Ritual Outline (part 2)

     The last seven steps of this article deal with dismissing the energies you have called into your circle, and giving them proper acknowledgement of their help.  It is extremely important that you properly release the energies, and also to ground yourself after every working. If you need to return to the first half of this article, you can do so by clicking "back" at the bottom of the article.

11. Sending the Energy Back to the Deities - Now that you have performed your rites, you still may feel that there is lingering energy behind.  This is usual because sometimes we get caught up in the moment, and raise more then what we need.  At this point you will want to release this excess energy back to the deities in which you have called. You can do this by focus and intent.  Simply focus on the energy that is remaining, and state aloud that you are returning this energy from where it came.  Thank the deities for their help and their energy.

12. Grounding - This is an important step that you must follow every time you do any magickal working.  You must ground your own energy so that you will not walk out of your circle still open.  There are many ways to ground yourself, and the easiest is to eat some cakes, and drink some wine or orange juice.  When you eat, your energy gets directed into digesting and it effectively grounds your energy into the physical.

13. Clearing the Temple  - If you have called any other energies (spirits) into your circle to work with, now would be the time to release them and send them back to their place of origin.  This is done by stating your intent, and if needed walking around the circle in a counter clockwise direction.

14. Dismissing The Elements - At this point you will want to thank each element for their attention, and dismiss them appropriately. Again you can do this by facing each direction, state aloud your intention and walking the circle in a counter clockwise direction. Think of it as unwinding a clock you winded up earlier.

15. Dismissing The Watchtowers - As with dismissing the Elements, at this time you would want to dismiss the Watchtowers.  It is done in the same fashion as above.  Remember to thank each Watchtower for their attention and their presence.

16. Clearing the Circle - Appropriately called clean-up.  Now that you have finished your ritual, and released all the energies back to their respective origins, its time to clean up the physical.  If you are working outside, be considerate, and clean up any objects that may harm the environment.  If you are working inside, you probably will not want to leave any signs of the ritual performed.  You don't want anyone or anything interfering with all the work you have just done.

17. Celebrate - Now that you are done, take some time to chat with friends, write in your journal or book of shadows, and have a good time.  Know that not only have you performed a few workings properly, but that you have just had divine contact with our Creator.

     I hope this section will help you when planning out your rituals or your circle casting. Just keep in mind that there are many different ways of casting a circle, and this outline is only to give you one idea of how a circle is created.

     Hard work is always rewarded with true spirit.            

David River