Spell Outline
Know the Basics
Know what magick is. Know different ways to raise, direct and ground energy. Know how to cast a magick circle. Know how to open a circle. Know the basic outline of a spell.
Know the Intent or Purpose
What is it you are trying to do? Heal an illness? Increase your concentration? Bring love into your life? Sell a house? Celebrate a Sabbat? Before you begin any magickal working, you should have a firm grasp on what outcome you are seeking.
Know the Best Time to Work the Spell
Do you know what type of magick should be worked during the waning moon and what type during the waxing moon? What type of magick is best worked on the full moon? The new moon? What days of the week are best for what types of magick? Learn how the moon phases and days of the week affect magickal workings so you will know when to work your spell.
Know Correspondences
Learn which colors will bring what results. Learn a little about herbalism; which herbs can be used for what magickal purposes. Learn about image magick and how it works. Learn about elemental magick; which elements can be used for what types of magick.
Basic Working Spell OutlineWe all have different ways and routines when doing spells and rituals. Below is a basic guideline suggested by many books and web sites that you may find helpful if you feel that following a structured routine will work best for you, or if you aren't sure where to start and need a guideline. These are not set in stone and can be changed to suit your needs.
Ritual Preparation
Choose a time. Decide the intent. Choose an aspect of the Divine, if you wish. Decide how to raise energy (ie: dance, chanting, drumming, etc.) Choose how to cast and close the circle.
Cleanse yourself and your magickal space.
You can do this with a ritual bath for yourself, or through meditation to still and focus your mind. You can cleanse your space with your magickal broom or with incense or burning herbs.
Cast the Circle
Starting at the North side of the room, point your finger or wand and say the following as you imagine white light energy streaming forth from your finger and forming a circle around you:
I cast this circle to create a sacred space.
No unwanted energies can enter this space.
The circle is now cast! So mote it be!
By the time you've walked three time around the circle, you should be finished saying that.
You may also choose to sprinkle salt or water on the ground around you or in the four corners.
Here's another method for How to Cast a Circle
Invocation of the Divine
Invoke the Dieties by asking them to join you for your magical workings.
"God and Goddess, I ask that you join me here to assist with my magical workings."
Statement of purpose
This is simply to tell the Divine why you have called Him/Her to the circle; what you are trying to accomplish.
Magickal Working
Raise energy, through chanting or drumming or however you have chosen to do so. Direct or channel this energy by using candles, herbs, stones or whatever other correspondences you found to fit your specific need. Ground your energy when you have completed the working.
Cakes and Wine (optional)
Eat a small piece of bread or cookie and drink a little wine, milk or juice to help restore your energy.
Thanking the Divine
Closing the Circle
Starting from the West, walk widdershins (counterclockwise) around the circle three times as you say:
"The circle is open, but never broken.
So mote it be!
Merry meet and merry part,
and merry meet again!"
Know what magick is. Know different ways to raise, direct and ground energy. Know how to cast a magick circle. Know how to open a circle. Know the basic outline of a spell.
Know the Intent or Purpose
What is it you are trying to do? Heal an illness? Increase your concentration? Bring love into your life? Sell a house? Celebrate a Sabbat? Before you begin any magickal working, you should have a firm grasp on what outcome you are seeking.
Know the Best Time to Work the Spell
Do you know what type of magick should be worked during the waning moon and what type during the waxing moon? What type of magick is best worked on the full moon? The new moon? What days of the week are best for what types of magick? Learn how the moon phases and days of the week affect magickal workings so you will know when to work your spell.
Know Correspondences
Learn which colors will bring what results. Learn a little about herbalism; which herbs can be used for what magickal purposes. Learn about image magick and how it works. Learn about elemental magick; which elements can be used for what types of magick.
Basic Working Spell OutlineWe all have different ways and routines when doing spells and rituals. Below is a basic guideline suggested by many books and web sites that you may find helpful if you feel that following a structured routine will work best for you, or if you aren't sure where to start and need a guideline. These are not set in stone and can be changed to suit your needs.
Ritual Preparation
Choose a time. Decide the intent. Choose an aspect of the Divine, if you wish. Decide how to raise energy (ie: dance, chanting, drumming, etc.) Choose how to cast and close the circle.
Cleanse yourself and your magickal space.
You can do this with a ritual bath for yourself, or through meditation to still and focus your mind. You can cleanse your space with your magickal broom or with incense or burning herbs.
Cast the Circle
Starting at the North side of the room, point your finger or wand and say the following as you imagine white light energy streaming forth from your finger and forming a circle around you:
I cast this circle to create a sacred space.
No unwanted energies can enter this space.
The circle is now cast! So mote it be!
By the time you've walked three time around the circle, you should be finished saying that.
You may also choose to sprinkle salt or water on the ground around you or in the four corners.
