(no subject)
I performed a solitary ritual tonight, which is not something I normally do (and yeah, I got yelled at for it during the ritual itself :P). Before I even set anything up, I did something I’ve never done before; I used my handmade homemade besom! I swept around the room, concentrating on clearing the space, then laid it across the East side, as a barrier while I set up the altar. After I was in the space and beginning the ritual, I stood it up and leaned it against the near-by door frame.
In the shower before ritual, I was driven to sing chants, and they energized me:
~ Under the Full Moonlight (3x)
~ We All Come From the Goddess (3x)
~ Listen to the Lord and Lady (3x)
~ Goddess Chant (9x)
~ Mothers and Fathers of Old (3x)
Normally I find going through all the motions (not in that way) of building the Circle to be... not boring, but... lackluster, I guess. But this time I really felt as though the Guardians of the Watchtowers were there. I think a recent addition I made, placing representatives of the Elements instead of only having the candles, played a factor here (pictures below).
For the actual Full Moon rite, I concocted a “Moongazing” ritual. I have clear glass tea light holders, and I turned one of them upside down and put the tea light underneath, making it somewhat like the Moon. I spoke my personal Full Moon invocation to the Goddess, made a brief statement of purpose, then closed my eyes and performed my “Four Square Breath” (inhale four heartbeats, hold four, exhale four, hold four. Repeat three more times). I opened my eyes and gazed at the “Moon," which I when I got my stern talking-to. Afterwords I was summarily dismissed at that point, but it didn’t come as a rejection, more like a “go out into the big wide world” kind of encouragement. I thanked the Gods, performed the Cakes and Wine rite (English muffins and white wine, good stuff), and closed the Circle.
Now, pictures (click to make them bigger)!!
Altar overview.
Goddess side detail. You can somewhat see the Moongazing tool on the far left.
God side detail, with a never-been-lit lion candle for the Sun God.
Center detail. This was also the first time using this particular blade, it's got an actual scorpion in the handle.
"Top" detail.
Air - feathers in an etched glass bowl.
Fire - tea light in a lantern.
Water - water in a blue glass dish.
Earth - marble sphere.
Obligatory candlelit shot. I SWEAR the flash was turned off!! Also, I moved the Quarter candles onto the altar to give as much light as possible.
In the shower before ritual, I was driven to sing chants, and they energized me:
~ Under the Full Moonlight (3x)
~ We All Come From the Goddess (3x)
~ Listen to the Lord and Lady (3x)
~ Goddess Chant (9x)
~ Mothers and Fathers of Old (3x)
Normally I find going through all the motions (not in that way) of building the Circle to be... not boring, but... lackluster, I guess. But this time I really felt as though the Guardians of the Watchtowers were there. I think a recent addition I made, placing representatives of the Elements instead of only having the candles, played a factor here (pictures below).
For the actual Full Moon rite, I concocted a “Moongazing” ritual. I have clear glass tea light holders, and I turned one of them upside down and put the tea light underneath, making it somewhat like the Moon. I spoke my personal Full Moon invocation to the Goddess, made a brief statement of purpose, then closed my eyes and performed my “Four Square Breath” (inhale four heartbeats, hold four, exhale four, hold four. Repeat three more times). I opened my eyes and gazed at the “Moon," which I when I got my stern talking-to. Afterwords I was summarily dismissed at that point, but it didn’t come as a rejection, more like a “go out into the big wide world” kind of encouragement. I thanked the Gods, performed the Cakes and Wine rite (English muffins and white wine, good stuff), and closed the Circle.
Now, pictures (click to make them bigger)!!
Altar overview.
Goddess side detail. You can somewhat see the Moongazing tool on the far left.
God side detail, with a never-been-lit lion candle for the Sun God.
Center detail. This was also the first time using this particular blade, it's got an actual scorpion in the handle.
"Top" detail.
Air - feathers in an etched glass bowl.
Fire - tea light in a lantern.
Water - water in a blue glass dish.
Earth - marble sphere.
Obligatory candlelit shot. I SWEAR the flash was turned off!! Also, I moved the Quarter candles onto the altar to give as much light as possible.