Week 17 Writing Prompt: A Big Ritual

The true traveller is the one urged to move about for physical, aesthetic, intellectual as well as spiritual reasons. – Ella Maillart

So now that you’ve done the small magics, I think it’s time to do a big ritual to further one or more of your goals. Magic in my experience can kind of be boiled down to a few topics:

* appearance/self improvement,
* love issues,
* hex issues,
* prosperity,
* protection,
* health,
* creativity.

I’m not typically a “big magic” kind of girl, to be honest. I don’t have the time or the patience and it always seems to involve following a lot of rules that don’t make sense to me. But I’m working on learning because I’d like to be more well rounded.

Some of you may already have a “high magic” practice involving Hermetism or other formal magical practices. Feel free to do whatever you generally do in that practice to ask for help in your goal.

I’m working on a book, as some of you may know. I’m basically trying to figure out a ritual format for non-ritual oriented people like myself that doesn’t require secret knowledge but, at the same time, involves more than spit, an herb, and a candle.

Magic is about intent. That’s why spit, an herb, and a candle can be just as powerful as a formalized ritual or even just sincere prayer. But, I do find magic to be like anything else: Your friends will love you just as much if all you have is a bag of potato chips and some beer to share in a messy house and be happy for your company. At the same time, it’s appreciated when you clean your house, make hors d’oeuvres and find a wine pairing for it. A true friend obviously expects the dishes in the sink more than the sparkling house. But, when you put that effort out for friends, they appreciate it. Often it creates an atmosphere of kindness and reciprocity.

I did a large rite myself on Friday using Gordon’s Sigil Guide as a starting point. Because I’m Type A, I then wrote out a ritual outline and tried to figure out a date and time to do it. I happened to have Friday off and it was a full moon. Both of these were good for my purposes. I then took time to buy fresh flowers, to go to the bakery and get a fresh fruit tart, bought fresh candles and went to a printer to print pictures and laminate them. I got ready like I would if I were going to a ritual outside of my house. I set my ritual table and I did the work. Doing something so large scale, for me, really showed the seriousness of my intent. I’ve been feeling its effects slowly wash over me since Friday. I’ve been calmer, better rested, more organized and I feel better about my appearance. It was really worth the effort of taking a day to do this!

I can’t wait to see your results!

Cheers!
Deb
P.S. Holy cats, Week 17! Six more weeks to go!!!!

Deborah Castellano

Deborah Castellano's book Glamour Magic: The Witchcraft Revolution to Get What You Want is available for purchase through Amazon, Llewellyn and Barnes and Noble.
Her frequently updated catalogue of published work is available on Author Central.

She writes about Glamour Magic here at Charmed, I'm Sure. Her podcast appearances are available here.

Her craft shop, The Mermaid & The Crow specializes in old-world style workshop from 100% local, sustainable sources featuring tempting small batch ritual oils and hand-spun hand-dyed yarn in luxe fibers and more!

In a previous life, Deborah founded the first Neo-Victorian/Steampunk convention, SalonCon which received rave reviews from con-goers and interviews from the New York Times and MTV.

She resides in New Jersey with her husband, Jow and their cat, Max II. She has a terrible reality television habit she can't shake and likes St. Germain liquor, record players and typewriters.  

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