by Dallas Jennifer Cobb
So much of our lives are lived in the public sphere, and while many Pagan rituals and gatherings take place in private spaces, there are times when a public space is the most fitting place for a sacred ritual.
While living in Toronto’s downtown west end, I took part in many sabbat gatherings held in Dufferin Grove Park. As the name implies, the space was a public park and natural spot that lent itself to festive gatherings. With tall stands of maple and oak trees, a community garden area, adventure playground, and community bake oven, the energy of the park was magical.
We found the space one autumn at equinox. My circle mates, a relaxed and eclectic bunch, were eager to have a large fire as part of the ritual and our gathering. Because most of us were apartment dwellers who lacked direct access to an outdoor space, Dufferin Grove was an ideal setting: lush, green, and accessible.
We went through the proper channels to get permission to use Dufferin Grove’s fire pit. We went to the park authorities, applied for a fire permit, reserved the fire pit for the times and date we required, and described our gathering as a “festive celebration” on our application. Our request was approved and a permit issued—free of charge! We had only to identify two responsible people from our group who pledged to ensure that the fire was maintained safely and fully extinguished when we were finished. The park authorities even supplied the precut firewood for us, and stacked it neatly beside the fire pit.
After our initial sabbat in Dufferin Grove, the consensus was that we wanted to hold most of our sabbats and celebrations there—around the fire, under the oaks, in the open air, beneath the moon. Winter and summer, spring and fall, we found our way there in all seasons. Not just the open fire, but also the wide expanse of space, tall trees, and the feeling of empowerment that came from holding a sacred ritual in a public space thrilled us.
These days I live in a waterfront village of 1,700 people. A small rural community, there are few Pagans here. But that hasn’t stopped my practice of magic ritual or public witchery. I have organized a baby-blessing ceremony on the public beach and done sabbat rituals in both the local provincial park and public beach. While my Pagan community here is much smaller, I have modified rituals to include more of my community, friends, and neighbors, but still utilizing public spaces in an effort to be both visible and magical. While my circle has shrunk, my sacred practice hasn’t.
If you are thinking of coming out of the broom closet into the public realm, there are many things to consider when planning sacred rituals in public spaces. Part of the magic that we weave is the preparation and planning. We ready ourselves, the space, and our community for the upcoming ritual. But whatever the occasion, and whatever the setting, planning for safety and security are primary requirements for ensuring the sacred.
Finding a Magical Space
The best spot to practice magic is one that feels good to you and the people involved. Choose a physical space that holds good memories, meaning, or generally is associated with good happenings. A place that brings as many of the elements together in one spot is an idea ritual or celebration space. Whether you live in a city or a small rural village, these spots are there. You just need to look, and let your witchy senses be engaged.
Search for elements that lend themselves to your magic. Groves of trees honor the historic practice of magic that often took place within the security of groves. Water elements like streams and ponds are great, but even a fountain or a bucket of water to put out the fire can represent the element. Because our gatherings usually involved some dancing, my circle likes to have an open space large enough to accommodate us.
And don’t forget the effect of ambient light. If you are gathering at night and want to see the moon, stars, and sky, choose a spot with natural darkness to make viewing the night sky possible.
Finally, think about practical stuff like where can people sit, and what there is to sit on. Grass is nice, but those with physical limitations like to have something up off the ground. The wonderful thing about parks is that there are often benches provided, or at least large logs like those around our fire pit.
Consecrating Public Space
Once you have found a suitable public space, how do you make it a sacred space? Parks and public lands are areas open to everyone and may be affected by divergent energies. It is important to work with the energy of the space before holding a ritual. Take the steps to sanctify the public place.
Like sanctifying yourself, it is important to purify and protect public spaces. Take the time to visit with space prior to the ritual. Walk the earth, intone your intention, and spread your energy throughout the space. Ask permission of the earth to celebrate there. Ask the gods and goddesses to join you, and ask for the protection of the fates.
Burn sage and sweet grass to clear old, stale energy, or sprinkle water to bless and consecrate the space. Once, when our usual fire pit had been in use up until our time to use it, members of my circle used branches from the community garden compost pile to symbolically sweep away the energy of the previous people and happenings.
It is also important to clear any dangerous objects from the space, so make sure you pick up any broken glass, sharp objects, or metal that could easily injure someone. And remove any garbage or trash that could draw down the energy.
Sacred Safety and Security
While most public spaces are safe, planning for safety and security is important for the people involved and for the energy of the ritual. Use your common sense. Make plans to arrive in twos or clusters, and depart in the same fashion. Provide clear directions so people don’t get lost and end up wandering through some other area of the space. Dress in comfortable, functional clothing in case you need to gather more firewood, stomp out stray embers, or purposefully leave the presence of negative people.
Our circle always had a keeper of protection. That was the person designated to carry a small first-aid kit, a whistle, and a cell phone. These items are only needed in times of emergency and were rarely used, but provided us with a sense of safety and preparation. Our keeper was part of the ritual, but also had the role of keeping watch over any intruding energy and, where possible, diverting it from the group and the ritual.
Positive Pagan Images
There are a lot of negative images of magic and Pagans out there. I take it upon myself to try to balance out the misinformation not by fighting against the negative images, but by spreading my own positive images. The strongest magic is the transformation of thought or misconception, at will.
When planning a sabbat or a ritual, I try to imagine what it would look like from the outside to someone unfamiliar with the ritual. I want it to look inviting and interesting, so passersby feel intrigued and inquisitive, not frightened and angry. To give a gathering a lively, festive presence, I incorporate songs, chants, storytelling, and miming into a sabbat ritual.
When a gathering looks interesting, you may find people attracted to your circle and interested in joining you. If you are holding rituals in public spaces your circle will need to discuss, in advance, whether or not the ritual is open to visitors, and if so, during what parts of the ritual or celebration. Having clear agreement beforehand ensures that decisions are made for the good of the group and no one feels excluded.
During our sabbats in Toronto, we often had people wandering through the park join us. Attracted to the fire, the brightly garbed people, or perhaps intrigued by the chanting, singing, and storytelling, they drew near to watch. We had all agreed to open our circle at any time to include a wanderer. And this practice paid off. Several people became regularly involved with the circle and attended other sabbat celebrations.
So even if you live in close quarters and lack access to nature, it is possible to find a gorgeous natural setting for your rituals and gatherings. Spread the magic of the craft, and make plans to hold sacred rituals in public spaces, weaving safety and security into the fabric of the sacred.