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<\/a><\/p>\nLocating our place in the universe<\/h2>\n
Most modern Pagan rituals begin by casting a circle and calling the quarters. I prefer to say \u201cinviting the spirits of the elements and direction.\u201d ADF<\/a> and some other groups prefer a three-part arrangement. Either way, part of this is a highly-condensed creation myth<\/a>. But another part is a statement that \u201cwe are here.\u201d<\/p>\n We light the central fire \u2013 an actual fire when we\u2019re outside, a candle or other small fire when we\u2019re inside. We say the words \u201cthis fire is for us the intersection of all times, all directions, and all worlds. We stand at the sacred center, and by this fire we part the veil between the worlds and step into the Otherworld, the world of the Gods and ancestors. We make this offering, that our journeys may be safe and fruitful.\u201d<\/p>\n I often remind people that humans are not the center of the universe \u2013 it\u2019s not all about us. But when we do ritual, we stand at the center of the universe. The center is not us \u2013 we are at the center.<\/p>\n The fire is more than a mystical center. It\u2019s also an invitation. Campfires were humanity\u2019s first magic circles, providing light and warmth and protection against the dark and all the predators that lurk in it, human and otherwise. Which is not to demonize the dark, just to say that wolves can and will eat you if you don\u2019t see them soon enough.<\/p>\n This establishes us as a community \u2013 even if this particular community only exists for an hour. We are Pagans, polytheists, and animists in a society that is nominally Christian and functionally atheist. This is our community and \u201cwe welcome all who come in love and friendship to honor the Gods, our ancestors, and the spirits of this place.\u201d We are not alone \u2013 at the very least we have each other.<\/p>\n But we also have much, much more.<\/p>\n Then we work to form and maintain relationships with our spiritual allies. We invite the spirits of the land where we are \u2013 those who share this place with us. We try to show them we\u2019re honorable allies and not just another bunch of clueless humans despoiling the land.<\/p>\n We invite our ancestors of blood and our ancestors of spirits. Some we knew in this life, some we know only their names, and some we can only know through spiritual connections. Without them we quite literally would not be, and so we owe them a debt of gratitude.<\/p>\n And we invite the Fair Folk. That\u2019s not a typical thing in most Pagan groups. Many advise against it, and rightly so. We do it because this group has a long and complicated relationship with themselves and they\u2019ve made it quite clear they expect our public acknowledgement. So we do.<\/p>\n We practice hospitality. When we invite spiritual guests to join us, we offer them food and drink. We know they don\u2019t physically need the beer we pour in their honor, but the act of offering shows our respect to them.<\/p>\n Every ritual I lead (and most at Denton CUUPS no matter who\u2019s leading) has a \u201cdeity of the occasion.\u201d We cannot honor all the Many Gods (there are too many for our limited focus and resources) but we can honor Someone who is especially meaningful to us on this day.<\/p>\n For Imbolc, this is Brighid<\/a>. This is Her day, plus She\u2019s always been \u201cfirst among equals\u201d in this group. We make invocations and offerings, and we offer words of thanksgiving and praise.<\/p>\n This is worship, in the literal sense of \u201cproclaiming what is worthy.\u201d The Gods are worthy. Brighid is worthy. We want to encourage Her to give us Her blessings, but more than that, we want to facilitate Her presence in our lives.<\/p>\n Sometimes our main working \u2013 the centerpiece of the ritual \u2013 is simply an act of individual and community worship. Other times there\u2019s a magical working.<\/p>\n Our main working this time was \u201cbreaking the chains.\u201d We placed a chain on an anvil and let people pound it with a hammer. It broke \u2013 many times. This is sympathetic magic (\u201cthis is like that, therefore this influences that\u201d). It was done in alignment with the themes of Imbolc and the stories and attributes of Brighid. She is \u2013 among many other things \u2013 a Goddess of the Forge. I sometimes speak of how She will put people on her anvil and shape them into something different \u2013 something more<\/em>.<\/p>\n A hammer and an anvil can literally break chains. And so by doing this, we inspire and enable the participants to break the chains that bind them, whether they are internal chains of self-limitation or external chains placed on them by unjust systems and governments.<\/p>\n Will this magic change votes in the Texas state legislature? On its own, it\u2019s highly unlikely. Combined with other magical and mundane efforts, maybe. Will it give the people who were there the wisdom and strength to do what they need to do to take care of themselves? It will certainly help.<\/p>\n We can light our own candles and start our own fires. We can honor our Gods and ancestors. I do that on a regular basis, and I hope you do too. We can work magic, and some magic is best worked alone.<\/p>\n But other magic is best worked in community.<\/p>\n The magic of 22 is stronger than the magic of one.<\/p>\n And sometimes, what\u2019s most important is to be reminded that whatever we face, we do not face it alone.<\/p>\n Brighid, Goddess of Many Names, Lady of Forging and of Healing, we thank You for Your presence, Your inspiration, and Your blessings. May we always honor You in freedom and in power. Hail and farewell!<\/em><\/p>\n 4 Necessary Elements of Group Ritual<\/a> (February 2022)<\/p>\n The Evolution of My Pagan Ritual Liturgy<\/a> (May 2020)<\/p>\n 8 Essential Elements of Good Pagan Ritual<\/a> (October 2019)<\/p>\nEstablishing a community<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nMaintaining spiritual relationships<\/h2>\n
Honoring the Gods<\/h2>\n
The main working \u2013 magic to improve our lives<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nA community can do what a solitary cannot<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nFor further reading<\/h2>\n