A Suggested Ritual Structure for Traditional & Folkloric Witchcraft
Although I rarely use formal ritual in my personal practice, I have found it very useful for group practice and certain observances. With this in mind, I have decided to include a selection of rituals suitable for use in traditional magical craft and folkloric witchcraft on this site for those who are interested in using them. This ritual format can be used in solitary traditional and folkloric magic, in the creation of rituals for small groups, or in the cultivation of a personal/group tradition. It is informed by published material on Cochranian witchcraft and other forms of formal/initiatory Traditional Witchcraft.
This ritual format may be used for full rites, such as seasonal celebrations, initiatory ceremonies, or group workings. While some practitioners prefer to perform all magical work within a formal ritual setting, this is not required. Elements can be adapted, condensed, or omitted entirely depending on the purpose of the working and the needs of the practitioner.
Preparation
Preparing the Body
One element of preparation that I find helpful (for both magical workings and ritual undertakings) is setting aside time to prepare the body. This means any kind of action one takes to prepare their physical self for working magic or entering ritual space, including fasting, cleansing, protecting, and adorning the body. Ritual preparation of the body, although not required, is helpful to help mark the transition from mundane to magical action, and to facilitate a shift in mindset.
Witch Walk
The Witch Walk is a ritual journey performed while traveling from one’s home (or other starting place) to the ritual site, intended to attune the mind and spirit to the ritual purpose. The Witch Walk is meant to be a symbol of the practitioner’s journey away from the Physical Realm/Mundane World to connect with the Spirit World for magical workings. (If this does not seem a necessary step in your magical practice or does not align with your magical framework, feel free to omit or replace this.)
Opening the Ritual
Offerings to the Spirits of Place
Giving offerings to the spirits of the ritual place is a helpful gesture of respect and acknowledgment to the spirits who reside and rule where the work is performed. It is also a way of requesting their permission and goodwill as the practitioner shares their space for a time.
Greeting the Spirits
Here, the practitioner calls upon the spirits that they wish to witness or aid the rite directly and, when possible, by name/epithet. These may include:
Deities – Any deities they may incorporate into their magical or spiritual practice. While not all witchcraft does incorporate deities, individual practitioners may free drawn to.
Initiators – Any spirits who serve as guides and mentors in the practitioner's path, or as sponsors of their access to the Spirit World.
Guardians – Spirits who guide and protect the practitioner during spiritual work, spirit flight, etc.
Familiars – A practitioner's spirit collaborators who assist with magical practice, the direction of energy, communication with spirits, taking divination and elements of magical mentorship.
Allies – Spirits of animals, plants, weather, or concepts that lend their power and presence. Spirit allies may be either “collective spirits” (for example, the spirit of all oak trees) or “individual spirits” (for example, the spirit of a specific oak tree which is significant to the practitioner).
Ancestors – Spirits of the dead who came before. There are many way to conceptualize ancestors and many different approaches to incorporating and calling on ancestors in ritual/workings. Spirits that fall under the scope of “ancestors” may include spirits of relatives (by blood, marriage, or adoption), spirits of close friends and friends of family, spirits of other witches, spirits of cultural heroes, spirits of community members, spirits of figures relevant to a religious or spiritual practice, etc. Ancestors can be called on individually (ex: Aunt Beth, Great-Great-Grandmother Harris) or collectively (ex: Those Who Farmed the Land, the Witches Before Me, Those Who Fought for Equity, etc.).
Setting the Space
Creating Ritual Space
Ritual space can be set up differently depending on the nature of the work. I have included several options for cultivating ritual space in these pages. Please note that not all of these methods are meant to be used at once. Rather, they are intended to be selected based on the ritual’s purpose. If none of these appeal to you, or if you have a preferred method of creating ritual space already established in your practice, feel free to substitute any of these suggestions with your own.
Threshold Rite - This rite is intended to establish a liminal space (similar to a crossroad) suitable for most magical working. It also works as a substitute for going to a physical crossroad, gate, or other threshold when none is accessible to you.
Laying the Compass – A practice from formal Traditional Witchcraft used for creating a ritual space that facilitates spirit travel, divination and various magical workings.
Conjuring the Hedge – Preparing the space for spirit communion, trance work, and spirit flight. I find that many similar rituals are well-suited for either planting the hedge or laying the compass as a space-creation method. Which one prefers mostly comes down to personal preference. I prefer the act of conjuring the hedge for rituals which are heavily trance-based and which involve communication with the Spirit World (as though talking with a neighbor over a hedge), while I would recommend laying the compass for rituals that focus heavily on spirit flight as the vehicle for magical/spiritual working.
