For those who are unfamiliar with pagan ritual and terms, here's a fuller explanation of some of the sections I listed in the “Outline of a Ritual” post.
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Casting the circle serves two main purposes.  It is meant to contain and focus the energy that is raised and gathered for the purpose of the ritual or magickal working.  It is also meant to act as a protective barrier between the participants and the ‘other’ world. The energies raised during a ritual or magical working are going to attract entities of all kinds.  The circle ensures that the spirits and other ethereal beings that are within the barrier are limited to the ones that you invited in.  Though most pagans do not believe in the Christian devil or demons, we do recognize that there are beings out there that are mischievous and will try to mislead and misdirect you.  There are also those that are outright malevolent and will seek to interfere and even harm you.  And then there are those that are attracted by the energies and will disrupt the flow or syphon off the energy for themselves.  This category of beings will make up the majority of the number that the circle is meant to keep out.  They are neither good nor evil themselves, they just want the energy. So how do you cast the circle?  The leader of the ritual will use an athame, wand, sword, staff or just a finger to trace a circle around the space that is to be enclosed.  The circle is drawn in a clockwise direction, deosil ( JE-shill ).  While tracing the circle, they envision a wall of some kind being raised along the path and are probably reciting an incantation.  Personally, I envision and draw a full sphere so that I’m in a protective bubble. Once the circle has been drawn, it should not be breached.  If someone must leave or enter the circle, a doorway must be opened and then closed once more.  Breaching the circle may cause disruptions in the energy flow and allow unwanted guests into the sacred space. Opening or releasing the circle should be one of the last things you do when the rite is done.  The circle is released by doing the opposite of how it was created.  At the same starting point, trace the circle but in a counter clockwise direction, widdershins.  At this time you should be envisioning the wall coming down,

The quarters refer to the four directions and their elemental associations.  North is associated with earth, east with air, south with fire and west with water.  Each quarter is thought to have a ruler, keeper or guardian.  Sometimes they are named; sometimes they are referred to as “guardian of the watchtower”.  Each quarter is also considered to be home to certain types of beings.   

