January
January is a quiet month. After the hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season, it is a time to slow down, take a deep breath, and enjoy a welcome break from celebration and fuss. Now is a good
time for looking inward instead of outward, for small get-togethers instead of large ones.
If your circle or coven is just starting out, this is the perfect time to get to know one another better, and to start forming tighter bonds as a group. Even if you have been practicing together for a while, if you have not done a group dedication, or worked on your Books of Shadows together, this is a great point at which to do so. (If you are starting out at another time of year, but still want to do this month’s activities first, feel free to switch things around.)
When Blue Moon Circle met to perform our Book of Shadows consecration and blessing, we did two other things as part of that ritual: we all brought our Books of Shadows to circle and shared them with each other, and we started a group Book of Shadows that belonged to Blue Moon Circle as a whole, rather than to any individual Witch.
These actions were both important—as well as educational, moving, fun, and a demonstration of our commitment to the group and to each other. They allowed us to learn and grow, to share our knowledge, to show our trust for one another, and to start a book that would continue to grow with the group over time.
Today, the Blue Moon Circle Book of Shadows contains not only a record of all the rituals and spells that we have performed as a group, but also pictures and mementos of our time together. Although the members of the group may change over the course of years, our Book of Shadows will remain as a tool and a treasure trove of knowledge for all those who follow. And that is what a Book of Shadows is all about.
January New Moon
Book of Shadows blessing and consecration
A Book of Shadows is the name given to the book that a Witch uses to keep track of spells, ingredients used, rituals performed, correspondences, and anything else that he or she uses in the course of his or her practice of Wicca. It can be as plain as a loose-leaf notebook, or it can be a fancy pre-made book (there are many available from Wiccan shops and websites.)
Some Witches have more than one. Some are very simple, and some are filled with colorful illustrations, contain extensive notes, and are written in special inks. Your book should suit you and your needs, and the book your group creates together should do the same. Nothing that goes into your group book should be shared with anyone outside the group without the permission of all members.
Supplies:
- A blank Book of Shadows to use for the group, and one for any member who does not already have one. You can use crayons, paints, or colored pens to decorate the group book. It is helpful for this and other rituals to make copies for everyone of the spells you will be saying.
Note: Ritual instructions are laid out in detail in this ritual for those with little or no experience with group circle work. More abbreviated instructions will be used in the rituals that follow.
• • •
- Consecrate and cleanse the ritual space by passing a sage smudge wand or a stick of incense around the circle from one person to the next. Sage should be wafted up and down the body to clear away any negative energy.
- Cleanse those in the circle by passing around a small bowl of water mixed with sea salt. Start with the salt and water in separate containers—these can be as simple or as ornate as you like. The High Priestess (or High Priest) should pour a small amount of both into a bowl and mix with the tip of her athame or her finger; if she likes, she can say something like, “Salt into water, water into salt. Wash away all that is negative; bring in all that is positive and beneficial. So mote it be.” It is customary to dip a finger into the salt/water mixture and dab it on the third eye (between the eyebrows), the lips, and the heart. The bowl is then passed to the next person. Silence should be observed during these steps, so that all those present can focus and center themselves.
- Cast the circle. You can cast it hand to hand or by having whoever is acting as HPS or HP walk around the outside of the circle with an athame. It is okay to be sitting up until this point, but you should always stand up to call the quarters and invoke the goddess.
- Call the quarters. The following quarter calls are just examples. Feel free to use any words that come to you.
East:
I call the Watchtower of the East, the spirit of Air. Help us to keep our minds clear and open, and aid us in seeking positive change. Come now and guard our circle. Welcome, and blessed be.
Light a yellow candle in the East place on the altar, or by the East’s point on the edge of the circle.
South:
I call the watchtower of the South, the spirit of Fire. Element of passion and transformation, help us to make the choices that will lead to greater health and success. Come now and guard our circle. Welcome, and blessed be.
