is given out (Even when everyone already knows the information - this makes it legal) Now if there is a lot of business, you might want to use another night to go over the business so when it comes up for vote there is not a lot of debate.
Because of this the Esbat should be on either the New Moon or the Full Moon and on the same one month after month. And if for any reason the Esbat is held the nearest Saturday to the Moon this should be common knowledge. This way when something becomes law, a Covener can't say it was voted in without him knowing about it -, as it is his responsibility to make it to the Esbat. (If it changes from Full to New Moon and other changes that can give a Covener reason to feel he had no control on the changes)
Since they are held on either the Full or New Moon they are a great time for Magick! Most Magick can be performed at either of these Moons. (If its held on a weekend - check your Moon phase - more about this when we get to our section on Magick)
And this is the time of inviting in the Goddess with the Drawing Down of the MOON. She will speak to the Coven through the HPS or another Covener. (She picks who she wants to speak through).
The order for an Esbat is:
1. Creating the sacred space
2. Drawing Down the Moon
3. Blessings
4. Magick
5. Business
6. Cakes and Ale
7. Taking down the sacred space
There is much more that is included in the Esbat ritual, and can be plugged in anyplace between creating the sacred space and cakes and ale. Does anyone not see the reasons for this order?? If there is no Magick it can be removed - the same with Business - as the only business of the month may be the Coven getting together.
DISCUSSION:
1. Adapting rituals for your use
2. What should be done at an Esbat?
QUESTIONS:
1. What is another name for a book of rituals?
2. What do the four directions stand for?
3. What is a Sabbat?
4. What is the basic outline of a circle?
5. Why not use rituals written by someone else?
