Before beginning a ritual, many people like to prepare the sacred space. This has many purposes. It prepares the mind for magical/spiritual work, it announces your intent to begin magical/spiritual work to the Universe, and it makes the space you are in into a holy temple, even if it’s just your bedroom.
How you prepare your own sacred space is highly personal and dependant upon your personal faith. Here are a few examples of methods used by some different traditions.
Simple Solitary Method
First make sure the area is clean.
Get a bowl of water and sprinkle a bit of salt into it. Walk three times in a circlei clockwise around your work area sprinkling a bit of water with a bay leaf and saying. Or you can use a smudge stick, or you could use both.
Blessed spirits of earth, sky and sea
I ask you here to watch over me
Join this circle and bind it well
Hear my call as I cast my spells
Know my heart is honest and true
Hear my pleas and take your due
Let nothing harmful mar this site
Guide my actions to what is right
So mote it be/blessed be/etc.
Opening Portals
This is a Druidic method of creating sacred space. Alli groups are different, of course, but if you go to a Druidic ritual you may (or may not) see something similar.
It is begun, of course, by clearing out the area and then blessing the participants, usually with a combination of things representing the earth, the sky and the sea, though they may use the four elementsi of fire, water, air and earth. Participants may be smudged, sprinkled with water, and anointed with oil or red ochre.
Once everyone is gathered, the portals are opened to place the sacred space between the three worlds.
Portal one- The tree of Life- Pole, staff or wand
Portal two- The Well- Cauldron or pot
Portal Three- The fire- Candle, incense or a bonfire
Place the representation of the Tree of Life in the center of the circle or upon the altar. You can say something, but it’s not necessary. The Tree is a bridge between worlds with its branches above, its trunk here on earth, and its roots below. It is a sacred treasure of all three worlds and provides us with gifts beyond measure.
Place the representation of the well in the center of the circle or upon the altar. The well is the mouth of the Earth. Through the well we may reach the silvery fluid that is the powers below. The blood of the Earth, the amniotic fluid of our Great Mother. The well is the gate through which our offerings are brought to the Ancestors.
Light the fire. The fire is the Mouth of the Gods and the spark of life. This same fire has burned throughout eternity and it was this fire that brought forth life from the waters. The fire is the gate through which our offerings are brought to the Gods.
After this, you will want to call upon the ancestors, Nature Spirits and the God(s) or Goddess(es) of the occasion.
Calling Quarters
Calling the quarters serves much the same purpose as opening the portals; it places you in the center of worlds. It also calls upon elemental spirits to aid your work. This is common in many Wiccan and eclectic traditions and is the one you are most likely to see.
Although directional associations vary by traditioni, the most widespread (in North America anyway) are as follows:
North- Earth
East- Air
South- Fire
West- Water
The circle is cast using one or several methods. It may be cast by the solitary witch, or by the leader of a group, by pointing a staff, sword, wand or athamei at the ground and visualizing protective light coming out of it and then drawing a circle around the area with that light. Or, it may be cast by the participants walking several times around the circle, dancing or chanting, and/or waving incense and/or sprinkling water, earth or salt in a circle around the area.
Once this is done, the leader or designated person approaches the northernmost section of the circle and all participants face north. The spokesperson then calls upon the spirits of the North and the Elemental Spirits of Earth. It doesn't really matter what you say, but it's good to say something somewhat lyrical and it's important that you be polite. An example might be as follows:
“Spirits of the North, great powers of Earth, we invite you to join our Circle and witness our rites.”
Next, move clockwise to the Easternmost section and call upon the spirits of the East and the Elemental Spirits of Air, and so on.
When you've gotten back around to the North again, move to the center of your circle and welcome your spiritual guests. It's good to have a small loaf of bread to break ceremonially and place in an offering dish. Hospitality is important, after all.
7- Directions
This is another method used primarily by Shamans. Rattles are used and no words are necessary, but you may chant or sing while doing this. The 7 directions are, N, E, S, W, Sky (up), Earth (down) and Center (here/self). Different groups do them in different orders. If there's an official order, I hope someone will email me and correct me!
After everything is prepared, move to your starting point and shake your rattles in that direction while concentrating on your purpose, that of inviting spirits to join you for your rite of (whatever your rite’s for). Do this until you feel the presence of the spirits, then move to the next point, ending in the Center.
