Crafting a Ritual

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[Neriandal Freit]

Greetings all!

I was wondering how you crafted and/or began in your first ritual?

I ask because once again I'm getting the urge to do a ritual but am wanting to do my own and was wondering thoughts and suggestions about properly coming up with the right one!

[Aisling]

Greetings all!

I was wondering how you crafted and/or began in your first ritual?

I ask because once again I'm getting the urge to do a ritual but am wanting to do my own and was wondering thoughts and suggestions about properly coming up with the right one!

Usually the best place to begin is by deciding what your purpose is in doing this ritual.  What is it that you hope to accomplish?

[Dania]

I was wondering how you crafted and/or began in your first ritual?

When I create my own rituals, I usually just 'wing it'. Actually my ritual "framework" slowly developed over time and use...into something that I am comfortable with and am able to work pretty comfortably in. Whatever I need to do, I can pretty easily do in that framework most of the time. (Unless it's something really special and specific).

My basic ritual framework goes something like this: Sit in meditation for a few minutes to get into the right 'headspace'. Cast a ward (actually, the only reason I use a ward at this point is because I do rituals in my bedroom and I want my bedroom to be pretty well protected. I incorporate the protection into my rituals). Say my 'opening prayer' (basically giving thanks) and make an offering. Meditate, or do whatever it is that I want to do (tonight it was a tarot reading). Follow with some more meditation, if I feel I need it. Pour the libation outside (I have a specific way to do this) and clean up.

That's all there is too it!

[rose]

Greetings all!

I was wondering how you crafted and/or began in your first ritual?

I ask because once again I'm getting the urge to do a ritual but am wanting to do my own and was wondering thoughts and suggestions about properly coming up with the right one!

I agree with Aisling, and wonder if you have a really clear intent in mind. Because I frankly don't think it's a good idea to do magick without a clear intent, one that you've put a lot of time into establishing, whether through research, meditation, talking to your teacher(s), all of the above, or whatever.  Fuzziness on this head makes a mess, believe me.

[Neriandal Freit]

Usually the best place to begin is by deciding what your purpose is in doing this ritual.  What is it that you hope to accomplish?

Well I'm not seeking a particular goal persay. I am more-so wanting to allow my self to divulge into who I am more, open my religious and acceptance of other religions (I'm sorry, I'm ok with all others religions but ONE particular Umbrella I do not like...), etc.

Yeah, eventually I'd like to (if not in this one) do something to give my thanks to the Three H's in my life who have a fancy with me (Hanuman, Hecate and Horus) too.

[Aisling]

I agree with Aisling, and wonder if you have a really clear intent in mind. Because I frankly don't think it's a good idea to do magick without a clear intent, one that you've put a lot of time into establishing, whether through research, meditation, talking to your teacher(s), all of the above, or whatever.  Fuzziness on this head makes a mess, believe me.

Pointing to what rose has said.  IME, ritual work of any kind is about focusing your intent and taking the necessary steps to achieve your goal.  This applies to magic and religious rituals both (I view these as separate and distinct things).  It's very hard to construct a ritual of any type from scratch if you don't have a solid reason why you're doing it. 

If you're relatively inexperienced at doing ritual work, it is much easier to start small and pick a single goal for each ritual.  If you want to do self-exploration, then you can build a ritual framework around that goal. If you want to focus on becoming more tolerant, create a separate ritual to do that. Otherwise you risk getting overwhelmed and not making any progress when you do perform your rituals.

[rose]

Otherwise you risk getting overwhelmed and not making any progress when you do perform your rituals.

Or worse
I've gotten myself into trouble that was very hard to undo b/c of fuzzy-thinking magick.

NF, it sounds like it might be a good idea to establish a specific meditation ritual, if you haven't already, and do some exploration with deity that way. Practicing grounding, centering, circle-casting if you are interested in that, and prayer and meditation. If your gods have specific rituals used for contacting them, you don't need to do any magick for that, if all you really want to do is give thanks and worship.

[Koimichra]

I was wondering how you crafted and/or began in your first ritual?

I would point out that the word "ritual" implies something done over and over, and that part of the power of ritual is that repetitiveness that makes it a part of you. So if you're looking to craft a "ritual," you're probably looking to craft some sort of framework that can be the-same-and-different as you use it over and over. Otherwise you're probably look at creating a ceremony of some sort. The mystical aspects of ritual tend to develop over time as the ritual is repeated; I think this is sometimes why people looking to "create a (single) ritual" tend to be disappointed with the outcome.

-Koi

[Dania]

I would point out that the word "ritual" implies something done over and over, and that part of the power of ritual is that repetitiveness that makes it a part of you. So if you're looking to craft a "ritual," you're probably looking to craft some sort of framework that can be the-same-and-different as you use it over and over. Otherwise you're probably look at creating a ceremony of some sort. The mystical aspects of ritual tend to develop over time as the ritual is repeated; I think this is sometimes why people looking to "create a (single) ritual" tend to be disappointed with the outcome.

I haven't been disappointed with any of the "one time" rituals that I've created/done. But I do agree that these things gain power over time.

Ritual doesn't necessarily refer to a framework. Granted, in my personal rituals, there IS a framework. That's just how things developed over time...but not everything that I do fits that framework either. And having it differ from that framework doesn't make it any less by any stretch.

[Koimichra]

Ritual doesn't necessarily refer to a framework.

It's not always USED that way, but the word itself does imply repetition and "ritualization." It would be very difficult to describe a single-time event divorced from a context or framework a "ritual." It would just be an "act" or "event."

[Dania]

It's not always USED that way, but the word itself does imply repetition and "ritualization." It would be very difficult to describe a single-time event divorced from a context or framework a "ritual." It would just be an "act" or "event."

According to dictionary.com:

1.   an established or prescribed procedure for a religious or other rite.

6.   a prescribed or established rite, ceremony, proceeding, or service: the ritual of the dead.

There are other meanings as well which yes, imply repetition. But it can legitimately be used to describe a one time event as well.

The 'framework', I believe, in this case, would be that it's a religious or spiritual act. The religion (whatever that may be) is the 'framework' or context.

[Koimichra]

1.   an established or prescribed procedure for a religious or other rite.

6.   a prescribed or established rite, ceremony, proceeding, or service: the ritual of the dead.

There are other meanings as well which yes, imply repetition. But it can legitimately be used to describe a one time event as well.

If it's established or prescribed, then it's done more than once, or it wouldn't need to be established or prescribed.

But I just took my masters in liturgy, what do I know?

[Dania]

If it's established or prescribed, then it's done more than once, or it wouldn't need to be established or prescribed.

Established would imply repetition, prescribed, however, simply means that it is laid down as a course of action which should be taken. "Prescribed" does not require that something was done before, or will be done again.

[LyricFox]

prescribed, however, simply means that it is laid down as a course of action which should be taken. "Prescribed" does not require that something was done before, or will be done again.

Ah...what on earth is the point of prescribing something if it's never done again?

Frankly, after thinking about it, I think I'm going to have to go with Koi on this one, I think. If something is a ritual, it's something that is done repeatedly. Now, what falls under the subcategories of the ritual may vary, but the structure is going to be the same.

[Dania]

Ah...what on earth is the point of prescribing something if it's never done again?

To achieve a desired end. A course of action may be 'prescribed' to solve an issue. In the case of an issue that needs to be solved, hopefully it IS a 'one time thing'.

If that end never needs to be achieved again, than repetition is unnecessary.

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