Calling the quarters is a way to bolster your protection in the circle as well as inviting these guardians to add their energy.  It also is a sign of respect.  To call the quarters, face the proper direction and extend your invitation.  If the ritual has a specific purpose or requires the energy of a specific element, I’ll call that quarter first.  If it is a more general call, I usually start in the east then south, west and north.  Others start in the north…I think it is just a personal preference. I’ll examine each quarter in more detail in another post. To dismiss the quarters, remember, this is more of a release than a dismissal.  You don’t want to treat them as servants and then toss them out when you’re done.  You won’t get too far that way, and they won’t take such disrespect lightly.  They may just stop helping or they may actually start actively work against you.  Dismiss the quarters in the same order as you called them.  Thank them for their presence and their assistance. If you want them to leave, be polite and explain your reasons.  Otherwise just let them know they are free to hang around or free to leave.  It’s their choice.  
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As I stated before, purification is the process of getting rid of unwanted energies.  Consecration is a way to attract the type of energy you want to fill the void left by the purification.  Both of these processes can be done for people, places and objects. The more something is exposed to outside forces and influences, the more often these two steps should be taken.  Especially when a ritual is to be held.  You may not realize it, but those outside forces can leave a stain or residue just as surely as smoke, smog or a spilled coffee does.  I’m sure almost everyone has walked into a room and immediately knew that something had happened.  The phrases “cut the tension with a knife” and “charged atmosphere” come to mind.  Though that strong feeling may dissipate, that energy is still there.  Just like the smoke from a campfire can be smelled on your hair, skin and clothes long after the fire has gone out.
So, how do you get rid of that smell?  You could just try to mask it with perfume or a fabric freshener, but that just covers it up, it doesn’t eliminate it.  The best way is to shower and wash everything with soap and water.  In the spirit of that analogy, if the shower and wash are the purification process, then whatever is done after can be considered a consecration.  Perfume, body lotion, conditioner for your hair, fabric softener or a dryer sheet for your clothes; all are adding something to replace what was washed out.   
How do you do this with energy?  No matter what method you use, it’s largely symbolic.  The real effort comes from your mind.  The ritual bath, the smoke from the smudging, sweeping with the besom; these are the tools used to help you envision and focus your mind on what needs to be done, whether it’s washing away the old or inviting in the new.
How often should it be done? As I said, the more often something is exposed to outside forces, the more often it should be done.  For a person, this can be almost daily.  Let’s face it, it can be a nasty world out there and even on a good day, some of that nastiness is going to stick to you.
Locations are also subject to that same nastiness, but maybe not to the same degree.  Your own home may see some conflict and negative emotions, but not as much as a prison, or a hospital for instance.  As a general rule, I do a complete home cleansing at least once a year at Samhain, but more often if the situation calls for it. I purify and consecrate a ritual space whenever I wish to have a ritual.
When speaking of objects that need to be purified and consecrated, I’m referring mainly to tools used for rituals.  In theory, once the tool has been through these processes, they will only be handled by people who have been purified and consecrated in a space that has been purified and consecrated.  This means that the objects shouldn’t be exposed to these unwanted energies I’ve been talking about and should only need to be done when new tools/objects are introduced.  In theory.  But we all know that theory and the real world can be two very different things.  To be blunt – stuff happens.  So go ahead and re-purify and re-consecrate whenever you feel it is warranted.
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Here is a step that I didn’t mention in the “Outline of a Ritual” post.  This can be done for a person or place, but it’s most commonly done for objects and tools.  When you dedicate something, you are making a vow that the person, place or thing in question will be used ONLY in the service of the deity to whom it is being dedicated.  This is not something to be taken lightly.  If you break that vow, you risk losing credibility with and the favour of the otherworld beings.  
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Communion
Pagans take part in communion in two different ways. During a ritual, participants are usually offered a sip of consecrated wine from a chalice. For some occasions, food is also shared, each person having a small bite. Feasts are a large part of pagan practice and is the second way communion is shared.  It’s more than just food, drink and good times shared with friends and family though.  Feasts are a celebration of life; a means of expressing thanks and appreciation for the bounty of the harvests.  Deities and other beings are generally invited to the celebration and are served a portion along with the other guests.  The spirit portion is left uneaten and usually placed outdoors after the celebration is done.  The creatures that eat the food (human or otherwise) are seen as agents of the deities and are welcome to the portion.  

Offerings
Offerings are gifts specific to a deity or other being.  It can be food, drink, or some other object that entity favours.  It is given as a sign of respect; as a means to placate an angry or upset being; as an enticement or payment for a favour or simply as a thank you.  It is personal to each giver and receiver and you should make sure it is something that will be found acceptable.  I once left an offering of fish at the convergence of 3 roads.  This was in thanks to Hecate for her assistance in a ritual and to show my respect. I made sure that the offering and the way it was given was sacred to her.

I didn’t go into any detail in “Outline of a Ritual” and I really can't go into much detail now. This is the section that is most unique to every occasion.  Whether it’s a prayer, dance, re-enactment, recitation, spell or other magick, this part is the whole purpose behind everything else you’ve done.  

Hopefully I've been able to answer some questions about rituals. Feel free to ask questions if there's something specific you wish to know. I can't promise an answer, but I'll do my very best! Goddess bless!

I keep emphasizing the fact that you should write your own rituals in order for the feeling and intent to be genuine.  However, for those just starting out that don’t know what to do, I suggest you do some research and read some of the rituals that others have posted online. The important thing is to find out how to accomplish the purpose of your ritual.  Don’t just parrot those other rituals though, try to make them more personal to you.  In time, as you learn to trust yourself, those rituals may trace their roots back to other sources, but they will be all you!
The content of the ritual will change depending on the purpose,  but the basic outline is reasonably consistent.  This outline is especially helpful when doing rituals with a group, but most of it can apply to either group or solo work.

