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Over six million Americans follow some form of Pagan or Wiccan based belief practices today; and, droves of European descendants worldwide have donned the mantle of their ancestral heritage. Many of them are solitary practitioners; while, others are involved in small groups, covens, and circles. Most of them celebrate the eight seasonal Sabbats, usually outdoors, and many of them strive to follow an ethical behavior code that requires them to avoid harming themselves or others in their pursuit of spiritual transformation and divine union. Pagan and Wiccan rituals correspond with the moon's phases and the seasonal changes in a concentrated effort to restore balance to the Circle Dance of Life by attuning humanity to the sacred rhythms of Nature. A Coven is a group of practitioners from the same tradition, usually comprised either of thirteen members (Coveners) or thirteen couples who meet together regularly at the Covenstead (a home, a field, or other special place) for social or ritual purposes and to perform ceremonies and magic.
Doing magical rituals,
"Skyclad", in the nude without energy barriers, clad only in the
sky, is a common practice with some sole practitioners and in the Alexandrian
and Gardnerian traditions. Although nudity brings witches closer to the divinity
of nature, many magical practitioners prefer to wear ceremonial robes or everyday clothes,
especially in group ceremonial circles.
Magical practitioners chose one or more new names, called Craft Names, when they are reborn to their new life within the Craft. These special Craft Names are customarily evocative of unique personal qualities and powers; elemental and power animal affinities; or reflective of innately imbued aspects of divinity. Magical practitioners may use their craft names all the time or only during magical rituals. They may share them with others even to the point of a legal name change; or, they many be secretive about them, revealing them only to coven members or to other trusted practitioners of the Craft. A circle is a protective space that surrounds magical rituals and ceremonies. Sabbat celebrations (where the holiday myths are ritualized through dancing, singing, drama, revelry, and feasting) are held within the sacred circle. Cleansing is a ritual to remove negativity or negative influences from a place or object; while, consecration is a ritual to cleanse and bless a place or object by charging it with positive power. The Cone of Power ritual is a ritual where a sole practitioner or coven visualizes a power cone of spiraling light energy rising from the circle to be used for a specific purpose or goal and then releases it to perform the magical charge or task. A sunwise movement clockwise during a ritual is called Deosil which symbolizes positive energy and life; while, a counterclockwise or backwards movement is called Widdershins which symbolizes the uncasting or ending of rituals...Continue on
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