self dedication

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a simple yet elequent self dedication ritual from sacred-texts.com

Subject: Article 2 - BOS section

Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 03:59:00 -0700 (PDT)

From: Vitriol London

To: postmaster@sacred-texts.com

A Self Dedication Ritual

===================================================

For more information on the authors please visit -

www.avalonia.co.uk or if you wish to contact them

please write to: BM Avalonia, London, WC1N 3XX, United

Kingdom. (Please include a SAE)

? David Rankine & Sorita 2000

===================================================

Preparation

When you decide that you want to do a self-dedication,

plan the date of the ritual at least a month in

advance, choosing a suitable time, perhaps consulting

astrological tables, or at least the phases of the

moon. It is best done on a waxing or full moon.

Start your preparation at the new moon. Make sure that

you have a day off work for the initiation itself. You

may already have decided on a magickal or witch name.

If you haven't yet decided on your witch name, find

one through meditation and pathworking in the daily

ritual leading up to the rite of self-initiation.

Begin preparing for the self-initiation by performing

a daily ritual. Start by creating a sacred space.

Purify the area with incense and sprinkling salt

water. Visualize a sphere around yourself, and call on

the powers of the four quarters, visualizing the

elemental landscapes. (more...circle casting)

Call on the Goddess and the God, by whatever names you

prefer to call them. Declare to the Elements, the

Goddess and the God that you are embarking on the path

of dedication, and ask for their help in preparing

you.

Spend some time in meditation on the meaning of

dedication, and opening yourself up for any messages

from the Goddess and God. Thank and say farewell to

the Goddess, God, and Elements, and close the circle.

Closer to the time

Try and spend time every day in the week leading up to

the self-dedication rite working out your vows and

meditating. Make sure that the vows you make are

realistic! It is better to make less demanding vows

than to make highly demanding vows and not live up to

them.

The Ritual

Spend the day in quiet meditation and fasting. Drink

only pure water, or if you really cannot do this,

allow yourself a small quantity of apple or grape

juice. Do not smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs! If

you are on prescribed medication, consult your doctor.

If the medication is short term, wait until you have

finished the course of medication before doing the

ritual.

If possible, go to a sacred site or wild place and

attune yourself with nature. Communicate with the

nature spirits, and ask for their blessings.

Think about the vows that you wish to make in your

initiation. Think of a vow to yourself, one to the

Goddess and God, and one to the Earth.

Before you start the ritual, have a purification bath.

You may put essential oils, herbs or sea salt in the

bath. Whilst in the bath, meditate on purifying your

aura. See your aura as grey and dirty, but gradually

becoming lighter and cleaner, until it is brilliant.

When you emerge from the bath, allow yourself to dry

naturally. Do not use a hair dryer, or rub yourself

with towels. Rub your entire body with oil. This may

be olive oil, grapeseed oil, or other vegetable oil,

scented with pure essential oils of your choice.

Perform the ritual skyclad if possible.

Have an altar set up, with an altar cloth on it, with

a chalice of wine, a piece of bread or cake on a

platter, a censer, two altar candles, some anointing

oil, your athame or other tool, any ritual jewellery

which will be put on at the end of the ritual to mark

your dedication, and two small dishes containing sea

salt and water (from a spring or sacred well if

possible). You may also wish to have images or statues

of the Goddess and God on the altar.

Light the candles and the incense, and purify your

ritual space. Hold your hands over the water dish and

say:

"I purify you, Oh water, in the blessed and mighty

names of the Goddess and God",

visualizing it glowing with white light. Do likewise

with the salt, then tip some of the salt into the

water, and mix it in with your forefinger.

Sprinkle the salt water around your ritual space.

Visualize a circle around you. (or cast a circle in

your usual way) Call on the elements, then on the

Goddess and God.

Declare your intent, saying something like: "I

(ordinary name) am prepared for dedication. I have

followed the path and fulfilled my vows, and I now

call upon the Goddess and the God to confer on me

wisdom and integrity. I ask for the blessings of air,

fire, water and earth".

Spend some time in meditation, and controlled

breathing to gather energy and achieve an altered

state of consciousness. You may also wish to use a

mantra or chant.

Meditate for a while on finding the stillness inside

yourself. When you are ready, stand before the altar,

and anoint yourself first with oil, then with salt

water and lastly wine, saying:

"I am reborn into my true and magickal self, and I

take on the name of (Witch name). I ask for the

blessings of the Goddess and God on my endeavours, and

I vow (make your vows)".

When anointing yourself you may wish to anoint your

chakras, or anoint yourself with a circle, pentagram,

or personal symbol. It is good to write down your vows

in your magickal diary, and sign the entry with your

witch name.

Present yourself to the quarters, stating that you are

now dedicated to the solitary path. Consecrate your

ritual jewellery with the four elements (incense,

water, salt and candle flame), and anoint it with oil

for spirit before putting it on.

Consecrate your athame or other tool in the same

manner, then hold it to your heart, feeling a link

with it, and filling it with your energy. Say

"I am a child of earth and starry heaven."

Hold it up to the moon and stars, and ask for the

blessings of the cosmos on it, then touch it to the

ground, and ask for the blessings of mother earth.

Lastly, consecrate the wine and cake by touching your

athame to them, and channelling energy through it.

Drink and eat, earthing yourself, then thank the

Goddess, God and Elements, and close the circle.

Remember: Write up your experiences in your magickal

diary. Refrain from ritual for at least the next week,

whilst you integrate the work.


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