Preparation
This step happens long before the ritual takes place.  A thorough prep will minimize  disruptions.

• Safety first!  Make sure your ritual space is cleaned up and free of hazards.
• Gather your items – make sure you have all your tools, libations, offerings, feast items, etc.  It’s a pain in the neck to have to stop in the middle of a rite to run and get a forgotten item!
• Inspect and test your items.  Is your script easy to see and read?  (Remember, you’ll probably be reading it by candlelight)  Your candles and incense are in good shape and your matches/lighter are in working order?
• Rehearsing the ritual may be a good idea, especially for groups. Everyone should have a good idea of what their role is and when they need to perform it.

Welcoming – for groups

• Introduce everyone, and let the group have a pre-rite chat to get to know each other a bit.
• Give a brief run down of the ritual, and let everyone know what to expect, and what is expected of them.
• Go over some do's and don’ts of ritual etiquette.  This will be especially relevant for newcomers, but it never hurts to remind everyone.
• Encourage questions now.  The middle of the rite may not be the best time for a Q&A session.

Purification of Participants
The method of purification is really up to the participant.  Some prefer to fast, or have a ritual bath.  Others meditate, or perform a smudging.  Often, in a group setting, participant have done their own purification before arriving, and a smudging is done for everyone before the ritual.

Opening Bell
The bell is rung to focus the attention of the participants, and to signal that the rite is about to begin.
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Merging – for groups
Merging is the process of getting the group on the same wavelength. Everyone needs to be concentrating on the same idea.

Statement of Purpose – for groups
This is a verbal affirmation that all are acting together in the process and are on the same page.  This statement should be very clear and detailed, no room for any ambiguity.

Consecration of Participants
This step can be done at the same time as the purification as well. Purification removes any unwanted or unneeded  energies, consecration brings desired energies in to fill the vacuum.

 Purification and Consecration of Elements and Tools
This step is not necessary to perform before every ritual.  This is meant for new items, or items that have been subjected to some exterior force.  For example, the item may have been exposed to unwanted energies such as anger, hostility or fear.  Perhaps someone else has handled the tools and disrupted the energy. Or maybe it just hasn’t been used in a long while and it needs a recharge.

Purification of the Ritual Space
Just as the participants and the items need to be divested of unwanted energies, so does the space.  Clear as big a space as you think you may need,  better too large a space than too small.

Cast the Circle

Call the Quarters

Invocation/Evocation of Deity/Deities​

• An invocation should only be done by an experienced practitioner. When you invoke a spirit/deity, you’re inviting that being into yourself.
• An evocation is inviting the being into the space, but not into yourself.

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​Communion, Offerings and Libations
This is the time to share food, drink and gifts with your guests, corporeal and ethereal.  This can also be done after the main rite.

Perform the Main Ritual
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Releasing the Deity/Deities
Thank them for their attendance and their attention.  Don’t just dismiss them, they’re not your servants.  The message you want to send is “Thanks for coming.  Our work is done and I know you’re busy, so if you have to go, feel free.  If you want to stick around, that’s good too!”

Dismiss the Quarters

Open the Circle

​If you're new to ritual or magickal works, you're probably wondering what some of this stuff means. What's the circle for? What are the quarters? How do I purify and consecrate tools? And so on..... I'll discuss those things in more detail in future posts. Until then, blessings be yours!

When you do have your tools and other items, what you place on your altar is your choice. That being said, there are several common items, used in almost every type of ritual, such as the athame, some kind of representation of the elements, a chalice, candles, an altar cloth, paten, symbols of deities, BOS and others.
As for the layout, it should be arranged and designed as fits your wants and needs and the ritual/working being done.

Some divide the altar by feminine and masculine:

Some use a directional and elemental setup:

If you Google pagan or wiccan altar layout, you’ll find plenty of examples to guide you. As always though, do what works for you and don’t be afraid to change it up as you add more tools or find something that works better for you!