Light a red candle in the South place on the altar, or by the South’s point on the edge of the circle.
West:
I call the Watchtower of the West, the spirit of Water. Open our hearts to love, our bodies to healing, and our minds to wisdom from within and without. Come now and guard our circle. Welcome, and blessed be.
Light a blue candle in the West place on the altar, or by the West’s point on the edge of the circle.
North:
I call the Watchtower of the North, the spirit of Earth. Nourish and ground us, help us to connect to all the hidden strength inside ourselves. Come now and guard our circle. Welcome, and blessed be.
Light a green candle in the North place on the altar, or by the North’s point on the edge of the circle.
HPS invokes the goddess:
Great Goddess, Mother of us all: we your children gather in this circle in your name. Join us here and lend us your power and your wisdom as we practice our Craft. Welcome, and blessed be.
Light a white or silver goddess candle in the middle of the circle or altar.
Sit down and make yourselves comfortable while you share your Books of Shadows. You can go around the circle and take turns showing your books—perhaps discussing the different ways in which you each handle certain elements. (Do you write everything down by hand? Add illustrations? Use mostly spells and ritual components you have found in research books, or make up your own?) You may want to copy a favorite spell or list of ingredients from someone else’s book into your own. If any members of your group don’t have a Book of Shadows, now is a good time for them to start one. Take as much time with this as you need—your Book of Shadows is an important tool, and this is the perfect opportunity to benefit from the knowledge gathered by the others in your group. Don’t forget to have fun.
Once you are done sharing out of your own Books, you can create a Book of Shadows for your group. You can decorate this in any way that you want, as long as you all agree. Blue Moon Circle used a large black book with a gold pentacle on the front. On the inside front cover we wrote the name of the group, and everyone signed their names. We glued a piece of paper on the opposite page, on which we had typed out in a fancy font the name of the group, the date, and the following, which you are free to use:
By the powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water,
With the blessing of the goddess and the god,
For the good of all
And according to the free will of all
In perfect love and perfect trust
So do we practice our Craft.
Since then, we have added every spell and ritual that we have done as a group, as well as pictures of group activities and any other information we thought was important.
If you want, you can pass the Book around the circle and everyone can add a drawing. Or you can take turns taking it home at a later date and adding illustrations, information, or anything else you want to have in this shared tool.
Once you have finished working on your books, you can say the following blessing together. Remember to speak slowly and clearly, and put all your intent behind the words.
Book of Shadows Blessing
Bless this Book in the name of the goddess and the god
Who guide my feet on the Path of Beauty
Let it be filled with wisdom and knowledge
Let me use it only for good
Let me share it with those who need it
Let it help me grow in my Craft
And in my life.
So mote it be.
Note: If you want, you can print out this blessing on a fancy card (we use postcard stock, which is usually just the right size) and glue it into your book after you use it for the ritual. Some Witches believe that everything that goes into your Book of Shadows should be handwritten. As with the rest of your practice, just do what feels right to you.
- Pass cakes and ale.
HPS/HP says:
Bless these cakes, a symbol of Earth’s bounty. May they feed our souls as well as our bodies.” (You can say to each other as you pass the cakes: “May you never hunger.”)
HPS/HP says:
Bless this wine [or juice], fruit of the earth. May it remind us always of the sweetness of life. (You can say to each other as you pass the ale: “May you never thirst.”)
- Pass the speaking stick—each person should have a turn to speak uninterrupted of what is in his or her heart.
- Dismiss the quarters: This can be as simple as saying “Power of [Earth, Air, Fire, Water], thank you for guarding our circle. Farewell, and blessed be.” Start at North, then do West, South, and finish with East. Snuff out each candle after you dismiss that element. It is considered disrespectful to simply blow out the candles.
- Thank the goddess:
HPS says:
We thank you Gracious Lady of the Moon for your presence in our circle tonight and in our lives. May you continue to watch over us, and lend us your wisdom, grace, and strength. So mote it be. Snuff out goddess candle.
