Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

Most instructions for spell work and ritual include a mention of creating sacred space or casting a circle. If you’ve felt confused about this process and why it is necessary, you will hopefully gain better understanding by the end of today’s message. Creating sacred space is one of those things that older Pagans assume is natural to those first coming to the craft. Its such a part of everyday life that it comes naturally to them, and they forget the days where they did not know why and how to cast a circle.

Creating sacred space or casting a circle means that you are affecting the energy that is present in a room. You are changing it to remove any unnecessary vibrations and make the energy neutral. Casting a circle contains and intensifies the energies that you will raise during your ritual. By clearing and sealing a space for your magickal workings, the energy can be contained and built up in the proper way.

The practice of creating sacred space can be a simple or as complex as you want it to be. There are a few basic components that are part of the process, but the rest is up to you or the tradition that you are following. You need to lay out the size of your space, mark the perimeters, cleanse the inside of the area and take down and release the energies at the end of the working.

Before beginning a ritual, you will need to decide whether your working will be external or internal. That is, is this a ritual that will focus on your subconscious energies or on affecting the world around you? Here are some examples: internal rituals include past life work and riding yourself from bad habits. External rituals would be prosperity spells, love spells and spells to find the perfect home.

For internal workings, you’ll want to direct the energies in a counter-clockwise motion (called widdershins), which will help draw the energies of magick inward. The external rituals require that you direct the energies clockwise (deosil) to spread them out into the world.

Before you begin, if you are working indoors, clear the room as best you can. Remove any furniture that will obstruct your movements as you create your circle. Also take out any visual distractions. This is a good reason to keep your ritual area uncluttered and free from the messes of your day-to-day life. If you are working outdoors, remove any rocks or sticks that will be in your path. Also, try to use an area that is relatively flat to make walking easy.

Make sure to have all of your ritual elements on your altar and ready to be used. Your tools should be consecrated and you should have all of the necessary items. To begin your ritual, light one large white candle in the center of your altar with the rest of the items balanced around it. In each of the four directions, place an unlit candle at the edge of what will become your circle to represent the four Quarters.

Begin by facing the northern candle and raise your ritual knife into the air. Begin filling it with energy from the God and Goddess above you, and then drop your arm to point the knife to the ground. Feel the energy flowing from your knife to the ground, and going along the perimeter of the circle as you walk from the Northern direction, to the West, then South, then East. If you choose not to use a ritual knife, you can substitute your own hand for this process.

Follow this by tracing the perimeter again, this time sprinkling each of the Quarters with saltwater. The salt and the water combined represent both the element of Earth and the element of Water. You’ll follow by tracing the perimeter with incense, a symbol for Fire and Air.

Feel the energy building around you as you create the sacred space with all four elements. Next you’ll formally invite them in by calling the Quarters. Approach each of the Quarters and invite the direction into your circle. You can verbally or mentally thank the powers of that element for being at your ritual, and then light the candle.

While this is a very formal way to create sacred space, you can certainly adapt it for your own needs. I hope it gives you some inspiration for your rituals and some new insight into this important aspect of the craft.

Love And Light,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

There is a lot of talk about energy in Paganism, Wicca and other forms of Witchcraft. And its not a ambiguous term. The energy we talk about in this path is real energy. Everything has energy to it…your body, plants, even manmade items. The Old Religion has known this for centuries and it is exciting to me to see the scientists involved in quantum physics make these same discoveries. Basically, science is finally confirming what we’ve always known…that at the core all things are the same. There is nothing different in the molecules that make up my body from the molecules that make up the computer that I am typing on right now.

Learning to work with energy is perhaps the biggest area that a witch needs to master. Without being able to handle energy correctly, our magickal intentions simply won’t work. Think of yourself like a lightening rod. You attract energy from above to you, and then conduct it out to your purpose.

Beginning to work with energy starts with understanding what it feels like. We’ve been programmed to believe that only electronic things have energy. In fact, I sometimes think that all the high powered electronics in our lives have overshadowed our personal energy fields so that they are much more difficult to feel. I suggest that you take some time to feel your own personal energy and understand where it comes from.