Casting a Circle – Marking a boundary for spirit interaction. In many paths of Traditional Witchcraft, traditional magic, and folkloric witchery, the Circle is used as a container for spirit presence, not a barrier against it. The Circle is conjured as a separate space from that which the practitioner occupies, and the spirit is called into it. This is in contrast to the concept of the Circle as it used in Wicca and derivative paths, which employ Circles as working spaces and containers of raised magic.
Power Raising
Expression of Intention
This is the use of a spoken declaration to set the purpose of the rite. This can be a poetic incantation, or plain speech used too declare the purpose of the working. It can be as elaborate or as simple as the practitioner prefers.
Methods of Raising Power
Energy is raised and directed toward the magical or spiritual working. The methods I have included in this selection are:
Treading the Mill – A traditional movement-based technique used to enter trance, raise energy, and alter consciousness.
Fire and Wind Chant – A rhythmic chant used to raise energy and shift awareness.
Drumming Rite – The use of percussion, chanting, and movement to enter trance states.
Witches’ Dance – A physical method of awakening and circulating power.
I have, wherever possible, also attempted to include differentiated methods for practitioners who may be limited in their ability to use movement safely or sustainably.
The Working
The working is the heart of the ritual. This is where the magical or spiritual act that is actually being performed within the ritual. Generally, individual workings can also be preformed on their own and are the elements of ritual which can be taken out of the ritual structure and still act as a magical performance in their own right. Magical/ spiritual workings may include:
Spellwork or charm-making
Seasonal rites or life-event observances
Initiations or dedications
Divination
Spirit communion or invocation
Ritual crafting of tools and supplies
Closing the Space
Closing the Threshold
Dismantling the liminal space created and restoring the energetic and spiritual balance to its baseline.
Undoing the Compass
Releasing the spiritual pathways that were opened for travel, working, or communion.
Undoing the Hedge
Withdrawing from the spirit world, grounding from trance world and closing the connection.
Closing the Circle
Thanking and dismissing the spirits summoned within the Circle and releasing the space.
Thanking the Spirits
Dismissing Guides, Familiars, Allies, and Guardians
Giving a formal farewell and expression of gratitude to the spirits who aided in the rite.
Paying the Spirits of Place
Leaving a final offering in thanks, a final sign of respect and reciprocity.
Condensed Ritual Structure
This simplified ritual framework was designed for practical use when time, space, or the nature of the working calls for a less elaborate or more time-sensitive approach to the rite. It retains the “essential” elements of formal ritual (space creation, power raising, magical working, and formal closing) without the additional preparatory rites or specific spirit category invocations used in the full structure. Note: If a situation calls for something even quicker or more discreet (or if you simply prefer to do without the ritual), it is perfectly acceptable to perform a working all on its own.
Opening the Ritual
Offerings to the Spirits of the Area
Acknowledge and honor the land spirits where the rite is performed.
Establishing Ritual Space
Create a suitable ritual environment based on the purpose of your working. Choose from the following as appropriate:
Threshold Rite –Establish a liminal space to support spiritual contact and most magical work.
Laying the Compass – Align the ritual space appropriately for spirit travel, building a connection between your ritual space and the Spirit World.
Conjuring the Hedge – Prepare for spirit communion, trance work or spirit travel.
Casting a Circle – Define boundary in which to summon spirit.
Power Focusing & Raising
Expression of Intention
State the purpose of the rite clearly, whether through plain speech or poetic recitation. In solitary or previously aligned group workings, this can be done silently or omitted entirely.
Power Raising Techniques
Gather and direct energy.
Treading the Mill – Ecstatic movement to shift consciousness and raise power.
Fire & Wind Chant – Rhythmic chanting to focus mind and breath, building energy.
Drumming Rite – Percussion to stimulate trance and direct power.
The Witches’ Dance – Movement and rhythm to awaken energy within body and space.
Working
Carry out the central magical or spiritual action of the rite. This may include spellwork, divination, communion with spirits, seasonal observances, or the crafting of magical tools.
Closing the Ritual
Releasing the Ritual Space
Close all ritual structures and liminal doorways. Choose what applies based on what was opened:
Closing the Threshold – Close the crossroads and restore balance.
Undoing the Compass – Withdraw spirit travel pathways.
