Witchcraft 103

Your Psychic shield.

The necessary first step before you undertake any magical work is learning to make a psychic shield. There are 'things of the dark' out there be they demons, ghosts, or the dark recesses of the subconscience mind. Their effect however is very real and unless put under control, they will drag you over the borders of sanity into psychosis. You are most vunerable to them when you are open either in meditation or trance. A sensible person takes steps to control what is allowed through their psychic shield no matter how simple the ritual or work.

There are a few ways you can do this. The most common is to draw a circle around you or your group and then invoke protective powers. Generally this is done by the use of an athame, finger or crystal and visualisation. The circle can be further secured and cleared by using salt water, salt or incense.

This circle establishes boundries within your environment, a safe zone and all within the circle is in your control. Nothing can enter this circle unless you invite it in. The number of powers called can vary. You can invoke one universal being to protect your circle. Or you can call on the four guardians (one for each compass point).  Take time to choose your guardians carefully. You should select gods, goddesses or animals etc which have a deep meaning to you and your goals.

Remember! Don't make the mistake of assuming that you'll become so powerful that you don't need the protection of a psychic sheild. Also don't assume that you don't need a protective shield for positive magic such as healing because you do. Open is vulnerable.

Ritual Structure.

Here is a step by step process for performing your ritual. Some traditions may vary the order in which these steps are undertaken, the key is to go with what feels right to you and/or what is appropriate for the focus of the work.

1) Purify:

Sage, saltwater, sounding or incense are used to cleanse your body and mind, and the space where you will hold your ritual.

2) Ground:

Meditation, drumming, breathing and sound are used to help you let go of distractions that may keep you from fully concentrating on your ritual. Connect to the earths energy.

3) Cast the circle:

This can be done in many ways here is one example, but ultimately the choice is yours on how you call it. Starting north, point your athame and visualise a blue light streaming fron the tip. Walk clockwise three times saying ' I draw this circle in the names of the triple Goddess of the circle of rebirth and the Horned God both as a container of sacred powers and as a protection'

4) Call the Elements:

This is when you call in the elements to protect your quarters. In the East take the incense and offer it to the spirits and request 'blessed spirits of Air bless my rites and protect my circle. Walk clockwise and repeat for the Fire spirits in the South, Water spirits in the West and Earth spirits in the North.

5) Invoke Goddess and God:

Pick an aspect of the Goddess and/or God that suits your work and its purpose. This can be done by spoken word, meditation or song.

6) The work:

Every ritual should have an intent. Be it peace, healing, spell work, celebration, meditation or initiation etc. Visualise energy to energise your work then focus this energy towards your intent to make it happen.

7) Devoke:

This is the closing part of the ritual, to thank the God, Goddess and the elements for their help and protection during your ritual and to dismiss them so you can open the circle. The final part of your ritual is to eat something to help you ground after working with magical energy and also to celebrate. Always remember to share your snack with the Earth by leaving some outside for nature to snack on aswell.

This is a simple outline of how you can structure your ritual work, no way is the right way so customise it to suit you and your intent. Just remember to be respectful and careful in your magical workings and you will gain untold personal power.

Blessed Be!