The Elements of Ritual


Book Description

Fully revised and expanded with fresh insights, this new edition of The Elements of Ritual is a must-have resource on Wiccan ritual. Not only does it teach you step-by-step how to cast a circle, but it also explains why each step is important. Deborah Lipp looks at every phase through an elemental lens, revealing the process (earth), mythology (water), mystical inspiration (fire), and theology (air) behind it. The Elements of Ritual now features updates throughout on gender and polarity as well as all-new sections on the history of elemental associations and raising the cone of power. This edition also includes alternate orders for the traditional steps of ritual. You will learn how to write your own rituals, discover new ideas on magical tools, and use meditations to deepen your understanding of Wicca's most enduring rite.




The Elements of Ritual


Book Description

A high priestess explains the theology and theory of every phase of Wiccan ritual, along with offering practical how-tos and much esoteric, hard-to-find information.




The Elements of Ritual Magic


Book Description




Elements of Ritual and Violence


Book Description

Ritualized violence is by definition not haphazard or random, but seemingly intentional and often ceremonial. It has a long history in religious practice, as attested in texts and artifacts from the earliest civilizations. It is equally evident in the behaviors of some contemporary religious activists and within initiatory practices ongoing in many regions of the world. Given its longevity and cultural expanse, ritualized violence presumably exerts a pull deeply into the sociology, psychology, anthropology, theology, perhaps even ontology of its practitioners, but this is not transparent. This short volume will sketch the subject of ritualized violence, that is, it will summarize some established theories about ritual and about violence, and will ponder a handful of striking instantiations of their link.




Homo Ritualis


Book Description

Are the richness and diversity of rituals and celebrations in South Asia unique? Can we speak of a homo ritualis when it comes to India or Hinduism? Are Indians or Hindus more involved in rituals than other people? If so, what makes them special? Homo Ritualis is the first book to present a Hindu theory of rituals. Based on extensive textual studies and field-work in Nepal and India, Axel Michaels argues that ritual is a distinctive way of acting, which, as in the theater, can be distinguished from other forms of action. The book analyzes ritual in these cultural-specific and religious contexts, taking into account how indigenous terms and theories affect and contribute to current ritual theory. It describes and investigates various forms of Hindu rituals and festivals, such as life-cycle rituals, the Vedic sacrifice, vows processions, and the worship of deities (puja). It also examines conceptual components of (Hindu) rituals such as framing, formality, modality, and theories of meaning.




Wicca Elemental Magic


Book Description

Everything You Need to Know About Working with the Magic of the Elements For thousands of years, our ancestors believed that the Elements-Earth, Air, Fire, and Water-were the building blocks of the Universe, and their inherent properties and energies could be directed to manifest particular outcomes. This belief grew and evolved over time as part of the Western Mystery Tradition, a body of beliefs that has had significant influence on the dynamic nature-based religion known as Wicca. Through ritual and magic, Wiccans interact with the primal forces of the Elements in a variety of ways, calling upon them for assistance in the transformation of their realities just as the earliest shamans did in the ancient world. You may already be aware of some aspects of how the Elements figure into Wiccan practice. For example, you may know that each is represented by different ritual tools-the pentacle for Earth, the wand for Air, the cup for Water and the athame for Fire. But did you know that the psychic energies of each Element are found within each and every person on the planet? Or that by connecting spiritually with a particular Element you can help address an imbalance in your life? And let's not forget the all-important Fifth Element, known in many traditions as Akasha, or simply Spirit, which contains the other four and yet is an Element in its own right. But if all of the above is news to you, don't worry-it really doesn't matter how much you've learned so far about Wicca or the Elements. Elemental Magic was created for both beginners and more experienced Witches alike. In this guide, best-selling author Lisa Chamberlain covers it all: the basics of incorporating the Elements into your rituals, as well as less-often discussed topics like animism, Elemental personalities, and using these forces of nature to help you enhance your magical perception. Indeed, as you will see, an Element-centered practice is a rich and rewarding way to deepen your connection to the Goddess and God, to Nature, the Universe, or whatever terms your particular belief system ascribes to the power of All That Is. Foundations of Elemental Magic In order to truly grasp the underlying concepts behind working with the Elements, it's important to learn how these components-Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit-came to be defined in Western magical traditions. You'll also need a close look at each individual Element to understand its inherent properties and its potential to transform your magical practice. You'll find all of this in Elemental Magic and much more: - Our earliest civilizations' understandings of the Elements and their relationship to magic - How recent scientific observations reflect these ancient concepts - The core magical properties of each Element: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit, and how we are personally influenced by these energies - Ways of attuning with individual Elements for enhanced living and magical practice Elemental relationships with deities, "elemental beings," and spirit animals - An overview of Wiccan ritual with a focus on the Elements, including altar layout, casting the circle, and calling the quarters - Techniques and magical practices for working with individual Elements - Spells, rituals and charms focused on each individual Element In addition, you'll find tables of correspondence covering the magical properties of each Element, as well as associated colors, spell ingredients, ritual tools and more at the end of the guide. Elemental Magic will be a treasured reference, magical guide, and springboard for you to make your own discoveries about the power of the Elements and the magic they have to offer. Scroll to the top of the page, select the Buy button, and receive an exclusive free eBook!