Undoing the Hedge – Release the link between worlds.
Closing a Circle – Seal the ritual space and dismiss any present spirits.
Paying the Place Spirits
Leave a final offering to the spirits of the land in thanks, ensuring a balanced and respectful exchange.
Preparing the Body for Ritual
In my framework, the body is regarded as one of the witch’s most powerful tools (the witch themselves being considered a spirit in possession of a body rather than actually being their body). Taking the time to prepare one’s physical body for magical work can help to shift the practitioner’s consciousness from the mundane to the liminal, fostering greater focus and magical impact. The steps below outline one example of a recommended method for preparing the body for ritual. I highly encourage readers to adapt these methods in any way they prefer to find what works for them.
I. Fasting
In my own magical tradition, magical workings (especially those which are performed in a ritual setting) are recommended to be performed fasted, or on an empty stomach. Typically, the time frame that it takes to achieve and empty stomach is about 4-8 hours. However, this may not be feasible for many practitioners. If this is medically unsafe or unfeasible, one can also choose a smaller amount of for a symbolic fast, such as 90 minutes or 3 hours.
2. Cleansing the Body
One method of cleansing the body is the use of Hallowed Water (water that has been blessed, enchanted, or empowered through ritual means) or, where available, water from a blessed well, font or grotto. Begin by washing the hands and feet with the water, then sprinkle or lightly pat the water onto the crown of the head, over the heart, and along the limbs. Note: This is not intended to physically clean the body. It is a solely magical act. Physical bathing may be done beforehand if desired.
This method may be substituted or supplemented with other traditional forms of cleansing, including fumigation with smoke, sweeping with herbs, dry cleansing gestures, or visualization techniques. What matters is to choose a method that is safe, accessible, and spiritually resonant for your practice.
3. Anointing the Body
After the body has been ritually cleansed, anointing can be performed to protect the practitioner and amplify their power. A magical working oil (which can range from a simple hallowed olive oil or an oil blended for the intended purpose) can be applied to key points: the palms of the hands (to direct power), the center of the chest (to awaken the spirit), and the brow or crown of the head (to activate magical sight and presence). The soles or arches of the feet may also be anointed, especially when work requires traveling physically to an unfamiliar space.
4. Clothing and Adornment
Dress in clothing that is comfortable and suited to the nature of the working. Many witches wear garments set aside specifically for ritual, or adorn themselves with amulets and jewelry that hold magical or protective significance for them. Some practitioners may also choose to veil their hair as an act of spiritual protection. Black veils may be worn to invoke power and protection. Red can be used for as a symbol of sovereignty, vitality and spirit. White is used for spirit communion, healing, or divinatory rites. This practice acknowledges the vulnerability and spiritual openness involved in spirit work, and serves as both shield and signal.
Taking the Witch Walk
The Witch Walk is a rite used to aid the practitioner as they cross the threshold between the ordinary world and the Spirit World. It stems from a spirit-based magical framework in which all magic is performed in proximity to and in tandem with the Spirit World, and it marks the shift from mundane awareness into magical consciousness. This rite is especially valuable when working beyond the home, such as in the forest, field, or crossroads.
Before the Working: Before departing to the ritual space, gather any necessary tools or supplies into a simple, small bag for ease of carry. Once you step across your home’s threshold, you are symbolically travelling through the Spirit Realm. Travel directly to your ritual site without speaking, without turning back, and without pausing along your way. Maintain silence throughout the journey as a gesture to attune yourself to communion with Spirit.
After the Working: At the conclusion of the working, collect what you need and begin your return in the same manner—with no words, no backward glance, no lollygagging. Only upon crossing the threshold of your home and closing the door behind you does the journey end.
Modifications: For witches working within the home or in a space where travel is not required, the Witch Walk may be adapted into a threshold-crossing gesture or brief movement that symbolically divides the “ordinary” from the magical. Some practitioners may choose to walk or travel a short, intentional path through the house (from the front door to the ritual space, for instance) observing silence and presence as they do so. Others may simply step across the boundary of the designated ritual room, their altar space, or another threshold. However it is adapted, the core of the Witch Walk remains: a deliberate act of crossing that separates the mundane from the ritual.
[1] The Witch Walk is a practice adapted from the folk magical practice of the “Year’s Walk” or “Year-Walking” ritual, as described in an interview with Otto Nord and transcribed in Thomas K. Johnson’s Tidebast och Vandelrot (2010).
