Ceremony Informal Ceremony Most ceremonies are informal. They are the little ritual things you do every day. The thanks you give for good things that happen and the rituals that you do to keep order in your life. Many of the magical tools are magical because we find ways to use them in our rituals. And by doing that we honor them and they bring their energy into our lives to assist us.  Daily rituals often include:  Cleaning.  Preparing food.  Dining.  Healing.  Bathing and dressing.  Retiring. Hugging in greeting Reading to children Little prayers Giving thanks  It is human nature to practice ritual yet it has become rare that we honor our daily life as sacred time. These rituals and others should be recognized and honored. Begin to note the little rituals you generally do every day. Or the ones you do on holidays. Begin to give them the attention they deserve. You consciously honor your life this way. Formal Ceremony Formal ceremonies that mark life passages. They can also mark sacred days,  whatever those days might be. These ceremonies can be private or you may want to have friends join you in celebration. Formal ceremonies follow certain forms that are very similar in various cultures and traditions.   Create a ceremonial area. This can be an altar or a circle (preferably outdoors) Cleanse the space Clean the altar Items, rake or sweep the circle. The preparation for the ceremony is a part of the ceremony, honor it.  Sanctify the space. Generally done with Sage burning or incense.  Witches like to use a tool that is like a knife to draw the circle.  I generally place appropriate minerals, or crystals in the four directions and often add a candle there. You can also sprinkle water in the seven directions.  Align the space to the Seven directions: Again this can be done with minerals or candles, but be sure to add your intention out loud at the directional points.  You enter a circle from the East and proceed clockwise  around the circle to begin the ceremony. You always enter a sacred space from the East. Even cathedrals are aligned  that way. East South West North Center Above Below See Sacred Directions  Call in the divine spirit of your choice.  I generally ask for Goddess (earth energy) but everyone has a favorite. Angels, Christian symbols, any spirit of your choice can be the focus of this energy.  I often add an invitation to the local land divas and fairies.  Most people notice quite a nice energy change as they join us.  Thank and honor spirit in it’s presence.·  State the intention of the ceremony.  Ask blessings of spirit. Perform a symbolic act to experience the intention of the ceremony. Symbolic sharing of food and drink. This can be absolutely anything from water to wine from fruits to bread. After the ceremony it is nice to leave some of the food for the local animals and birds and to return some of the liquid to the Earth.  Thank the spirit. Release the area of its sacred function. This is often followed by celebration and feasting. This celebration and feasting is also part of the ceremony. Your laughter and your joy and your appetite sated are all just as sacred as the ceremony that is more formal, honor it.  Main Page | Magical Tools | Meditation | Air | Earth | Fire |  Water |  |White Light | Aroma Therapy | Candle Colors |   | Mineral Properties | Sacred Directions | Ceremony | | Home | Community | Astrology | Chakras | Magic | Books | | Newsletter | Personal Consultations | Terra Bio | Contact Terra |