Fundamental Wiccan Rites By Judith Rhoads This is the first of a set of rituals from my private collection over the years. Much of the material I gathered was given with the usual it's a secret, don't share it attitude. With the Harmonic Convergence in 1987 the time has come to share all information and learn to blend what we know from all the traditions, even from all lifetimes. Take the time to sort out what you know, what you really believe, and use and what you want for you, yourself personally, as your own magick and tradition. Think of it as the Chariot card in the Tarot deck. You have the reins in your hands, controlling the power of the horses (which, in one perspective, stand for your consciousness, your knowledge and wisdom). Will you be successful in controlling your power? As a student, you've been shown how to train the horses and how to drive them. Now, develop your own style, your own way of handling your power. Ideally you have had more than one teacher. No one teacher has it all; there is so much to learn and so many ways of perceiving truth. Of course, you'll always be learning more control as you add more horses to the team. Remember that you can have as much power as you can handle. The judgment is yours. Watch out for the ego. If you fall (in a big way, not little failures), you have to go directly to jail. Do not past GO, do not collect $200. Spend your time (in jail) healing and understanding the lesson in the Fall. Brush yourself off and get back in the Chariot. I used the analogy of jail because you can lose abilities/power for awhile depending on what you were attempting to do. I once met a person who was psychically tied because of what he tried to do in another lifetime. I got my hand smacked and told not to interfere with the binding. The ties were there for a reason. Blending is the term I use for handling different kinds of magick. It was taught that one should stick to one tradition because different traditions are on different Rays (kinds of energy). If one used too many different kinds of energy two things happened. First, the energies could cancel each other out or give you something very different from what you aimed for. Second, one could get psychic indigestion, like with the wrong kind of foods together. Yes, cooking is a great analogy for blending energies. One needs the right amounts and combinations in creating a meal or magick. In future issues, I intend to give out these secret rituals for general use. Many of them are quite nice, some spectacular. Of course results do depend on the energy and intention you put in. I'll start with general magicks. Good luck and enjoy! General Rite of Magick This rite requires a magical catalyst composed of one part saltpeter and one part sugar, mixed well. If possible, add some finely pulverized chamomile flowers. You will need no more than a quarter cup. This catalyst should be in a closed, and preferably ornate, glass or metal container used only for magical purposes. You also need a round card with the symbol of the item or affair. This will be the magical subject. If appropriate, you may use a picture. The Priest may also perform this ritual. The witch for whom the magick is to be worked, or the Priestess if it is a matter of common interest, will carefully explain to all present within the Great Circle what precise result is sought. When all understand, the Priestess shall place the card symbolizing the subject before the incense brazier, and the container of magical catalyst atop the card. The Priestess then holds the sword, or her athame (ritual knife), so that the entire coven may see it. She bids all to point their athames at this instrument and says: Now do we breathe in, and out, deeply. But it is not merely air that we take in, it is the light, fine, magical air which pervades the universe. We breathe in with our entire bodies, not just our breasts. And we breathe out where we point the light Air into this tool. In our minds' eye it fills with Air light enough to drift. The Air shall remain herein until we release it. When the Priestess judges that all have breathed five or more times to imbue the sword (or athame) with Air Element, she shall replace it so that it touches the incense brazier. She then holds the wand so that the entire coven may see it. She bids all to point their athames at this instrument and says: Now do we breathe in, and out, deeply. But it is not merely air that we take in; it is the bright, hot, red Fire that pervades the universe. We breathe in with our entire bodies, not just our breasts. And we breathe out where we point the hot Fire into this tool. In our minds' eye we see it glowing and feel the heat. The Fire shall remain unabated until we release it. When the Priestess judges that all have breathed five or more times to imbue the wand with Fire Element, she shall replace it so that it touches the incense brazier. She then holds the cup so that the entire coven may see it. She bids all to point their athames at this instrument and says: Now do we breathe in, and out, deeply. But it is not merely air that we take in; it is the cold, wet, magical Water that pervades the universe. We breathe in with our entire bodies, not just our breasts. And we breathe out where we point the cold Water into this tool. In our minds' eye we see the swirling green and feel the cold wetness. The Water shall remain herein until we release it. When the Priestess judges that all have breathed five or more times to imbue the cup with Water Element, she shall replace it so that it touches the incense brazier. She then holds the pentacle so that the entire coven may see it. She bids all to point their athames at this instrument and says: Now do we breathe in, and out, deeply. But it is not merely air that we take in; it is the solid, heavy Earth that pervades the universe. We breathe in with our entire bodies, not just our breasts. And we breathe out where we point the heavy Earth into this tool. In our minds' eye we see the heaviness, the solidity. The Earth shall remain herein until we release it. When the Priestess judges that all have breathed five or more times to imbue the pentacle with Earth Element, she shall replace it so that it touches the incense brazier. She then stands at the north of the altar, removes the cover of the magical catalyst, then holds forth the card bearing the symbol of the magick, saying: The tools are charged and lie glowing on the altar before us. Think once more upon that which must be done. The Priestess then shreds the card, dropping the pieces into the container of magical catalyst. She says: As flame and smoke do suddenly go forth, so also, in a flash, go Earth, Air, Fire and Water that we have gathered here, charged to accomplish our desire. She then quickly empties all the magical catalyst in to the incense brazier and quickly steps back to avoid the sparks. She orders wine poured for the entire coven. When all are prepared she toasts: Our many thanks, o creatures of the Elements, for thy aid. For the rest of the night no mention will be made of the subject of this magick. | 
