Sacred ceremony is an important tool in the hands of a witch or shaman. Through sacred ceremony we call the spirits to commune with us in our physical reality. It is something that is relatively simple to do, and for many beginners it is often their first “taste” of the craft.
While sacred ceremony is simple to perform, there are a number of things that will help to supercharge your rituals. These tips will ensure that your communication and connection with the Spirit World is as strong as it can be.
First off, make sure you focus. Don’t let your mind wander to other things. This lessens your ability to impart your intention to the ceremony, and is also disrespectful to the spirits. It is like checking your phone in the middle of a conversation. Make sure you devote your attention to the ceremony. Don’t be worrying about your day to day concerns. When you are in ceremony you are in “sacred time”, when you are separate from your mundane reality. So don’t let ordinary matters distract you. If they do come into your mind, acknowledge them and let them pass (don’t pursue them), and then move back to focusing on the ceremony.
Next, take it slow. This is not a race. Take your time as you intone the words and perform any actions. Undertake each step with intention and mindfulness. Any time pressure will lessen your ability to focus on the ceremony. So make sure you have plenty of time. You might even consider a shorter ceremony so that you will have more than enough time. A short and concise ceremony performed with absolute awareness and focus is far better than a long ceremony performed while distracted and “checking the clock”.
Finally, take ceremony and ritual seriously. It can be tempting to have doubts about what you are doing, feeling silly, and just going through the motions without committing to them. However this is a mistake. Ritual is effective, and you are in contact with powerful beings when you perform it. They are there, whether you can see them or not. So act as though you are in the presence of the deities and spirits, for you are! How would you perform your ritual if you knew that cosmic consciousnesses, all your ancestors, and the local spirits of the land were watching?
Stayed tuned for more tips in Part Two!