Giving Offerings to the Spirits of a Ritual Site
In both spirit-led and land-oriented paths of magic, it can be a good idea to acknowledge and honor the spirits of the land when entering a ritual space. These spirits can often be keepers of a place and powerful entities in their own right. Seeking their goodwill and permission to work their space ensures that magical work can be undertaken in harmony with the space, rather than going against its grain.
Giving offerings to the spirits of a place can be done immediately prior to a ritual, in advance of a planned ritual, or routinely over the course of time (if you intend to make this ritual space a favorite one and want to build a long-term relationship with its spirits). Before entering into the space where you intend to do your ritual work, pause at its outer edge. Hold your offering in both hands and take a quiet moment to listen to and connect with the land’s spirits. These may be spirits who dwell in stone and soil, spirits of the trees and stream, spirits of wind and shadow, or other entities who have chosen to dwell in the area. Invite them to draw near, either silently or aloud.
Place your offering in a quiet location near (but not within) your chosen ritual area. Appropriate offerings may include milk, bread, honey, butter or other gifts suited to the place and its unseen inhabitants. Keep in mind that any offerings left outside should be safe for wildlife and cause no harm to plant life or the surrounding ecosystem.
As you set down the offering, greet the spirits verbally and explain your request. This can be done in plain speech or in the form of an invocation, such as:
Spirits of this place, I greet you.
I come in peace, with honor and respect.
May this gift be pleasing to you.
With it, I ask your blessing to walk and work within this space.
Let there be goodwill between us.
Remain still for a moment and sense whether the space feels open and receptive to your presence. If the area feels calm, welcoming, or gently enlivened, you can take this as a sign of your welcome and proceed into the ritual space. If there is a sense of tension, unease, or resistance, consider offering more gifts, adjusting your approach, or moving to another location entirely.
Greeting the Spirits & Inviting Them to Attend Your Rite
In spirit-based magical practices like my own, the witch is understood to work in continual relationship with the Spirit World. As such, formal greetings to the spirits are not strictly required for every working or ritual, but they can be a meaningful act of respect and reaffirmation of these relationships. And many practitioners find them helpful to their ritual focus and impact. These greetings can also be used to call spirits to the working area if they are distant.
Practitioners of traditional and spirit-centered magic may work with many different kinds of spirits (including personal guides, land spirits, ancestors, familiars, deities, or allies). However, not all practitioners will include every type of spirit in their practice, particularly in the early stages of study and craftbuilding. Use only the greetings that are relevant to your practice, omitting any that do not apply or do not feel appropriate for the work at hand.
To call on the spirits and invite them to attend your working, stand within your ritual space and focus. When you are ready, greet the spirits using plain speech or invocations. Here are some examples, which you can alter or adapt as needed:
Greeting the Initiators
Hail, Initiator! Keeper of Keys! Beloved Guide!
You who have shown me the hidden paths,
You who have whispered to me the old words,
Come now, and stand beside me!
Guide my hands, shape my will, lead me true.
Greeting the Guardians
Hail, Guardians! Careful Watchers! Wisdom Whisperers!
Steady hands and watchful eyes,
Those who ward the crossing roads,
Keep the way and walk with me.
Guide my path, shape my working, ward me well.
Greeting the Familiars
Familiar spirits, gather ‘round.
Blood-bound, bone-bound, shadow-shod kin,
You who know my craft and know my cunning,
Lend me your sight, your step, your tongue,
That we may weave this work together, our will as one.
Greeting the Allies [2]
Hail, Allies! Hidden Spirits All Around!
Wind and root, storm and stone,
The wild ones, the unseen hosts!
Gather near, within this grove,
And lend your strength to this night’s working.
Greeting the Ancestors
Hail, Ancestors! Of blood! Of spirit! Of deed!
Those whose footsteps mark my road,
Whose breath still stirs within my bones,
Watch and witness, guide and guard,
Let your light be as my lantern in the Witch’s Wood.
Once all spirits have been called, pause. Wait for their presence. You may feel a shift in the atmosphere or hear the space quiet.
[1] These titles serve as placeholders for the specific spirits that fill these roles in your practice. Practitioners should call upon the spirits, guides, and allies with whom they have a personal relationship, adapting the greetings as needed.
[2] The plants, animals, and other collective or animistic spirits that serve as allies will vary from practitioner to practitioner. This invocation should be adapted to reflect the specific allies present in your practice.