- Open the circle. If you cast the circle hand to hand, you can simply join hands, raise them above your heads, and the HPS should say, “The circle is open but never broken. Merrie meet, merrie part, and merrie meet again.” Then let go of each other’s hands. Or the HPS can walk counterclockwise around the circle with her athame.
If you like, you can recite the Wiccan Rede together. There are many different versions. This is the one we use most of the time:
The Wiccan Rede
Bide the Wiccan law ye must
In perfect love, In perfect trust
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill
An it harm none, do as ye will
Lest in thy self defense it be
Ever mind the law of three
Follow this with mind and heart
And merrie ye meet, and merrie ye part.”
(We sometimes add: “And merrie meet again.”)
January Full Moon
Group dedication ritual
A group dedication is not exactly the same thing as an individual dedication, although they have many of the same components. An individual Witch is either self-dedicated, or dedicated by a High Priest and/or High Priestess, usually the one(s) leading that particular Witch’s group. A group dedication is done by the group as a whole.
Since many Witches start out as solitary practitioners, it is fairly common to be self-dedicated. A dedication—no matter how it is done—is basically a declaration that you intend to walk the path of the old gods, and that you vow to follow that path to the best of your abilities.
That sounds pretty simple, and it is. But as with much else that is Wiccan, there is a catch. You have to mean it.
When you dedicate yourself, the gods are listening. You need to be sure that you mean what you say, and that you intend to walk this path for the rest of your life, following the rules that Wicca entails. (“Do no harm” and the rest.)
Does this mean that you can never change your mind? Of course not. People can and do decide that this path is not for them after all, and go off to find a different one. What it does mean, however, is that you have to mean it with all your heart at the time you make your dedication.
Think of it like a marriage ceremony—you can change your mind later, but it is expected that you wouldn’t be taking those vows unless you really believe at the time you make them that you intend to keep them for the rest of your life.
Does that mean that you can’t practice Witchcraft if you aren’t sure that you want to do it for the rest of your life? No, not at all. Many Witches practice for years without being dedicated. Some are dedicated right away. The older forms of coven-craft, such as Alexandrian or Gardnerian, actually wouldn’t let you be dedicated until you’d practiced for at least a year and a day. That was their way of ensuring that no one took the dedication frivolously. And even after a year and a day, the covener could only be dedicated if the High Priest and Priestess felt that he or she was truly ready.
It is my belief that no one can make the judgment about whether or not you are ready to be dedicated better than you can. Think about it. Ask for guidance if you have any doubts. But the truth is, you will probably know when the time is right. Listen to your “inner voice.” It is often your best guide.
The same thing is true for a group dedication. You may want to do one right away. You may want to practice together for a year and a day first, to be sure that you really “fit” together. Only you and your group can decide what is right for you all.
A group dedication, unlike a personal one, is not likely to last for a lifetime. Members come and go—people change, move away, become angry with each other, decide that they are more suited to solitary work, and the like. Still, it is a serious commitment to the gods and to each other, and should not be undertaken lightly.
At the same time, a group dedication is an occasion for joy and even fun. Remember that Wicca is practiced with “reverence and mirth.” Be sure that you are ready, be serious in your vows, but don’t forget to enjoy the moment, too. Your group is the family that you have chosen. These people, out of all others in the world, are those with whom you will share your Craft, in perfect love and perfect trust. Rejoice in each other, and feel your circle fill up with love and magick!
Supplies:
- A small taper candle for each member of the group (you can all use the same color, or you can each have a different color), a large white group candle, toothpicks or sharp sticks to write with, a long piece of red yarn. Optional are a special chalice for group work only, ritual anointing oil, and a box for your yarn to be put into once the ritual is over.
• • •
- Consecrate and cleanse the circle by passing sage or incense.
- Consecrate and cleanse the circle by passing salt and water.
