Popular Wiccan Rituals And Ceremonies

By Leslie Ball


Wicca is a pagan religion that has been around for a very long time. Though it is often associated with the occult and is quite a controversial topic for some, the religion itself is actually a peaceful one that is linked to magic and witchcraft, but not necessarily of a dark kind. There are many different Wiccan rituals and ceremonies that happen throughout the year.

Festivals in Wicca are based on the seasons. There are about eight of these festivals throughout the year and they are known as Sabbats. The cycle of these festivals is referred to as the Wheel of the Year. They occur during the four solstices and equinoxes and the four mid points between them. Other pagan religions may only celebrate four of these festivals.

A sacred circle is the space wherein most ritual practices will occur. In this circle, magic can be practiced and spells cast safely without endangering anyone outside the circle. In Wicca, the use of white magic, or good magic, is promoted as opposed to dark or black magic, which is used in religions like Satanism.

Ritual practices in Wicca are usually for one of the following reasons: to offer protection, banish negativity, to heal or to aid fertility. Spells are cast, accompanied with chants in order to bring about desired results. Wiccans generally believe that whatever they put out into the world will come back to them three times greater.

Ritual practices mainly happen during the Sabbats. Pagans like to take advantage of the full moon or even a new moon in order to enhance magical powers. The purpose of a ritual practice is to alter one's conscious level and also to enhance his or her religious experience.

There are very specific objects that have an association with a ritual practice. There is almost always a dagger or knife known as an athame present. Coveners may also use a wand, a pentacle or a chalice as part of their spell. Witchcraft associated items like a broomstick or a cauldron could also be present, as well as incense or candles. These things are usually placed on an altar inside the sacred circle.

The cone of power is a way for those conducting a ritual to send energy and healing to someone who is not in the circle. The group of coveners form a circle and hold hands and chant, dance or drum to raise the energy in the circle. This energy is focused to a single point above the circle centre, thereby creating a conical shape. This entire ritual is known as Raising the Cone of Power.

Though there is no central figure or deity that Wiccans worship or pray to, they do believe in the idea of a God and Goddess when performing rituals. Sometimes, the God and Goddess are invoked by a High Priest and High Priestess during a sex magic ritual. During such a ritual, the High Priest and High Priestess engage in sexual intercourse in order to raise the necessary magic energy for a spell.




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