Threshold Rite for Creating Liminal Space for Ritual
In my own practice, most magic is ideally performed in a liminal space. I like to be in a position of greater closeness to the Spirit Realm while working. When no natural liminal place is available to me (such as a crossroads, doorway, hallway, forest edge, or shore) this rite can be used to conjure the threshold and create a space between the worlds for ritual.
Stand at the center of your ritual area. Create the threshold by drawing an equal-armed cross in the earth, tracing it on the floor, or laying down two straight objects (such as two long sticks, or a staff and besom) in the shape of a cross. Stand at the center, straddling the space where the two lines of the cross meet.
Say:
Upon the place where ways divide,
Where breath is held and worlds collide,
I call the gate, I call the seam,
A foot in waking, a foot in dream.
Open the way, betwixt and between,
Unravel the threads, undo the seen.
By root and star, by wind and sea,
Threshold spirits, come work with me.
Remain still for a moment. Wait for any signs of shifting energy shift around you. When the threshold feels open, continue onward with your rite.
Laying the Compass for Spirit Flight, Trance-Work and Divination
Like the Threshold Rite, the Compass serves to delineate magical space. However, the Compass aims to create a space that lends itself more directly to spirit flight and workings that require closer proximity to the Spirit World. The rite written here is an adaptation of forms found in formal Traditional Witchcraft, appearing in writings by Robert Cochrane. The core of the rite (the laying of three concentric rings) is retained, but reinterpreted to reflect my own symbolic landscape of initiation and the witch’s journey through witch flight, death journey, and communion with the Spirit Realm.
Tools and Materials
A marker for delineating ritual area (black cord, chalk, or finger drawn in dirt, salt, or ash)
Small offerings or tokens to mark the four cardinal points (stones, feathers, candles, coins, etc.). These are optional; the points of the Compass can also be suitably marked with symbols drawn with chalk or into the earth.
Materials for the construction of the Three Rings (see below)
The Three Rings of the Compass
As described in Cochrane’s tradition, the Compass is formed by three concentric rings created around a fixed central point. This point can be marked with a bowl of water, a candle, or a cauldron of burning herbs depending on the working. Each ring traditionally represents a stage in the cycle of life. In my own practice, the rings are reimagined as representing phases of the Witch’s Initiation, Death Journey, and Flight to the Realm of Spirit.
The rings are constructed from the outer ring inward, moving symbolically toward the Spirit World:
Outer Ring – Initiation
This ring represents the witch’s induction into the craft. In my magical worldview, this the point at which the practitioner is “made witch by no authority but their own”. The physical representation of the ring is made by laying a ring of earth, or powdered botanicals. Some of my favorites are cedar, rosemary, and mugwort.Middle Ring – The Death Journey
This ring marks the death journey, a process that appears in folklore and myth cycles as well as magical practice as a means of transformation through trial. For this ring, lay a ring of ash made from rosemary, graveyard dirt, and oak. Alternatively, you can draw this ring using the end of a burnt oak twig or charcoal stick.Inner Ring – The Realm of Spirit
This ring marks the veil between the mundane world and the Spirit Realm, symbolizing the river or other water place that appears often in European folklore as the boundary between the living and spirit realms. Dip your fingers in water, and trace this final ring with your Witching Fingers (the pointer and middle fingers of your dominant hand).
Laying the Compass
Stand in the center of your working space and take a moment to ground and still yourself.
Lay the three rings from the outermost inward, as described above. Move clockwise as you construct the Compass. As each ring is laid, focus on the purpose and symbolism of the specific ring you’re making.
Mark the four directions around the Compass using tokens or symbols that represent North, South, East, and West for you. As you place each, speak the directional invocation:
To the North:
By the frost and the stone, by the winds and the dark,
I call on the spirits where earth leaves its mark.
To the South:
By the fire’s light and the flame’s gentle kiss,
I open the path where the shadows twist.
To the East:
By the breath of dawn and the rising light,
I call on the spirits to aid in my flight.
To the West:
Through the mist and the dusk, where ancestors roam,
I call on the spirits far from home.
Return to the center of the Compass. Take a moment to settle into the space. When you are ready speak the final incantation to bind and activate the Compass:
Ye Crossed Paths of Spirit, I call thee to my side.
Between the worlds, where planes collide.
By ghostly throng and wild night’s air,
I open this Compass with power and care.
The Compass is now laid. Use it for communion, flight, conjuration, or spirit work. When your working is complete, the Compass should be formally released and the space dismantled.
