The first step in any ritual is creating Sacred Space. Sacred Space is a cleansed and consecrated area used for ritual/magickal proposes. A sacred space can be created anywhere, if done properly.

Any spot in nature, be it forest, park, beach, desert or back yard, is naturally sacred, and therefore will not need to be cleansed. However, Sacred Space can also be created anywhere with preparation -- you can even designate yourself as sacred space (see ritual at end of lesson).

One thought to keep in mind. A ritual doesn't begin when you cast a circle; it starts when you first think about doing a ritual. The moment the intentions come to mind, the energies required to fulfill them begin to manifest. The ritual has already begun as you begin to set up. So keep your mind focused on your task at hand throughout preparation.

Sacred Space is usually created in three steps: 1. Physical cleaning; 2. Astral cleaning and 3. Erecting a Sacred Circle. Steps 1 and 2 will be covered in this lesson.

Physical cleaning is just that. It gives you a chance to allow your physical space, body and mind to transition from the mundane to spiritual.

Clear away the dust and dirt from the mundane world of your working space so that it doesn't interfere with your magickal workings. Take a ritual bath (or shower) or let a breeze wash away negativity. Add some salt and the appropriate oil or herbs to your bath, not only to purify you but to also start setting "the mood" for the work you are about to do.

As to what oils and herbs you use, that would depend on what your goal is. Some people use herbs to cleanse and purify themselves. Others let the running water purify them and then use herbs related the ritual itself (i.e. - when planning a love ritual, you might want to take a milk bath and add some rose petals to it or use peppermint and eucalyptus for a healing bath).
Note: When using essential oils or herbs, familiarize yourself with any risks associated with usage. Just because something is "natural," it does not mean that it cannot also be dangerous to ingest or allow contact with skin, eyes or mucus membranes. This goes not only for you, but other people and creatures who might be effected - such as children and pets. For a list of herbs and oils and their uses, visit our correspondence charts.

Also take this time to purify your thoughts as well. It is a good idea to do this before setting up your altar or any other ritual items in the space.

Astral cleaning is done to rid the space of negative energy and psychic "dirt." This is traditionally done with a besom, the Witch's broom used only for this purpose. The besom is usually made from birch and willow, but any broom consecrated or blessed for this purpose will be fine. (For information on blessing tools, click here. More examples can be found under the spells index under blessing, cleansing and consecrating.)

You don't actually have to touch the floor with the bristles while you sweep; this cleansing is for energy, not dust bunnies. If you don't own a besom or you feel like you need extra cleaning, bless and consecrate the space by walking deosil (clockwise) around the circle, sprinkling salt water and/or burning a purifying incense or a sage smudge stick (representing all four elements). Be sure to smudge yourself or sprinkle some salt water on yourself as well.

Some of the commonly used purification herbs include: Anise, Alkanet, Arabic Gum, Asafoetida, Avens, Basil, Bay, Benzoin, Birch, Blessed Thistle, Bloodroot, Camphor, Chamomile, Coconut, Copal, Dandelion, Elder, Euphorbia, Fennel, Hemlock, Horseradish, Hyssop, Iris, Lavender, Lemon, Lemon Verbena, Parsley, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Sagebrush, Sandalwood, Sea salt , Shallot , Thistle (Holy), Thyme, Tobacco, Turmeric, Valerian root, White Sage, Yucca
Consecration: Anise, Anise Star, Clover, Frankincense, Myrrh, Pennyroyal, White Sage

Note about burning herbs or using fire in any form during a ritual: Make sure you do so in a fire-proof container big enough to contain the flames. I suggest keeping some water nearby just in case. Always be careful when dealing with fire in any form. Many a witch has a story to share that involves ritual flames gone awry.

Now your space is clean and you are ready to begin your work. Erect your altar and/or arrange your tools and props. (For more information on tools and where they usually go on an altar, click here.)

This is also the time for two optional activities. The Lesser Banishing Ritual and an altar devotion. Neither of these are a necessity. Some Witches do these with every ritual; others never do it. Again, the choice is yours.
The Lesser Banishing Ritual is actually a form of Hebrew High (also called Ceremonial) Magick and is associated with the Kabala. Some Witches use this as a quick form of cleansing an area and banishing all negativity.

An altar devotion usually involves the use of all four elements to cast out negativity that may be lingering on the altar. Some Witches do it with every ritual; others never do it. Because it can be a long process and is optional, I will not get into it here. But if it is something you are interested in, you can find altar devotions in many Wiccan books or online.

And lastly, but most importantly is Casting a Sacred Circle (which will be covered in Lesson 2)

Exercises:

1. Close your eyes and visualize your perfect ritual space. Where is it? What does it look like? What can you see? What do you hear? Use all your senses. What is the temperature like? Is there a breeze? This is your space - it is not limited to the rules of nature. Go wild. Either write a description of your ideal sacred space or create a picture of it.

2. The altar is the focal point to any ritual. What type of altar will you use? Do you have a permanent one or a portable one? What will you put on it and where? What if anything, do you want to add to it with time? Write a paragraph describing your ideal altar. (There is no right or wrong answer).

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End of Lesson One

On to Lesson Two

Glossary
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