Go to:    CAWeb    Green Egg    How About Magic    Events    Nesting    Subordinate Orgs.      Annwfn      ERA      Forever Forests      HOME      Lifeways        Liturgy        R.I.N.G.S.      Nemeton      POEM    Articles    Bibliography    Official Documents    Who's Who    Membership App    Guilds (off site)    Hot Links    Site Index	CAW Liturgical Structure    This is an outline of the ritual style and Order of Service generally used in the Church of All Worlds. It is offered here as a suggestion, but not a form to which you must adhere. One of the best things about Pagan rituals is that they offer so much room for creativity. This is the form taught in the Lifeways classes, and used as a starting point for creating more complex forms. It fits in with most standard ritual forms used throughout much of the Euro-American and Australian Neo-Pagan community. I. BANISHING/CLEANSING    (optional; not used in all rituals)    A. Smudging    B. With Words    C. Apurging (with salt water) II. GROUNDING    (optional; not used in all rituals)    A. Guided meditation ("Tree of Life")    B. Physical Movement III. CASTING THE CIRCLE    (Deosil/clockwise for "doing;" widdershins/counterclockwise for     "undoing." All movements within the ritual should follow the     direction of casting.)    A. Walk circumference with a tool (blade, wand or crystal).       1. Start in East for Deosil Circles       2. Start in West for Widdershins Circles (i.e. Samhain)    B. All dance circumference    C. Chanting/singing    D. Visualization IV. CALLING THE QUARTERS    A. East (Air)    B. South (Fire)    C. West (Water)    D. North (Earth)    E. (optional) The Great Above (or Spirit)    F. (optional) The Great Below (or Abyss)    G. (optional) The Center (or Faerie) V. INVOKING DEITIES & SPIRITS    A. The Goddess    B. The God    C. (optional) Ancestors    D. (optional) Faerie    E. (optional) Animal Totems    F. (optional) Higher Self VI. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE    Clarifying the intention of the ritual. VII. WORKING    Elements of the ritual are symbolized and/or    represented by participants. Dynamics    between chosen elements are dramatized,    healed, transformed or energized (this is    the most creative part). VIII. POWER RAISING/RELEASING    A. Chanting and/or Drumming    B. Dancing    C. Meditation    D. Great Rite (sex) if appropriate IX. COMMUNION    A. Charging/Blessing and Sharing:       1. Food (cakes, bread, fruit, etc.)       2. Drink (water, wine, juice, etc.) X. HIATUS    A. Meditation    B. Discussion ("Sacred Bullshit")    C. Sharing    D. Business XI. THANKS & DISMISSAL OF ELEMENTS & SPIRITS    A. Deities/Spirits (in reverse order of invocation)    B. Directions/Elements (in reverse order of invocation) XII. OPENING THE CIRCLE    (in reverse direction of casting)    Usually done in same manner as it was cast, i.e. by song, dance, sword, etc. Notes:      Maximum participation is sought for. Parts are shared among participants.      There is usually personal ritual preparation before the rite begins. This can include silent meditation, a purifying bath, fasting, jogging, dancing, stretching, etc.      Circles are usually cast Deosil, starting in the East, or seasonal direction; but at Samhain the Circle and Quarters are cast and called widdershins, beginning in the West. Greek rituals are also done Widdershins.      In the Southern Hemisphere, the Directions, movements and seasons are reversed from those here indicated.    Return to Top Replies to CAWeb Spinners ©1999 Church of All Worlds, inc. All rights reserved.