A quiet moonlit ritual is planned, complete with a devotional reading by candlelight - unfortunately, your group has not accounted for a rather strong breeze that snuffs your candles at an inopportune time....
A solitaire pagan pulls a spur-of-the-moment ritual only to give up in despair upon realizing he has forgotten his athamé....
As pagans and Wiccans, we've all been in tight situations during rituals at one time or another. Although most of us have been able to laugh at our predicaments later, at the time, with sinking hearts, we've let doubt and fear of failure invade our circles. This needs not to be, since hitches can easily be turned into positive experiences. After all, isn't that the ultimate goal of ritual?
Our religion is unique in that it has no set rules to follow. Most anything goes and often does. Although there are common-sense rules, don't get upset when your ritual does not pan out as planned. Remember, a key part of our religion is nature. By the laws of nature, everything unfolds as it should.
The following are some hints and suggestions when preparing and performing ritual. They are not set rules, and I'm sure each of you have your own unique ritual experiences.
General ritual
Remember that when performing ritual, it doesn't hurt to let the Boy Scout "Be prepared" stand as our credo as well. Be sure to have an outline, or a general idea of what you want to accomplish, when gathering your materials. Go over the ritual in detail, and try to trouble-shoot it well in advance. Usually, taking the time to do a "dry run" will provide insight into what you're trying to achieve and also give you more added inspiration.
If you are part of a group performing a ritual, make sure your high priestess and/or high priest is competent and responsible.
Outdoor ritual
Performing ritual out-of-doors is one of the most fulfilling experiences any pagan can have. Moonlight, fresh air, the communion with nature - all enhance our desire to honor the old ways.
But take heed, for disregard for safety can dampen the best of high spirits. I've never seen a Beltaine ritual hit the rocks as quickly as when a pagan visiting my coven in Pennsylvania leaned a little too close to a flame - whoosh! It was like time traveling back to witness the Burning Times. She escaped without injury, but our ritual was not as happy-go-lucky as before her stint as Joan of Arc!
Most pagans I've spoken with indicate that constant stops and starts to keep candles lit is a source of irritation in outdoor ritual. Some alternatives to candles include glow sticks (which you can find at most craft stores), battery-operated mini-lights or butane lamps.
In addition:
Indoor ritual
Indoor ritual can be liberating in its own way, especially since being under cover can add its own power and energy to a ritual.
In indoor ritual situations, be aware of movement constraints. Your living room may seem big enough for a healthy game of Twister, but add in 25 pagans complete with regalia and you have a recipe for instant claustrophobia.
Be considerate also of the air quality in a closed environment. Once on a freezing February night, a friend's coven ended up on the street after someone decided their purification ritual needed some help from a sage smudge pot. Wow! Eyes teared and throats burned as they stood outside shivering as the hostess aired out her home. Consider incense alternatives such as fresh flowers or a light potpourri.
But what if it still goes "wrong"?
It may help to remember that performing ritual is not like baking a cake. You cannot control all factors that go into the finished product, nor, I believe, are you meant to. Over the years, I have attended many rituals, hosted by my coven and as a guest in other groups. I have noticed that we all seem to deal with minor ritual setbacks the same way - with laughter. A gentle, cleansing laughter that banishes all fear, doubt and embarrassment. We remember ritual as it was meant to be - a celebration of our faith.
And if that's not enough, remember this: We are all students on this path, and we are not concerned with the destination so much as with the journey. Each experience, whether we consider it "good" or "bad," helps us learn and grow.
Scott Cunningham, author of numerous pagan and Wiccan books, writes that any pagan can do any ritual anywhere. He cites as an example his experience in performing an impromptu ritual in a McDonald's booth. He used a little salt packet for earth, a cup of water, a lighter to represent fire and his own breath for air. He conducted his ritual using a plastic knife as his athamé before awed friends. I have often remembered this simple approach to magick when I thought I was in a tough spot. Cunningham's willingness to create magick with next to no tools reminds us that despite our frequent trips to occult stores, yard sales and rummage racks for that perfect robe or wand, we require nothing more to perform ritual than ourselves.
And remember - there are no accidents in ritual. If it helps to salvage bruised ego or pride, often times there is a higher lesson in the experience for us all.
Do you have "ritual accidents" you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you.
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