Try this simple exercise. Find a comfortable (and quiet!) place to sit. Begin by taking a series of deep breaths and try to cleanse your mind of the days troubles. Its important to be focused on your purpose here and not your sink load of dirty dishes or the report due tomorrow at work. Once you’ve calmed your mind, raise your arms in front of you with elbows bent. Make sure that your arms are comfortable and you are not straining to maintain their position.

Begin at the bottom of your tailbone, and feel the energy moving up the length of your spine from the floor where you are grounded. It sometimes helps to visualize the energy as golden or white light moving over your body. Feel the energy extend up the length of your back and then across your upper back and down each arm. At this point, your palms should begin to tingle a bit. Do you feel the energy between the palms of your hands? It should feel as if you are holding a ball.

Visualize a ball of golden or white light between your hands. Try compacting it into a smaller space and feel the outward pressure on your palms. Feed the “ball” more energy and feel it grow in your hands. Expand the width between your palms and allow the energy to grow more exponentially.

At this point, there are few things that you can do depending on your preference. Depending on the mood I am in, sometimes I just ground the energy back into the earth and thank the God and Goddess for their forces. It’s a simple way of reminding myself that I am part of the earth and can draw from it what I need.

Your energy ball can also be used for other purposes. Growing this ball with intention is one of the best and most effective ways to create a “fetch” to bring you something that you need. Roll your ball over into one hand, and the point at your ball with the finger of the other hand. At this point, picture clearly in your mind what it is that you need in your life. Imagine your intention flowing from your pointed finger into the ball of energy. You are charging the ball with your intention and instructing it on what it needs to do.

Once you have charged your ball, release it to bring you what you need. It’s as simple as that. Sometimes it’s surprising what this little exercise can bring. I’ve had a long lost friend call me two days after my ball went out to find her. I’ve also had checks arrive just when I needed them. Although this exercise is not a full-blown ritual, it is a great way to be reminded of the power that you can manifest.

Until next time, keep that energy flowing!

Rose Ariadne

Your Warm And Caring "Resident Witch In Charge"

Dear Friends,

Let’s face it….there is a lot to the craft that can’t be learned from reading a book. Finding a teacher and/or group to join is something that most, if not all, new Pagans seek out. It’s completely natural to want to meet other people who are interested in the craft. And its sometimes better to learn from others, in person, than try to piece things together by yourself at home.

I’ve been a member and leader of several groups throughout my time in this path, and I’ve learned a thing or two about finding the right group. Believe me, it is sometimes harder than it sounds. There’s a lot to be considered when choosing a group or teacher to work with. Hopefully, by the end of this message I will have given you a few things to think about when choosing your Pagan teachers.

The first obstacle to overcome is finding if there are any pagan groups in your area. One of the easiest ways that I have found is to visit www.witchvox.com, which is an online hub for Pagan groups and practitioners. You also might want to try asking at your local metaphysical bookstore for recommendations.

Even if you find a group and teacher in the area, how do you know they will be a good group for you? The process starts by analyzing yourself and your own needs. First think about what you are looking for in a group. What size of group would you feel most comfortable in? Would you be willing to travel to get to the group meetings and rituals? Do you like things to be informal or do you crave structure in your learning environment? Can you pay for classes? Would you prefer a teacher who guides you individually or are you looking for a group atmosphere? Are you looking to just gather information or do you want to be formally initiated into a coven? Would you like to be part of a group that is public, or one that keeps things more secret?

Consider also the type of Witchcraft that you would like to learn. Gardnerian circles are vastly different than those that follow Asatru. Research a little on the different types of Paganism, and find something you are interested in. If you don’t have a preference, try to find an “eclectic” pagan group. Normally these groups are very open to newcomers and teach a variety of methods from many different doctrines. Eclectic pagan groups can vary in size and method, but provide a good “primer” for the study of witchcraft and other occult methods. It is entirely possible to start in an eclectic group and then move on to a more specialized and formal coven once you get an idea of your personal beliefs.

In all fairness, the odds of finding a group that meets all of your requirements exactly is pretty slim. But, if you know what you want in a group, you will be more likely to find something that is comfortable and enjoyable for you.