Most pagans have an altar or some kind of sacred space dedicated for ritual purposes. That's where you'll usually find the tools a pagan will use when performing ceremonies or working magick. Don't think that you must have all the perfect tools to start! Beautiful tools are wonderful to have, but they are just there to help you focus your thoughts and energies.  Without you, there is no magick. If your beliefs are dependent on material things, then I have to wonder how strong those beliefs really are.

Athame
The athame is one of the more recognizable tools associated with pagans.  the athame is a ritual knife, traditionally with a black handle and double sided blade.  Most of these knives that you can buy commercially have a stained wood or plastic handle and a stainless steel blade.  My own athame is actually made of carved and painted wood with a leather wrapped handle.  More important than appearance is what the knife represents  and how it is used.  The athame is used for directing energies, never for actually cutting a physical object of any kind.  Except maybe the cake at a hand-fasting.  So your athame really doesn't need a sharp blade.  The athame is associated with male energies and the element of fire.

Paten
The altar paten is usually a disc with a sigil carved or inscribed on it; typically a pentacle, though other symbols are used.  This tool is representative of the earth element and is used primarily as a consecration tool that will energize anything that is placed upon it.

Candles
Different colours have different meanings and associations, so I try to use the appropriate colour candle for whatever purpose I need.  In addition to choosing a colour, candles are often carved with signs and symbols specific to the purpose needed.  The chart below shows some of the associations I mentioned.

Incense
Incense is used in many different ways and is associated with the element of air.  It comes in many different forms; stick, cone, coil, powder, oil and resin.  Most familiar are probably the stick and cone forms.  There are many different scents available, and many have magickal uses and associations. This is a very short list of some of the more common scents.

Wand
Pagans don’t use wands quite like “Harry Potter”, but it’s really not too far off either.  The wand is used to focus and direct the energy of the holder.  Though you’d be hard pressed to find one with a core of phoenix feather or dragon heartstring, wands are made with woods of all kinds.  Don’t discount a metal wand either, metal can conduct the energies just as well in many cases. Wands are linked with masculine energy and the element of fire. They are often decorated with cords, beads and feathers, tailored to the wants and needs of the user.  Some buy their wands, others make their own.  
One note if you wish to make your own wand from wood; use found wood that has dropped naturally if you can.  If you feel you must cut a living branch for your wand, ask permission first.  (Sounds corny, but think of it this way, how would you feel if someone just came up to you and cut a lock of your hair?)  Wait and really listen. If you believe permission has been given, cut the branch, give your thanks and leave a small offering of some kind.  If you sense that permission has not been given, respect it and look elsewhere.  To share one of my own experiences, I needed to cut a small branch for something, asked permission and waited for a moment.  Though there was no wind, and no animals that I could see, a branch of just the right size fell at my feet in that moment.  Coincidence? Maybe.  Or maybe a show of mutual respect.

Besom/Broom*
Most people are familiar with the iconic figure of the witch on her broomstick.  That image actually does have some basis in reality.  In times past, people would take their besom to the field when planting, ride them around and jumping to show the crops how high they should grow.  Also mentioned is the famous “flying ointment” presumed to be made with a variety of hallucinogenic drugs.  According to some stories, the ointment was applied to the broomstick, which was then straddled by the witch (usually female, though the term applies to both sexes).  The drug was absorbed through the skin, allowing the “rider” to travel on the astral plane.
Modern practices have a variety of uses for the besom.  It can be used to direct energy,  like the wand.  Often it is used to “sweep” negative energy away from the ritual space during preparation.  Kept upright by the door or fireplace, it is thought to protect the home and occupants by preventing anything evil from entering the space.
The symbolism of taking two parts, handle and bristles (male and female), and uniting them is one of the reasons the besom is also traditionally used in hand-fasting ceremonies.  The couple joins hands and jumps the broom together, signifying their unity and hoping for blessings of fertility on the union.
The besom is one of the few tools seen as having both male and female energies.  The masculine is represented by the phallic shape of the handle.  The bristles that are attached to the handle give it a feminine energy, further emphasized by the 3 part construction of handle, twig and cord, representing the triple goddess. Because the besom is made from wood and associated with trees, some say it is representative of the element air.  Others say that its association with cleansing and purifying space makes it a symbol of the water element.