Conjuring a Hedge for Divination, Spirit Work, and Trance-Work
The rite of conjuring the hedge is a rite used to define ritual space for spirit communion, spirit-flight, and other forms of spirit work. While not a required rite, Conjuring the Hedge may serve as more spirit-work specific alternative to the Threshold Rite or the Witches’ Compass, and may be especially suitable for witches who prefer a more folklore-oriented form of boundary-setting.
The hedge itself is visualized rather than physically constructed. It is useful for those involving contact with spirits, journeys into the Spirit Realm, or when working between the worlds.
Planting the Hedge
Stand at the edge of your ritual space. Take a steady breath and say:
I plant the hedge where worlds collide,
Between the living and the spirit's tide.
With thorn and root, with bark and bone,
Beyond this hedge, no spirit shall roam.
Extend the index and middle fingers of your dominant hand (referred throughout this site as the Witching Fingers). Use them to trace the outline of the hedge around your space. As you do, imagine thorns and vines growing and twining into a protective wall. Focus on the spirit of the hedge taking root in the earth; make the roots as deep as the hedge is tall.
Walking the Hedge
Once the hedge is planted, it is time to walk it. This walking serves to stir the spirits and to call those you wish to engage with, much like calling a neighbor to the fence. Begin walking slowly along the inner edge of your hedge. As you walk, you may speak the following verses aloud, either as-is or adapted to your purpose:
I walk the hedge, where worlds do meet,
Between the living and the spirits’ feet.
In this place, no harm shall tread,
The boundary set, the spirits’ thread.I call to those who walk the night,
Who dwell in shadow, out of sight.
Come, kindly spirits, heed my call,
Step from the dark, one and all.I walk the hedge, I cross the veil,
Through thorn and root, I weave my tale.
Spirits of air, earth, fire, and sea,
Come now, commune and speak with me.
Crossing the Hedge (Optional)
If you intend to use the hedge as a gateway for spirit travel or journeying, pause at any point within the boundary. Light a candle, ring a bell, or perform another small action to signify your intent to enter the spirit flight.
Speak the following, or your own words, to cross the veil:
Through the hedge, I now do pass,
Between the worlds, through looking glass.
Kind spirits near, I call you forth,
Guide my steps, from south to north.
Take a step forward and imagine that the hedge now stands behind you and you are on the path between worlds. When your work is complete, the hedge will need to be undone and dismantled.
Creating a Circle for Spirit-Summoning
While many practitioners may be familiar with the Wiccan Circle (cast to delineate a workspace and to contain raised energy), many traditional witches use a different form of Circle altogether. Here, the Circle is not cast around the practitioner, nor is it used to gather or hold magical power. Instead, it is drawn as a boundary for the temporary containment of a spirit or entity summoned for communication, divination or ritual work.
This practice is most often used when the practitioner wishes to interact directly with a specific spirit while maintaining a controlled and focused space for the interaction. Such a Circle would be most helpful for unfamiliar or unknown spirits; it would likely not be necessary for communion with guides, guardians, initiators, familiars or allies. (For communication with more familiar or trusted spirits, Conjuring a Hedge may be more useful.
Casting the Circle
Stand just outside the space where you wish to draw the Circle. With the Witching Fingers (the index and middle fingers of your dominant hand), trace a circle on the ground or floor. You will draw the circle three times in succession, each tracing slightly larger than the one before it, giving the effect of three rings similar to the Witch’s Compass:
Clockwise — to claim and define the space.
Anticlockwise — to banish any unwanted influence or lingering spirits.
Clockwise again — to bind and seal the Circle and prepare it for use.
As you trace the final circle, speak the following:
I cast this circle on the ground,
A hallowed space where spirit is bound.
Only the one I call may tread,
To answer what I’ve sought and said.
Calling the Spirit
When the Circle is fully cast and sealed, stand before it. Raise your hand high in a gesture and focus your full intention on the spirit you wish to summon. Speak clearly and steadily.
If the name of the spirit is known, say:
Spirit of (name of the spirit or entity),
I call to you in the dark of night.
Enter this circle, come into sight,
Be with me now, throughout this rite.
If the name of the spirit is unknown or intentionally withheld, you may instead say:
Spirit of the unseen, the silent and true,
I summon thee, come forth, I beseech you.
Since your name is not known to me,
I name you (name or title), by Rings of Three.
