Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard

Lesson 2. Ritual Structure

Here is an outline of a basic generic ritual structure

commonly used in many circle rites throughout much

of the American, European, British, and Australian

magickal community. If you learn this form, you will be

at home in just about any Circle anywhere, in all of

their infinite variations. There are entire books, tapes,

and CDs full of variations on this basic form, with

countless different chants, invocations, and

blessings—many of which are in the forms of songs

and poetry. What I offer here are only samples. One of

the best things about magickal rituals is that they offer

so much room for creativity!

I. BANISHING/CLEANSING (optional; not

used in all rituals)

A. Smudging

or: B. Asperging (with salt water)

II. GROUNDING (optional; not used in all rituals)

A. Guided meditation (“Tree of Life”)

or: B. Physical movement

III. CASTING THE CIRCLE (Deosil/clockwise

for “doing;” widdershins/counterclockwise for

“undoing.” All movements within the ritual should

follow direction of casting.)

A. Walk circumference with blade or wand.

or: B. All dance circumference

C. Chanting/singing

D. Visualization

IV. CALLING THE QUARTERS

A. East (Air)

B. South (Fire)

C. West (Water)

D. North (Earth)

Optional:E. The Great Above (or Spirit)

F. The Great Below (or Abyss)

G. The Center (or Faerie)

V. INVOKING DEITIES & SPIRITS

A. The Goddess

B. The God

Optional:C. Ancestors

D. Animal Totems

E. Higher Self

VI. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Clarifying the intention of the ritual.

VII. WORKING

Elements of the ritual are symbolized and/or

represented. Dynamics between chosen elements

are dramatized, healed, transformed, or energized

(this is the most creative part).

VIII. POWER RAISING & RELEASING

A. Chanting and/or Drumming

B. Dancing

IX. COMMUNION

A. Charging/Blessing and Sharing:

1. Food (cakes, bread, fruit, etc.)


2. Drink (water, juice, wine, etc.)
   X. HIATUS
   A. Meditation
   or: B. Discussion (“Sacred Bullshit”)
   C. Silence
   XI. THANKS & RELEASING OF
   ELEMENTS & SPIRITS
   A. Deities/Spirits (in reverse order of invocation)
   B. Directions/Elements (in reverse order of
   invocation)
   XII. OPENING THE CIRCLE (in reverse
   direction of casting)
   Usually done in same manner as it was cast, i.e. by
   song, dance, blade, wand, etc.

NOTE: There is usually personal ritual prepara-

tion before the rite begins. This can include silent

meditation, a purifying bath, fasting, dancing,

stretching, and so on. Circles are usually cast

deosil, starting in the East, but at Samhain,

Walpurgisnacht, and for Greek rituals, the Circle

and Quarters are cast and called widdershins,

beginning in the West. In the Southern

Hemisphere, the directions, movements, and

seasons are reversed from those here indicated.

Lesson 3. Preparations

For millennia, Wizards, Witches, and Magicians have

used the Circle to define our area of magickal workings.

There are many reasons for this: The Circle leads back

into itself and is consequently a symbol of unity, the

absolute, and perfection. It therefore represents the

Heavens in contrast to the Earth, or the spiritual in

contrast to the material. There is a close connection

between the Circle and the wheel. As an endless line,

it symbolizes time and infinity.

174 Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard

Corrected pages 3rd printing.2.p65 9 6/10/2004, 4:02 PM