- Cast the circle. This is a powerful and important ritual, so be sure to focus when casting the circle. This is a good time to use the formal casting where the HPS walks around the outside of the circle with her athame or sword. Or you can cast the circle hand to hand.
- Call the quarters
HPS invokes the goddess:
Great Goddess, we your children come before you on this the night of your Full Moon, symbol of your power and beauty. Be with us tonight, and lend us your strength, your wisdom, and your power. Watch over us in this rite, as we dedicate ourselves to each other and to you. Welcome, and blessed be.
HPS:
We have come together tonight for the purpose of dedicating ourselves and this group,
____________________________[name of group]. This rite formalizes our intent to work together as we follow the path of the old gods, and practice our Craft to the best of our abilities. We state our intention to work together in perfect love and perfect trust, for the betterment of all. Are all here so agreed? (All members should answer: “We are.”)
Group members can sit for the next part of the ritual.
All members are given a colored candle, which they should inscribe with their names (using their athame, a toothpick, or a stick). They can use their Wiccan name, if they have one, and/or their mundane names. The large white group candle is passed around the circle, and each member can inscribe it with whatever he or she feels is appropriate for the moment—names, symbols, runes, and so forth. The candle can be anointed with a ritual oil if it is available, and then placed back in the center of the circle.
Once this is completed, everyone should stand again. The next part can be performed by the HPS or HP on each member, or you can go around the circle and have each circle or coven member do the next.
Use the red yarn to “take the measure” of each group member. Without cutting the yarn, measure off a length equal to the height of that person (if someone is six feet tall, you would measure off six feet of yarn, so be sure that you have enough yarn when you start.) Tie a knot at that spot, then take the measure of the next member. When you are done, you will have a long piece of yarn with as many knots in it as there are group members. You can then cut it off at the end. This piece of yarn represents your group. You can anoint it with oil if you like, and you may wish to keep it in a special box. Pass it around the circle and let everyone hold it for a moment and put energy into it. In later rituals, you can use this length of yarn to mark out your circle space, if you like, or just keep it someplace safe. (Note: if you add a new member to the group later on, you can measure out a new length for him or her and tie it onto the end of the group piece.)
When you are finished, spread the piece of yarn out around the inside of the circle so that each person is holding onto a knot. It doesn’t matter if it is their “own” knot, and there will probably be yarn lying on the floor between each of you, which is fine.
Holding the yarn in their left hands, the members will take their colored candles and light them off the goddess candle. Together, the group members will light the white group candle with their individual candles, then blow out the individual candles, leaving the group candle burning. (This may not go as smoothly as it is written, which is okay. Don’t forget to laugh at yourselves and have fun, even if things go wrong.)
With all still standing, the HPS will lead the group in the dedication. If necessary, you can hold the yarn in your left hand, while holding a book or paper with the words in your right:
Group Dedication
We are Witches
We walk the path of the old gods
From this moment forth
We will not walk alone
Together, we will worship
Together, we will practice our Craft
Together, we will learn and grow
We vow to work, from this day forward
In perfect love and perfect trust
According to the free will of all
And for the good of all
Creating only beauty
Singing in harmony
Our song upon the earth
Love is the law and love is the bond
In the name of the goddess and the god
So do we vow, and so mote it be.
- Take a moment of silence. If you like, you can pass a hug or a kiss around the circle. Sit.
- Pass cakes and ale. These should be something special and, if you want, you can serve whatever you are drinking in a special chalice that will be reserved for the group from that time on.
- Pass the speaking stick.
- Dismiss the quarters.
HPS thanks the goddess:
Great Goddess, Mother of us all, we thank you for your presence in our circle at this ritual of dedication. May you continue to watch over us when we are together, and when we are apart. Farewell, and blessed be.
Open the circle by clasping hands and reciting the Wiccan Rede (see chapter 17), or finish by dropping your hands (one by one or all together) and saying: “The circle is open but never broken.”