At the end of your working, the spirit called must be released and Circle dismantled.
Expression of Intention to Center the Focus of a Ritual
Before beginning any magical working, it can be helpful to take a moment to establish the purpose of your rite firmly in your mind. Speaking this purpose aloud (whether to yourself, to any gathered participants, or to the spirits you work with) can be helpful to center your focus and establish the tone of the working.
This spoken statement can be as simple as a single clear sentence or a short incantation naming your goal. It can also be an elaborate speech that is used to weave a story or stir emotion. Whatever works best for you and your practice (and any other participants that may take part in your ritual). Examples of a ritual’s intention might include honoring the turning of the seasons, seeking guidance through divination, or working a spell for a specific result.
By directly expressing your purpose, you help to align your thoughts, spirit, and action to your goal, and invite any additional powers you call upon to do the same. A well-spoken intention does need to be poetic or complex. It only needs to be clear and true to your purpose.
Treading the Mill
Treading the Mill is a method of raising power through movement and ecstatic trance. By walking a repeated path around a central point the practitioner builds energy and induces a trance state that opens the way for magic, vision, or spirit contact.
To begin, place a candle at the center of your working area and light it. This will function as the central point and will be the object of your focus while raising power. If preferred, you might also use a flame in a cauldron, a bonfire, or a symbolic item such as a stone or crystal. If you are raising power for a spell or working, consider placing the object of that working (such as a charm, poppet, or written spell) in the center.
Take a moment to prepare yourself. When you are ready, begin to walk in a slow circle around the center point and your focal object. You can choose to move clockwise or anticlockwise depending on your preference and the aim of your work.1 As your steps settle into rhythm, you can start to really hone your focus in on your central object (as close to the point of hyperfocus or fixation as is possible or safe). From here, you can continue to walk in silence or begin a chant. If you are chanting, speak softly and walk slowly at first; increase the speed and intensity of your movement as well as the volume and force of your words.
An example chant for this type of power raising may go as follows:
Round and round the millstone turns,
Fire burns and cauldron churns.
By hoof and horn, by fang and claw,
I tread the path, I speak the law.Three times round, the veil grows thin,
Four times round, the power spins.
Five times round, the spirits wake,
Six times round, the thread we take.We witches walk where none may see,
In shape of crow, or hare, or bee.
Through hedge and gate, through iron and bone,
The path is trod, the way is shown.
This chant may be used in full, or a single couplet repeated throughout, depending on the depth of your focus or your preference for simplicity.
As the intensity of your power raising peaks, the outer world may appear to “fall away” or become out of focus. Your awareness may shift inward or outward. Visions, sensations, or spirit presence might come to you. If spirits are being called or honored, this may be when they make themselves known.
When the energy reaches its height (or when you arrive at a pre-determined stopping point in your walk) bring the motion to a close. This can be done by gradually slowing your pace or by stopping abruptly, depending on the intent of your working and how you want to release or use the power you’ve raised. If raising power for a spell, I suggest releasing it with a gesture, a spoken word, or focusing on sending a final surge of energy into your working. If seeking insight, guidance, or presence, pause in the trance state you’ve induced and wait for messages.
Fire & Wind Chant
This chant is used to raise and stir magical energy for ritual and working through rhythm, voice, and movement. Its verses are designed to build momentum and volume with each repetition.
This chant can be spoken aloud on its own or accompanied by movement: clapping, stomping, nodding the head, swaying, dancing, bells or simple gestures. Begin slowly and steadily, then increase the speed and volume as the chant continues. In group settings, this chant can be layered as a round. For simplicity or solo use, it can also be broken into repeating couplets, using whichever couplet resonates most with you and your work.
The power raised through this chant can be directed into spellwork, used to open trance states, or released at its peak with the final line.
Chant:
Fire in the foot, wind in the hand,
By iron and ash, by sea and land.
Tongue to flame and breath to spark,
Turn the wheel, awake the dark.Storm-born spirits, wild and wise,
Come on the current, ride the skies.
Witch-fire rises, heart beats fast,
By pact and power, spell is cast.Blood to ember, bone to stone,
Light the path, break the throne!
Round and round the power sways,
By word and will, by olden ways!Now is the hour, the working begun,
By night, by fire, by moon, by sun!
Release and direct the energy on the final line. I recommend doing this with a gesture, such as pointing the Witching Fingers (the index and middle finger of the dominant hand) at an item you are working with or a spell you are casting.
