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How long did it take to feel comfortable? Oh boy - I've been practicing for about 10 years now I guess. Hmm. . . I think it took a while practicing on my own - maybe a year? Then I joined a group in NY City that met once a month or so. I soon became one of the people involved with preparing and conducting the rituals for a group that varied but was about 50 people.
Getting to be in a group, you get to experience casting a circle as part of something becoming a habit. First, being in the group and hearing other people casting the circle and then being one of the people casting it.
I will say that a defining ritual for me in this group was one where we came out in very serene ceremonial robes with all the proper tools. We called the formal "guardians of the watchtowers" of each direction. And, as the chalice met the blade, one of us stopped the others and said something like "Wait a minute. This is not what it's all about." And then we threw off our dark robes to reveal bright body paint all over! We danced and proceeded to do a very upbeat free form ritual.
This was how we planned the ritual - to bring lightness to it and to point out that our gatherings can be celebrations of our spirituality. This ritual was what I was thinking about as I wrote that last post to you.
Getting to be in a group, you get to experience casting a circle as part of something becoming a habit. First, being in the group and hearing other people casting the circle and then being one of the people casting it.
I will say that a defining ritual for me in this group was one where we came out in very serene ceremonial robes with all the proper tools. We called the formal "guardians of the watchtowers" of each direction. And, as the chalice met the blade, one of us stopped the others and said something like "Wait a minute. This is not what it's all about." And then we threw off our dark robes to reveal bright body paint all over! We danced and proceeded to do a very upbeat free form ritual.
This was how we planned the ritual - to bring lightness to it and to point out that our gatherings can be celebrations of our spirituality. This ritual was what I was thinking about as I wrote that last post to you.