RITUAL POWER

Starting With Rituals

Rites and Rituals

To current thinking, the first rituals occurred around 70,000 years ago in what is now Botswana. Findings suggest ceremonies dedicated to a Python God involving spearheads some that had been bought from hundreds of kilometers away. Red spearheads were burned at the site where a huge stone Python shaped rock appeared the focal point. We can only guess at the nature and purpose of the rituals but one suggestion is fortune in hunting, by the artifacts alone. Stoneage man would have had many drives, much more than hunting alone and therefore it is reasonable to consider the rituals were for many purposes.

Very few things are begun without a purpose or an objective, whether commencing keep fit or taking a vacation we have a desired result. Before undertaking any ritual we should know exactly what we wish to achieve by it. Not every purpose needs to be high and ornate or with a life-changing objective. Simply giving gratitude to your higher power can be a simple yet important ritual, and a simple rite to guide you towards the next step in your journey can be the most life changing.

When we talk about objective and purpose it is only a matter of time before we talk of need and desire. Consider as people we are heart, mind, and soul; the physical of our bodies, the mental of our feelings, loves and fears and of our souls, our spirit. Our spirit is the essential connection with everything in the universe and our own higher power, regardless of what name or title we give it. With the exception of health what we desire of the physical, we should look to resolve with the physical and use ritual to give us the strength and fortitude to achieve those aims. Many medical miracles can be attributed to outlook and faith, rituals offer a ready gateway to this both for ourselves and others.

Choosing the right location for your ritual is as important as you think it is. Ritual sites range from Stonehenge to the Temples at Karnak to the Cave Art of Uluru, the hand of man has created a myriad number of places to carry out rites. I find the greatest energy is gained in the natural world, be it the seashore, mountains, meadows, or woodland grove; when you open your mind the energy is boundless and with a purity that leaves me feeling refreshed rather than drained.

Circumstances sadly make us have to use more mundane surroundings but we can still make sure they are clean and free of distractions to enable us to work. The more ordinary area can gain more ritualistic importance simply by using paraphernalia suitable for the task ahead.

As you gain clarity of mind through meditation and practice you will learn to feel the latticework of energy lines that surround us. The meeting points of these energy lines make the ultimate and purist points of power to achieve our aims.

Crystals, candles, wands, chalices, altars, altar cloths, incense, and audio; we can use any number of items in ritual but they only hold value if we understand and give value to them. While hundreds if not thousands can be spent dressing an altar it is money wasted if the parts hold no spiritual value. Each crystal used must be cleansed and known to you, time spent meditating with, and studying our crystals is never wasted. Much is gained by imagining your ritual space and following your inner guide before arranging the space, you know what's right.

The crystals should be selected by the power they provide and also with consideration of how they react with the other crystals. Elemental factors need also to be considered, avoiding using conflicting energy in close proximity such as fire/air and water/earth.

Candles give an obvious elemental quality but for me, also a spiritual one. In the interests of safety, I have used battery operated ones with a satisfactory result, again it is the value that they hold inside that gives these things power.

Speaking seems the simplest thing and yet with speech, we can bring tears or laughter, hope or fear, determination or desperation. Pitch, pace, and tone all give power to our words. The words themselves determine our thinking and ideas, such is the power we control when we open our mouths. Even from deciding whether you will be speaking a prayer, chant, spell, mantra, or incantation, a lot of thought should be put into the words in your ritual. Words guide the purpose to the end result and is an essential part of guiding your ritual. Whether you create your own or use one already written it is essential you learn and study it, find the words you wish to emphasize, the speed and volume it is said; even the points you pause and breathe.

Like all things spiritual, practice makes perfect and your own incantations gain the most potency when read and re-read. Obviously, your own ones should have a start, a middle, and an end but each step has certain requirements. The start requires a request for aid and the powers called upon, the middle should clearly state the purpose and where possible how it will come to pass, and the end should give a definitive release of the power and thanks to the forces called upon. Without clear casting, the energy summoned feels like it leaks away rather than fired off on its purpose.

It is worth meditating on your purpose with pen and paper in hand, the best chants are often written with a free mind and just the desire to guide the pen.