The Aridian Ritual Circle

 

 

 

In the days of old, our ritual circles were outdoor circles large enough to comfortably contain a small group of worshippers. The old manner of setting the circle was set forth in our Book of Ways. Here it says that the ritual circle must be set near running water, and placed before a tree (or group of trees). The tree must be a "Mother Tree", and cannot be twisted or deformed in any way. A Mother Tree is any tree which is full and round (a Father Tree is tall and narrow by comparison, like a Pine for example). Most fruit bearing trees are called Mother Trees, along with others such as an Oak Tree.

 

A wooden stake was then placed into the ground (marking the centre of the circle) to which a length of cord was attached. An initiate would take hold of the cord and pace off nine steps. Another initiate would hold the stake as the other then attached the free end to a staff. Pulling against the staked cord, this person would then trace a circle into the soil, moving clockwise around the initiate in the centre (who was turning the stake so as not to allow the cord to wrap around it). Thus the circle, once traced out, was nine paces in any direction from the centre.

 

Torches were set just within the circle, at each of the directional quarters. An altar was then placed exactly where the stake had been placed. Stones were set around the traced out line, to clearly mark the circle. Entrance to the ritual circle was only allowed at the north-east quarter (the same being true of any exit from the circle).

 

Once properly established, the circle was then "cast" through the traditional ritual method of the circle trod, complete with invocational calls, gestures, and so forth. Prior to casting the circle, the area was blessed and ritually cleansed, as were all of the initiates.

 

Today we still comply with these requirements. It is easy even indoors, for most homes have a tree or two in the yard and the house is equipped with plumbing (running water). There are magical reasons why a tree had to be present, and why the circle had to be near running water. The Book of Ways goes into detail about how they are employed, once magic has been performed within the circle.

 

Other aspects have been added to our Ritual Circle over time, and we do a bit more today, than did our Ancestors (but we DO NOT do any less). We must honour the Old Ways, and adhere to them, not leaving anything out. We may add to them, but we cannot subtract. There are times in which we have to be creative though (as when nine paces will take you through the living-room wall).

 

It is the intent (or reason) which must be honoured, and we do not allow ourselves to become slaves to the "Letter of the Law". So we adapt as necessary for practising in the setting available. The ritual text, however, cannot be deleted.