*A besom and a broom are very similar; the difference lies in the materials that make up the brush.  A besom is made with twigs, giving it a rounder shape than the brush of a broom which is made with straw. 

Boline
The boline is another ritual knife; this one is used in a more physical manner.  Instead of just directing energies like the athame, the boline is used for cutting cords, herbs, wands, carving candles, etc.  The boline is traditionally a white handled knife, sometimes with a straight blade, but the crescent shaped blade reminiscent of a sickle is becoming more common.

Cauldron
“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. “ Shakespeare’s Macbeth

A cauldron is just a large cooking pot, a very common item at one point.  I’m not sure just how or when it happened (there are many theories), but today it is one of the most common things associated with witches.  Though it is still used by some to cook or brew potions, many modern pagans have a miniaturized version used to hold a candle, burn incense, or as a container to burn paper with petitions, prayers or spells on them.  It’s also a popular choice to use as a scrying tool.  The cauldron is associated with female energy and the element of water.

Bell
The bell is a feminine symbol linked with the element of air.  Bells are used to invoke and invite the goddess and other deities/spirits in ritual.  The clear tones are vibrations that are believed to repel negative energies.  The bell is often used at the end of rituals as well, to clear and disperse gathered energies.

Book of Shadows (BOS)
A Book of Shadows is a pagans diary of spiritual and magickal experiences.  It contains personal notes, dreams, affirmations, aspirations, rituals, recipes and spells.  It is also know as a Book of Magick or a Grimoire. The term Book of Shadows was certainly popularized by the television show “Charmed”, but it is a controversial concept.  Some say it’s ancient, others say it was invented by Gerald Gardner in the 1940s. Personally, I think it’s a little of both.  Though the term “Book of Shadows” may be relatively new, grimoires have been mentioned many times throughout history. Whatever it’s called, I believe it’s important to keep a history for yourself.  Whether you buy a fancy grimoire, a spiral notebook, or type it on the computer, a BOS allows you to mark your own progress on your own path.

The Upright Pentacle
This is the most common form of the pentacle among pagans. As I said, it is a protective, positive power representative of the search for divine knowledge. A pentacle is used to invoke or banish energies, depending on how it is drawn and as a focal point for magickal works. Though it's often drawn with many decorative additions, or combined with other symbols, the pentacle itself remains the same. A five pointed star encased in a circle. 

The pentacle has many different meanings and interpretations, the most common of which is the elemental pentacle. Four points represent the four worldly elements, earth, water, fire and air, while the fifth point represents the spirit or the divine. Different traditions assign the four elements to different points, but the top point is almost always reserved for the spirit. The circle surrounding the five point star indicates continuity and the unending flow of life and energy.

Two types of pentacle can be drawn in ritual, the invoking pentacle and the banishing pentacle. Invoking pentacles are drawn to summon energies at the beginning of a ritual or magickal working. A banishing pentacle is drawn to safely disperse energies that have gathered. There's no set rule on where to start drawing and which direction to go, but many traditions draw clockwise to invoke, and counterclockwise to banish. The most common practice to all is that the drawing be done in one continuous motion.

Before I show you how I draw my pentacles, I wish to share one piece of advice. I believe that magick is a very personal thing. I believe that any ritual or spell has to have meaning to the performer in order for it to be effective. So, though I may share with you the way I do certain things, I urge you to listen to your own instincts and do things the way it feels right to you. Don't just parrot what everyone else does. Then it's just done by rote, with no true meaning behind it.

That being said, I use the elemental pentacle, with the points designated as shown below.   

As always, feel free to add your comments or questions!  Next week, we'll have a look at some other common pagan symbols, and their meanings. Goddess bless!