This is taken from a lesson homework written by one of our students Debby, where she works a ritual but casting a square instead of a circle..
"It all started with my question in the Student Study Hall in September.
"Does the circle have to be cast as a circle?" I’m on lesson 10, ritual, and want to do
something with the physical hearth of my home. So, I was thinking of making the circle
a square to include all of the hearth space, as its part of the wall. The hearth can be
the altar as well in this case."
How Debby worked her ritual with casting a square:
"Casting square: I marked out the quarters with pebbles. I kept the energy going by
walking repeatedly around the square chanting Around, above and below from my chant.
I try to let my tools teach me, where I can, so I listened to my hazel wand as I cast, I
could feel the space behind the fireplace, the party wall and the wand seemed to really
dig in to that area. The open parts of the casting were smooth, but I felt a real pull
from the wand to reach the full extent of the hearth space.
Above and below is a bit trickier with a square. With a sphere, energy flows. I
visualised the space as a box, it was like creating a small room. I brought the wand
above and below and it felt like the top of the square was rounded."
The Ritual
Intention – in the room/hearth releasing negativity, calling in purification and
cleansing. Bringing in energies for a happy, peaceful home.
Ingredients:
Sound Crow clay rattle and frame drum and oval shamanic drum.
Offerings: Herbs around candles: rose, lavender, mint, rosemary, marigold
Feast: Spring water, Oatcakes
Black candle for absorbing negativity dressed with Bay oil
White candle for purification, cleansing dressed with Geranium oil
Pale Blue candle protection and a peaceful home. dressed with Lavender oil
Plus holders, matches.
Cleansing space and self – using shamanic drum to cleanse the room.
For self, ‘dry bathing’ brushing the body and visualisation of white light.
Casting square
I contain this space with wand of hazel
Bringing wisdom and intuition to this grove
Around, above and below
Shielding this ground
Call in the Quarters:
Shake the crow rattle for each quarter and say:
I call to the East, and the element of Air.
Air, you give the birds their wings.
You sustain life through breath.
Sweeping the mind of cobwebs and hazy thought, making way for wisdom and intuition
Blessings and welcome to this rite!
I call to the South, and the element of Fire,
Fire, you ignite my soul with energy and passion
As the Sun You sustain all life,
You cleanse and purge that which no longer serves, clearing the path for change
Blessings and welcome to this rite!
I call to the West, element of Water,
Water, you cleanse, purify and sooth my soul, giving me the space to feel
You sustain life, quenching our thirst
Blessings and welcome to this rite!
I call to the North and the element of Earth,
Earth, our mother, grounding and nurturing, transmuting that which holds me back
You nourish and feed us with your bounty
Blessings and welcome to this rite!
Invite Deity
I call upon Brighid, goddess of the sacred fire and healing waters, to join this rite
today and bring your powers of wisdom, protection and healing to this rite.
Blessings and Welcome!
Raise energy
Singing, drumming, chanting
The spell – you will need
Black candle for absorbing negativity
White candle for purification, cleansing
Pale Blue candle protection and a happy, peaceful home.
Plus holders, matches
As you light each candle say:
As I light this black candle, I call in energies of protection
As I light this white candle, I call in blessings, light and love!
As I light this blue candle, I call in energies of a peaceful home
Offerings
Herbs around candles, repeating the intention of the ritual.
Feast
Sparkly Water, Oatcakes
Thank Deity:
Brighid, Lady of the Hearth and Forge, Lady of the healing waters, thank you for your
presence and your blessings on this hearth.
Blessings and farewell!
Release the quarters
Spirits of the North, thank you for your presence at this hearth.
Blessings and farewell!
Spirits of the West, thank you for your presence at this hearth.
Blessings and farewell!
Spirits of the South, thank you for your presence at this hearth.
Blessings and farewell!
Spirits of the East, thank you for your presence at this hearth.
Blessings and farewell!
Closing the circle:
Un-Casting square
I release this space with wand of hazel
Giving thanks for the protected space within
Around, above and below,
This sacred space is now unbound
Grounding