Then take your search online and find the groups in your area. Unless a group consistently holds open rituals, it’s pretty standard to meet a representative of the group in public before being invited to a ritual or class. This is nothing against you as a person. Its just a way to keep group members, and you, safe. If your contact from the group does not suggest a public meeting first, you should make the suggestion. It’s just a measure of personal safety! There are some crazies out there these days (in society, not Paganism specifically) and you can’t be too careful.

After you’ve met the contact from the group you may be invited to an event. If you are interested or not, let them know either way. Its rude to leave someone hanging. If you do decide to attend the event, pay attention to the group dynamics from the start. Is it a welcoming group? Do you enjoy being in their company? What are their qualifications, and can you meet them?

You don’t want to join a group that doesn’t allow questions in a classroom setting, or a group where the members are bickering at one another. This first event is a chance to see whether the group meets your criteria and whether you’d be a good fit. If you decide the group is not for you, remain civil and amicable. This is especially important if the Pagan community is small in your area. You don’t want to burn any bridges.

You may have to “interview” a lot of groups before you find the right one. Or you may find that the first group you visit fits like a glove. While I certainly hope that you experience the latter, visiting a lot of groups does have the advantage of letting you know exactly what you do and don’t want in a group.

Many blessings and happy hunting,

Rose Ariadne

Your Warm And Caring "Resident Witch In Charge"

Dear Friends,

Okay I’ll admit it! When I first starting practicing Wicca I became “tool obsessed.” Has this ever happened to you? You enter a pagan shop and must have everything there. You simply need all of the “cool stuff” that you’ve seen a coven meetings or in books. You absolutely know that your magickal life will not be complete without a amethyst encrusted wand, long black velour cape, solid brass altar pentacle, a library of books…the list goes on and on. Believe me….I’ve been there. I understand that these needs seem extremely important. We all like to have neat and new stuff, especially stuff that is associated with our newest source of enjoyment.

But all of this fun stuff comes with a hefty price tag. If your budget is a bit strapped, you may feel discouraged. But Paganism is not for the rich alone! There are dozens of ways that you can get the tools that you need without breaking the bank.

First of all, remember that you don’t need to buy as much as you think you do. Take a look around your house and your storage spaces to find some valuable hidden treasures. You can use an older letter opener as an athame. Some of my favorite chalices have been from old glassware collections. You can sometimes find old dressing gowns that will serve as robes. Remember, recycling isn’t just limited to bottles and cans! Your old junk can be made new as part of your Pagan lifestyle. The best part about this technique is that it’s all free!

Another free source of good Pagan tools of trade is Mother nature herself. Taking a walk around a park or other natural area can be a treasure hunt. There are a lot of gifts that you can find. You can collect branches to use as wands or staffs. If you look closely you may find rocks that contain crystals inside. You can also collect feathers, however I would be careful doing this especially considering the spread of avian flu. If you are in a coastal area, you can find seashells and smoothed rocks to add to your altar and spell work.

To add to your magickal collection, look outside of the metaphysical bookshops and occult stores. You can get some great bargains on your magickal essentials from places like Wal-mart and Target. You’d be surprised what you can find when you look with a magickal eye. My favorite pair of altar candleholders came from a .99-cent aisle at K-Mart.

You can also find a wealth of do it yourself magickal items at the local craft store. Here you can find supplies for making your own dreamcatchers, sewing a magickal bag for tarot cards or small gems, small flowerpots to plant seeds during Beltane….the list goes on and on. You’ll save money by making items yourself but you’ll also have a more personal tools to work with.

Some of my other favorite places to shop for tools are thrift stores. There are several in my area that I visit regularly to see what’s new. You can find some really interesting vintage pieces, like antique glassware for chalices or coats that can be made into robes.

If you’re going to shop from online or local pagan shops, be patient and wait for the sales. If you can get something for half off, its worth it to put off buying it a few weeks or days. Also, look for bulk discounts on herbs and spell candles. You can buy together with some pagan friends to get a better price for all of you.

Remember, it doesn’t need to be expensive to be effective!

Happy bargain hunting,

Rose Ariadne

Your Warm And Caring "Resident Witch In Charge"