Here's another method for How to Cast a Circle
Invocation of the Divine
Invoke the Dieties by asking them to join you for your magical workings.
"God and Goddess, I ask that you join me here to assist with my magical workings."
Statement of purpose
This is simply to tell the Divine why you have called Him/Her to the circle; what you are trying to accomplish.
Magickal Working
Raise energy, through chanting or drumming or however you have chosen to do so. Direct or channel this energy by using candles, herbs, stones or whatever other correspondences you found to fit your specific need. Ground your energy when you have completed the working.
Cakes and Wine (optional)
Eat a small piece of bread or cookie and drink a little wine, milk or juice to help restore your energy.
Thanking the Divine
Closing the Circle
Starting from the West, walk widdershins (counterclockwise) around the circle three times as you say:
"The circle is open, but never broken.
So mote it be!
Merry meet and merry part,
and merry meet again!"
Ritual Outline
A. Ritual Preparation
1. Define purpose
2. Write ritual
3. Gather necessary tools
4. Prepare area
5. Prepare body
B. Open Circle
1. Find true North
2. Set up Magickal 'doorway'
3. Call the Watchtowers / Elemental Quarters
C. Invocation to the deities
1. Align self with deity
2. Invoke deities
D. Statement of Purpose
E. Actual Rite
1. Working
a. Complete preliminary manual or visual task
b. Raise power / energy
c. Focus power / energy
d. Ground power / energy2. Honoring
a. Complete preliminary manual or visual task
b. Dedicate cakes and wine
c. Partake in cakes and wine
F. Meditation
G. Thanking the deities
H. Closing the Circle
1. Mentally and verbally close the circle
2. Physically close the circle
3. Clean up
a. Disposal
b. Washing of plates and glasses
c. Putting away tools and other implements
1. Define purpose
2. Write ritual
3. Gather necessary tools
4. Prepare area
5. Prepare body
B. Open Circle
1. Find true North
2. Set up Magickal 'doorway'
3. Call the Watchtowers / Elemental Quarters
C. Invocation to the deities
1. Align self with deity
2. Invoke deities
D. Statement of Purpose
E. Actual Rite
1. Working
a. Complete preliminary manual or visual task
b. Raise power / energy
c. Focus power / energy
d. Ground power / energy2. Honoring
a. Complete preliminary manual or visual task
b. Dedicate cakes and wine
c. Partake in cakes and wine
F. Meditation
G. Thanking the deities
H. Closing the Circle
1. Mentally and verbally close the circle
2. Physically close the circle
3. Clean up
a. Disposal
b. Washing of plates and glasses
c. Putting away tools and other implements
Example: Simple Esbat Ritual
- Time: Night when full moon is visible
Place: Outdoors
- Chair or blanket to sit on
- Silver or white candle and holder
- Matches and holder for matches to burn out in
- Incense of any Goddess-aligned herb
- Platter, plate, or hard surface
- Goblet of milk, light-colored juice, or light-colored tea
- Cookies or crescent cakes
- Green apple
- Bolline
- Enjoyable Pagan-oriented reading material
- Wear white or silver; suggested is a crown of white flowers, fake or real, as body decoration. Anoint yourself with oil of a type that is sacred to the Goddess.No circle-casting is needed for this; it is simply an appreciation and basking in of nature. Place all materials on platter except reading material, arranged aesthetically.
- Sit in your chair or on your blanket. Light the candle and the incense and let the match burn out in the holder. Meditate for a moment on the highest power of the Goddess and clear your mind. Invoke the Goddess, and acknowledge Her consort.Catch the reflection of the moonlight in the liquid in your goblet. Toast the Goddess and drink from the cup, closing your eyes. Imagine you are drinking the moonlight in your cup, and let it fill you. Then pour some of the drink on the ground as a libation. Save the rest for later.
Speak or think some words of thanks to the Goddess for Her presence in your life since the last moon.
Cut the green apple in half with the bolline, across the middle to separate the stem from the bottom. Open the apple and observe the star pattern of the seeds. Take a bite from the side of the apple in your left hand, then from the side of the apple in your right, acknowledging your acceptance of both halves of nature: Light and dark, female and male, life and death. Meditate on your return to the Goddess’s cauldron someday, and if you believe you will be reborn and have been many times already, meditate on that as you hold the apple halves and look at the star. Feel your closeness to Her. Then bury both halves of the apple.
Eat cookies or crescent cakes while reading by moonlight your reading material. Relax in the sight of the Goddess and relish your time alone, and do not rush. Save at least one cookie or cake to bury as a sacrifice to the Goddess. Drink the remainder of your drink as you eat.
End the ritual after your sacrificial burial, thanking the Goddess and again acknowledging Her consort, and pinch out the silver candle and grind out the incense if it is still smoking.
Esbat Ritual Outline
In contruction. Come back at a later date.