Drumming Rite
This “drumming chant” is a rhythmic invocation of movement and power, designed to stir and raise magical force through sound and motion. It may be performed with drums, clapping, stomping, rattles, bells, or even the steady beat of a metronome. The chant begins at a slow, measured pace and gradually intensifies as the rite unfolds.[¹]
Chant:
Beat the hoof, turn the wheel,
Flesh to fire, hand to steel.
Beat the hoof, turn the wheel,
Wake the path and make the seal.Wind in the trees, tide in the sand,
Storm on the hill, fire in the hand.
Wind in the trees, tide in the sand,
Round we go at the witches’ command.Faster, faster, ‘round we tread,
Tongue of the fire, crown of the dead!
Faster, faster, stir the deep,
Wake the road where the wild gods leap!
This power raising method is designed to guide increase the power/energy as the drumming and chanting progresses. At the final line, stop suddenly and completely, pausing for a moment before loudly releasing the power toward your working by saying:
Now is the hour, the fire is fed,
Power is waking, the charm is said!
[¹] In some instances (such as when working with recorded music or a metronome) the pace of the chant may be fixed. However, you can still increase the intensity of the chant by raising your voice, increasing the strength of your movements, or deepening your focus.
Witches’ Dance Rite
This is a power-raising rite that used rhythmic movement and sound to build and release magical power for magical and ritual workings. Beginning in a whisper, the chant starts slowly, growing louder and faster as the chant progresses. Any form of movement may be used to stir the current. Dancing, swaying, hand and arm gestures, or even the nodding of the head will suffice.
Chant:
Round and round the Devil goes,
Hoof and heel on the hollow road.
Round and round the witches fly,
Smoke in the air and fire in the sky.Spirits gather, shadows call,
Through the gate, beyond the wall!
Cunning ones and creeping things,
Come to dance where the dark bell rings!Round and round the Devil goes,
Hoof and heel on the hollow road!
Round and round the witches tread,
Charmed by the quick and led by the dead!Now is the hour, now is the way!
Night is awake and the wind will obey!
At the final line, stop suddenly, focusing on directing and casting the raised power. I find it is helpful to symbolically direct the raised energy by pointing or fling your arms toward the focus of the working (as if throwing a ball). Or, if the chat is to be used for trance purposes, I sometimes like to punctuate the end of the chat by falling to the ground as a gesture of releasing the raised energy from the body.
Undoing the Witches’ Compass
This rite is used to dismantle the Witch’s Compass and return the ritual space to a neutral state. It symbolizes the reverse of the journey taken when laying the compass, moving out of the Spirit Realm and closing the way between worlds.
Begin at the Center
To begin, stand quietly at the heart of the Compass area, once again straddling the cross you’ve made on the ground. Bring your awareness fully into your body; shake off any post-ritual haze and ground yourself. One oft-suggested method of doing this is thinking of your feet, focusing all of your attention on the sensory experience of your feet planted firmly on the ground.
Retrace the Three Rings in Reverse
Move anticlockwise as you undo the rings, beginning at the innermost circle and working outward. As each ring is unmade, its associated element or material may be swept aside, gathered up, or symbolically dissolved (e.g., pressing earth over water lines, covering ash with soil, breaking the lines with the Witching Fingers, or brushing away chalk). As you work, focus on making the symbolic journey back from the Spirit Realm, experiencing a journey of rebirth, and rooting yourself back in the mundane.
Release the Cardinal Points
Turn counterclockwise around the Compass and extinguish or remove each quarter marker as you go. Speak (or think) a dismissal appropriate to each direction. For example:
To the West:
By the setting mist and the quiet sky,
I bid farewell; the spirits must fly.To the East:
By the waning light and the stilling breath,
I close the gate where I passed to death.To the South:
By the fire’s dimming and the fading flame,
I release the path, no spirit to claim.To the North:
By frost’s retreat and the fading wind,
I thank the spirits, and the journey ends.
Final Severing Gesture
At the center, use your fingers to make a final counterclockwise sweep, as though slashing with a blade.
Speak:
The crossroads fade, the thread unspun,
By wit and will, the work is done.
With ash and breath, the spirits fly,
The path is shut, the night drifts by.
Grounding and Return
Close with a symbolic grounding act. Touch the earth, place your hands on the floor, pick up your tools, or extinguish the final candle. You may choose to speak a final simple phrase such as:
So I stand, in flesh and bone.
This work is done. I part alone.