Field Manual for the Archaeology of Ritual, Religion, and Magic


Book Description

By bringing together in one place specific objects, materials, and features indicating ritual, religious, or magical belief used by people around the world and through time, this tool will assist archaeologists in identifying evidence of belief-related behaviors and broadening their understanding of how those behaviors may also be seen through less obvious evidential lines. Instruction and templates for recording, typologizing, classifying, and analyzing ritual or magico-religious material culture are also provided to guide researchers in the survey, collection, and cataloging processes. The bulleted formatting and topical range make this a highly accessible work, while providing an incredible wealth of information in a single volume.




Elemental Magick


Book Description

"For more than a thousand years, alchemists and magicians have worked with the four elements of the universe. While most spiritual seekers have a basic knowledge of these four elements, and the more nebulous fifth element, spirit, few realize that the energies of the elements are a key to their magical practice. This book offers readers insight into the inner teachings of the elements, the forces behind the elements, and how they provide a framework for everything in the universe"--




Ritual as Remedy


Book Description

• Explains how ritual can serve as a way to ground yourself, invite in the new, let go of what needs to be shed, and tap into your own inner powers • Shares ancient and modern rituals, ceremonies, and practices to connect with the seasons, the lunar cycles, and the five elements, as well as open your heart, dance with your shadow self, grow your intuition, and connect with your body • Offers detailed instructions for each ritual, ceremony, and transformative healing practice HEALING BALM for psyche and soul, ritual invokes a unique magic that allows us to step beyond the mundane and touch base with the sacred turning points in our life and the truth of our soul’s calling. In this evocative guide, Mara Branscombe offers potent soul-care rituals and ceremonies to purify and strengthen minds, hearts, and bodies, so as to enable us to activate our inner power. Connecting with the pagan wheel of the year, the five elements, and the lunar cycle, soulstirring rituals and step-by-step healing protocols show a path towards a deeper, heart-centered living. Transformative practices such as guided meditations and visualizations, breathwork, altar creation, and discovery of our personal empowerment mantras facilitate our healing journey. Ancient and modern ceremonies and specific spiritual formulas help us embody a loving existence, dance with our shadow self, engage with grief, grow our intuition, dismantle limiting beliefs, and heal toxic patterns to find inner strength and peace. Ritual as Remedy is an invitation to shape-shift, heal, transform, and reclaim one’s true soul purpose through powerful self-care protocols that awaken freedom, joy, and a wild, untamed self-love.




Ritual House


Book Description

Celebrated architect Ralph Knowles, Distinguished Emeritus at USC’s School of Architecture, has carefully crafted a book for architects, designers, planners—anyone who yearns to reconnect to the natural world through the built environment. He shows us how to re-examine a shadow, a wall, a window, a landscape, as they respond to the natural cycles of heat, light, wind, and rain. Analyzing methods of sheltering that range from a Berber tent to a Spanish courtyard to the cityscape of contemporary Los Angeles, Ritual House shows us the future: by coining the concept of solar access zoning, he introduces a radical yet increasingly viable solution for tomorrow’s mega-cities.