What is a difference between general conversation to a spirit or deity and talking to them in ritual. I know some people like to evoke spirits in a whole ritualistic fashion, but I also know people can talk to them and still get stuff done and manifested in a less ritualistic and more.casual way. I love rituals but why put effort into something elaborate if you can do it in a easier way. I know some people cast circles to come closer to deity, but why put in the effort? What if someone just wants to have a general conversation with a spirit? I usually just light candles and talk. I guess you can call that a ritual but it isn't as elaborate as some peoples. But I guess what I'm trying to say is why put effort into an elaborate ritual if it can just be done the easy way. I actually would love to do more elaborate rituals so please don't get me wrong. Sorry if I offended anybody.
Talking to them in a general conversation would be like channeling or if you were a medium. Technically, anyone can channel spirits, but some people are born with that ability as a natural gift (or they might have a natural connection with that spirit). Everyone is born with a gift of some kind and I think that they should discover it.
Doing a ritual for communicating all really depends on what your trying to do (nothing specific) and how much you’ve focused on your spiritual side.
I feel the real difference lies in the comfort level of each individual.
Some find it easier to design an entire ritual for a particular diety believe it or not. The associations made between an individual and a deity during ritual in a way can open more doors to communicating with said deity than perhaps the individual for whatever reason could have previously.
Personally I speak to my deity- My version of the Christian God, whenever I am able. We communicate quite well, and I genuinely find him more open than one may expect the christanized version to be.
In this sense those whom have communicated with a particular diety for years upon years indeed do find it much easier to communicate naturally on the spot.
But, what of those just starting deity work whom find themselves unsure of where to begin or how to approach?
Perhaps then ritual work offers a safe space to begin communications with a previously unknown deity.
The design and use of formal ritual is as much for the caster as it is for the being/s they are trying to appeal to. It is a way of formalizing your thoughts and placing yourself into a focused, magic/spiritual mindset.
Many people don't fell like they are gathering power and will while standing at the bus stop. But at a circle, wilfully making use of symbolism and representation, is a time of dedicated thought and purpose. It is matching the mind to the setting. Think about how your mindset changes between being at home versus work or school. Your focus is different. Your energy is different too. Your thoughts and attitudes change as you go from'home mode' to 'work mode'.
Another thing to consider is the type of goal desired, and also the attitude of the entity being connected with. Some are more formal than others. Same goes for individual traditions. Some traditions rely heavily on traditions and ritual to generate a continuous mindset while others may have little or no formal traditions at all.
Finally, ritual is most useful when acting in a group. When multiple people are working together, it is important to make sure everyone is in the same mindset and focused on the same goal. And a little choreography of tasks goes a long ways. One person to be the focal point and lead. The rest tasked with specific duties and symbolic actions that contribute to the whole. Not everyone can be the head chef in the kitchen. Some need to prep, some need to make the sauce, some need to mind the oven. All so the master can guide, organize, and finally assemble the plate to be delivered.
There's an energy shift when you do a ritual and some enjoy that.
You can talk to deities/spirits without a circle casting or in a ritual setting, but it's the difference between hanging with your friends at home and seeing them at work. One's more casual and free-flowing while the other you need to focus and get a job done. The more you work with a spirit/deity, the closer your connection and less of a need for formality, but in the beginning, you don't really know each other so things are more by the book [aka, rituals]
One isn't necessarily better than the other, it's all preference, but ritual does provide protective barriers and more time-honoured ways of doing things as well as creating a sacred space for the both of you. I work with both, but in a ritual way, I just work with deities. I've always dealt with spirits and I talk to them outside of circle all the time. I've never asked for one's aid in a spell, with he exception of ouija boards and pendulums [but that's a tool specifically to communicate] Deities, I'll pray to them and give blessings outside of circle, but I enjoy rituals as a way to honour them and the time of year [be it a Sabbat or Esbat] so, overall, I guess it comes down to if you want to feel extra witchy or not.
